Being About the Lord's Business
We must prioritize God's tasks and stay focused on our goals, even when faced with opposition and ridicule, in order to be about our Father's business.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of being dedicated to the Lord's work, using Nehemiah as an example of unwavering commitment despite ridicule and opposition. Nehemiah, driven by a vision from God, returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, facing mockery from adversaries like Sanballat and Tobiah. He remained resolute, declaring that God would prosper their efforts and refusing to be distracted by attempts to divert him from his mission. Tozer encourages believers to adopt Nehemiah's determination, prioritizing God's calling above all else and rejecting any distractions from the enemy. The message calls for a renewed focus on our divine tasks, echoing Nehemiah's declaration of commitment.
Text
Nehemiah, the good, rose up from his weeping to do something about a vision God had laid on his heart. Under divine providence, he was soon transported from Shushan to his beloved city, Jerusalem, armed with authority and equipped with materials to rebuild the ruined city. . . .
The first device of the "enemy," upon hearing of the undertaking, was to heap ridicule on the whole plan. Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem laughed Nehemiah and his helpers to scorn. Undeterred, Nehemiah replied with firm assurance, "The God of heaven, he will prosper us." And the work went on according to plan.
After all other means had failed to hinder the reconstruction, the conspirators tried to arrange for a conference with Nehemiah. The man of God saw in this an evil purpose to do him mischief and divert him from his monumental work. His reply to the would-be mischief-makers is classic, and might well be adopted for the all-time stock reply to all such overtures: "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 6:3).
The great task to which God had called Nehemiah was so important that every other consideration must be waived. Would that we might have such an overpowering sense of being about our Father's business and be so impressed with the grandeur of our task that we would reject every suggestion of the evil one that would bid us take up some lesser pursuit. Let us rout him with the words that date back to 445 B.C., and which cannot be improved upon: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down."
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Being About God's Business
- Nehemiah's Example
- Undeterred by Ridicule and Opposition
- Prioritizing the Task at Hand
Key Quotes
“The God of heaven, he will prosper us.” — A.W. Tozer
“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Prioritize God's tasks and goals above all else.
- Stay focused on your goals and do not let distractions hinder your progress.
- Remember that the evil one is trying to divert you from your monumental work and hinder your progress.