R325 Overcoming Life’s Hurdles Pt.1

Overcoming life's hurdles.

That's today's topic is we go to God's word for our encouragement from Dr. Don Wilton today.

See all of us face hurdles and sometimes are so overwhelming.

It seems we cannot get over, around, under, or through, but today Dr. Don Wilton takes us to the word of God to give us some understanding on how to knowingly train from cresting those hurdles how we can help each other. Speaking of helping yet another we love to pray with you and for you anytime connecting on our website at tewonline.org, RG that's TEW online.org is also the place you can discover more information on this wonderful book basket about about Dr. Wilson's relationship with Dr. Graham call salary details online@tewonline.org not today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton kind this morning is like a copy of God turn with me. The book of Nehemiah chapter 2 we continue our study in faithfulness error in the book of Nehemiah chapter 2 how subject this morning overcoming life's hurdles not want you to know everyone how much I love you and the Lord Jesus Christ and how much I thank God for your faithfulness for the way in which you have talked to the course for those of us who are coming behind you to follow my beloved friends. There is one thing that we settled.

I believe lost week and it's simply this Nehemiah was a man who was prepared to step out by faith we discovered last week, some for the first time, and some for the millionth time that the essence of everything that we do as believers is the exercise of our faith. In fact, the Bible puts it like this without faith it is impossible to please God. Nehemiah was given an insurmountable from a human perspective challenge. He was given a toss that would boggle the average mind and yet we discovered already that Nehemiah was a man who was prepared to accept God's challenge and he was willing to step out of play and so guess what happens, God speaks and we say God revealed your will to us and we will be prepared to adjust our behavior, our comfort zones in our lifestyle to do exactly what it is that you want us to do and so God reveals his will to us and we say Lord we will do it and we begin to step out in faith and so the question becomes not our willingness to step out in faith because we sacral that issued the issue now becomes what are we going to do about the manifold hurdles that we are going to have to leap over in order to accomplish the will of God, as we will by faith and not by sight. One of my favorite sports to watch is the hurdle race during the. The Olympics used to love watching Edwin Moses, people like that. The great American hurdles, you know, I've never wanted to be a headless so I don't want anybody to even think that. In fact, I probably couldn't be on full flat on my face, but if you consider a hoodlum gets up to the starting line and he can see down the road and he knows that he wants to get to the finish line. Much like the apostle Paul said. He said I have run the race, I have moved towards the goal that God has committed me to and as the hood looks down to the finish line.

He knows that in order to accomplish what it is that he's about to be. He has to leap over a number of obstacles. A number of hurdles in order to gain the finish line that he has set out to going Nehemiah was a man who accepted God's challenge to step out in faith. Probably no different to many of us here to the God puts before us many different things and he says this is what I want you to do and we say Lord here I am. Send me whatever it is you want me to do. I'm willing to do. And as we begin the journey of faith, we find ourselves stumbling and falling over life's hurdles.

They are all over the place. The question is this how do we overcome life's hurdles. What was it that Nehemiah did as a prerequisite to the course.

He was about to enter into faith 101.

What was it that Nehemiah was beginning to putting the place in order to enable him and to equip them to face life's hurdles because it is an absolute guarantee I've heard some people say will pasta if you give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and you trust him and you willing like Abraham to step out in faith and to go whatever God wants you to go that you're never going to have to face any hurdles that is not at all. The reality of life. In fact, I'm going to submit to you upstairs and downstairs and all over. Every person worshiping with us today can identify with innumerable numbers of life's hurdles. Let's read together in Nehemiah chapter 2 Nehemiah chapter to follow along in God's word in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him. I took the wine and I gave it to the king.

I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me why does your face look so sad when you are not you. This can be nothing but sadness of heart. I was very much afraid, but I said to the king made the king live forever.

Why should my face not look said, when the city where my father is buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire. The king said to me, what is it you want Nehemiah.

Then I prayed to the God of heaven and not onto the king if it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in his site lead team send me to the city and Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it. Then the king with the cream sitting beside him possibly how long will your journey. Take and when would you get back it please the king to send me so I sent her time. I also said to him, if it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of trans-Euphrates so that they will provide me safe conduct until I arrive in Judah, and may I have a letter to a set keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the Citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residents.

I will occupy because the gracious hand of my God was upon me. The king granted my requests. So I went up to the governors of Trenton Euphrates and gave them the king's letters looking at also sent army officers and cavalry with me now in San ballot. The horror line and towbar.

The aim of my official heard about this they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites by the Lord righties word upon our hearts this morning overcoming life's hurdles.

Gary was Nehemiah servant of God, willing to adjust his life willing to give up ownership of being cupbearer to the king willing to go to supper with the people of God, willing to gun rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and he had accepted God's challenge to step out in faith. There are many many hurdles that lie ahead of this man.

I want to summarize them in four statements. There were four basic hurdles that he was going to have to overcome. As he looked down the stretch. Probably not, not to unlock the hurdles that we look at number one was the fear of the unknown, the fear of the unknown. In fact, chapter 2 verse two and part B says I laws very much afraid now, beloved friends.

This morning when it comes to exercising the commission of God in our lives. There is no doubt whatsoever that great fear lies out there on the basis of the fact that we don't know what Liza when God begins to speak to you.

There is the reality of the fear of the unknown. We like to be comfortable. We like to know what's out there. We like to be able to hang our hats upon something we like to know that our credit card carries value. We like to know that we are acceptable in the presence of mankind.

We like to know about the final walk about this destination.

We like to know that we can have a proverbial peep behind the window of the cut I get the word of God says we walk by faith and not by sight and without faith it is impossible to please God, but there is the ever present reality of the fear of the unknown water to overcome Uganda lost most people today to step outside of their comfort zones and even though they won't tell you about it. What keeps them rooted to where they all is the fear of the unknown number two, along unknown journey along unknown journey, just the hazards of the journey, verse seven. Following chose us in the rest of Nehemiah tells us about the journey.

This man undertook.

Now folks, when you think of Boeing 747's and you think about Fords and BMWs and you think about interstates today. The distance that this man have to travel from the court of Artaxerxes to the broken walls of Jerusalem pales into insignificance, but historians tell us, as did Jesus with the story of the Samaritan person. He said listen, he said.

On this particular highway as you are traveling between point IN point be you are going literally on a journey into the unknown. It is fraught with hazards. There are people out there wanting to get you there are robbers and burglars. There are muggers there are people who kill you for a dime.

There's the hazards of the dirt on the roads. The wild animals that can devalue there is a journey that is unloving you don't know about all he had hurdles erected Nehemiah the fear of the unknown along long journey but the third hurdle he had to overcome was human opposition human opposition. While we read about it in verse 10, when San ballot and towbar heard about this they were very much disturbed. Now, folks you and as spiritual people cannot understand when some people begin to knock and to block against the spiritual outpouring of God but it is a biblical fact it is a biblical fact that every time God speaks to an individual or to a group in any circumstances that there will be those who will oppose the outworking of God's grace.

It is a biblical guarantee it's not a matter of if it happens it is when The spas Thursday night deacons from all over Spartanburg County gathered together in our dining hall. We were there without chairman of deacons and with some others and I Mr. Ken Smith, who is chaplain to the South Carolina football team spoke to us. It was a wonderful evening, and he spoke about the wise man building a house upon a rock, so that when the rains come, the house will stand firm. He spoke about the foolish man who built his house upon the sand and when the rains and the floods came the house upon the sand fell flat and I thought to myself what Jesus was trying to teach us is that we need to build upon a rock and not upon the sand. That is what is trying to teach us. But another thing Jesus is trying to teach us. My friends is that storms will come up as rock. It is guaranteed, the floods, again, the hurdles of life again to present themselves to us. It is guaranteed for both the wise man upon a rock in the foolish man upon the sand. The storms of life are going to come this man, one of the greatest hurdles. He began to encounter was the rise of human opposition. It was no different in the acts of the apostles. You can read about it in chapter 4 when the apostles began to preach and teach the word of God and the Lord added to the church daily such as would be saved and they rose from among the ranks of the church believers. A group of people who were opposed they were against it and the Bible says that these people witness would disturb that Nehemiah was coming to promote the welfare of the Israelites and to rebuild the walls, fear of the unknown. Along the journey. Human opposition, but in the fourth place before. It was practical questions. His greatest hurdle, perhaps with the practical questions of life. We've all got there my book, not the practical questions how my going to do this. Who's gonna pay for it. Am I going to have enough money will I have enough to eat my dinner start today. What about mommy and daddy what about my grandparents. My parents are elderly. I can't believe it.

I don't want to move out of this area because it's where I've grown up as long as I don't have to leave my home. It's going to be okay. I'm willing to accept this as long as I don't have to change that walk with you how, when, why, when I'm doing this when I'm doing that by practical questions and beloved friends that are very, very real in the life of every believer.

Never be afraid to office practical questions abroad. You know why because God is the God is going on. Set every single predicament. These this word here is the key that unlocks the key to kingdom living.

This word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It is by this means that God shows me where I am to step into the darkness of life, fear of unknown along the journey.

Human opposition, practical questions, so what he knew about how to Nehemiah. Step out in faith and begin overcome life's burdens. Let me share some thoughts with the number one he relied on his partners in prayer. He relied on his partners in prayer zapping starting through this whole book of Nehemiah. I wondered what kind of prayer partners. Nehemiah head. I bought six or seven. I want to give them to you. You see, the apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth. He uses a marvelous phrase is what he says in second Corinthians. He says we all co-laborers together in that wonderful we all co-laborers together. What was some of his partners in prayer to give them to not in order of priority number one. He's intellectual school, all you thought you were gonna write down the names of people didn't. He's intellectual skills.

Someone said to me one time pastor doesn't help because I only get one IN five seeds.

Listen, God is not interested in whether we get A's, B's and C's and D's. But I'll guarantee what God is interested in God is interested in all of us using the brains that God is given to us. Think about what you do think use the mind that God is given to you make and allow your mind to come in sync with the mind of Christ. That's what the apostle Paul was trying to teach the church at Philippi, he was telling them. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus use amongst others.

Your intellectual school. Secondly, your human experience at the second partner of prayer you know human experience is probably one of the greatest teachers of all it's our capacity to learn as we go along. I think about human experience and I think about the things that you and I can learn from those who have gone through the school of human experience.

But in the third-place human experience cultivates accumulated wisdom that's a prayer partners accumulated wisdom God's word says if you ask for wisdom. I'll give it to you. I want hold back so you go to a Christian person who has accumulated wisdom and God is going to use that wisdom to help you to overcome some of life's hurdles, but not before your role and position in life there is a prayer partner, your role and your position in life. Just think about Nehemiah chapter 1 and verse 11 says I was married to the King. This man had a role and he had a position he used both in order to be able to overcome life soon. What is your role in position. Are you a dad. This morning when my brother behave like a dead operate like a day are your grandmother this morning while my sister behave and operated lie like a grandmother or your mother behave and operate like a mother. Are you a schoolteacher behave and operated like a schoolteacher.

Are you a pasta behave and operate like a pasta all your Sunday school teacher be what a Sunday school teacher ought to be.

Are you a deacon. Are you a Christian. Are you a born again believer wash that would be by the blood of the Lamb use all your position. Forgive the irruption, but as Dr. Don continues to convict us all you need to know would love to pray with you about what's that next step for you to discover how you need to be better using her talents position. God calls us all to service the Dr. Don would say he calls us to serve not to sit. No one takes the Army and looks at that insist that those of the Army people that need to be watching the other people do the work and fight the battle, known were all called to be a part of this battle together, but we are called in the sense of unity to work together can we pray for you about what's God doing next in your life about what God is calling you to do next.

Would love to pray anytime day or night at 8668. I pray you will jot the number down or store in yourself, 866-899-9673 will always connect with what I was happy to talk or listen or pray. Just know that we're here for you now back to today's great teaching overcoming life's hurdles with Dr. Don Wilton. All of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ are being called into a wonderful position in Christ Jesus. But number five the testimony of others. One of the listed prayer part the testimony about so many people whose lives are being impacted for Christ have impacted my own life for Christ.

So many someone said to me one time many years ago they said to me, pasta one of the greatest things you can ever do in your home is invite godly people into a home at any just run that by Jim Chi. Some of you all morning wake forest loss just let listen carefully. Somebody said to me as a father.

They said one of the greatest things you can do for your children is to invite godly Christian people into your home let him stay with you. Let them eat with you.

Let them live with you. You know that I've met people who never have anybody in the home as I will. I don't have the gift of hospitality.

You want to impact your children bring godly people in your home.

Don't just take them out to the football stadiums not just gonna sit shot at football games bring godly people in your home. You know why the testimony of others.

What a tremendous prayer partner and then finally the consistency of your lifestyle. The consistency of your livestock, you say, how's the consistency of one's lifestyle, a prayer partner.

Well my friends, the Bible teaches. You can going to the sermon on the mount. Many other passages right throughout Scripture that your wall is going to parallel you will pull your practice is going to walk awning on with your preach what you are and who you are is going to have a direct reflection on how you overcome life's hurdles how you operate in the fabric of society by was Prof. preaching at the New Orleans Baptist theological seminary, and I one of my responsibilities was to have preaching clauses with preachers and they would get up and preaching. Then I would have them stand up in front of the camera and the whole class would critique them just like you role critiquing me right now and I and you can just imagine the experience I was a wonderful time.

I mean, we had revival offer, Bob. One day, probably one of the biggest preachers I've ever heard in my life as a young man got up to preach. When he finished preaching upgraded him the class right at him and I gave him his grade and I gave him and if he was the first and only man that I ever failed and preaching. I don't believe you can file a man and preaching just the same as I don't believe a man can get 100% grade for preach and possible absolutely impossible. So the next morning came to my office and he said to me Dr. Wilton. He said I don't understand. He said man you know and he should he have the right not to understand I don't understand. How about if preach Austin will let me explain. Yesterday I was at Elysian Fields Avenue and you will rot opposite Blockbuster there was an elderly lady in the car in front of me.

There was another call between me and that elderly lady and we turned left and this elderly lady got so mixed up that she stopped started.

She didn't know what to do.

She didn't know where the traffic was coming and and this person in the car in front of me wound down his window, drove around her. He didn't cuss but I tell you something he let that dear old lady have walked for. I mean, he told her everything that you've ever heard. He told her she didn't need to have a drivers license and what was she doing on the road everything else in between it and went screaming off down the road. There was just one problem on the bumper sticker of that call was a big stick of the said New Orleans Baptist theological seminary.

My brother you with a man in that call, how can you stand in the pulpit and expect to get an when you lifestyle is a total contradiction of everything you say. How can you expect to sing in the choir. You knew I was going to get into this I been waiting for the how can you sing in the choir when your lifestyle is not consistent.

How can you be a deacon if you lifestyle is not consistent. How can you be a Sunday school teacher of your life. You see friends, life is food with obstacles and hurdles and you are not on never going to be able to even come about limitations. You know what the greatest hurdle is in my life to me on the biggest problem the muscle I get in the way of God's will and God, my nature, my brace nature.

My sinful nature once to rear its head all the time.

The old man wants to rise up in aggression all the time and listen to me friends.

If I am not consistent in my lifestyle. I'm never going to be able to overcome life's never.

He is our caretaker and I pray that you know that he's stirring our hearts to change to grow to become more able to overcome life's hurdles is a great deal more tomorrow next edition of The Encouraging Word. But today is today and do you have some things you need to deal with with the board right now. I pray that you heard Dr. Wilton preaching now as he steps into the studio to share his heart, open your heart and mind to what he wants to say next.

Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right here.

God knows that I and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today. I repainted myself and by faith I receive you into my heart.

In Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting news. If you've just given your life to Jesus Christ.

Welcome to the family of God.

If you rededicate your life will come home each and every day. It's our joy to pray with friends that are beginning a brand-new journey with the Lord and in that newness. Dr. Wilton has wonderful resources he want you to have as you begin again. I pray that you give us a call right now at 866899 word and let's not only pray with you and for you, but get your address and mail you these free items that 866-899-9673 if you gave your life to Jesus Christ. Rededicate your life. Let us pray with you right here and now. And speaking of prayer. That's what that phone for 24 hours a day. Did you know that the Bible tells us to pray. Ephesians 618 says pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request this in mind, the alerts only keep on praying for the Lord's people. We would love to pray with you The Encouraging Word for our live per airline. You can count 6699 word and talk to a real person in the lab to pray with you. The Encouraging Word is a viewer and listener supported ministry to you listening today at times today but I hope you will join us tomorrow for part two overcoming life's hurdles with Dr. Don Wilton and laissez connected online at tewonline.org G that's tewonline.org