Embracing Burdens: Discovering Your Divine Calling
Summary
### Summary
In the second week of our series, "The Good Work," we delve into the theme "Do the Work, Make a Difference," focusing on Nehemiah's journey in chapter 2. The central question posed is: What truly bothers you? Not trivial annoyances, but deep-seated burdens that weigh on your heart, often pointing to a calling from God. These burdens can lead to monumental changes, as seen in the story of Minta Moore, who turned her concern for trafficked children into a significant non-profit organization. Similarly, our church began with a small group and has grown, driven by a shared burden to guide souls to heaven, not just increase numbers.
Nehemiah's story teaches us several key steps in responding to a burden. First, seek God faithfully. Nehemiah prayed consistently for four months before taking action. This underscores the importance of persistent prayer, no matter how big or small the concern. Second, define the vision clearly. Nehemiah's concise request to the king—"send me to Judah so I can rebuild the city"—highlights the need for clarity in our mission. Without a clear vision, our efforts can become scattered and ineffective.
Third, make plans carefully. Nehemiah didn't just pray and define his vision; he also planned meticulously, asking the king for protection and resources. This step emphasizes that while plans may not be perfect, they are essential. Fourth, inspire people passionately. Nehemiah had to rally the people, even when facing opposition and personal doubts. His passion and faith in God's support were crucial in motivating others.
Finally, the sermon encourages us to recognize that our burdens reveal our calling and the difference we are meant to make. By lighting ourselves on fire with passion, we can inspire others and make a significant impact. This journey requires faith, clarity, careful planning, and passionate inspiration, all rooted in a deep connection with God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Seek God Faithfully: Nehemiah's story emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer. He prayed for four months before taking any action, showing that seeking God's guidance is crucial. This teaches us that no concern is too big or too small for God. Our prayers should be consistent and heartfelt, trusting that God cares deeply about what burdens us. [08:29]
2. Define the Vision Clearly: Nehemiah's concise request to the king—"send me to Judah so I can rebuild the city"—highlights the need for clarity in our mission. Often, it's not a lack of caring but a lack of clarity that hinders us. By defining our vision in one clear sentence, we can focus our efforts and inspire others to join us in our mission. [16:58]
3. Make Plans Carefully: While our plans may never be perfect, they are essential. Nehemiah asked the king for protection and resources, showing the importance of careful planning. Success is not achieved by waiting for the perfect plan but by taking the next right step with passion and faith. [24:02]
4. Inspire People Passionately: Nehemiah had to rally the people, even when facing opposition and personal doubts. His passion and faith in God's support were crucial in motivating others. This teaches us that inspiring others requires us to be passionate and to believe in the mission, even when it seems daunting. [30:02]
5. Recognize Your Burden as a Calling: The burdens that weigh on our hearts often reveal our calling and the difference we are meant to make. By embracing these burdens and lighting ourselves on fire with passion, we can inspire others and make a significant impact. This journey requires faith, clarity, careful planning, and passionate inspiration, all rooted in a deep connection with God. [31:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:43] - Identifying Your Burden
[02:53] - Minta Moore's Story
[04:18] - Starting Our Church
[05:12] - Beyond the Pandemic
[05:53] - Reaching the Unreached
[06:49] - Nehemiah's Burden
[07:37] - Seeking God Faithfully
[08:29] - Persistent Prayer
[09:27] - Nehemiah's Fear and Courage
[10:10] - Nothing Too Big or Small for God
[11:32] - Personal Ministry Journey
[12:42] - Unexpected Opportunities
[13:59] - Strengthening Families
[15:35] - Defining the Vision Clearly
[16:58] - Nehemiah's Clear Request
[18:46] - Importance of Clarity
[19:39] - Focusing on Core Missions
[20:20] - One Sentence Vision
[21:12] - Examples of Clear Vision
[22:39] - Making Plans Carefully
[23:17] - Planning with Passion
[24:02] - Nehemiah's Requests
[25:50] - Imperfect Plans
[26:24] - Taking the Next Right Step
[26:59] - Mentorship and Learning
[27:35] - Practical Advice
[28:38] - Inspiring People Passionately
[29:19] - Facing Opposition
[30:02] - Empowering Others
[30:57] - Passion and Impact
[31:41] - Recognizing Your Calling
[32:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Nehemiah 2:1-8 (NIV)
> In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Nehemiah's emotional state when he approached the king, and why was he afraid? ([09:27])
2. How long did Nehemiah pray before taking action, and what does this indicate about his approach to his burden? ([08:29])
3. What specific requests did Nehemiah make to the king, and why were these requests important for his mission? ([24:02])
4. How did Nehemiah inspire the people to join him in rebuilding the wall despite opposition? ([30:02])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is persistent prayer emphasized in Nehemiah's story, and how does it relate to seeking God's guidance in our own burdens? ([08:29])
2. What does Nehemiah's clear and concise request to the king teach us about the importance of defining our vision? ([16:58])
3. How does Nehemiah's careful planning reflect the balance between faith and practical action in pursuing a God-given mission? ([24:02])
4. In what ways does Nehemiah's passion and faith in God's support serve as a model for inspiring others to join in a mission? ([30:02])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a burden that has been weighing on your heart. How can you begin to seek God faithfully about this burden through persistent prayer? ([08:29])
2. Take a moment to define your vision clearly. Can you articulate your mission in one sentence, similar to Nehemiah's request to the king? ([16:58])
3. What practical steps can you take to plan carefully for your mission, even if the plan isn't perfect? Consider what resources and protection you might need. ([24:02])
4. Think of a time when you faced opposition or personal doubts in pursuing a mission. How can you inspire others passionately despite these challenges? ([30:02])
5. Identify a specific burden that you believe reveals your calling. How can you embrace this burden and light yourself on fire with passion to make a significant impact? ([31:41])
6. How can you involve others in your mission and rally them to support your cause, just as Nehemiah did with the people of Jerusalem? ([30:02])
7. What steps can you take this week to move from prayer to action in addressing a burden that God has placed on your heart? ([08:29])
Devotional
### 5-Day Devotional
Day 1: Persistent Prayer as a Foundation
Description: Nehemiah's story emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer. He prayed for four months before taking any action, showing that seeking God's guidance is crucial. This teaches us that no concern is too big or too small for God. Our prayers should be consistent and heartfelt, trusting that God cares deeply about what burdens us. [08:29]
Bible Passage: "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a burden that has been weighing on your heart. Can you commit to praying about it consistently for the next month, trusting that God hears and cares?
Day 2: Clarity in Vision
Description: Nehemiah's concise request to the king—"send me to Judah so I can rebuild the city"—highlights the need for clarity in our mission. Often, it's not a lack of caring but a lack of clarity that hinders us. By defining our vision in one clear sentence, we can focus our efforts and inspire others to join us in our mission. [16:58]
Bible Passage: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it." (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one burden or mission that God has placed on your heart? Can you write it down in one clear sentence to help focus your efforts and inspire others?
Day 3: The Necessity of Careful Planning
Description: While our plans may never be perfect, they are essential. Nehemiah asked the king for protection and resources, showing the importance of careful planning. Success is not achieved by waiting for the perfect plan but by taking the next right step with passion and faith. [24:02]
Bible Passage: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one step you can take today towards a burden or mission God has placed on your heart? How can you plan carefully while trusting God to establish your steps?
Day 4: Inspiring Others with Passion
Description: Nehemiah had to rally the people, even when facing opposition and personal doubts. His passion and faith in God's support were crucial in motivating others. This teaches us that inspiring others requires us to be passionate and to believe in the mission, even when it seems daunting. [30:02]
Bible Passage: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." (Hebrews 10:24, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you inspire today with your passion for a God-given mission? How can you share your vision and faith to motivate them?
Day 5: Recognizing Your Burden as a Calling
Description: The burdens that weigh on our hearts often reveal our calling and the difference we are meant to make. By embracing these burdens and lighting ourselves on fire with passion, we can inspire others and make a significant impact. This journey requires faith, clarity, careful planning, and passionate inspiration, all rooted in a deep connection with God. [31:41]
Bible Passage: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What burden has God placed on your heart that you believe is part of your calling? How can you begin to embrace this burden and take steps to make a difference today?
Quotes
1. "The reason I ask you that question is because the that you often bear also reveals the calling that you'll receive or you'll embrace. Many times the burden that we have, God has placed it there to direct us to the calling that he has on our lives. And this is one thing that Sharon and I discussed over the past two days. We discussed it. For a lot longer than that, is that when you're about to do something, when you have something that bothers you, something that disturbs you, and you start to do something about it, you never know when you're on the front end of something huge, something enormous, something big and monumental." [02:00] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We rarely know when we're on the front end of something really special. That's how it started. There were six people in our home having Bible study, what, for a couple of years. And at one point, I came in and I said, God has called me to start a church, and I want to know if you six people will. Will you help us start that? And they said, two of them said, well, we were wondering when you were going to get around to listen to what God was telling you. And I said, well, you know, I'm slow to the go." [04:18] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We still have a desire to 50. And we're still going and growing. And we still need to continue to do that, not because we're building a church or we want more numbers, but because we're sending souls to heaven. We want to introduce people. So I don't want to reallocate resources. You know what that means? I don't want to pull, you know, disgruntled Christians from one church. I don't want to pull, you know, disgruntled Christians from one church. I don't want to pull, you know, disgruntled Christians from one church and bring them over here. Because then they'll be disgruntled Christians here." [05:12] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There is nothing too big for God's power, but nothing too small for God's heart. He cares about what bothers you, what annoys you, what breaks your heart breaks his heart. Take it to him. And there's nothing too big for his power. When, when Sharon and I first went in the Salvation Army, we had no idea what it was going to be. She grew up in the Salvation Army. She kind of knew, but most of the time her parents were individual, local corps officers, church pastors, leaders of a single unit." [11:32] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You never know when you're on the front end of something really special. God took that burden that thing that broke our hearts which also broke his heart and he put us in a place that was just beyond our wildest dreams to meet that need and help those families stay together stay we had opportunities before that nothing like this one but we had opportunities before that and we prayed about it all the time here's the concept that i i like about prayer if prayer is a prayer if prayer is a prayer if prayer is a prayer if prayer is a prayer if prayer is a prayer isn't necessary for your vision then you're not praying big enough." [13:59] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The thing that I realized as I was looking at this and I was thinking about my life and about where we are in the world today is that many times for most people it's not a lack of of uh caring that's the problem we all care we care about what we see happening in the world today it's a lack of care it's a lack of care it's a lack of care it's a lack of clarity that's the problem it's not a lack of caring that's the problem it's a lack of clarity." [15:35] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "What is, in a sentence, what is God leading you to do? Send me to Judah so I can rebuild the city. Maybe for you it's to lead my family out of financial debt by the end of the year so that all we have is our mortgage. Maybe it's, I want to have a personal conversation about Jesus with every person in my high school. Or my college. Or my workplace. Or my neighborhood. Or my family. Some of you all have big families. And, you know, sometimes they come to church." [21:12] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Success isn't accomplished in the future either. Don't look for a perfect plan and say, well, you know, we're not ready yet, but we're going to put this plan together and in four months we'll be ready. More important than a perfect plan, which never, ever happens, is passion. So I will take a plan. If you take a plan with passion, then wait for a perfect plan that may not ever come. You know, get the momentum moving today. Do the right thing today. Seek God faithfully. Then he defines the vision clearly. Make plans carefully." [28:38] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You see the trouble we are in. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace. See you don't inspire people to faith in you. Faith that God is for them. This is a God thing. Not a Nehemiah thing. This is a God thing. Not a. is a God thing. Not a Robert thing. Or a Joe thing. This is because God is for us. God is with us. Empowering them to do something matters." [30:02] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Light yourself on fire with passion. And people will come from miles away to watch you burn. Isn't that great? Light yourself on fire with. People will come from miles away to watch you burn. You know what? We need a little bit more passion in our lives today. What's that thing that burdens you? What breaks your heart? That thing, that burden is going to reveal the calling that God will place upon your life. It will also do something else. It will reveal the difference that you're going to make in life." [30:57] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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