Series: BC Justice League
Opening thoughts to the series - “BC justice league” – God’s biblical super heroes before Christ.
Over the last few weeks we have been sharing the power of the story! We have been looking at how a person’s life can make a difference in the eternal realm of God.
http://www.whatsyourstoryonline.com/: Quote: Stories are powerful. Stories give meaning to who we are and how we became who we are. Stories help us understand how life happens, and they give value to our experiences. Some of the most powerful testimonies to Christian faith come not from lists of accepted doctrinal beliefs (though they’re important) nor from recitations of biblical principles (also important), but from the enlivened re-telling of how God has acted, overtly or covertly, in each of our lives.
Sermon: Nehemiah’s Story:
Thesis: Nehemiah gives us an example of what to do when we face disasters in this world and how at times God calls us to take a risk for the sake of others. Call on God then go to work!
Scripture Texts: Nehemiah 1: 1-11
Nehemiah’s Prayer
1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
2Hanani, 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.
3They 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.”
4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
5Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.
7We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
9but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.
11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.
Introduction:
What do you do when you are faced with a disaster that strikes home at your heart? Do you respond or do you try to blame others? Do you ignore it? Pretend it’s just a story? Nehemiah finds out how bad the city of Jerusalem is from a recent news report. It perplexes him and weighs on his heart. It was as if someone punched him in the stomach when he got the bad news about his beloved home town.
How do you feel when disaster hits close to home – how do you respond?
Do you run to God? Do you pray to Him and look to Him for support and encouragement? Do you praise Him and recall His promises in that moment or do you shut Him out and lock Him out of your heart?
Do you curse Him and blame God for the disaster?
Nehemiah did not instead he cried out to God and a divine burden was placed in his heart to go restore the city’s walls and gates.
Video Illustration: From bluefishtv.com Life of Jeremiah - “Dealing with Disaster” are you burdened by the unmet needs of others?
I. Do you have a burden for others?
a. What do you do when disaster strikes others? Turn off the news?
i. In the news:
1. Share about the two friends of Christa who went to help out in Joplin Missouri:
a. On Sunday, May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado hit the city of Joplin, Mo., leaving an estimated 151 people dead.
b. The Joplin tornado is the deadliest single tornado since modern recordkeeping began in 1950 and is ranked as the 7th deadliest in U.S. history.
2. Joplin, MO Tornado Relief – A Demonstration of American Perseverance Author: Family Money Values
Published: August 07, 2011 at 9:28 pm -Read more: http://technorati.com/women/article/joplin-mo-tornado-relief-a-demonstration/#ixzz1VOETOJyt
a. As a counterpoint to the abysmal performance of the nations’ elected officials during the recent debt ceiling crisis, individuals, businesses and groups continue to provide ongoing support, resources, commitment and hope to Joplin, Missouri residents – months after the media have stopped reminding us of the event. This is a shining demonstration of American perseverance – a ray of sunshine in our economically bleak days this August. On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri destroying at least 6 miles of the town. Immediately, officials and residents of Joplin were deluged with volunteers, supplies and contributions of money to help re-build. The Joplin Globe, this southwestern Missouri’s hometown news, relayed the spirit of the town when they reported that “Joplin Missouri stands tall”. In an article published here on Technorati on May 25, I noted that the town was somewhat overwhelmed (but very grateful) by all of the assistance they were receiving. I feared that once a few months had passed, the offers of help would evaporate and the town citizens would be left to their own devices with a cleanup effort that looked to be months long. This fear has definitely not been realized. Examples of the support which continues to flow into the Joplin area include the below late July and August items:
b. Posted on the city’s Facebook page : “Volunteer update: since 5/22, we’ve had 72,797 registered volunteers serve a total of 356,392 hours in the Joplin community...that’s almost 41 years worth of work! We can’t say it enough, but thank you to everyone who has responded to this disaster with their time or donations”
c. Jay Nixon – MO Governor in a statement explaining that the state will pick up the extra debris removal costs when the Federal FEMA program runs out stated:
d. “Since the moment the tornado hit, Missourians have stepped forward to provide an overwhelming response to help this community rebuild,” Gov. Nixon said, speaking from a Joplin neighborhood within the Expedited Debris Removal area. “Citizen-Soldiers from the Missouri National Guard, local contractors, and thousands of volunteers have worked tirelessly, and in an orderly fashion, to clear the debris and prepare to rebuild. We’ve made tremendous progress, but the work is not complete, not yet.
ii. Disaster in the news: 2011 Year-to-Date (and record annual) Statistics from http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/2011_tornado_information.html.
1. NWS’s preliminary estimate is that there have been approximately 1,475 tornadoes so far this year.
a. The previous yearly record number of tornadoes was set in 2004 with 1,817.
b. The overall yearly average number of tornadoes for the past decade is 1,274.
c. The preliminary estimated number of tornado fatalities so far this year is 536. NWS records indicate that there were 365 tornado fatalities before the Joplin event. There were 151 fatalities from the Joplin tornado. An additional 18 fatalities were reported in KS, OK, and AR from a tornado outbreak on May 24, 2011.
d. 2011 is preliminarily the 6th deadliest tornado year in U.S. history.
2. April 2011
a. April 2011 is ranked as the most active tornado month on record with 753 tornadoes (For more information, please visit NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center). There were an estimated 361 fatalities.
b. The previous record was set in April 1974 with 267 tornadoes.
c. The average number of tornadoes for the month of April during the past decade is 161.
d. The previous record number of tornadoes during any month was 542 tornadoes set in May 2003.
e. NWS records indicate 321 people were killed during the April 25-28 tornado outbreak.
f. NWS records indicate 361 people were killed during the entire month of April 2011.
b. How should we respond?
i. Are you willing to pray, cry out to the Lord? “OH Lord GOD OF HEAVEN!”
1. Help these people in need!
ii. Question: Are you willing to remember who God is and what He promises when you are faced with a disaster?
iii. Question: Do you know the conditions of God’s restoring power and covenant with you and for others?
1. Do you recall how His mercy and grace is there to restore that which has been destroyed by sin or calamity?
iv. Question: Are you willing to praise him in the midst of the despair and destruction?
1. Before He does or has done anything?
2. To come to him in humility?
v. Question: Are you willing to confess your sins, your nation’s sins, your families sins so that God can start the rebuilding process in your life, family or home town?
c. Question: Do you know your history and the promises of this ministry at Christian Hills?
i. I asked Dave Oberg what the vision was for this church when it started and it was to flow in the Gifts of the Spirit as a church, to allow the Holy spirit to have free reign in this congregation, to be charismatic and see people filled –empowered with the Holy Spirit.
1. History of the church:
d. Question: Do you revere God’s name in crisis and ask for His divine help?
i. Do you pray for success in the things of God or just your earthly prosperity?
ii. Do you fast for restoration and renewal of your community, your church?
iii. Nehemiah mourned, he fasted, he cried - when was the last time you prayed to the point of tears for this ministry – for the school – for this area of Chicago?
T.S. - Video Illustration: The Life of Nehemiah – “Comfort Zone”
II. Are you willing to take a risk and leave your comfort zone?
a. Question: Are you willing to take a risk and help out someone in need?
i. To make a difference when disaster hits and people are broken?
1. Illustration- Risks
a. To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
b. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
c. To reach out for another is to risk involvement
d. To expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self
e. To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
f. To love is to risk not being loved in return
g. To live is to risk dying
h. To hope is to risk despair
i. To try is to risk failure
j. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
k. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing
l. They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live
m. Charmed by their attitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom
n. Only a person who risks is free
2. Risk taking should be an indispensable part of the Christian walk. When we look back over church history we see Christians who risked all to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
b. Let’s all reflect back on OT history and think about the some-bodies who took risks. Their lives showed that this faith walk is risky business - you have heard some of their names but let’s recall some of them:
1. Abraham 2,161-1986BC - The patriarch who was the father of the people of God, Abraham the risk taker who left the security and comfort of Ur because of the call of God. He took a risk and became the "father of the multitude" he is the spiritual ancestor of all Jews and the father of the nation of Israel.
2. Isaac- He went to Mount Moriah with his father where Abraham was going to offer up a living sacrifice- Abraham was directed to sacrifice his son- but Abraham knew deep within God would provide a living sacrifice- but Isaac went with and it was risky but God came through with a ram to sacrifice.
3. Moses 1527-1405BC- This man of God gave up the best Egypt could offer to a prince to serve God. He risked his life and reputation in Egypt to serve God. His reward for taking a risk is that nearly every book in the bible references Moses or his writings.
4. Joshua ruled 1406- 1382 BC -The risk taker is still considered one of the best military minds of history. His dedication to risking all to take the promised-land is noted by all. His strategy and tactics are still classics in military science. He after taking the land devoted himself to strengthening the worship of the Lord even when many others were falling away from God. The last appearance of him in the Bible is one which shows a man challenging the people of Israel to covenant themselves back to God. Once again taking a risk to call people back to God when it was not popular.
5. Deborah- Deborah demonstrated the quality of courage when she rallied the tribes of Israel to attack Sisera and the Canaanites, who had been raiding Israel for years. Barak assisted Deborah as they defeated them at Kishon with help of a violent storm (Judges 4, 5).
6. Ruth- She took a risk to stay with Naomi and her God. The impact was she needed to leave her family and home country.
7. David 1050- 1,000 BC- a risk taker who challenged a Goliath. He took a risk for God and slew a giant everyone else was afraid of. This risk taker became Israel’s most famous king and the nation fondly remembered his reign as it’s golden age.
8. Solomon
9. Jeremiah 625-585 BC- The priest who took the risk to speak for God during the heartbreaking final days of Judah. His risk caused himself to be called a traitor, to be arrested, to be hounded, and threatened throughout his ministry. Yet he took the risk for God and as he predicted, Jerusalem was captured and the nation deported because of their unwillingness to repent to God for their sins.
10. Esther was an orphan who became queen of Persia. Mordecai raised her and helped her to become queen. She was placed in her position by the Lord to be the solution to the problem created by Haman. She needed to risk her life to save the annihilation of the Jewish people by Haman’s evil plan.
a. Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
b. This was risky business but listen to her response: Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
11. Daniel 606- 530 BC- a prophet who took the risk of serving God in a heathen nation under captivity and refused to change and conform to their ways. Daniel the prophet who took the risk to refuse to bow to the emperor and acknowledge him as divine. He became known as one of the most famous prophets during the captivity of Israel and he also became one of the top leaders in Babylonian empire, and Persian empire. His risk taking caused a King Nebuchadnezzar to accept the Lord.
12. Ezra 516 - 458BC - a priest/scribe who was a risk taker who returned to Jerusalem to restore the temple insist on obedience to the Law of God and purity among the Israelites. His risk caused many to repent and the restoration of the temple.
13. Nehemiah 516- 433 BC -He took the risk to return to Israel and give up the posh life in the Babylonian court to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and support Ezra’s revival of the Jewish community.
14. Mary the mother of Jesus. She risked her reputation and life to give birth to Jesus.
15. Joseph was bethrothed to Mary when she was found with child he was going to put her away but an angel changed his mind. He risked everything to marry Mary and raise Jesus. He put his life in danger and spent his helping to raise Jesus.
16. Jesus 0-33 AD- He was willing to risk all to follow God’s plan even risk his own life on the cross to see to it that God’s plan was fulfilled and the world given redemption through his sacrifice.
a. He is the ultimate risk taker of all time!
1. He risked all and worked through his fears- He worked through his fear in the Garden and he faced them and defeated them with the courage to risk all for God.
2. Jesus knew that to defeat fear you had to risk comfort and safety and face it head on in God.
3. Jesus was a risk taker - Jones states, "Jesus was not exactly what people had in mind for a leader." Jesus took risks consistently confronting the Pharisee’s and the sinner and speaking the truth.
4. Jesus had the attitude of a risk taker because he said "Why not me?" The key here to understand is that maturity in Christianity says "Why not me?" We come to understanding that we are in a walk that will have points of taking risks for Christ. We should have the motto "I will serve and risk", not "Why don’t they do it!" One has a risk taker attitude the other has an excuse maker attitude.
b. Jones states, "... The willingness to enter into whatever God wants is one of the hallmarks of spiritual leadership."
i. Nehemiah went to the king and took a risk to make a difference for his people – he put his life on the line.
1. Nehemiah 2:1-9: Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem - 1In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before;
2so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid,
3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
4The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
5and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
6Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
7I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?
8And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.
9So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
c. We have been exploring some of these individuals lives this summer and have seen that they had courage to begin something or take a stand for God in the midst of difficult circumstances. For some it meant ridicule, slanderous remarks, becoming laughing stocks in their community, it meant being condemned by their community, it meant imprisonment, it meant personal loss of family, friends, and finances. It meant facing a dangerous situation. For some it cost them their lives. But all these risk takers made an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God.
i. Yet, sadly, on the other side of the coin where the ones who where Christians but refused or where too afraid to take a risk for God.
1. They waited for a better time, a safer situation, or a guarantee of assured results which never came.
2. These people we have never heard their names are not known in the Kingdom of God archives.
3. It’s a sad fact that throughout history there have been many opportunities to make a difference but individuals refused to step forward.
4. They refused to take the risk for God. No names - nobody knows about - names lost in history forever!
5. But the Bible and Church History records are filled with risk takers who did make a difference.
ii. Are you willing to take a risk?
1. To take a risk for the kingdom and for this burden to be met by God?
2. Do you want to see change? Are you willing to go and give up your cushy job? Are you willing to go the extra mile and see God use you?
d. Nehemiah prayed to God for favor of the secular king! He admits he was afraid!
i. But God opened the door and Nehemiah opened his heart to the King.
1. The King was touched by the Spirit of the Lord and his story is set in motion for all of us to read about and learn from.
e. Question: Do you really believe God can do this and that he will even take a chance with using you?
Conclusion:
Key point of this message: “The power of prayer – Sheets/Ford “Your prayers have the power to Heal the past and shape the future.”
Billy Graham 1918 - He risked all to serve Christ in the mid-twentieth Century of which theological liberalism dominated the mainstream churches. The authority of the Bible was discounted, and a belief in the upward march of humanity was still in fashion. Yet along came Billy who has impacted our society beyond belief. Liberal theology was challenged and is on the decline, The Bible is coming back, humanism is slipping and Billy keeps on preaching even today.
All the individuals portrayed in church history were individuals who took risks for Him and that is why we know who they are in Christ. Risk takers get noticed when it’s done for Jesus - they change society, cities, churches, lives and facilitate growth in the Kingdom of God.
These risk takers had a drive to step out for God. There risky steps made an impact on the Kingdom of God. These individuals will go down in history for all eternity as God’s risk takers.
But what about the millions who have not taken risks for God? They are no names who I believe allowed the ten reasons for not taking risks dictate their lives:
1. We’ve never done it before.
2. Nobody has ever done it before
3. It’s too radical a change
4. The church will never try it or go for it
5. The world will not respond to it
6. We’re not ready for it
7. You’re right but....
8. Good thought but not practical
9. We will never be able to do it because it is too complicated
10. It’s impossible
Sheila states, "What good would big thinking be if it stopped short of taking risks that turn dreams (and visions) into reality"(129).
The truth is -- when risks are taken for God things will happen - visions from God become realities. Lives are changed and miracles happen.
The BC Justice League Heroes spoken of earlier all where risk takers who left impressions on our minds and spirits as inspiring examples of fearlessness in the face of ridicule, harassment, deprivation, and even death for the spread of the Kingdom of God.
These risk takers changed their future and our life for the better. How about you? Do you want to take a risk for Him? I dare you! Take a risk for Him in this millennium!
