By Rev. Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
Nehemiah 1: 1 - 4, 2:1- 7
1. Identify your Goals
Examine the need in your life, a desire, a passion, concern or a burden in your heart that can bring the desired change.
• What is it you that you would like to see come to pass but it is not there right now?
• Where are you lacking or needy in life?
• What puts you at a disadvantage, shame or failure and you want to change that.
Neh 1: 2-3 Nehemiah had a great desire and a concern in his heart to see Jerusalem walls rebuild. That became his Goal
Unfortunately, some people have no idea of what they want in life. They have no clear goals or vision to achieve.
Yet the Father is asking, "what do you want?"
Luke 18:41-42
[41] “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
[42] Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
1 Kings 3:9-10
[9] So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
[10] The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
Solomon knew exactly what he needed.
Some people ask for things that are not relevant to their goals. These are things they do not need or will not help them meet their goals but since God is gracious, He grant's them. You end up having valuable things that you don’t use but just lie idle while you are still in need. They waste precious opportunity.
Mark 6:23-24
[23] And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
[24] She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
- Is what you are asking relevant to your goals or will it enable you to reach your goals?
- Do you have a clear Goal? Goals must be specific
2. Seek to meet God first before you meet your need/goal
Nehemiah 1:4
[4] When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Most people rush to meet their goals or seek solution first, instead of seeking to meet God.
We must always seek God first not our need. Everything you need in life as a believer is in God’s hands.
Ephesians 1:3
[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
When we seek him, we not only realize our blessings but also receive direction, guidance and protection.
Psalm 32:8
[8]I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
As believers, we should always consult God first. Every time issues, troubles come always run to God first before attempting to sort them. God should come first even before first aid.
It is sad nowadays our phones and social media have become our gods. Instead of praying first, we quickly contact and seek help from friends, bosses or relatives and forums we think can help us.
Most often than not, we end up frustrated and that's when we turn to God. When we seek God, he gives us directions and he guides us. He knows better the best way around your issues and life.
Isaiah 37:1, 14-15
[1] When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord.
[14] Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.
[15] And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:
You can never Go wrong with God, always let him come first. Whatever blessing you need in life, the best way to get it is to seek the blesser instead of seeking the blessing.
Matthew 6:33
[33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Some are quick to meet their need/ goal without seeking God first. They may seem to be ahead but time will tell.
Remember the fastest don't always get there first. Always be in the habit of consulting God first before anyone no matter how urgent an issue is. Most people have no problem seeking God's kingdom first but we have a problem with seeking his righteousness. Prayer and fasting is not a way of getting our will done. In fact, it is a way of finding and getting us into the will of God. The success of prayer and fasting is not dependent on commitment or how long we do it. Prayers mainly depend on our relationship with God.
James 5:16
[16b) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
The problem of today's church is that we are very much into church but still living in sin.
We must live a separated life that honours Christ if we expect to seek him and find him.
Jesus must not only be the saviour in our lives but also the lord over our lives.
3. Identify the right persons to approach
After seeking God, approach the people or places he is leading you. There is always people and place God has prepared to be of help to us as destiny helpers.
Have you ever tried to seek help from people you were sure they will but somehow, they only frustrated and disappointed you? It is not that they were unwilling to support you, but God had not prepared or laid your burden in them.
1 Kings 17:7-9
[7] sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
[8] Then the word of the Lord came to him:
[9] “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
There are always the right people that God has prepared to meet your needs or stand with you- although some may not look or come like you expected.
Just think, in this case, a hopeless widow with nothing and looking forward to die. Not the rich man of the village
Nehemiah approached the king as the right person
Nehemiah 2:1-2
[1] In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before,
[2]so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid,
[3] but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
- He approached the king and shared his need.
- Some people just keep silent with their needs or maybe they are too proud to seek help. You find somebody is jobless and very committed in church and struggling and no one knows they are even struggling and suffering.
- You should never share your heart with everyone but identify the few ones
4. Use the right approach
Nehemiah approached the king with a sand face with that caught his attention, The King could not afford not to notice the distress of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 2:1-2
Sometimes it is not what we do things but how we do them that makes a difference. Our approach matters in the same way’s strategies matter. An important matter requires you to go in person rather than make a call
5. Have your need/goal well articulated
What do you need and for how long, to what extent and what is this you need to achieve?
Nehemiah 2:4
[4] The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven...
V5-9 Nehemiah excellent articulates his needs/goals and the time he requires.
We must always have a clearly stated strategic plan even when we have no resources. Planning does not require money but just time so no one should ever have an excuse of not having a vision and plan. Resources always follow the vision. Banks give loans simply on the basis of a promising business plan.
Put down in writing your plans even if you have no finances.
examples ..small business simple plans
Writing the vision down is a timeless principle.
Habakkuk 2:2 “And the Lord answered me: Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run.”
When it is written down, it is made plain and those we lead can ‘run’ with it and we will see it succeed. A clear process begins to develop as it is made plain. After the vision is made plain, it is to be continually shared and taught to people as it grows, becoming reality.
Your vision may be a business idea or a strategy to enhance your speciality or an approach to working with others. It could be a potential book or manual, or side business for you to create wealth and more jobs. When the vision or thoughts are written down, they begin solidifying. The vision written down helps us to start making a path or business plan that we can accomplish.
If we don’t write the vision down, then we can quickly forget it. But when it is written down, we begin walking in the reward of its success. When it becomes successful not only are we positively affected, but many other people’s lives are changing for the better. All because we wrote the vision down and ran with it.
The next time you have a great thought or idea, write it down. And let us know how you have run with it and seen it succeed.
6. Every vision attracts opposition
Nehemiah 2:10
[10] When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
The fact that you have a vision and you have sought God, does not mean it is going to be a smooth sail. Some people will discourage you and others will tell you how it is impossible while others will oppose you outright. Sometimes you face real challenges and hindrances. Opposition and challenges are what grows you and make you.
7. Carry out a feasibility study
It is one thing to have a good plan but implementing it is another thing altogether.
How and where do you start? Get to know the reality on the ground.(v11-15)
8. Involve the right people to work with and share the vision (v17-18)
9. Don't give room for doubts (v 19-20)
Comments
Post a Comment