STONES IN HEAPS OF RUBBISH
Theme Scriptures: Nehemiah 4:1- 2
1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
I Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
I. A COMPARISON OF STONES
A. In Rubbish
Define Rubbish: Dry earth, dust, powder, rubbish, ashes, morter
B. Lively Stones
Define Lively: to live, breathe, be among the living, lively
C. We are the Stones
II. MUCH RUBBISH Nehemiah 4:10
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
A. Strength is Decayed by Bearing the Burden of Rubbish
Ministers and lay-people have been wearied by much rubbish.
B. Rubbish Prevents the Building of Walls
1. Broken Walls allow the Enemy to attack and slay - Neh 4:11
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease
2. Broken Walls can cause the Work to cease.
3. Broken Walls allow the Enemy (World) to mock
III. REVIVE THE STONES AND BUILD THE WALLS AND THE HOUSE Haggai 1: 1 -8
A. They say, "The time is not come." - Haggai 1:2
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.
1. We don't have time for revival
2. We don't have enough dedication for revival
3. We don't have enough sanctification for revival
B. The Lord said, "Is it time for you?" - Haggai 1: 4
Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
C. Consider your ways - There is much rubbish among the stones.
From the Pulpit to the Pews, there is much rubbish among the stones.
1. Our concerns are with our house, not the Lord's House.
2. Our concerns are with our private space/ideas/grudges/resentments/etc.
We have private agendas and goals that are rubbish.
3. Our lack of spiritual concern limits our reaping.
a. Naturally -Eat, Drink, Clothing, Wages - A bag with holes
b. Spiritually - Limited move of God
- Sinners have no interest - No Drawing Power
- Souls are rarely saved when the House is not strongly
fashioned and the walls built ; too much energy
is spent just bearing the rubbish from among the
stones and we are too weary to give birth; we miscarry instead.
- Saints struggle to fight off the Enemy and bear the rubbish
4. Turn Again Lamentations 3:40
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
IV. GO TO THE MOUNTAIN
A. The Mountain almost always means prayer, devotion, dedication, and isolation
B. Great Men Who Went to the Mountain
1. Moses went to the Mountain
Exodus 3:1 -5
a. Mt. Horeb
- The Mountain of God
- v. 5 The Mountain is Holy Ground and Demands a Holy Life
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Psalms 48:1 The Mountain of His Holiness
(A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.) Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
Heaps of Rubbish instead of Holiness
b. Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Israel stood afar off- heaps of rubbish in their lives -Unclean
2. Elijah went to the Mountain - Mt. Horeb - I Kings 19:8
"And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that
meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."
3. Jesus went to the Mountain - The Mount of Transfiguration
Mountain experiences will transform your life as you pray.
Luke 9:29
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
C. You can
1. Get wood in the mountain Haggai 1:8
"Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will
take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord."
2. Get rid of rubbish in the mountain
3. Build after going to the mountain
V. MOUNTAINS
A. The spies hid in the mountain - Joshua 2:16
And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
They hid 3 days.
B. David hid in the mountain - I Samuel 23:14
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
Saul (the Enemy) sought him but God delivered him.
C. God Give Me This Mountain - Caleb - Joshua 14:12
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
A Nucleus of this Church Body must cried out, "God give me this mountain."
"God remove the rubbish from our lives." "God revive the stones."
VI. REBUILDING/ REVIVAL WILL REQUIRE
A. Removing the Rubbish from our lives
B. Removing the Rubbish from our church - Church Please Take Out the Trash
VII. REVIVAL BEGINS WITH THE BARE BONES Ezekiel 37:1 -14
A. Bones in the valley
B. Dry bones in the valley
C. Bone to Bones - A structure but no flesh - A Building but no bodies
D. Flesh but no breath-life - Bodies but no life
E. When the Spirit of God Comes In -A Living, Breathing Army
VIII. COME LET US RETURN UNTO THE LORD
Hosea 6:1 -3
1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
