Lessons in Restoration from the heart of Nehemiah ( Chapter 1)
In recent years a rash of home make over shows have sprung into existence that actually served as a starting point for the series I am going to teach over the next 4 weeks. Following that I will miss a few weeks due to having knee replacement surgery but I really feel the Lord wants us to see the way to restoration, both personally in our lives and nationally.
America as a nation, and quite honestly many of us individually are in serious need of Restoration.
Perhaps in a bit of an unconventional manner I’m going to ask you to begin this 4 week journey to restoration in a unique way with a prayer. If it is your desire for personal or national restoration then pray with me.
Dear Lord without any prior knowledge as to what it is that you desire to do in my life through this series, I commit to you from the start to be open to the voice of your Holy Spirit. Further I ask your help me to submit to that same Holy Spirit so that each and every time you speak to me through the next 4 weeks, should you tarry and continue to give me life. In Jesus Name Amen.
This first message, message 1 – Begins with a very critical premise “ A time of divine favor”
There are special times in all of our lives that consist of God’s special divine favor.
Times in our life where God is prompting us to turn to him for Restoration. Individual / National
Point 1 A TIME FOR RESTORATION - vs. 1-3
There is a small item that takes place in all of our lives called DIVINE PROVINCE ( Gods timing)
History – Israel had been in captivity for nearly 70 years. There was no particular reason for any sudden burst of hope or inspiration. Things were woeful.
Jerusalem their beloved city lay in ruins, the fields fruitless, the people scattered and destitute.
The walls that once protected her like a fortress were now broken down and useless, large holes had been made in the wall by the conquering Babylonian armies nearly 70 years earlier.
Their brightest young people and royalty were servants in Babylon Even Nehemiah the prophet was now no more than a servant to the King.
God’s judgment had befallen Israel for her oft disobedience and she was without hope.
Except for that small thing that I called Divine province.
The story is not so much unlike our own personal lives before we stopped running from God and allowed Him to come and restore our lives.
It’s not so much unlike what many even in the church need today, as we have allowed a more subtle enemy satan break down the walls of our walk with God.
And likewise it is very much like the plight of our nation, suffering record droughts, a crashing economy, staggering unemployment, moral depravity
But as in each of the other cases there are moments of Divine province.
Perhaps the words of II Cor. 6:2 should be jumping off the page at us for he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s warning along those same lines in Romans 13: 11 read like this
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
a) At the start of this series let me preface my remarks to say for someone here this may be the last time God reaches out to you in divine favor in hopes of restoring your life to himself.
• Each of us was or is presently a captive to the sins of this world.
• The degree of captivity may vary, but we were or are a captive none the less.
b) The walls that once kept us safe have now been broken through and systematically destroyed.
• Until that which we once held sacred is now exposed to our enemies and they are able to come in and take us captive.
c) If these walls had not been destroyed they would not be in need of repair.
But as was the case with Jerusalem, years of compromise and willful sin, mixed with neglect of God and His statutes has left many of our individual lives, and for that matter our whole nation exposed to the enemy, no longer a mighty fortress.
a) As a nation we see it in the rise of Islam throughout America, the successes of the atheist to remove God from our everyday life, the advancements of the homosexual agenda in our schools, our govt and our town squares. This Nov election quite honestly a fight to the death for the very constitution that our founders with God’s help crafted for our nation.
b) But likewise personally in our own lives – Broken marriages, fidelity, honesty, integrity, morality. All of them laying along the road badly mangled and in dire need of repair.
d) But the timing of God is impeccable - For the years that Nehemiah had been in captivity, for the years the city of Jerusalem had lie in ruin. But at that precise moment in time God had allowed Nehemiah’s brother Ha-nani and a small group with him to travel to the city of Susa and tell him of the terrible conditions of the city - No coincidence
ILLISTATION OF GODS TIMING
The citizens of Feldkirch Austria didn’t know what to do. Napoleon’s massive army was preparing to attack. The soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the small town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, friends we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of the Lord’s resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our service as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness and not the power of God to defend us. The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
KEYS REGARDING RESTORATION - When the time is right, God will bring the right people into our lives.
a) People who He will speak through – In fact we ourselves have been given a ministry of reconciliation. So says Gods Word.
b) People who will say what we need to hear – ( Keep in mind ) what they had to say wasn’t necessarily what Nehemiah wanted to hear, but was what he needed to hear.
c) People who will provoke us to do good works – God is a master motivator, He will send the right person good or bad to urge or egg you on. A Sanballat or a Tobiah.
d) He will allow the right conditions to exist to break your heart and seal the deal – Friends God knows what your feeling this morning. He knows if you are ready to give that special something up, to step out in faith. He knows if someone or something is breaking your heart. He knows if it’s your own behavior that is breaking your own heart.
For someone here today or someone’s – That is what God wants to do.
Perhaps you have lived with and accepted things you shouldn’t just because. No better reason.
Just because you felt helpless.
Just because you see no hope
Just because you don’t feel convicted.
Just because no one else told you that it wasn’t good or that God could help you stop.
It is my hope that during these 4 weeks we will see Gods provincial hand calling out to us.
1. Right now is the time to no longer be able to bear the things going on in your life / our nation.
2. Now is the time to fall on our faces before the Lord and call on His name, asking for His help.
WHICH LEADS TO MY SECOND POINT.
II THERE IS A MINDSET FOR RESTORATION – Restoration doesn’t just happen
Example - In his first term as mayor, Rudy Giuliani, in conjunction with New York City Police Department Commissioner Bill Bratton, adopted an aggressive enforcement and deterrence strategy. This involved crackdowns on relatively minor offenses such as graffiti, and turnstile jumping, on the principle that this would send a message that order would be maintained and that the city would be "cleaned up."
Giuliani also directed the New York City Police Department to aggressively pursue enterprises linked to organized crime, such as the Fulton Fish Market and the (Gambino crime family). By breaking mob control of solid waste removal, the city was able to save businesses over $600 million.
• Time Square- 42st. were systematically changed and all the XXX theaters were removed.
• That didn’t just happen it was a matter of Gods provisional timing and the mayors mindset to restore NYC.
If you are struggling in your marriage it won’t just get rebuilt on its own – You going to need a mindset to restore your home and marriage.
If your finances are in ruin, there not just going to get better- You are going to have to set your mind to change what you have been doing.
That’s exactly what America is facing today – Truthfully it’s what we face as a church financially.
And if it’s your personal relationship with God – It’s not going to just magically be restored you are going to have to develop a mindset to draw near to him, to be in his word, to pray, to obey, to live for him, to love those he sends your way.
PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT – The day of Pentecost! People had done the religious thing for years, come at the right times of year, bring the right gifts, say the right things and leave just as sinful as they came. But when God broke through and the disciples were filled with His Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues, all of that changed.
And when a crowd had gathered and Peter began to preach a message they had never heard, the first words out of their mouths was “ What must I do to be saved.” There was a mindset for restoration. We need to change.
When King David had sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, when he was confronted he had a mindset for restoration – Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit unto me.
When Peter had failed, by denying Jesus 3 times - When Christ took him to task over his love for him, peter was brought to the place of Godly remorse or repentance, true sorrow, and in humility answered Jesus Lord you know all things, you know that I love you.
Peter’s moment of restoration –
RESTORATION – Of a nation, or a single heart will never take place without Godly sorrow.
II Cor. 7:10 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
There are 2 kinds of sorrow - 1. I got caught. 2 I am wrong.
Please here me, you don’t have to be some kind of horrible person to need to repent, you just have to of sinned. Done wrong. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Something I learned about Ivy years ago. You just have to let it cling to you to start to decay.
Look at the words of Nehemiah 1:4-11 - ( READ)
Yes, there was a certain amount of self-centered mourning. Think about what the captivity had meant to him, His whole life had been altered and he was reminded of that.
1. Over his captivity
2. Over the plight of his nation.
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER GOING ON IN HIS HEART
• Genuine repentance was taking hold.
• What a beautiful dialogue between himself and God –
Basically God your great and powerful, but also you listen to those who are humble before you.
God we have sinned against you – ( Taking the full blame) Not blaming others, the people, myself, my family, us we have sinned.
I JOHN 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Restoration begins only after true repentance –
The amazing thing is God allows us this discourse
He says if we fail you and turn back, you will turn back your anger from us. God we want to turn back. THAT IS A TESTIMONY TO THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD Even after we have screwed up royal.
Friends it’s not God’s fault our nation is where it is. He has beckoned to us.
It’s not God’s fault if you find yourself a mess after knowing to do right but going back to wrong.
God was more than willing to forgive Israel, Judah, Jerusalem, Nehemiah, but it did require their turning away from the sins they had held on to or picked up along the way.
• The church in America has tolerated a whole lot of sin within its walls.
• We have let apathy become our standard bearer.
• We have grown complacent in obedience to His great commission
• Some had let sin make a nest, I’m just trying to be honest.
But I believe God is still crying out to both our nation, and to us individually to turn back, to repent.
It doesn’t happen until you are really remorseful, until the hurt of the pain is so bad that you can’t take it anymore. Until you step back and look at the devastation it has caused you or your loved ones.
Until in your despair you call out and He restores your hope.
That’s where we find God waiting to restore us.
And 3rd and lastly
When we cry out for his favor He will make
III A MEANS FOR OUR RESTORATION
Nehemiah knew there was no practical way he could ever get to go back to Jerusalem.
He was in captivity
He was the Kings Personal Servant.
And yet even in the impossible, God can turn the hearts of men. Who turned the heart of Pharaoh? God, who turned the heat of King Artexersus in Esther God.
( READ CHAPTER 2:1-10 )
Only God.
Romans 5:6-8 6 you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Hear church - when there is no practical way God will make a way.
1. That’s what he did for the thief on the cross
2. That’s what He did for the woman taken in adultery
3. The woman with the issue of blood
4. Zaccheus, Matthew, Paul, you and I
I don’t know what you are dealing with, what sin, what failure, what need, but I do know that God knows and I do know that He is the answer to that need.
He will make a way for your restoration
He will give you hope and show you favor, just like he did Nehemiah.
If you’re sitting here listening you haven’t fallen to far from God to be restored.
As bad as our nation looks there is still time for us to be restored.
Church I’m just talking about the starting point this morning. Over the next 3 weeks we will see restoration unfold. We will see the challenges that are faced, but for now God is only interested in you seeing what the cause is , knowing your part in the wrong, and believing that He will can can still restore what has been destroyed.
Let me close with this illustration – Several years back when Microsoft came out with a new operating system it was called windows ME or Millennium Edition but I like the ME.
But the feature that was new and so exciting was called a restore point.
You could make a mistake, download a faulty program, have a glitch but you could always go to system restore and pick the point you wanted to go back too.
Well we can’t change what the past holds but we can go to restore system, and some of us here this morning need to do that. Back to where you first got saved, or where you read the word willingly. Where you couldn’t wait for church days, where you gave fearlessly and un begrudgingly
Where you wanted to live a holy and pure life.
