https://www.bible.com/events/49551892

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 3 

Responding to resistance. 

Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.” 

To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again. 

As we continue in Nehemiah, we are looking at the middle of the rebuilding story to see the importance of a prayerful and practical response to resistance. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬ 

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” 

Whenever you are following the Lord’s plan of rebuilding for your life, you will face resistance. 

The first resistance we see here in the middle of Nehemiah’s rebuilding story comes from two enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah. They show up and are harassing the people of God, calling his plans and their abilities into question. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭6‬‬ 

Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 

Nehemiah made the resistance a matter of prayer and he kept on working. He did not allow resistance from enemies to distract him from the work God had called them to do. 

In verses 7-8 Sanballat and Tobiah round up some friends to come and stir up trouble, they were planning an attack against Jerusalem. Sandballat and Tobiah from the north, the Arabs from the South, The Ammonites from the east, and Ashdod from the West. Literally resistance was coming from all sides. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭12‬‬ 

But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 

Here in verse 10 we see that resistance to God’s rebuilding can come from things in the past. 

The people working on the wall are having to work through the rubble from the old walls that had been torn down years ago. 

It also comes from friends and neighbors as they repeat the threats they heard about from the enemy. Rather than being encouragers, they join voices with the enemy, adding their worry to the work. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬‬ 

Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” 

Nehemiah specifically sends people to work on the weak places, calling them to serve together with their families. 

He reminds them that the Lord is great and awesome- he will fight for them. And he calls on the people to remember who they are fighting for. 

Whenever you are in a rebuilding season with the Lord, it’s never only about you. You are working for your family and your friends too. Future generations will be impacted by your rebuilding. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭16‬‬ 

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. 

A wall 8’ wide, telephone pole tall, just over 2 miles long, rebuilt in just 52 days. This was nothing short of a miracle. 

From the middle to the end, with opposition from all sides, the people of God made it, and you can too. 

The big question for us today is simply this: How are you going to respond to the resistance? 

The rebuilding legacy of Nehemiah offers us a few practical tools and weapons to face our resistance. Remember the word BRICK. 

B- Balance. Rebuilding takes faith AND action. 

R- Remember The Lord. 

I- Intense Focus. 

C- Community Defense. 

K- Keep Going! 

       TEEN WINTER RETREAT

NEXT SUNDAY 9AM- 300 TEENS ACROSS STATE

•             THEY WILL WORSHIP THEN LEAVE AFTER 9

•             IF YOU ARRIVE AT 10:30 SERVICE-LOTS OF CARS

 BAPTISM SERVICE                

•             SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH- ONE SERVICE

•             10AM- CELEBRATION

•             EVERYONE TOGETHER

REBULDING                                      

•             SECOND WEEK SERIES ON NEHEMIAH

•             LAST WEEK INTRODUCTION ON WHO HE WAS

TIMELINE

•             FAR LEFT CREATION- THEN THE FALL

•             GARDEN – NO PAIN/SORROW/TEARS/WEEDS

•             FAR RIGHT- NOW

•             MOSES- 1000 YEARS AFTER CREATION

•             DAVID- 400 YEARS BEFORE JESUS

•             JESUS 2000 YEARS AGO

•             NEHEMIAH- REGULAR NORMAL MAN

•             LAST NARRATIVE IN SCRIPTURE BEFORE 400 YEARS

•             EXILE – JEWS ARE TAKE CAPTIVE BY NEBACHENAZER- DISPLACED MANY

•             DESTROYED JERUSALEM-CITY WALLS RUIN 140 YRS

•             NEHEMIAH IS BORN IN CAPTIVITY-445 BC

•             2.5 MILLION JEWS

•             PERSIAN EMPIRE BABYLONIAN (NEBACHANZER)

•             KING CYRUS SAYS LET JEWS RETURN JERUSALEM

•             WORKING FOR THE NEW KING-ARTEXERSES

•             CUPBEARER

•             NEHEMIAH IS 1000 MILES FROM JERUSALEM

•             HE ASKS HIS BROTHER HOW THINGS ARE?

•             NEHEMIAH IS BROKEN-WEEPS/PRAYS

•             NOT A CRYBABY JESUS WEPT- DAVID WEPT-PETER

•             CHAP 13- BEATS MEN UP/PULLS OUT THEIR HAIR

•             ASKS ARTEXES- CAN I GO HELP MY PEOPLE

•             WILL YOU FUND MY TRIP-LETTERS SAFE PASSAGE?

NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:6                                

   6. “THEN THE KING, WITH THE QUEEN SITTING BESIDE HIM, ASKED ME, “HOW LONG WILL OUR JOURNEY TAKE, AND WHEN WILL YOU GET BACK?” IT PLEASED THE KING TO SEND ME; SO I SET A TIME.”

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:9

   9. “SO I WENT TO THE GOVERNORS OF TRANS-EUPHRATES AND GAVE THEM THE KINGS LETTERS. THE KING HAD ALSO SENT ARMY OFFICERS AND CAVALRY WITH ME.

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:10

  10. WHEN SANBALLAT THE HORONITE AND TOBIAH THE AMMONITE OFFICIAL HEARD ABOUT THIS, THEY WERE VERY MUCH DISTURBED THAT SOMEONE HAD COME TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE ISRAELITES.”

 SANBALLET TOBIAH GESHAM

   THESE THREE MEN REPRESENT OUTSIDE OPPOSITION

OPPOSITION

•             EXTERNAL OPPOSITION- AKA “HATERS”

•             NEHEMIAH LEARNS NOBLES INSIDE- ALIGNED

DOESN’T REPRIMAND THEM FOR WHAT HAPPENED

SCRIPTURE NEHMIAH 2:17                          

  17. “THEN I SAID TO THEM, YOU SEE THE TROUBLE WE ARE IN: JERUSALEM LIES IN RUINS, AND ITS GATES HAVE BEEN BURNED WITH FIRE. COME, LET US REBUILD THE WALL OF JERUSALEM, AND WE WILL NO LONGER BE IN DISGRACE.”

MAP OF THE CITY

•             ORDER OF THE REPAIRS

NEHEMIAH IS PURPOSEFUL

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:18

  18. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE GRACIOUS HAND OF  MY GOD ON ME AND WHAT THE KING HAD SAID TO ME. THEY REPLIED, “LET US START BUILDING. “SO THEY BEGAN THIS GOOD WORK.

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:19

  19. BUT WHEN SANBALLAT THE HORONITE, TOBIAH THE AMMONITE OFFICIAL AND GESHAM THE ARAB HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY MOCKED AND RIDICULED US. “WHAT IS THIS YOU ARE DOING?” THEY ASKED, “ARE YOU REBELLING AGAINST THE KING?

CHAPTER 3

   3 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

•             of the goldsmiths-perfume-makers-

•             Shallum son of Hallohesh AND HIS DAUHTERS

•             22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests

•             28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs,

•             Sheep Gate-goldsmiths and merchants made repairs

22 TIMES- BEYOND HIM/NEXT TO THEM

OF COURSE THERE IS A LEADER- BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES A LEADER DOESN’T SHOULDER ALL RESPOBSIBILITY AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD COME TOGETHER AND GOD EMPOWERS THEM TO DO THE WORK

NEHEMIAHS NAME ISN’T MENTIONED HERE        

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:1

1.           WHEN WORD CAME TO SANBALLAT, TOBIAH, GESHAM THE ARAB AND THE REST OF OUR ENEMIES THAT I HAD REBUILT THE WALL AND NOT A GAP WAS LEFT IN IT-THOUGH UP TO THAT TIME I HAD NOT SET THE DOORS IJ THE GATES.

OPPOSITION

•             SOMETIMES REBUILDING TAKES A LONG TIME

•             WALLS BEEN IN RUIN FOR DECADES

•             NEHEMIAH GETS INFO- PRAYS 4 MONTHS

•             TILL HE GETS TO JERUSALEM- 4 MORE MONTHS

 ZOOTOPIA VIDEO                                           

•             I AM THAT BUNNY

•             LETS GO- RIGHT NOW

•             WAIT 8 MONTHS BEFORE WE LIFT A BRICK?

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:2

2.           SANBALLAT AND GESHEM SENT ME THIS MESSAGE:

“COME LET US MEET TOGETHER IN ONE OF THE VILLAGES ON THE PLAIN OF ONO. “BUT THEY WERE SCHEMING TO HARM ME;

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:3

3.           SO I SENT MESSENGERS TO THEM WITH THIS REPLY:

I AM CARRYING ON A GREAT PROJECT AND CANNOT GO DOWN. WHY SHOULD THE WORK STOP WHILE I LEAVE IT AND GO DOWN TO YOU?”

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:4

4.           FOUR TIMES THEY SENT ME THE SAME MESSAGE, AND EACH TIME I GAVE THEM THE SAME ANSWER.

THINK THE ENEMY GONNA JUST COME ONCE OR TWICE?

THEY DIDN’T EVEN CHANGE THE MESSAGE- 4 TIMES

AFTER THIS HE TRIES AGAIN WITH DIFF METHOD

   NAME MEANS ADVERSARY.             

•             Satan comes from Hebrew means “adversary,” “accuser,” or “obstructor,”

•             describing someone who opposes or plots against another

DEVIL MEANS- THE SLANDERER/ACCUSER

•             REAL ENEMY IS THE SAME AS HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN

•             INSIDE OR OUTSIDE- OFTEN INSIDE IS WORSE

•             EVEN IF ITS IN YOUR OWN MIND  

•             DON’T BE CONFUSED ABOUT WHO YOUR ENEMY IS

•             IT ISN’T SANBALLAT/TOBIAH/GESHEM

•             IN EVERY GENERATION THROUGH TODAY-THE  ENEMY IS ACTIVELY OPPOSING THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

HOOVER DAM PICTURE

•             JOHN SAVAGE- STARTED 1931-FINISHED 1936

•             GRAVITY ARCH DAM- 726 FEET TALL

•             660 FEET TALL AT THE BASE

•             21,000 PEOPLE WORKED-100 LOST THEIR LIVES

•             REMOVE WEATHER ROCKS ON EITHER SIDE

•             POURED CONCRETE INTO SIDE WALLS-THICK BASE

•             ENOUGH CONRETE 2 LANE SF TO NYC-

•             GENERATES ELECTICITY IRRIGATES 1 MIL ACRES

•             LARGEST LAND MADE LAKE-

•             FLOOD CONTROL AND STORES WATER

OPPOSITION- EXTERNAL- OPPOSITION INTERNALLY

•             Harry Chandler/ Harrison Gray Otis (Los Angeles Times)

•             WILLIAM HUNT/Benjamin Moeur-GOVERNORS AZONA

•             DISCRIMINATION- NATIVE AMERICAN/HISPANIC

•             VERY FEW BLACKS

•             COULDN’T LIVE IN CITY IN BOULDER CITY

NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL- HE IS PURPOSEFUL

HE IS PRACTICAL

NEHEMIAH 4                                                                       

4 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 4:10

  10. “MEANWHILE, THE PEOPLE IN JUDAH SAID, “THE STRENGTH OF THE LABORERS IS GIVING OUT, AND THERE IS SO MUCH RUBBLE, THAT WE CANNOT REBUILD THE WALL”   (RUBBLE IS A WALL THAT ONCE STOOD-THE PAST)

NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL

NEHEMIAH IS PURPOSEFUL

NEHEMIAH IS PRACTICAL-

•             Just because people are against you, doesn’t mean that God is.

•             Sometimes, obedience requires a fight.

•             Very few things God is directing will come easily.

https://www.bible.com/events/49548305

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus

Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 2

Lament, Repent, and Rebuilding

Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.”

To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again.

Over the next few weeks we will dive deeper into the story of Nehemiah to gain insight and encouragement for our own rebuilding story.

When Nehemiah hears that things have fallen apart, he gets busy right away, but it’s not what you migh think.

Rather than bricks and mortar, Nehemiah begins the work of rebuilding by slowing down and spending time with the Lord before he ever lifts a brick.

He starts rebuilding with prayer, confession, and lament.

Nehemiah 1:1-3

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 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. 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.”

The people are in great trouble and disgrace. They are ashamed of how it’s going, they are being harassed and heckled by their neighbors. The walls around the city of Jerusalem are still broken down and the wooden gates have been burned.

And this news is more than a deadline not being met, or a construction project failing. This news strikes deep in the heart of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 1:4

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

When it says he wept- It’s expressive of regret, disappointment, or bitterness. It’s ugly crying, ugly emotions, all expressed in the presence of the Lord.

It says he mourned- That is to show physical and emotional sorrow or regret. It has the idea of lament which is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow. He didn’t try to bottle it up inside, didn’t pretend he was tough and fine. He was honest with himself and the Lord about how he felt.

He fasted- He intentionally skipped eating so he could focus on prayer.

This critical work of rebuilding went on for 4 months.

Nehemiah 1:5-7

Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

As Nehemiah begins to put more articulate words to his mourning and grieving, he begins with worship.

He moves from worship to confession and repentance. Biblical confession is openly acknowledging the truth, admitting our sin and wrong, and ultimately seeing it through God’s perspective. It’s to agree with Him.

Nehemiah 1:8-11

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

As Nehemiah confesses sin, he turns and appeals to the nature and character of God as the great rebuilder of his people. He is calling back on the promises that he made to Moses, generations ago.

Nehemiah understands that God is a rebuilding God, and he is faithful. So Nehemiah’s prayers arent focused on his plans and what he wants- he is praying God’s promises. He has surrendered his desires and his plans for rebuilding to the Lord.

During this phase of rebuilding, Nehemiah did the important work of aligning his heart with the Lord. He challenges us to consider our response when things have fallen apart.

Will we rush into the rebuilding with our tools in hand, or will we turn to the the Lord for his rebuilding within us first?

This is the legacy of Nehemiah… Lament, Repent, Rebuild.

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

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.

Genesis 25:29-34 

“Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” 

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Who in their right mind would trade their birth right for a bowl of stew? 

Your appetite’s always scream now never later. 

Our appetite’s say to trade the ultimate good for the immediate gratification of the moment. 

It’s time to obey God, not your appetites. 

Delayed obedience usually forfeits God ‘s best. 

James 1:13-16 

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.”