Nehemiah’s burden
• Do you pray for the kingdom of God and the people of
• Nehemiah was concerned about the kingdom of God
and the people of God
• Nehemiah 1:2 that Hanani one of my brethren came
with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the
Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
God?
• Nehemiah 1:3-4
3. And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity
in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of
Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4. So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept,
and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the
God of heaven.
• How do you react when you hear about the desolations
around you?
• Nehemiah 2:12 I slipped out during the night, taking
only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about
the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We
took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was
riding. (NLT)
• When you have the burden, God will give plans to
accomplish it.
Operation Auca
• Did God fail them?

• Elizabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint went to live with the

Waodanis
• Roger Youderian, Peter Fleming, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint,
and Ed McCully were speared to death as they tried to • Steve Saint and his sister were baptized by Micaye, the
take Gospel to remote people (Waodani/Auca) in one who speared their father
Ecuador • How could they forgive such people?
• Was their attempt a failure?
• Why did they suffer if they had done the will of God?
Love of Christ
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 • 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud • 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that
5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it if One died for all, then all died;
keeps no record of being wronged. • 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer
6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
wins out.
• Living a Godly life and doing the will of God is not be d
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and
endures through every circumstance.
of roses
• Do you have such love? • 2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
• Can you forgive like that?
• If there is no struggle in your life then you should
• This love is not emotional – but Christ Like – proceeds examine whether you are in the will of God?
from a crucified life
Are you in the Will of God
• 1 John 2:16-17 • We need to be in the will of God to inherit the kingdom
• 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the of God
eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the
world. • Being in the will of God does not mean everything will
• 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who happen as per our desire
does the will of God abides forever.
• Will to God is not an escape route to suffering.
• Matthew 7:21-23
• 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in
heaven.
• 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and
done many wonders in Your name?’
• 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from
Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Spiritual Life is a battle – race – wrestling
• Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
• 2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
• You may be knocked down, but you should not be
knocked out
• People may mock you, even Christians, but do not give
up
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
• 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only
one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
• 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a
crown that will last forever.
• 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not
fight like a boxer beating the air.
• 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that
after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified
for the prize.
God is not ashamed to be called their God
• We should not live a complacent life, but to listen to the • “Some want to live within the sound of
call of God
church or chapel bell; I want to run a
• God is proud of people who does His will rescue shop, within a yard of hell.”
• God is proud of people who takes step of faith
― C.T. Studd
• Hebrews 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a
homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they
had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has
prepared a city for them.