Enlisting Support for Your God-Given Dream
Summary
In today's message, we explored the critical steps in enlisting support for a God-given dream, as illustrated in Nehemiah chapter two. As we navigate the post-COVID world, God offers us a unique opportunity to reset and rebuild our lives, much like Nehemiah's mission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. The first step in this journey is understanding that no dream is built without support or opposition. Nehemiah's story teaches us that true success requires collaboration and that opposition is inevitable when pursuing a God-given vision.
Nehemiah's approach to enlisting support is a masterclass in leadership. He begins by waiting for the right timing, understanding that timing can make or break a dream. He then ensures he has done his homework, gathering all necessary facts and information before making his pitch. Protecting the dream from premature death is crucial, as dreams are fragile and can be easily destroyed by negativity or skepticism. Nehemiah wisely keeps his plans secret until he is ready to unveil them.
When the time comes to share the dream, Nehemiah emphasizes community by talking about "we" instead of "me," creating a sense of shared purpose. He paints a vivid picture of the current situation and the potential for a better future, appealing to the people's hearts and dignity. By sharing his personal story of how God has been with him, Nehemiah inspires others to join the cause. Finally, he confidently asks for help, understanding that asking is a crucial step in realizing a dream.
As we reflect on Nehemiah's story, we are reminded that God has resources and people ready to help us fulfill His plans. We are encouraged to open our eyes and ears to the opportunities and individuals God places in our path. With faith and determination, we can accomplish great things for God's glory.
Key Takeaways:
- No Dream is Built Without Support or Opposition: True success requires collaboration, and opposition is inevitable when pursuing a God-given vision. Embrace the support of others and prepare for challenges as you pursue your dream. [01:35]
- Wait for the Right Timing: Timing can make or break a dream. Like Nehemiah, take time to rest, pray, and observe before announcing your vision. This patience can build curiosity and anticipation, setting the stage for success. [09:34]
- Protect the Dream from Premature Death: Dreams are fragile and can be easily destroyed by negativity. Keep your plans close until you have gathered all the facts and are ready to share them with confidence. [17:53]
- Create Community and Appeal to Hearts: Use inclusive language to foster a sense of shared purpose. Appeal to people's dignity and emotions, motivating them to join you in achieving a common goal. [21:53]
- Share Your Story to Inspire Others: Personal testimonies of faith can inspire and motivate others to join your cause. Share how God has been with you, and let your story build faith in those around you. [32:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Nehemiah Series
- [00:27] - Opportunity to Reset Post-COVID
- [00:40] - Recap of Previous Messages
- [01:14] - Enlisting Support for Your Dream
- [01:35] - Importance of Support and Opposition
- [02:15] - Why You Need Help
- [03:09] - Nehemiah's Request to the King
- [04:02] - Handling Opposition
- [05:00] - Introduction to Sanballat and Tobiah
- [06:13] - Opposition to Change
- [07:06] - Background of Nehemiah's Story
- [08:45] - Nehemiah's Success Story
- [09:34] - Wait for the Right Timing
- [12:47] - Do Your Homework
- [17:53] - Protect the Dream
- [21:53] - Talk About We, Not Me
- [24:31] - Paint a Picture of Change
- [28:20] - Appeal to People's Hearts
- [32:10] - Share Your Story
- [35:56] - Ask for Help Confidently
- [37:42] - Ignore Naysayers
- [40:31] - Encouragement to Pursue Your Dream
- [43:24] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
- [45:27] - Weekly Commitments and Announcements
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Nehemiah 2:7-20
- Ecclesiastes 3:7
- Proverbs 18:13
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific steps did Nehemiah take to prepare before sharing his dream with others? ([10:46])
2. How did Nehemiah's approach to timing influence the success of his mission? ([09:34])
3. What role did Nehemiah's personal story play in gaining support for his dream? ([32:10])
4. How did Nehemiah handle opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem? ([37:59])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is it important to wait for the right timing when pursuing a God-given dream, as demonstrated by Nehemiah? ([09:34])
2. How does Nehemiah's method of creating a sense of community by using inclusive language impact the people of Jerusalem? ([21:53])
3. In what ways does Nehemiah's story illustrate the necessity of protecting a dream from premature death? ([17:53])
4. How does Nehemiah's response to opposition reflect his faith and determination? ([37:59])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a dream or vision you believe God has given you. What steps can you take to ensure you have the necessary support to pursue it? ([01:35])
2. Consider a time when you faced opposition while pursuing a goal. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently in light of Nehemiah's example? ([04:02])
3. Nehemiah waited for the right timing before sharing his dream. Is there a situation in your life where you need to exercise patience and wait for God's timing? ([09:34])
4. How can you create a sense of community and shared purpose in your current projects or dreams? What language or actions can you use to foster this? ([21:53])
5. Nehemiah shared his personal story to inspire others. What personal testimony can you share to encourage those around you in their faith journey? ([32:10])
6. Identify a dream or goal you have kept to yourself. What steps can you take to protect it from negativity and skepticism until you are ready to share it? ([17:53])
7. How can you prepare yourself to confidently ask for help in realizing your dreams, as Nehemiah did? ([35:56])
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Support and Prepare for Opposition
True success in pursuing a God-given dream requires both collaboration and the readiness to face opposition. Nehemiah's story exemplifies this truth as he embarked on the mission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. He understood that no dream is built in isolation and that opposition is inevitable. By embracing the support of others, Nehemiah was able to gather the resources and manpower needed to accomplish his vision. At the same time, he prepared himself and his team for the challenges they would face, knowing that opposition often accompanies a God-given vision. As you pursue your own dreams, remember that God places people in your path to help you, and He equips you to overcome any obstacles that arise. [01:35]
Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV): "And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.'"
Reflection: Who are the people God has placed in your life to support your dreams? How can you actively seek their collaboration and prepare for any opposition you might face?
Day 2: Wait for God's Timing
Timing is crucial when pursuing a God-given dream. Nehemiah demonstrated the importance of waiting for the right moment to act. He spent time in prayer, reflection, and observation before presenting his vision to the king. This period of waiting allowed him to gather the necessary information and build anticipation for his plan. By waiting for God's timing, Nehemiah ensured that his dream had the best chance of success. In your own life, take time to rest and seek God's guidance before moving forward with your plans. Trust that His timing is perfect and that He will open doors when the moment is right. [09:34]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Is there a dream or vision you are eager to pursue? How can you practice patience and trust in God's timing as you wait for the right moment to act?
Day 3: Protect Your Dream from Negativity
Dreams are fragile and can be easily destroyed by negativity and skepticism. Nehemiah understood this and took steps to protect his vision from premature death. He kept his plans close, sharing them only when he was ready and had gathered all the necessary facts. By doing so, he shielded his dream from those who might have discouraged or derailed it. In your own journey, be mindful of who you share your dreams with and ensure that you are prepared to present them with confidence. Protect your vision from negativity and trust that God will guide you in bringing it to fruition. [17:53]
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where negativity or skepticism is threatening your dreams? How can you protect your vision and ensure it remains strong and vibrant?
Day 4: Foster Community and Shared Purpose
Nehemiah's success in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls was due in part to his ability to create a sense of community and shared purpose. He used inclusive language, speaking of "we" instead of "me," and appealed to the people's dignity and emotions. By doing so, he motivated others to join him in achieving a common goal. In your own pursuits, consider how you can foster a sense of community and shared purpose. Use language that unites and inspires, and appeal to the hearts of those around you. Together, you can accomplish great things for God's glory. [21:53]
1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (ESV): "That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."
Reflection: How can you use inclusive language and actions to foster a sense of community in your current endeavors? What steps can you take to create a shared purpose with those around you?
Day 5: Inspire Others with Your Story
Personal testimonies of faith have the power to inspire and motivate others. Nehemiah shared his story of how God had been with him, using it to build faith in those around him. By sharing his experiences, he encouraged others to join his cause and work towards a common goal. In your own life, consider how your story can inspire others. Share how God has been with you and let your testimony be a source of encouragement and motivation for those around you. Your story has the power to build faith and bring others closer to God's vision. [32:10]
Psalm 66:16 (ESV): "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul."
Reflection: What aspects of your personal story can you share to inspire and encourage others? How can your testimony be a source of motivation for those around you today?
Quotes
No dream is ever built without support. Just like a building needs support your dream needs support. True success is never one man show. Anything significant that's done in your life, any great dream will require help from others. Kay, my wife, has a message called; It Takes a Team to Fulfill a Dream. [00:01:41]
Opportunity and opposition go together. The moment you decide to go after the dream that God gives you, there's always gonna be somebody there to discourage you. The moments you say, let's do this, somebody is gonna jump on and say, let's don't. People are naturally resistant to change. [00:04:10]
Wait for the right timing. Ecclesiastes 8:8 says this, "There's a right time and a right way to do everything." Now, you know that from experience that that's true. You ever seen a good idea killed because it had bad timing? Yeah. Timing can make or break you. [00:09:34]
Before you go public and announce your dream to your family, your friends, your neighbors, your boss, whoever, makes sure you have all the facts and all your information is correct and current. The Bible says it like this and Proverbs 18:13, "It's stupid and shameful to decide before knowing the facts!" [00:12:57]
When God puts a dream in your heart, you need to not just go share it with everybody willy-nilly at anytime anyway. Don't be in a hurry. Let me tell you this from experience. Don't be in a hurry to announce your dream so quickly. You wanna protect your dream. A dreams can be destroyed very quickly. [00:17:43]
Talk about we, not me. You wanna create community. The words you use, it's not my dream. Here's what I'm gonna do. Now think about this, Nehemiah is an outsider. He had never lived in Jerusalem. His parents had probably, but he had never lived in Jerusalem. But even though he's an outsider, he talks like an insider. [00:21:53]
Paint a picture of what needs to change. You've probably heard the expression, "I'll believe it, when I see it." That's actually true, but in a different way, that that phrase is given. It is actually true. You'll believe it when you see it. Nothing great is ever accomplished with people until they see it in their minds for the first time. [00:24:31]
We often assume that people base their choices on logic and reason, but that's just not true. Most of the decisions you make in life are based on how you feel. You base them on your feelings, on your emotions. You make a decision based on your emotions and then later you look for a logical reason to justify what emotional decision you make. [00:28:20]
Share your story to inspire others. Verse 18 Nehemiah says this, "I also told them about how God had been with me and how he graciously helped me in my conversation with the king in gaining his support." So now Nehemiah gives his testimony. This is important part of sharing your dream. People wanna know what's it mean to you and what's God doing in your life. [00:32:10]
Ask for help confidently. You might even just write down, ask for help fearlessly. See, you just don't pump people up with all this inspirational dream and then walk away say, have a nice day. You get specific and you ask for help. This is the moment of truth. Will you join me in this task? Will you join me in the dream? [00:35:56]
The Bible says you have not because you asked not. And that's not just true in asking for God's help, it's also true in asking for the help of others. Now, in my previous message, I warned you to not say no for other people. Never assume that you know their answer in advance. If they wanna say no, let them say it. [00:36:49]
God has the resources to help you that you have not even considered. There are multiplied thousands of persons with all sorts of talents and skills and concerns and contacts that God can bring into your life to fulfill his plan and dream. So open your eyes and see the faces of people around you. Open your ears to hear what they're saying. [00:41:52]
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