SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). A Submissive Heart (11:1-2)
(2). A Working Heart (11:3-36).
(3). A Serving Heart (11:12-14).
(4). A Pure Heart (12:30).
(5). A Worshipful Heart (12:27, 31-42).
(6). A Joyful Heart (12:43).
(7). A Giving Heart (12:44-47).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Last week I mentioned the pioneer missionary, William Carey,
• (17 August 1761 – 9 June 1834)
• He was a lifelong missionary to India,
• And set the pattern for modern missionary work.
• He has been called the “father of modern missions”.
• Before he was a missionary, he was a cobbler.
• He would keep a map of India before him in his shop,
• Every so often he would stop work to study it.
• He longed to go there and preach the good news of Jesus.
• He was doing so much preaching and teaching alongside his cobbling,
• That his trade started to dwindle, and his business was struggling.
• A friend felt he need to put Carey right,
• So, he rebuked him for neglecting his business.
• William Carey listened and replied with these words,
“Neglecting my business? My business is to extend the kingdom of God.
I only cobble shoes to pay expenses.”
• TRANSITION: That should be the mindset of every Christian.
• If you know Christ as your Saviour, then you are in the ministry now!
• Whatever else you do, you do it “to pay expenses.”
• This bunch of names in Nehemiah chapters 11-12,
• Were people who business was, “to extend the kingdom of God”
• And maybe that is why God records for us their names,
• Because everyone work for God is important!
Note: The big picture – 3 main themes:
• Theme #1: The names and places of those people who repopulated the city,
• Theme #2: The celebration that took place when they dedicated the wall,
• Theme #3: The thanksgiving that the people offered to God.
• Now with 83 verses to cover in these two chapters,
• I am just going to pull out some key ideas from those 83 verses,
• Ideas that have an application to our own situation today.
• The missionary, William Carey had a heart for India.
• These people had a heart for Jerusalem and the one true God.
• These verses show us the type of heart we need for the things of God.
(1). A Submissive Heart (11:1-2)
• Quote:
• “When God measures a man, he puts the tape around the heart instead of the head.”
• We are impressed by how much a person knows about God and the Bible,
• But God is impressed by how much a person obeys him!
• Because of our sinful nature,
• We find words like submission or obedience hard words for us to embrace,
• If we could, we would probably change the Lord’s Prayer to, “My will be done”
• But notice in these verses how submissive these people were.
• They had realised that God’s ways are best, if we choose to embrace them.
Now, Nehemiah had got the wall built:
• But there was a big problem,
• There were just not many people living in the city
• e.g. Chapter 7 verse 4 describes Jerusalem this way.
• “Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it,”
Now there were reasons why the people did not want to live within the walls of the city:
• FIRST: It was dangerous to live in the city,
• Living in the city was like painting a target on your back to a raiding army.
• Raiding armies would focus their energy on where the money was,
• Where the resources, the treasures are stored and where the people of influence lived.
Ill:
• We see that even today with terrorists,
• They are more likely to focus their attention on a city like London,
• Then they are on the smaller towns around London.
• SECOND: It was financial suicide so living in Jerusalem.
• If you lived in Jerusalem you would have less land,
• Most people relied on agriculture to survive,
• So, land was necessary for your crops and livestock.
• If you had land outside of Jerusalem but lived in the city,
• Who would protect, cultivate your land and livestock?
• What if someone else laid claim to your family plot and you lost that land?
• It was financial suicide to limit yourself to the city.
• TRANSITION: so, living in Jerusalem put you a financial disadvantage,
• And it also jeopardized your personal security.
• Nehemiah knew that if the city was to be strong and prosperous commercially,
• And if the worship in the temple was to be sustained and thrive,
• And if the city was to be defended it in case of attack.
• Then it needed to be well populated with willing citizens.
So, Nehemiah had a plan (11: 1):
“Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns”
• To repopulate the city, they cast lots to pick one person out of every ten,
• To see who would join the leaders and move to Jerusalem.
• Verse 2 says, some people volunteered to move,
• Either in place of or in addition to those who drew the lot.
• I love verse 2, not sure if it is sarcastic or genuine.
• “The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.”
• Were they grateful for their submission and sacrifice,
• Or just glad it was them moving and not us?
Ill:
• Gladys Aylward (1902–1970) was an English missionary in China and Taiwan,
• Who worked tirelessly to end the traditional Chinese practice of binding women's feet,
• She also set up orphanages for abandoned babies and children.
• With war raging about her and soldiers closing in,
• This brave woman sets out on the most difficult journey of her life:
• A 100-mile trek with 100 young children walking over the mountains to safety.
• She was an incredible lady and an incredible story.
• We serialised her story on our Youth Camp a few years ago,
• And the young people were gripped, it really made an impact on them.
• A must read for every Christian! So, add it on your Christmas list!
• She was a strong character, and one time she said to Elisabeth Elliott,
• That she was lonely and wanted the companionship of a husband,
• So, she prayed to God about her situation.
• But, no husband arrived,
• Glady’s Ellwood said to Elisabeth.
• “I believe God answers prayer, He called him, but he never came!”
• TRANSITION: Well that was her belief,
• But sometimes God does call us to move, to go to places we would not naturally choose,
• Or do something that we might not necessarily want to do
• The question then is always, are we willing to obey?
(2). A working Heart (11:3-36).
Ill:
• It was the great Bard of Avon (Shakespeare) who wrote,
• “A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”
• Well, you can quote me on this but, ‘He is wrong.’
• If I gave you a check for a million pounds – it would be worthless.
• But a similar check with the Jeff Bezos genuine signature would be of great value.
• (the founder of Amazon. In 2020, Jeff Bezos has become the richest man in the world)
• TRANSITION: Names are more than a tool to identify someone,
• They are owned by someone; they are linked to a person.
• Now in these verses we have plenty of names, but God knows who owned those names.
• Verses 3-11: Lists the families who repopulated Jerusalem.
• Verses 10-14: Lists the priests in Jerusalem
• Verses 15-18: Lists the Levites in Jerusalem
• Verses 19-21: Lists the gatekeepers and temple servants in Jerusalem.
• Verses 22-24: Lists various officials appointed by the king of Persia.
• Verses 25-36: Lists of the people who lived outside the city.
Notice
• For the city and the nation to operate effectively it needed willing workers,
• People gifted to do various tasks and various duties.
• e.g. Those in the city took care of the religion and the politics.
• e.g. Those who lived outside of the city, had to farm the land, providing food.
• Each had a different role, but each role was vital to the cause.
Application:
• These verses have a parallel passage in the New Testament,
• 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 12:
• Which talks about the body of Christ,
• God has gifted us in different ways, but every part is vital for the overall
Ill:
• Our bodies are full of variety, many parts, performing many functions.
• Fingers, Hands, arms, legs, feet, toes, torso, neck, ears, eyes, nose, mouth etc.
• Our bodies are full of variety, many parts, working together, performing many functions.
• In this Church (like in that city & surrounding area)
• God has given us both natural talents and spiritual gifts.
• Natural talents: Artistic, musical, creative etc.
• These talents were given us at birth, and are genetically inherited from our parents etc.
• God has also given us a spiritual gift,
• Everyone one of us has at least one, some have several spiritual gifts.
• They are given at our spiritual birth (conversion) when we receive the Holy Spirit.
Quote:
“Spiritual gifts are a skill or ability that enables each Christian to perform a function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness”.
• You have at least one, may be two, who knows, maybe 7 or 8.
• But everybody has at least one. Nobody got missed out!
• They are given by God and he does not make mistakes!
• There are at least 22 spiritual gifts mentioned by name in the Testament.
• And you have one or more.
Quote:
“God has given gifts to us, his people:
These gifts are not toys to selfishly play with, or weapons to fight with!
They are tools to unselfishly build with.”
• These people in Nehemiah used their talents and gifts to help one another,
• May that be our experience too.
Ill:
• I can across this interesting insight this week:
• The things in the church that people usually complain about,
• May reveal the person’s area of spiritual gift.
• For example, if a person says, “This isn’t a caring church,”
• He/she is probably gifted pastorally, able to show care to others.
• The one who says, “This church doesn’t emphasize outreach enough”
• May well be gifted as an evangelist.
• The one who says, “This church is a disorganized mess”
• May well be gifted as an administrator.
• TRANSITION: So be careful next time you moan,
• Maybe the Lord is asking you to get involved in the area you think need fixing!
• God has made us all differently,
• And we only work as a body,
• When we work in our sphere and affirm others in their sphere.
(3). A serving Heart (11:12-14).
• Most of these names listed, mean nothing to us.
• If we are honest reading this list is akin to reading a telephone directory,
• (Does anyone still have one of those these days?)
• Note: Some of these people aren’t even listed by name,
• But are lumped together with all of their families & relatives as a group
• e.g. While Zabdiel is named (11:14), but 128 of his kinsmen go unnamed,
Ill:
• In a body we often note the external parts,
• The arms, legs, face, mouth etc.
• But a body cannot function with a liver, a kidney, a heart,
• These hidden organs are invisible but essential to life.
• We call them the vital organs:
• You never see them, but when one of them shuts down, you’re in big trouble
• TRANSITION:
• The church needs many people like Zabdiel & his valiant warriors,
• In order to function well.
• Our Church would soon shut down,
• If we didn’t have faithful people who serve and work behind the scenes.
Two things to encourage those of you who are these types of people:
• First: Faithfulness, not fame, is your ministry.
• So, stick at what you do, many others are depending on you!
• Second: God notices even if others do not.
• God saw fit to record these names that mean absolutely nothing to us.
• But they meant something to God, and that’s what ultimately matters.
• And remember Hebrews chapter 6 verse 10 (LTB):
“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”
(4). A Pure Heart (12:30).
“When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially,
they purified the people, the gates and the wall.”
Ill:
• Many years ago, there was a preacher who used to ride around the country on horseback,
• He seemed to have just one message whenever he preached and that was ‘holiness.’
• Someone once said to him,
“What’s the matter with you?
Every time you open that book (the Bible) you preach about holiness”
The preacher replied,
“I don’t have to open the book top preach on holiness,
look it’s there on the cover – Holy Bible”
• TRANSITION: Before these people dedicated the wall,
• The priests and Levites purified themselves, the people, the gates, and the wall.
• This cleansing was a symbol, a picture, a metaphor,
• That our hearts are sinful, and God is pure and holy.
• Therefore, he requires that those who serve Him,
• Should be cleansed from all known sin of thought, word, and deed.
Ill:
• Think of holiness like a child eating a ‘Wham’ chewy sweet bar.
• A kid is enjoying the ‘Wham’ bar when they notice a friend coming towards them.
• Because the kid does not want to share the ‘Wham’ bar they start licking it all over.
• By doing that they have the child has set apart that ‘Wham’ bar for themselves.
• Then the child starts licking and biting and consuming the ‘Wham’ bar.
• And within minutes the ‘Wham’ bar has completely gone, devoured by the child.
• TRANSITION: Let me compare holiness to that ‘Wham’ bar.
• If we belong to God, we too will experience those three stages of holiness.
• Like the child made that ‘Wham’ bar theirs by licking it.
• God has chosen us and set us apart to himself,
• The theologians call that: positionally sanctified
• Like the child licking and biting and eating slowly the ‘Wham’ bar.
• God is progressively making us like him day-by-day.
• The theologians call that: progressively sanctified
• Like the child completely consumed the ‘Wham’ bar.
• So, one day we will be completely holy.
• The theologians call that: perfectly sanctified.
• TRANSITION: Holiness is a process, each Christian is,
• Positionally sanctified, progressively being sanctified & will one day be perfectly sanctified.
(5). A Worshipful Heart (12:27, 31-42).
• The dedication of the wall was a time to praise the Lord.
• Nehemiah organized two choirs,
• He had them walk in opposite directions on top of the wall,
• Until they converged at the temple.
• They sang praises to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres.
Notice:
• The chapter refers six times to David,
• Who is twice called “the man of God” (12:24, 36, 37 [twice], 45, & 46).
• David was a man after God’s heart,
• One of his many qualities is that he was a worshiper of the true God.
• We are reminded in (12:46) that David,
• Had set up a system of worship that these people were seeking to follow
“For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God”
• To worship God is to rejoice in and extol his great attributes and actions.
• It is to reverence God above all else.
• True worship is not just outward, but inward.
• It engages the mind, the heart, the will, and the emotions.
• Whether you’re singing in a choir, setting up chairs in an empty building,
• Or preaching a sermon to 10 people or 10,000,
• Whatever we do ought to flow out of a heart full of worship for God.
(6). A Joyful Heart (12:43).
“And on that day, they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced.
The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.”
You kind of get the impression that these people were enjoying themselves!
• The thing that jumps out to me in this verse if ‘joy’
• Four times joy in mentioned in verse 43,
• Notice how verse 43 concludes,
• “The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.”
• It says, “The sound of rejoicing” other versions say, “the joy of Jerusalem was heard”
• It wasn’t their song that was heard from afar, but their joy.
• I love that, outsiders heard their joy!
Ill:
• A friend of mine used to attend a Gospel Hall,
• That was situated about one mile away from Old Trafford football ground.
• The home of Manchester United football club.
• That Church had scheduled a prayer meeting every Tuesday evening.
• And Manchester United play most of their mid-week games on a Tuesday evening.
• (so, you have to conclude from that, that the leadership team were not football fans)
• He tells me everyone would be praying and then up went the roar of the crowd,
• When they heard the crowd roar, they knew United had scored a goal.
• They heard the sound of joy, of excitement, of noise,
• They knew that something good had happened inside that stadium.
• TRANSITION: I like to think that when people come into our building,
• When they watch us Livestreaming on YouTube,
• I would like them to think, “Something good is going on in there!”
• And if they can catch a glimpse of the God, we worship though our songs & our prayers,
• And if they can catch a glimpse of the God through the Word of God explained,
• And if they can catch a glimpse of the God who through the Holy Spirit,
• Indwells our lives.
• Surely, they should conclude, “Something good is going on in there!”
(7). A Giving Heart (12:44-47).
“At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.”
• These people gave joyfully so that God’s work could go forward.
• They saw the importance of worship at the temple,
• And they were willing to give the necessary offerings,
• So that they could support the many priests, Levites, gatekeepers,
• And singers who served there.
The people did it according to (12:44):
• N.I.V.: “for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites”
• N.L.T.: “appreciated the priests and Levites and their ministry.”
• K.J.B.: “rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.”
Ill:
• In a few weeks’ time it is Christmas,
• Although some people already have their lights outside their houses,
• And I know several people who already have their decorated trees up in their homes!
• At some time over Christmas we will see either the film,
• Or maybe you will see an advert on the TV depicting the character, Ebenezer Scrooge.
• Scrooge is the main character of Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, ‘A Christmas Carol’.
• Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas.
• And of course, nobody likes him!
• Nobody is attracted to a stingy, tight-fisted person?
• The opposite is true we are all attracted to warm, generous people,
• Who freely share what is theirs with others?
• TRANSITION: If people are unhappy in the house of God,
• I tend to think their giving drops.
• And if people are happy in the house of God,
• I would suggest that that is reflected through their giving to the work of the Lord.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=df43vuNQ5PunNSuJVDVwVUfVulHY6cHh
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/dF2Rd_KUJJQ
