Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo (Senior Pastor).
Text: Nehemiah 6:1-5.
” 1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates); 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in someone of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? 4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner. 5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand.”
There is an important Task Heaven has earmarked to be completed in your life this year. In the IGA, our Theme this month is “Riding on our Higher Ground”. We cannot succeed on our own; our wisdom, abilities, qualifications, etc, will fail us as our sufficiency is on God alone. Not by power not by Might, but by My Spirit says The Lord. It is as we dwell in His Secret Place that we are transformed from Glory to Glory. Ps. 127:1 – Except The Lord build a house, they labor in vain that build it. Only God can build any lasting structure, this is why we come to Him to build us.
To complete any worthy task, Focus is an unnegotiable ingredient. What is Focus? – Focus is the ability to set one’s mind and attention on a particular course until it yields an expected outcome. It is also the channeling of one’s energy and concentration into a specific task until completion.
From our above Text, Nehemiah was focused on the great and important work Heaven assigned to him. He resisted the temptation to be distracted. This Year you must maintain your focus on God in order to complete the task He has assigned you. Distractions will come but set your gaze on God all the way as Nehemiah did. The focus of Nehemiah made the king favor him and provide all the necessary supports for the building project. Realize in every Task assigned you by Heaven, there will be enemies who will attempt to hinder you, just like “Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem” tried to hinder Nehemiah’s Team.
Be motivated and never allow past failures to depress you. Romans 9:25-26 – “As He saith also in Osee, I will call them My People, which were not My People; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My People; there shall they be called the children of The Living God.” It is only God that can make the rejected stone to be The Cornerstone; please maintain your focus on Him! It is only God also Who can give Speed for Completion; He gave Nehemiah Speed that enabled him to complete the task of building the Wall in 52 Days.
The Ingredients of Completion
1. Note that The Lord has preserved for a Specific Purpose – Esther 4:14
2. Be Bold and Courageous. Seize every opportunity to help others as well.
3. Seek God’s help all the way and be watchful in Prayers. Nehemiah 4:14
4. Refuse to allow any distraction to derail you.
5. Never let down your guard.
6. Do not say “Yes” to everything.
7. Do not quit even in the face of turbulence – Isaiah 28:6. If you refuse to quit:
a. The job will be completed – Neh. 6:150
b. The enemy shall be afraid of you.
c. Help will come from God.
I pray you to reach your goal and be able to say like Paul in 2 Tim. 4:7-8 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His Appearing.
God Bless You!
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