A Time To Rebuild
Nehemiah 2:17-20
Dr. Tom Doubt, Senior Pastor
Four Mile Creek Baptist Church
July 13, 2003
BACKGROUND:
A. Parable: There once was a thriving little church in the country. Internal squabbles developed that tore the church apart. Attendance dwindled until the church died. It time a middle-class neighborhood grew up around the church. One day a newcomer, tired of looking at the run down church, started to paint & clean the old church. Some former members came by to watch. They sat in the old dusty pews and told stories about Sunday night hymn sings, or the pot luck dinners. Oddly, no one mentioned the squabbles. They started to help clean up the old place. Leaders of the homeowners association laughed at the idea of a church in their community, but the old members persisted. Within weeks they resumed hymn sings and pot luck dinners. Songs of praise could be heard Sunday mornings and evenings. Folks in the neighborhood who had never attended the church began to come by. God saw it all and it was very good.
B. Nehemiah saw a similar scene when he returned to Jerusalem in 445 BC. Most of the city lay in ruin. The walls were broken and burned. He shared his God-given vision and the people responded.
SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:17-20
INTRODUCTION:
A. England in the middle of the 17th century was in turmoil. King Charles I was beheaded. Anglican churches were being closed; Presbyterians were being persecuted. In the midst of turmoil, Sir Robert Shirley built a church. The plaque on the church read: “In the year 1653, when all things throughout the land were demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley built this church, whose singular praise is this: to have done the best of things in the worst of times.” [from Todd Morris, sermoncentral.com, 1-5-03]
B. It was the worst of times to do the best of things in Jerusalem. The city had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army in 579 BC. By 586 BC the people were led into captivity. Those returning 70 years later found it difficult to rebuild. In fact, for almost 150 years after the initial damage, they had made only modest gains in rebuilding. God laid His hand on Nehemiah and the walls were built in 52 days (Neh. 6:15).
C. In the year 2003, in our little community of Varina, we have the opportunity to do the best of things in the worst of times. Our country is living in Babylonian-style captivity to sin and moral decadence. The foundations are being destroyed (Ps. 11:3). Now is the time to rebuild: ourselves, our families, our church, our community.
THEME: Nehemiah’s passage reveals there are four hands involved in any rebuilding project. Three are helpful, one is harmful.
Any rebuilding effort must start with the hand of God (v 18)
God uses the hands of outsiders to open doors (v 18)
Hands of believers must be willing to do the work (v 18)
Hands of opposition are sure to mock & ridicule our efforts (v 19)
MESSAGE:
A. GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD MUST BE ON THE PROJECT
1. God’s hand was on the rebuilding of the wall long before Nehemiah showed up in Jerusalem. The Lord broke Nehemiah’s heart over the situation (1:4). If our hearts are not broken & weeping, we will never feel God’s hand on us.
2. God also opened King Artaxerxes heart to help Nehemiah (2:8).
3. Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain (Ps. 127:1)
4. When the road seems the darkest, we are encouraged by the presence of the Lord. He will be with us, never leave us, nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6).
5. Illustration: Jacob had spent a good portion of his life deceiving others like his brother Esau or his father-in-law Laban. On the way back to his land he got word that Esau was coming to him with 400 men (Gen. 32:6). All night Jacob wrestled with God on the banks of the Jabbok river. By morning he realized his ways were futile; he learned reliance on the hand of God.
6. Nehemiah and Jacob both prayed. We have spent a month praying about new ministry opportunities. Many who prayed during the month have begun to see God’s hand at work. The Lord has stirred the waters and we have seen the vision of a new ministry. We have also seen God open some unexpected doors.
B. IT’S TRULY AMAZING HOW GOD USES THE HANDS OF OUTSIDERS TO OPEN DOORS.
1. Artaxerxes had no vested interest in Jerusalem, yet Nehemiah recognized he opened a door (v. 18). The prophet was given letters of safe passage and authorization to have some of the king’s lumber (2:7-8).
2. We can do everything through the Lord who gives us strength (Phil. 4:13). Yet we are often strengthened, not by our own power, but by the hand of an outsider.
a. The two spies Joshua sent into Jericho were strengthened by the actions of Rahab (Josh. 2:1)
b. Jesse’s 3 older sons, serving in Saul’s army, were strengthened by their youngest brother who was willing to take on Goliath (1 Sam. 17:32).
c. The widow of Zarepath was strengthened by a prophet who asked for some bread (1 King 17:11).
d. The 12 apostles were strengthened by the 6 men chosen to wait on tables (Acts 6:3).
3. Our church had similar doors opened recently, from unexpected sources. We wondered where musicians might come from to replace graduating seniors on our Youth Praise Team. Without advertising, several rising 6th & 7th graders demonstrated their musical talent. A door has begun to open in our community for a building to be used for a young adult ministry.
4. Where God leads, He feeds. Just like the ravens & running brook He provided for Elijah (1 King 17:2). If the Lord opens a door, it affirms the direction He wants us to go. It is also affirmation that He is inviting us to join Him in His work.
C. HANDS OF BELIEVERS ARE NEEDED TO REBUILD.
1. When Nehemiah told the people about the hand of his gracious God and the king’s generosity, they did not pull out their lawn chairs to watch the wall go up. No, they said, “Let us start rebuilding” (v. 18). The people had heard of the hand of God being on the project, and had seen evidence by the timber that was available. They knew they had to go to work.
2. As often as God provides, we are expected to go to work.
a. Adam & Eve were provided a garden; they became gardeners (Gen. 2:15).
b. Israel was given a plot 25,000 cubits on a side; the citizens of Jerusalem were expected to farm it (Ezek. 48:19).
c. Peter was given a vision to get over his kosher-only hang-up; he was expected to be a missionary to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34).
3. Illustration: There was a statue of Jesus, arms extended, at the cross-roads in the French countryside [Knight’s Treasury of 2000 Illustrations, p 440]. A fierce battle occurred there during WWI. The hands of the statue were blown away in the fighting. Afterwards, someone placed a plaque on the pedestal: “Christ has no hands but your hands.” How true. If we are to rebuild, it must be God working through our hands.
4. Too often, when it comes to work, we suffer from the “terrible too’s” syndrome. We find ourselves too busy, too tired, too poor, too old, or too young. The project itself is too expensive, too risky, or too new. If we aren’t cured of this syndrome, we may find that the Lord says, “too bad” and goes on to achieve His plan through others.
5. No one gets a miracle catch of fish without opening the tackle box. God has called us to be fisher’s of men. We all have something to contribute from our tackle boxes.
6. Regardless of the task you are called to, whether personal, church-wide, or community-wide, there is going to be someone who thinks it is a bad idea.
D. HANDS OF OPPOSITION ARE A REALIITY OF ANY REBUILDING EFFORT.
1. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem mocked & ridiculed the workers (v. 19). Mockery & ridicule are Satan’s 1st line of attack. If we can be made to think we will look bad, our self-esteem will be lowered, or doubt the value of the project, we might just give up.
2. Opposition can be political (Sanballat), local (Tobiah), or ethnic (Geshem).
3. God’s promise is that in a day of trouble, He will keep us safe in His dwelling (Ps. 27:5). Those that fight against us will not overcome us, God will rescue us (Jer. 1:19). Our eyes will see the defeat of adversaries, our ears will hear the rout of foes (Ps. 92:11).
4. A paradox exists. When we are ridiculed, it affirms we are doing God’s will. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).
5. Nehemiah proclaimed that God would give them success (v. 20). Moreover, he warned the mockers that they would have no claim in the Lord’s victory.
DECISION:
A. Look around to see where God’s hand is at work in your life and the life of this church. Examine the evidence that doors are opening for new opportunities. Then ask yourself about your commitment to be part of the plan.
B. Though the foundations are being destroyed, the Lord has not given up on us. We have the clarion call to have done the best of things in the worst of times.
1. Rebuilding our lives makes it possible to rebuild our families.
2. Rebuilt families make the church stronger; and a strong church can transform a community.
C. Are you ready to do the best of things?
1. The very best thing you can do, when your life is in the worst of times, is to accept Jesus Christ into your heart. Admit that you have sinned. Believe Jesus is the only way to be rescued. Confess that He is your Savior.
2. The best times of fellowship are found in the Body of Christ, in a place like our church. We weather the storms of life in the shelter of God’s church.
3. Do you feel the worst of times has knocked you down, burdened you to the point that you can’t do something good? Ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life, lift whatever burden you are trying to carry, and receive the peace that comes only through the love of God.
