Who does God use to accomplish His will here on earth? Who does God use to do His
will, to impact others and to participate in the tough tasks of life? There is a real simple
answer, He uses everyone! He uses everyone! And since God uses everyone, which
includes using you, using you and using me, I wanted to use our time together this
morning to talk about being a player in the activities of God in this world.
You have maybe heard it said that “everything has a place and everything should be in it’s
place”, well the same holds true for people. Everyone has a place in this world and
everyone should be in their place. When people are in their place, that special place that
God has for them, and they are using the gifts that God has given them, doing the thing
that God has for them to do, well, it is truly inspiring. It is also motivational and joy
producing and others are attracted. They are attracted because of the joy and energy and
because of the need within each of us to belong and to be needed and useful.
Do you have place on the wall? Of course you do! Do I have a place on the wall?
Absolutely! I hope that by the end of our time together today that we each can
understand more clearly where our place on the wall is and how God desires for each of us
to do what we can, with what we have and with what He has gifted us with to accomplish
His plan here in the world and specifically here at this church.
Prayer!
In case you were not here last week, you may be wondering what we are talking about
and maybe even what this pile of bricks is doing up here in front. Well for you and for the
benefit of all of us, lets hit the pause and rewind button just for a moment to review what
we learned last week.
Review Chapter 1+2
Now that we have all been refreshed and are on the same page of book, so to speak, lets
take a look at today’s scripture which is found in Nehemiah chapters 3and 4. I have
printed pieces of it for your use in the sermon guide, but if you have your personal copy of
God’s Word or can find a pew Bible please open to Nehemiah Chapter 3. Here we find
Nehemiah recording the names and origins as well as the places on the wall that each
person or group worked on.
This book in the Bible is called Nehemiah because of it’s author, but it could have just as
easily been called “The Workers”. Even Nehemiah gave the credit to the workers when he
wrote in Nehemiah 4:6 “”So built we the wall... for the people had a mind to work.”
Nehemiah faced a great challenge and had a great faith in a great God, but he would have
accomplished very little had there not been great dedication on the part of the people who
helped rebuild the wall. So let’s look at the scripture, shall we:
This is the second time that we have heard from Sanballat. Back in Chapter 2, Sanballat,
Tobiah and Geshem laughed at the plan that Nehemiah had for the rebuilding of the wall
and it even says that the three despised the Jews and the plan. I am not going to spend a
great deal of time today dealing with these three and the opposition that was to come up
against the Jews and Nehemiah for next week we are going to be taking an extended look
at the opposition that comes our way, both from the outside as well as from within our
very own ranks. But I think that this really sets the tone for today’s teaching. Look both
at what Sanballat said as well as the tone with which he said it. He called them feeble
Jews and I don’t think that you can argue to any great degree with him on this. You have
butchers, bakers and candle stick makers, you have merchants, perfumers and politicians
working on the wall. Nehemiah had people or rather God had people that you would
never expect to be completing this type of work.
Sanballat goes on to mock not only the workers but the quality of the work and the
materials with which they are building. If you go further down, you will find that Tobiah
is back in the picture and he makes a crack about the wall falling down if a small fox were
to run on it. Nehemiah found himself in a desperate situation with incompetent people,
facing ridicule from the outside and yet the work is getting done.
So what can we learn and take away from this portion of God’s word today? Well first:
Value The Importance Of Everyone! Value The Importance Of Everyone! As we
learned earlier, there is a place for everyone and everyone should be in his or in her place.
This is clearly proved in our scripture for today. Nehemiah found himself completing
God’s plan with people he did not know and doing so with skills he did not have.
If you were going to build this wall, just think for a moment what types of people would
you recruit to work with you? Just ponder for a moment on that? If it were me, I would
choose construction types. Those with big arms, hard hats over top of pony tails,
sleeveless shirts, maybe a tattoo or two. Their bellies hanging out over their belt in the
front and their pants needing to be pulled up a little in the back. I think you get the
picture. But Nehemiah did not have these types. What types did Nehemiah use or rather
what types did God use? Simply, he used everyone. He used absolutely everyone! God
can use anyone who is willing! God can use anyone who is willing!
Look at verse 1. The high priests were listed first and they started first. What a sight that
must have been for the others to see the priests start to move stones and to maybe mix
mortar and to begin the process of rebuilding the wall. A side note here to all of you who
lead others. Followers will only do what they see you doing! Followers will only do what
they see the leader doing!
Go through the types of people with comments! (Don’t forget about Artexerxes)
What does it take to attract such a diverse group of people? What does it take? It takes a
clearly defined, well communicated vision or plan. Nehemiah laid it all out for them, He
said, “ Here’s what were are going to do! Here’s how we are going to do it! This is why
it is important!”. Here’s what, here’s how and here’s why! Nehemiah even went further
when he answered Sanballat at the end of chapter 2 with these words “the God of heaven
will give us success!”. A great vision precedes great people being attracted! A great plan
precedes great people jumping on board!
How many of you just love to read these long lists of names that are in the bible. Me
either. Most of the time I am tempted to skip right over them and to get to the “good
stuff”. But you know it dawned me this week that they are there for a reason. God
placed these long, long lists in there for a reason. God loves to record names. It shows
that God sees the work as well as the workers. It shows that God cares for the work and
the workers! It shows me and I hope that it shows you that God has not forgotten me,
God has not forgotten you, that he sees my labor and that he sees your labor as well.
In fact, in the book of Revelation Chapter 2 when John is writing, under divine
appointment, to the church in Ephesus, he writes that God knows your labor, that God
knows your works in His name and that you have not grown weary!” God sees and cares
about you and God sees and cares about me!
Value The Power Of Team Work! Value The Power Of Team Work! This was a huge
job that Nehemiah was called to complete for God and there was absolutely no way that
he could have finished the task alone. As we have seen, others had come alongside to do
their part. Nehemiah was not alone in his attempts to honor God with his work.
Have you ever felt alone in the work that you are doing for God? Have you ever felt
alone in the work that you are doing here at this church or maybe at another Christian
ministry somewhere? Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by the responsibility
around here. Friend, God never designed you to do everything! God never designed you
to do anything more than your part. You will get worn out if you attempt to do
everything, I will get worn out if I attempt to do everything. You are supposed to do
something and I am supposed to do something, but we are not designed and meant to do
everything. It will wear you out.
I think that it was Erma Bombeck who wrote:
“Yes, I am tired. For years, I have been blaming it on iron-poor blood, middle age, lack
of vitamins, air pollution, water pollution, saccharin, under-arm deodorant, obesity,
dieting and a dozen other maladies. None are the cause. I am tired because I am
overworked. She goes on to prove just how overworked she is:
200 million people in the US
84 million are retired
75 million are in school
22 million are employed by the Federal Govt.
4 million are in the armed services that leaves only 15 million to do the work!
14,800,000 work for state and local agencies, that leaves only 200,000 to do the work
188,000 people in hospitals, that leaves only 12,000 to do the work
11,998 people in prison so that only leaves 2 people to do the work
and your standing hear listening to me so that leaves only me to do the work!
I think that just about hits it on the head for some of us in the room this morning!
Nehemiah knew that no one was to do the work alone. So that is why he probably told
the priests that they only had to complete the wall from point A to point B, that is all that
you have to do. then when the next group came up, he told them hey, you go down and
you work from Point B to Point C and then your job is done, and then another group to
go from C to D and so on and so and so on until the wall was completely filled up with
workers, each doing a small portion to ensure that the entire project got completed.
Its kind of like that old question, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” A
part for everyone but no one doing everything. It is the same way in this church. There
are areas of ministry for everyone. God has a job for you to do in this church that matches
up perfectly with what He has wired you to do, with your Spiritual Gift set. I have been
talking a lot lately about spiritual gifts and how God has given them to each of us and I
hope that we can come together the first of February to uncover these through a seminar
on a Sunday afternoon. So please be watching for details on that.
Not only was a huge burden lifted off of all the workers when they understood that they
did not have to complete the entire project alone, but they also got a great deal of
encouragement from seeing others at the wall, doing their individual parts. 23 times in our
text in Chapter 3 it says that “next to him” “and next to him”. Side by side, shoulder to
shoulder this team was doing what no one could have done alone. Success happens
through the assistance of others. Success happens through teamwork!
It is like that 80 year old pilot who went in for his annual flight physical and found out that
he had a new doctor and the doctor told him that he could not pass the vision portion of
the screening and was not going to be able to fly again. As the old pilot pleaded with the
young doctor, the doctor said, “how can you fly or even land a plane when you are as
blind as a bat?” the old man said, “Teamwork”. “Teamwork?” asked the doctor. “Sure,
when we are ready to land I put the plane nose down and give her the gas and when I hear
my co-pilot scream I pull up the nose and we land the plane safely!” Now that is team
work, but somehow I don’t know if I want to be on that old pilots team, what about
you? There is power and value in team work!
Value The Effect Of The “Big MO”! Value The Effect Of The Big “MO”! Momentum
matters. Nehemiah emphasized the work ethic required by his constant inspecting and
planning and praying. When others saw his eagerness, his thoroughness and his work
ethic, they caught the idea and it was like a giant snowball rolling down hill, gaining size
and speed each inch of the way.
As the priests eagerly attacked their portion of the wall, others were watching. As the
“District Ruler” attacked his portion of the work at the dung gate, others were watching.
I can only imagine how inspiring that must have been to see your mayor or maybe state
senator beginning to move stones and to strain to put one on top of another. Not stopping
for “coffee breaks” or to consider how he could get out of the work, but rather doing the
very best that he could with the skills that God had given him. Skills that God intended
for him to use to repair the wall there at the Dung Gate.
I can just the others as they stood there watching the priests, the rulers and the daughters
of some. They probably stood there and at some point in time said, “Hey, I can do
something too!” Maybe they couldn’t pick up the stones, but they could hand the workers
the tools, or maybe bring around a ham sandwich or maybe a bucket of water to quench
the parched throats of the workers. Barry Clardy story!
Service breeds service, enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. This momentum started rolling so
hard and so fast that by the time that it gets to verse 20 we find Baruck zealously
attacking his work!
A thought crossed my mind the other day, What if Nehemiah would have sounded the call
and no one responded? No workers came, the priests didn’t come, the people from
outside Jerusalem didn’t come, no one showed up. You know what I came up in answer
to that thought? He would have started the work on his own. He would have started the
work on his own. God size tasks, most of the time, begin small, they begin small. But it
is vital that someone begin. Nehemiah would have gone to the wall and it would have
eventually gotten others attention and then they too would have joined the work!
Bobby Hill was an 8 year old boy in WW2 and he read that Dr Albert Scweitzer was in
Africa doing medical experiments and little Bobby wanted to help in any way that he
could. So he went to the pharmacy and bought a bottle of aspirin and wrote a note,
wrapped it around the bottle and mailed them to Lt. Gen Richard Lindsey, commanding
officer of the Allied Forces in Southern Europe. As Gen. Lindsey opened the note, the
“big MO” began to roll. He told a few friends of the sweet note that read, “General, if
you planes are flying over Africa, could you please parachute these aspirin to Dr
Scweitezer for me?” Friends told friends and before you knew it a ground swell of
support began to take shape. By the time it was all said and done, the Italian airforce flew
four cargo planes with over $400,000 worth of donated medical supplies to Dr
Schweitzer. Dr. Schweitzer was floored at the response to a little note from a samll boy
and how others joined in to make it happen.
Do you know why a little boy could do so much? He was willing to get involved!
In Chapter 4:6 we find that the wall had been completed up to half its height, how,
because people jumped on board.
When you “Part” icipate, you do your part with all your heart. Please notice that a large
portion of participate is “part”.
Friends, look to the right and to the left of you. You are not alone! Others are here and
they are willing, I hope, to jump in and to simply do their part. Their part that God has for
them to do with the gifts and skills that He has given them. Maybe the question for the
week needs to be, “God what have you designed me to do? What have you designed me
to do?
Prayer and Invitation!
