Title: “Responding Courageously to a Challenge” Type: Expos. – Series – PartII
Script. Neh. 1 Where: GNBC 9-17-06/ rw 1-4-15
Intro: One summer morning as Ray Blankenship was preparing his breakfast, he gazed out the window, and saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar underneath a road and then emptied into the main culvert. Ray dashed out the door and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead of the floundering child. Then he hurled himself into the deep, churning water. Blankenship surfaced and was able to grab the child’s arm. They tumbled end over end. Within about three feet of the yawning culvert, Ray’s free hand felt something—possibly a rock—protruding from one bank. He clung desperately, but the tremendous force of the water tried to tear him and the child away. “If I can just hang on until help comes,” he thought. He did better than that. By the time fire-department rescuers arrived, Blankenship had pulled the girl to safety. Both were treated for shock. On April 12, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal. The award is fitting, for this selfless person was at even greater risk to himself than most people knew. Ray Blankenship can’t swim. (Paul Harvey, Los Angeles Times Syndicate)
Int: Just as Ray Blankenship responded courageously to this challenge, so must each of us in life so as to live victoriously for Christ.
Prop: Exam. Neh. 1 we’ll notice 3 ways we are to respond to a challenge in our lives.
BG: 1. Just as an attempt to get us to understand time frame, its been about 150 yrs. since Daniel and Hebrew children taken into captivity. Nehemiah, leading figure of the book. Nehemiah was cup bearer to Artaxerxes the Persian king.
2. In 538 bc Zerubbabel returns and begins rebuilding temple. In 458 bc Ezra returns. Now about 445 bc and Nehemiah will leave Susa, the capitol of the Persian Empire to return to Jerusalem.
3. today we see how the news of Jerusalem’s condition made to Nehemiah and his response.
Prop: Today we will see three ways we are to respond to a challenge.
I. Responding Courageously to a Challenge requires Passion. Vv. 1-4
A. Chapter 1 begins w/ Nehemiah being Faced with a Challenge.
(Two days ago in first drive TN scored on Hawks. Looked like sapped of all passion at that moment beaten.)
1. Alright, let’s see the Problem Nehemiah Faced: “A City w/no walls.”
a. In ancient times a city w/o walls and gates was a target with a giant bullseye painted on its back. Every bully nation and marauding band knew they were a soft target. Not only would this have a massive economic impact, it also disrupted worship. When you live in a place w/no walls everything gets in and nothing stays out. Here at the start of 2015 maybe we need to be thinking about the condition of the “walls” in our own lives and families.
b. v.3 – Hannani, Nehemiah’s brother lays in on the line and doesn’t sugar coat it: “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach…” Sometimes life just stinks doesn’t it? Sometimes no use to attempt to “sugar coat it”. Hanani comes to his brother and says: “Things in the old country are horrendous!” Someone needs to do something! During the Great Irish famine of the 1840’s the first individual to raise funds abroad for the aid of the starving was Gen. Hugh Gough, a Waterford native stationed in Calcutta. It was the nation of of India, before any others, including America and Canada, who first raised funds for the starving poor.
2. Courage is Required to Respond to the Truth.
a. Nehemiah sees the need. But we don’t know at first how he is going to react to such news. He lives hundreds of miles away. To do anything about this situation would result in a personal cost. At the very least a response to this distressing news would upset his comfortable life. Yet, in Nehemiah we see a man who realizes that sometimes it takes a bit of courage to respond to the truth.
b. I think that even as Christians we often do things in a worldly way. We make our plans, celebrating our cleverness and then ask God to bless them. The reality though is that we are standing in the midst of crumbling walls. Maybe we fail for a lack of courage because the task seems so daunting. Illust: “During World War I, a British commander was preparing to lead his soldiers back to battle. They’d been on furlough, and it was a cold, rainy, muddy day. Their shoulders sagged because they knew what lay ahead of them: mud, blood, possible death. Nobody talked, nobody sang. It was a heavy time. “As they marched along, the commander looked into a bombed-out church. Back in the church he saw the figure of Christ on the cross. At that moment, something happened to the commander. He remembered the One who suffered, died, and rose again. There was victory, and there was triumph. “As the troops marched along, he shouted out, ‘Eyes right, march!’ Every eye turned to the right, and as the soldiers marched by, they saw Christ on the cross. Something happened to that company of men. Suddenly they saw triumph after suffering, and they took courage. With shoulders straightened, they began to smile as they went. You see, anything worthwhile in life will be a risk that demands courage.”[--Gordon Johnson, “Finding Significance in Obscurity,” Preaching Today, Tape 82.]
B. Responding Courageously Requires Passion.
1. Nehemiah not only saw the need, he felt the need.
a. v. 4 0 Look at what Nehemiah does. The text tells us that he “sat down”. It’s the idea of being brought low. He allowed himself to emotionally become a part of what his people were going through. Although he was living at ease and prosperity in the city of Susa, the capitol of the Persian Empire, it tore at his heart as he wept and mourned and fasted for days.
b. The Welsh poet David Whyte wrote: “I don’t want to have written on my tombstone, when finally people struggle through the weeds, pull back the moss, and read the inscription there: “He made his car payments.” You were designed for more than that God has a purpose for your life. I believe with my whole heart that God has placed you here for a purpose. You have a God-given destiny to fulfill, but are you going to? Illust – A while back I had lunch with a young man. As we talked he shared about how much better he is doing now than previously. One thing he said that I thought was very valuable: “I used to blame everyone else for my problems. My parents, my family, my friends, my church, etc. Now though I see that I am responsible to God. All those things are excuses for my own disobedience. I want to do something with my life.”
2. To Respond Passionately we must Guard against Apathy and Indifference.
a. Illust – Again, remember nearly 100 yrs. has passed since 1st return and temple construction begun. Life goes on, people are busy, apathy and complacency set in. We know the need, we see the need, but then again, there are 100 channels I can watch! I read in the newspaper about a young man who works for one of the movie rental companies. He says even though the pay is less than could make at other jobs, works out ok because usually watches between 12-20 movies a week! Since works there, gets it for free. Now, assuming an avg. of 2hrs. per movie, that young man spends 24-40 hrs. a week watching movies!
b. Illust – Apathy and indifference can set in very quickly. On the heels of the 9/11 attacks, 50% of pop. said their religious beliefs were critical resource in helping responses to 9/11 terrorist attacks, less than 1 yr. later there was no real or perceptible change in religious lives. Barna reports: “For the most part our response to the attacks has been to restore continuity and comfort as quickly as possible w/o much energy devoted to moral, spiritual, or emotional growth.” Although church attendance among mainlines immediately spiked, by Nov. of 2001, attendance back down to pre-9/11 levels. Barna went on to say: “The fact that we saw no lasting impact from most significant act of war against our country on our own soil says something about the spiritual complacency of the American public.” You see, we need to remember what CS Lewis once said of his Christian faith: “I believe in Christianity as I believe the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” (Our faith is not a one-time compression bandage to cover one open sore or wound, it is a lifestyle by which I relate everything I experience or do.)
3. Passion is the Antidote against Status Quo Christianity.
a. As Christians we are in great danger of become more and more comfortable. We all have homes and most of us have jobs. We give and tithe, maybe to missions, maybe to the building fund. Maybe take a little mission trip. Yet complacency sets in. All around us things are going on that should break our hearts. Like Nehemiah, should cause us to weep. To repent. To fast and pray. Illust: In preparation for a meeting in a large city, famed evangelist Billy Sunday wrote a letter to the mayor in which he asked for the name of individuals he knew who had a spiritual problem and needed help and prayer. How surprised the evangelist was when he received from the mayor a city phone directory! (There are needs around every one of us. Do we recognize this in IC today?)
b. Illust – I see people all the time who tell me: “Oh I want to do great things for the Lord, Pastor.” And yet very soft on self or lacking in personal disciplines. But think that when the big opportunity comes will step up to the plate and swing the bat. (F.B. Meyer once said: “Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention. “ This is real life. This is not practice. (You in Jr. High/ HS/ College – Life! Be faithful in this year in ministry and service.)
C. Applic: What are you passionate about? Anything? If we are going to make a difference in courageously responding to a challenge, we have to demonstrate passion!
II. Responding Courageously to a Challenge Requires Prayer vv. 5-11
A. Before Making Petition to the Lord, Exalt in Praise before Him.
1. Nehemiah sought out a Big God in Prayer.
a. Look at how Nehemiah begins his prayer: v. 5 “Lord of Heaven”, “great and awesome God”, “preserves covenant and lovingkindness” – What is Nehemiah doing? He is doing something that we ought to do. When we begin our prayers it’s a great thing to praise God and part of that may be to include His attributes. Praise God for His qualities, His nature. His personality. In one word, our reflection on the enthralling being of the triune God should result in one word: WORSHIP! This is simply the response of who we are to Who God is!
b. Why should we spend time in praise before we begin to spend time in petitioning the Lord for our need? For one reason, because otherwise we will begin to view our problems as big and our God as small. When in fact we should see how big our God is and then our problems or our requests will then be put in proper perspective. Illust: How many gallons of water are in the ocean? Answer: 3.612 x 10²º gallons of sea water in the ocean. That is 3.612 x 1 with 21 zeros. How many stars are in the known universe?Answer: 70 sextillion (7 followed by 22 zeros) was calculated by a team of stargazers based at the Australian National University. How many grains of sand are in the world? Answer: 7,500,000,000,000,000,000, or seven quintillion five hundred quadrillion grains of sand. (As counted by a group of Canadian retirees sunbathing in Myrtle Beach, SC –Joking!) Even if these answers are incorrect, here is my point: God is bigger than all these numbers!
2. Nehemiah spent a Significant Period of time in Prayer.
a. Listen, after you and I hear of the need, see the need, feel the need, we have to share the need! Now the first person/place to go, the first call we need to make is to our Heavenly Father. Illust – Remember several years ago getting a call from Pastor Richard saying that the previous owners of this building had accepted our offer, I got on my knees and said: “Thank you Lord!” He’s the first One that needed to know. Then we started calling the elders!
b. Illust – Now I want you to see something that I have never noticed before in the book of Nehemiah – This bad news comes in the month of Chislev (v.1). That was Nov/Dec. and marked by cold and stormy weather, with rain and some snow possible. Dreary weather, dreary news, depressing…like now in Iowa! Chapter 2:1 begins with month of “Nisan” – 4 mo. later – what time of the year is that? Spring. Mountain snows melt, new life beginning to break through, new hope. (In those four months of prayer Nehemiah learned what David knew when wrote in Ps. 30:5 “Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Dear one, you may be down and discouraged today…hold on, new season a coming.
B. Before Making Petition of the Lord, Make Sure to Confess known Sin
1. Nehemiah took an inventory of the events leading up to his confession.
a. Look at vv. 6-7 – Not only is Nehemiah making confession for his sin, but also his people’s sin. Not only his generation, but preceding. He recognizes the reason for Israel’s diaspora: broken commandments, broken statutes, broken ordinances! Illust – Nehemiah runs in stark contrast to what I often see in the world today. People will break God’s law, break His word, ignore His standards, ignore His covenants, ignore His wisdom, and then when life comes and bites them in the backside first prayer: “Oh God! Why did you do this to me??? Why did you let it happen?”
b. v. 5 – “lovingkindness” - Heb. khesed – it is the idea of God’s mercy and love, yet in the confines of the covenant relationship. You see, in time, Israel began to (rightly) interpret her history as victories being rewards for covenant keeping and defeats/failures as punishment for breaking covenant with God. The important aspect to see of this is that Nehemiah instantly interprets Israel’s present situation that way. Even today, Christians rightly interpret history this way to some degree. We rightly recognize that since God is sovereign and powerful that as a nation when we disobey Him there will come leanness in our souls. Non-Christians only understand things in an economic or political or military framework, but friend there is also a spiritual lens through which the events of the world can and should be interpreted. Nehemiah knew this w/o a doubt and prayed that way.
2. Before Petitioning the Lord for His favor, make sure you have taken a proper inventory of your life.
- When was the last time you took the time to view your life from the vantage point of God? What about from the vantage point of others? You and I will never feel the full impact of the effect of our sin until we first live out the offense we have created in others. We are so concerned about own rights never take time. Ought to. May crush you. Illust: In a few minutes we will be taking communion. Have you or I knowingly offended a brother or sister? We need to ask forgiveness. We need to prioritize relationships in the church family.
C. While Making Petition of the Lord, Cling to His Promises
1. That’s exactly what Nehemiah was doing as he prayed in vv. 8-9 – he’s making reference back to Lev. 26:33 and Dt. 12 & Dt. 30. He is claiming the Lord’s Promises. What is the purpose of that? It gives us confidence to know that if the Lord promised something we know by the very nature of His character that He will follow through with it. Why? Author of Hebrews tells us: 6:18 – “in order that by two unchangeable things, it which it is impossible for God to lie…” Truthfulness is at the very essence of God’s character and being.
2. Friend, Chuck Swindoll has said: “God does not lightly give out His promises. He says: “I promise that if you will give me your burdens, I will bear it. If you will seek first my kingdom, I will add all these other things to you. If you will make your heart right with me, I will lead you into a place of stability and prosperity.”
D. Applic: Prayer gives us focus and perspective. It helps us to begin to move in the right direction. It empowers us with the miraculous.
III. Finally, Responding Courageously to a Challenge May Require A Patient Pause – v.11
A. God Strategically Places People in a Position to Meet Specific Needs.
1. We see a shift between the preparation of chapt. 1 and the action of chap. 2 that culminates here in v. 11
a. Illust – Ok, look at v. 11. It’s a dramatic pause in the action between hearing of the challenge and preparing one’s heart to attempt to meet the challenge and then the action that will have to take place if Nehemiah is going to respond to that challenge. I find it interesting, almost unusual, that Nehemiah has told us so little about himself in these early verses of his letter. We know only a few things: he is the son of Hacaliah, we know that he was living in Susa, the capitol, and we know that apparently he had a brother named Hanani. Yet, the lack of insight into the person of Nehemiah actually gives us insight into the Person of God. Really, God is so great and mighty, it really doesn’t matter our pedigree, but rather God’s power!
b. Nehemiah's prayer, as given in these verses, comprises the prayers which he prayed day and night, during the period of his mourning and fasting (Nehemiah 1:4 comp. Nehemiah 1:6), to his faithful and covenant God, to obtain mercy for his people, and the divine blessing upon his project for their assistance. Dear ones, remember you have a Covenant-keeping God Who will assist you to do His will!
2. God will often put us in a Position that makes us able to meet the challenge.
a. Illust – Notice here in v. 11 – we know see a great deal into the life of Nehemiah. “Now I was the cup bearer to the king.” Cup bearers were high officials in the courts of Egypt (Gen. 40:1), Israel (IKi.10:5) and Persia (Neh. 1:11) Don’t be mistaken, cup bearers weren’t servants, but rather individuals of high rank who served the king wine at his table. This proximity made the cup bearer incredibly influential. In fact, we realize how sizable his fortune was in that Nehemiah is said to have paid the expenses of the 150 officials on his staff (Neh. 5:17-18). (Richards Bible Dictionary, p. 271) So Nehemiah was wealthy, connected, informed - knew the latest palace gossip, dependable, discreet, cultured, and knowledgeable. Just the right type of person you want to organize meeting a massive task.
b. Illust – Fall before Carol and I met, she was returning to CIU for final year. As coming down from Iowa to SC in about KY, VW developed terrible oil leak so that was blowing about a qt. of oil through the air filter every hour. Managed to limp car into SC. Didn’t know what to do. Called father. Went to cafeteria for lunch and sat down with friends. Across table was a man barely knew. Asked about her trip. Told about it. “Oh, I know exactly what’s the matter I used to own a 1982 VW as well!” That afternoon fixed car. Two days later had to withdraw from classes because had come hoping would have funds and did not get grant needed. Went back to PA. Convinced – God had him at that table at that time with that information and skill to meet that need. What about you?
B. Even Though God Strategically Places People in Positions to Meet Specific Needs, each Individual must face his or her personal fears before he/she can serve in that capacity.
1. Nehemiah had personal fears he had to overcome in order to minister effectively for the Lord.
a. Illust – I am enthralled with the life of Moses. God took the brightest star in the Egyptian leadership’s galaxy, - cultured, educated, connected, handsome, talented, skilled, etc. And gives him 40 yr. refresher course in management principles of the Almighty. When comes to him to give marching orders do you recall Moses’ response: STAGE FRIGHT! Ex. 4 – “What if don’t believe me?” – sign- staff turning to snake – Moses does sensible thing and runs (v.3). vv.5-7 – Leprous hand restored. Gives third sign – will allow turn water in Nile to blood. (vv.8-9). V.10 – “Uh Lord, did I tell you I can’t speak? I get tongue-tied and can’t speak.” v.12 – “I will be with your mouth.” V.13 – “Lord, send someone else.” V.14 – “The anger of the Lord burned against Moses…” Why? Moses was giving into fear instead of going forward by faith. It is always easier to say “I can’t or we can’t” than to say by faith: “With God’s help I can.” Moses had fears he wasn’t yet willing to face.
b. Nehemiah mostly likely had fears he had to face. You and I, if asked to be involved in a difficult task will most likely have fears or reservations. Have to face those and not allow the devil to derail us. I would define true courage to be a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it. - W.T. Sherman
2. Move out in faith and don’t allow fear to make you ineffective.
a. Illust – I love a story I recently read about (Paul Decker message – “Rubble Trouble”) It seems as though a hospital posted a notice in the nurse’s lounge of the L&D wing that said: “Remember, the first five minutes of a human being’s life are the most dangerous.” Underneath, someone had scribbled: “The last five are pretty risky too.” !!! Don’t let fear hold you back from how God wants to use you in this new year.
b. For four months Nehemiah had been seeking the Lord about this terrible calamity in his homeland. He had been asking the Lord to move the heart of Artaxerxes. And yet, for Nehemiah, the moment he approached the king his life would hang in the balance. It literally would be a matter of life and death.
C. Applic: I don’t know if we will face anything that is a matter of life and death in the days to come. But if you did, how would you respond?
How are we to respond to a challenge: With passion. With Prayer. With a Pause that allows us to Overcome our Fears.
