Exhort when Reconstructing

Toby DeHay
Nehemiah  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Leaders and those who desire to lead others: Last week we talked about knowing our mission in such a way that we can not only clearly articulate it, but will do it. Today let's receive encouragement from Nehemiah as we encourage other to follow God's Word with a clear example of how to do so.

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Nehemiah 2:17–18 NIV84
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

Nehemiah 2:17–18 ESV
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.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

Tell people where you are going (17)

Let them see why change is needed

“you see the trouble we are in”
Examples from the church.
Examples from home.
Examples from personal life.

Let them see the evidence for themselves

“how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned.”
Start nationally and work toward the state, county, and town.
Discuss Concord. Why is change needed for us?

Let them see what will happen if change does not come

“that we may no longer suffer derision” The NIV uses the word, “disgrace.”
If change doesn’t come nation-wide, we are going to see a generation void of the Gospel come to leadership in our legislative bodies, our courts, and in our executive branch.
One thing we need to be careful of is this: the United States of America is not the center of the universe nationally.
We know this, but our eschatalogical language suggests otherwise.
Eschatology is the study of the end times.
Listen to what Christians say about how our government and society are going downhill and how they immediately coorelate this to the end.
This may happen, but it might not.
Three xamples:
Rome.
Spain.
England

Tell people how to get there (18)

Teach what God desires

“told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good”
The Lord desires good for us, but we will only see the ultimate good He has when we look to scripture.
God wants these pews filled.
with people who seek and hunger after Him and His Word.
God wants us to be overflowing in SS classes.
with those who long for Christian community, discipling one another and reaching the lost.
God wants a powerful choir and robust music program.
with those whose desire is to lift up a joyful noise regardless of the style of music.
We accomplish what God wants when we are rightly teaching and living His Word.

Utilize other leaders around you

“also the words that the king had spoken to me”
Notice who Nehemiah listened to the king, who wasn’t a Jew.
Christian, believe it or not; the Lord uses others around us for His purpose.
Share and partner with other Christians of different denominations.
Listen to their perspective, hear them from their point of view, and try to see the world through their eyes. What do we do well that they are missing? What do they excel at that we may do better?
Partner with secular leaders who desire to make their community better.
Pour into the lives of others, keeping the Gospel in mind as we go.

Listen to the people you lead

They replied, “Let us rise up and build”
Some will give sound advice, others will give good warnings, and some may oppose you outright.
If we are listening, the people around us will tell us where they are and what they need.
It may not be done in an outright manner, but they are speaking.
Here, we see the people agreeing with what needed to be done.
Other times, you may have an idea, but the people don’t like it or are aren’t ready.
Listen to them.
And still other times there will be people who outright oppose you.
They may get in your face, send a nasty gram, or use passive agressiveness.
Listen to them.
They may be right with their opinion, but have presented it wrongly.
They may have an issue that is unresolved, and may need to talked to on a one on one basis.
Other times, they may oppose you because they are lost and have a self-seeking agenda.

Give an opportunity for people to follow (18)

Prepare people for what is to come

“hands strengthened”

Remind God’s people what work looks like

“good work”

Lead by example

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