I am doing a Great Work, I cannot come Down

In the 6th Chapter the 3rd verse - 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?

Poem – I have only just a minute. by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

I have only just a minute, Only sixty seconds in it, Forced upon me, can’t refuse it, Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, But it’s up to me to use it, I must suffer if I lose it, Give account if I abuse it, Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.:

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, But it’s up to me to use it, I must suffer if I lose it, Give account if I abuse it, Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.

But it’s up to me

to use it.

I must suffer if I lose it, Give account if I abuse it, Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.

I must suffer if I lose it.

Give account if I abuse it.

Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.

but eternity is in it.

Engaged in a great work - these words were uttered by Nehemiah, of whom the book is named.

A crisis arose in the life of Israel. The country had been overrun by the Babylonian army which destroyed the city, the walls and the temple of God.

I AM doing a Great work

‘I am’ doing a great work

I am doing a GREAT work

‘Speak through Your Holy Word and by Your grace through your unworthy messenger...

Say that with me, I am doing a great work I cannot come down

Its not about you or me its about God - his plan his purpose for His glory

538BC - Syrus conquered the Babylonians

Great work - Marriage;

Great work - Parenting;

Great work - the great commission

Great work - Driving; Praying

Salvation - what it cost what it covered and all I have to do is confess - it out to put some rejoicing in your heart, some Amen on your lips, some Hallelujah in your bossom, some clappings in your hands, some stand up in your legs and some running in your feet

We are called to be good stewards of that gift -

says, let us not neglect the gift of salvation

Can i just take a sermonic survey - who is thankful to be alive today?

Just wink an Amen

The Greatest darkness is just before dawn - Sanballat invites Nehemiah just before

Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down?

Distractions to get me off the wall

Nehemiah goes with the favour of the King

Sanbalat, Tobias and Gersham

They mock his intentions, they deri his efforts, they maline his motives and they even threaten his life

But the Bible says, Nehemiah prayed and persevered

In 52 days he does what had not been done in a 100 years

By chapter 6 Nohemiah figures out that Sanballat, Tobiah and Gersham are bonified, certified enemies of the work of God

538 BC

50000 - Zerubabbel returns after 70 years

Rebuilding of the temple

100 years later - Artaxerxes

Sends Ezra to kindle a revival

14 years later - WAlls need attendation

Sends Nehemiah - the Lord comforts

Draw the line of Resistance - Food

Draw the line of Dependence -

Draw the life of Confidence - The Lord whom we serve He will deliver us

Leaders with integrity

Young men who had a model in a leader to follow

Carl F Henry - Biblical truth

Richard Sumi - Nehemiah God

Richard Elsworth Day - it would be no surprise if a study of the secret causes

“It would be no surprise, if a study of secret causes were undertaken, to find that every golden era in human history proceeds from the devotion and righteous passion of some single individual. This does not set aside the sovereignty of God, it simply indicates the instruments through which He uniformly works. There are no bona fide mass movements; it just looks that way. At the center of the column there is always one man (or woman) who knows where his God is and where He is going.” – Richard Ellsworth Day