The Focused Life

Good Morning, Welcome to our online service… Last weekend Pam and I spent some time with the Community Group in Oroville — visiting with Esther, Brian and Smiley and Brenda.... It was great blessing to catch up and be together in person with them… I can’t stress enough how important these these Community groups areas we go forward… It is one of the ways that we can keep each other encouraged as we go forward...

As we are going through the book in Nehemiah… there is wonderful picture of each family working on the section of the wall… Not only are they working together, but they are looking out for each other… and Keeping watch as they build. … In next few weeks and months we are going to working towards reengaging…

A few weeks ago Pam and I celebrated our 24th anniversary — I am so grateful for Pam…She is not only an amazing wife and mom… but spiritual giant… and to be honest huge part and support in ministry… So a weeks ago we took a few days and went to Lake Tahoe. One of the things that we wanted to experience was zip lining. Pam booked our tickets and there was no going back...

What we didn't realize that was not only Zip-lining but it was also an obstacle course... Which involves going over various rope bridges… and through various obstacles.. The skill levels went from beginners, intimidate all the way to the Advance…

After our orientation we were all geared up in our harnesses and we started with the easiest challenge about which was about 3 feet off the ground… And to be honest you might think three feet off the ground… what’s the big deal… well even though it’s not very high you have to concentrate… make sure that each step hits the rope… and you could potentially hurt or potentially embarrass yourself...

Basically at this level you want to make sure that you concentrating on each movement… that on each step you have good balance, focus… Once we mastered the beginners courses ...we decided it was time to up our game… and so we went on onto the more challenging obstacles …and through the day our confidence grew… by the end of the two hour session… we were both up about 50 feet in the air.. doing obstacles and zip-lining without any fear…

Now, if we started out the day fifty feet level when we arrived -- there would have been no way we could have done it…We would have packed up after five minutes and called it good…

This is the same with any Goal or vision… if you if you start of small manageable goals.. the three feet level… it builds you confidence.. you have a few wins… and that is empowering… Once you conquered your fears you can move onto tackle larger goals…..

But it alls starts with getting the basics down first… and having that first win...

This morning we looking at the importance of “living a focussed life”…

One of the Biggest challenges having a vision for your life is staying focused.… When we talk about Vision we are talking about a preferred future… or a God preferred future. We talking about future potentials and How things could be… or ought to be… but there are obstacles between us and our goals.. between here and there.... point A and B....there are ...distractions…

Distractions can be inconvenient.. and slow you down..

Life is full of distractions… many of us know intuitively what we could be and should be doing, but we’re not doing it. It is not that we don’t know how to be healthy, or how to save, or how to pray…or be in the word…

That is no the issue… the issue life is always now… we are continually faced with the urgent or the now... Life is now. Bills are now. Crises are now. Vision is later.

It’s easy to begin living moment by moment, and to begin sacrificing what’s really important for what’s urgent, to begin sacrificing what’s best for what’s good enough.

The problem with Distractions is that they can slowly kill your vision.

The book of Nehemiah are his memoirs -- A record of His thoughts what was happening around the building of the walls of Jerusalem.. We get front row seat an inside track to Spiritual leadership…

Nehemiah has faced many obstacles in the first several chapters… but he is keeping the vision alive… He is not trying to do everything himself… He is prayerfully depending on God… He is depending on leaders and the people to work on the walls…

Nehemiah keeps his mission and the burden that the Lord has placed in heart front and central.. that is the engine that drives his life...

We have seen already that there is a-lot of white noise..that he has to get through..

There are battles from with out and there also from within.... He has to determine real threats from false threats... real indicators from false indicators... He has to figure out which voices he is going to listen too…and which voices he is going to ignore...

T/s We learn from Nehemiah - How to deal with distraction and how to live a life that is focused...

First we learn that we need to...

1. Know our Purpose

Somebody’s said that life is like a coin. We get to spend it any way we like, but we only get to spend it once...

There is really only one of two ways to spend that coin… We can either spend it on our own desires and purposes… or we can live our lives for God and his purposes in the world...

Unfortunately, many people in the world try to find their purpose apart from God…and to be honest often when we live for ourselves it leaves us feeling empty…

Tim Keller expresses it like this… there are only two alternatives.. either there is God and you were created for a purpose… or there is no God an we are an accident and therefore it down matter how much you try and put your life in order.... Because you will always feel like an accident…

Scriptures teach us that God created each of us as individuals with purpose… David in psalms 139 said that God put him to gether in his mothers womb… that in that in secret... God literally stitched him together…David marvels at this thought and he praises God because he is wonderfully and fearfully made… Then he says this.

Psalm 139:16 ESV

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God is God of purpose and design....and God has designed you and I with a purpose. God gave your life significance. God created you to live in the freedom, joy, beauty, and holiness of his design..

Here is the thing the goal of our lives is not just to complete the exercise… it is not an assignment with a due date....- our purpose is rather discover and live out our individual calling in the world...We live out the Purposes that God prepared in advance...

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

In Chapter 6 of the book of Nehemiah the People of Judah have Completed the Walls of Jerusalem.…They finish the walls in record time —in just 52 days - the breaches in the wall have been filled and the the gates of the city are in the process of being hung....

The completion of the work was a great testimony to the leadership of Nehemiah, the unity of God’s people and the power of God at work that equips and enables people to accomplish great things...

The key to this great accomplishment is Single mindedness -- Focus…on Right things..

...The Bible often talks about keeping our focus one thing . When it came to worship...

Martha is busy in the Kitchen serving - Jesus said to Martha that Mary chose the better thing.... the One thing that was Necessary… sitting at the feet of Christ..

When it comes to finding Purpose and meaning in life.… Jesus said To the Rich young ruler who followed the mosaic law to ever letter... you lack one thing ...sell your possessions

When it comes to getting through trials and tribulations … The apostle Paul said this… This.....One thing I do.... forgetting what is behind and straining forward to the things that are ahead...

Max Lucado in his book “Facing Your Giants.” traces the life of David—his slaying of Goliath; his troubles with Saul; his wilderness trials; his stunning successes and equally stunning failures.

When David focused on the right things He Had success… Lucado reduced it to this one principle… “ “Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—giants tumble.”

In our text Nehemiah is going to have some distractions to the Work… and we are going to see how keeping focus… made all the difference..

Nehemiah 6:1–3 ESV

1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

When Sanballat and Tobiah hear of the news that the walls are completed --- they immediately respond… There is this last window of opportunity to do something about about Nehemiah and his building project… The three trouble makers Sandballat, Tobaiah and Geshem the Arab…(not sure why he is single out) start writing these friendly letters… Inviting Nehemiah to join them for a gathering..

They say to Nehemiah.. “lets get together...” lets go to that nice coffee shop in that village in the plains of Ono… let sit relax and catch up on all that you have been doing.. over the last few months in Jerusalem.... these letters are flowery and buttering Nehemiah up… ... but ... Nehemiah sees through the deception… he read through all the fluff... He realized that this was a scheme to harm him...

Sanballat and Geshem knew that if they could lure Nehemiah to the plain of Ono, about twenty miles away from Jerusalem…They could take care of Nehemiah when nobody was around… and hopefully this would put fear in the people and stop — Judah from becoming a nation… Even though the walls were built there weren’t too many home built… It’s like watching one of those TV shows and you know who the villains are and how it is all going to end....

thankfully ....Nehemiah knows his purpose…

Nehemiah...has an nice polite response back... sorry I can't come now, “I am doing a great work”

His statement is… straight to the point…

They really wanted Nehemiah to bite the bait... after this the write four times with same message and every time Nehemiah responded…he is doing this great work.

What we learn from Nehemiah --

Nehemiah had almost completed the project. It had become obvious that the vision was going to be successful, despite the opposition and the criticism.

Even though there was this opportunity… and he could have taken some time off… He could have justified the trip… after all it would it made sense for the neighboring provinces to request a meeting to normalize relations.

In fact, it would have been tempting to go to negotiate a proper standing and to gloat a little. It would have been easy to take this opportunity – but it would have been fatal.

But… Nehemiah lived his life on purpose …

Vision is always tied to our Values… If as church we value Evangelism.. it is going to reflect by programing… if we value discipleship…it is going to do the same thing… Our values determine what we do and what don’t do.... In church leadership you talk about Core values…

These are “deep-seated understandings about who we are.” They are not the same as aspirational values (who we wish we were) or common values (how we are like every other church).

They are the church’s core identity, their DNA, the shared values that bind the many into one.

Once we understand our values… we can get to our mission… Our mission is how we get there… for some years we used simple mission process.… Connect —Grow ---Serve… that is how do how we achieve our Vision…

Like Nehemiah… one of the biggest enemies to vision.. Are distractions…and they come in the form of both obstacles and opportunities… One of the ways that Nehemiah handled the distractions was by asking questions

Nehemiah says...

“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down......(then he asks this Value question) Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

If I am doing what God is calling me to do in the moment…there is no need for me to come to you right now.... That is a Value decision...

A Simple exercise you can do yourself is write down somethings that your value… Marriage, Friendships, Church, God, time, Career, farming...… What is keeping me back from improving in those relationships or areas…What are the distractions?

T/s We learn from Nehemiah - How to deal with distraction and how to live a life that is focused...

First we learn that we need to...

1. Know our Purpose

2. Know Yourself (Identity)

How well do you know yourself? When you read through the narrative of Nehemiah.. You get the sense that here is man who… has self-awareness… He spends time in seeking God through prayer, He fasting, He asking questions…… When he is faced opposition… He doesn’t react … but he rather responds purposefully… Not that he is perfect… He confesses to his own sins with the people..

We know that Nehemiah got angry when he heard about how Jews treated each other through charging one another heavy interests rates in order to survive the drought..

What we see in Nehemiah is not perfection but Awareness..… he has self knowledge and so when he faces pressure, pain and discomfort… depression… he is often equipped to face those times…

In our text..

When Sanballat and Geshem couldn't win Nehemiah over with a friendly invitation they change their tactics and they send a threatening letter..This is the fifth letter was sent …and the tone is very different… It comes with accusations against Nehemiah…

Nehemiah 6:6–7 ESV

6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”

The first thing that we learn about this letter is that it is an open letter… In those days, letters were written on papyrus or leather. The letter would be rolled, tied with a string, and sealed with clay. But this letter was different…

Verse five tells us that Sanballat had purposely neglected to seal it so that everyone who handled the letter would have been able to read its contents.

Sandballat…an his cronies give it one last Hail Mary… This was part of the strategy… the goal was to spread rumors about Nehemiah. The letter comes with this sense of false concern...

They tell Nehemiah of some of the rumours floating around Geshem and surrounding nations... that he and the Jews were plotting a revolt? On top of that it has been said that Nehemiah had appointed prophets to proclaim himself as the King of Judah.. then it ends with this.... statement...Can you imagine what will happen if news gets out to the King?

There is a lot of manipulation going on in this letter…

First of all how many people have now read the letter… What would happen if the word gets out… On Friday when we heard that President trump had Covid… the whole world knew in minutes… News travels fast… and some news can be destructive...

Second, there is the accusation that Nehemiah’s motives were wrong… That this whole time he was building the wall for himself for self interest… That Nehemiah was in his own little Ponzi scheme going on… setting up prophets who would anoint him King of Judah…

Then they try and force his hand… WE should get together… maybe clear the air!

Nehemiah could have caved… Okay --- You win… I’m coming… Even if it was too set the record straight.. but this is not what he does.....messages are flighting back and forward..

c. Nehemiah Responds

Nehemiah 6:8–9 ESV

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

We see how Nehemiah handles… intimidation and fear..

i . He States the facts --

Nehemiah... sends out another message... Nothing like this happening --you have fabricated the whole story.... You are trying to intimidate us... Nehemiah says... I see through you motives and you are only trying to discourage us from the work... so we will stop the work... and we will not complete the work.. This is isn’t going to work...

Why ‘because Nehemiah” knows his identity

The Facts… are backed by his self knowledge..

Throughout the book of Nehemiah... the not even one occasion where we see Nehemiah trying to profit from the wall — Quite the opposite — he gives of himself and his personal resources..

He wasn't there for personal honor or recognition... He had one motive and that was to strengthen God's people...

Because he has self awareness he is able to deal with the real deeper issue… They are inventing these idea out of your own mind -- because you are tying to frighten.. us.

3. Nehemiah Keeps up Good practices..

Instead of chasing rumors, Nehemiah turned his attention to God, and prayed for strength to continue the work. He didn’t stop the work. He didn’t even slow the work even for a minute.. He kept on going and depended on God to handle the critics…What’s the lesson…

Don’t be distracted by criticism...

Nehemiah stopped and prayed... and started back to work with even more determination than before

How do we live a life that is focused?

T/S First we learn that we need to...

1. Know our Purpose

2. Know Yourself (Identity)

3. Know God's Voice

What does it mean to Know God’s Voice...

A friend of mine who is a self proclaimed atheist… said to me one day… Do you really believe that God speaks to you? Do you hear voices in your head.... How does that work…

He was really baffled with this question of God speaking.. I told him that does speak to me....Every time I open the word God speaks… then there are times when I sense God’s leading...… God speaking… is a huge part of the Gospel… We talk about the bible been the inspired word of God.... Divine Revelation… these are not man’s words but God’s Words..

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

We see that God speaks through out scripture… In the begining the first act of God in creation was him speaking…God said... Let there be light and their was light…

God… spoke to Adam and Even in the Garden, He spoke to Cain, He spoke to Abraham, Moses at the burning bush, to Samuel in the Temple — David and the psalmist describe the voice of God… as powerful voice that thunders… voice that is over many waters… God’s voice shakes the famous cedars of Lebanon…God spoke through the time of the Judges..Elijah was in the cave and when God spoke in an audible voce but this time his voice wasn’t in the earth quake or the fire… … but in the still small…voice… God spoke to and through the prophets... Then we are told that

God pauses.. there are 400 silent years between the two testaments.. And God spoke again through John the baptist… God speaks directly through Jesus… we have the very word of God with us.. God speaks to Paul..

John the beloved said.

John 8:47 ESV

47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

The answer to the question does God Speak today is yes… He speaks today through the word of God and through his Holy Spirit…

The author Henry Blackaby — says that

“God clearly spoke to His people in Acts. He clearly speaks to us today. From Acts to the present, God has been speaking to His people by the Holy Spirit.… Because He is always present in a believer, He can speak to you clearly at any time and in any way He chooses.”

As believers we should desire a word from God … In our text this is where Nehemiah finds himself… He wants to hear a word from God -- He goes to this prophet named Shemaiah-- .. He goes into his home — for some reason he was confined to his home...

Nehemiah 6:10 ESV

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”

We know that from the beginning of the book God has been leading and speaking to Nehemiah.... Giving him favor before King Arterxes… Everyone who came into contact with Nehemiah knew that the hand of the Lord was upon Him… We could say that Nehemiah is walking in the will of God… But for some reason he seeks out a prophet to get a word from God...

… we don’t know the reason..but it is possible that he was second guessing himself… When he arrives he is give this prophecy that his Enemies were coming that very night to get him.. to kill him… that he should go immediately to the temple and lock himself in there… Here is the problem —Nehemiah knew that entering into the temple would have violation of God’s Law. There is something off in the prophecy...

And he begins to question where this is really from ‘God… or something made up.

Nehemiah 6:11–12 ESV

11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Nehemiah gave thought to the prophetic word. Again he asks these deep question

Should such a man as I run from the enemy? Should I attempt to save myself?

This is Nehemiah thinking of his self in the third person… In my position as the Project manager Overseeing the work… the leader.. What would happen if I tried to save myself…What would that do to the people?

Nehemiah knew that if he gave into fear... the people would also fear...

He take the time to understand the prophetic word…

1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 ESV

20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

In the N.T. Prophecy is one of the gifts of the spirit and is given to the church to edify or to build up the church… The scripture gives us guidelines are how Prophecy opperates within the body… that prophecy has no private interpretaton… Rather when a word is spoken some one say — the says… that we are to test the spirts...

1 John 4:1 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Rather we are test prophecy… test the spirits

Nehemiah realized that this is not the voice of God... (he knew God's voice for himself).

Nehemiah discerns that this prophet had been paid off by his enemies.. That he might be intimidate and run... sin and be discredited... Again He prays -- a prayer of justice.. God remember Tobiah and Sanballat -- remember all the evil that him and the false prophets have spoken.

Conclusion -

Nehemiah triumphs overs his enemies..

The wall is finished in 52 Days... Nehemiah was able to silence all the interference -- all the noise... He was able to focus on what was important with Laser focus and the result was that people of God were able to completed their mission...

Maybe you have heard some of things said this morning and thought How do I do that? How do I live like Nehemiah a life that is focused…

I think sometimes we try and make it too difficult for ourselves and so we don’t even try… I like what

Adrian Rogers, once said

“The way to find God’s will for the rest of your life is to do God’s will for the next 15 minutes.”

We don’t have to focus that far out there… just start now…

Let’s Pray.