Embracing God's Mercy and Preparedness for Divine Opportunities
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone. Let's take a moment to lift our voices and declare the holiness and righteousness of our God. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is worthy to be praised. In His presence, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. It is by the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, for His compassion never fails. Each morning, His mercy is renewed toward us. If the enemy had his way, we would have been defeated long ago, but because God is the greatest power, we shall never be defeated. This is why we give Him praise and glory.
On this first Sunday in June, we reflect on the changes and challenges we've faced, yet the Lord has kept us. He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. If you can hear me or see me, know that God is not done with you. Encourage someone next to you and tell them, "God's not done with you." We have several announcements for June, including our altar night prayer this Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. We must do more than just have church; we must be the church.
Let's turn to Nehemiah chapter 2. Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer, a position of great responsibility and privilege. He was tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem, a city in ruins. Nehemiah's story teaches us the importance of being prepared and having a plan. When the king asked how he could help, Nehemiah was ready with dates and figures. We must also be prepared for divine opportunities and have a clear plan for what we need.
Nehemiah's task was not just to rebuild walls but to bring reformation to a people who had mixed their faith with other practices. We must be careful not to mix our faith with worldly practices. God is calling us to be holy and set apart. Just because God was with us in the past does not guarantee His favor if we are rebellious and disobedient now. We must be willing to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
As we prepare to give, remember that we are a tithing church. We believe in the principle of sowing and reaping. Let's sow generously and expectantly. We are also partnering with a sister church, extending kindness and favor to them. What we make happen for others, God will make happen for us.
In closing, never despise your position or contribution. Your current season is preparing you for the next. Be faithful and committed, and God will elevate you in due time. Let's pray for clarity and boldness as we face new opportunities. May the favor of God be upon you, and may you walk in divine consciousness and awareness.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Mercy and Protection: Each morning, God's mercy is renewed toward us. If the enemy had his way, we would have been defeated long ago, but because God is the greatest power, we shall never be defeated. This is a cause for praise and gratitude. Reflect on the fact that you are alive and well because God wants you to be. [22:53]
2. Preparedness for Divine Opportunities: Nehemiah teaches us the importance of being prepared. When the king asked how he could help, Nehemiah was ready with dates and figures. We must also be prepared for divine opportunities and have a clear plan for what we need. This readiness allows us to seize the moment when God opens doors for us. [54:37]
3. Holiness and Separation: Just because God was with us in the past does not guarantee His favor if we are rebellious and disobedient now. We must be willing to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. Mixing our faith with worldly practices leads to confusion and loss of God's favor. [01:03:32]
4. Faithfulness in Current Season: Never despise your position or contribution. Your current season is preparing you for the next. Be faithful and committed, and God will elevate you in due time. Your position may not always match your season, but faithfulness will lead to elevation. [01:13:26]
5. Proximity Principle and Influence: The principle of proximity points out the tendency of those physically close to one another to form social relationships. Identify the top five influential people in your life and pray for divine insight on how they can help you in your next season. Cultivate these relationships intentionally. [01:20:44]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[22:53] - God's Mercy and Protection
[24:04] - Mid-Year Reflection
[25:48] - Announcements and Observations
[50:05] - God's Preservation During the Pandemic
[50:54] - Nehemiah Chapter 2: Divine Help
[54:37] - Preparedness for Divine Opportunities
[55:33] - Prayer and Introduction to Nehemiah
[56:39] - The Cupbearer's Role
[57:41] - Build It Again Series
[58:45] - Remnant, Ruin, Reproach
[59:44] - Consequences of Rebellion
[01:00:39] - Tradition vs. Current Move of God
[01:03:03] - Living Sacrifice and Consecration
[01:03:32] - Holiness and Separation
[01:04:06] - Babel and Confusion
[01:05:00] - Religious Syncretism
[01:08:00] - Faith to Wait
[01:09:44] - Internal Compass and Value System
[01:11:45] - Nehemiah's Position and Contribution
[01:13:26] - Faithfulness in Current Season
[01:17:35] - The Cupbearer's Responsibility
[01:20:44] - Proximity Principle and Influence
[01:22:52] - Cultivating Clarity
[01:25:28] - Boldness in Opportunity
[01:29:04] - Specificity in Prayer
[01:32:53] - Prayer for Divine Favor
[01:34:52] - Waiting on the Lord
[01:35:39] - Tithing and Generosity
[01:36:18] - Partnership with Sister Church
[01:37:21] - Sowing Seeds Forward
[01:38:01] - Preparing to Give
[01:39:45] - Season of Favor and Kindness
[01:41:23] - Prayer for Increase and Favor
[01:42:11] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Nehemiah 2:1-6 (NLT)
- Romans 12:1 (NLT)
- Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)
### Observation Questions
1. What was Nehemiah's role in the king's court, and why was it significant? ([52:28])
2. How did Nehemiah respond when the king asked how he could help? ([53:27])
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be a living sacrifice, and why is it important? ([01:03:03])
4. What does Lamentations 3:22-23 say about God's mercies, and how does this relate to the sermon's message on God's protection? ([22:53])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to be prepared with dates and figures when God opens doors for us, as illustrated by Nehemiah's readiness? ([54:37])
2. How does the concept of being a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1 challenge our daily lives and decisions? ([01:03:03])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the dangers of mixing our faith with worldly practices, and how can this lead to confusion? ([01:05:00])
4. How does the principle of proximity influence our relationships and opportunities according to the sermon? ([01:20:44])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's renewed mercies in your life. How did this impact your faith and gratitude? ([22:53])
2. Nehemiah was prepared for the opportunity when it came. Are there areas in your life where you need to be more prepared for divine opportunities? What steps can you take to get ready? ([54:37])
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of being a living sacrifice. What specific worldly practices might you need to separate from to live a life holy and acceptable to God? ([01:03:03])
4. Think about your current season. How can you be more faithful and committed in your current position, even if it doesn't match your expectations? ([01:13:26])
5. Identify the top five influential people in your life. How can you intentionally cultivate these relationships to help you in your next season? ([01:20:44])
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of clarity and boldness in facing new opportunities. What specific prayers or actions can you take to gain clarity and be bold in your current or upcoming opportunities? ([01:23:32])
7. How can you apply the principle of sowing and reaping in your life, especially in terms of generosity and helping others? ([01:36:18])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Renewed Mercy and Protection
Each morning, God's mercy is renewed toward us. This is a profound reminder that despite the challenges and adversities we face, God's compassion never fails. If the enemy had his way, we would have been defeated long ago, but because God is the greatest power, we shall never be defeated. This is a cause for praise and gratitude. Reflect on the fact that you are alive and well because God wants you to be. Take a moment to acknowledge His mercy and protection in your life. [22:53]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed or defeated. How did you see God's mercy and protection in that situation? How can you express your gratitude to Him today?
Day 2: Preparedness for Divine Opportunities
Nehemiah's story teaches us the importance of being prepared. When the king asked how he could help, Nehemiah was ready with dates and figures. We must also be prepared for divine opportunities and have a clear plan for what we need. This readiness allows us to seize the moment when God opens doors for us. Being prepared means having faith that God will provide opportunities and being ready to act when they come. [54:37]
Proverbs 21:5 (ESV): "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel unprepared for an opportunity? What steps can you take today to prepare yourself for when God opens a door for you?
Day 3: Holiness and Separation
Just because God was with us in the past does not guarantee His favor if we are rebellious and disobedient now. We must be willing to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. Mixing our faith with worldly practices leads to confusion and loss of God's favor. God calls us to be holy and set apart, living lives that reflect His righteousness and purity. [01:03:32]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where you have mixed your faith with worldly practices? What steps can you take to separate yourself from these influences and live a life that is holy and acceptable to God?
Day 4: Faithfulness in Current Season
Never despise your position or contribution. Your current season is preparing you for the next. Be faithful and committed, and God will elevate you in due time. Your position may not always match your season, but faithfulness will lead to elevation. Trust that God is using your current circumstances to prepare you for greater things. [01:13:26]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: What is one way you can be more faithful and committed in your current season? How can you trust God to use your current circumstances to prepare you for the future?
Day 5: Proximity Principle and Influence
The principle of proximity points out the tendency of those physically close to one another to form social relationships. Identify the top five influential people in your life and pray for divine insight on how they can help you in your next season. Cultivate these relationships intentionally, understanding that God places people in our lives for a purpose. [01:20:44]
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV): "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Reflection: Who are the top five influential people in your life right now? How can you intentionally cultivate these relationships and seek divine insight on how they can help you in your next season?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We like our food fast. We like our friends superficial. We like the idea of God being a genie and not Lord. Hear me, our foods, write this down, friends, faith and faith are reflective of our internal compass. I'm about to change how you look at food. Yeah, your food, your choice of friends and your faith are reflective of your internal compass. Your value system will always express itself and what you eat, who you hang with and what you believe and what you do." [01:09:44]
2. "Just because you can't see it and just because you don't understand it doesn't mean that God ain't working. Did you just hear what I said? Just because you can't see it and just because you can't feel it don't mean that God's not working. Often I have discovered studying scripture that God is often at work when we are looking at the wrong place. We're thinking that it's going to happen one way, but God makes it happen another way." [01:12:41]
3. "Opportunities are coming. Come on, tell somebody opportunities are coming. And when the opportunity comes, you've got to be bold and courageous and confident to ask for what you want. Don't settle. Several of you are sitting in this room watching me online and you settle. You don't ask for what you really want because you don't think they'll do it. I'm rebuking you now. Don't you do that anymore. Ask for more than what you think you need." [01:26:12]
4. "So often, we relish in the good old days and the former glory of past moves of God. And then what we do is we turn them into idols in our heart. And this is what the idol is called. It's called tradition. Traditions that invoke no glory. Traditions that carry no wind, no fire, no presence, no results. But we will hold on to the past. Because it requires no sacrifice in the present." [01:00:39]
5. "And I'm using sage. I'm following psyches on TikTok, but I'm in every prayer and prophetic call on Facebook. I've got some sage and I got some scripture. It's the mixing for me. It's called religious syncretism. And when you are syncretic is when you mix and you blend different religious practices or belief systems. And you form this new philosophy or tradition that you live by." [01:05:40]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Your value system. Your internal compass is always going to express itself and what you eat and what you who you hang with and what you believe and what you do. We can mask it up all day long in church, but who we present ourselves in church ain't always who we are in real life. But your value system and your internal compass knows who you are. So you can say all the right things in church and around the saints. But you know, and your value system knows that those two things are not a lie." [01:10:51]
2. "You got to be willing to get down in the deep, willing to get down in the mud, willing to get down in the dirt. And this is where Nehemiah finds himself. He's not with the people physically and he's not aligned with the king spiritually. He finds himself in the middle. So Nehemiah really could have returned to Jerusalem years ago with his people, but he chose to remain in the palace. Ask me why. Two people asked me why I said, ask me why. The reason he chose to remain in the palace was he was making a decision for himself." [01:11:45]
3. "You were working at jobs, you're working in places and spaces, and you're not soaking up everything that you need to soak up. You're sitting in rooms, you're sitting in boardrooms, you're sitting in meetings and you haven't learned the structure of how your company is actually, how it's founded. What is the organizational structure? Who reports to who? What are some of the SOPs that I can possibly take and work it in my own business? What are some things that they're doing and how they budget and how they finance what it is that they're doing?" [01:17:35]
4. "So sometimes the time, the component of time, God is trying to build our faith. He's trying to build our weight up in the spirit. So as I wait, God's weight, your faith growing, you're getting stronger, you're getting bigger. Is your intake of the word going to another level? Because for every level, for every place that you go to, there's another level of attack, there's another level of demonic warfare that you must war and that you must engage in. So see the season and see the time as you're getting ready to go." [01:34:52]
5. "And this is how you know you're going down. And this is how you know you're off course. And this is how you know that you're not aligned. Where you begin to mix and no longer feel bad about compromising. Where you can do what you want to do when you don't feel no check in your spirit. Where you can sin and you can cuss and you can do whatever it is that you are big and bad enough to do. And you feel no internal check. You compromise. And we're living in a place and space in society. And we're living in a church age and culture where we have compromised." [01:06:32]
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