Sermon Central
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Overcoming All Odds Series
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 4, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: When God originates, He orchestrates. God will grant us the strength we need to finish His work. Expect challenges when doing God's will. Choose to look at problems with eyes of faith, not fear.
Nehemiah 2:11-20 Overcoming All Odds ES 30Jan11 2072
What God originates, He orchestrates.
• It started off with a burden, and a desire to do something. Nehemiah shared this with God.
• God puts the pieces in place (so to speak) and Nehemiah got what he needed.
The will of God never leads you to where His grace cannot keep you.
The will of God will never take you
where the grace of God cannot keep you,
where the arms of God cannot support you,
where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you
where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
where the army of God cannot protect you,
where the hands of God cannot mould you.
The will of God will never take you
where the love of God cannot enfold you,
where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
where the peace of God cannot calm your heart,
where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you
where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
where the Word of God cannot feed you,
where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
where the Omnipresence of God cannot find you. ~ Author Unknown
When God puts something in your heart to do, He goes to work behind the scenes to ensure that it happens.
• It’s not up to us to figure out how to pull it off. Our job is simply to do what we know to do, and then wait for God.
• Do what we can do, and leave the rest to God. God moves the heart of Kings and open doors.
Think back with me for minute.
• Did Moses have to come up with a plan to get the Israelites across the Red Sea?
• Was it young David’s responsibility to figure out how to get King Saul out of the way, so he could have the throne of Israel, since God has already anointed him?
• When Jesus told the apostles to feed the 5000, did they have to figure out how to make five loaves and two fish go that far?
No! How the plan of God would be accomplished was not really up to them.
• They just did what they knew to do, a step at a time and never lost sight of the vision.
• Nehemiah took that step, and then another, and did what he could possibly do.
This is faith – faith is not seeing the destination, but trusting that God will show up when you take a step forward, and then the next, and the next.
• If you can see the end from where you are, chances are you are walking by sight. If you stay where you are until you are sure of the end, you will not move at all.
• Nehemiah prayed and trusted God, and did what he could possibly do. Finally he took off from Susa and made the long trip to Jerusalem. Let us read Neh 2:9-20.
Expect Challenges When Doing God’s Will
There are problems to solve; there are difficulties to overcome, EVEN when you are doing God’s will.
• God’s work is hard work. It does not mean that since it is God’s will, everything will be smooth and easy.
• It does not mean also that if we face difficulties, then the work must not be God’s will.
Ministry is challenging. It is a spiritual warfare we are engaged in.
• Eph 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
• We are called to put on the full armour of God and engage in battle against His enemy.
• God did not promise to do the work FOR us but WITH us. We have to LABOUR with Him.
Even after many prayers, even after God’s opening many doors, and providing the resources, Nehemiah had to work, very hard.
• He faces a very daunting task. It was something he had not done before. He had no experience, except God’s leading and His provision.
• He faced challenges on 3 sides – get the wall up (physical), unite the people to work on it (people problem, social), and defend against enemies from without (military).
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Just the journey itself to Jerusalem (from Susa) took him 2 months, travelling 1,500km. That probably explains why he took 3 days to rest (v.11).
• He had to inspect the walls by night, fully aware of oppositions that were present in the vicinity.
