Obstacle of Distraction
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Obstacle of Distraction
Nehemiah 6:1-9
"squirrel" - Movie “Up” - Dug the dog.
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?”
4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
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.”
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 can be so easily be distracted.
God has given us a job to do. Take Gospel to the world.
As long as life is easy we stay on task.
Health, finances, pandemics, war, kids, debt,
Why is it we get distracted from the Great Commission?
4 Ways We Get Sidetracked From God’s Call
1- Distracted by Others Desires(1-4)
1- Distracted by Others Desires(1-4)
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?”
4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
Get caught up doing what other people want you to do over what God wants you to do.
Don't let other people and what they want from you define you.
They wanted him to stop the work and were offering peace as a lure.
ILL- Fishing- the lure looks like everything they could ever wish for. When they bite, they die.
Sanballat didn’t want peace, he wanted the destruction of the walls.
Satan doesn’t get you by saying he wants to kill you. He gets you by offering something that sounds good.
Peace sounded great. But it was just a way to take him away from the work and possibly kill him.
They wanted to distract him with diplomacy.
This was a repeated temptation.
4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
Don’t put your guard down because you survived one temptation.
Make him tired until he gives in.
2- Distracted by Others Lies (5-7a)
2- Distracted by Others Lies (5-7a)
5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
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.”
Slander- Lets see if he will come and defend his own name.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The purpose of their slander was the make him mad so he was distracted from his work.
Takes a detour to defend himself.
When we take a detour for no good reason we fail at our mission.
ILL- GPS - Tells when roads are slow from wrecks or weather.
They are usually behind.
Everything is clear and they are still saying to take the long way.
Trying so hard to not waste a second that we go long way for no reason.
Don’t let what others are saying to stop you from doing what you know is right.
3- Distracted by Others Perception (7b-8)
3- Distracted by Others Perception (7b-8)
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.”
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.”
This distraction has to do with the result of the slander.
This is more than just them telling a lie about you.
This is the results of who believes the lies.
Will he fear that the King would hear the lies and believe them?
Do not care what other people think about you.
ILL- ME - people and dogs- and scars to prove it.
This isn’t about what the enemy thinks but what those who hear the enemy might think.
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
4- Distracted by Personal Indecision (9)
4- Distracted by Personal Indecision (9)
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.
When you let others define who you are you can get indecisive. Keeps you from persevering.
“they wanted to frighten”= intimidate.
To make them stop.
The remedy= Prayed to God to strengthen his hands. Strengthen his resolve. Work harder at what you know for sure to be the right thing.
If God has already told us what to do we do not have to doubt. Do it until he tells you something else.
Perseverance - don’t give up.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Decide before it happens that you are going to follow God no matter what the cost.
You cannot saddle the fence.
“O God, strengthen my hands.”
Literally- “God keep me on task”
CONCLUSION
You are either for God or against God. You can’t be neutral.
-distraction is proof that your confused of your assignment.
One day we will all stand before God in judgement.
Whose side are you on?
Have you made Jesus the boss?
Parable of the Prodigal Son - He was distracted by selfishness.
Will you let distraction keep you away from God?
Will you let distraction keep you away from God?