Everybody Has a Part
Series: When It’s Time to Move FORWARD
Brad Bailey, May 16, 2021
Intro
Welcome… new and old alike. I am so glad that you are connecting... as I believe it is such a significant time to be coming together... whether in-person or online…as we are in a unique and extended season of emerging from a pandemic. So this season we are focusing on the nature of what is involved when it’s time to move forward.
And we’re allowing God to speak to us through the Biblical Book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is a part of the Old Testament history. Nehemiah works as the cup bearer of the king of Persia. Nehemiah is himself part of the Jewish people... and he gets news that his own people’s sacred city of Jerusalem is in ruins… and it’s people are in a bad way. After a time of grieving and praying...he comes to a point of stepping out in risk ...asking the king for help. The king of Persia grants him the time and resources to make a long journey to the land of Israel.... to restore the city.
Soon after arriving he goes out at night and does an assessment. It had to be rather overwhelming.
Here we see a representation of the city and it’s extensive wall and gates. {Pic of city ]... This is the city which had been destroyed
We can imagine Nehemiah seeing section after section of rubble... [Insert “Nehemiah walls 2”]
and gate after gate destroyed by fire.
Only after he has faced the reality of what needs to be restored does he gather the people – leaders of every facet of life. And he writes...
Nehemiah 2:17-18
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
Those words represent a major transforming moment. Consider what these people had been through. Decades of living in exile. And now years of living as a people who felt defeated... because despite returning to their holy city... it was in ruins. With these words... “Let us start rebuilding”...the people are beginning to overcome the paralyzing nature from years of trauma... they are making a shift from the past to the future. It is a vital moment of recovery... of recovering their identity...their lives...and their purpose.
Let me take a moment to recognize that each of us may be in a process of recovery. That word “recovery” may sound like a strange or strong word…but I think what we have been through this past year has left some trauma that may be hard to grasp. I think some of us may find that it’s hard to just move forward... as if we can just go back to some reset point in the past. As I talk to people... I sense that some feel a strange type of exhaustion…after managing a year of change in their working responsibilities… operating in rhythms that may have appeared to involve less... but actually demanded more.
Some have experienced some significant isolation … perhaps added to by divisions within families …friends… and even fellow followers of Christ. And that can take a toll that is hard to recover from. So I want to recognize that going forward is not simply about going back to what was.
But what we see here... is that we each must look at the rubble... and realize that it’s not the place we want to stay and live in. We each may need to look at the rubble and say... let us start building.
So I encourage you to look at the rubble of things lost... but let it be a part of recovering the call of God…a call to a new season.
Something powerful begins when people unite in saying: “Let us start rebuilding.”
In those words... “Let us start rebuilding”... comes the shift from looking back to looking forward...from living as a consumer to living as a co-builder...a shift from the rafters to the roster.
And this leads to the question of how? How could they engage in something of such devastation …something of such massive proportions. This is what we discover in chapter 3.
Now let me prepare us to hear what is essentially is a report. In fact… the entire chapter reads like a summary work report ….so I am going to have us hear only the first portion that will help us understand what is happening. Let’s hear what Nehemiah shares with us… by way of a NARRATED READING WITH TEXT.
[INSERT: Video file “Nehemiah 3 edit 2” which is edit using 1:47-3:50 (2:53) from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSUPYqfVKP8]
Nehemiah continues his report with about three times of similar sections as he makes his way around the entire city structure. And at first glance, Nehemiah chapter 3 can sound lie a dry report …. a memorandum of assignments…one of those long lists of names that are difficult to pronounce… with information that seems redundant. BUT... if we stand back… we can hear it is declaring something very powerful.
It is describing how they restored their life as God’s people… and all that served God’s presence… by having everyone play a part.
The very nature of it’s dry reporting is also its own dynamic nature. Nehemiah isn’t going to just record the WHAT of this venture….but the HOW and WHO. There is something honorable here.
I recall our process of what was involved with purchasing and renovating this facility. It was never about having a church... we were a church. It was about what we knew we needed to do to fulfill God’s calling to establish a center that could gather and grow future generations of life centered in Jesus. It was a nearly impossible venture. And it became a time of watching life after life join together in creative and sacrificial ways... from children giving their allowance savings... to people giving up the finances they had been saving for long planned trips... to various work days.
We were learning a principle because we were living it out. And in the months that followed… I wrote up a report of that whole process….and I didn’t leave out names… because those very specific lives were living stones on which the future would be served...and I wanted future lives to grasp that they were building upon those who had united to build before them.
So I sense that is the essence of what Nehemiah is doing. He is telling us how they fulfilled such a great restoration... but he is honoring the real lives involved.
And I believe there is a timely call here to each of us... that we may face the strange rubble of this past year... both personally...but also communally. For we exist as those united in God’s new covenant in Christ... as a kingdom community that declares and demonstrates God’s kingdom is at hand. So I want to simply let God remind us of how we can move forward in building the work of God. And the first basic truth is this...
We can build the work of God...
1. When we are united in purpose.
It’s helpful to realize that these people lived amidst a common problem.... but what they hadn’t grasped... was the power of the problem to become the power to unite them. I imagine how those living with the walls of their city destroyed may have lived within their own personal inner sadness... just as some might after this past year. When tragedy comes... whether in a moment... or in a slow and subtle manner...it can leave people stuck inside themselves. And Nehemiah calls them out...to unite in a common purpose.
Nehemiah knew that the Psalms they had long sung with joy of the glory of Jerusalem had been silenced amidst it’s ruins. So he united them to restore that glory. He called them not merely to build walls and gates... not to build walls or the city per se. He united them in the purpose of the work which was the glory of God. They weren’t just working on walls, they were worshipping their worthy God.
Jerusalem was understood as the place where God would dwell... an earthly counterpart to the heavenly city. So it was a matter of restoring the witness to heavenly realities even here on earth. [2]
And stepping back, we must see that the prophets had actually spoken of this temple’s destruction and a future in which something greater would come.
And when Jesus came, he declared that in him they would see the temple destroyed and three days later raised up again. He was speaking of himself as the new and true temple. And on the cross He was torn down and through the resurrection three days later, He was raised up... as the true temple... the meeting place of God and Man. [3]
And in the Scriptures, the Apostle Peter tells us how we are now the embodiment of that temple. He writes,
You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
...You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:5, 9 (NLT)
You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What is he saying? He is saying that what was once represented by the temple of Jerusalem... is now fulfilled in the life of Christ. And the church is now the body of Christ... those through which the presence of Christ mysteriously dwells. And that is the purpose that unites us... the purpose of embodying Christ together.
I want to encourage us to let this calling be heard in a fresh way. As we emerge from this season... it may seem like the church has been struck with physical separation ... as well as political divides... and nothing may seem quite the same. This mystery called the church has always reflected something of it’s earthly life... but it has always transcended it as well. It has always carried something of the light of Christ to the world. The church has never been so much a place as it has been a gathering around a person... around Jesus... where we experience the intersection of heaven and earth.
And emerging from this past year offers us a fresh opportunity to become centered and united by the call to embody Jesus. For we the church... are to be nothing less than the body of living Christ. There may be many forms and fashions of “Christianity” or “Christian culture”... many of which the world has rejected. But if we listen...we realize how often they have not rejected Jesus... as much as some false association with his name. He himself stands distinct from the forms we try to fit him in.
So as we move forward...as we emerge from this break from life as usual... let’s choose to make this a fresh season to restore the work of God by uniting in the call of focusing not on what is secondary...but on Jesus ...on embodying Christ.
Let’s unite in the profound way he sees and loves people.
Let’s unite in His words and his working... on becoming a people of both the Word and the Spirit.
Let’s dare to unite beyond all other identities that try to define and divide us.
And out of such a united purpose... we have a powerful picture of how...
We can build the work of God...
2. When everyone plays a part
Of course this is what is so loudly declared by the whole chapter. It is one of those powerful testimonies of what can happen when people unite and each life plays their part.
The people had just seen a mass of destruction... but Nehemiah sees that amidst what is massive... are different sections of wall and gates... each which needs significant work and force.... but which could be divided into 44 separate groups of people. The word "section" is used 13 times. The wall was divided and people were assigned a certain section to work on.
And what we see is the beauty of being united in one purpose...but with different parts to play. We do well to let ourselves consider the continual use of the following phrases: "next to him," "next to them," "after him," and "after them." These expressions are recorded 28 times in this chapter. And they declare the power that lies when everyone serves side by side.
The unchanging truth is that: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
As we read in the Biblical book of Romans,
"We have different gifts according to the grace given us…" Romans 12:6
And in 1Peter,
"God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessing." 1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
Who has some abilities to contribute? Each of us. Everyone.
You have been given the power of significance.
You were made not just to be a consumer ...but to be a contributor.
Nehemiah was building on the principle that would capture God’s plan for us as his new people. As is described about those who embody Christ and the kingdom of God...
"Each of us is a part of the one Body of Christ...The eye can never say to the hand, `I don't need you.' The head cannot say to the feet, `I don't need you.' And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary!...So God put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important. … All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it." - 1 Cor. 12:13,21-22, 24b, 27 (LB)
Paul is saying... everyone is important...and you often won’t even realize just how important. In the same way that Nehemiah wants everyone to know the significance of their part... we are should see how every part... despite what we can see...is significant.
And there are some elements found among these groups that I believe can really speak to us...and inspire us. And if we look at who he describes... we discover a remarkable diversity that defied all the usual social classes and careers. There was a humility to serve in simple unglorified ways ...despite their public roles and usual social recognition.
It begins with the priests (3:1)... who would often have been among the most educated ... now building a gate....and ...and then we hear how the goldsmiths... and the perfume makers... and of merchants....all laying bricks....and even “gate keepers” who would be kind of like the police. It even speaks of one man’s daughters working with him. (3:12)
We see people serving well outside their careers and comfort zones. There’s something very inspiring here. Many here had public roles that carried high social prestige and recognition.... yet they were fellow servants before God... working side by side. ...in ways very different than their career. And this has it’s own way of revealing that there is something unique at hand... something that defies merely the common human social status.
And that is something that inspires me right here flowing through the Westside Vineyard Church. Every week at the great Food Pantry...there are several serving to give food...unloading a truck... sorting out produce... packing up family size boxes.... handing out to each family...and then cleaning up ...all as part of providing weekly food for families in need. And I know that for every one of those lives... that is distinct from their careers or the type of roles they have known in the working world.
Just in a single Sunday gathering... you have been served by the CHAIR of the department of MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING at UCLA helping with AV... you may be served .
coffee by another engineer....a graduating law student... an accomplished Nutritionist and Wellness Coach.
Major corporate professionals and social leaders have served in the nursery to care for babies and their parents. God.
I believe it’s a reflection of the deeper reality of life...a reflection of God and of heaven’s household. The house of God invites us to join the common ground that transcends our differences in social status and working roles.
Now while this keeps shining out through the list that Nehemiah records... he doesn’t hide one exception. We read in Chapter 3.... Verse 5.
"The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors." - Nehemiah 3:5
The people from Tekoa worked hard.... but “their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors." (NLT) They wouldn’t bend their pride apparently to work within the organized effort; in their nobility, they didn’t want to serve under the authority God had established. And Nehemiah isn’t going to hide that fact. But what’s interesting, later in verse 27, we read...how “the men of Tekoa repaired another section…" It appears that the people in general didn’t follow the vain pride of their leaders. These workers went the extra mile.
And what we see is the significance of the heart. I don’t think that is meant to encourage becoming so driven that one burns out ... but rather it captures the power of the heart to serve.
The most powerful source that built this wall... was that which flowed from the heart.
One group was bound in some sort of pride... while others found it a privilege. The difference was their heart. And this leads to a final truth.
We can build the work of God…
3. When our focus is on serving the Lord.
Take a look back at verse 1:
Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. - Nehemiah 3:1
They took time to dedicate the work to the Lord. The work became worship. And that changes everything.
After the great fire of 1666 that leveled London, the world’s most famous architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral.
One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.”
That builder grasped the big picture...the greater purpose.
The purpose of all ministry, and really of life itself is the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 puts it succinctly:
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
And I want to encourage each of us to seek that renewal of heart.... to know that everything we do can be part of something of sacred worth. Providing media support is a means of honoring the word and worship of God. Holding an infant is embodying the hands of God. Welcoming and serving coffee is extending the hospitality of God.
I am reminded of the words of Mother Teresa...who became a transforming figure as she gave her life to the destitute and dying ion the streets of Calcutta India. So often asked about her great work... she challenged us all to understand:
“None of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa
[OR USE IMAGE OF THIS QUOTE]
Closing:
I want to conclude with a word of calling you. Right now we are rebuilding our communal life...and everyone has a part to play. So with living example from Nehemiah before us ... I want to call you to consider what part you can play. In particular... we are calling you to join a Sunday team... which can be for just once or twice a month.
I realize that I am sharing this with those who are currently a part of the online gathering.
If you live in the Los Angeles area... my hope is that you will look towards a that time of moving forward and joining in person. Whether that times comes now...or in the summer...or even in the Fall... this is an opportunity to respond to the call to rebuild our communal life together. today is an opportunity to identify with the part you can play.
We have a page you can go to
Westsidevineyard.com/build
Or go to the app...and you will see a BUILD button
And I want to encourage each of us to realize how personal our legacy is. When we hear these names that Nehemiah includes.... Eliashib... Zakkur son of Imri... Meremoth son of Uriah... Meshullam son of Berekiah...It tells us about how personal our legacy is.
I want to close encourage you to consider this list of names... each so specific...and to realize the significance of your own name.
God records the obscure names of his people in the work they’ve done. And God has not forgotten our names either.
God’s story includes honor for the part so many have been playing...for Karen and James and Joan and Jeff and Brian and Eleanor and Dave and Gwen and Dio and Clara and Megan and so many more.
May we live knowing one day God wants to say "Well done good and faithful servant."
Pray
Some of us may be amidst a strange season in life. We may be living amidst the subtle unseen rubble... in which we know the past has changed... and we are uncertain what lies ahead. So fill us with your vision for what is to come...for building something new.
May we hear your call to rise to something new... to build better than before.
For some of us... may you speak to the way we see ourselves... “outsiders”...come build... “too new”...”too old”...”too uncertain about life”... “come build.”
May you fill us with a desire to embody you Jesus in this place...and in this time we live.
Resources
Jason Guynes )Working Together); Brian Bill (Working Well With Others);
Notes:
1. A reading of the entire chapter takes about 7 minutes. So I chose to have the first 11 verses heard via a narration with text and helpful visual drawn from another who did sermon on this text: using1:47-3:50 (2:53) from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSUPYqfVKP8
2. Many see prophetic projections for what is to come. For example we read...
Zechariah 6:11-15 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. 12 Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says:`Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'
This “branch” will be a king... and a High Priest, who has the name Joshua. The name Joshua when Anglicized is Jesus. He will build the temple of the LORD.
Jesus is the true meeting place between man and God. He is the Priest who gets you to God. If you come to Him you’re IN God’s presence. Jesus is the true Temple.
3. John 2 - 18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." 20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.
