Impossibe Odds Series

Early last week, I was thinking about the last 12 months or so, of what has been going on @ CPC.

My reminiscing began about 4 years ago, as we were planning the official launch of CPC, scheduled for January 2020. As a church, we were growing in size, as well as in our walk with God.

We had our launch in January, and about a month or so later, covid hit and everything changed!

Toward the end of last year, I began asking God to direct us where He wanted us to go as a church.

We started our new journey in January of this year, with some changes along the way.

And I thought about the story of Nehemiah.

Today is the first part of a two-part series called “Impossible Odds”.

So HOH guys, you’ll need to come back in two weeks to hear “the rest of the story”.

As we look at this story today, I’d ask you not only to consider where we’ve come as a church this year, but to consider how God overcame Impossible Odds in your life.

Though of you who attend CPC regularly know that I don’t follow a regimented format of how God brings His word to you through me.

Today is no exception. If fact, I don’t think I’ve ever brought Gods Word as I will bring it to you today.

Believe me, I’m not trying to set the bar of expectation high because Pastor Jeff told me that one time, he brought a sermon that was so good, that he was ready to rededicate his life to God, and after the sermon all he got was how good the tamales were at the fellowship lunch! So, we are having fellowship lunch, and I don’t want to hear how good the tamales were! Are you trackin’ with me?

Here's the setting of the story of Nehemiah, in a nutshell.

The Jewish people had been “released” or “escaped” from captivity from Babylon, and many had returned to Jerusalem.

The city had been destroyed and it was being rebuilt. This is about a 70 year time span.

Nehemiah, who was born in Babylon and still in Babylon at the time, had sent word for a report as to the status of things in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was a very highly trusted man in King (art-a zerx-ees)Artaxerxes’s court. He was a cup-bearer. This was the guy who got to taste the King’s food and drink, before the King consumed any. He got to taste it not merely to make sure it was good tasting, but to check it for poison!

Husbands, have you ever had a fight with your wife that was so bad that you wished you had a cup-bearer to check the food she prepared, before you ate it? Anyway, that was Nehemiah’s job.

The book of Nehemiah is the last of what is known as “the history books” in the OT.

So, the report came back, and the Temple and the city had been rebuilt, but the walls and the wall gates were still in shambles.

Nehemiah 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words (this is Nehemiah writing this story) that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days, I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

• Wept

• Mourned

• Fasted

• Prayed

Anyone here, ever gone through that cycle

He wept for his people and for his city!

As I revisited this story, I was reminded that Jesus wept for His people and for the city of Jerusalem.

In fact, scripture tells us that before His Triumphal Entry, He wept because He knew that Jerusalem would yet again be destroyed! History records that Jerusalem was destroyed about 70 years after the resurrection.

Nehemiah wept for Jerusalem mainly because he knew the walls and gate represented many things.

Protection

Peace that comes with that protection

Walls symbolized a strong and united people

With those city walls still in ruin, they were:

Vulnerable to the enemy

Uneasy because they were under constant threat of attack

They were a weak and un-united people, and of a broken spirit

I would venture to say there may be some broken spirits among us today. (and if that is the case, it is the very reason you need to be here in two weeks. It’ll be the icing on the cake)

Until about 6 months ago, I had never read this prayer of Nehemiah’s.

I’m going to ask you to close your eyes as I read this incredible prayer of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 1:5-14

Nehemiah also realized there was a lack of leadership in Jerusalem.

We see, that having realized the lack of leadership, he:

Planned

Organized

Prepared for the journey, as well as the task at hand, once he arrived in Jerusalem.