What Do You Want to Do?
When God
Pushes You To Do Something
Nehemiah 2:1-9
February 4, 2018 AM
Pastor
Craig Ledbetter
Bible
Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
What Do You Want to Do?
When God
Pushes You To Do Something
Nehemiah 2:1-9
February 4, 2018 AM Pastor
Craig Ledbetter Bible
Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
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I.
Introduction
(Nehemiah 2:4)
A.
There is
something amazing about someone who will throw away his chances for a
great career, to take on the burden of affliction, labour, sacrifice,
and abuse
B.
THAT is just
what Nehemiah was about to do – risk everything he had carefully built
and accomplished
C.
All so that he
might build some things that were far more important – far more valuable
D.
To Nehemiah,
the ruins of Jerusalem were much more attractive than the splendours of
Shushan’s palace!
II.
Review
(Hebrews 13:3) “Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer
adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
A.
We are
working our way through the books of Nehemiah and Ezra – two “builders”
1.
Yes, these two men
spend their efforts rebuilding ruined things, like the ruined walls of
Jerusalem, and the Jewish Temple…
2.
But they show
almost 200 principles of how to rebuild and restore ruined lives!
3.
THINK ABOUT THAT!
These two Books of the Bible could help US fix some broken things in OUR
homes, lives, nation!!!
4.
That’s how I know
this Book, the Bible is of God – written under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit!
5.
NO ONE ever got
much of anything spiritual out of a modern builder’s manual, or
planner’s building code and regulation book
6.
But THIS Book?
Well, it has page after page of supernatural helps and instructions on
building lives and rebuilding ruined ones!
B.
In Chapter 1 of
Nehemiah, we have seen God prepare a man named Nehemiah for an
impossibly large task!
To leave everything and head up a team that was going to rebuild the
capital city of Jerusalem from amidst the rubble of its destruction 160
years earlier!
C.
In that same
chapter, we watched as Nehemiah was driven to his knees in absolute and
total dependency upon God, and surrender to His will. We saw just what
Prayer looks like!
D.
This morning,
Nehemiah is about to be pushed to start acting on his prayers now.
E.
And the goal is for
you and me to ask OURSELVES, “What are WE going to do?”
III.
Message
(Nehemiah 2:1-9a)
A.
A Day at the
Office (2:1)
1.
It’s the month of
Nisan
a.
Not the car –
that’s Nissan, which is a Jappanese word
b.
But the Jewish
month spanning March/April – the beginning of Spring
c.
It’s Passover
month
d.
Thoughts of the
supernatural deliverance from Egypt almost 1,000 years earlier
e.
Thoughts about how
most of the people of Israel were in Persia – still a diaspora
f.
That means it has
been four months since Nehemiah started praying and even fasting about
what to do in chapter 1
2.
Nehemiah has
gotten to work on time as usual
3.
Took his place
beside the king of the world at that time – Artaxerxes
4.
Made sure the wine
was safe – not poisoned – and then kept the kings cup full of wine all
day long.
a.
It couldn’t have
been a pleasant job, to taste the wine, literally wondering if your next
drink was going to be your last, but it was a very responsible job.
b.
It automatically
made him a confidant of the King, and he would share things in the
relaxed atmosphere of that relationship.
B.
Something is
Evidently Wrong (2:1,2)
1.
Nehemiah was
visibly sad
2.
It caught the
attention of the king
3.
It terrified
Nehemiah – why?
a.
Because you don’t
focus on yourself when around the king
b.
It could get you
fired
c.
The King of kings
is always there, and always noticing our hearts!
d.
But HUMAN kings,
and employers are not there to console us, or to hear about all our
problems – it is wonderful when they do care, and go out of their way to
make sure you are happy
4.
But instead of
lying, he just went ahead and risked everything and told the king
everything that was on his heart!
C.
“Something
Needs to be Done!” (2:3)
1.
I am sad because…
a.
Not because of
anything wrong in my life
b.
But, because the
beautiful capital city of my country Jerusalem…
1)
The place of all
my heritage – all the graves and sepulchres
2)
The beautiful city
of God,
c.
Lies in ruin – is
an empty wasteland of rubble for 160 years now!
1)
The walls are gone
2)
The gates are
burned
3)
The people are
constantly being robbed and abused and molested
d.
And no one is
doing anything about it!
2.
So, Why shouldn’t
I be sad?
3.
You would be too
if YOUR city here was gone!
4.
The pause must
have seemed like an eternity after Nehemiah blurted all of that out!
D.
Then King
Asked, “What Do You Want To Do About It?” (2:4)
1.
Huh? Could this
really be happening?
2.
Was the king
actually caring about the ruins of Jerusalem? A small far away city that
meant nothing to anyone important!
3.
Nehemiah then
quickly prayed (2:4) – he believed in PRAYER
a.
This was what he
had been praying for, for months
b.
And now the door
had swung all the way open
c.
It’s Now or never!
E.
Out Came the
Plan (2:5)
1.
You see, there has
been a time for prayer – and now was a time to ACT!
2.
“Send ME to Judah”
a.
SEND ME
b.
I am not going to
just up and quit and go do what “I” think I should do – like most
everyone else does
c.
I need YOU to have
the same burden that I have for this project, O king!
3.
“I want to go to
rebuild the city of Jerusalem” – WOW!
a.
Do you think
Nehemiah had everything all figured out?
b.
No – but he did
have a plan, and he just knew it needed to be done!
c.
AND, he knew how
long it would take
d.
He was ready for
Artaxerxes to ask how long it would take and when he would be back at
work
e.
Would have been a
no go if he had not thought enough ahead
4.
Asked for a leave
of absence – a sabbatical – a furlough
a.
He was not
quitting
b.
Just needed to
take the necessary time to rebuild the walls and gates
F.
The King
Respected Nehemiah (2:6,8)
1.
TRUSTED Nehemiah
a.
To do things right
b.
To actually
accomplish the job
c.
To come back when
the job was done
2.
The king greatly
RESPECTED Nehemiah – prized him as a counsellor, and as a benefit to his
life – Nehemiah was a blessing to be around!
a.
Knew that Nehemiah
was not malicious against Persia or the king – not trying to stir up
rebellion
b.
Showed that he
would miss Nehemiah
c.
Think about it…
the king was showing that he would “miss him” – What?
1)
Everyone is
dispensable around the king!
2)
He normally has
the best pick of peop[le to work for him!
3)
And yet, here was
king Artaxerxes wanting Nehemiah back!
d.
The king was going
to hold his position as cup bearer for as long as Nehemiah was going to
be away!
3.
Wouldn’t you like
to have such a boss!
G.
What Nehemiah
Needed Specifically… (2:7)
1.
Asked for four big
things
2.
PERMISSION to
leave his job and to go all the way to Jerusalem (1,000 km away)
3.
CONVEYANCE – the
ability to get there
a.
Asked for
transportation to take he and the many fellow workers to Jerusalem!
b.
Here was Nehemiah
asking outright for a huge number of horse and carriages to be freely
provided to carry all the people who would end up going to Jerusalem
4.
SUPPLIES – loads
of supplies: like food, and tools, and MONEY
5.
And for AUTHORITY
to do what he was wanting to do – he needed the authority in the king’s
name
a.
Not a lone ranger
like most people I know are
1)
Who don’t care
about rules, and have no authority over them
2)
Their wives live
in fear of what their husbands are going to try and do next
b.
No. Nehemiah knew
how important it was to work WITH his authority, not independent of him
6.
Remember, Nehemiah
was asking all this of a pagan king, not a follower of the God of Israel
a.
So, next time
ladies, when your stubborn husband is not doing what you want, make sure
you approach him with what you need, yes, but with proper appeal
b.
Same goes as a
teen
c.
Gentlemen, try it
on your authorities – YOUR employer, your pastor, your own parents!
H.
Surprise,
Surprise! The King Granted It ALL (2:8)
1.
Not out of the
goodness of the king’s own heart
2.
But because GOD
was in control of the king’s heart and mind in this! (Prov 21:1) “The
king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he
turneth it whithersoever he will.”
3.
Since Cyrus was
king, the kings of Persia had MIRACULOUSLY granted to the Jewish people:
a.
Their freedom from
captivity/slavery 90 years earlier
b.
The restoration of
their worship – their Temple was allowed to be rebuilt
c.
The entire set of
Jewish sacrifices were allowed again in Jerusalem
d.
Their Priests and
Levites were exempt from taxes!
e.
And now, they were
not only allowed to rebuild their city walls
f.
AND… king
Artaxerxes was going to help pay for it!
4.
The good hand of
“my” God, was involved in Nehemiah’s insignificant life
I.
Last Thought…
Nehemiah set out for Jerusalem right away (2:9a)
1.
So, he was able to
get going right away!
2.
Most of us would
have so many issues to get in order before we could ever start doing
some ministry
a.
Like getting your
wife’s permission
b.
Getting out of the
debt that is forcing you to work two jobs
c.
Getingt your kids
out of every sport-commitment imaginable
d.
And the list goes
on and on
3.
How FREE are you
Christian? Are you able to do whatever the Lord would burden you to do?
Notice all the ways Satan is trying to put God’s people under bondage
IV.Let’s
Review The Principles Nehemiah Showed Here
A.
Nehemiah’s Good
Testimony Paid Off – more than any university’s education, Nehemiah’s
own personal character and intergrity paid off the most in preparation
to do something more than being a POISON-CHECKER!
1.
He was faithful
as another man’s servant
a.
Everyone wants to
work for themselves!
b.
God says learn to
be faithful UNDER your parents, and then under an employer, and maybe,
one day you can head up a huge construction team like Nehemiah did!
2.
He Worked hard
at his job
3.
He was faithful
worshipping and obeying God, even though in a strange, foreign land
a.
Nehemiah never
“blended” with the world around him
b.
Never learned how
to dance the Persian “rug” or the Babylonian bounce
c.
Never took on the
worship of the false Persian gods that were everywhere
d.
He honoured the
king
e.
He did his job
f.
He was kept the
faith of his fathers
g.
Like Daniel, kept
himself unspotted by the world
h.
And prayed
constantly to the only God who hears!
4.
He was
trustworthy – had integrity above everything else
5.
He allowed God
to touch his heart for an impossible task
a.
Burdened about BIG
things that need to be fixed – not flippant or numb
6.
He was a man of
prayer – didn’t just start to pray in chapter 1. He didn’t just
expect everything to go his way without much passionate prayer (James
5:16)
7.
He spent his
down time wisely
a.
This thought blew
me away
b.
Here was a cup
bearer! A “poison checker”
c.
And he was ready
to take on the management of a huge construction project!
d.
Evidently Nehemiah
has more under the hood than what can be seen on the outside!
e.
Evidently this man
was a student of construction already
f.
A student of
team-work, and management skills
g.
Here was a cup
bearer who could plan and prepare for something bigger than just where
he was at the moment!
8.
He honoured his
employer
9.
He waited
for the door to open before charging ahead
10.
He had a plan
about doing important things
11.
He Trusted God
12.
He then got
busy right away
B.
All of that
will work for everyone of US
1.
Christian… YOU
be faithful as another man’s servant – it is okay to be a servant!
2.
Work hard
at whatever YOU do – paid or unpaid
3.
Be faithful
worshipping and obeying God,
even though in a wicked culture
4.
Be trustworthy
– have integrity, honesty above everything else
5.
Allow God to touch
YOUR heart
for an impossible task
a.
Be burdened about
things that need to be fixed – not flippant or numb
1)
Like your own
trustworthiness
2)
Like this nation’s
morality
3)
Like the marriages
of the people in this room
4)
Like the hearts of
so many people who have never known real spiritual safety and stability
– always fearful, and discouraged, and frustrated!
6.
Be a man/woman of
prayer
a.
Make prayer a
constant habit! Be a man/woman of prayer – nothing is going to your way
without much passionate prayer (James 5:16)
b.
Ask GOD to send
YOU somewhere/anywhere, to do something great for Him. Maybe he won’t!
But He deserves the right to tell you to go, or to stay!
c.
When you pray –
pray for everything! Ask for what you need to get the job done – don’t
be shy
7.
Spend your down
time wisely
a.
That is so
important for every Christian, young and old! Get a job, read books, and
take courses, and work on hobbies – don’t just sit in front of the egit
box hour after hour after hour, and then complain about your job!
b.
Spend your down
time wisely – learning, planning and preparing for something bigger than
just where you are at the moment!
8.
Honour Your
Employer
as if they are Jesus
9.
Have a plan
about doing important things
a.
Like finding a
wife or a husband and getting married
b.
Like targeting
people at work, or at school and going right up to them and preaching
the Gospel to them without fear
c.
Like taking the
lead of your wife and family – no matter how much “bucking” they may
throw at you!
10.
Trust God for the
Impossible!
That will be most everything!!!
11.
Then get busy
right away – too many are just sitting around, even though they have
heard God’s tug on their hearts! Too many are “JUST” praying, and NOT
going next door, and down the street, and up to their boss, or teacher,
or co-worker with the Gospel mandate!
C.
But there are
Three GREATER Lessons to learn…
1.
Nehemiah is
showing us how to go before OUR KING, the Lord Jesus in PRAYER
a.
If Nehemiah could
just encourage us to come before the throne of GOD! (Heb 4:16) “Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
b.
If we only had a
good reason to pray, and ask for help! I think we do!
2.
Get and the Keep a
Good Testimony in this world – it will always Pay Off
3.
And… Don’t wait
for someone else to do what needs to be done!
a.
Winning lost hell
bound souls
b.
Discipling new
believers
c.
Reaching the
drunkards, and addicts – join up in Twelve Weeks to Freedom
d.
Preparing to teach
Sunday School, and preach and start churches!
V.
Questions For
Personal Reflection
A.
Is there anyone
here willing to throw away his/her chances for a great career, to take
on the burden of affliction, labour, sacrifice, and abuse in doing God’s
will?
1.
To risk everything
you may have carefully built and accomplished?
2.
And decide to
build something that will LAST and bring glory to the God who loves you
and saved you and can use you?
B.
Isn’t there
anything important – anything valuable that you would like to repair?
Rebuild? Mend? Fix? Overhaul? It’s funny how old cars become so valuable
when they are brought in from the weather, and painstakingly RESTORED!
C.
To Nehemiah,
the ruins of Jerusalem were much more attractive than the splendours of
Shushan’s palace!
D.
What has YOUR
heart?
E.
Or more
importantly, WHO has your heart?
1.
If you think YOU are
in charge of your own heart, take a good long honest look at it and tell
me if you have it all under control or not
2.
There is only ONE
Person capable of fixing the human heart – the very One who made it!
Jesus Christ!
a.
The Lord Jesus Christ,
in the very same way as Nehemiah did, chose to LEAVE the SPLENDOURS of
heaven, and said: 'Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written,
to do thy will O God'
b.
and came to earth as a
servant, to bleed and die on a cross IN YOUR AND MY PLACE, to be buried
and to rise again of course victoriously
c.
All, to save you from
your sins
3.
If there is one thing
to learn from Nehemiah, it is that GOD is in the REBUILDING business –
the restoration business – the saving broken things business!
4.
You can be saved
today! If you would only ask Him to save you now! |