Opening focus and direction for message: Do you want to change the world?
Video Illustrations:
Clip 1: It all starts with a prayer: Evan prays and asks God to help him change the world – why because he was given a position of power and with that comes great responsibility to make a difference!
Thought: Evan wanted to change the world – it was his campaign promise – he prayed that God would use him to change the world. But when God came to answer his prayer and use him, but he kept running away from His divine call to change the world.
Clip 2: Evan Almighty – His call to build and Ark and His response to Gods call from wingclips.com.
Thought: Have you received a call from God to be a part of His family and to do something for Him? Has God been calling you? Have you answered the call and picked up the hotline from Heaven or ignored it? Have you run from it? Maybe you didn’t believe God could use you? We need to respond to God’s call by answering the phone and saying “Yes, Lord! I want to be a part of your family and serve your family! I want to do something to change the world!”
Hear my cry today – “I want to change the world!” “I want something wrong to make me mourn, to fast, to pray and to cry out to God to do something about it! I want to save lives and see people set free! I want to petition God for a miracle and be willing to go myself to make a difference! Are you with me?”
Ephesians 4:1-6: 1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Series: Renew 2021
Thesis: We need to be renewed by connecting or re-connecting with the Lord this year in 2021. To do this requires a renewed mind, a renewed soul and a renewed passion for Jesus.
Key theme Scriptures for the year:
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” - Isaiah 40:30-31
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16
2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Our theme for 2021 is Re-new we accomplish this by:
1. Renewing the mind
2. Refreshing the soul
3. Reigniting a passion for Jesus
When we decide to go after these (RE’s) another (RE) occurs – the word is revival – what is a revival? – it’s an extraordinary event moved by the power of the Holy Spirit to get people to repent and come to the Lord. It takes place within the church, within individuals lives, family lives and within the community. Revival is a great spiritual awakening and will change people, families, churches and communities – it’s a divine move of God.
Last weekend we saw a little bit of what revival looks like and feels like! Would you agree with me? I saw a miracle when AJ got up and walked 3 steps – 1st time since his accident without braces! I heard Goss’ experienced a miracle too with Caden’s feet. Ask them about it!
Sermon 5: Renew 2021 (Nehemiah)
Thesis: The Body of Christ in America needs to be renewed in 2021. They need to follow the example of Ezra and Nehemiah who returned to Jerusalem by the direction of the Lord to rebuild, restore, rejuvenate the Temple, the Worship of God and to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The key was to reconnect with God in worship and prayer. To bring peace and security to the people of Jerusalem. All these elements add up to revival!
Scripture Text: Nehemiah 1:1-2:5
1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
2Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven…
See the Bible for rest of the text!
We need to follow the call of God to rebuild and restore that which was broken down and left destroyed by the evil one. We need to follow the re’s that Nehemiah followed to get the building project started. This will require faith, heart, courage and a willingness to defend the building project for God as you rebuild. But it requires risk and standing strong on God’s Word and truth in the midst of opposition.
Introduction:
Building projects are a lot of work, hard work, dirty work, long hours of work. Nehemiah touched by God in a foreign land living a good life – financially prosperous – prestigious job with the king. Favor with his king receives a call from God to go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Notice he is not rebuilding the temple that has been completed about 71 years earlier. But he is called to build a wall. A wall? A building project for the Lord? The Lord called Nehemiah to a distant land to do a building project! Do you mean to tell me God calls people to build walls for him? The answer is yes, He does!
God calls people to do all kinds of things for His kingdom and for His people! Some are building projects!
Yes, God calls people to be brick layers, carpenters, mechanics, tech, media people, business people to do certain tasks. It’s part of their divine destiny – their God given assignment! Just as God calls pastors to ministry he calls lay people to certain tasks too.
I find it interesting all the people’s names noted in Scripture who worked on the Temple and the wall in Ezra and Nehemiah – they are named in the annuals of Heaven for their contribution in the God given building projects. We see it throughout the Old Testament and even in the New Testament! Question: Will your name make the annuals of Heaven as being part of a building project for the Lord?
Question – What are you supposed to build for God? What has He called you build – to do – for the Kingdom of Heaven and for Jesus? Do you even know what it is?
James 4:13-17:
(NIV)
13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
(CEV)
13You should know better than to say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to the city. We will do business there for a year and make a lot of money!” 14What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. 15You should say, “If the Lord lets us live, we will do these things.” 16Yet you are stupid enough to brag, and it is wrong to be so proud. 17If you don’t do what you know is right, you have sinned.
Important point: Nehemiah would have sinned against God if he would have ignored God’s call to go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem! Did you hear what the Word says here about listening to the Lord? Ignore a call of God to do something good is sin!
The Re’s I discovered in the story of Nehemiah: Read Nehemiah this week and look for them, especially in Neh. 1 - 2:10!
1. Rebuild – God calls Nehemiah to rebuild the walls because it impacted his heart when he heard the bad news – it cut to his heart. It was an emotional and heart wrenching call to rebuild that which was broken down and he was to do the hard work of restoring it. (vs 1-4)
a. Nehemiah on hearing the condition of Jerusalem is cut to his heart – his heart is broken – he hears how the city lays in disgrace and in trouble – He cries out to God for a solution and for God to intervene! Notice the Lord hears his cry and says I am sending you to fix the problem Nehemiah.
i. Important observation: When God lays something on your heart – he is calling you to do something about it! Don’t pass it off on another!
ii. In my own life after I got saved and went into pastoring but I never put my tool belt down – I used it for the Kingdom of Heaven as God directed me – I have done several building projects for the Lord!
1. In several different countries and city’s in the USA!
iii. Point to note: If something really cuts to your heart and you cry out to God to do something about it most of the time he will send you to fix it.
iv. What have you been interceding for – that something? Praying for some burden? Fasting for it? What grieves your spirit and you cannot ignore it?
1. This is what you should be going after – pursuing -being a solution to the problem - looking to be a part of an extension of God’s hand.
a. Personal Story: Remodeling Outreach Church.
b. Personal Story: Building Parsonage at New Life, Opening Counseling Center at New Life, Opening Café at New Life and doing the Halfway home.
b. God says to our man of faith – rebuild – restore – renew and go do it! Pick up your tools and put your leadership skills in motion to get the project done.
i. Go – when you have something that wrenches your heart – that causes mourning – drives you to prayer and intercession then God is doing something in you! He wants you to go do something about the situation. It may mean picking up your tools!
2. Recall – Nehemiah recalls the command from the Lord to obey and follow the laws of Moses which they have not done – reality checks are good when assessing a rebuilding project (VS 5 and 7).
a. Important reality check: The reason the walls have been destroyed is because of sin and disobedience to the Lord by the people of Israel – God’s people.
i. This is the reality check many need to see today – sin will cause the destruction of any nation that claims to know God and be a Nation under God.
b. Nehemiah takes responsibility for the sins of the people like all good leaders do.
i. He acknowledges that God is faithful to His covenant promises and reminds us all that those who love and obey God are blessed, but those who reject the ways of the Lord are judged and removed from their position of favor in God.
1. Did you catch that thought and truth?
ii. He confesses to God of their breaking of the Covenant contract with God and acknowledges the repercussions which occurred from that rebellion were founded by God.
c. Question: Would you being willing to cry out to God for our nation and admit we have become very wicked and deserve judgment and removal from the favor of God? Would you agree the hedge of protection of God is being lifted on our nation because of sin?
i. Do you think we need a reality check in America today?
3. Repent – Nehemiah goes to the Lord in earnest prayer and repents for him and the people forsaking God’s commands and sinning, “I confess the sins of the Israelites, including myself and my father’s house have committed against you. We have acted very wicked toward you …” (Vs 6 and 7)
a. Are you willing to repent for the wicked sins of this nation?
i. For the holocaust of Abortion?
1. We have seen even with President Bidens executive order the signing of the death warrant for even more babies in America and even in other nations. He has even said that Insurance companies need to pay for them and we all need to pay for them - are you okay with that? Being a part of killing babies?
ii. The promotion of the LGBT agenda to steal the God given identity away from God’s children.
1. In my view they want special privileges for the choice of their sin and we lose our privileges as Christians and beliefs to appease them.
iii. Our nation is embracing sin which is being called good and right and if you follow the teachings of the Bible you are wrong and evil?
1. Our nation promotes the following as right not wrong – it’s done in the media, news, books, magazines, Tv and movies. Even politicians and some so-called Christian groups have joined the chorus of calling sin good!
2. We have living together – which is having sex outside of marriage as a good thing and marriage looked at as evil and a bondage?
3. We see the rejecting the 10 Commandments all over the media and in schools?
4. Families as designed and defined by the Bible are being destroyed and redefinition is happening as good for society and our country.
b. 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
i. Are you willing to repent for our sins? This is what brings revival by the way!
4. Remember – Nehemiah remembers the promise of God that if they were unfaithful but decide to return to God by repentance and obeying the teachings of the Lord then He will cause a movement of returning to God, a return to His presence. God promises that He will draw them back to Him from exile and bondage. (Vs 1:8-9)
a. God said, “I will scatter you if you reject my ways and commandments.”
b. God said, “But if you repent – return to me – and once again obey my commands I will call the people back from exile and bondage – I will gather them back to me says the Lord.”
i. This is what we need to do today – remember our sins – repent – so God can bring revival and return to Him and His ways!
5. Redeem – Nehemiah includes within this word the concepts of Restoration and Renewal which is done by the mighty hand of the Lord and His unlimited strength (Vs 1:10)
a. God is the one that restores – redeems – He does this with his might and power – it is done by His hand and strength.
b. Truth - I cannot restore myself or redeem myself I need to Have God do it!
6. Revere – Nehemiah’s prayer to God reminds us how God’s ear is attentive to His people’s prayers who have a reverence for Him and His holiness – reverence means respect, admiration and a good fear of God (Vs 1: 11)
a. Do you revere God’s name?
i. God hears the prayers of those who revere him!
b. Definition of reverence - deep respect for someone or something.
i. Respect for God?
1. Do you use his name in vain?
a. Illustration of game at Clayton and guys behind me!
2. If you do have dis-respect for God – there is no favor from God!
a. This is a biblical truth!
ii. Respect - a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
c. Do you feel people today in our society have a respect or reverence for God today?
i. Truth: If you respect God you follow God’s teachings and commandments!
1. You honor Him on His day?
2. You talk about Him respectfully!
3. You share of His goodness and faithfulness!
4. You speak of His truths!
5. You align with His Word!
6. You follow Him and love Him with your whole heart!
ii. Disrespect for Jesus and His Word is rampant today in our society: See the slides from Gay pride parade disrespecting the name of the Lord with their signs and symbols.
1. Interesting observation: The Rainbow of the Gay Pride movement is claimed by some as hijacking God’s truth – stealing His rainbow redefining what is sin. The Gay Pride movement is proud of their sin which this specific is addressed in Romans 1:18-32 which condemns the sin addressed and celebrated by the Gay Pride movement:
a. Romans 1: God’s Wrath Against Mankind:
i. 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God–haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
b. The truth behind the Rainbow symbol. In the Bible's the Genesis flood narrative in which Noah was involved is about a Covenant promise from God, after unleashing the great flood to wash away humanity's corruption and sin, God put the rainbow in the sky as the sign of His promise that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:13–17):
i. The 2 Rainbow’s:
1. God’s Rainbow from Genesis: It has 7 colors in it!
a. Numerology of the Bible and the number seven means perfect complete – equated to God’s number – 7 equals perfection - When it comes to the biblical meanings of number 7, we have to say that it is the number of perfection and completeness. ... According to the Bible, number 7 is the number of completeness. Actually, it is known that after 7 days the whole world was completed and God has done his work. … In the New Testament the number seven symbolizes the unity of the four corners of the Earth with the Holy Trinity. The number seven is also featured in the Book of Revelation (seven churches, seven angels, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven stars). From Google search.
2. The Gay Pride Rainbow has 6 colors in it:
a. Numerology of the Bible – Number 6 may be considered not only a symbol of a man, but also a symbol of a man-animal. Number 6 is also used as a symbol of sin and imperfection in the Bible.
3. Is it not interesting the Gay Pride movement choose an altered and incomplete rainbow?
iii. Disrespect is not just in the Gay pride movement – Romans speaks of the sin of sexual immorality as being the altar at which these people who have rejected God’s truth go to so as to worship their idol of sin.
1. The disrespect for Biblical marriage and sex within it’s context has been distorted.
a. Share about movie you just watched.
2. The wide addiction of porn in our society and how I have see it being promoted as okay.
3. Sex trafficking at an all time high and people turn their backs to it.
4. Sexual abuse of minors and legislation in California to redefine what is considered abuse of a minor.
5. Should I go on?
7. Request – Nehemiah makes his request to King Artaxerxes and Queen Esther (Yes same one from the book of Esther) (Vs 2:1-5) Read Esther and you will see what God did for His people when the enemy tried to wipe them out! He placed Esther in her position for such a time as this – to be there for Nehemiah’s request.
a. See the book of Esther for the full story!
b. But Nehemiah’s Request is risky – could be taken the wrong way by the King but he knows he has to ask to follow the call God has placed on His life.
i. He has to take the risk – walking by faith is spelled Risk!
1. Risk taking saying:
a. Illustration- Risks
• To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
• To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
• To reach out for another is to risk involvement
• To expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self
• To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
• To love is to risk not being loved in return
• To live is to risk dying
• To hope is to risk despair
• To try is to risk failure
• But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
• The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing
• They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live
• Charmed by their attitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom.
• Only a person who risks is free
ii. Risk taking should be an indispensable part of the Christian walk – did you hear what I just said?
1. When we look back over church history, we see Christians who risked all to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. These individuals had courage to begin something or take a stand for God in the midst of difficult circumstances. For some it meant ridicule, slanderous remarks, becoming laughing stocks in their community, it meant being condemned by their community, it meant imprisonment, it meant personal loss of family, friends, and finances. It meant facing a dangerous life threatening situation. For some it cost them their lives. But all these risk takers made a eternal impact for the Kingdom of God.
a. The 12 disciples - The church martyr’s
2. Some risk takers from history:
a. Patrick - 389-461 AD - A risk taker who took the gospel to Ireland after he escaped from Ireland as a slave from 405-411 AD. He took a risk to go back to his captors and share Christ with them. He saw converts converted in all social classes during his ministry.
b. John Wycliff - 1330-1384 AD- He is a risker known as the Morning Star of the Reformation. He risked taking on the catholic church for Christ to cause reform and influenced his followers to translate the Bible into English so the common man could read it. Dies of a stroke years later his body found dug and burned as a heretic!
c. Martin Luther 1483-1546 AD- He is the father of the Protestant Reformation. He was a catholic monk and priest that challenged the churches heresy. He promoted justification by grace alone through faith that the Bible was the ultimate authority for Christian belief and practice even though the church of the day disagreed with him. AS a result of his risk taking Evangelical Christianity preserves and continues today.
i. Note: rumors was that Luther had died suddenly or in his sleep. In the sixteenth century it was believed that if a person was wicked then they would die suddenly. This meant that the person would not have time to confess their sins because the Devil would suddenly come upon him and drag his soul to hell. Likewise, Roman Catholics also later circulated the claim that Luther had died in a state of terror, believing he would be eternally condemned. On the contrary, Jonas recorded that Luther’s last hours were lucid and conscious. He confessed his sins and affirmed his faith in Christ, along with everything else that he had taught.
1. From https://lutheranreformation.org/history/the-death-of-luther/
2. His premonition of his death is written about and said
In the weeks leading up to his death, Luther seems to have had a premonition that he would pass away soon. Many of his statements from that time emphasize that death is the great equalizer. In this, Luther’s attitude mirrors that of his contemporaries in the wake of the Black Death (1347 and after). This notion of death as the great equalizer had also found popular expression in the late medieval poem “The Dance of Death,” which described a personified death leading people to their graves, irrespective of their wealth, fame, or high birth.
d. William Tyndale - 1490-1536 AD- He is the risk taker who is the father of the English Bible. Before him there was the Wyclif Bible but this never widely circulated in English and was a translation from the Vulgate. Tyndale translated an English version of the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew and had it printed in mass and circulated. He was branded by the Catholic church as an outlaw. He later became known as "God's Outlaw". He was martyred at Brussels for his actions.
e. John Calvin - 1509-1564 AD - The risk taker who was exiled from France and became chief pastor in Geneva. He is known as the Reformations supreme Bible teacher. He some of the first commentaries on Scripture. His writing helped fire such great pastoral evangelists such as John Bunyan, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and William Carey.
i. These risk takers had a drive to step out for Him. There risky steps made an impact on the Kingdom of God. These individuals will go down in history for all eternity as God's risk takers.
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: We need to follow the example of Nehemiah and rebuild-recall-repent-remember-redeem-revere-request! All these re-s require faith and action! It requires risk and responsibility to decide to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. It requires a willingness to go change the world with the impartation and empowerment of the Holy Spirit!
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: We need to know that God wants to use you and me to do this! He wants you to be willing to go sacrifice and serve within His Kingdom to bring safety to others, peace to others and create a safe place to worship and serve God.
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to be cut to the heart with the needs around us – we need to intercede for that need – we need to fast about it and pray about it and cry out to God about it – so we can make a difference for the Kingdom of God and see people set free from our action.
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: If we want renewal – revival it requires us to become involved with our whole heart – it requires us to say “Yes I will go – send me Lord” type mindset!
Closing Video: Song of God – Fisher of men – Change the World!
Altar call: You are dismissed but if you want to stay for ministry time we will be focusing on coming to Lord and giving him permission to send us – use us – help us change this broken world around us so we see people transformed and renewed.
Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
