KINGDOM BUILDING 101: GET REAL/ THE PLAN
NEHEMIAH 2: 1-10
JANUARY 25, 2004
INTRODUCTION: FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO PROMISE KEEPER IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING JOE WHITE WOULD SHARE: I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct, Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit-- trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday school to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn I’ll be there. He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has, and will continue, to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army and I’m marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier marching, heaven bound. ~author unknown~ Contributed by: Dr. C. David White
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Last week we began talking about Kingdom Building. My first thought is that it takes a broken heart for the Kingdom to move us into Kingdom building. I believe once our hearts are broken, we can begin to see the Kingdom through God’s Eyes and thus see HIS PLAN. For us to stay involve, though, we must become completely honest with ourselves. I call this: Getting Real! When we real before God, we can become real before others. When we are real before God, we can become SOLDIERS in the Kingdom. When we are Soldier, when we are willing to fight for the KINGDOM, we CAN be a part of God’s plan!
Do you want to sit on the bench or do you want to PLAY BALL?
THESIS SENTENCE: BUILDING THE KINGDOM WILL DEMAND OUR HONESTY BEFORE GOD AND OTHERS AS WE FULFILL HIS PLAN!
I. KINGDOM BUILDING STARTS WITH TRANSPARENCY VV. 1-4A
A. TRANSPARENCY IS BEING YOURSELF
1. Being yourself means going to work. Our text begins with Nehemiah at work. He was found being faithful to the task he was given to do.
2. After all, the heartache of finding out that the Wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates had been burned and that the people who survived the exile were in great trouble and disgrace, Nehemiah went back to work.
3. Have you ever had to go back to work when the world is crashing down around you? Nehemiah did and it would be for his benefit.
4. He knew he was in great despair, but went on with life! “I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before (v.1).”
ILLUSTRATION: [Koinonia—Part 2 (February 14), from Celebrate! Daily Devotions for the Spirit-Filled Life, Edited by Jack Hayford, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1992]
Besides a mutual sharing of resources implied in the word koinonia, there is also an implication of “public-ness.” If we are to walk in the light of our Lord, there will be something of public-ness in our lives with one another. What does this mean?
Many of us are afraid to share what is inside our hearts for fear of being rejected. We fear “going public” with our weaknesses and failings. Our fellowship as believers and children of the light is supposed to dispel fear and allow us to be transparent, weak, vulnerable, and still be accepted by one another.
If there is anything John writes about, it is love. Our love for the Lord is the basis of our love for one another. And our love for one another is the basis of this ability to be transparent. Do we love? Are we reaching out? Are we living openly and transparent? Are we trustworthy enough to allow others to “go public”?
Contributed by: A. Todd Coget
B. TRANSPARENCY IS REVEALING YOURSELF
1. Now, for some unstated reason, the King knew that Nehemiah was not sick! So, the king asks, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart (v. 2).”
2. Nehemiah did not hide his true emotions from the king. He could have just held his chin high and acted as if nothing were wrong, but being transparent demands that we allow others to know how we are and what we are thinking.
3. This takes great courage. Nehemiah teaches us that being transparent is a lot frightening: “I was very much afraid (v. 2b).”
4. Not only is Nehemiah willing to reveal himself to others, he is honest with himself! This is Kingdom building begins!! I CALL THIS BEING REAL!!
ILLUSTRATION: [It’s Over Your Head, Citation: C.D. Monismith, Salem, Ore. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."]
One quarter while teaching an adult Sunday school class, I decided, it is time to be up-to-date and innovative. I need to try something new for our class. We were studying one of the Old Testament books. I found an overhead projector and tried to teach myself how to use it. Then I wrote an outline on an overhead transparency to display for the class. When Sunday morning came, I had the projector all set up.
At the right moment in the lesson, I flipped on the overhead. The beautiful outline flashed on the wall for all to see. To emphasize a significant spiritual truth in the passage, I grabbed one of the special markers, walked over and started writing in bold letters on the outline. The class burst out laughing. Why are they laughing? I thought to myself. This is the crucial point! Then it hit me. I was writing on the wall.
It seems I had been a little unclear on the overhead concept. The class would not let me forget it. In fact, for many weeks they would not allow me to remove my brilliant insight from the wall. Contributed by: A. Todd Coget
TRUTH: WHEN WE ARE REAL WITH OURSELVES, WE CAN BE REAL WITH OTHERS!
QUESTIONS: ARE WE REAL WITH OURSELVES? ARE WITH REAL WITH OTHERS?
II. KINGDOM BUILDING MOVES THROUGH PRAYER AND PETITION VV. 4B-8
A. PRAYER AND PETITION STARTS WITH GOD!
1. Nehemiah knew that he was prayed up (Chapter 1: 4-11)!
2. BUT, was he through with prayer?
3. Nehemiah knew that something besides praying had to be done, but he also knew that unless the Lord builds the house, it is builders Labor in Vain (PS. 127:1).
4. Nehemiah teaches us that even when it is time to go to work, we need to pray one more time: “Then I prayed to the God of Heaven, and I answered the King (vs. 4&5).”
ILLUSTRATION: What Prayer Is… Prayer is coming into the presence of God…Prayer is entering the throne room of the KING of kings and LORD of lords…Prayer is taking our concerns to the one who cares for me, Prayer is to stand on holy ground… Prayer is communicating with the creator of the world… (the one spoke this world into existence with a word…mountains, oceans, stars…) Prayer is a child talking to His Father…Prayer is bringing our hurts to the father of compassion and the God of all comfort…Prayer is reaching out to our redeemer…Prayer is crying out to the rock that is higher than we are… Prayer is calling out to the only one who can save us… Prayer is touching the one who loves us with an unfailing & unquenchable love…Prayer is bringing our questions to the one who has the answers Prayer is reaching out to the NEVER; tired, confused, afraid or taken by surprise God…Prayer is connecting our lives with the ALL knowing, ALL present – and ALL powerful KING of kings… Prayer is coming near to God…Moses told the people in Dt. 4:7; “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way our Lord is near us whenever we pray to him…”
B. PRAYER AND PETION INVOLVES OTHERS!
1. Now that Nehemiah has gotten things squared away with God, he knows he will need the help of others! We always start with God and HE will always lead us to others!! 2. Look at verse 5 with me. Nehemiah never presumes or assumes that he could just demand his way. “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.” 3. Now, this is no small request. He wants to rebuild a nations capital and is asking the king who was a part tarring down that nation! Not only is this a political issue, but Nehemiah is going to need some time off from work!
4. VERSE 6 IS ANSWERED PRAYER!! IT PAYS TO PRAY!!
5. NOW Nehemiah can see the Hand of God at work, so he asks for a lot more (VERSES 7-8)!
ILLUSTRATION: Origin of Taps -
“Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach, the captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. However, out of respect for the father, they did say he could have one musician play.
The captain chose a bugler, and he asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth’s uniform. This wish was granted, the haunting melody we now know as “Taps,” used at military funerals, was born. Source: Pulpit Helps (July 2001) article written by: Diane O. Sides Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO Contributed by: Jeff Kolk
TRUTH: WHEN WE SEEK GOD AS OUR HELP, HE WILL USE OTHERS TO HELP US!
QUESTIONS: DO WE SEEK GOD FIRST? ARE WE WILLING TO ASK OTHERS FOR HELP? ARE WE WILLING TO HELP OTHERS??
III. KINGDOM BUILDING DEMANDS WORK 9-10
A. WORK MEANS I GO V. 9!
1. From the beginning, Nehemiah does not throw this work off on anyone else. He begins with himself (verse 5).
2. Yes, Nehemiah needed lots of help from others, but he would not resist his place in the work. After the King gave Nehemiah the needed letters, “So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the kings letters (v.9).”
3. What is exciting about this text is the remainder of verse 9, “The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.”
4. When God sends us out to do a task, to build HIS KINGDOM, HE sends us ARMED AND DANGEROUS!!
5. Yes, we must take ownership of the work first, but when we do, God takes OWNERSHIP OF US. HE PROTECTS HIS OWN!!
B. WORK MEANS BENEFITING OTHERS V. 10!
1. Motive is always an issue, isn’t it? Why did Nehemiah put his back into the work of the Kingdom? Did he just want to look good?
2. Nehemiah had it made. He lived in the Palace. Why did he concern himself with those that lived many miles away? Why not just live his own life and enjoy his own success? 3. All we know is that Nehemiah knew the living God of heaven. In so doing, Nehemiah was compelled to put his shoulder to the plow and work for the Kingdom of His God! 4. Really, thus far, we only know what others were thinking: “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites (verse 10).”
5. What we learn about Nehemiah is that God had given him a plan and that he had an agenda and it was to promote the welfare of the Israelites.
6. God always has a plan for HIS KINGDOM and HIS PLAN always includes our working the plan!
ILLUSTRATION: Someone has estimated that the average member of the church has heard 6,000 sermons, 8,000 congregational songs and led zero people to Jesus Christ! Here is the way the problem stacks up in a Church with 200 members:
20 are too old to work, that leaves 180 left to work, but of the rest, 18 are too timid to accept much responsibility that leaves 162 left to work, but 12 are out of town or away for school, so that leaves 150 left to work, but 25 of those work long hours six or seven days a week, so that leaves 125 left to work, but 20 of those are tied down with children that leaves 105 left to work, but 20 of those are unable to work because of poor health, that leaves 85 left to work, but 55 are unfaithful, do not attend regularly, or don’t care... that leaves 30 left to work, but 20 of those will attend church...but they refuse to work... that leaves 10 left to work, 8 of those are very tired of doing all the work and have asked to be relieved. That leaves two people, you and me... But I am too busy with other things, so you do the work. (author unknown) Contributed by: Larry Brincefield
TRUTH: GOD HAS A PLAN AND IT WILL INCLUDE OUR WORK!
QUESTION: ARE WE WILLING TO WORK FOR THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD?
CONCLUSION: As we continue to think about Kingdom Building, I hope that a small desire is created in our hearts. I hope that our eyes are open to a new reality. I hope and pray that God will speak to each of us through HIS word and that each of us will take ownership of the reality of the Kingdom of our GOD! My hope is that we will pray together: THY KINGDOM COME THY WILL BE DONE HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. I also hope that not only will we pray this prayer in earnest, but we will live out this prayer as we work together for HIS KINGDOM ALONE.
AS Ron comes to lead us in “I Will Serve Thee,” will this be our commitment today for the Kingdom.
BENEDICTION: 2 THESSALONIANS 2: 16-17
