Participants: John Lomacang
Series Code: WOFP
Program Code: WOFP000005
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00:22 Hello and welcome
00:23 to our Week of Prayer program this evening. 00:27 We like to be sure and welcome those of you 00:29 who are on the internet with us tonight, 00:32 those who have tuned in by radio, 00:34 thank you for joining us, 00:36 and those who are at home 00:37 and other places watching on television, 00:40 we appreciate your being with us, welcome. 00:42 And for those of you 00:44 who have driven here this evening, 00:45 a special blessing, thank you and welcome. 00:48 And this evening we have a blessing 00:51 to be able to pray for ourselves, 00:54 so stay with us. 00:56 I am Joe O'Brien, 00:57 I work in the pastoral department 00:59 here at 3ABN, 01:01 and this program is live 01:03 from our headquarters here in Thompsonville, Illinois. 01:07 And our prayer tonight 01:09 is going to be for our marriages, 01:11 our family relationships, 01:13 our in-laws and out-laws 01:16 and for the workplace. 01:19 And of course, 01:21 things can be volatile at times in relationships. 01:24 And so, I'd like to share a little thought with you 01:27 from our creator, 01:29 a little something to encourage us. 01:32 In Matthew 5:9, 01:35 God shares with us this statement, 01:39 "Blessed are the peacemakers." 01:41 So if you're a peacemaker, 01:43 don't feel like you're a loser, you're not 01:46 because God says 01:48 you will be called the Children of God. 01:50 And to have the creator of the universe 01:53 as your dad 01:55 is a pretty good relationship to have. 01:58 So you're blessed, 02:01 and something that supports that is another statement 02:03 in Matthew 5:5 which says, 02:09 "Blessed are the meek." 02:11 Now the meek, I'm sure occasionally think, 02:14 well, I'm the loser in the situations 02:17 that are volatile, 02:18 but consider this, 02:20 if you're meek and if you're a peacemaker, 02:22 you're very much like Christ, 02:24 our example who is kind and patient, 02:28 forgiving, goes the extra mile 02:32 and turns that cheek instead of striking back. 02:36 And God says, 02:38 "If that's the kind of person you are, 02:40 you will inherit the earth." 02:43 And He's not talking about this broken one, 02:46 He's talking about the earth made new. 02:49 So with that in mind, 02:51 I want to ask you to join me in a prayer for all of us. 02:58 Our Father in heaven, we thank You Lord 03:01 that You have all power, 03:03 all knowledge and wisdom, capability, 03:06 and that we can come to You as You said, 03:08 "Come boldly before My throne of grace 03:10 in our time of need." 03:12 And so in our marriages we have a need, 03:15 and our prayer is that You will help us. 03:17 If we're not equally yoked to become equally yoked 03:21 by looking at Jesus as our example 03:24 instead of at each other 03:26 and then look at ourselves and try to emulate Him, 03:31 and study Him, and become more like Him 03:33 because as we do, 03:35 we will become more like each other 03:38 and peace will enter. 03:39 And Father we pray for our family, relationships, 03:42 especially with our children, 03:45 that as the enemy throws fiery darts 03:47 in their direction, 03:48 that they will have us as examples 03:52 and that they will see 03:54 the choice between right and wrong 03:56 and the blessing and curse that comes with it, 03:59 and that they will choose to make the better choice. 04:03 And Father we pray also for in-laws and out-laws 04:06 and neighbors, 04:08 there's difficulties, there's property lines, 04:10 there's lots of things, 04:11 Lord, that can fluff the feathers 04:12 but all of that will be left behind, 04:16 and what really matters is our characters 04:19 and our love for one another 04:20 and if our enemies don't love us, 04:22 then we need to pray for him 04:25 that their hearts will be softened, 04:27 that they too might be in your kingdom 04:29 because that's what you want. 04:31 And, Lord, also for the workplace, 04:34 the volatility that takes place there at times 04:37 help us to be able to absorb it. 04:40 Help us to enjoy going the extra mile 04:44 knowing that You keep notes 04:48 and You said, "We'll reap what we sow." 04:51 And we know that we can't lose if we follow Your principles, 04:55 we will be blessed. 04:57 And so in the workplace help us to be 04:59 the kind of employees 05:01 that we would want to hire 05:03 and help our employers 05:06 to recognize those 05:08 who are worthy of a little extra 05:10 and to be willing to give, so it will be given unto them. 05:14 And we thank You Lord 05:16 for the many blessings we have 05:18 and for the blessings we're asking for 05:20 and for the blessings You want to give us, 05:22 and we pray that it will all come together 05:25 and last for eternity. 05:27 And we thank You in Jesus' name, amen. 05:32 Now if you have other prayer requests, 05:34 you're welcome to call our prayer line 05:37 which is 05:38 618-627-4651 05:46 and then afterwards press another 1 05:48 and you'll get into the prayer system 05:50 which is the pastoral department. 05:53 Now that phone number once again 05:54 is 618-627-4651 06:01 and then follow it with another 1 06:04 and you might find us busy, if you do, 06:07 you'll get our voicemail which is a recording, 06:10 and I want to share with you 06:12 that if you do get the voicemail, 06:14 don't hesitate to leave your prayer request 06:17 because I guarantee each and every prayer request 06:21 is prayed for personally, 06:23 one at a time by our pastoral team. 06:26 So feel confident when you leave 06:27 your prayer request on a recording. 06:30 And also you may receive, you may reach us 06:32 with your prayer request through email. 06:35 And if you'd like to do that, 06:37 our email address is 06:39 prayer@3abn.org. 06:44 Once again, 06:45 prayer@3abn.org. 06:52 And we're going to have 06:55 a wonderful message this evening now 06:57 and it will be brought to us by our very own 07:01 Pastor John Lomacang, 07:03 and the title of his message tonight 07:06 is "A Call to Leadership", 07:09 what are the qualifications? 07:12 But before he comes out, 07:14 we're going to have a musical selection 07:17 from our Pillars Hymns CD that is entitled, 07:23 "In the Heart of Jesus" 07:25 and that selection will be brought to us 07:28 by Ladye Love Smith. 07:31 God bless you. 07:40 In the heart of Jesus 07:47 There is love for you 07:54 Love most pure and tender 08:00 Love most deep and true 08:07 Why should you be lonely 08:14 Why for friendship sigh 08:21 When the tender heart of Jesus 08:28 Has a full supply? 08:47 In the mind of Jesus 08:54 There is thought for you 09:00 Warm as summer sunshine 09:07 Sweet as morning dew 09:14 Why should you be fearful 09:21 Why take anxious thought 09:28 Since the mind of Jesus 09:35 Cares for those He bought? 09:52 In the home of Jesus 10:00 There's a place for you 10:06 Glorious, bright and joyous 10:13 Calm and peaceful, too 10:20 Why then, like 10:25 A wanderer 10:29 Roam with weary pace 10:36 If the home of Jesus 10:43 Holds for you 10:47 A place? 11:03 Wasn't that wonderful song? 11:05 In the heart of Jesus there is love, 11:08 there is room for every one of us. 11:10 Tonight's message is one that excites me 11:12 because it's about a man in the Bible 11:14 that I admired for a long time, 11:16 I can't wait to meet him, his name is Nehemiah. 11:20 He's kind of my hero, 11:21 he's the guy that I would refer to as the guy 11:23 that just doesn't know how to quit. 11:25 When God is on your side, you should never quit, 11:27 what do you say? 11:28 Amen. 11:30 A call for leadership, 11:31 how amazing it is that our nation just struggled 11:34 through one of the greatest decisions 11:35 they had to make in a long time, 11:37 and really, it's on the issue of leadership, 11:40 but tonight from the very outset, 11:41 I want you to know that when leaders clash, 11:44 I always choose God above all earthly leaders. 11:49 Tonight, before we dive into the message, 11:51 I'd like you to invite, 11:52 like to invite you to bow your heads with me 11:55 and also hen we are done praying, 11:57 open your Bibles to the Book of Nehemiah. 11:59 We're going to walk through 12:00 one of my favorite stories in scripture, 12:03 a call for leadership. 12:04 Let's pray. 12:06 Heavenly Father we thank You tonight 12:07 for Your goodness, 12:09 for Your mercy, for Your grace, 12:11 for the fact that You are the leader 12:13 that outlasts all earthly leaders, 12:16 and tonight, I pray that You will take this message 12:19 and design it to accomplish Your perfect will. 12:23 And this I pray in Jesus' name, amen. 12:28 Nehemiah 6:16 is where we find our text for tonight. 12:32 Nehemiah 6:16, a very short but a very powerful text. 12:39 We're going to go to the end of the story 12:41 before we go to the beginning. 12:42 You know, often we say, we know how the story ends. 12:45 So we'll go to the end, to get you encouraged 12:48 and let you see how God walked Nehemiah and Israel 12:52 through one of the most trying times in their lives. 12:56 Nehemiah 6:16, New King James Version, 13:00 "And it happened, 13:01 when all our enemies heard of it, 13:04 and all the nations around us saw these things, 13:07 that they were very disheartened 13:10 in their own eyes for they perceived 13:14 that this work was done by..." 13:16 Who? "By our God." 13:19 My wife and I were coming back from St. Louis that night, 13:22 I never forget it, October 27th, 2011. 13:26 To remember that date in greater detail, 13:27 I went back and did my research, 13:29 it was 53 degrees, partly cloudy 13:32 and the winds were blowing at seven miles an hour 13:35 from left field to right field 13:38 as 43,375 tension filled fans 13:43 packed Bush Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. 13:48 Fox News said that 13:49 there were 21 million plus viewers 13:53 for one of the most exciting games 13:55 that they said had been aired in a long time. 13:58 It was the bottom of the ninth inning, 14:01 we were passing by the exit where you get off at that, 14:04 I think it's right where Walmart, 14:07 the last Walmart exit 14:08 before you begin to go toward Mount Vernon. 14:11 My wife and I were listening to the baseball game, 14:13 she doesn't understand all those things like ERAs 14:16 and all that other stuff that's in an acronym form. 14:19 So she kept asking me, what were they saying? 14:22 But one thing she did not 14:24 get confused about was all the shouting 14:25 that ensued on the radio. 14:27 It was the bottom of the ninth inning, 14:29 the Rangers had seven, 14:32 the Cardinals had five 14:35 and you can sense the Cardinal fans were standing 14:38 and it seemed to me like time had slowed down 14:40 like slow motion had taken over 14:43 and everybody's ears and eyes and I can imagine, 14:45 everybody at their homes were probably leaning forward 14:48 wondering what the next moment was going to bring. 14:51 One sports newspaper published it this way, 14:54 and they said as follows, 14:56 "43,375 lucky fans 14:59 who made up the largest crowd in the history of Busch Stadium 15:04 were fighting back the tears 15:06 not to mention the overpowering urge 15:08 to phone their cardiologists." 15:12 Baseball fans were glued to the moment, 15:16 breathing seemed to slow down, it was game six. 15:20 The first title for the Texas Rangers JD 15:23 was just one strike away. 15:27 Man on first, man on second, 15:29 two outs, two strikes and no room to blink, 15:34 then the most unlikely thing happened. 15:37 His name was David Freese. 15:41 Pitcher Jaime Garcia threw a Texas prayer 15:43 and I want to say Texans tonight 15:45 that prayer was not answered. 15:47 Because David Freese had a game tying triple, 15:51 that saved the St. Louis Cardinals' season. 15:55 I couldn't believe it, two strikes, two outs, 15:58 bottom of the ninth and they refused to give in, 16:01 I kept hearing, foul ball, 16:03 foul to the right, foul to the left field, 16:05 out of bounds. 16:07 Pitcher winds up, 16:08 Jamie Garcia thinking that 16:09 he had the fate of his entire state in his hand 16:12 gave it all he could 16:15 but St. Louis was not about to go down that way. 16:18 Four hours and thirty three minutes 16:21 the game lasted, 16:22 David Freese also led off the bottom of the 11th inning 16:26 and, you know, the rest of the story. 16:28 Shelley, with the game winning home run 16:32 and the story reflected the Cardinals won game six 16:35 and game seven and also the world series of 2011. 16:40 The Cardinal right fielder, Lance Berkman said as follows, 16:44 "Really and truly this was an ugly game 16:47 for about six or seven innings 16:49 but then it got beautiful right at the end." 16:52 That's how life is sometimes. 16:53 It looks ugly but when we hang in there, 16:55 it gets beautiful at the end. 16:56 Can you say amen to that? 16:58 The St. Louis Cardinals however lost 17:00 72 games that year that they won the World Series 17:04 and they didn't have the best record. 17:05 As a matter of fact, 17:07 you'll discover that a loss does not cancel a victory, 17:10 it just makes a victory that much sweeter. 17:14 Seventy two wins, 17:15 sorry seventy two losses and they still won the game. 17:19 What made the difference? 17:21 With one chance left, 17:22 Tony La Russa made his team believe 17:25 that they can still win. 17:27 The players refused to quit 17:29 because their leader, their manager refused to quit. 17:33 And so to me, 17:34 the reason I use this story is manager Tony La Russa to me 17:38 is the Nehemiah of our day, 17:41 a man that refused to quit in the face of amazing odds. 17:45 He could have just simply said, "You know, 17:47 Texas never won before, let's give them one." 17:50 But he said, "No, no, not tonight. 17:51 Not in front of my home team. 17:53 Not in front of my fans. 17:54 Not in front of the very place 17:55 where David Freese was born and raised." 17:59 And that young man fuelled by the vision to win, 18:01 walked up to that plate, 18:03 couldn't even blink because at 92 miles an hour, 18:06 if you blinked the game is over. 18:11 As we switch gears tonight to the people of God, 18:16 and one of the lowest points 18:18 in the history of the children of Israel 18:20 with a job not yet done, 18:24 the commitment that prevailed 18:25 after being released from bondage 18:27 eventually faded. 18:29 What began with a glorious shout 18:32 was now barely a whisper. 18:36 The restoration of Israel was halted by despair. 18:41 Supply lines dried up, money had all but run out, 18:45 moral was at an all time low. 18:47 Vision had become a word of a long forgotten past, 18:51 and the end result, Yannick, was no desire to go on. 18:57 But I'm so glad that when it seems like 18:59 nobody could be found, God knows how to find somebody. 19:03 Nehemiah received the report 19:04 about the plight of the remnant, 19:06 and in your Bible you're reading Nehemiah 1:3, 19:09 and I'm reading this from the King James Version 19:11 because it uses a word that closely associates 19:14 the life and the victory of the children of Israel 19:17 with the victory of the people of God 19:18 in the last days by using the word remnant. 19:22 What word did I say? Remnant. 19:24 The document is clear. 19:26 Nehemiah 1:3, 19:28 "The remnant that are left of the captivity 19:30 there in the province 19:32 are in great affliction and reproach, 19:36 the wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, 19:39 and the gates there of are burned with fire." 19:43 But tonight I want to say this. 19:45 I have a lot of books about leadership, 19:47 you know, John, Maxwell, 19:48 I didn't buy any of the TD Jakes books, 19:50 and the Joel Osteen books and the Oprah Winfrey books 19:52 but I got a lot of books about leadership. 19:54 But tonight I want to say this, one of the first signs 19:57 that God chose the right man came when Nehemiah did 20:01 what all true leaders ought to do. 20:03 When they cannot find an answer, 20:05 a leader begins by prayer. 20:10 Leaders must get on their knees 20:12 before leaders can stand on their feet. 20:15 Nehemiah 1:4 says it this way, 20:18 so it was when I heard these words, 20:21 when Nehemiah heard about the plight 20:23 of the Israelites it says, 20:24 "That I sat down and wept, and I mourned for many days..." 20:30 But I'm glad it didn't stop there. 20:33 "I was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven." 20:38 I say it again, leaders must kneel on their knees 20:42 before they can stand on their feet, 20:44 principle number one. 20:46 And tonight, Shelley, 20:47 I'm going to break every rule of homiletics. 20:49 I'm not going to give you three points, 20:51 I'm going to give you ten. 20:52 And I'm going to do it in 36 minutes. 20:55 Rule number one or point number one, 20:57 leaders must get on their knees 20:59 before they stand on their feet. 21:01 You see if some people look at prayer 21:03 like a spare tire but, friends, prayer is the steering wheel. 21:07 Don't wait until your life is flat 21:09 to pull out prayer, 21:11 begin with prayer and you won't have a flat life, 21:13 ain't that right? 21:14 When we find ourselves some time against the wall, 21:17 we go to God in prayer and you'll discover in prayer 21:20 heaven's doors open, heaven's windows open. 21:24 God begins to pour into your life 21:26 those things that you never thought were possible 21:28 by simply talking to God. 21:30 And by the way when you talk to God, 21:31 you're not giving God any information, 21:33 God knows exactly what your need is, 21:35 but the reason for prayer is that you acknowledge 21:37 that He is the one 21:39 that's going to make a difference 21:40 in your past, your present and your future. 21:44 Beginning with prayer makes the difference. 21:46 A wise man said in Proverbs 3:6, 21:49 "In all your ways..." 21:51 In how many of your ways? 21:52 "In all your ways acknowledge Him 21:54 and He will direct your paths." 21:58 What the church needs nowadays is not more programs, 22:02 but more direction from the one that knows 22:04 what path we ought to take. 22:05 What path we ought to take. 22:07 To go from failure to success, you got to begin with prayer. 22:11 To go from despair to joy, you got to begin with prayer. 22:14 To go from defeat to victory, you got to begin with prayer. 22:18 I read about Michael Jordan, 22:20 he's known as one of the greatest 22:21 basketball players of all time, 22:23 but I also discovered this, Michael Jordan 22:25 missed more shots than he made. 22:29 Michael Jordan missed a lot of game winning shots 22:32 or shots that could have been game winning shots. 22:34 He missed a lot of them. 22:35 However his team mates felt good 22:37 that the ball was in the hands of a man 22:39 that did not accept 22:41 the fact that there was not another way 22:43 to win the game. 22:44 And up to this day, 22:46 he's known as one of the best leaders 22:48 in the game of basketball, 22:49 one of the best leaders of all time 22:51 because he understood that losing a game 22:55 doesn't mean you're going to lose a championship. 22:58 Sometimes we lose the games of life 23:00 but if God is on our side, 23:01 He'll pull us through to the championship. 23:03 Can you say amen to that? 23:05 Some people say 23:07 that leaders are willing to do whatever it takes, 23:09 and I was somewhat disheartened by the selection this year, 23:12 now that we're post-election, I could say what I want to. 23:16 Just want to tell you 23:18 that I didn't vote for either one 23:20 because I had an obligation higher 23:22 than that of earthly men. 23:25 I love them both, 23:27 I felt that they both had good ideas 23:28 but I chose to vote on God's side 23:30 because I made up my mind that if anybody conflicts 23:34 with what my convictions are as a Christian, 23:38 I can't stand on that side. 23:39 So whether it's incorrect theology 23:41 of what you believe as a Christian 23:42 or whether it's, 23:44 whether it's s principles that don't line up 23:45 with my morality, I couldn't make the decision, 23:47 so I stood on the side of one who never fails. 23:49 Can you say amen to that? 23:53 Leaders are called to do what's right, 23:56 not what's fashionable. 23:59 Nehemiah 1:5, and I said, 24:02 I pray, Lord God of heaven, 24:06 oh, great and awesome God, 24:07 he made it very clear 24:09 that God stands with those who stand for what's right. 24:12 Now I'm not saying that 24:13 God has abandoned any of our political leaders 24:15 because each of them has a point 24:16 that they ought to grow, amen to that. 24:19 But God made it clear that 24:21 when He calls you to accomplish a mission, 24:23 He says in His Word in verse 5. 24:26 "And I said, "Oh, God. 24:27 Lord God of heaven, oh, great and awesome God 24:31 You who keep Your covenant and mercy 24:34 with those who love You and observe Your commandments." 24:38 God makes a covenant with us 24:41 and the covenant He makes with us 24:43 is a covenant of agreement that He lives up to, 24:46 that He honors one we live by the requirements of God. 24:51 So I have a... 24:52 I have a phrase that you may have heard before. 24:54 I would say don't negotiate at the table 24:56 of the adversary. 24:57 Don't meander in the maze of mediocrity 25:00 and don't ponder at the pool of popularity. 25:03 You've got to stand with God 25:04 and it's not always popular to stand with God. 25:07 You won't always be pat on the back. 25:09 But my third point tonight is this, 25:11 leaders don't quit 25:14 because they don't believe 25:15 that the present necessarily equals the future. 25:18 Nehemiah was sent by God to a people 25:20 that have lost all hope. 25:21 They had lost all sense of anything good 25:24 coming out of their situation. 25:25 And right now, tonight, 25:27 I'm praying for anybody who's in Congress, 25:29 anybody who's in the Senate, and surely anybody 25:31 who is in the leadership seat of this nation, 25:33 because everybody needs the direction of God. 25:36 When we say one nation under God, 25:38 we ought to live our lives under God. 25:41 Nehemiah was called by God 25:43 and he was a leader that believed 25:44 that the present situation of Israel 25:47 did not necessarily equal the future of Israel 25:50 because God doesn't send you to fail. 25:53 Whenever God sends us, success is assured. 25:57 Look at Isaiah 1:18. 25:59 Matter of fact, I call this, 26:00 this my own saying, you can use it if you like, 26:04 but I believe that leaders ought to adopt 26:06 what I call the Isaiah 1:18 vision principle. 26:10 Look at this very carefully. 26:12 "Come now, and let us reason together, 26:14 says the Lord though your sins are like..." 26:17 What? 26:18 "Scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, 26:21 though they are red like..." 26:23 What? 26:24 "Crimson, they shall be as wool." 26:26 Here is Isaiah 1:18 vision. 26:29 Though they are, yet they shall be. 26:32 There are those that are living in the though they are moment 26:35 and can't get to the they shall be moment. 26:39 There are those that though you are broke, 26:41 yet you shall be brought through anyhow. 26:44 Though your health report is not good, 26:46 yet it shall be reversed anyhow. 26:48 Though your present situation is not one that brings you joy, 26:52 yet it shall be 26:54 when you put your life in God's hand, 26:56 your though can turn into a shall be, 26:59 can you say amen to that? 27:01 So those are not permanent, those are temporary. 27:05 Though your sins are like scarlet, 27:06 they shall be as white as snow. 27:10 And one of the problems of Israel 27:11 is they suffered what I called colorless dreams. 27:14 They dreamed in black and white, 27:16 they couldn't see beyond their despair. 27:18 They had tamed vision, 27:19 they couldn't see that if God was on their side, 27:22 and that's something we ought to remember today. 27:24 When God is on your side, 27:25 there is no such thing as failure. 27:27 Lot of times you talk about, 27:29 "What was your plan for the future, pastor?" 27:30 What's my plan? To ask God what's His plan. 27:33 Amen. 27:35 That's what my plan is and, 27:36 you know, I'm always confused when the conference says, 27:38 we'd like you to submit your plans for the New Year. 27:41 Say them one word prayer. 27:45 That's not easy, send them email, prayer, 27:47 my plans for 2013, prayer. 27:50 Amen? Plans for 3ABN for 2013, pray. 27:56 And wait and trust God 27:59 to nowadays we get all enamored by people that, 28:01 you know, seven highly effective habits 28:03 of successful Christians. 28:06 The number one highly effective habit 28:08 of a successful Christian is somebody that realizes 28:10 that they are not the leader and God is. 28:13 And only God's vision really matters anyhow 28:16 because whenever you have visions 28:17 that you cast and sometimes you cast visions, 28:20 I always like, you know, we have to have vision anyhow, 28:22 but sometimes people come up and say, 28:23 well, the new slogan for the next year 28:26 is and they mention the slogan 28:27 as though the slogan is going to do the work. 28:30 The slogan is just the beginning of the work. 28:32 God is the one that empowers us and He doesn't do it by slogan. 28:36 He says "Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit." 28:41 Lot of days, 28:43 you know, we can sit down and get plans 28:44 and you don't have plans, I have a lot of plans. 28:46 I like to do a lot of seminars and things that are good, 28:48 but I've also discovered something very, very important 28:53 that I am not willing to give up 28:54 Canaan's blessings for Egyptian methods. 28:59 And sometimes men put methods together 29:01 that they have not submitted to God, 29:03 I've read a lot of leadership books, 29:04 I have a lot of them in my library. 29:06 I told my wife, I put together a whole stack of books. 29:09 That I said, "Honey, 29:11 I'm going to diversify my reading plan 29:12 with all the other things I have to do. 29:14 I'm going to still add some more reading to that." 29:17 I just bought four DVDs 29:18 to train myself with all kinds of things. 29:20 I've got to challenge myself, if not, my mind gets dormant. 29:23 I'm like a clothes closet, if I don't open it up, 29:26 I start smelling like mothballs ought to be in there. 29:29 So I've got to challenge my mind 29:30 so it doesn't get dormant. 29:31 So I read about, 29:33 you know, things I need to learn 29:34 on the computer with the, 29:35 you know, Photoshop and InDesign, 29:37 and an Illustrator and Adobe Premiere Pro, 29:39 I got to understand how to do things, right, Linda? 29:41 Got to understand those things, as Linda taught me about 29:44 that how to find my way around YouTube. 29:47 I learned things 29:49 and I read books about leadership 29:50 and how to be an exceptional presenter, 29:52 but when I forget all that stuff, 29:54 I remember the first and most important principle, 29:56 pray. 29:58 Trust God, trust His plans 30:01 and submit your ways to the Lord. 30:04 Nehemiah knew that prosperity was found in God. 30:07 Look at Nehemiah 1:11. 30:10 Nehemiah said, "Oh, Lord, I pray. 30:13 Please let Your ear be attentive 30:15 to the prayer of Your servant 30:16 and to the prayer of Your servants 30:18 who desire to fear Your name 30:22 and let Your servant prosper this day I pray 30:26 and grand him mercy in the sight of this man." 30:31 In other words, God gave him everything he needed. 30:33 God gave him all the supplies 30:35 but Nehemiah said, Lord, 30:36 when I run into folk on my way to Israel, 30:39 when I run into folk on my way to Jerusalem 30:42 that is on my way to the place 30:45 where my work is going to begin. 30:46 Give me favor in the sight of all those 30:50 that I run into and God gives us favor 30:52 when God's plan is being followed by our plan. 30:58 Did I say that right? 31:00 When our plan follow God's plan, 31:03 He gives us favor in the eyes of humanity. 31:07 Because prosperity is not in a good plan 31:10 but prosperity is in a good God. 31:14 And a good plan, Glenn, is not always God's plan. 31:17 Sometimes we wonder why we fail 31:19 because we said I had a good plan 31:21 but it wasn't God's plan. 31:23 So not all good plans are God's plans. 31:27 That's why a wise man said, "Commit your ways to the Lord. 31:31 Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass." 31:35 Psalms 37:5 which takes me to my fourth 31:39 and most important point. 31:40 Leaders are willing to give up good plans for God's plans. 31:46 Because I've often said 31:48 and I say this to the young people at school, 31:49 I said, you know, what the enemy of good is? 31:52 Or the enemy of best is, I blew my pun. 31:55 The enemy of best is good. 31:58 Let me just go ahead and tell you since I blew it. 32:01 The enemy of best is good, say that with me. 32:04 The enemy of what? Best is good. 32:07 When you're in the bottom of the ninth, 32:08 you don't want a good batter, 32:10 you want your best batter up at the bay. 32:11 You don't want somebody that, do you think you could hit it? 32:13 I think I could. 32:15 No, sit down, let me get somebody else. 32:16 Do you think you could win this game? 32:17 I'm not sure. Well, sit down. 32:20 David Freese went to that mound with an attitude, 32:24 I could do this with 25 home runs, 32:28 I believe his coach felt secure that 32:30 if anybody could do it, 32:32 he's one of those guys that have 32:34 a higher percentage of anybody else 32:36 doing that at this very critical moment. 32:39 Good plans are not always God's plans. 32:43 And when we think about it, what better example can we get. 32:45 You got to be like Jesus, 32:47 He said, "Not My will be done but..." 32:48 What? "But thine be done." 32:50 I've learned that 32:52 after being here for nine years, 32:53 I've had a lot of plans and sometimes I'd say, 32:54 "Honey, that was a good idea but it's not going to work." 32:57 And I go back to the drawing board 32:59 and realize that God had something better in mind 33:01 and when I submitted to God's plans, 33:03 Johnny, it always comes out a whole lot better 33:06 than the way that I planned it to occur 33:08 which takes me to point number five. 33:10 Am I going fast enough? 33:11 Point number five, if you missed the points, 33:13 get them on the video. 33:15 Leaders are allegiant to God's tasks 33:19 and not man's temperaments. 33:22 Understand what I mean by that. 33:24 I've discovered after 25 years of pastoring, 33:27 sometimes people get upset 33:29 when you tell them your plans. 33:33 Let me make it clear. Go to chapter 2:10. 33:37 Sometimes people get upset 33:40 if you're following God's plans. 33:44 "When Sanballat the Horonite 33:47 and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it 33:51 they were..." 33:53 And what's the next two words? 33:54 "Deeply disturbed that a man had come 33:59 to seek the wellbeing of the children of Israel." 34:03 Any time you are seeking 34:05 the wellbeing of the people of God, 34:07 Satan will always find somebody to get upset with you. 34:11 And I've learned after a while that if I as a leader, 34:15 I don't get somebody upset, I'm not doing my job. 34:20 Amen? 34:21 Because the Lord says, 34:22 "Beware when men speak well of you." 34:24 Even when we did the pastor appreciation, 34:26 that's one of the toughest days in the year for me 34:28 because I don't like to be praised all that much. 34:30 I like to, you know, thank God, 34:32 praise the Lord 'cause it's not me who did it 34:34 but God who gets the glory, amen for that. 34:37 You know, I appreciate the fact 34:38 that we appreciate leadership like I appreciate 34:40 Greg and Jill and all our leaders here 34:42 in our church and what they do 34:43 for the advancement of God cause, 34:45 but you've got to keep in mind 34:46 that don't take the glory and the credit for yourself. 34:52 But if you're not a good leader... 34:58 you may do things that people like. 35:04 The people got upset with Moses, 35:06 put that word in there, complained against Moses. 35:10 The people got upset, he got them out of Egypt, 35:13 where is the chicken? 35:15 He got them, let me not go down that road. 35:20 God answered every plan, 35:23 God answered every prayer for the children of Israel. 35:27 He blocked, He drowned the Egyptian army. 35:31 He gave them food in the morning. 35:33 He blocked the advancing armies with a pillar of fire. 35:36 When things got hot among the Israelites, 35:38 He cooled them down with a cloud 35:41 in the hot desert days of their journey. 35:45 But instead, instead of going to God 35:48 in prayer like they should have, 35:50 they looked at Moses and they said, 35:52 you brought us out here in the wilderness to kill us, 35:54 they complained against Moses, and I like what he said, 35:56 I haven't gotten up enough courage 35:58 here to say that to some of the church members. 36:00 But I like the way he said, 36:01 "Who am I that you should complain against me? 36:03 Go tell God about the problem, don't talk to me anymore. 36:06 I already have enough trouble people to tell me I'm too busy. 36:09 If I do that they'll never call me. 36:12 So I got to leave the avenue open." 36:13 But Moses said it very wonderful, 36:15 "Who am I that you complain against me? 36:19 Your problem is not with me, it's with God." 36:23 So if you are not doing a good job, 36:25 people may like everything you do, 36:27 but if they complain, you may be on the right path. 36:30 Amen somebody. 36:31 The Pharisees and scribes complained about Jesus, 36:34 "Who is this man, even sinners hanging out with this guy?" 36:37 So if they complained about you as a leader, 36:39 make sure you're doing the right thing, 36:41 don't just assume because they're complaining, 36:43 you're doing the right thing, that's not a good thing at all. 36:46 Point Number six, 36:48 leaders know when to keep it 36:52 just between them and God. 36:56 Leaders know when to keep it just between them and God. 37:01 When God commissioned Nehemiah 37:04 there were times that Nehemiah couldn't tell anybody 37:06 about what God had said, 37:07 not even the men that were with him. 37:09 Sometimes, it's got to be just between you and God. 37:11 There are some folk that cannot hesitate, 37:13 like Joseph. 37:18 No, Jacob. 37:19 I get those brothers mixed up, 37:21 which one had the coat of many colors? 37:23 Joseph, I knew it, I was right the first time. 37:28 Get a nice coat, he go and tells his brother, 37:30 "Look at my nice coat." 37:31 I understand their plight, 37:33 I would want to bury him a long time too. 37:35 Then he had a dream and he said, 37:36 "You know, what I dreamt last night? 37:38 You all are going to be bowing to me one day." 37:41 There are times when you got to keep it 37:42 just between you and God. 37:43 Can you say amen to that? 37:45 Because if you spend your time 37:46 boasting about all your success, 37:49 some people are going to say, "Here he comes again. 37:51 I always tell him all of the stuff he's doing. 37:53 Yeah, he is the only one, yeah, that's right, yeah." 37:57 Sometimes, 37:58 and God has taught me through the years 38:01 that sometimes when God blesses us, 38:04 you got to just keep that blessing 38:05 between you and God. 38:07 You can't tell anybody 38:08 even about your greatest successes. 38:11 My wife and I sometimes say, 38:12 "Well, at least you and me know about it." 38:15 Sometimes when God had blesses, 38:16 I remember we used to call in Florida and say, 38:18 "Guess, what on be." 38:19 And we had somebody at a distance 38:21 to rejoice with us. 38:23 But Nehemiah had to exercise wisdom, 38:25 because when you look at Nehemiah 2:12, 38:30 as the leader he knew 38:32 when to keep things just between him and God. 38:35 Look at verse 12, "Then I arose in the night..." 38:40 That's when a leader gets into, it's just him and God. 38:43 "I and a few men with me..." 38:45 But notice what he said, 38:46 "I told no one what my God had put in my heart 38:51 to do at Jerusalem. 38:52 Nor was there any animal with me 38:55 except the one on which I rode..." 38:57 I wonder what he meant by that. 38:59 He said, "I didn't tell any man 39:00 and the animal couldn't understand it either." 39:04 I didn't tell any man 39:05 and that was not Balaam's donkey, 39:06 so there was going to be no conversation 39:08 between him and me. 39:10 He kept it just between him and God, 39:12 and I have learned 39:14 that it takes more discipline to keep your mouth shut 39:17 than it does to keep it open. 39:23 Some folks just cannot keep their mouth shut, 39:25 the Lord did many wonderful miracles 39:27 to disciples and he said to them 39:28 look, Mark 9:9, 39:30 He commanded them to tell nobody 39:33 about what they saw on the mountain until, 39:37 until He had risen from the dead. 39:39 Could they keep their mouth shut? 39:42 No, they couldn't keep their mouth shut. 39:43 There's some people that itch, 39:44 when they know something you don't know. 39:46 You ever see them, "Honey, I gotta tell you..." 39:49 They don't know how to keep their mouth shut, 39:51 they're itching, they're like, they got scales, 39:52 "What's wrong with you?" 39:53 "I just got off the phone." 39:55 There's some people that on the other side 39:57 that they can't wait to beat you 39:58 to the punch to tell somebody what they heard 40:00 and there you are standing in the worship, 40:03 waiting for any prayer request 40:04 and somebody breaks in before they even mention. 40:08 And you think, they took my thunder, 40:10 forget I ain't gonna mention it. 40:12 That's why I like that Rwandan proverb, 40:14 listen to this, 40:15 and I'll tell you about the story at the end. 40:17 There's a man in Rwanda, he's deceased now 40:20 but I like when he thought about 40:21 this very important principle. 40:23 He said, "I no longer need preeminence popularity, 40:27 prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, 40:30 I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, 40:33 praised, regarded, or rewarded. 40:36 I just got to keep it between me and God. 40:39 I just got to keep it right where it matters 40:41 the most between me and God." 40:42 That's why Solomon, 40:44 the wise man wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:2, 40:46 he said this word, write it down. 40:49 Ecclesiastes 5:2, if you are fast, turn there. 40:52 But I'm gonna go ahead and read it. 40:55 He said, "Do not be rash with your mouth 40:57 and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God, 41:02 for God is in heaven and you are on earth." 41:05 And as Phillips, Craig and Dean said, "So therefore, 41:08 let your words be few," 41:13 which takes me to point number seven. 41:16 You never thought I could cover ten points. 41:18 So you guys think I preached long, 41:19 if you do on Sabbath morning what they do during the week, 41:21 I preach in one hour. 41:23 And that's a big amen right there 41:25 but you ain't gonna give it to me, 41:26 that's all right. 41:29 Point number seven, this is powerful. 41:33 Good leaders work for others, 41:37 great leaders work with others. 41:43 Think about that, tonight at 2 o'clock, 41:45 you're gonna wake up and say amen. 41:48 Good leaders work for others 41:51 but great leaders work with others. 41:54 Nehemiah 2:18, 41:57 "And I told them of the hand of my God 41:59 which had been good upon me 42:01 and also of the King's words that He had spoken to me." 42:05 So they said, I like this, this is an inclusive statement. 42:08 Whenever you want to get involved 42:09 in a project, make sure 42:11 you got people on board with you, like Nehemiah. 42:13 He didn't say, "Let me rise up and build." 42:15 He said, "Let us..." 42:16 Say that with me, what? "Let us rise up and build." 42:19 And they said, "Their hands to this good work." 42:24 Leaders stimulate people to join them in the vision. 42:29 I have learned, I'm not going to burn myself out. 42:31 I'm going to the place now where I'm starting to say, 42:34 well, if you don't want to do, it ain't gonna get done. 42:39 You gonna help me out with an amen on that? 42:42 'Cause some people think 42:44 pastors are born to do everything. 42:47 Our job, Pastor C.A., is to equip the members 42:50 for the work of the ministry, amen, preacher. 42:54 But so often we want people to, 42:55 "Hey, look at what the pastor did, 42:57 he gave 45 baptismal studies this week, 42:59 he did six programs on 3ABN, he did some music tape 43:02 and he went to St. Louis to pastors' meetings 43:04 because he works for the Illinois Conference also 43:06 and he went to the hospital 43:07 to visit everybody this morning. 43:08 He got back and I think he ate, 43:10 I'm not sure but he looks like he's losing weight." 43:13 "He has a Sabbath school class 43:14 and he's got a sermon at the same time, 43:15 he does Wednesday night prayer meeting 43:17 and between that if he misses a visit..." 43:18 Everybody doesn't know what he did, 43:21 some at the place now, why don't you do it? 43:24 Come on amen somebody. Why don't you do it? 43:26 I got a whole ship filled with people that are on deck, 43:30 why don't you do it? 43:32 Don't just call me and tell me somebody in the hospital, 43:34 go visit them. 43:38 Talking like a leader tonight. 43:42 Now I say to some of my elders, 43:44 "How come you don't come to prayer meeting 43:45 on Wednesday night? 43:47 Is your leg broke?" No. 43:49 "Well, then get out of your house 43:50 and come to prayer meeting." 43:52 Some people say prayer meeting is going to be long, 43:53 no, it ain't, it starts 43:54 and it's done in 57 minutes and 32 seconds, 43:58 shortest prayer meeting in the entire Adventist church, 44:03 right here in Thompsonville, amen, Marline. 44:08 Cut it down, cut it down to under an hour. 44:12 You couldn't vacuum folk out of the house, 44:13 in this tiny community three miles away, 44:16 let me get back on the sermon. 44:20 Next point, 44:23 some people don't like success even especially 44:28 when it's not connected with them. 44:29 Nehemiah 4:1, got three more points 44:32 and I am going to finish on time tonight. 44:37 We've made a pact, if I don't finish in time, 44:41 they're going to cut me off. 44:42 So we're going to finish tonight. 44:44 Nehemiah 4:1... 44:49 "But it so happened when Sanballat heard 44:51 that we were building the wall..." 44:53 Get it, we were building the wall, 44:55 Nehemiah 4:1, 44:57 "But it so happened when Sanballat heard that 45:00 we were rebuilding the wall, 45:02 that he was very furious and very indignant, 45:06 and mocked the Jews." 45:08 I don't care if folk mock us 45:11 as long as the work is getting done. 45:15 Too often people are worried about what they believe. 45:18 I don't want people to stand, 45:19 I don't want people to see me on the corner 45:21 in the Bentons Square passing out tracts. 45:23 Well, that's not what Linda told me about her 45:24 and she said, I'm willing to go out there 45:26 and pass out tracks. 45:28 I don't care what anybody says if they're passing off garbage, 45:31 we got to pass out something 45:33 that will lead to somebody's eternal life. 45:37 Nehemiah didn't care 45:39 but they tried to get them upset, 45:40 they weren't just furious, 45:42 they were very furious and very indignant. 45:44 But look at verse 7 and 8. 45:46 Now what happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, 45:49 the Arabs and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard 45:52 that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored 45:55 and the gaps were beginning to be closed 45:59 that they became very angry, 46:01 and all of them conspired together 46:03 to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 46:06 I study that thing out, Pastor CA, 46:08 and I discovered 46:09 that these guys have got together, 46:10 were enemies of each other, but I also learned 46:12 that enemies of each other will get together 46:14 if they're all your enemy. 46:19 Ain't that amazing? 46:20 How folk that can't stand each other will get together 46:22 'cause they can't stand you. 46:25 That's what the devil do. 46:27 You don't like him either, I don't like him either, 46:29 let's get together, and when we're done, 46:30 we'll get back into our own fight. 46:32 We keep this thing going but until then let's just, 46:34 let's have a truce till we beat him up 46:35 and then we get back and fight ourselves, 46:38 that's kind of what they said, 46:39 that's why we have to pay more attention 46:41 to the walls being rebuilt 46:42 and the gaps beginning to close, 46:43 we cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked 46:46 by those who don't like what we're doing 46:48 for the cause of God. 46:49 Leaders are not concerned about the attitudes, 46:51 but the aptitude between them and God. 46:54 Education, page 57, the world's greatest need, 46:57 the greatest want of the world is the want of men. 47:01 Men who will not be bought or sold, 47:05 men who in their innermost souls are true and honest. 47:08 Men who do not fear to call sin by its right name. 47:12 Men whose consciences is as true to duty 47:17 as the needle to the pole. 47:19 Men who will stand for the right, 47:21 come on now, though the heavens fall. 47:25 That's what this generation needs, 47:27 not men that want to be popular, 47:29 that was the thing I had a problem with. 47:33 Say what you mean and mean what you say, 47:35 even if people don't like it. 47:37 Point number eight, I'm getting close. 47:41 Leaders maintain focus in the face of confusion. 47:48 I'm so glad the pilot doesn't forget 47:50 where we're going when turbulence is. 47:53 Where are we going? 47:55 Can you imagine, "Could you ask the passengers, 47:57 what's on their ticket?" 47:59 I've never heard that announcement, 48:00 I'm so glad that they not, they remember where they headed 48:04 even though that plane is being tossed. 48:05 We may have to make a detour 48:07 but we'll get back on track, amen somebody. 48:10 Leaders maintain focus in the presence of confusion, 48:13 Nehemiah 4:6. 48:16 "So we built the wall and the entire wall 48:19 was joined together up to half its height 48:21 for the people had a mind to work." 48:25 It's all about your mental attitude. 48:26 Some people say we can't do it. 48:28 Well, if you believe you can't or you believe you can, 48:30 you are right. 48:32 Did you get that? 48:33 I can't do it, then I don't want your help. 48:35 I can do it, then I need your help. 48:37 If you believe you can't, you can't. 48:39 If you believe you can, you can. 48:41 Sometimes also we remember the work 48:44 but forget the reason why we work. 48:47 I don't want to ever get caught up in the work 48:49 and forget why I'm doing what I'm doing, 48:50 that's what happened to the Jews. 48:52 You're the Messiah, hold on, we got to kill a lamb. 48:56 Look at verse 14 of chapter 4. 49:00 Don't forget the reason why you work for God. 49:03 Chapter 4:14, 49:05 "And I looked and arose and said to the nobles, 49:10 to the leaders and to the rest of the people, 49:13 'Do not be afraid of them..."' 49:14 Don't be worried about them. 49:16 "Remember the Lord..." 49:17 Here are the reasons, "Remember the Lord, 49:19 great and awesome and fight for your brethren." 49:23 You got to fight for people nowadays. 49:25 Not fight with them, fight for them. 49:29 "Fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, 49:32 your wives and your houses." 49:34 The reason why they kept their mind in the work 49:36 is because they had their families in their mind, 49:39 they had their children in their mind, 49:41 they had their spouses in their mind. 49:43 Why do you work? Why are you an Adventist? 49:45 Is it because of your children, your family members, 49:49 your wife that may not be a believer, 49:50 your husband that may not be a believer, 49:52 your son that may not be a believer? 49:54 If you come to church and forget 49:55 that you are fighting for your brother and your son, 49:57 your daughters, your wives and your house, 49:59 your work is in vain. 50:02 I don't want to sound angry, I'm trying to get you fired up. 50:06 We also have to remember that when we lead, 50:09 we got to leave the enemies to God, verse 15. 50:13 And it happened when our enemies heard 50:16 that it was known to us, that's how God is, 50:18 He lets us know what the enemies are doing 50:21 and don't let them know what we're doing. 50:23 When our enemies heard that it was known to us 50:26 and that God had brought their plot to nothing 50:29 that all of us return to the wall, 50:31 everyone to his work. 50:33 The enemy will try a thousand ways 50:35 but God's got a thousand and one ways 50:37 to stop their thousand ways. 50:40 Brings me to point number nine. 50:43 Effective leaders learn how to multitask. 50:46 While I'm working on my sermon, I'm getting phone calls, 50:48 "You know, who just went to the hospital?" 50:50 Somebody. 50:52 "Oh, I was trying to get you all day, 50:53 I'm trying to tell you about something 50:55 coming up in April next year." 50:56 I'm working on my sermon. 50:57 "You know, I got this real quick question, 50:59 are you busy?" 51:00 Pastor, you got to say, "No, I'm all right." 51:04 I'm all right. 51:06 Shelley, I'm all right. 51:09 Trying to get that sermon finished 51:11 but you've got to be polite, 51:12 you got to learn how to multitask. 51:13 A real leader understands how Jesus is. 51:16 Jesus is on His way to raise Lazarus 51:19 but He stops to heal a sick woman along the way, 51:22 you've got to multitask, you've got to be like Jesus. 51:25 You cannot say anybody is unimportant 51:27 because everybody's important in the economy of God, 51:29 A leader learns how to multitask. 51:33 Look at verse 17 and 18. 51:37 "Those who built on the wall and those who carried burdens 51:41 loaded themselves, 51:43 so that with one hand they worked at construction 51:49 and with the other held the weapon." 51:51 With one hand they did what? 51:52 Work, and the other hand they did what? 51:54 Held the weapon. 51:55 If it was in Southern Illinois, you could hear. 51:59 Got a trowel over here and a shotgun over here... 52:05 that's why we are called 52:06 not to just be builders of the kingdom 52:09 but soldiers of the cross. 52:11 Amen somebody. 52:13 God will take care of the enemies, 52:14 He told them that in chapter 6:1 52:19 or chapter 4:20, 52:20 "God will fight for us." 52:23 Just keep your mind on the work. 52:26 I'm so glad that somebody created 52:27 one of those bug zapper, 52:29 I think it's the best invention ever since ions. 52:34 Because you can't see, you can't see bugs, 52:37 Southern Illinois is critter land. 52:41 Am I telling the truth? 52:42 It's winter time 52:43 and you still can't get rid of fruit flies. 52:47 One hand in the Bible, the other hand on a bug zapper. 52:55 We are called to be builders of the kingdom 52:57 and soldiers of the cross. 52:58 God will take care of all the bugs in your life 53:01 if you got the other hand in God's work. 53:04 The enemies try to get Nehemiah to take a break from the work 53:06 and that man on a high note, 53:08 they try to get him to take a break from the work. 53:09 You want to understand, this is a powerful story. 53:11 I preached a sermon about 15 years ago 53:14 and when I heard it was going to be about Nehemiah I said, 53:15 "God, You understand exactly what I like." 53:19 They try to get Nehemiah to take a break from the work 53:22 and they said to him, 53:23 "We want you to meet us in the plain of oh no." 53:27 Now that's a whole sermon right there, right? 53:29 They said to Nehemiah, "Meet us at Starbucks." 53:31 At Starbucks and Nehemiah said, "Oh, no." 53:35 They said, why don't you meet us 53:36 and have some lunch at Ryan's? 53:38 Nehemiah, you need a break." 53:39 And Nehemiah said, "Oh, no." 53:41 "Don't you need to get some supplies 53:42 at home depot, Nehemiah?" 53:44 And Nehemiah said, "Oh, no." 53:46 He made up his mind 53:48 to keep his mind on the work of the Lord, 53:51 what do you say? 53:53 My final point, 53:56 leaders must stay on the wall 53:59 until the work is done. 54:03 Chapter 6:3-4, 54:05 "So I sent messengers to them, I'm doing a great work..." 54:09 That's what he sent an email, text message, here it is. 54:12 "I'm doing a great work so that I cannot come down. 54:14 Why should the work cease 54:16 while I leave it and go down to you." 54:18 But they sent me this message four times 54:20 and I sent them the same text message back. 54:24 I ain't coming, amen, Christians. 54:27 We want to say that when God calls us to work for Him, 54:30 American Idol is coming on, I ain't coming. 54:35 This is the season's finale, Wednesday night at 7 o'clock, 54:37 I ain't gonna be there, 54:39 I got a prayer meeting appointment, amen somebody. 54:41 I ain't coming down off the wall, 54:43 there's something more important than that. 54:44 We got to get our minds and our priorities right. 54:46 As a pastor I don't care if the church never likes me, 54:49 but I'm gonna say Wednesday night prayer meeting 54:51 is a place where those who are waiting 54:53 for the coming of God ought to be. 54:56 And I'm gonna stay on the wall and keep saying them 54:58 till the Lord shuts me up or the members beat me up. 55:04 My final point is leaders must stay on the wall 55:07 until the work is done. 55:09 You see, my brethren, and here's the point. 55:10 When leaders let God lead, God will accomplish the work. 55:16 Nehemiah 6:15, 55:17 "So, the wall was finished in 52 days, 52 days, 55:21 Nehemiah had to go through all that in just 52 days 55:24 but God had finished the work 55:26 and my beginning text is my ending text, 55:28 and here's a simple point of the whole sermon. 55:29 For they perceived that this work was done by God, 55:33 leaders, point number 11, 55:34 I didn't have one, but I just found one, Shelley. 55:37 Leaders know that God is the one 55:38 that's doing all the work, he just includes us 55:40 in the process for the benefits. 55:44 God is doing the work. 55:46 In 1980, a young man from Rwanda was forced 55:49 by his tribe to either renounce Christ 55:51 or face certain death. 55:53 He refused to renounce Christ and he was killed on the spot. 55:59 He lost his life but his words continue to inspire leaders 56:01 even to this very day 56:03 and this was found in his room the day after he was killed. 56:08 I got a minute and 22 seconds, I think I can do it. 56:11 This is what this Rwanda man said, 56:13 who has inspired leaders for the rest of their lives, 56:15 he said, "I am a part of the fellowship 56:17 of the unashamed. 56:18 I have Holy Spirit's power. 56:20 The die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, 56:23 the decision has been made, 56:24 I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, 56:26 I won't look back, 56:27 let up slow down back away or be still. 56:30 My past is redeemed. 56:32 My present makes sense. And my future is secure. 56:34 I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, 56:38 small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, 56:41 tamed visions, mundane talking, and dwarfed goals. 56:44 I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, 56:47 promotion, plaudits or popularity, 56:49 I don't have to be first, tops, recognized, praised, 56:52 regarded or rewarded. 56:55 I now live by presence, 56:56 walk by the faith, love by patience, 56:58 live by prayer and labor by power. 57:02 I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, 57:05 lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. 57:08 I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, 57:11 hesitate in the presence of the adversary, 57:13 negotiate at the table of the enemy, 57:15 ponder at the pool of popularity 57:17 or meander in the maze of mediocrity. 57:19 I won't give up, back up, let up or shut up 57:22 until I've preached up, 57:24 prayed up, paid up, 57:25 stored up and stayed up for Christ 57:27 and when He comes, He will know exactly who I am." 57:29 God bless you. |
Revised 2017-04-20