Message: I AM DOING A GREAT WORK; I CANNOT COME DOWN
Ministering: Pastor Dr. Raf Otono
Date: 2nd July 2023
Bible Text: Nehemiah 6:1-16 (3)
This is our month of greater works! It is the beginning of the 2nd half of the year and also the beginning of our 2nd year as a church.
VGC, we just celebrated our 1st anniversary. It was one year of God’s goodness, mercies, favor, grace and great light.
One year of the help of God but ladies and gentlemen it is time to set the bar higher. This is not the time for wishful thinking this is the time to get to work and do great things for the Lord.
Listen: The only way to do great work is to work great work! The only way not to come down is to do a great work!
HOW DO YOU DO A GREAT WORK? – By Burden! – Nehemiah 1:1-4
Nehemiah was an ordinary guy, he was not a prophet, a pastor, an apostle or a man of repute. He was a cupbearer with a heavy burden for the things of God!
Nehemiah had a burden to cover the nakedness of God’s city and God’s people because the wall of Jerusalem was broken down. The city was defenseless, the people were afflicted – anyone could come in and go out because there was no wall, no gates and Nehemiah wept for days praying and fasting because God’s city was naked! How many of us are weeping and fasting because of the nakedness of God’s church today seeing the height of immorality and falsehood in God’s house?!
When the king saw the burden, the king couldn’t deny his request- he permitted him to go do the work of God! There are many people today that can’t approach their boss to say on Sunday I must be in the house of God!
They are working for men on Sunday when they should be working for God. But pastor no it’s not my fault my boss won’t release me on Sunday. No! It is you! You have not demonstrated enough burden on the things of God for your boss to see or notice!
Listen: Nothing kills a great work and revival like a burden-less generation.
When there is a burden, nobody needs to motivate or encourage you! Nobody told Nehemiah to weep, to fast or to pray!
We are living in a very selfish generation where people don’t care about the things of God but themselves. They cry over heart breaks, failed relationships, failed businesses and over mundane things but not over the things of God!
A generation where people come to church because they need something from God! Not because they care about God or the things of God! It is burden that drives men into the things of God!
Burden gives birth to 6 things:
B – Burning passion
U – Unwavering commitment
R – Relentlessness & results oriented
D – Diligence & determination – Prov 22:29
E – Enthusiasm – Derived the Greek word Entheos – En = in, Theos = God = God within
N – No to failure mentality
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO COME DOWN – THEN MUST DO THE DO THE FOLLOWING:
- You must know who you & whose you are like Elijah – 2 Kings 1:9-10
- You must be focused & not distracted – Neh 6:2-3
Listen: If the enemy can’t destroy you, he will distract you. He will try to take your eyes off your assignment, your purpose and God’s will for your life
They said to him stop building and meet us at a village called ONO! 4x
Listen: No matter what you do, never meet your enemies at ONO! Ono is a village! Ono means the valley of craftsmen or cunning – Neh 11:35 – Ono is a place where destinies are hijacked, slaughtered and manipulated!
- Identify the spirit of Sanballat, Tobiah & Geshem – Neh 6:1
When you begin to do a great work get ready for Sanballat & his friends – they will rise up!
Sanballat means secret enemy or the enemy is secret. Tobiah means distinguished of the Lord Geshem means to rain or rain.
So Sanballat the secret enemy comes in and corrupts Tobiah that has been distinguished by the Lord to pollute your rain of blessings!
I stand as a man from God and as an apostle of light– every Sanballat and hidden enemy in your life sent to contaminate your rain of blessings – today, I expose them x4
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall, I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for God is with me
And if God be for me, who can be against me?
He is the same yesterday; He is the same today, He is the same forever
He said let there be light and there was light
He wraps Himself in light as of with a garment
He shinneth in darkness and darkness couldn’t comprehend
He is my light! My salvation! My law giver! My way maker! My refuge! My fortress! My Strong tower! My Helper!
SOMEBODY HOLLA – I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, I CANNOT COME DOWN!
WHAT ARE THE EVIL TOOLS OF SANBALLAT AGAINST A GREAT WORK?
- Ridicule & Mockery – Neh 2:18-19, 4:1-3 KJV/AMP
Listen: Most times the ridicule of men ends up as miracles in the hands of God
The cure to mockery and ridicule is the mind to work – Neh 4:6
- Attacks & Confrontations/Oppositions – Neh 4:7-8
Listen: When the enemy attacks, don’t be distracted – it is a sign that you are doing a great work! Just pray! – Neh 4:9
- Spirit of discouragement – Neh 4:10-11
No matter what the enemy does, never be discouraged! It is a tool to get you to come down from the great work. I am concerned and sometimes distressed because I want more and better but I am never discouraged! – 1 Sam 30:6 – But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God!
- Open letter – Gossips – Neh 6:5-7 – In those days’ letters are like scrolls and are sealed! But this one was an open letter because of their evil intentions. It was an open letter for all to see and read! – Social media!
They will spread lies, rumors, and gossips to discredit and bring down the great work and the leadership! This tool is used to pollute the hearts of men and their perception towards the great work you are doing.
Listen: Don’t worry about what people say about you, worry about what is true about you and what God is saying.
When false narrative is being spread about you or the great work you are doing – reply once to set the record straight but most importantly pray and rely on God for strength to continue – Neh 6:8-9
- Strategic enemies within – Neh 6:10-14
These ones are the most dangerous tool or weapon against a great and it takes the spirit of discernment to identify them. Even Jesus didn’t survive His own, though it was part of divine arrangement.
These are supposed children of God in church planted by the devil to scatter and destroy the great work. Shemaiah wasn’t alone, prophetess Noadiah and other prophets were involved.
Listen: Never allow satan to use you against a great work and the church you attend. Instead for you to stay and secretly sabotage the work, please leave!
All of these tools are programmed for one reason: to give up on the great work and come down!
Say with me – I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, I CANNOT COME DOWN!
RISE ON YOUR FEET!
I AM CALLING ON ALL VGC LEADERSHIP, WORKERS AND MEMBERS TO RISE UP TO THE TASK AS THERE IS GREAT WORK TO BE DONE, NO MORE IDLENESS, NO MORE SLUMBERNESS AND LUKEWARMNESS. IT IS TIME TO WORK AND BUILD A GREAT WORK!
Listen: In other to do a great work, you must understand the principle of – BUILD, BATTLE & BECOME!
You don’t become anything without building first. And, you don’t build without facing battles! You start building and you face battles then you become! You don’t just become – you give yourself to building and get ready for BATTLES! – Neh 4:9,16-22
PRAYER:
Father in the name of Jesus, as we begin to build a great work for You, equip us with the strength of a unicorn to fight and win the unseen battles ahead! – Num 23:22
- ALTAR CALL!!
- New Comers Acknowledgment
- VGC Light declaration
- Grace
- VGC Slogan
