Scripture:
Nehemiah 2:1-5 ESV
[1] In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had not been sad in his presence. [2] And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. [3] I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” [4] Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. [5] And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”
Observation:
Instead of saying I love the book of Nehemiah, which I do, I’m just going to say the bible is a great collection of books. Nehemiah is one of them. Here is a man with a very good position in life. The Cup Bearer to the king. His job was to bring the wine to the king after tasting it to make sure it was good. He lived a privileged life in the palace as a servant. But in his heart was the concern for his people, and the king saw it. Nehemiah had not ever been sad in front of the king, but on this day, the burden showed through, and it caught the kings attention. Of course, the king had known him well from the years of service and did not want Nehemiah to be sad, so he posed a question. What is it that is bothering you? Nehemiah was glad to answer. My people are scattered, and our city is ruined. How can I not be sad may the king live forever, and send me to rebuild the city. Now, we all know this is just my paraphrased version, but it’s what is being said. GOD placed a burden on the heart of Nehemiah. Rebuild the wall. Nehemiah took that burden to the king and got permission to do so, and the wheels started turning. The king had a litter written, giving Nehemiah permission to gather the resources and rebuild the wall. Now, before I get into the application of this SOAP. I want to back up to scripture that is not in it because it’s important to the application, and I encourage you to read it. In chapter one, when Nehemiah finds out the condition of his homeland. He takes it to the real king. He falls on his face before GOD HIMSELF. In repentance not only for himself but the Jewish people. In the very next chapter, GOD opens a door for Nehemiah to do something about the burden that had been placed on his heart.
Application:
Where you take your burdens matters. So, I pose this question: Do you fall on your face when something is presented to you? You do you take matters in your own hands. I’m reminded of Moses and how he had a burden placed on his heart for his people. He took it into his own hands at first and ended up on the backside of the desert for 40 years, waiting on a burning bush experience. The burden is your ministry. GOD has given you a desire deep in your heart. One that HE has fit just for you. HE has shaped you for the task. All he is waiting for is your willingness to ask. So the question really is, what is your burden, and where are you taking it. My suggestion is to take it to the one true KING. The one who can open doors no man can shut and shut doors no man can open. The KING has all the resources you will need for the task at hand. I was told once that it’s GOD’S will it’s GOD’S bill. HE will make a way. I know that many of you reading this are probably thinking… there is no way for me to be in ministry. I don’t have the resources, and I’m not even sure what ministry I would get involved in. You need to know that you can be in ministry. It is not always on a stage in front of people Nehemiah started in prayer. The only resource needed for that was a willing heart. I know people who hand out water to the homeless. For $5, build relationships with 32 people through a bottle of water. The burden was placed on their heart by GOD, and they listened and did something about it. This SOAP idea was a burden laid on my heart by the LORD, and it has become a ministry that reaches way further than I ever thought possible. The burden is your ministry. Take it to the king and watch HIM open the doors. You don’t have to be on stage. You can be on a keyboard or on the street or in a soap kitchen. You have been given a ministry (burden). Now GO in the power of christ and fulfill your calling.
Prayer:
Father, you are way bigger than we could ever think. You know our hearts and have placed us right where we need to be to answer the call. Open the eyes of our hearts to see what you see. Help us step into what you would have us do. Your word tells us that you love the world and everyone in it. You are sending us on a rescue mission. Show us what you would have us do so that we can take the step of faith needed to touch the hearts you have called us to touch. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray amen