Enlisting Support for Your Dream

​Every dream needs support. True success is never a one-person show, and every dream will have opposition. Opportunity and opposition go together. Many people oppose change, especially when it threatens their unfair advantages.
 
Let’s learn how Nehemiah enlisted support for the dream God put in his heart to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
 
Nehemiah’s methods to enlist support:

• Wait for the right timing (Ecclesiastes 8:6). Nehemiah waited for the right time to ask the king, and he waited for three days after arriving in Jerusalem before taking action (Nehemiah 2:11).
• Do your homework to personally find out the facts. Listen before providing answers (Proverbs 23:23, Proverbs 18:13). Accompanied by a few people, Nehemiah secretly inspected the ruins at night to size up the project (Nehemiah 2:12-16).
• Protect the dream. It’s easy to kill a good idea (Ecclesiastes 3:7). For some time, Nehemiah did not disclose to anyone what God had put on his heart (Nehemiah 2:12, 2:16). Many were resigned to the ruin, particularly when others had attempted but failed to rebuild the walls.
• Disclose the dream using “we.” Nehemiah used “we,” not “I” (Nehemiah 2:17). Identifying with others makes it easier for them to accept your ideas.
• Create discontent with the conditions people are used to. Then paint a picture of how things could be (Nehemiah 2:17).
• Appeal to their hearts, their dignity (Nehemiah 2:17), such as “Do this and you will feel good about yourself, and God will be glorified.”
• Share your own story to inspire others. Nehemiah shared with them how God had helped him via the king (Nehemiah 2:18).
• Ask for help fearlessly and specifically. Nehemiah asked them specifically to rebuild the wall (Nehemiah 2:17).
• Don’t spend too much time on naysayers. Instead, focus on the work. Nehemiah just responded and trusted God to help (Nehemiah 2:20).

 
As we can see, his vision had been transferred to many. "Let us start building,” they said (Nehemiah 2:18). After 90 years of ruin, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days!
 
Don’t worry. Commit your dream to God and trust Him (Psalm 37:5, Proverbs 16:3, 1 Peter 5:7). Focus on others’ needs. Attempt great things for Him and expect great things from Him.
 
Summary of a sermon by Rick Warren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzVR8-Cvl3M starting at 14 minutes
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为梦想争取支持
 
每一个梦想都需要支持. 真正的成功从来不是一个人可以完成的, 并且每一个梦想都必有人反对。机会和反对并存。很多人反对改变, 尤其是威胁到自己不公平的优势之时。
 
让我们学习尼希米如何争取支持，完成上帝放在他心中的梦想, 重建耶路撒冷城墙。
 
尼希米争取支持的方法：
 

• 等待合适的时机（传道书 8:6）。尼希米等待合适的时机才问国王, 并且到达耶路撒冷后等待了三天才采取行动（尼希米记 2:11）。
• 亲自做好功课，查明事实。在回答问题之前先聆听（箴言 23:23，箴言 18:13）。尼希米在几个人的陪伴下在晚上秘密地检查废墟，评估完成这项工作的工作量（尼希米记 2:12-16）。
• 保护梦想。扼杀一个好主意很容易（传道书 3:7）。尼希米有一段时间没有向任何人透露神放在他心里的负担（尼希米记 2 :12, 2:16）。很多人已经习惯了废墟，尤其是其他人尝试重建城墙失败以后。
• 使用“我们”这个代词来分享梦想。尼希米讲话时使用 “我们”而不是“我”（尼希米记 2:17），与人认同会使人更容易接受你的想法。  
• 先引起人们对已经习惯的现状不满， 然后描绘一幅新的图画（尼希米记 2:17）。
• 激发他们的内心和尊严（尼希米记 2:17）, 例如“这样做，你会感觉很好，上帝也会得荣耀。”
• 分享自己的故事来激励他人。尼希米与人分享上帝如何通过国王帮助自己（尼希米记 2:18）。
• 放胆并具体地寻求帮助。尼希米具体地要求重建城墙（尼希米记 2:17）。
• 不在反对者身上浪费时间，而专注于工作。尼希米回应反对者后便置之不理， 期待上帝的帮助（尼希米记 2:20）。

 
正如我们所看到的，许多人已经接纳了他的梦想说“让我们开始建造吧 （尼希米记 2:18）。”尼希米在52天内重建被毁90年的耶路撒冷城墙。
 
不要忧虑担心。当倚靠上帝， 将你的梦想交托并信靠祂（诗篇 37:5，箴言 16:3，彼得前书 5:7）。关注他人的需求。为神去尝试伟大的事，从神那里期待伟大的事。