Intro: Tomas A Edison “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed up in overalls and looks like work.”
I agree with Mark Driscoll pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington. “We need far less people criticizing and writing books about what is wrong with the church.” We need more people to put their overalls on and walk closer to Jesus and bring about what the Church was called and created to be! We the bride of Christ were created to be the City of God in the world. We were created to be a light in this dark broken world.
Johnny Hunt “We’re not getting fed. His response, you fat rascal get up and expend some energy for the kingdom of God.”
What we get to see in the end of chapter 1 through chapter two is Nehemiah’s journal or memoir of how this can happen. Instead of complaining about what was wrong with the people and city of Jerusalem he went to God about what He could do to make a difference in the lives of the citizens and the city. (Principle: If God has revealed something to you that creates a burden he is probably preparing you to do something about it!!) Principle of Preparation
I. Nehemiah’s Passion
Nehemiah heard the bad report and immediately went to God for a remedy.
He began with intercession and confession before God. Confession is the root of spiritual power. In confession we declare our rebellion to God and ask for Him to heal, and cleanse us of any rebellion that will limit His work in our life. That is exactly what Nehemiah was doing in his praying for the citizens and city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah spends 4 months in fasting, praying and intercession for his people and the city.
In the four months Nehemiah was waiting on God but He was by no means idle.
That time was used for God to allow Nehemiah’s passion for the people of Jerusalem to grow into energy for God’s plan to rebuild and restore Jerusalem.
What should we learn from this? When God places a burden for a specific person, people, task, ministry it is preparing you to be used in that area for that purpose. In that God is at work beneath the surface of your life to bring joy, life, renewal, and possible revival. Are you expecting God to work in your life in this way? We should be expecting God to continue to work both in the unusual and the normal monotony of daily life. We should expect God to continue to change people’s lives. (Principle of Expectation)
Jesus calls us together to worship to experience His life changing truth and person. Nehemiah did this for four months in prayer. That time of prayer was used for God to communicate His plan for the people and city of Jerusalem.
We too come together not just for idle time on Sunday Mornings. We come together for encouragement, instruction, direction, and as we go implementation.
James ½ brother of Jesus “faith without works is dead.” Implantation of the world =implementation
II. Nehemiah’s Plan
“To be a person of faith does not mean you are not a person who plans. We need to remember the Revolutionary war saying, “Trust in God, but keep your powder dry.” William Barclay. (What was Nehemiah’s plan based on?)
A) God’s faithfulness (Nehemiah 1.5)
What had Nehemiah’s prayer life produced?
1) A deep trust in the faithfulness of God
2) A deep desire to help his people and rebuild their city
3) A deep desire to give and not take
B) God’s favor (Nehemiah 1.11)
He needed God’s favor to show his true feelings to the Persian king. The Persian kings were insulated from anything other than good news and good attitudes. It could result in capital punishment to appear before the king in any state other than giddy with delight. Nehemiah possibly chose this time because of the Persian New Year. This time saw the Persian kings give favors and gifts. (Only succeeds w/ God’s favor)
C) Nehemiah’s formal request
1) Time off from his job (He was basically prime minister to the king)
2) Safe passage to Jerusalem
3) Plenty of resources to begin the work of rebuilding the city
This would require reversal of the Kings earlier foreign policy position on Jerusalem.
Nehemiah’s plan was not just creative thinking. It was born out of His time with God and energized by His passion for his people’s pain. There are plenty of people in this fellowship and this city that need God’s plan for healing for all areas of their lives but especially the spiritual.
We need resources as well guys. God has lain on my heart celebrate recovery, food pantry, family ministry and much more. We don’t come up with plans but God has already provided them.
Jeremiah 29:11 “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Jeremiah 33.3 “This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.”
What did Nehemiah have? He had vision. He had a glimpse of God’s good hand working in, on and through the people of God to change and transform the condition and culture of the city. Can you see Carlisle as God can make it?
III. Nehemiah’s Problem (Even w/ God’s plan we face problems or pressure)
Nehemiah 1.10 – The powers that be were greatly displeased with Nehemiah’s designs to rebuild the city. Why were they so displeased with the plans? Nehemiah’s plans threatened their power in the city and surrounding area. They acted as though Nehemiah was trying to rebel against the king.
What does God want us to learn? Obstacles are opportunities for obedience. Problems are possibilities for God to make Himself known! (Examples)
He answered them with his faith not facts. “The God of heaven will grant us success!!”
The early Church Father Tertullian wrote that, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” In a very real sense this is true. In spite of vicious opposition, the church grew and flourished. The early church had partnered for the journey of faith. They had come together… in one accord… The story is told of a horse-pull in Canada. One horse pulled 9,000 pounds, another 8,000. Together you would expect them to pull 18,000 pounds. Not so when teamed together, they pulled 30,000 pounds. The principle is called synergism. By definition, the simultaneous action of separate agents working together has a greater total effect than the sum of their individual efforts. More can be done in a team effort than can be accomplished solo. In order for the principle of synergism to work like it should, there has to be teamwork.
We have a foe that opposes anything we attempt for Jesus. Anything that will heal, help, and direct people toward an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ will displease the devil.
We must remember The God of heaven will grant us success.
Conclusion: Even though God gives the increase there must be planters and those who water. God doesn’t need us but He does use us.
What is your part in rebuilding the city one ministry, one family, one life at a time?
Giving – learning that what you give God can use
Praying – Interceding for this family of faith and the people of this city
(Pray for your pastor I desperately need it)
E Stanley Jones “Prayer is surrender – surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will If I throw out a boat hook from a boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but aligning of my will to the will of God.”
Planning – God knows the plan but have we caught wind of it
Building – We need servants who are willing to invest the time to take resources and build lives for the kingdom.
Celebrate recovery, Small groups, VBS, Etc
Will you join me in praying?
Will you join me in giving?
Will you join me in going to the city?
