Intro:

Good morning, it is great to have you here at Oasis today. My name is Nathan Jones, I have the privolege of leading Oasis Church along with my wife Rachel.

Today I would like to take a few moments to encourage you from the word of God. As I was praying about sharing with you, I felt to encourage you from Nehemiah chapter 6,

DON’T STOP - YOUR DOING A GREAT WORK

There are times in our work life that mild discouragement can turn into a prolonged discouragement and this can be dangerous to our spirit.

Have you ever felt like you are in over your head with complex situations that are happening around you, and then more happen.

Then you may experience Joshua 7:10

Joshua 7:10 NLT

But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?

It was a combination of events with the people that ended up bad. The pressure put him on his face and God needed to speak, “get up” and stand on your feet.

Nehemiah had all the pressures to stop, to come down from his wall and his mission. God put in his heart a right perspective. Let us look at Nehemiah 6:1-4

He didn’t stop and you can’t stop!

CHAPTER 1 - Nehemiah is moved about the state that Jerusalem is in

CHAPTER 2 - Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem / inspects the walls

CHAPTER 3 - Rebuilding the walls

CHAPTER 4 - Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding

CHAPTER 5 - Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed

CHAPTER 6 - Nehemiah’s Continued Opposition to Rebuilding

Nehemiah 6:1–4 NLT

1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” 4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.

“I’m doing a great work, I can’t come down.”

“I’m doing a great work! Why should I stop?”

“I’m doing an important work and can’t go down there.”

“I am doing/engaged in a great work and I can’t come down.”

“My work is too important to stop now and go down there... I can’t afford to slow down the work.”

Stay focused: Let your attitude / character keep you on the wall, don’t let things become a distraction that will take you off the wall.

Point 1

TO STAY FOCUSED - REQUIRES A GOOD PERSPECTIVE OF MINISTRY

A. What you are doing is not Insignificant

Insignificance is feeling INVISIBLE, not drawing any attention, feeling that work is a meaningless endeavor, you are of little importance or little influence or little power.

When a person is convinced they are insignificant and doing an insignificant work, they can hit a discouragement wall, emotional drain, feel they don’t matter.

Drive and energy leaves.

Jesus said to Peter if you love me feed My sheep three times.

B. Your perspective on your ministry can take you off the wall or keep you on the wall.

I am doing an adequate work?

I am doing an average work?

I am doing an important work?

I am doing a great, significant, meaningful work?

“Never underestimate the importance of the things that are seemingly insignificant. Circumstances have a way of bringing the importance of all things to light.

What you are doing is not insignificant, it is a great thing

Point 2

TO STAY FOCUSED - IS TO GRASPS THE INWARD WORK OF GOD

A. Your grasp of the work of God in you and through you will keep you on the wall,

The work of God is something being done in you and others.

It’s a work that is dynamic.

The work is first in you before it is through you.

Philippians 2:13 NLT

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

For it is God Himself whose power creates within you the desire to do His gracious will and also brings about the accomplishment of the desire.

God is working in you deeply, with grace, with influence, with power

Philippians 1:6 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

B. We need to believe that the work of God in you will go through you.

The work of God in and through you must be fresh.

The energy of God in and through you needs to be updated and ready for today.

The activity of God in and through you needs to be grace - driven and grace - filled.

The divine operation of God in and through me must be of supernatural origin.

We need to let the effective power of God work in and through us.

We need to let the creative power of God in and through me.

FOR US TO STAY FOCUSED

A GOOD PERSPECTIVE OF MINISTRY

GRASPS THE INWARD WORK OF GOD IN US

Point 3

TO STAY FOCUSED - IS TO FIRMLY GRASPS THINGS THAT MATTER MOST

A. When You Lose Focus

Stuck in reaction mode

Feeling busy but unproductive

Task lists always rolling over and over

Activities - oriented instead of results - oriented

Can’t make a connection between your ministry activities and your vision / purpose

B. Things That Matter Most

Your heart is right with God, and filled with God.

Your relationships kept pure, healthy and growing.

Your ministry dedicated to serving the purpose of God.

Your commitment to express the gospel of Jesus today.

Your life focused on discipling yourself.

Your dreams kept alive through prayer and faith.

Your commitment to give 100 percent to your ministry and to your home church.

Don't stop - Your doing a great work