25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly;

so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO SHARE A MESSAGE WITH YOU ENTITLED: LEARNING TO FINISH WELL. THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO FINISH WHAT YOU START. ITS EASY FOR US TO START SOMETHING NEW BUT WHEN DIFFICULTIES SET IN OR WE’RE FACED WITH AN OBSTICALE OR WE HIT WHAT IS KNOW AS THE "WALL" IN A MARATHON RACE WE ARE TEMPTED TO QUIT. BUT ITS NOT HOW YOU START THAT MATTERS TO GOD ITS WHETHER YOU FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED AND THAT YOU FINISH WELL. WHETHER YOU’RE STARTING A BUSINESS, A FAMILY, A MARRIAGE, A CAREER OR A CHURCH, GOD WANTS YOU TO FINISH WHAT YOU START AND TO DO A GOOD JOB AT IT. HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE A "POST IT NOTEPAD" QUALITY TO WHAT EVER YOU START: YOU STICK TO IT UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE, CAUSE WE’RE LIVING IN A SOCIETY OF QUITTERS.

NOW THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO GET OUR MAIN TEXT FROM THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. NEHEMIAH INQUIRED OF THE CONDITION OF JERUSALEM AND ITS INHABITANTS. WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE WALLS AND GATES WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THE CITY LEFT IN RUINS HE BEGAN TO WEEP AND PRAY MANY DAYS. IT WAS DURING THAT TIME OF INTENSE PRAYING THAT GOD BIRTHED INTO HIS HEART A VISION TO REBUILD THE WALLS AND REPAIR THE GATES AND ASKS GOD FOR FAVOR WITH THE KING WHOM HE SERVED AS CUPBEARER. AFTER MAKING HIS REQUEST TO THE KING HE WAS COMMISSIONED TO GO BACK AND REBUILD JERUSALEM INCLUDING THE TEMPLE AND THE WALLS AROUND THE CITY. THE WALLS WERE THE FIRST THING THEY REBUILT BECAUSE WITHOUT THE WALLS THE CITY COULD BE PENETRATED BY ITS ENEMIES AND DESTROYED. SO HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THE ENEMY DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SUCCEED IN BUILDING A DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR THAT WILL PROTECT THE VISION TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE OR TO PURSUE THE VISION GOD HAS BIRTHED IN YOUR HEART. WELL, LET’S BEGIN READING IN:

(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 some one 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 a 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;

6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore,

and let us take counsel together.

8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah,

and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth

day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

HERE WE SEE THAT NEHAMIH AND THE PEOPLE WERE INSTRUCTED TO REBUILD THE WALL BECAUSE THE ENEMY HAS COME IN AND DESTROYED EVERYTHING AND THERE’S RUBBLE AND DESTRUCTION ON EVERY SIDE AND THE PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE IN SHAMBLES. THE PEOPLE WERE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK BECAUSE THE WALLS OF DEFENSE HAVE NOT BEEN REBUILT AND REFORTIFY. ITS LIKE MANY BELIEVERS WHO ARE BORN AGAIN BUT THEIR LIVES ARE STILL FILLED WITH THE RUBBLE AND DECAY OF PAST THINGS. SO THEY JUST LIE THERE, BORN AGAIN, BUT VICTIMS BEFORE THE ADVERSARY. SO NEHEMIAH COME TO REBUILD THE WALLS. SO WE READ IN NEH.6.15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. A KEY TO SUCCESS IN ANYTHING YOU BUILD IS TO LEARN TO FINISH WHAT WE START. AN UNSPOKEN AND UNSEEN QUALITY OF ALL SUCCESS IN SCRIPTURE IS LEARNING TO FINISH WHAT YOU START. THEY ARE BRINGING SOMETHING GOD WANTS TO A PLACE OF COMPLETION.

WE NEED TO LEARN THE ART OF FOLLOW THROUGH. LEARN HOW

TO FINISH THE TASK YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN. IN ACTS 20:24 PAUL SAYS, THAT I MIGHT FINISH THAT WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. PAUL WANTED TO FINISH AND WAS ABLE TO SAY AT THE END OF HIS LIFE:

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 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.

ANOTHER SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLE OF FINISHING WELL IS JOSHUA WHO SUCCEEDED IN LEADING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL INTO THE PROMISED LAND IN:

14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.

15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing

16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills,

and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen,

HERE IS WHAT IS SAID OF JOSHUA: HE LEFT NOTHING UNDONE OF ALL THAT THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM TO DO. WHAT A QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS THROUGH AND MAKE SURE NOTHING IS LEFT UNDONE. THERE’S NO GREATER FEELING AS A LEADER TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN DELEGATE AN ASSIGNMENT AND TURN YOUR BACK KNOWING IT WILL BE DONE. WHY, BECAUSE YOU’VE TRAINED PEOPLE TO START AND TO FINISH WELL.

IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS STARTING NEW THINGS ALL THE TIME. SOME PEOPLE START TO MAKE NEW YEAR’S RES-OLUTIONS OR THEY WATCH A DOCUMENTARY AND DECIDE TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY EAT. PEOPLE START DIETS, PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING OR PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE FAITHFUL TO CHURCH, TO READ THEIR BIBLE AND BEGIN TO DO THINGS RIGHT IN THEIR LIFE. NO, ALL OF THEM START OK BUT MOST DON’T FINISH. WE LIVE IN A NATION OF QUITTERS. SO MARRIAGE IS GREAT UNTIL THERE’S PAIN IN IT AND THEN I WANT OUT. I’M GONNA QUIT EVEN THOUGH I SAID THE VOW FOR BETTER OR WORSE, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH UNTIL DEATH US DO PART BUT THAT DON’T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING WHEN THE PAIN AND NEED FOR SACRIFICE IS PREVALENT. NO, I’M A QUITTER, NO I’M GONNA USE MY FREEDOM AND MY RIGHTS TO END THIS THING BEFORE IT DESTROYS ME. NO, ITS PROBABLY WHAT YOU NEED FOR SOME GOOD CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST. NO WE’RE LIVING IN A NATION OF QUITTERS WHO HAVE DEVELOPED A PATTER FOR QUITTING WHAT THEY STARTED. PEOPLE WILL CHANGE CHURCHES LIKE THEY CHANGE UNDERWEAR. YOU’LL CHANGE RELATIONSHIPS, YOU’LL CHANGE JOBS AND YOU’LL BE A PERSON WHO NEVER FINISHES ANYTHING.

NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING: IF GOD’S BUILDING A KINGDOM, IF GOD’S BUILDING A CHURCH OR IF GOD’S BUILDING A BUSINESS OR A MARRIAGE HE CAN BUILD IT ON QUITTERS. SO ITS NOT HOW MANY LAPS YOU LEAD ITS WHETHER YOU FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED THAT YOU GET A REWARD. SO WHEREVER YOU ARE TODAY, DON’T BE DISCOURAGED, ITS NOT HOW YOU START IT HOW YOU FINISH AND WE WANT TO BE PEOPLE WHO FINISH WELL. NOW I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANYTHING MORE RARE THAT PEOPLE YOU CAN COUNT ON LIKE THAT.

MANY PEOPLE ARE LIKE THE CARTOON CHARACTER, GARFIELD THE CAT: HE SAID, I HATE PEOPLE WHO DON’T FINISH WHAT THEY START, SO I DON’T START ANYTHING. I THINK THAT’S A TRUE MOTTO FOR MANY PEOPLE. THEY DON’T WANT TO FAIL AT ANYTHING SO THEY DON’T TAKE THE RISK OF STARTING SOMETHING NEW. THE QUALITY WE NEED TO DEVELOP IS NOT THE ENTHUSIASM TO START SOMETHING BUT THE ABILITY TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THE OBSTACLES AND TO FINISH WELL. WHEN THIS CHURCH FIRST GOT STARTED IN FEB. OF 88 WE HAD 43 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE FIRST MEETING. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE AFTER WE STARTED IS MY FAMILY. EVERYONE ELSE HAS QUIT AND NOW THE CHALLENGE IS BEFORE ALL OF US TO FINISH WELL WHAT GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR US AS A CHURCH THAT HE BIRTHED OUT OF A VISION HE GAME ME FOR BEING REAL AND NOT RELIGIOUS AND TO REACH OUT AND MINISTER TO HURTING AND LOST PEOPLE AND TO BE A BODY OF BELIEVERS THAT COULD BE THE CHURCH AND NOT JUST PLAY CHURCH. NOW I DON’T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FINISHED WHAT GOD HAS CALLED FOR US TO DO. SO INSPITE OF DIFFICULT TIME WE DON’T QUIT WE CONTINUE TO PRESS TOWARDS THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GO IN CHRIST JESUS. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHEN YOU QUIT YOU’LL NEVER REACH THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE BUT YOU’LL SETTLE FOR SOMETHING LOWER. NOW LET’S LOOK AT THIS VERSE.

HERE WE SEE THAT GOD, HIMSELF IS COMMITTED TO BE A FINISHER OF THE WORK THAT HE STARTED WHEN HE SAVED YOU AND FILLED YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE THAT HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT OR FINISH THE WORK UNTIL ITS DONE. GOD IS DETERMINED TO BE A FINISHER OF ANYTHING HE PROMISED AND YOUR AGE AND DELAY AND SOME DETOURS AND PROBLEMS AND SETBACKS AND FAILURES DON’T CHANGE THE COMMITMENT HE MADE TO FINISH THE WORK HE HAS BEGUN IN YOUR LIFE. NOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT’S SOME GOOD NEWS? NOW LISTEN, IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND YOU TRULY ARE A CHILD OF GOD THEN YOU GOT GOD’S DNA IN YOU TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED. YOU OUGHT TO BE A FINISHER, YOU OUGHT TO BE A PERSON WHO FINISHES THE ASSIGNMENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU AND NOT A QUITTER.

HE BEGAN TO REBUILD THE WALL AND THE CITY AND HE LEFT NOTHING UNDONE BUT FINISHED THE WORK THAT GOD CALLED FOR HIM TO DO. NOW, MAY I SAY, IF YOU’VE GOT CHILDREN MAKE THEM FINISH PUTTING THAT PUZZLE TOGETHER OR THAT MODEL CAR TOGETHER. WHATEVER THEY BREAK OUT TO PLAY MAKE THEM FINISH IT BECAUSE IT GETS TOO HARD ONCE THEIR 45 YEARS OLD TO SAY, NOW PAY YOUR BILLS, GO TO WORK, BE ON TIME, BE RESPONSIBLE, KEEP YOUR WORD. "YOU PROMISED YOU’D DO THIS SO DO IT." "WELL IT SO HARD, OR IS RAINING OUT SIDE OR I’M NOT FEELING GOOD OR ITS TOO HARD." NO! JUST DO IT. SO START WHEN THEY ARE A CHILD BECAUSE A PATTERN OF QUITTING CAN DEVELOP OVER THE YEARS THAT WILL PRODUCE HAVOC AND RUIN IN THEIR LIVES AS ADULTS.

ONE OF THE HURDLES YOU’LL HAVE TO FACE IN ORDER TO FINISH WHAT YOU START IS TO NOT BE SIDE-TRACKED. NEHEMIAH IS A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS MORNING:

2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm.

HERE WE SEE THAT NEHAMIAH HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SID-TRACKED AND IT WASN’T THE WILL OF GOD. THE REASON ALLOT OF PEOPLE NEVER GET THRU AND FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED IS BECAUSE THEY GET SIDE-TRACKED AND THEY DON’T STAY FOCUSSED ON WHAT THEIR DOING. THEY TRY TO DO SIX THINGS INSTEAD OF THE ONE THING GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO. NOW GOD’S GIVE ALL OF US THE POWER OF FOCUS AND IF WE DON’T USE FOCUS WE’LL GET SIDE TRACKED IN CONFUSION. WE’RE DOING TOO MANY THINGS SO WE DON’T DO THE ONE MAJOR THING GOD RAISED US UP TO DO SO WE DON’T FINISH WELL. NOW IN ORDER TO RAISE TO A NEW LEVEL IN A BUSINESS OR IN A CHURCH YOU HAVE TO RAISE UP NEW LEADERS OR YOU WILL OVERKILL OR CAUSE BURNOUT OF YOUR EXISTING LEADERS AND NOT FINISH WELL.

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU BEGIN A CHURCH OR A BUSINESS OR A MARRIAGE OR YOU JUST HAD A BABY THAT YOU WON’T LET ANYTHING SIDE TRACK YOU BUT YOU GIVE IT YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. WHY? BECAUSE IT MIGHT DIE ECONO-MICALLY OR BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED OR IT MIGHT DIE CAUSE NO ONE’S INVOLVED AND YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE LIKE ‘ER’ AND SHOUT CLEAR AND PUT THE PADDLES ON IT AND BRING IT BACK TO LIFE. WHEN YOU’RE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES YOU STAY FOCUSSED CAUSE IT MIGHT DIE. BUT WHEN ITS OFF THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND YOUR HAVING A LITTLE SUCCESS ITS EASY TO LOOSE FOCUS AND GET SIDE-TRACKED. SUCCESS BECOMES THE GREATEST DANGER TO COMPLETING THE JOB.

NOW THE NEXT THING WE MUST DO TO FINISH WELL IS TO LEARN TO NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH LESS THAN THE FULL EXTENT OF WHAT GOD WANTS ACCOMPLISHED. WHEN IT COMES TO FOLLOW THROUGH, SUCCESS CAN BECOME A DANGER. WHEN IT COMES TO FOLLOW THROUGH, SATISFACTION CAN BECOME A DANGER TO FINISHING WELL. YOU SEE, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SUCCEED YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE THAT OTHERS AREN’T DOING IT AT YOUR LEVEL OR AS GOOD AS YOU’RE DOING IT, IN FACT YOU’RE DOING IT BETTER THAN MOST AND YOU’RE SATISFIED WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE COMPARED TO OTHERS SO YOU STOP AND DON’T REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL IN CHRIST. YOU’RE DOING GOOD AND BETTER THAN MOST BUT YOU HAVEN’T REACHED YOUR POTENTIAL YET SO DON’T GET YOUR EYES ON OTHERS, DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS, DON’T GET SIDE-TRACKED BUT STAY FOCUSSED ON WHAT GOD CALLED FOR YOU TO DO AND FINISH IT WELL. NOW NEHAMIAH HAD BUILT THE WALLS AND THE ONLY LEFT TO DO WAS TO HANG THE GATES AT EACH ENTRANCE. HE COULD HAVE SAID, ‘WELL, WE’VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BETTER THAN MOST SO WE OUGHT TO RELAX, CHILL AND KICK BACK FOR A WHILE. YOU SEE, MOST PEOPLE RELAX BEFORE THEY HAVE REAL VICTORY. OVERCOMING A PROBLEM IS NOT VICTORY. GOD’S DEFINITION OF VICTORY IS REACHING YOUR POTENTIAL.

SO IF YOU SELL MORE CARS THAN THE OTHER GUYS ON THE LOT IT COULD INDICATE THAT THEY AREN’T ANY GOOD. IT DOESN’T INDICATE THAT YOU REACHED YOUR POTENTIAL BUT YOU’LL LET UP CAUSE YOU’RE DOING BETTER THAN MOST OR YOU’VE NEVER MADE THAT MUCH MONEY BEFORE. SO YOU LET UP BUT YOU STILL HAVEN’T REACHED YOUR FULL POTENTIAL TO SELL CARS. YOU MUST NEVER BE SATISFIED IN WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTLY DOING, EVEN THOUGH THINGS ARE GOING WELL BECAUSE IT BECOMES TOO EASY TO BECOME SIDE-TRACKED, LOOSE YOUR FOCUS AND BECOME MEDIOCRE IN WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO AND YOU DON’T FINISH WELL. NO, WE MUST NOT STOP UNTIL WE FINISH ALL THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IN A BUSINESS OR IN A CHURCH OR IN A MARRIAGE OR IN A FAMILY. IT REAL EASY TO ALLOW A LITTLE SUCCESS TO SIDE-TRACK YOU INTO LOOSING YOUR FOCUS TO FINISH WELL. LISTEN, PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IS STILL DISOBEDIENCE. GOD DOESN’T GRADE ON A CURVE JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS SATISFIED WITH BEING MEDIOCRE. HE SAYS, OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE. (I SAM.15:22) NOW WHY IS IT BETTER? BECAUSE IF YOU HAD OBEYED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOT NEED FOR A SACRIFICE. SO SUCCESS CAN STOP YOU FROM FOLLOW THROUGH AND SATISFACTION CAN STOP YOU FROM FINISHING WELL.

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT WHEN A PROBLEM ARISES THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO WORK HARDER AT FIXING IT. WHEN THE TITANIC SPRUNG A LEAK EVERYBODY JUMPED UP AND STARTED TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. YOU SEE, PEOPLE WORK WELL WHEN THERE’S A PROBLEM, IT HELPS THEM STAY FOCUSSED AND THAT’S WHY THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. IF YOU GOT A BIG FINANCIAL PROBLEM THEN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY TO STAY FOCUSSED. IF YOU’RE DEALING WITH A MARRIAGE PROBLEM YOU STAY FOCUSSED. GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU LIVE WITHOUT PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEN YOU WOULD LOOSE YOUR FOCUS AND YOUR NEED FOR HIM. NO! COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO TRIBULATION AND PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEN GOD WILL CONTINUE THE WORK AND HELP YOU TO FINISH WELL.

NOW HERE’S ANOTHER HINDRANCE YOU WILL NEED TO OVERCOME IN ORDER TO FINISH WHAT YOU START. YOU WILL NEED TO OVERCOME DISTRACTIONS, DELAYS AND DETOURS CAUSE THERE ALL GONNA COME YOUR WAY. AVOID DISTRACTIONS THAT DIVIDE YOUR ENERGY, YOUR STRENGTH OR YOUR RESOURCES. YOU CAN’T BE SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO IF YOU TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE ASKED TO DO SO BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON’T VOLUNTEER TO DO TOO MANY THINGS. YOU’VE BEEN CALLED TO BE A CEO, AN ADMINISTRATOR , A DOCTOR OR A PASTOR BUT YOU ARE ALSO MARRIED WITH CHILDREN. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY TIME FOR YOU FAMILY, YOU HAVE PROBABLY OVER VOLUNTEERED YOUR TIME AND WILL BE LACKING IN STRENGTH AND ANOINTING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAS CALLED FOR YOU TO DO. YOU CAN’T DO EVERYTHING, YOU’RE NOT A ONE MAN SHOW, A MESSIAH, SO AVOID THE DISTRACTIONS OF DOING TOO MUCH OR YOU WILL BURNOUT. SPEND YOUR RESOURCES FOR THINGS THAT WILL HAVE A HIGH RETURN ON WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO:

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

But they thought to do me mischief.

3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease,

whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO CAUSE YOU TO LOOSE FOCUS, JUST SAY, OH NO! THEY WANTED NEHEMIAH TO COME TO THE PLAIN OF ONO SO JUST SAY ONO, I’M DOING A GREAT WORK SO THAT I CANNOT COME AND MEET WITH YOU. NEHEMIAH KNEW THAT NOT EVERYBODY THAT DEMANDS YOUR ATTENTION, NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION. SO HE REFUSED TO BE DISTRACTED. SOME TIME OTHER PEOPLE CAN DO THE JOB BETTER THAN YOU CAN SO LEARN TO DELEGATE WORK TO OTHERS. SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME TO THE OFFICE AND SAY I JUST HAVE TO SPEAK TO PASTOR CRAIG, I CAN’T TAKE THIS TO ANYBODY ELSE AND THEN ASK SOME STUPID QUESTION LIKE WHERE SHOULD I BEGIN READING MY BIBLE. I JUST TELL THEM, "DO YOU SEE WHERE IT SAYS GENUINE LEATHER, THEN JUST START RIGHT OF THAT AND KEEP READING."

and turn again and rend you.

LEARN THIS, THE LEAST COMMITTED ARE THE MOST DEMANDING.

HUSBANDS, YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF YOUR WIVES BEING EASILY DRAWN AWAY BY UNCOMMITTED PEOPLE WHO CALL HER ON THE PHONE WITH THEIR PETTY PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS THAT KEEP HER FROM HER MAIN JOB AS MOTHER, HOUSE WIFE AND CHAUFFEUR

OF THE KIDS. SOME OF THEM HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM AN ALCOHOL

PROBLEM, A MARRIAGE PROBLEM, FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND THEY’VE HAD THEM FOR 20 YEARS AND THEY AREN’T ANY BETTER AND DON’T WANT HELP OR DELIVERANCE THEY JUST WANT YOUR WIFE’S SYMPATHY OR YOUR SYMPATHY. THEY ARE THERE TO DRAIN YOUR ENERGY AND RESOURCES AND DEMAND YOUR ATTENTION BUT THEY ARE NOT COMMITTED TO THE BODY. IS THAT TOO HARD FOR YOU? I’M NOT GONNA GIVE MY BEST FOR THE LEAST I’M GONNA GIVE TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST COMMITTED. SO WOULD ANYBODY IN SPORTS OR BUSINESS CAUSE IT’S THE MOST PRACTICAL THING TO DO! LISTEN, IF YOU CAN’T SAY NO THEN YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR MAJOR DISTRACTIONS IN YOUR LIFE.

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.

THEY INVITED HIM 5 TIMES TO GO OUT FOR COFFEE AND SHOOT THE BREEZE BUT HE REFUSED BECAUSE HE HAD BETTER THINGS TO DO. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE INVITATIONS WE ACCEPT OR WE WILL BECOME THE PREY OF TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS. NEHEMIAH REFUSED ANYTHING THAT WOULD DRAW HIM AWAY FROM HIS GOD GIVEN PRIORITIES.

3. WATCH OUT FOR MENTAL DISTRACTIONS AND THE MIND AMES PEOPLE WILL PLAY WITH YOU TO OBTAIN YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. VERSE 4 TELLS US THAT THEY SENT THE SAME MESSAGE 4 TIME AND THE 5TH TIME THEY SENT IT PRIORITY MAIL OR WITH A PERSONAL MESSENGER. ANY TIME YOU SIT DOWN TO DO SOMETHING YOU MIND WILL AUTOMATICALLY THINK OF 4-5 THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD DO RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE CALLED MENTAL DISTRACTIONS. CAN YOU SEE THAT DISTRACTIONS JUST KEEP COMING AT YOUR FROM EVERY DIRECTION. NEHEMIAH SAID THERE’S A GREAT WORK GOING ON HERE AND I’M NOT GONNA BE DISTRACTED. NEVER KILL MOMENTUM.

4. IF YOU’RE GONNA BE A FINISHER THEN YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR PUBLIC DISTRACTIONS. VERSE 5: THEN SANBALLAT SENT TO ME AN OPEN LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN THE PAPER AND NOW THE DISTRACTION HAS BECOME PUBILC AND NOT PERSONAL. AN OPEN LETTER IS READ OUT LOUD OUTSIDE THE WALL SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR IT. NEHEMIAH WON’T MEET WITH US, THEY SAY. BUT THE PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THE FACTS THAT THESE ARE REALLY ENEMIES TRYING TO SUBVERT THE WORK ON THE WALL. SOMETIMES MINISTRY PROJECTS BECOME SIDETRACKED BECAUSE WE BECOME SO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE THINKS THAT WE FORGET WHAT GOD THINKS. YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT AND IT TAKES COURAGE.

and let us take counsel together.

8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

BASICALLY WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE IS THAT THE ENEMY HAS HIRED PEOPLE TO FALSELY PROPHESY ABOUT NEHEMIAH AND SAY SOME BAD THINGS ABOUT HIM. YOU MUST NEVER COMPROMISE SPIRITUAL VALUES. YOU CAN COMPROMISE STYLE OR TECHNIQUE BUT NEVER SPIRITUAL VALUES.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO MAKE US AFRAID TELLING US CAR SELLS ARE OFF, YOUR BUSINESS IS GONNA FAIL, WE HAVE A SHRINKING ECONOMY AND THEY WANTED TO WEAKEN OUR HANDS IN THE WORK SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE DONE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’D SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD TRY TO WEAKEN YOU AND BRING DOUBT, FEAR AND UNBELIEF INTO YOUR LIFE AS A MAJOR DISTRACTION FROM GETTING YOU WORK DONE. FEAR IS AN EMOTIONAL DISTRACTION THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR. WHEN STRESS AND WORRY BEGIN TO DISTRACT YOU THEY WEIGH YOU DOWN AND THEY HINDER YOUR PROGRESS. NOW NEHEMIAH LEARNED HOW TO FACE THESE ISSUES LIKE WE NEED TO LEARN AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A FOLLOW THROUGH UNTIL HE FINISHED THE WORK THAT GOD COMMANDED HIM TO DO. HE KNEW THAT PERSONAL ATTACKS AND SPIRITUAL ATTACKS ARE HANDLED IN ONE PLACE, PRAYER! SO HE PRAYED IN VERSE 9: "OH GOD STRENGTHEN MY HANDS. IT NEVER PAYS TO HANDLE PUBLIC ATTACKS OR EMOTIONAL ATTACKS CAUSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA BELIEVE WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE ANYWAY. NOW IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF INTEGRITY YOU CAN’T TELL PEOPLE EVERYTHING YOU KNOW SO YOUR ONLY OPTION IS TO TE