Matthew Trexler | REFOCUS | May 22, 2022
Hebrews 12:1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
“At some point the challenge of running your races comes down to whether you will give up or keep going.”
Ecclesiastes 9:11 The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
Navigate the obstacle course.
Hebrews 12:1 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
His life was being moved from one of great comfort, when he agrees to give up the palace for the ruins.
Obstacles We Must Face
1. Obstacle of Apathy
Obstacles We Must Face
2. Obstacle of Insufficiency
Nehemiah 2:2-4 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”
I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
Obstacles We Must Face
3. Obstacle of Opposition
God creates and Satan destroys.
Nehemiah 4:1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,
Nehemiah 4:7-8 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
3 Practical Steps to Overcome Obstacles
1. Embrace the Obstacles
“Takes courage to be honest with ourselves about the state of our lives.”
Nehemiah 2:18 “Let us start rebuilding.”
3 Practical Steps to Overcome Obstacles
2. Persevere in Prayer
Nehemiah 1:5-6a “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying…
- Prayer reminds us who God is.
- Prayer reminds us what God has already done.
Nehemiah 4:20 “Our God will fight for us!”
3 Practical Steps to Overcome Obstacles
3. Just Keep Building