Restored Cooperation

David Helton

Deep Creek Baptist Church

Restoration: Our Ruins His Restoration • Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago

Nehemiah 3

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Nehemiah 3 Page

August 6, 2023

The Church is a redeemed people who work for the glory of God and the good of one another.

As a people who have been saved by the work of Christ, and not ours,

we are to work together for the glory of God and the furtherance of the kingdom of God.

Our work is not the root of our salvation, but its fruit.

it is not the source of our salvation but the sign of what God has done.

It also shows that we are not to work alone, but we are one body that uses it many differents gifts for the betterment of one another and the building of the church.

This is the main point of this passage. But let’s look at few brief observations that can be helpful to us.

The Purpose of Our Work

The Reputation of God.

Nehemiah was concerned about only one thing, . “Let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach” (2:17; and see 1:3; 4:4; 5:9).

Nehemiah 2:17 “17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.””

Nehemiah 1:3 “3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.””

Nehemiah 4:4 “4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.”

Nehemiah 5:9 “9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?”

The Gentiles delighted in mocking their Jewish neighbors by pointing out the dilapidated condition of Jerusalem.

After all, the Jews claimed that their capital city was “beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth” (Ps. 48:2).

They said that God loved “the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob” (87:2).

If God loved Jerusalem so much,

why were the walls in ruin and the gates burned?

Why was the “holy city” a reproach?

Why didn’t the Jews do something?

For the most part, the world today ignores the church.

If it does pay any attention to the church, it is usually to condemn or mock.

“If you are the people of God,” unbelievers ask, “why are there so many scandals in the church?

If God is so powerful, why is the church so weak?”

Whether Christians like it or not, we are living in a day of reproach when “the glory has departed” (1 Sam. 4:21).

The Glory of God

The purpose of all ministry is the glory of God and not the aggrandizement of religious leaders or organizations (1 Cor. 10:31

1 Cor 10:31 “31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

2 Cor 4:5 “5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

The words of Jesus in His high priestly prayer ought to be the motivating force in all Christian ministry:

John 17:4 “4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”

God has a special task for each of His children (EPH. 2:10); and in the humble, faithful doing of that task, we glorify His name.

Of course, the rebuilding of the walls and the setting of the gates also meant protection and security for the people.

Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies,

and it seemed foolish for the residents to improve their property

when nothing was safe from invasion and plunder.

Over the years, the citizens had become accustomed to their plight.

Like too many believers in the church today,

they were content to live with the status quo.

Then Nehemiah arrived on the scene and challenged them to rebuild the city to the glory of God.

What does it mean to glorify God???

Definition: “Glorifying” means feeling and thinking and acting in ways that reflect his greatness, that make much of God, that give evidence of the supreme greatness of all his attributes and the all-satisfying beauty of his manifold perfections. John Piper

The Pattern of Our Work

Nehemiah was a leader who planned his work and worked his plan, and the way he did it is an example for us to follow.

Thirty-eight individual workers are named in this chapter, and forty-two different groups are identified.

There were also many workers whom Nehemiah did not name whose labors were important;

and each worker—named and anonymous— was assigned a place and a task.

“A great many people have got a false idea about the church,” said evangelist D.L. Moody. “They have got an idea that the church is a place to rest in … to get into a nicely cushioned pew, and contribute to the charities, listen to the minister, and do their share to keep the church out of bankruptcy, is all they want. The idea of work for them—actual work in the church—never enters their minds.”

In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, Paul compared individual Christians to members of the human body:

Each member is important, and each has a special function to perform.

puzzle piece

I recall the relief that came to my own heart when I realized that God didn’t expect me to do everything in the church, but rather to use the gifts He gave me in the tasks that He assigned.

When I started doing that, I discovered I was helping others discover and develop their own gifts; and all of us accomplished more for the Lord.

The people finished this difficult task because

they obeyed the same leader,

kept their eyes on the same goal,

and worked together for the glory of God.

Neither the enemy outside the city nor the difficulties inside the city distracted them from their God-given task. Like Paul, they said,

Renewal

The word built is used six times in Nehemiah 3 and means “rebuilt.”

George Morrison reminds us “that for this restoration no new material was needed. In the debris of the ruined masonry lay all the material required . . . and it seems to me that is always so when the walls of Zion are rebuilt” (Morning Sermons, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1931, p. 249).

It is not by inventing clever new things that we take away the church’s reproach,

but by going back to the old truths that made the church great in ages past.

They lie like stones in the dust, waiting for some burdened Nehemiah to recover them and use them.

The way to a healthy, vibrant and influential church is not to think of better ways to worship God, or to engage people, but to lead people back to the God of the Bible through they was that God has set forth in His word.

This past week there were several big churches trying to reach the “Unchurched” buy redoing their sanctuaries and lobbies into amusement parks with mascots from Mario Brothers, Toy Story,Barbie, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars. Preachers preached while playing and being apart of a video While being creative, the medium certainly distracts from the message.

We do not need new ways of worship, we just need to rediscover the powerful ways that are given to us in God’s word.

The word repair is used thirty-five times; it means “to make strong and firm.”

Nehemiah wasn’t interested in a “quick fix,” a whitewashed wall that would soon crumble (Ezek. 13:1-16; 22:28).

They were building to the glory of God, and therefore they did their best.

The gates of Jerusalem had been destroyed by fire (Neh. 1:3; Jer. 17:27; Lam. 1:4),

so Nehemiah requisitioned timber from the king’s forest and had new gates constructed (Neh. 2:8) and put into place (6:1; 7:1).

The gates were important to the safety of the people and the control of who went in and out of the city (7:3; 13:15-22).

If the Lord loves the gates of Zion (Ps. 87:2), then His people ought to love them too.

Protection

Locks and bars are mentioned five times (Neh. 3:3, 6, 13-15).

Locks refer to the sockets into which the bars were fitted, thus making it difficult for anyone outside to open the gates.

It isn’t enough that we simply do the work of God;

we must also make sure that what we do is protected from the enemy.

2 John 8 “8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.”

We are to be proactive, and busy, but we also need to be vigilante and making sure what we do preserves.

The Principles of Our Work

As you get acquainted with the various people mentioned in Nehemiah 3, you will find yourself saying, “This is just like the church today!” Circumstances change but human nature remains pretty much the same

The people heard Nehemiah’s vision and they responded, “Let’s arise and build” (2:18). Working together they accomplished what no one could have accomplished individually. Four things:

Be willing to complement each other for the overall cause.

Everyone couldn’t do the same job.

Some worked on the walls.

Others worked on the gates.

Hanging a large gate is not an easy task!

Some were strong enough to carry heavy stones or bricks. Others had to do lighter work.

But each worker was important to the cause. As Paul tells us (1 Cor. 12:12–30), the body is not one member, but many.

The foot dare not think that it is not a vital part of the body because it is not a hand.

And the hand would be foolish to despise the foot.

Each part has a specific and important function to fulfill.

Each part depends on the other parts in order for the whole body to function properly.

While some worked in front of their own homes (as already noted),

many others came from outlying cities to help (3:2, 5, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17).

After the project was through, they returned home without any daily personal benefit.

Perhaps they could dwell more securely in their villages with a strong capital in Jerusalem.

They would have enjoyed knowing that the temple was secure behind the wall,

so that they could go there for the annual feasts.

But beyond any personal benefits, they were willing to work for the overall cause,

that the name of the Lord and His people would no longer be a reproach among the nations.

Also, they coordinated the project so that all the parts fit together.

Each person knew what his task was and did it, but he did it in harmony and conjunction with others.

It would not have worked if one guy built his section but didn’t interlock it with the section of the guy next to him.

The guys building the gates had to coordinate with the guys building the walls around the gates.

In the church, it is not enough to have a bunch of independent ministries alongside each other.

We all should work together in supporting the overall cause of Christ.

Not everything we do at Deep Creek will benefit you at the movement we do it.

But it is important to be involved and volunteer because what you do will be helping another person or you may be helping someone that will help yo someday.

Be willing to complement each other for the overall cause.

Be willing to serve where it matters most

I want you to notice in Nehemiah 3 several places where it says that so-and-so built next to his house or opposite his house.

Nehemiah 3:10 “10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house...

Nehemiah 3:23 “23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house.”

Nehemiah 3:28 “28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house.”

Of course, we all know why Nehemiah and the other leaders assigned people to repair opposite their own house if they lived right next to the wall:

first of all, since the primary purpose of the wall is protection,

you are going to make sure that the section of wall near your house is sturdy and well-built

so that your own house and your own family is protected.

Second, you are not going to do the job halfway if you—or your wife—has to walk outside every day and look at that section of wall.

You will do your best! “28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house.”

If you are not currently serving anywhere and you don’t know what to do, start by serving in an area that matters to you.

Examples of opportunities...

Be Willing to Work Outside of your Comfort Zone

The priests (including the high priest) got involved building the Sheep Gate and a portion of the wall (3:1).

They didn’t learn how to do that in seminary!

Maybe they had to get some pointers on how to build and hang a gate from some of the men who were experienced in that sort of thing.

Some of the city officials rolled up their sleeves and joined their people in the work (3:9, 12).

They didn’t view manual labor as beneath their dignity.

Some of the workers were goldsmiths and perfume makers by trade (3:8). They weren’t used to this kind of rugged labor.

They probably had aches in muscles they never knew that they had before this,

but they joined in the work.

Nehemiah 3:12 “12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.”

One man made repairs with his daughters (3:12)!

Apparently they did more than made lunch and lemonade!

Sometimes people will say, “I’m not going to work on a cleanup crew because that’s not my spiritual gift.”

Your spiritual gift should help you know where to concentrate your efforts, but there are many jobs where we’re all called to pitch in, whether it’s our gift or not.

The point of Nehemiah 3 is that everyone got involved.

The New Testament is clear that if you’re a Christian, you are in the ministry (service) and you will give an account of your ministry to the Master someday (Matt. 25:14–30).

The danger is that the “one-talent” Christian will think that his part is insignificant and he won’t use it for the Master.

But the Master expects every servant to use what He has entrusted to him.

Be Willing to do the Less Desirable Jobs.

Nehemiah 3:14 “14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.”

Malchijah (3:14) repaired the Refuse (or Dung) Gate.

It was at the south of the city, and opened to the Kidron Valley where the people brought all their trash to burn.

If he is the same Malchijah mentioned in 3:31, he was a goldsmith by trade, and he also helped out with repairs on another part of the wall.

Nehemiah 3.31 “31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner.”

There were probably a lot more volunteers to repair the Fountain Gate than there were for the Refuse Gate!

But Malchijah realized that the job needed to get done, and he was willing to do it for the cause.

We as the church need to serve where we see the need.

Galatians 6.9-10 “9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Be aware that if you have a burden for something God may be leading you to be a part of the solution for that burden despite it may being uncomfortable or difficult for you.

See the need be the solution,

glorify God by your willingness to do good for others

Ephesians 2:11-16 (Page 1160)

I think we would all admit, this is one of those chapters that you need to look at for awhile to figure out what I am supposed to take away from it.

At first, you just read all of these names that you can’t pronounce and about all of these gates that they built near that you don’t know anything about,

and you start to wonder why this is in the Bible.

I think we have seen that if you look closely there’s usually quite a lot for us today in each list in the Bible.

But if you come to a list of names like this in your Bible reading,

even if you can’t figure out the main reason that it is in there,

you can always remember this—

The Lord cares about you as an individual.

God cares about each individual who serves Him.

He remembers their names.

He knows their work.

Ultimately, that is all that matters.

As you serve Him,

He sees your work,

your love for Him,

and your love for the saints.

The church is known as the Body of Christ, or the Family of God.

How do you become part of it? \

Pew Bible Page 1160

Ephesians 2:11-16 “11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

You are born into or adopted into your family! Y

You are born “into the body of Christ” by being born again;

you are adopted into the family of God by the Lord adopting us.

So how do we become part of it?

God *Exodus 34:6-7 “6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty,

People *Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Jesus *Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Response *Romans 10:9-10 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Are you trusting in Christ alone for your salvation? Talk with me after the Service if you need to know more about how you can know Christ as your Savior.

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