With The Help Of God (Revised)

With the Help of God

Prairie Baptist Church – 1/10/10

P.M. Service

Text: Nehemiah 6:15-19

Key verse: Nehemiah 6:16 - And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

Premise: With God helping us we will get the job done that He requires and fulfill His will in and for our lives.

The Introduction

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn’t move.

Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn’t respond.

Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.

Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.

"Well... Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!"

We all need the help of other and especially of God so we don’t feel like we’re going it alone.

(Discuss text)

God needs to be in the center of everything in our lives and church, if we are to do His work.

Let’s look at three realities that Nehemiah teaches us when God helps us.

Body

1. With the Help of God The Work Will Get Finished – 6:15

A. One man said, “My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.”

B. John 15:5 – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

i. If God is not in the work, than the work will not prosper

ii. What you do for God is God’s work

iii. It took three traits to make it work for Nehemiah and it will work the same everywhere.

C. It takes teamwork

i. Nehemiah 4:6 - So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

ii. In an old Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demanded that her brother Linus change TV channels and then threatened him with her fist if he didn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asked Linus. "These five fingers," said Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." Linus replied "What channel do you want?"

D. It takes prayer

i. Nehemiah was a man of fervent prayer and got results

a. Nehemiah 1:4 – he prayed before the God of heaven,

b. Nehemiah 2:4 – So I prayed to the God of heaven.

c. Nehemiah 4:9 – Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God

ii. We need to be dedicated prayer warriors if we want to see great things happen - James 5:16 - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

E. It takes dedication

i. Some just don’t have a stomach for the fight

ii. Nehemiah and his work crew stood together against overwhelming odds.

iii. Dedication means approaching every task for God with confidence in God - 1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

iv. Reward comes with staying with the stuff - Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

2. With the Help of God The Enemy Will Be Frustrated – 6:16

A. A small storeowner was being pressured to sell his store to the owners of a large department store who had bought every building on the block, except his. Frustrated by the man’s refusal to sell, they eventually opened their huge store on either side of the small one, with a big banner running from one side to the other, proclaiming in huge letters "GRAND OPENING." Feeling equally frustrated, the small storeowner did finally outsmart the large department store. Below the grand opening sign, across the front of his small store, the man put up a small banner over his door: "MAIN ENTRANCE." There are ways to frustrate the enemy.

B. Matthew 19:26 - But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Jer. 32:27)