Message Title: Achieving what looks Impossible
Nehemiah’s Prayer
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
Good morning and blessed be the name of the Lord.
This morning we look at how great things are birthed and I remember a saying that goes – millions of people saw the apple or even other objects fall from the tree and elsewhere, but its only Isaac Newton that decided to ask “why”?. The starting point of achieving great things is a mind that stops to ask questions. Why am I where I am today? Why am I living this kind of life? Why am I accepting to live a life of emptiness and lack of joy? Why is our family not moving forward? Why am I always broke and not having more than enough? Why I am not respected? Why have all my key friends drifted away from me? Why despite all the effort am I not progressing? Why am I still renting a house? Why am I living in sin?.
Every time you stop to ask the question “why” – you set yourself on a journey to achieving great things. We are not told why Nehemia’s brother Hanani decided to come to Judah but whatever the reason, it triggered a series of events that led to revival in the nation of Israel and this brings us to point number 1:
• Take note of the people that come to your life: When God wants to move you to another level, He will use people if you are sensitive enough to pay attention. Every person that is in your reach today is a potential conduit to your blessing and to accomplishing matters of significance. If you understand this, you will never despise anyone that you come across including your family members. We have the human tendency to begin over time taking people for granted or getting used to them. When we do this, we limit God’s ability to channel blessings to us – you “bewitch” yourself .Remember that which you do not honour, will not come to your life. You know if you live life with this understanding, you will be careful how you treat and engage with others. You begin to understand why it’s critical to treat everyone with respect and honour irrespective of social class and more so those that are in authority over you including parents, guardians, spouses, employers spiritual leaders etc.
Nehemiah must have had a relationship with his brother Hanani for him to come all the way to see him. Hanani would have come to Judah and not visited Nehemiah at all. Remember, you only find time to visit people that you have a relationship with and those that you honour or value. I always remember our early days in the ministry – we just wanted to be near each other as possible – why – because we had a relationship that we honoured and valued. At one point, we had rented 4 rooms in one house so that we could be together. Later when I moved to Nairobi, I rented a house just next to the AIC Milimani Church because I wanted to be as close as possible to God’s house – because we had only one car and small children and I wanted the flexibility to be able to spend time in church without negatively impacting or inconveniencing my young family. So pay attention and treat not just people with honour, respect but also God’s house, ministry, fellowship and just any relationship that God sends your way
Faith in Action Step: Take time today to reflect on the people that God has brought into your life. Thank God for each one of them. Challenge yourself – Have you been engaging them well?. What do you need to change?
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