Sermon Central
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The Ministry Of The Church - Pt. 3 Series
Contributed by Dan Thompkins on Sep 19, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: In part three of repairing the gates, we must allow the Lord to raise up the builders in the local assembly for the ministry of teaching His Word and in the greatly needed area of intercession. By doing so, we will start seeing His blueprint for the churc
The Ministry of the Church – Pt.3
The Church: The Gate of God Series (Nehemiah) – 1/13/02
Soul’s Harbour Ministry
Conway, S.C.
In part three of repairing the gates, we must allow the Lord to raise up the builders in the local assembly for the ministry of teaching His Word and in the greatly needed area of intercession. By doing so, we will start seeing His blueprint for the church unfold before our eyes. As pastors, it is not God’s plan for us to do it alone, but to oversee the work of the Lord. Let’s do our part, not to hinder, but to encourage the work of the Lord and to make room for his “gates of ministry” in each of our local settings.
I. The Water Gate: The Ministry of God’s Word – (v. 26)
A. The Builders….the Nethinims
1. Nethinims = Temple servants; Josh. 9:21-27 (They were hewers of wood; drew water for the House of God)
2. Once considered as outcasts, they separated themselves unto God and entered a covenant (Neh. 10:28,29)
3. These supplied the water to the congregation as they brought it in through the Water Gate
B. This is the Restoration of the Water by the Word of God (Teaching)
1. Ezra the scribe: The Father of Hermeneutics
· Hermeneutics = “The art and science of Biblical interpretation.” Dr. Ian Bond CLST 10/2001
a. Nehemiah 8:1-3: Three things happened when he read the Word
1. (v. 5) They “opened the book.”
2. (v. 7) The “people were instructed.”
3. (v. 8) The “Word was made clear.”
2. Jesus, “The greatest hermeneutics teacher of all time.” Dr. Ian Bond
a. Example – (READ) Luke 24:27,31-32, 44-45 On the Road to Emmaus (Cleopas & ??)
1. “He opened the scriptures” to them as they walked together
2. The hearer must understand it, or else it’s just empty words; the teacher’s duty is to make the text plain
3. There were four (4) principal reactions to the Word
a. (vv. 5-6) They “worshipped” (shawkaw’ – to depress, to prostrate) (proskune’o – lady anointed his feet)
b. (v. 9) They “wept.”
c. (10-12) They “rejoiced.”
d. (v. 12) They “obeyed.”
Ø “You’ll never get victory over sin until you allow God’s Word to control your mind and life.” Dr. Ron Cottle
II. The Horse Gate: The Ministry of Burden Bearers – (v. 28)
A. Of such importance; before it was destroyed, it was prophesied by Jeremiah to be restored. (Jeremiah 31:40)
1. The place where beasts of burden went in & out; they carried burdens that were too heavy for men (Note: i.e. The DRAFT horses of our day)
B. This is the Ministry of Intercessors in the local Church
1. Gal. 6:2 – “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
a. Bear = “to take up w/the idea of taking away”; burdens = “a heavy, oppressive load that one is falling under.”
2. Note the obligation…Exod. 23:5 assisting a donkey getting on his feet when his load has weighed him down
3. As horses ease the burden of men, so intercessors (Hebrew = paga - “to go between”) ease the burdens of others and help bring them to a place of wholeness
4. A deeper meaning = “to light upon” (denoting purpose and expectancy of change in the situation)
b. Dutch Sheets – The Guatemala expedition
1. He visited a hospital ward…the beds were 3 ft. apart…one a lady had T.B…another lady lay there with her feet /hands drawn up, laying in a fetal position.
2. Years earlier, doctors had accidentally severed a nerve in her spine causing this and paralysis.
3. They prayed for her and moved on to the next person.
4. All of a sudden she started screaming, “Meelagro, Meelagro!!” (“Miracle” ) She jumped out of bed!!!
5. God was meeting (paga) with these ladies as these men were interceding for them
c. Abraham pleaded for Sodom (Gen. 18)
d. Syro-phoenician woman for her daughter – Matt. 15:22
1. Note… the intercessor takes on a sense of urgency that only the afflicted can possibly comprehend
2. It is the duty of the intercessor to arrange a meeting between God and the one for whom they’re praying
e. Mk. 2:4 Taking someone to the rooftop in order to see Jesus – we must arrange a meeting
Conclusion: As pastors, it is not God’s plan for us to do it alone, but to oversee the work of the Lord. Let’s do our part, not to hinder, but to encourage the work of the Lord and to make room for his “gates of ministry” (his people) in each of our local settings.
