Sermon Tone Analysis

T work of t H.S is to bring t Blessings of God into your life.

Of course you play a big part in weather or not you'll receive.

But from t moment of t new birth, God has been working in you, thru t H.S., His restoration power.

*I*.

(*PSA 23:3*) Says, *"He restoreth my soul."*

God is in t *process* of *bringing* *restoration* *to* His *body*.

*A*.

*Restoration* in areas that we may *not be walking in*, *or* He wants restoration for areas in our life that we *have lost*.

*1*.

There is a *great illustration* of this thru t work *of t H.S*. in t *book of Nehemiah*.

*a*.

*Nehemiah* was a *vessel* used by God to *bring strength to God's people*.

*i*.

In (*1COR 10:6*) it tells us that t *O.T. experiences* are *for* an *example for us*.

*b*.

*Nehemiah's experiences* give us an *example* *of what needs to take place for* a *person* to *receive: restoration, stability, & spiritual strength.

*

                  *B*.

*NEH 1:1-3* I'm going to read it from t NIV, "The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, *(2)* Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

*(3)* They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace.

The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."

*1*.

T city of *Jerusalem* was *at a crucial point* in history.

*a*.

T *Temple* was *rebuilt*, *worship restored*, *but* it's *walls* were *in ruin*.

*b*.

T *walls* of a city *served several purposes*.

*i*.

They were used for *protection from invasion*.

*ii*.

They would *build high towers* on t walls so that someone could look out to *view t area* so they could *see* an *enemy* *approaching*, So they wouldn't be surprised.

*2*.

*Nehemiah's brother brought* some *bad news*, which said that t *people* of Jerusalem were in *great affliction* *& reproach* (or as t NIV says, *great trouble & disgrace*), *because* there were *no walls around* their *city*.

*a*.

*Nehemiah's heart sank* as he heard t news.

*i*.

*He wept & mourned* for several days.

*ii*.

*He prayed* that *God would use him* to *change* t *condition* of Jerusalem.

*b*.

*Nehemiah* was t *cupbearer to* t *king*, & When he was *preforming his duty* of bringing t king some drink, t *king knew* that *Nehemiah* was *saddened*.

*i*.

T *king asked* him, "*What's wrong, what do you need*?"

                                                      *ii*.

Well, *he asked* t *king to let him go & rebuild* t walls.

T *king gave him all* that *he needed* to complete t job.

*II*.

T *report* that *Originally* came to Nehemiah *described* a *city* that was *vulnerable to* its *enemies* *& embarrassed* *by* its *weak position*.

*A*.

Those *walls* were *important*; this is *where* t *temple of God was* & in that *temple was* t very *presents of God*, *But* they had *no walls to guard it*.

*B*.

As we *realize* that these *O.T. passages* are for an *example* to us,.

*we'll* begin to *see* t *parallel* *between* t *condition of Jerusalem* in Nehemiah's day *& condition* of many *Christians today*.

*1*.

We've been *born of t Spirit* of God & *God* has *made* His *home* in us, we can worship God freely & even enjoy His presence.

*a*.

Yet for so many they find themselves *incapable of coping w~/ t troubles* that rise up against them.

*i*.

Even though *they* are t *temple of God*, t *walls of their soul is in ruin*.

*ii*.

T *soul* is where you *make* all of your *decisions*.

*b*.

It says in (*JOS 24:15*) "Choose you this day whom ye will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

*i*.

It's w~/ t *soul or* t *mind* that *you* have to *choose*.

*2*.

As we let t *H.S. restore* our *soul* *from* t *hurt* that we've *gone thru*, t *discouragement*, t *disappointments* we *all face*, you'll *become less & less vulnerable to* t *attacks* of t *enemy*.

*a*.

We'll *no longer* have to *face t embarrassment* of *being beaten over & over again* *by* t *same weakness*.

*i*.

We're *being built up* to be that *mighty fortress for* t *glory of God*.

*ii*.

There are times when you're *building* a *wall* that it's *not* always *easy*, there is some *work to do*, but there is no other way to do it, you just *have to do it*.

*III*.

*Nehemiah came* to Jerusalem *as t H.S. comes to you*; *to* *build* *&* *strengthen* your life.

*A*.

Even t *name* "*Nehemiah*" is a *parallel to* t *H.S*., it's a *type or shadow of t H.S*.

                              *1*.*Nehemiah's name means, *"*Jehovah comforts*."

*2*.

*JOHN 14:16*

                                          *a*.

Jesus is *speaking* here *of* t *H.S*, *our Comforter*, & it's *His ministry to transform us* *into* t *image* of t *Father*.

*b*.

*2COR 3:18*

                                                      *i*.

T *NIV* says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, *who is the Spirit*."

*ii*.

It is t *H.S*.

who is t *active member of* t *Godhead* that's here *on* this *Earth*.

It's *His ministry to transform us into* t *image of God's* *strength & stability*, but this can *only* happen *as we yield to Him*.

                  *B*.

T *Spirit* of God has come into your life & *given* you *everything* that *you need to create* a *life* that is *not vulnerable* to *every attack of* t *enemy*.

*1*.

*As* a *new creation*, your *spirit* is *free from sin's dominion*, but your *soul is in t process of being renewed*.

*a*.

*Satan will launch attacks on* your *soul* & *most of t time* in t *same areas* *where* he has *defeated you before*.

*i*.

He *comes against your **intellect w~/ doubts, confusion, imaginations, & reasons*.

*ii*.

He *attacks your **emotions w~/ fear, lust, temper, anger, bitterness, & unforgiveness*.

*iii*.

He *challenges your **WILL w~/ accusations of past failures or times that you compromised* your walk w~/ God.

                                                      *iv*.

*He **cripples* your *confidence* *in* your *ability to made quality decisions*.

*b*.

*These are* t *areas* of t *broken down walls* in your life, & they *need to be rebuilt*, but you *can't do it yourself*, you *need* t work of t *H.S*., you need to *let Him be in charge*.

*i*.

*PRO 25:28*