Dharius Daniels - Built for the Battle

Nehemiah chapter 4, verse 15 says, «When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.» Guys, I saw something this week I’ve never seen before—highlighted in verse 16. From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor; the officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Watch this: those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. I’m going to say that one more time: each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. I’m going to stop right there; I want to talk from this subject during our time together: «Built for the Battle.»

I want to ease into this introduction with a question—it’s not a rhetorical question; it’s an important question. It’s what we would call a quintessential question. And here’s the question: Are there any dreamers in the room? Okay, New Jersey, you weren’t loud enough; Atlanta, you were at a five—you’ve got to go to a ten! I said, are there any dreamers in the room? When I say «dreamer,» I’m not referring to those who have vision with the eyes in their head; I’m referring to those who have vision with the eyes in their heart. The eyes in our head give us sight, but the eyes in our heart give us vision. The eyes in our head allow us to see our now, but the eyes in our heart allow us to see our next.

I believe there are some people online and some people receiving this revelation right now who are honest enough to admit that the only reason I’m still sane in the membrane is that I’m seeing past what I see in my now, and I’m believing for what’s getting ready to happen in my next. Some of you are honest enough to admit, «Dr. Darius, if I were just dependent upon what I’m seeing with my natural eyes, I wouldn’t be in an emotionally healthy place. I would be distraught, I would be disoriented, I would be confused, I would be discouraged.» Because sometimes what I’m seeing with my eyes doesn’t line up with what God said in His Word. But I’ve learned how to stop looking so much with these eyes and start looking with these eyes. Because when I look with the eyes in my head, I’m walking by sight; but when I look with the eyes in my heart, I’m walking by faith.

I came to tell you it’s your season to walk by faith and not by sight, dreamers. But what if I, what if I, what if I share something? Can I—let me ask your permission—can I share something with you about dreams? I don’t believe you; I’m not convinced. I said, can I share something with you about dreams? Here it is, this is for dreamers only; it’s just a question. Now, this is a rhetorical question; it’s a question for your reflection. Here it is: What if your dream isn’t your dream? What if your dream is actually God’s dream? I’m going to say it one more time; I want you to sit with it mentally—not just respond to it emotionally. I want you to let God not just work in your heart but work in your mind with this. I want you to sit with this for a minute: What if your dream isn’t your dream? What if your dream is God’s dream?

See, this distinction is imperative and important because, if it’s your dream, you will treat it like it’s optional. I feel it right here. I said, if it’s your dream, you will treat it like it’s optional—like it’s ancillary, like it’s something you can get around to if you choose to. But there is a difference between something that is an optional activity versus something that is your responsibility. And some things that are in your heart did not randomly get there; they are not some result of selfish ambition and pride. I don’t even have time to unpack and debunk some of our viewpoints on ambition because ambition in and of itself is not evil. Now, when your ambition becomes selfish, then it becomes self-destructive.

But you can’t build anything for anybody without ambition; you can’t even become a better person unless you want to. And this is something we need to wrap our heads around: God doesn’t always give us what we want, but God will give us a «want to.» And some of the «want twos» that you have have been given to you by God because He gives you a «want to» for what He wants for you. So, some of the things you’re seeing, you’re envisioning, are not optional activities; they are divine responsibilities. They aren’t just things God is letting you do; they are things that God is calling you to and holding you responsible for.

What kind of message is this? I am telling you that some things you see, you need to feel responsible for. God’s like, «I’m not just showing you this to show you this.» God’s like, «I don’t tease you; I don’t expose you to what I don’t want to do. How can I be a good Father and just expose you to what I don’t want to do? That’s emotional torture; that’s emotional irresponsibility.» He says, «If I keep bringing this back up in your heart, it’s because…»