The
First Steps Are The Best!
When Believers Get a Vision
Nehemiah 2:9-20
February
11, 2018 AM
Pastor
Craig Ledbetter
Bible
Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
The
First Steps Are The Best!
When Believers Get a Vision
Nehemiah 2:9-20
February
11, 2018 AM Pastor
Craig Ledbetter Bible
Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland |
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I.
Introduction
(Nehemiah 2:20)
A.
Most people
are used to how they live
1.
“When in Rome, do as
the Romans do…” is what people say
2.
They see their way of
living as normal – just like everyone around them
3.
Not knowing that they
are living out of the will of God, away from God, ruined lives
B.
But sometimes,
some individuals see more – see themselves as a mess
C.
If any of us
are going to start to live differently than we are used to living, it
means that we will have to take a step in a direction we have never gone
before – be uncertain how things are going to turn out – be no longer in
control
D.
THAT step will
often be the hardest step we ever take – and we will see it is if it is
straight off a cliff
1.
We would rather the
devil we know, instead of the devil we don’t know
2.
Well, there is a THIRD
option – trusting the LORD you know! And stepping out in obedience
faith, knowing it will work for good, simply because God will help us!
E.
Nehemiah wants
to rebuild what sin had ruined
F.
But he needs
the people to want to rebuild – he can’t do it alone!
G.
That’s where
we pick up Nehemiah in chapter 2…
II.
Review
(Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:4,5)
A.
Jerusalem is
in Ruin
since 606 BC
1.
Surrounded and
destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar in 606 BC
2.
No stone was left
standing – all wealth and money and tools were taken away to far away
Babylon
3.
It was God’s judgment
– not some random event in history
a.
A long time coming
b.
The nation had been clearly
WARNED by God,
and by prophets
B.
Zerubbabel &
Ezra headed up the rebuilding of the Temple 70 years later in 536 BC
1.
Only to face delay
after delay
– almost never got finished rebuilding the Temple
2.
And the
broken city walls were never touched
C.
Worship was
hard, and God’s people were
just discouraged
D.
So many of the
Jews were content living in the ruin of an abandoned city
1.
Constantly being
robbed of their
crops and hard labours
2.
Mocked and bullied by
the surrounding nations
3.
No hope of ever being
a free nation again
4.
They had settled that
this was the kind of life that they would only ever have!
E.
Someone Had to
Take the Lead
1.
Nehemiah had to act –
this is what First Responders do (like Nurses and Doctors, and Garda,
Paramedics, Firefighters) – they don’t hesitate – they ACT
2.
Total self-sacrifice –
Jesus called it “denying yourself” (Mt 16:24)
3.
Have an absolute call
to do what you are doing
4.
Commitment to the
cause – to the call – to the need
5.
Stay to the Plan
a.
Nehemiah made a plan
b.
Was
working through the plan – never gives up –
stays the course
c.
Hard work, and little
results at first – that’s expected
6.
Surround yourself with
people who will help you
a.
Hey! Surround yourself
with great men – people who will HELP you accomplish what God wants done
– not constantly drag you and watch you do things all alone
b.
No bragging – ever –
except about God’s helping you
c.
If anything gets
accomplished, it will be because God and others helped you
7.
Have/get
a track record of God’s hand and blessing in your life.
a.
Have some small
victories that show God’s hand in your life
b.
Like answered prayers
c.
Like supernatural
provision
F.
So Nehemiah
heads off to Jerusalem to rebuild the protective walls and gates around
Jerusalem and to restore his nation, ONE BRICK AT A TIME!
III.
Message
A.
“I Came”
(Nehemiah 2:9)
1.
Travelled 1,000 km
from Shushan in Persia, all the way to the rubble and ruin of Jerusalem
a.
Normally we go on long
trips to a holiday
b.
Or to a new exciting
job
c.
Not very often to
where we will have to start completely from scratch
d.
Kind of like becoming
a church planting missionary
e.
Or starting a new
ministry in church – starting with nothing
2.
This was a BIG
accomplishment for Nehemiah
a.
He had grown up in
Shushan, in Persia
b.
As a captive of
Babylon
c.
Working in a dangerous
job position that was cushy and pleasant
d.
And here he was,
arriving into his own homecountry of Judah
3.
What brought him here?
Five Things…
a.
Pressure - A God-given
burden, deep pressure inside to DO something about what was wrong in
Jerusalem
b.
Prayer – loads of it.
And fasting, and seeking to know the will of God, and not just his own
heart
c.
Permission – didn’t
just up and leave, but got confirmation, by getting supernatural
permission from the king Artaxerxes
d.
Preparation – made a
plan, and then fully prepared to complete the impossible task of
rebuilding the city of Jerusalem
e.
Parting! He had to put
distance between himself and the Palace – he had to get moving! And he
did! Travelled 1,000km!
B.
Protected the Whole Way
(Nehemiah 2:9)
1.
Nehemiah had asked for
protection – not arrogant, thinking he didn’t need protection
2.
It is very good to ask
for and have protection
a.
Paul had protection on
his most dangerous journey (Acts 23:17-24)
b.
Angels are given for
our protection (Psalm 34:7) – how unaware we are of their efforts
C.
The Enemy Was Upset
(Nehemiah 2:10)
1.
The coming of Nehemiah
and his few men seriously grieved the enemies of Israel
a.
The very fact that
Nehemiah had come, and was just present, WITH authority, really grieved
the enemy
b.
They knew something
was a foot! Nehemiah did not tell anybody there what he was planning –
not yet
2.
Oh that OUR lives and
plans upset OUR enemy!
3.
We don’t upset the
devil because we are no threat to him nor his devices!
4.
Who was the enemy?
a.
Sanballat the Horonite
– a Moabite governor
b.
Tobiah the servant –
an Ammonite governor of Ammon – probably the second in charge
c.
These two were like
Mafia bosses over the people that lived in Judah and Jerusalem
d.
There were more
enemies than just these two, but these two stand out
5.
They hated everything
about the Jews (sound familiar). And hated anything that worked towards
their happiness and blessing
6.
These guys will show
up again and again – they don’t just go away!
D.
A Silent Survey
(Nehemiah 2:11-16)
1.
Came into to Jerusalem
City
a.
Nehemiah has a small
group with him – not very noticeable, nor attracting attention
b.
Didn’t say why to
anybody
2.
Just started walking
around – mainly at night, so as to not attract attention
a.
He only had one mule
or maybe a horse – everyone else walked on foot around the city walls
b.
Privately viewing all
the work that would be involved
3.
Surveyed for 3 days
and 3 nights
a.
Valley Gate
b.
Dragon Well – a water
fountain that water poured out of that looked like a dragon
c.
Dung Port – where the
city waste was carried out and dumped
d.
Fountain Gate – a
gateway leading out to another water fountain
e.
The King’s Pool
f.
The Brook Kidron that
went alongside the city
g.
And then back again –
he had seen enough
4.
It is one thing to
look at maps and drawings of a plan – it is another to actually SEE the
job that needed to be done
a.
He just let everything
sink in, and affect him even deeper
b.
Adjusting and fine
tuning his plans
5.
Probably did a lot of
praying – seeking God’s wisdom and understanding to accomplish the task
ahead
6.
That brings me to an
important thought
a.
I have found that most
people rely on the abilities and even the spirituality of other people
1)
Their pastor
2)
Their wife’s walk with
God
3)
The devotion of their
parents to God
b.
So, they DON’T really
NEED to pray – don’t need God right now
c.
So, when things don’t
go well
1)
And the company lets
them go
2)
Or the husband or wife
falls into sin
3)
Or when your parents
let you down
4)
You will find yourself
so angry!
5)
But the problem was
that you left it to THEM to depend upon God and get God’s help and God’s
wisdom!
d.
The truth is, if
someone is a constant critic of everyone else, it is ONLY because they
have been let down by everyone else, and never spent any length of time
in REAL prayer for those they rely upon!
E.
The Call to Rebuild
(Nehemiah 2:17,18)
1.
Then Came the Day…
a.
Waited for the right
time to announce his plan
b.
Today was THE day!
c.
No turning back now!
d.
Nehemiah stood on the
top of some pile of rubble
e.
Gathered as many
people as were passing through the city streets
2.
This was a call
a.
To GOD’S people – not
to the world outside, but to the people of God
b.
To ALL of God’s people
– to the congregation – like a church
1)
NOT to the wealthy
2)
Not to the smart
3)
Not to the talented
4)
But for ALL to do
their part
5)
No exemptions!
c.
For them to open their
eyes
1)
See just how LOW they
were living
2)
There was no one that
wasn’t living ruined lives in the rubble – let that sink in
3)
They had gotten so
used to living this way, that they were blind to it
4)
Willingly ignorant –
willingly closed their eyes to the piles of rubble and ruin around them
a)
Most families are so
used to the arguing and fighting, they can’t imagine what a marriage
would look like without it!
b)
Most parents are so
used to their children and teenagers telling them what they are going to
do, that they couldn’t imagine ever being in charge of their homes!
c)
Most addicts are so
used to the lying, the stealing, the stinking, the needles, and the
constant drowsiness that they don’t remember a time when they were clean
and actually happy
5)
The job of a pastor is
to OPEN people’s eyes to their own sin, and the consequences of it
d.
To decide to HATE the
rubble – real repentance
1)
Actually become sick
of it
2)
What a great thing to
pray
3)
For you to detest your
sinful way of living
4)
A cigarette in your
hand
5)
Porn on your phone
6)
Pill in your mouth
7)
Bottle in your cabinet
8)
Oh that God’s people
would become physically sick of their sin
a)
Hos 2:6
Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make
a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
b)
Pro 20:17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall
be filled with gravel.
e.
To rise ABOVE the
rubble
1)
To want MORE than than
just to survive under the rubble and trash
2)
Not quit it
3)
Not leave it
4)
But to rebuild what
sin and time has destroyed (Cf 1Peter 5:8)
f.
To do a good work
(2:18)
1)
Jesus Christ began a
good work in YOU (Philp 1:6)
g.
Challenged that small
gathering to BUILD AGAIN WHAT SIN HAD RUINED!
F.
The Response (Nehemiah
2:18)
1.
They said SIX words “Let
us rise up and build”
a.
Without the resolve to
fulfil those six words, nothing will ever get done for God!
b.
We need to express
these six words OURSELVES
2.
“THEY said…” - Not
just one man
a.
Not just one man
talking here – but everybody spoke at once!
b.
Very public
c.
They spoke to one
another – not just to Nehemiah
d.
Such Unity
e.
Commitment to the
cause
f.
Made sure they were
loud enough for the enemy to hear! Not afraid!
3.
Strengthened their
hands – encouraged each other, became as ONE MAN!
a.
Became strong together
b.
EXAMPLE of a Tug-o-War
rope – Each aditional hand strengthens the other hands
4.
This was a great day
a.
Excitement spread
throughout the city
b.
It had been a very
long time since joy had been heard in the streets of Jerusalem
c.
Maybe the same in your
home, or even in your heart!
d.
It is easy to get a
vision, get excited
e.
It is much harder to
STAY excited and stay the course
f.
They will discover
this
1)
Don’t be in the
delusion that how you feel is your reality
2)
Feelings are wonderful
and a very important part of your well being
3)
But let the joy come,
and let it go
4)
Just stay the course
folks
g.
Jesus came along, and
just asked His disciples, to Follow Him, no matter the cost
5.
By-the-way, there was
a storm brewing on the horizon – always will show up as you endeavour to
rebuild!
G.
The Opposition
(Nehemiah 2:19)
1.
A Growing Opposition –
now more enemies showed up
a.
Sanballat
b.
Tobiah
c.
The Ammonite
d.
Geshem the Arabian
2.
A Powerful Opposition
– they were not just idle threats
a.
The enemy were very
powerful over the lives of all the people
b.
Had been in power now
for 160 years!
c.
Like demons in a
heart, mind, life
3.
These were BULLIES of
the worst sort
a.
They won’t just walk
away
b.
Will put up a great
fight
c.
Just like when Jesus
cast out devils, the devils would tear the person – didn’t go quietly!
4.
The enemy began their
mockery
a.
Despised them – hated
everything about Nehemiah and the Jews
b.
Laughed at Nehemiah
and the small crowd of excited believers – to scorn
1)
Laughed at their
smallness
2)
Nehemiah and his small
group of followers looked like Jesus and His disciples
3)
Like the Pharisees did
to Jesus on the cross
c.
Questioned their
motives
d.
Lied about them
e.
Tried to scare them by
threatening them – valid threats
f.
They had been
successful in the past with Ezra (another message in a few weeks)
5.
But thankfully it was
not going to work this day!
a.
Opposition,
persecution, obstacles OUGHT to unify us, organise us, excite us
b.
Evidently we are doing
something GOOD and right!
H.
The Courage and Confidence of the Believer
(Nehemiah 2:20)
1.
Here is our Theme
Verse for the whole year…
2.
Where did these
people, these men, these families expect to find the courage to do this
impossible task?
a.
Pr 28:1 The
wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion
b.
In the God of heaven “The
God of heaven, he will prosper us”
1)
Find courage in God’s
blessings and help – in whatever ways God chooses! He has intervened in
amazing ways throughout history
2)
Josh 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be
strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the LORD thy God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest.
3)
1Sam 30:6
And David was greatly distressed;
… the soul of all the people was grieved… but David encouraged himself
in the LORD his God.
4)
1Chr 28:20
And David said to Solomon his son,
Be strong and of good courage, … fear not, nor be dismayed: for
the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee;
he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee...
5)
Just having God’s
mighty hand resting upon us
6)
Like He did on Moses’
life
7)
It was important to
just trust the promises of their God – that’s a BELIEVER
c.
In their RESOLVE –
morale is 80% of any victory
1)
Make up your mind what
you are going to do
2)
You will find courage
in that decision – not before!
d.
In their uniqueness
from the surrounding culture (Deut 7:6)
1)
The world around them
had no portion in Jerusalem – owned nothing there! It ALL belonged to
GOD and to God’s people! Still true today!
2)
Those demonic men had
no place in these homes anymore, or in the HEARTS or MINDS or NATION of
Israel!!!
3)
They had NO right to
be there anymore
4)
No memorial to enjoy –
this was THEIR home, their city, their history
5)
The surrounding world
had no part of their culture or lives
6)
Deut 7:6
For thou art an holy people unto
the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special
people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the
earth.
e.
So, there was no need
for all the ecumenical mixing with unbelievers that goes on all the time
today trying to get things done – Christians do it together
IV.Reflections
and Invitation
A.
What brought
to this place TODAY?
1.
Pressure? A God-given
burden, deep pressure inside to DO something about what is wrong in your
life and home and heart?
2.
Prayer? Loads of it.
And fasting, and seeking to know the will of God?
3.
Purpose/Determination?
To live above the rubble?
B.
Take Good Look
at YOUR Project to Fix
1.
Do you only worry
about fixing broken smartphones?
2.
Take A Silent Survey
OF…
a.
Your way of thinking –
2Cor 10:5
b.
Your anger
c.
Your home
d.
Your own spiritual
life – in ruins
e.
Your testimony
f.
Your debt
g.
Your addiction
h.
Your children
3.
Don’t talk to anybody
until you have a burden to take the lead and start rebuilding
4.
Let everything sink
in, and affect you deeply
5.
Start making a plan
6.
Then take the time
needed to read about why things are in rubble – there is ALWAYAS
history, so find out what went wrong
7.
Adjust and fine tune
your plan
8.
Do a lot of praying –
seek God’s wisdom and understanding to accomplish the task ahead
9.
YOU need to depend
upon God for a miracle in your home and family
C.
The Call to
Rebuild is
1.
To GOD’S people – not
to the world outside, but to the people of God
2.
To ALL of God’s people
– to the congregation – like a church
a.
NOT to the wealthy
b.
Not to the smart
c.
Not to the talented
d.
But for ALL to do
their part
e.
No exemptions!
3.
For YOU to open your
eyes
a.
See just how LOW you
are living
b.
There is no one that
isn’t living ruined lives in the rubble – let that sink in
c.
Have you gotten so
used to living this way, that you, like the Jews are blind to it?
d.
Don’t be WILLINGLY
ignorant – closing your eyes to the piles of rubble and ruin around you
1)
Most families are so
used to the arguing and fighting, they can’t imagine what a marriage
would look like without it!
2)
Most parents are so
used to their children and teenagers telling them what they are going to
do, that they couldn’t imagine ever being in charge of their homes!
3)
Most addicts are so
used to the lying, the stealing, the stinking, the needles, and the
constant drowsiness that they don’t remember a time when they were clean
and actually happy
e.
The job of a pastor is
to OPEN people’s eyes to their own sin, and the consequences of it – I
PRAY THAT I HAVE CRACKED SOME OPEN!
4.
To decide to HATE the
rubble – real repentance
a.
Actually become sick
of it
b.
What a great thing to
pray
c.
For you to detest your
sinful way of living
d.
A cigarette in your
hand
e.
Porn on your phone
f.
Pill in your mouth
g.
Bottle in your cabinet
h.
Oh that God’s people
would become physically sick of their sin
5.
To rise ABOVE the
rubble
a.
To want MORE than just
to survive under the rubble and trash
b.
Not quit it
c.
Not leave it
d.
But to rebuild what
sin and time has destroyed (Cf 1Peter 5:8)
6.
To do a good work
(2:18)
a.
Jesus Christ began a
good work in YOU (Philp 1:6)
7.
To BUILD AGAIN – this
will be real revival!
V.
Final
Questions…
A.
What will be
YOUR Response to this Call?
1.
Six words “Let us rise
up and build”
2.
Without the resolve to
fulfil those six words, nothing will ever get done for God!
3.
We need to express
these six words OURSELVES
B.
Someone Has to
Take the Lead – WILL IT BE YOU?
1.
Pride will keep almost
all of us from taking the lead to fix whatever is broken at home, or in
our nation
2.
Only Self-sacrifice
can repair a broken home/world (Jesus called it denying yourself)
3.
Become committed to
the cause – to the call – to the need
4.
make a plan
5.
Works through the plan
– never gives up – stays the course that the BIBLE lays out
6.
Hard work, and little
results at first
7.
Surround yourself with
great men / women – people who will HELP you accomplish what God wants
done – not constantly drag you and watch you do things all alone
C.
Is anyone
willing to rebuild and restore YOUR HOME, your life, ONE BRICK AT A
TIME? One Step at a time? According to THIS plan? The Bible way?
D.
God will make
a way, if you are willing to walk it!!! Will you believe that?
E.
By the way,
there are SOME things that no one can fix – only JESUS
1.
Your sin record – no
one can go back and erase them
2.
Only Jesus can pay for
them all – that’s exactly what He did on the cross!
3.
Ask Him to apply that
forgiveness to YOUR broken heart, your shameful guilt, your sinful
record
4.
And be born again
today! |