Rise Up and Build! Part 3
NEHEMIAH: How God Uses the Ordinary to Revitalize the Kingdom! • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 35:48
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Welcome
Welcome
Good Morning! I’m Pastor Wayne and I’d like to welcome you all to the gathering of Ephesus Baptist Church.
Why did you choose to gather today? We believe we are a called people! Called to worship and exalt our God among the nations in order that His glory may be spread over all the earth!
If you are visiting with us this morning, we want you to know that ...
We are all one family of faith: “giving our all to love God, love people, proclaim Jesus, and make disciples in our generation.”
We have a connect card in the pew in front of you. I invite you to take one and fill it out! If you have prayer needs, you can let us know about those as well.
I promise, our prayer team will lift you up soon. You can place those cards in the offering plate when it comes around.
Scripture Memory
Scripture Memory
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Opening Scripture Reading
Opening Scripture Reading
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.
9 O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.
Prayer of Invocation
Introduction
Introduction
“NEHEMIAH: How God Uses the Ordinary to Revitalize the Kingdom!”;
Rise Up and Build! Part 3,
When we began our mini series of sermons titled “Rise Up and Build” earlier this month, we opened with a reading of the speech that Winston Churchill gave on May 13th, 1940.
In that speech he said many great things, but I want to key in on three short quotes from his speech that are directly applicable to our passage this morning. ,
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”
“You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
“I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, “come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.”
Winston Churchill was the leader Great Britain needed during one of their darkest hours.
As you will see today, Nehemiah was the leader Israel needed during on of their darkest hours as well.
Let’s quickly review the principles we have learned from our previous two sermons from Nehemiah Chapter 2.
REVIEW
1. Like Nehemiah, we must be ready to give our all for the cause of Christ.
1. Like Nehemiah, we must be ready to give our all for the cause of Christ.
2. Like Nehemiah, we must anticipate opposition and ridicule when we seek the welfare of God’s Kingdom.
2. Like Nehemiah, we must anticipate opposition and ridicule when we seek the welfare of God’s Kingdom.
3. Like Nehemiah, we must be wise and rest as we seek to glorify God!
3. Like Nehemiah, we must be wise and rest as we seek to glorify God!
4. God lays things on our hearts to accomplish for His glory according to His will.
4. God lays things on our hearts to accomplish for His glory according to His will.
5. Our responsibility is to learn and labor in response to the things God puts into our hearts.
5. Our responsibility is to learn and labor in response to the things God puts into our hearts.
Are you ready to learn more wisdom from the God-Inspired memoirs of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah?
Join me in Nehemiah Chapter 2, we will begin reading in verse 9.
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.
10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.
13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.
14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.
15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.
16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
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.”
18 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.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
Prayer for Blessing
Two Principles for Kingdom Work:
1. Like Nehemiah, our faith must always move us to action rather than complacency.
1. Like Nehemiah, our faith must always move us to action rather than complacency.
Remember verse 16,
16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
While Nehemiah was surveying the damage and devising a plan of restoration, he told no one what God had put into his heart to do for Jerusalem.
If you will remember, he waited until he knew he could talk to the people in a way that they would allow them to hear him and get on board with the revitalization project.
A little time passes between verse 16 and verse 17, Nehemiah is ready. He takes to center stage and begins to lay out his case before them. He is not complacent but active in seeking God’s glory. He has a plan that was believable and achievable. He is ready to share it with all of Jerusalem.
But, what about his hearers, the natives of Jerusalem. Are they ready to hear it?
Not just yet! Nehemiah realizes that the people need to change their attitudes about their current existence and their call to be God’s people.
In his short speech, Nehemiah calls the Israelites to embrace three attitudes that will result in moving them from a complacent faith to an active faith.
All three attitude shifts are found in verses 17-18.
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.”
18 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.
A. Own up to our current reality.
A. Own up to our current reality.
“You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned.”
The remnant of Jews had been looking at the reality of their situation for a long, long time. Everyday they saw the broken walls around the city. Everyday they passed by the charcoal’d remains of the city gates. It no longer disturbed them.
The truth is the Israelites had given up hope. They had grown so accustomed to their history of failure and defeat that they could no longer even conceive of anyone trying to build their walls again.
Nehemiah revealed a precise portrait of what he had discovered. Nehemiah was upfront and honest about the need at hand. It took someone coming from somewhere else to see their current reality for what it really was: a dishonoring of God by allowing His Holy City to remain in such a state of ruin.
Isn’t ironic that it often takes someone with a fresh perspective to get us to face up and see the things that exist right under our noses. Years of familiarity and neglect have a way of allowing us to look at certain things without really seeing them.
What are things you look at week after week that are dishonoring to God, yet they have been around us for so long they have lost their shock value.
As I have stressed before, we too need to be honest with the current reality we face. We can pretend that all is well and the needs are minimal, but in doing so we deceive ourselves and those around us.
We need to be honest about the needs of our day and see them as they are. We will never overcome until we accept reality! We will never rebuild our own broken walls until we, too, face up to the reality of our situation.
The task we face is difficult as well. Years of neglect and complacency have created an array of problems and challenges. We have been quiet and inactive far too long. It is time for the redeemed of the Lord to rise and face these challenges.
Much of the adversity we face can be attributed to our own complacency and refusal to stand for truth.
We serve the King of glory and have nothing to be ashamed of or apologize about. We need to get back on track, we need to seek the Lord to restore the church to her former influence for His glory! We need to own up to our current reality in all areas of life!
B. Team up to change our current reality.
B. Team up to change our current reality.
Next, Nehemiah addresses the peoples attitude toward teamwork and unity.
“Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”
This mess they were in wasn’t one person’s mess! It was the whole lot of them, including Nehemiah himself who had never stepped foot on Israeli soil until a few days ago. They were all suffering derision and ridicule together.
Notice the repetition of plural personal pronouns throughout his speech to the Israelites, “we - us - we - us”
By Nehemiah’s repeated use of “we” and “us,” he was saying, “Let’s team up to change our current reality.”
How might our parenting be better if we said “we” more than “you”?
How many marriages might have been saved if spouses had owned up to their current realities and teamed up?
How many pastors have failed at revitalizing because they used their pulpits to berate and bully instead of using “we” a little more and building a team spirit?
Nehemiah didn’t say, “Man, are you in a bad situation! What you need to do is to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that you will no longer be a reproach.”
No, he used “we” and “us.” If you want to discourage someone whose life is in ruins, just say, “Man, are you a mess; you really ought to do something about that.” Yeah, that will work every time. NOT!
On the other hand, if you want to encourage them, begin by saying, “This situation is a mess. How can we get out of this together?”
Church Revitalizers, like Nehemiah, say “we” an awful lot. That’s because they know church is a team sport. The only way we can hope change our current reality is to team up and do it together with God’s help.
And that is where our third attitude comes into play.
C. Look up to God to direct our change.
C. Look up to God to direct our change.
18 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.
Nehemiah knew that his people needed more than just his word and his vision to change their attitudes.
His call to “Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem,” would have stopped short of its goal if everything relied upon Nehemiah, but it didn’t.
These people had lived with the need to rebuild their broken down walls for years and had done nothing to fix the problem.
People often say that they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Strategy gurus will tell you that people do not give themselves to needs, but that they will give themselves to visions.
These sayings are true to a degree, but I believe they are incomplete. No matter the size of the vision to meet a need, we need a vision bigger than our frail human visions if we are to accomplish the task.
This is why Nehemiah reminded the people that God was with them, and His holy hand was leading and guiding them to accomplish this task. When people are convinced that God is doing a great work, even today, people are willing to rally around that work.
Remember, Nehemiah isn’t doing any of this for his own pleasure and glory. He is doing it all for the glory of God!
So when he reminds them of God’s hand and the King’s blessing, the people are motivated and renewed in their faith. Their faith moves from a dead faith to an active faith. Complacency is trumped by genuine faith.
Negative feelings of complacency are turned positive. Discouragement gives way to a new hope. A God-given vision rallies the team to accomplish a future oriented goal that will revitalize a nation.
The last phrase of verse 18 says,
And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
2. Like Nehemiah, our hope should always lead us to becoming servants who arise and build.
2. Like Nehemiah, our hope should always lead us to becoming servants who arise and build.
Remember a few sermons back, I said, “There is no such thing as opportunity without opposition.”
Stephen Davey has said,
When you decide to build anything for the glory of God—whether a godly home, a pure mind, honest character, or numerous other things—any-thing and anyone who opposes God will oppose you. There is no opportunity from heaven without opposition from hell.
Well, the opportunity to rebuild is here and now. The people have sided with Nehemiah. Their faith and hope is renewed. Do you want to know how quickly the enemy rallies his troops?
Look no further than the next verse.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
The Three Stooges are back at it again. It didn’t take long for the enemy to muster his troops, did it?
Two Modes of Attack
1. Public Ridicule
1. Public Ridicule
“They jeered at us and despised us.”
This was intended to produce personal embarrassment.
2. Political Intimidation
2. Political Intimidation
“What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
This was intended to produce fear.
Combined, embarrassment and fear, have been very effective modes of attack for our enemy. They have prevented Christians from doing the will of God for centuries.
These tactics are very much in play in our day and time.
The world says that everyone is living that way.
“Do you really expect to change and conform all of society?”
“Do you really expect to be able to overcome the policies and lifestyles that have been prevalent for years?”
“Do you really expect to reach those who do not know Christ?”
We have been sold the lie that the church must remain silent in the political realm. We are afraid to speak our minds and stand upon biblical principles because we have heard for years the propaganda of “separation of church and state.” We are afraid we will lose our tax exempt status.
So rather than speak the truth we coddle the lies around us. The more we remain silent, the more denominations around us fall into sin and their walls are invaded and destroyed by every falsehood imaginable.
As long as it works, the enemy will continue to attack us using these two modes of attack.
Nehemiah’s Faith-Filled Response.
20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
A. God has ordained this work.
A. God has ordained this work.
B. He will make it prosper.
B. He will make it prosper.
C. We are God’s servants.
C. We are God’s servants.
D. You have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.
D. You have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.
You will have no property inside the city.
You will have no right’s or claims from the citizens of Jerusalem.
You will not be able to extort a tribute or taxes from us.
You have no place of worship withing these walls that will be built.
Nehemiah’s courage rallied the Israelites to a new era of unity and faith. Their renewed faith allowed them to become the servants they had been called to be all along. They are ready to arise and build. They are ready to bring God the Glory He deserves.
Conclusion:
Are we ready to rise up and build?
Are we ready to own up to our current reality?
Decades of neglect and devastation are before us. The overall church has lost her influence and many simply have no heart for the task at hand.
Are we ready to team up to change our current reality?
Are we ready to look up to God to direct our change?
Could I remind us that we serve the same God Nehemiah did? He provided for them and He will provide for us.
We have been commissioned of the Lord to carry out His work. As long as we stand with Him and by His power, with the anointing of His Spirit, we cannot fail.
Are we ready to be the servants of God we have been called to be?
God has called us to serve Him, not to look at the opposition or the difficulties associated with the work. We can accomplish what the Lord desires of us if we humble ourselves under His strength!
Are we ready to Rise up and Build the Kingdom of God in our community and world?
Hymn of Invitation
Hymn No. 325
Whiter than snow