What is Holding Us Back?

WHAT IS HOLDING US BACK?

What is holding us back from experiencing the power of God in us as much as is revealed?

Nehemiah 6:15-16, “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 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.”

It was an impossible task of completing a wall around the city in 52 days. The wall was destroyed for about 150 years. It would have been built in several earlier attempts but there are certain things hold them back to accomplishing God’s work in God’s time. Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s time can never lacks resources.” There are three things we find hold Israelites back to accomplish what had was intended to being them back in 70 years and build the nation (Jer. 29:10)

1.      FEARS AND WORRIES THAT WE ENTERTAIN (NEH. 4:14)

Nehemiah strengthened them by saying, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” The Lord is great and Awesome – Don’t give excuses or entertain with the worries and fears you face in your daily life. God is in control of everything.

2.      THE BAGGAGE THAT WE CARRY FROM THE PAST

Past is holding us to go forward if we are controlled by it. We are controlled by our childhood failures and fears in most occasions. The presence of God makes us special / strong. Forget the past and move forward. “Resistance to change is commitment to extinction” (Phil 3:13)

3.      THE LIES AND MYTHS THAT WE EMBRACE

Lie will be lie always – so also the myths. When you embrace it knowingly or unknowingly it stops us moving forward. “Church is the place of Refuge - so also a place to risk the lives; Church is a place of gathering - so also place to scatter.” There are sayings concerning that “If you want to walk fast – walk alone; If you want to walk far – walk together.”

·         Let us go forward by leaving the Fear and worries

·         Let us throw away the past and go forward

·         Let us not concentrate the lies and myths we are looking at!

Amen!

Credit: Rev. Samuel D Stephens (Devotion @ NAIC council meeting April 11, 2016)