Early last week, I was thinking about the last 12 months or so, of what has been going on @ CPC.
My reminiscing began about 4 years ago, as we were planning the official launch of CPC, scheduled for January 2020. As a church, we were growing in size, as well as in our walk with God.
We had our launch in January, and about a month or so later, covid hit and everything changed!
Toward the end of last year, I began asking God to direct us where He wanted us to go as a church.
We started our new journey in January of this year, with some changes along the way.
And I thought about the story of Nehemiah.
Today is the first part of a two-part series called “Impossible Odds”.
So HOH guys, you’ll need to come back in two weeks to hear “the rest of the story”.
As we look at this story today, I’d ask you not only to consider where we’ve come as a church this year, but to consider how God overcame Impossible Odds in your life.
Though of you who attend CPC regularly know that I don’t follow a regimented format of how God brings His word to you through me.
Today is no exception. If fact, I don’t think I’ve ever brought Gods Word as I will bring it to you today.
Believe me, I’m not trying to set the bar of expectation high because Pastor Jeff told me that one time, he brought a sermon that was so good, that he was ready to rededicate his life to God, and after the sermon all he got was how good the tamales were at the fellowship lunch! So, we are having fellowship lunch, and I don’t want to hear how good the tamales were! Are you trackin’ with me?
Here's the setting of the story of Nehemiah, in a nutshell.
The Jewish people had been “released” or “escaped” from captivity from Babylon, and many had returned to Jerusalem.
The city had been destroyed and it was being rebuilt. This is about a 70 year time span.
Nehemiah, who was born in Babylon and still in Babylon at the time, had sent word for a report as to the status of things in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was a very highly trusted man in King (art-a zerx-ees)Artaxerxes’s court. He was a cup-bearer. This was the guy who got to taste the King’s food and drink, before the King consumed any. He got to taste it not merely to make sure it was good tasting, but to check it for poison!
Husbands, have you ever had a fight with your wife that was so bad that you wished you had a cup-bearer to check the food she prepared, before you ate it? Anyway, that was Nehemiah’s job.
The book of Nehemiah is the last of what is known as “the history books” in the OT.
So, the report came back, and the Temple and the city had been rebuilt, but the walls and the wall gates were still in shambles.
Nehemiah 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words (this is Nehemiah writing this story) that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days, I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
• Wept
• Mourned
• Fasted
• Prayed
Anyone here, ever gone through that cycle
He wept for his people and for his city!
As I revisited this story, I was reminded that Jesus wept for His people and for the city of Jerusalem.
In fact, scripture tells us that before His Triumphal Entry, He wept because He knew that Jerusalem would yet again be destroyed! History records that Jerusalem was destroyed about 70 years after the resurrection.
Nehemiah wept for Jerusalem mainly because he knew the walls and gate represented many things.
Protection
Peace that comes with that protection
Walls symbolized a strong and united people
With those city walls still in ruin, they were:
Vulnerable to the enemy
Uneasy because they were under constant threat of attack
They were a weak and un-united people, and of a broken spirit
I would venture to say there may be some broken spirits among us today. (and if that is the case, it is the very reason you need to be here in two weeks. It’ll be the icing on the cake)
Until about 6 months ago, I had never read this prayer of Nehemiah’s.
I’m going to ask you to close your eyes as I read this incredible prayer of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 1:5-14
Nehemiah also realized there was a lack of leadership in Jerusalem.
We see, that having realized the lack of leadership, he:
Planned
Organized
Prepared for the journey, as well as the task at hand, once he arrived in Jerusalem.
His was also committed to giving God the glory for any success.
Last year in December, we:
Planned
Organized
Prepared for the journey
to grow a church for God’s glory
Next, we see the details of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. I love the details in God word!
Part of the details include how Nehemiah identified who had what gifts.
Nehemiah had the vision, but many people we were needed to execute that vision.
So, as the vision began to come to fruition, guess what happened.
ATTACK
The enemies of Jerusalem both physical and spiritual, began an all out assault.
Sound familiar Cross Pointe
Every great leader has the ability to change plans “mid-course” so to speak.
Nehemiah had assembled all these people, thousands of people to rebuild the wall.
He had to change plans:
½ of them were assigned to stand guard with weapons against the enemy, while the other ½ kept building!
Now, he only had half the people to build the wall, but that wasn’t going to stop them!
Here at Cross Pointe, changes and assignment of roles have become necessary in order for us to continue building. (draw attention to the children)
Then we see another shift in focus in the story.
Accountability. Many of you here, know about accountability.
Accountability is tough: tough to give and tough to receive
But entirely necessary for growth.
Let me repeat that: Accountability is necessary for growth.
You might even go as far as to say “there is no restoration without accountability”.
Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time to break down, and a time to build up.
Where are you in that season of breaking down and building up
After the wall was completed, the priest Ezra stood up and read the entire book of Moses.
Ezra was reminding them where they were and where they came from.
Then they rejoiced!
After restoration, there always needs to be rejoicing and giving thanks!
I’m going to close today with a couple final thoughts.
Details of those who built the wall.
I titled this message “Impossible odds” for this reason.
Here are the dimensions of the wall they built.
Roughly 25 miles long
Almost 40 ft high
8 feet thick
34 watchtowers
8 city gates
Think for a minute how long it would take Texas Highway dept. to complete such a task.
I always think about that 10 mile stretch of highway that runs through Corsicana. I know I’m not exaggerating with I say they worked 15 years on that stretch of road.
Now think about this: repeat dimensions
52 days
Think about it. It wasn’t the men, women and children of all those families that rebuilt that wall, it was God!
Nehemiah said early on “God this is for Your glory.
So church, and when I say church, I mean everyone here,
We continually face impossible odds without God. But with God all things are possible.
