Hello Everyone,
Another reason Nehemiah said NO was because he had Supreme dedication.
v. 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

Anytime you leave what God has called you to do, there's always a step down.

I'm so proud of our volunteer staff. They won't step down from their ministry just to exist as a big shot. They consider it their highest calling to be a worker in the church of the living God!

I appreciate those who understand the difference between good and best. Doing good in the community is fine, but making an eternal difference is best.

Many accomplish good in their careers, but it is temporary, and they view it as a means to fund their real heartbeat, which is not just doing good, but something far better and more permanent...doing what is best!

Serving God, getting people saved, and building their lives for eternity!

As a church we want to do good, but our main calling is not to be the biggest food pantry. We want to give out the bread of life! Our Wednesday night meal is good, but the better meal is the meat of the Word, that comes the hour after.

Fellowship in the lobby is cool, but how much better is it to fellowship with the Lord around the altars.
We need to lead people to the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal riches of infinite value beyond comparison!

We need to know the difference between good and best!

Nehemiah had supreme dedication to his main task, and wouldn't be distracted.
Let’s keep the main thing the main thing!

ill.--2 boys went fishing at a stocked pond, and their mom said 'if you catch enough we'll have a fish fry.' They came home empty handed. Mom asked them why. They said 'there's a lot of snakes in that pond, and they kept poking their heads up out of the water, so we threw rocks at them all day and never got out our poles to fish.'

A lot of churches are a lot like that. They stay so busy throwing rocks at the sinners in the world that they never do their real job of being fishers of men!

Fellowship is good, but discipleship is better. We cannot be inward focused, but outward.

Why didn't Nehemiah get distracted? He had Spiritual discernment, supreme dedication...

And lastly we see that Nehemiah had Strong determination.

v. 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

They are badgering him with persistence. They are trying to wear him down. But if it was wrong to come down the first time it was still wrong the fourth time or the fortieth time.

The measure of your character is what it takes to get you to quit.
This world wears us down, and Satan isn't giving up on getting you out of the game. He isn't giving up...will you?

NO WAY! Is what I pray your answer is? If it is then know for sure:
GREATER Things Are Still To Come!
See You Sunday Pastor Phil