Enduring Faith: The Power of Patience and Obedience

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound question: "Can you handle the weight?" This inquiry challenges us to examine not just the strength of our faith but its stamina. Drawing from the book of Nehemiah, we explore the distinction between handling the physical weight (W-E-I-G-H-T) and the spiritual weight of waiting (W-A-I-T). Nehemiah's story is a testament to the power of patience and perseverance in the face of silence and uncertainty.

Nehemiah, upon receiving devastating news about the state of Jerusalem, turns to prayer and fasting. Yet, despite his fervent prayers, God remains silent for four months. This period of waiting is not a time of inactivity but a season of preparation and development. Nehemiah continues to serve as a cupbearer, faithfully executing his duties while waiting for divine direction. This teaches us that in times of silence, we must remain faithful to our last known instructions, trusting that God is working within us even when we cannot see it.

The sermon emphasizes that spiritual growth often requires enduring periods of waiting and development. Just as a mango tree takes years to bear fruit, our spiritual maturity is a slow process that cannot be rushed. Impatience can hinder our growth, but understanding that "soul work is slow work" helps us embrace the delays as necessary for our development.

Moreover, the reflection challenges us to shift our focus from seeking new revelations to being obedient to the last word God gave us. It is not about constantly seeking new sermons or messages but about living out the truths we have already received. This obedience is crucial for God to trust us with greater responsibilities and blessings.

Ultimately, the call is to become the kind of person God can trust, not just someone who trusts God. This transformation requires a deep, enduring faith that withstands the test of time and trials. As we pray, we should seek not just for God to act on our behalf but for Him to develop us into individuals who can handle the blessings and challenges He has in store.

Key Takeaways:

1. Faith's Stamina Over Strength: It's not just about having strong faith but enduring faith. Like Nehemiah, we must develop the stamina to sustain our faith over long periods of waiting and silence. This endurance is crucial for spiritual growth and maturity. [07:03]

2. The Discipline of Waiting: Nehemiah's story teaches us the importance of waiting on God. During his four months of silence, he continued to serve faithfully, demonstrating that waiting is not passive but an active engagement in our current responsibilities. [18:33]

3. Obedience to Previous Instructions: Before seeking new directions from God, we must be faithful to the last word we received. Our spiritual journey requires us to execute previous instructions diligently, as this obedience is foundational for receiving new guidance. [22:27]

4. Soul Work is Slow Work: Spiritual development is a gradual process that cannot be rushed. Just as a mango tree takes years to bear fruit, our growth requires patience and perseverance. Impatience can hinder our progress, but understanding the necessity of slow work helps us embrace the journey. [29:08]

5. Becoming Trustworthy to God: Our prayer should be to become individuals whom God can trust with His blessings and responsibilities. This transformation involves a deep, enduring faith that withstands trials and remains steadfast in obedience. [33:59]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:51] - Introduction to Nehemiah
- [05:54] - The Weight vs. The Wait
- [07:03] - Strong Faith vs. Long Faith
- [08:22] - Nehemiah's Prayer Life
- [12:32] - The Silence of God
- [14:23] - Seasons of Nothing
- [16:07] - Waiting and Working
- [18:33] - Serving While Waiting
- [22:27] - Obedience to Old Instructions
- [25:36] - Presence vs. Demonstration
- [28:05] - Impatience and Development
- [29:08] - Soul Work is Slow Work
- [30:57] - Foundation of Prayer
- [33:59] - Becoming Trustworthy to God
- [35:58] - Conclusion: Long Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Nehemiah 1:1-2:1

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Observation Questions:

1. What was Nehemiah's initial reaction upon hearing the news about Jerusalem, and how did he respond during the four months of silence from God? [12:32]

2. How does the sermon describe the difference between handling physical weight (W-E-I-G-H-T) and the spiritual weight of waiting (W-A-I-T)? [05:54]

3. What role did Nehemiah's position as a cupbearer play during his period of waiting and prayer? [18:33]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Nehemiah continuing to serve the king while waiting for God's direction? [18:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Nehemiah's story illustrate the concept of "faith's stamina over strength," and why is this distinction important for spiritual growth? [07:03]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that waiting on God is an active process rather than a passive one? [14:23]

3. How does the sermon challenge the common desire for new revelations or messages from God, and what does it suggest about obedience to previous instructions? [22:27]

4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between spiritual development and the concept of "soul work is slow work"? [29:08]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for an answer from God. How did you handle the waiting period, and what might you do differently after hearing Nehemiah's story? [12:32]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being faithful to the last word God gave us. What is one instruction or direction from God that you need to revisit and act upon? [22:27]

3. Consider the idea that "soul work is slow work." What area of your spiritual life requires patience and perseverance, and how can you embrace the slow process of growth? [29:08]

4. How can you actively serve and remain faithful in your current responsibilities while waiting for further direction from God? [18:33]

5. The sermon suggests praying to become someone God can trust. What specific qualities or changes do you need to cultivate in your life to become that person? [33:59]

6. How can you shift your focus from seeking new revelations to living out the truths you have already received? What practical steps can you take to apply this in your daily life? [22:27]

7. Reflect on the concept of "faith's stamina over strength." How can you develop a long-lasting faith that endures through trials and waiting periods? [07:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Enduring Faith Over Strong Faith
Faith is not just about strength but about endurance. Nehemiah's story illustrates the importance of having faith that can withstand long periods of waiting and silence. When Nehemiah received the news about Jerusalem, he turned to prayer and fasting, yet God remained silent for four months. During this time, Nehemiah continued to serve faithfully as a cupbearer, demonstrating that enduring faith is about maintaining trust and commitment even when answers are not immediate. This kind of faith is crucial for spiritual growth and maturity, as it allows us to remain steadfast in our journey, trusting that God is working within us even when we cannot see it. [07:03]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently experiencing a period of waiting? How can you actively maintain your faith and trust in God during this time?


Day 2: The Active Discipline of Waiting
Waiting on God is not a passive experience but an active engagement in our current responsibilities. Nehemiah's story teaches us the importance of serving faithfully while waiting for divine direction. During his four months of silence, Nehemiah continued to fulfill his duties as a cupbearer, demonstrating that waiting involves being diligent and faithful in our present tasks. This discipline of waiting helps us develop patience and perseverance, allowing us to grow spiritually and prepare for the next steps God has for us. By focusing on our current responsibilities, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes, preparing us for greater things. [18:33]

Psalm 27:14 (ESV): "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

Reflection: What responsibilities or tasks has God placed in your life right now? How can you faithfully engage in these while waiting for His guidance?


Day 3: Obedience to Previous Instructions
Before seeking new directions from God, it is essential to be faithful to the last word we received. Our spiritual journey requires us to diligently execute previous instructions, as this obedience is foundational for receiving new guidance. Nehemiah's story reminds us that spiritual growth often involves being obedient to what we already know, rather than constantly seeking new revelations. By living out the truths we have already received, we demonstrate our trustworthiness to God, allowing Him to entrust us with greater responsibilities and blessings. This obedience is a crucial aspect of our spiritual development, helping us to grow in faith and maturity. [22:27]

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"

Reflection: What is one instruction or truth from God that you have not fully obeyed? How can you take steps today to live out this instruction more faithfully?


Day 4: Embracing the Slow Work of the Soul
Spiritual development is a gradual process that cannot be rushed. Just as a mango tree takes years to bear fruit, our growth requires patience and perseverance. Nehemiah's story highlights the importance of understanding that "soul work is slow work," helping us embrace the delays as necessary for our development. Impatience can hinder our progress, but by recognizing the value of slow work, we can appreciate the journey and the lessons learned along the way. This perspective allows us to grow in faith and maturity, trusting that God is shaping us into the individuals He wants us to be. [29:08]

James 5:7-8 (ESV): "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

Reflection: In what areas of your spiritual life do you feel impatient? How can you embrace the slow work of the soul and trust in God's timing?


Day 5: Becoming Trustworthy to God
Our prayer should be to become individuals whom God can trust with His blessings and responsibilities. This transformation involves developing a deep, enduring faith that withstands trials and remains steadfast in obedience. Nehemiah's story challenges us to shift our focus from seeking new revelations to being obedient to the last word God gave us. By living out the truths we have already received, we demonstrate our trustworthiness to God, allowing Him to entrust us with greater responsibilities and blessings. This transformation requires a commitment to spiritual growth and maturity, helping us become the kind of person God can trust. [33:59]

Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."

Reflection: What steps can you take to become more trustworthy to God in your daily life? How can you demonstrate faithfulness in the small things He has entrusted to you?

Quotes



I believe that many of you today, you have the ability, you have strong faith, but you do not have long faith. Did you hear what I just said? I believe that many of you in the house of God, the question is not the strength of your faith. The question is the stamina of your faith. [00:06:43]

I believe that many of you in the house of God, the issue is not that you don't have strong faith. The issue is that you don't have long faith. See, you may have strong faith to lift a heavy load, but do you have long faith to lift that same heavy load over a period of time? [00:07:26]

And the question today is not the strength of your faith it's the stamina of your faith here it is because family while we are more focused on the dream god is more focused in your development somebody talk back to me and say development development family is the discipline we discover in the discourse in the book of nehemiah chapter two [00:08:19]

Nehemiah chapter one starts off by letting us know that nehemiah was experiencing a broken heart because he received bad news that the city of his ancestors was in a deplorable and disgraceful state the bible says that the walls had been broken down and the gates had been burned with fire now i've been saying all this just to get this little point right here in the book of nehemiah nehemiah shows a discipline for prayer in the book of nehemiah nehemiah shows that he values prayer in the book of nehemiah nehemiah is displayed as a man of prayer in the book of nehemiah you can see that nehemiah has a certain belief that where there is much prayer there is much power nehemiah is displayed as a man [00:08:22]

It has been four months i've been talking to god and god has the audacity to not talk back anybody ever been in that situation before you've been talking to god the issue is that god has not been talking to you and i believe family that the biggest struggle that we have in our christian walk is not so much when god reveals his will it's more so when god conceals his will and i can imagine family nehemiah with this frustration wait a minute god i thought that if i made you a priority that you would have the decency to respond to me with urgency [00:12:32]

Family, while Nehemiah was waiting and while Nehemiah was praying, Nehemiah was still working. Okay, I got rewound in my mind. Let me try that again. While Nehemiah was waiting and while Nehemiah was praying, Nehemiah was still working. Watch this. Nehemiah continued to serve the king until he waited to hear from the king of kings. [00:18:22]

Nehemiah understood i'm going to do what i was last assigned to do until i'm told what next to do oh okay okay y 'all are acting real funny today pastor rogers you gonna make me work hard for that honorarium huh okay let me do this in my time nehemiah understood i will do what i was assigned to do until i am told what next thing i should be doing nehemiah understood watch this that when you are confused and you don't know which where to go you don't know which decision to make nehemiah lets us know here it is you have to execute previous instructions look at your neighbor and tell them execute previous instructions here it is family some of you are confused because you don't know what you should be doing next if you are in college you don't know well what should i do after this if you're in high school you don't know what should i be doing after this if you're an adult who should i marry where should i work where should i move god what do i do next and some of you are so concerned with what you should do next that you forgot what was the last thing god told you to do [00:18:50]

You don't get a new word until you are obedient to the old word and the problem that many of you have is that you want a new word but you were not obedient to the old word and the reason why you don't get a new word once you got the old word is because if you can't properly manage the old word why would god give you a new word if you cannot properly steward the old word why would god give you a new word if you were not obedient to the old word why would god give you a new word okay you're not following me pastor rogers you know what our biggest problem is all the saints want a new sermon every week no that's okay you don't got to say amen i brought amens in my back pocket i don't need none of yours the challenge that we are facing in western christianity is that you are yes i'm saying you because i'm not part of you today you all want a new sermon every single week you want a new sermon every wednesday night prayer meeting you want a new sermon every evening sabbath evening at ay you want a new sermon on the 6 a .m prayer line and the challenge is this you want a new sermon next week but you were not obedient to the last sermon last week [00:20:34]

If you were to plant a mango tree on average it takes around five years for the mango tree to produce mango fruit and if you are too impatient to wait for the development of the mango tree then you don't deserve to eat the mango fruit some of you I came all the way from South Carolina in America to tell you your biggest problem is one word, impatience. Some of you, you are simply too impatient. And you ask, but why do I have to wait for so long? Why do I have to wait for so long? Why do I have to wait for so long? Here it is, because God is doing a work in you. [00:27:32]

Before God does a work through you, God must first do a work in you. But why, why, why does God have to do, well, Pastor Gomez, what work is God doing in me? Here it is, God is doing soul work. The problem is, soul work. Soul work is slow work. I don't get paid enough to say this stuff. Soul work is slow work. Repeat after me, say slow work. Soul work. Soul work is slow work. Problem is that you don't like the delays. And God sent me here to tell you the delay is delay. The delay is the development. The delay is necessary for the deployment. [00:28:05]

A 52 -day project had a four -month foundation of prayer. And too many of you, you want the success of the 52 days, but you don't want to put in the work of the four months? You want the dream of the 52 days. But you don't want to put in the development of the four months? And God sent me here to tell you, if you cannot properly handle the four months, you won't be able to properly handle the 52 days. Because, family, in order for you to have what God wants, [00:30:57]

In order for you to have what God wants you to have you must first become the kind of person that can do the kind of thing that God wants you to do I got I don't I must be talking Spanish up in here because y 'all looking at me like y 'all are confused right now in order for you to have what God wants you to have you must first become the kind of person that can do the kind of thing that God wants you to do in other words family it is one thing to be the kind of person that can trust God it's a whole nother thing to be the kind of person that God can trust maybe I need to preach from up here it's one thing to be the kind of person that can trust God it's a whole nother thing to be the kind of person that God can trust and your prayer for the rest of this year needs to be Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust when I'm depressed Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust when I'm anxious. Lord, make me the kind of person that you can trust when my money is acting funny. Lord, make me the kind of person that you can trust when my change is acting strange. Lord, make me the kind of person that you can trust when my dimes don't come on time. Lord, make me the kind of person that you can trust when my nickels are in a pickle. Lord, make me the kind of person that you can trust when my pennies are not plenty. Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust when my quarters are out of order. Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust and maybe this sermon ain't for none of y 'all but Pastor Roger the sermon is for me. Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust when I'm feeling battered. Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust when I'm feeling bruised. Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust when I feel broken. Lord make me the kind of person when I got more bills than I got money. Lord make me the kind of person where my wife gets sick. Lord make me the kind of person where my mother gets sick Lord make me the kind of person where my car breaks down. Lord make me the kind of person that you can trust [00:31:49]

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Transcript
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