ACA Chapel 2024
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever started a big project with excitement and energy only to lose steam halfway through? Maybe it was an paper, a school project, or reading an entire book series.
You began with vision and diligence but got bogged down by distractions and discouragement.
I want to talk to you today about staying focused and finishing strong, no matter what tries to derail you.
It comes from the Old Testament leader Nehemiah.
Jerusalem's walls had crumbled, leaving the city vulnerable, so Nehemiah rallied the people to rebuild them.
Every step of rebuilding the wall brought new obstacles. I want to identify three this morning.
detractors from without.
discouragement from within.
distractions all around.
Through it all Nehemiah persevered and led the people of Israel to keep their head up and finish the wall.
His rallying cry is what I want you to take away from today’s devotional.
3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
Whether a student or a teacher, whether grammar school, logic or some day rhetoric – what you’re doing at ACA is a GREAT WORK and you cannot come down.
It’s really really important that you understand how to deal with detractors, discouragement and distractions.
My goal is that you’ll leave here today inspired, equipped, and focused to finish your school year strong!
Dealing with Detractors
Dealing with Detractors
One of the things that Nehemiah dealt with at the beginning, middle and end of his project was criticism and opposition.
I’m going to call them “detractors.”
Anybody who attempts something great is going to invite criticism. It’s just the way it is!
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.
What did they do? They started hurling insults and making threats. (Neh 4:1-3)
Have you ever had to deal with opposition like that? Maybe some of you friends teasing you because of where you go to school or because it different from somebody else?
The words from our detractors can be painful sometimes.
What did Nehemiah lead his people to do with their detractors?
He led them to pray. (Neh 4:4)
That’s what we should do with our detractors.
We should take our detractors and their insults and put them in the hands of God.
Why? Because God’s opinion matters more than theirs and it’s not our place to seek revenge.
God wants us to trust him to handle our detractors in HIS way.
That’s exactly what happened in Jerusalem. The Lord dealt with their detractors. (Neh 4:15)
Remember the words of Nehemiah 6:3. “I am doing a great work. Why should I come down and waste my time on you?”
Dealing with Disappointment
Dealing with Disappointment
What about disappointment?
In Nehemiah 4, half the walls were rebuilt when people grew discouraged. The rubble looked too big, the task too hard.
10 In Judah, it was said:
The strength of the laborer fails,
since there is so much rubble.
We will never be able
to rebuild the wall.
Have you felt this way about school? You began excited but lost steam in the daily grind?
You fail a test, mess up your project, don’t finish the reading.
Invest hours in creative lessons only to hit apathy. It's easy to lose hope.
How do we stay encouraged? Nehemiah did three things:
He enlisted some help.
He remembered his why.
He kept moving forward.
First, he enlisted some help.
Sometimes we get discouraged because we’re trying to do everything on our own. Nehemiah had to split up his work force so that some people worked on the walls while others guarded their work.
It’s important to remember that you have a community of friends here at ACA who believe in what you’re doing together and are available to help. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s how you overcome discouragement.
You also need to remember your why.
Nothing tackles discouragement like a reminder of the vision. Why are you at ACA? Who are you hoping to become by pursuing this kind of education? What got you into teaching in the first place?
Nehemiah reminded the people that what they were doing was a vision from God. And if God gave you the vision then he’ll give you what you need to achieve it. He reminded them that God would fight for them (Neh 4:20)
Which leads to the last thing: keep moving forward.
The true key to overcoming discouragement is to keep moving forward no matter what. Discouragement is like a cloud it comes and then it goes but it never stays forever.
Dealing With Distractions
Dealing With Distractions
The final barrier Nehemiah faced was distraction. Enemies tried luring him into useless meetings and away from progress on the wall.
If there’s one thing true of modern life it’s that it provides endless distractions! Even good things can become a distraction.
You’ve got to protect your priorities in life.
Right now, school is a priority so you’ve got to protect the time and energy that are dedicated to it.
For Nehemiah it was the wall. So he declined the invitations to meet.
He said, “I’m doing a great work and I cannot come down.”
To use a baseball analogy: keep your eye on the ball!
Create intentional structures.
One of my mentors used to say if you’ll plan your work and work your plan then your plan will work!
Nehemiah made a plan, he made assignments based on his plan and he worked to check off every box on that plan.
What happened? He finished the wall!
Maybe you need to make a plan.
What time of day do you work the best?
What kind of space is best suited to help you focus?
What kinds of distractions do you need to remove from your life?
When it comes to distractions you’ve got to work smart not just work hard.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The world desperately needs what you all are becoming – scholars and leaders shaped by truth and virtue.
Don’t let detractors, disappointments, and distractions pull you away from the great work you’re doing at ACA.
Give your detractors to God.
Get some help for your discouragement.
Get intentional about dealing with your distractions.
Why? Because you are doing a great work and you cannot come down!