TOP 2026 RESOLUTIONS ARE:
· Read for enjoyment, not productivity
· LIMIT SCREEN TIME
· SLEEP BEFORE YOUR EXHAUSTED
· SERVE CONSISTENTLY
· INCREASE CLOSENESS TO JESUS
· READ THROUGH BIBLE IN YEAR-EXERCISE MORE
· DRINK MORE WATER
· PRACTICE RADICAL HOSPITALITY
· FORGIVE/RECONCILE WITH 1 PERSON MONTHLY
· CULTIVATE ONE FRUIT OF THE SPIRT
2 CHRONICLES 36
15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.
SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:1
- IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN BY JEREMIAH.
SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:1
1. THE LORD MOVED THE HEART OF CYRUS THE KING OF PERSIA TO MAKE A PROCLOMATION THROUGHOUT HIS REALM AND ALSO TO PUT IN WRITING.
SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:2
2. “THIS IS WHAT CYRUS KING OF PERSIA SAYS: “THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN, HAS GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH AND HE HAS APPOINTED ME TO BUILD A TEMPLE FOR HIM AT JERUSALEM IN JUDAH. (God behind the rebuilding of the Temple)
SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:3
3. ANY OF HIS PEOPLE AMONG YOU MAY GO UP TO JERUSALEM IN JUDAH AND BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, THE GOD WHO IS IN JERUSALEM, AND MAY THEIR GOD BE WITH THEM.
TIMELINE TO SHOW NEHEMIAH
· CREATION- FALL
· ABRAHAM
· NOW
· JESUS
· MOSES-1000 YEARS AFTER-400 YEARS BEFORE JESUS
TIMELINE CONTINUED
· DAVID- MAYBE ISRAELS GREATEST KING
· EXILE- 70 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY (2 % RETURN)
TIMELINE
NEHEMIAH- 140 YEARS AFTER DESTRUCTON
TEMPLE DESTROYED- BUILT-SOLOMON-DAVID PLAN.
CHURCH BEGINS- ACTS
REFORMATION – LUTHER 1517
1. In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:3
4. ‘THEY SAID TO ME, “THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE EXILE AND ARE BACK IN THE PROVINCE ARE IN GREAT TROUBLE AND DISGRACE. THE WALL OF JERUSALEM IS BROKEN DOWN, AND ITS GATES HAVE BEEN BURNED WITH FIRE.”
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:4
5. WHEN I HEARD THESE THINGS, I SAT DOWN AND WEPT. FOR SOME DAYS I MOURNED AND FASTED AND PRAYED BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN.
· NEHEMIAH GETS THE NEWS PRAYS FOR 4 MONTHS
WHAT HAVE YOU PRAYED FOR – FOR 4 MONTHS?
SOME HAVE PRAYED LONGER THAN THAT FOR …
NEHEMIAH: MEANS GOD HAS COMFORTED-40/50 YRS OLD
HE IS NOT A KING- HES NOT A PRIEST- HE’S CUPBEARER
NOT A CONTRACTOR REGULAR MAN-HEART RESPONDS
PICTURE OF PHILADELPHIA
· SOME OF YOU HAVE LIVED IN A PLACE YOU LOVE
· SOME OF YOU ARE IN SOME WAY TIED TO A PLACE
· SOME YOU LOVE IT HERE- YOU WOULD NEVER
· NEHEMIAH IS WORN OUT OVER JERUSALEM
· MANY TIMES-MAKES NO SENSE- I WANNA GO BACK
· NEHEMIAH IS HOMESICK FOR JERUSALEM
· HES NEVER BEEN THERE
SCRIPTURE PSALM 137:5
6. “IF I FORGET YOU O JERUSALEM, LET MY RIGHT HAND FORGET HOW TO PLAY THE HARP
SCRIPTURE PSALM 137:6
7. MAY MY TONGUE STICK TO THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH IF I FAIL TO REMEMBER YOU, IF I DON’T MAKE JERUSALEM MY GREATEST JOY.
PICTURE TWIN TOWERS
· RUINS- A SECTION OF CITY IS IN RUBBLE
· REPAIR
PICTURE ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
· REPAIRED- REBUILT- BROUGHT HOPE
· BECAME A PLACE OF HEALING
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:5
5. THEN I SAID-LORD, GOD OF HEAVEN, THE GREAT AND AWESOME GOD, WHO KEEPS THE COVENANT OF LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. (NOTICE HOW HE PRAYS)
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:6
6. LET YOUR EAR BE ATTENTIVE AND YOUR EYES OPEN TO HEAR THE PRAYER YOUR SERVANT IS PRAYING.
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:6
6. BEFORE YOU DAY AND NIGHT FOR YOUR SERVANTS, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. I CONFESS THE SINS WE ISRAELITES INCLUDING MYSELF AND MY FATHERS FAMLY HAVE COMMITTED AGAINST YOU.
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:7
8. WE HAVE ACTED WICKED TOWARD YOU. WE HAVE NOT OBEYED THE COMMANDS, DECREES AND LAWS YOU GAVE YOUR SERVANT MOSES.
· HE INCLUDES HIMSELF IN PRAYER OF CONFESSION
“DISCIPLES PRAYER- FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES”
IF THE THING YOU ARE FEELING COMPELLED TO REPAIR OR REBUILD CAN BE DONE WITHOUT PRAYER- PAUSE
MAP OF RETURN TO ZION
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:2
2. “SO THE KING ASKED ME, “WHY DOES YOUR FACE LOOK SO BAD WHEN YOU ARE NOT ILL? THIS CAN BE NOTHING BUT SADNESS OF HEART.” I WAS VERY MUCH AFRAID
· PART OF THE ROLE WAS BE AN ENCOURAGER
· NEVER HAVE FROWN/DOWNCAST PRESENCE KING
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:3
3. BUT I SAID TO THE KING, “MAY THE KING LIVE FOREVER! WHY SHOULD MY FACE NOT LOOK SAD WHEN THE CITY WHERE MY ANCESTORS ARE BURIED LIES IN RUINS AND ITS GATES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY FIRE.
· MOST ANCIENT LEADERS/ GREAT RESPECT FOR DECEASED
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:4
4. THE KING SAID TO ME, “WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? THEN I PRAYED TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN,
· BEFORE HE REQUESTS ANYTHING FROM THE KING- HE ASKS THE LORD
SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:5
5. AND I ANSWERED THE KING, “IF IT PLEASES THE KING AND IF YOUR SERVANT HAS FOUND FAVOR IN HIS SIGHT, LET HIM SEND ME TO THE CITY IN JUDAH WHERE MY ACNESTORS ARE BURRIED SO THAT I CAN REBUILD IT. (CLARITY- HE STATES IT)
MAP OF THE CITY
· CITY PERIMETER
· GATES AND ALL THEIR MEANINGS
WHAT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEED REBUILT?
HEALTH? MARRIAGE? FINANCES? PRAYER LIFE?
THE TEAM YOU ARE LEADING? YOUR PRIORITIES?
YOUR SCHEDULING OF YOUR TIME?
THERE IS AN ORDER OF THE REBUILD PROCESS HERE
ALTAR- TEMPLE- WALLS
· NOTICE THE ORDER HERE
· WE DO THE OPPOSITE- WE WANT TO FIX EXTERNAL
· WHY DO WE NOT START WITH WORSHIP
GRACE POINT OFFER TO HELP LEAD AND REPAIR
· AUGUST 2020- VACATION- DS TALKED GP
· BACK OF MY MIND- NO PART
· BEEN LIVING IN PA 2 YEARS- SERVING CHURCH
· CHURCH WAS STRUGGLING
· DID NOT WANT TO BE PASTOR-
· HE ASKED SEV TIMES- I SAID NO- I DID PRAY BUT
· STANDING IN THE KITCHEN IN LATE FALL
· RUTH AND I ON PHONE- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING
· ITS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST PRAY ABOUT IT
· SOMETIMES WE PRAY THEN OBEY- MOVE
REPAIR SHOP- INCREASED POPULARITY. 7 MIL VIEWERS
· family heirlooms with deep personal and emotional history, not significant monetary value.
· The “reveal” moment, when owners see their cherished items restored, is a powerful and MOVING-
· Dopamine isn’t just about pleasure-it’s about progress and resolution.
· CORTISOL LEVELS GO DOWN-STRESS CALMS
· YOUR BRAIN WANTS PREDICTABILITY
· WATCH SOMEONE REPAIR SOMETHING
· Your brain partially simulates the act
· You “feel” the completion as if you participate
· ATTACHMENT AND VALUE TO ITEM YES
· RESTORATION TO FUNCTION
· THIS WAS A PEAT BUCKET- A CITY WALL
RETURN TO ME
· ALL OF THE STORY OF SCRIPTURE
· RETURN TO ME- I LOVE YOU- RETURN TO ME
· GENESIS- MY ORIGINAL DESIGN
· BEEN TRYING TO REBUILD/RESTORE EVER SINCE
· Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah reconstructing the obedience of God’s people
GOD SPECIALIZES IN REBUILDING OUR LIVES
· The Lord wasn’t just restoring a city, He was restoring a relationship with His people based on His own promises to them.
BEFORE WE PICK UP A BRICK
1. WEPT-HIS HEART WAS MOVED
2. PRAYED-POSITIONED HIMSELF/QUOTED GODS PROMISES BACK TO GOD IN PRAYER
3. PLANNED 4. PETITIONED. 5. WORKED
4. The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and His resurrection, and the hope of His coming again.
5. The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.
6. All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.
7. In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Let us pray.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 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.” (TAKE BREAK AND EAT)
25 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.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.