Nehemiah 6:1-9

1. 1When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it – though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates – Nehemiah 6:1-9

2. 2Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” Nehemiah 6:1-9

3. But they were scheming to harm me;3so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:1-9

4. 4Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Nehemiah 6:1-9

5. 5Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6in which was written: Nehemiah 6:1-9

6. “It is reported among the nations – and Geshem says it is true – that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Nehemiah 6:1-9

7. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: Nehemiah 6:1-9

8. ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.” Nehemiah 6:1-9

9. 8I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” Nehemiah 6:1-9

10. Nehemiah 6:1-9 9They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed,“Now strengthen my hands.”

11. Passing the “Vision” Test Discovering God’s Will #5

12. Discovering God’s Will GREAT NEWS • God wants you to know what to do more than you want to know what to do.

13. To help us God has given us: A picture of His providential will and His moral will. The wise counsel of other believers. The ability to discover principles in God’s Word.

14. Every time we make a decision it is going to intersect in some way with the principles of God’s Word. The more familiar we are with scripture, the easier it’s going to be for us to discern God’s will.

15. Our final topic is one that makes decision making so much easier. VISION

16. One of the primary ways that God will direct you and guide you in your life is by giving you a big picture.

19. It is imperative that we have a vision. • A vision is basically a destination. • It’s where you want to endupinlife.

20. God has an image or a picture of what couldbe and shouldbefor your life. That’s what a vision is.

21. The clearer the vision… The fewer the options… The easier the decision making process.

22. The problem is this; as long as your vision is general or vague, it is not extremely helpful in terms of making decisions.

24. Visionoften times begins as a burden.

25. Because of Nehemiah’s clear focus he was able to say, “I am doing a greatwork and I cannot comedown.”

26. Nehemiah clearly knew what God had called him to do, rebuild the wall, and anything that contributed to the rebuilding of the wall was a yes and anything that would distract him from rebuilding the wall was a no.

27. Decision making was very easy for Nehemiah once he had the bigpicture of what God ultimately wanted to have happen.

28. Three quick points of application: Would you at least begin to start praying that God would help you clarify your vision in the key areas of life? Would you writeitdown? Act accordingly.