“And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame.”
(Isaiah 10:17 NASB)
GOD’S FLAME IS ETERNAL, NOT TEMPORARY
1. STAY COMMITTED TO THE NOBLE CAUSE
STAYING TRUE TO A NOBLE CAUSE LONG AFTER THE STARTING EMOTION HAS SUBSIDED
“…for they have demoralized the builders.” (Nehemiah 4:5 NASB) Demoralize: Lose confidence, or hope; dishearten; to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right; to weaken the morale; dispirit.
“So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
(Nehemiah 4:6 NASB)
2. STAY FOCUSED
“All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.”
(Nehemiah 4:8 NASB)
DON’T BECOME DISTRACTED BY THE RUBBISH
“…in Judah, it was said, ‘The strength of the burden bearers is failing, yet there is much rubbish; and we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.’”
(Nehemiah 4:10 NASB).
3. CHOOSE TO SUCCEED, NOT SUCCUMB
“Our enemies said, ‘They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” (Nehemiah 4:11 NASB).
STICK TO GOD’S PLAN, AND HE WILL FRUSTRATE THE PLAN OF THE ENEMY
“When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.” (Nehemiah 4:15 NASB)
4. PROVE YOUR “NAY” SAYERS WRONG, AND SUCCEED IN FRONT OF THEM
“When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”
(Nehemiah 6:16 NASB).
Discussion Questions:
1. What have you started, that you’re being challenged to remain faithful to finish?
2. Is your “emotion”, and “faith” flame still on for the things of God, at your “Half Time”? Why or why not?
3. Why is it eternally important to be faithful to the end?
4. What do you do, or what will you do to fuel, and fan the flame, so that you can finish strong?
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