A MIND TO WORK
“Nehemiah and the Law of Navigation”
Scripture Texts: Neh. 2:1-20; 4:1-23; 6:1-16
Nehemiah was not actually one of the Jews who were in captivity during the burning down of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 1:3). However, when Nehemiah got news of what had happen to his fellow countrymen, “he sat down and wept, and mourned for many days, he fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven” (Neh. 1:4). As a result Nehemiah got a “burden” for his people’s distress from fasting, praying, being broken and being repentant. 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 gives us the brief history of the fall of Jerusalem and the burning of its walls. 10,000 Jews saw this great disaster occurred but none of them had a burden or a vision to do something about it. 126 years would pass after the fall of Jerusalem before God would use Nehemiah as a navigation leader to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls. Once the people came together under Nehemiah’s leadership it took them 52 days to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 6:15). God used him to “rally the troops”. But remember, also there would be the “Sanballats” and the “Tobiahs” (opposing forces and people) who will stay on the sidelines and try to distract you from doing a great work. They would try to discourage you, humiliate you, and reject you in order to stop the vision from coming to pass.
To help us understand more what God is saying to this house this morning let us now define some key words.
What is law?
A rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority; a prescribed set of rules or principles.
What is mind?
It the context of this message, “mind” denotes one’s desire and purpose. An objective. What one intends to accomplish or attain.
What is work?
An activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something; sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result
What is a “burden”?
In the context of the message it carries the ideas of a LOAD (that which is carried at one time by a specified means); DUTY (obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) b (1): assigned service); RESPONSIBILITY (the quality or state of being responsible: as moral, legal, or mental accountability (Reliability & Trustworthiness)
In order to get a vision one must first repent before approaching God. It is from repentance that a burden is given which brings about the vision.
This message is also for leadership. A leader must know where he is going and how to get there. He must be a navigator (one who has the ability to steer a course through a medium). In other words, a leader must see the problem ahead, detect what is the best possible solution to the problem and engage in a course of action. (He must walk in the spirit of the problem). He must see further than others see; or more than others sees, and before others see.
Pro. 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision (burden; revelation; knowledge) the people perish (become scattered and rebellious)”.
There are 3 powers of a burden:
1. It purifies motivates - the essence of a burden is the desire to do something for others; it is drawn to serve and it not self-seeking.
2. It cultivates persistence – it is not who starts first or who starts best, or who starts fastest but it is the one that endures and completes the task set before him that gets the reward. To be in leadership is both difficult and challenging. If you do not persist you will drop out the race!
3. A burden brings cement to the convictions. A lot of worthwhile actives always seek leadership's attention, but a need is not necessary a call. A burden helps a leader know that he must take on a task. In other words without a burden a leader will pick up ideas and run with them only because they are good but are not part of his convictions. It is the burden that leads to vision!
Nehemiah’s navigation skills:
1. He identified the problems
2. He spends time in prayer (and a burden is received)
3. He approaches a key influential person
4. He assesses the situation
5. He meets with the people and cast (presents) the vision
6. He encourages them by pass assessment (what they were able to do in the pass)
7. He receives a “buy in” from the people. The people also now believe in the vision and have the mind and spirit to work
8. He organizes the people. A plan is always need to secure success. He who fails to plan; plans to fail
9. The work begins! The burden becomes a vision the vision becomes a reality.
Amen!
“Nehemiah and the Law of Navigation”
Scripture Texts: Neh. 2:1-20; 4:1-23; 6:1-16
Nehemiah was not actually one of the Jews who were in captivity during the burning down of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 1:3). However, when Nehemiah got news of what had happen to his fellow countrymen, “he sat down and wept, and mourned for many days, he fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven” (Neh. 1:4). As a result Nehemiah got a “burden” for his people’s distress from fasting, praying, being broken and being repentant. 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 gives us the brief history of the fall of Jerusalem and the burning of its walls. 10,000 Jews saw this great disaster occurred but none of them had a burden or a vision to do something about it. 126 years would pass after the fall of Jerusalem before God would use Nehemiah as a navigation leader to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls. Once the people came together under Nehemiah’s leadership it took them 52 days to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 6:15). God used him to “rally the troops”. But remember, also there would be the “Sanballats” and the “Tobiahs” (opposing forces and people) who will stay on the sidelines and try to distract you from doing a great work. They would try to discourage you, humiliate you, and reject you in order to stop the vision from coming to pass.
To help us understand more what God is saying to this house this morning let us now define some key words.
What is law?
A rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority; a prescribed set of rules or principles.
What is mind?
It the context of this message, “mind” denotes one’s desire and purpose. An objective. What one intends to accomplish or attain.
What is work?
An activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something; sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result
What is a “burden”?
In the context of the message it carries the ideas of a LOAD (that which is carried at one time by a specified means); DUTY (obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a group) b (1): assigned service); RESPONSIBILITY (the quality or state of being responsible: as moral, legal, or mental accountability (Reliability & Trustworthiness)
In order to get a vision one must first repent before approaching God. It is from repentance that a burden is given which brings about the vision.
This message is also for leadership. A leader must know where he is going and how to get there. He must be a navigator (one who has the ability to steer a course through a medium). In other words, a leader must see the problem ahead, detect what is the best possible solution to the problem and engage in a course of action. (He must walk in the spirit of the problem). He must see further than others see; or more than others sees, and before others see.
Pro. 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision (burden; revelation; knowledge) the people perish (become scattered and rebellious)”.
There are 3 powers of a burden:
1. It purifies motivates - the essence of a burden is the desire to do something for others; it is drawn to serve and it not self-seeking.
2. It cultivates persistence – it is not who starts first or who starts best, or who starts fastest but it is the one that endures and completes the task set before him that gets the reward. To be in leadership is both difficult and challenging. If you do not persist you will drop out the race!
3. A burden brings cement to the convictions. A lot of worthwhile actives always seek leadership's attention, but a need is not necessary a call. A burden helps a leader know that he must take on a task. In other words without a burden a leader will pick up ideas and run with them only because they are good but are not part of his convictions. It is the burden that leads to vision!
Nehemiah’s navigation skills:
1. He identified the problems
2. He spends time in prayer (and a burden is received)
3. He approaches a key influential person
4. He assesses the situation
5. He meets with the people and cast (presents) the vision
6. He encourages them by pass assessment (what they were able to do in the pass)
7. He receives a “buy in” from the people. The people also now believe in the vision and have the mind and spirit to work
8. He organizes the people. A plan is always need to secure success. He who fails to plan; plans to fail
9. The work begins! The burden becomes a vision the vision becomes a reality.
Amen!
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