The Responsibilities of the Work
Nehemiah 7
Introduction:
The walls have been re-built and Nehemiah moves on to the next phase of the work that he had set out to do.
I. The tasks of Nehemiah to Protect, Re-Build, Re-Vitalize, and Re-Populate Jerusalem
A. Appoint Rulers, Gatekeepers, Levites, and Musicians
B. To Protect what had been re-built
C. To Re-build and re-vitalize within the walls
D. To Re-Populate Jerusalem
E. To provide for the operation of the Temple
II. Christian Responsibilities: To Grow, Serve, Worship, and Share
A. Grow
1. Honor the Two Great Commandments
Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied: Love the Lord your god with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
2. Study to Show Ourselves Approved Unto God
2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
3. Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ
2 Peter 1:5-8: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities, in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Watch and Pray
Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
5. Bear Fruit
A. Vine and Branches
John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
B. Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
6. Press on Toward the Goal
Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for whcich God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
B. Serve
1. Help Those In Need
Galatians 6:9-10: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the household of faith.”
Matthew 25:40: “The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these my brothers, you did for me.”
2. Be an Example to Others
1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
Titus 2:7-8: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”
3. Encourage and Edify One Another
Hebrews 3:23: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
C. Worship
1. First Day of the Week
A. Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week.
Acts 20:7: “On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread.”
1 Corinthians 16:2: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
2. Acts of Worship: Sing, Pray, Lord’s Supper, Offerings, Study
3. Do Not Forsake
Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
D. Share
1. Reach out to the Lost with the Gospel
Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16:15-16: “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
2. Plan of Salvation
Hear: Romans 10:14-17
Believe (Faith): John 3:16, Acts 16:31
Repent: Acts 2:38, 2 Peter 3:9
Confess: Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 4:15
Baptism: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:19
Remain Faithful: Revelation 2:10, 2 Peter 3:17-18
