ABIAKUM MACBETH UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: Text Nehemiah 2:1-10

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: Text Nehemiah 2:1-10

Time is very essential in measuring your progress or achievements in life. Without time, one will not be able to fully appreciate or enjoy life.Time helps us to make decisions;to set goals, to know what to do, when to act or not to act, to keep appointments, fulfill obligations etc. Time generally is the sole of our existence. Thus, for one to have a breakthrough, one must understand the times. Eccl.3: 1-8

People who had their breakthroughs because the understood the times or took advantage of it

1                    1 Sam 30:8 >> David inquired of the Lord if he should pursue and to overtake

2                    1 Sam 9-15 >> Hannah at Shiloh

3                    Luke 19 1:5 >>Zacchaeus on the sycamore tree

4                    John 5: 2-8  >> The impotent man at the pool of Bethesda the angel stirred the waters at a time.

5                    Luke 7: 11-15 >> Widow of Nain

Therefore, to have a breakthrough as a Christian, you have to understand and to take advantage of the times. You must be sensitive to the move of God, ready to move with God’s time table for your life, and take advantage of every opportunity you have to plead your case before God or even men.

In Nehemiah 2:4-6, Nehemiah had the understanding of time and took advantage of the king’s merriment (Kings never sat with their wives except there was a feast or merriment) and made a request which the king could not refuse. That gave him the ultimate breakthrough he needed. That is what is meant by understanding the Times.

In verse 4,Nehemiah was presented a blank cheque when the king asked him to make a request (Blank cheque). If a mortal man could ask him to make a request what about our heavenly father? 

>> Please stand on your feet. You know your heart desires, you know where the shoe is pinching you, you know those areas you are believing God for a breakthrough. Tell the almighty to give you a breakthrough now in Jesus name (career, academics, health, marriage, finances etc.

>> prophesy to someone for a breakthrough

That opportunity to make his request before the king also presented Nehemiah with what I termed a Divine Passport. In verse 7, Nehemiah asked for letters to be given to the governors to convey him.

>>For you to have a major breakthrough in life, you need a seal of approval from the almighty God. You will lift your hands to the almighty and say Father, anywhere my destiny helpers are, please father,  let them locate me in Jesus name

Nehemiah didn’t joke with the opportunity he had to make his request before the king. It was an opportunity he had been waiting and when it came he grabbed it and maximized it. In verse 8, Nehemiah asked for a letter to Asaph for the provision of timber (Divine Provision). You can never have a major breakthrough in life if your help is not from the Lord. (Ps 121) 

>>You will lift your hands to Him and say Father, Everything I need to succeed in this year 2018, Lord provide them for me by your power. Even if they do not exist, Father create them for my sake in Jesus name.

In verse 9, the kings sent captains of the army and horsemen along with Nehemiah (Divine Guardian and Security) 

>>Only the almighty God can take you and sustain you at the top. Put your hands on your head and cry to the almighty and ask Him to send his angels to watch over you and your family. Tell him to keep evil far away from your household, from your business, marriage, your career etc. so that the breakthroughs you have received could be permanent.

Finally, The king did all these to Nehemiah because the Hand of the Lord was upon him. (Ps 127:1-2) To receive a major breakthrough in life, you need the hand of the almighty. (the hand of the Lord is mighty, it can save, it can deliver, it can break strong holds etc.) 

>>Hold your neighbor's hand and pray and say, Father, let your hand not leave this one from now till the rest of his life in Jesus name.

Conclusion: Now, if there is anyone here who desires a major breakthrough, who is doing everything to make progress but is being limited maybe by the forces of darkness, you have been doing your best but it seems there is nothing to show for, working like elephant and eating like ant, you are almost being describe as an infidel because you cannot feed your house, eating medicine as food because sickness has become you middle name, they have called you barren, a good for nothing, a failure, Hebrew 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and grace to help in time of need.

Nehemiah got his major breakthrough because he sought to build the house of the Lord. No one will do Gods own and God will not do his own

>> if there is anyone here who wants to join the work force of the church, receive strength and even the resources to do the work in Jesus name