Building A Memorial To God

NEHEMIAH 2:VS 17--20 BUILDING A MEMORIAL TO GOD

MAY 26, 2007

INTRODUCTION: AS WE CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY, WE HONOR OUR FALLEN HEROS, THOSE WHO DIED REPRESENTING THE HONOR AND VALUES OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.

MANY WHO SHED THEIR BLOOD FOR THE FREEDOM WE NOW ENJOY, DID SO IN HONOR OF GOD AND COUNTRY. PATRIOTISM AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR GODLY HERITAGE WENT HAND IN HAND. I THINK IT WOULD BE A DISGRACE TO THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO VALLIANTLY FOUGHT AND DIED FOR US, LEFT THEIR BLOOD ON FOREIGN SOIL ON OUR BEHALF, IF WE FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR DEDICATION TO GOD AND COUNTRY.

WHILE MANY TODAY REFUSE TO ACCEPT OUR NATIONS BLESSINGS AND GOD’S PROVIDENCE AS WORKING TOGETHER, SCRIPTURE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WITHOUT GOD A NATION WILL FALL. HISTORY AS WELL AS SCRIPTURE CLARIFIES THIS. PSALM 33:12” BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.

PROVERBS 13:34: “RIGHTEOUSNESS EXHALTS A NATION BUT SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.”

ISAIAH 1: VS 4: ALAS, SINFUL NATION, A PEOPLE LADEN WITH INIQUITY, A SEED OF EVILDOERS, CHILDREN THAT ARE CORRUPTERS, THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE LORD, THEY HAVE PROVOKED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL UNTO ANGER, THEY ARE GONE AWAY BACKWARD.

1. IN THE DAY OF NEHEMIAH, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD FALLEN INTO THIS SAD STATE. THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN SCATTERED AND ENSLAVED BY THE BABYLONIANS. GOD’S BLESSINGS HAD BEEN REJECTED, HIS COUSEL HAD BEEN DENIED, THE GATES AND WALLS OF THE HOLY CITY HAD BEEN DESTROYED AND THE ENEMY HAD STOOD AFAR OFF AND LAUGHED AND MOCKED AT THE ATTEMPT TO REBUILD. HEAR THE WORDS OF NEHEMIAH (VERSE 20) AS HE STANDS FIRMLY AND PROCLAIMS: “WE WILL BUILD IT AND YOU WILL HAVE NO MEMORIAL NOR ANY PART IN JERUSAELEM.”

2. IT’S TIME WE STAND AS NEHEMIAH DID AND BUILD A MEMORIAL TO GOD.

I. (V17) DESTRUCTION HAD TAKEN HOLD OF THE HOLY CITY.

THE WALLS WERE DESTROYED, THE GATES WERE BURNED DOWN, THE JEW’S PLACE OF WORSHIP LAY IN WASTE.

PROVERBS 29: 2: WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE REJOICE, BUT WHEN THE WICKED ARE RULING, THE PEOPLE MOURN. (SADNESS AND DISCONTENT)

(A) SATAN’S WORK IS TO DESTROY (CHURCH, HOME CHRISTIAN)

JOHN 10: 10: THE THIEF COMES TO STEAL, KILLAND DESTROY.

(B) SATAN’S DESIRE IS TO DISRUPT THE HARMONY OF THE CHURCH.

(KEEP THEM OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER)

1. MANY CHURCHES TODAY ARE IN A STATE OF DISCORD BECAUSE OF SATAN’S DISTRESS AND DESTRUCTION.

2. SATAN MOVES IN, LOOKS AROUND, AND SEES WHAT HE CAN DISRUPT.

3. HE TRIES TO DISRUPT THE PEOPLE, THE PROGRESS, THE HARMONY.

4. THE CHURCH THEN BECOMES STALE, STAGNANT, DRIES UP AND DIES. ( STILL WATERS BECOME STALE, STAGNANT AND REPULSIVE)

( C) SATAN BLURS THE VISION OF THE CHURCH.

1. HE KILLS THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH, KILLS THE JOY, KILLS THE FELLOWSHIP.

2. HE HAS DESTROYED MANY CONGREGATIONS THAT WERE ONCE “ON FIRE FOR GOD”. ONCE A LIGHTHOSE, NOW DARK AND COLD.

3. LIKE THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA (CHURCH OF APOSTACY) RICH IN GOODS BUT SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT.

II. DETERMINATION TO BUILD.

PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS BY EZRA AND HIS MEN HAD PROVED FUTILE.

NEHEMIAH NOW STAND FIRMLY UPON GOD’S PROMISES AND DECLARES “WE WILL BUILD IT.”

1. THANK GOD THERE ARE STILL SOME NEHEMIAH’S TODAY WHO ARE NOT INTIMIDATED BY THE DEVIL NOR INFLUENECED BY HIS CROWD.

VERSE 18: LET US RISE UP AND BUILD!!!!!!

LET’S JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(A) HE HAD A VISION HE COULD NOT ESCAPE.

1. WHEN GOD GIVES YOU A VISION, THERE IS NOT A DEVIL IN HELL THAT CAN STOP IT.

(B) HE HAD A BURDEN THAT COULD NOT BE LIFTED.

1. HE GOT INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE LORD. 2. HE GOT “IN THE YOKE” WITH THE LORD*******

( C) HE HAD A PROMISE THAT COULD NOT BE FORSAKEN

1. THE HAND OF GOD WAS UPON HIM.

PHILIPPIANS 4: 13: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. (VERSE 19) MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.

1. EVERY NEED WE HAVE IS MET BY AND THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

III. DEPARTURE FROM REPROACH.

WE HEAR IT ALMOST DAILY: “ THE CHURCH*** SEEMS TO BE IN A SLUMP”

NEHEMIAH SAID: LET’S GET AWAY FROM WHAT HASN’T WORKED AND TRY SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK.

1. DEAD PROGRAMS THAT HAVE HAD NO LIFE IN 50 YEARS

2. DEAD DOCTRINE THAT NEVER WORKED TO START WITH.

3. “BUT PREACHER, WE’VE NEVER DONE IT THIS WAY BEFORE”

WELL!! LET’S TRY IT AND SEE IF IT WILL WORK.

(A) IN PLAIN OLD ENGLISH, NEHEMIAH SAID: “WE HAVE BEEN A REPROACH TO GOD FOR TOO LONG, LET’S PUT IN A NEW GAME PLAN.”

1. THE AVERAGE CHURCH TODAY IS DEFEATED BECAUSE IT HAS A DEFEATED ATTITUDE.