The Hope That Comes From Jesus Series

Series: 3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope [#15]

THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM JESUS

Nehemiah 3:16

Introduction:

This morning, we are going to continue in our series from chapter 3 verse 16 of each Book of the Bible. The most familiar of these is John 3:16, which sums up this sermon very well. John 3:16 is a verse that gives us hope; but each of the 3:16’s have a message of hope. This morning’s text comes from Nehemiah 3. That may surprise you, just like it did me; but the Lord needs each of us to see that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection should be celebrated every day.

Christians, I want us to understand this morning that we have been left here to take care of the Master’s business and He is coming back soon. How will He find us? Right now, I want to tell you that the spiritual walls and gates around our Nation, State, City, and Church have been burned down and destroyed by the enemy. The enemy has come in and stolen what is not his. He has stolen our morals, ethics, and principles in which we were founded. He has robbed us of our children, grandchildren, church family, marriages, etc…

We have allowed the enemy to cause us to feel powerless, vulnerable, scared, and without hope; but God has sent me here today to tell you, “We have hope, we have a future, we have the Holy Spirit power, we have no need to fear, and we need to rebuild the walls and gates around our Church, City, State, and Nation”.

We find in the Book of Nehemiah that God has used regular people to rebuild walls and gates around what the enemy has destroyed. As we look at the gates that Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding; let us begin to rebuild the walls and gates around what belongs to God’s people.

Nehemiah 3:1 (NIV)

“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.”

There is hope in…

1. Jesus’ death.

The Sheep Gate is the most important gate around the city because it was where the sheep used for sacrifice were brought in. Those sheep that were brought through this gate to be offered had to be examined thoroughly for any blemishes or defects before they could ever enter the city. Only those who appeared perfect could be considered as worthy of offering to God. Once they were into the city and presented at the temple, they were examined even more closely to insure that nothing would disqualify them for use as a sacrificial lamb. The Law of Moses, as given to him by God, stated that only a perfect lamb would be acceptable by God as an offering for the sin of Israel.

The Sheep Gate is a symbol of the very 1st experience we encounter in our Christian life. It is not through our own righteousness and our own blood, but by the perfect, precious Blood of the Lamb. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. On the day of his crucifixion Jesus carried his cross out of the city, passing through the Sheep Gate. Just as many thousands of sheep had passed through this gate, the Lamb of God passed also.

It is important to note that this was the only gate that was never bolted shut.

[Invitation: “Jesus Paid It All”]

[Lord’s Supper]

(Pass Bread)

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NIV)

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

(Prayer & Eat Bread)

(Pass Juice)

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NIV)

“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

Nehemiah 3:3 (NIV)

“The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.”

There is hope in…

2. Evangelism.

The next gate to be built was the Fish Gate. The fishermen from Galilee brought their catch through this gate to be sold. We need to see this morning that after we are saved there should be a desire to share Jesus with others. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to make them fishers of men.