Your Unique Agitation

 

The thing that irritates you may help you find your purpose

~~ Watch the Video ~~

Outline:

• Introduction
• Finding Your Purpose
• Nehemiah’s Agitation
• General Discontent
• Your Unique Agitation
• What should we do about it?
• God Will Give You the Victory
• Who’s Pain Do You Feel?

Scripture:

• 1 Samuel 17: 10-11; 26
• Nehemiah 1:1-4
• Matthew 5:43-46
• Nehemiah 2:17
• Nehemiah 1:5-11
• Nehemiah 2: 11-12
• Nehemiah 6: 15-16
• Matthew 9:35-36

Introduction

David’s Agitation

1 Samuel 17: 10-11; 26

10Then the Philistine said, “I have defied the ranks of Israel this day! Give me a man, so that we may fight together.” 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and very fearful.

…

26Then David said to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and rids Israel of the disgrace? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?”

Goliath’s words made David angry

Everybody was focused on Goliath's height

But David was focused on his disrespect:

• For Israel
• For God

 “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God“

Everybody was looking at what Goliath had, but David was looking at what Goliath didn’t have

• God on his side

The reason other peoples could deal with what Goliath was saying was because they weren’t born to defeat him

• David was

David was irritated by Goliath's words more than anyone else in Israel

David didn’t

• Continue to complain about
• Look the the King and ask why he wasn’t doing anything
• Judge the soldiers for being scared
• Even though they were the ones whose job it was to address the issue

David volunteered to take action

• Even though no one asked him to

Have you ever had something that bothered you

• It didn’t  seem like everyone else was taking  as seriously as they should
• “Why aren’t more people talking about this”?

God will give you an agitation towards what you’ve been assigned to address

Key Point:

If you have an unsettling or nagging feeling about a specific problem or injustice in the world it may be a sign of a God-given burden or calling to be part of the solution.

• This "unique agitation" is a clue to your unique purpose.

Finding Your Purpose

The two greatest days in your life are:

1. the day you were born
2. the day you figure out why you were born

– – Mark twain

Purpose is the fundamental reason that something exists

The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason

If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God

Your calling is the purpose that God created you for

• It's the end goal of your assignment on earth

A calling is God‘s invitation for your participation in the reason for your creation

–Darius Daniels

Purpose is a deep seated, unique imprint of God on your soul with which you serve his purposes in your world

• Pastor Ayo Ajani

Having a purpose gives you

• a meaningful goal
• a sense of fulfilment
• clarity making life decisions
• makes suffering more bearable

A Christian’s Callings

Christians have

1. General callings
2. A Unique calling

General Christian Callings

All Christians are called to:

1. To Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Make disciples

Unique Calling

Additionally, you were given unique

• Gifts, talents
• Personality
• Preferences
• Life experiences

to serve others, and to glorify God.

In this series we will discover:

1. What a purpose is and why it matters
2. Who you are and who God uniquely designed you to be
3. That your life has been preparing you for your destiny
4. What your unique purpose is
5. How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose

Over the next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose

Nehemiah’s Agitation

Nehemiah 1:1-4

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 Now when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

In those days, if the city didn’t have walls, it was in danger of being attacked

Background

Nehemiah was the descendent of Israel’s exiles.

• He had never been to Israel or Jerusalem.
• But he was well aware of his family history

Nehemiah ate every meal at the Kings table

• He was an important man in one of the most important kingdoms on the planet
• Nehemiah was living the good life in spite of his exile

The Wall had been down 150 years

• It’s all Nehemiah had ever known

The situation has been there his entire life

Nehemiah’s Burden

This news hit Nehemiah differently

Nehemiah’s heart ached for what God's heart ached for

• He was willing to carry the burden of the Lord

King Xerces freed the Jews

• Some went with Nehemiah
• 1 million stayed in Persia

• Those that stayed were the ones in the Book of Esther

Story:  I was becoming critical of preachers who use scripture out of context

• I was upset about incorrect doctrine
• Then I was called to teach

What makes you mad?

For some it’s

• Spousal abuse
• Children in foster care
• Immigrant rights

Irritation and agitation

Unique agitation is something that uniquely bothers you

two people can walk into a room and one person is bothered by something and the other person doesn’t notice it at all

The purpose of a thing is related to the problem that it was created to solve

Example: Henry is bothered when pastors don’t teach on grace

—-----------

• What bothers you?
• What ticks you off?
• What makes your blood boil?

The problems that agitate you might be the problems that you were created to solve.  

General Discontent

We need to distinguish “unique agitation” from

• entitlement
• Selfishness / self-centeredness
• Preferences
• Unhealed wounds
• Self-righteousness
• Impatience
• Insecurities
• Fear

Examples of agitations that are not “unique agitation“: 

• “I hate when people wear white shoes after Labor Day”
• Somebody cheated on you so you hate when people put their phone face down on the table
• When people drive too slow in the fast lane
• You hate when people pronounce your name wrong
• “I hate when Black people get on the elevator with me“

Sinful Discontent

Source: Pride, selfishness, ingratitude, coveting, greediness, impatience

Focus: "I don't have enough" or "My life isn't satisfying me."

Result: Grumbling, bitterness, inaction, self-pity, or misplaced desire

Example: “I hate people driving Cybertrucks!”

• Because they think they’re better than everyone else

• Mind reading, projection, pre-judging

Example: Jonah

Jonah hated the Assyrians because of their history of violence, cruelty, and oppression against Israel.

We would’ve told Jonah that that is “righteous anger”
“You’re supposed to hate what God hates“

But in reality, he was opposing God's will

God doesn’t want us to hate any group of people

Matthew 5:43-46

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same?

Holy Discontent / Unique Discontent

Source: Awareness of a problem, compassion, divine stirring.

Focus: "The world or this situation is wrong, and it needs to be fixed."

Action: prayer, intercession, positive change, fulfillment of calling

Test:

• Are you praying for the problem?
• Are you praying for the best for those people?

Your Unique Agitation

Nehemiah 2:17

17Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”

Are you willing to carry this burden?

If you are bothered by something and you only want someone else to do something about it… then it is not your purpose

If the only thing that you care about is you…that’s a problem too

“If God answered all of your prayers would the world change or would only your world change?

Nehemiah was so bothered that he wanted to do something about it

Your unique agitation is God Given

The aggravation that you feel towards something in the world is a direct part of who you are

The problems that agitate you are often, the problems that you were created to solve

Some people's unique agitation drives them to.

• Take care of animals
• Visit prisons
• Buy meals for the homeless
• Write books
• Lead worship

Example: coworker

• Picks up trash in his neighborhood every Thursday morning

Example: Corey

• we should all be serving/volunteering

It doesn’t go away

It doesn’t fade out overtime

• It often increases over time

It is typical for us to feel touched by many of the issues going on in the world

example: ebola

• When the news stopped talking about it people moved on

You will continue to be confronted with your unique agitation

• You can’t ignore the issue

We are not talking about something minor

Your unique agitation will be a source of passion in your life

What should we do about it?

Don’t judge others who don’t share your agitation

Resist the temptation to try to make other people feel as bothered as you feel

• Don’t judge others for not conforming to your expectations

Other people are doing what they were called to do

Feel your Feelings

We often don’t have a way of processing our feelings that is helpful and constructive

Nehemiah

• Wept
• Fasted.
• Prayed to God

Nehemiah didn’t try to cover up his feelings

• Grief
• Sadness
• Bitterness
• Frustration.
• Anger

The first sign of your unique agitation are the emotions that it generates

• Helpless
• Angry
• Irritated by everyone else ignoring it
• Upset and you can’t put into words

Explore your emotions to determine who you are and what you are created to accomplish

Check Engine Light

Your emotions are like the dashboard light in your car

• It’s annoying
• You could ignore it
• You could put a piece of tape over it

But the light isn’t the main issue. It’s alerting you to the fact that something is wrong with your vehicle.

• The same is true with emotions of agitation

Pray

Nehemiah 1:5-11

5 I said, “Please, LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments: 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, please, the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to have My name dwell.’ 10They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11Please, Lord, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [d]revere Your name, and please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man.”

Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah’s prayer structure

1. Praise
2. Confession of sin
3. Reminding God of His promise
4. Plea expressing his dependence on God

The prayer comes before any action

• Otherwise you’ll get what you can produce in your own strength

Prayer has the potential to be the most productive hour of your day

The plow churns the grown before the planting

Prayer tears down strongholds

Story: Brother Yun

• Chinese underground church
• Arrested 3rd time  and  put in maximum  security prison

An 80-year-old missionary was visited by someone who expressed sympathy that he could no longer be in China to preach.

• On his sick bed
• “You don’t know that when I pray here on my bed…all of China shakes”

It Wasn’t Nehemiah’s Job

Nehemiah’s

• Job was to be the cupbearer to the king (see if poison)

Some of you will will have to fulfil your purpose whether you get paid of not

Take Action

Nehemiah 2: 11-12

11So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my [e]mind to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

Nehemiah took action immediately.

• He asked the king for resources and authority

You Can Start Small

Many people don’t get started because they don’t have a plan to fix the whole problem

• They are waiting for an opportunity to do something huge
• Something that will fix the problems once and for all

Most problems need to be solved incrementally

• Make a donation
• Start a conversation
• Volunteer for an hour in an organization that is addressing the problem you want to solve
• Talk about it in your church or small group

“Do what you can… Until you are able to do what you want”

Don’t go alone

Nehemiah didn’t try to solve big problems on his own

You can start by seeing where God is already at work.

• Many of the problems that bother you will be too big for you to handle
• Seek out the opportunities God provides for you to jump on board
• Look to see where other people are already at work.
• Find people who are bothered by the same thing that bothers you

As you have conversations with people close to you, look to see whose eyes slide up when you express your unique agitation

God Will Give You the Victory

Nehemiah 6: 15-16

15So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16When all our enemies heard about it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they [j]lost their confidence; for they realized that this work had been accomplished [k]with the help of our God.

The vision is yours to build… Not theirs to see.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UB1tA7/

Who’s Pain Do You Feel?

Matthew 9:35-36

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

• Jesus felt compassion for the crowd

Who do you feel compassion for?  

Maybe you have:

• Heart for The homeless
• Soft spot for Single mothers
• Frustrated over false doctrine

Does your empathy for a particular group of people awaken a desire that moves you to action?

Your calling is the place where your heart's deep desire meets the world's great need

--Mark Mitchell(Pastor at CPC)

Kayla Mueller

Humanitarian, killed by terrorist while on a mission to help people in a foreign country

"Some people find God in church. Some people find God in nature. Some people find God in love.  I find God in the suffering eyes reflected in mine.

I've known for some time that my life's work is using my hands as tools to relieve suffering."

Who’s pain do you feel?

https://youtu.be/L0Jv0p4d2eg?si=-dTinRLb3PCku_e4

Ask yourself

• Who’s pain do you feel?
• What needs in the world concern you?
• Who’s tears affect you?
• Who’s enemy are you willing to protect them from?

References:

Your Purpose is Calling

Dharius Daniels

What is your divine purpose

Bill Johnson teaching

Purpose Driven Life

Rick Warren

Finding and Fulfilling Your Purpose | Pastor John K Jenkins Sr.

Inside FBCG

Dream Now

Stacy Wood (SaddleBack)

Extra

God Will Open Doors

God will give you opportunities to do it

Nehemiah 2:1-6

1 And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I picked up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 And I said to the king, “May the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the [a]site of my fathers’ tombs, is desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4Then the king said to me, “[b]What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, I request that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6Then the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time.

If doors aren’t opening either

• It’s not the time
• You’re not the person

The gift opens the door for you…not the license

• Pastor Jason said he looks to see if God is opening up opportunities to you

My story: called to preach tried it  all

• Growth group  leader
• Teach at singles
• Started our own

Provision

Nehemiah 2:7-9

7And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which is by the [c]temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house to which I will go.” And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

9Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.

Don’t quit your job

• Don’t jump off the horse you on until another horse comes

Nehemiah didn’t leave before he had the resources to do what he needed to do

Everyone May Not Support Your Vision

God uses people to let you know you are headed in the right direction

Nehemiah 4: 1-3

1Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry, and he mocked the Jews. 2And he spoke in the presence of his brothers and the [b]wealthy people of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore the temple for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Can they revive the stones from the heaps of rubble, even the burned ones?” 3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him, and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox were to [c]jump on it, it would break their stone wall down!”

Is there nothing worth fighting for?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ15absDrBx/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==