Weekly Bible Study & Communion
16 February 2023
I Can’t Come Down
I want to read something profound that I heard yesterday whilst listening to one of my favourite podcasts.
The speaker said the following and I quote: “Don’t trade your ultimate for an immediate”.
In other words don’t trade what God ultimately has in store for you, His purpose and His plans for an immediate need or want i.e a distraction.
He goes on to say that we need to, “Know that every decision you make will result in the story you tell and one day the story that is told about you”.
Today there are so many voices or distractions that we all face. Certain unnecessary tasks, projects, socials, gadgets, tv programs or sport that is screaming for our attention. There is so much noise out there that can so easily keep us busy or get in the way of the important things in life.
Some might seem urgent but are they really? Is it worth me stopping what God has in store for me to do something else. That is what I’m talking about.
For some of us we might be so busy being busy that we are missing out on what’s important in life. We cannot loose focus.
The question I want to ask you today: What is in the way or keep getting in the way of living out Gods purpose for your life? For some of you it might be an addiction or a hobby, a relationship that you need to stop.
How many of you are sacrificing the ultimate plan that God has for you for an immediate nicety.
I would like to read about Nehemiah. He left Persia to go and fix the wall of Jerusalem which was broken down, and its gates which were burnt. Leaving Persia with permission from the Persian king he went to fulfil Gods purpose in his life. While on the wall building many neighbouring towns saw this as a threat and we pick up this story while Nehemiah is in the wall building with the people.
Nehemiah 6: 1-9 MSG
1-2 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no more breaks in it—even though I hadn‟t yet installed the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent this message: “Come and meet with us at Kephirim in the valley of Ono.”
2-3 I knew they were scheming to hurt me so I sent messengers back with this: “I‟m doing a great work; I can‟t come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?”
4 Four times they sent this message and four times I gave them my answer.
5-6 The fifth time—same messenger, same message—Sanballat sent an unsealed letter with this message:
6-7 “The word is out among the nations—and Geshem says it‟s true—that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That‟s why you are rebuilding the wall. The word is that you want to be king and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem, „There‟s a king in Judah!‟ The king is going to be told all this—don‟t you think we should sit down and have a talk?”
8 I sent him back this: “There‟s nothing to what you‟re saying. You‟ve made it all up.”
9 They were trying to intimidate us into quitting. They thought, “They‟ll give up; they‟ll never finish it.”
I prayed, “Give me strength.”
Family don‟t allow the enemy to distract you. Don‟t allow distractions to get in your way.
It‟s very important that when distractions come we realise them and put them in their place. Distractions can be dangerous, they can steal your purpose. We can‟t loose focus. This year is going to be a great year. God has great plans for His people and His church.
Allow God to Speak to you in 2023 and show you His plans for you so that you make wise choices and decisions to not distract you from His plan.
Amen
COMMUNION
The Holy Communion is a powerful way to celebrate our intimate connection and ongoing relationship with Jesus. Let us partake together.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way, He took the cup also after supper, saying, „This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.‟”
1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord‟s death until He comes.” 1
