Nehemiah 2:17-18 & Nehemiah 4:6 “A Heart and Mind For God’s Great Work”
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me for good… you see the bad situation we are in… how Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates are burned with fire…. Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a disgrace. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me for good, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build! So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Nehemiah 4:6
"So we built the wall, and all [of it] was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart and mind to work".
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me for good… you see the bad situation we are in… how Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates are burned with fire…. Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a disgrace. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me for good, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build! So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Nehemiah 4:6
"So we built the wall, and all [of it] was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart and mind to work".
Introduction: About Nehemiah
Nehemiah lived in the city of Shushan (or Susa). At the time of the text, Nehemiah was the King ‘s of Persia's “ (Artaxerses) cupbearer,” or you could call him the king’s official “taste-tester”. His job was to taste everything earmarked for the king to drink. Before the king could drink anything his “cupbearer “or “taste-tester” would sample that drink first. If the drink tasted funny, for safety reason, the king did not get to drink that drink, but if the drink was good, then and only then, would they give it to the king. So as a “cupbearer” or “taste-tester”, Nehemiah had a dangerous job because he put his very life on the line every time he tasted a beverage…because in service, he protected the king. It's kinda like our dedication to Jesus Christ, and the Christian faith…We’re on the battlefield for our Lord…We promised HIM the we would serve HIM until we die…and we recognize that it’s our job to make sure that no poison false doctrines… lying heresies… old wive’s tales…or false teachings infiltrate the Christian church… poison the fellowship…and cause the members to err…and error…
I. Nehemiah's Sorrow
In Chapter 1,…According to Josephus, Nehemiah, while walking around the palace walls got in earshot of a disturbing conversation. He overheard a small party of pious Jews … sadly talking about the “carnage” they saw… back in Jerusalem… They saw a weakened people… despondency among the ranks…mass affliction …as well as constant hostility and harassment… heaped on them by the Samaritans and other “marauding people” …
As Nehemiah recognized Hanani…one of his relatives… who happened to be with the group …. He asked the group about Jerusalem…How is was life in Jerusalem? … How are the people doing?... How is the work coming?.., I can hear Hanani say… the city and the people are in bad shape…. The gates were burned and the walls were torn down again……When Nehemiah heard the grave news….Nehemiah went into a deep emotional funk…The news of his countrymen had a devastating effect on him…
II. Israel's Historic Return from Babylonian Captivity (Ezra)
You see...about 90 years Ago…Cyrus the Great issued a historic and prophetic edict that gave the Jewish people an opportunity to go back to “Zion and rebuild the temple of God…In Ezra 1:2-3, Cyrus said: “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 Anyone of you.. who wish to go back and help build it— may your God be with you…. and you have my permission go up to Jerusalem in Judea and build the temple of the LORD…
About 42,360 people took the king up on his offer… They left Persia and went back to Jerusalem on a quest to rebuild that temple….The king made sure….that everything they needed… was provided for them…food, building material… a security force…passport papers…permitting them safe passage through the various provinces along the way back to Jerusalem….They got freewill offerings…. both from the treasury… and from private donations …All of this was given because they were going back to their old landmark …to clean up…what their ancestors messed up… to start their lives all over again… So…according to Ezra…the people left with the right attitude and in the right spirit…with one purpose in their minds… to work as a team….and to get the work done…
Point of Power: And here’s an important spiritual point right off the bat…The first thing that always needs to be rebuilt in the life of anybody who suffered captivity, bondage, disappointment, a devastating loss and deep sorrow but is now on the rebound is their “spiritual life”..…Why do you say that preacher? Glad you asked!...
III. Restoration: Spiritual first:
Jerusalem wasn’t just known as being the “City of God”… “Mount Zion” that sat upon a lofty hill…Jerusalem wasn’t just known for her 12 entrance and exit gates… the sheep gate…the dung gate…the fish gate…the horse gate… the valley gate….the water….the east…and the rest of the gates…NO…Jerusalem was widely known for the power of the ONE TRUE GOD…and the presence of that magnificent temple….This was the temple King David dreamed of building… and King Solomon was blessed to build a temple built to the glory of God …by God’s specifications…in all its splendor… That temple represented “JEHOVAH SHAMMAH” …that the Lord was present and dwelling with his people…
IV. Reminiscing and Motivation:
A. Reminiscing
The people knew the one place …that they could always meet and God would show up in power and great glory was at the temple…The reason was the day the temple was completed and Solomon dedicated the temple to God and rededicated themselves to the GREAT I AM THAT I AM…the Bible said fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices… and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. There was so much power in the temple that day… that the priests couldn’t even enter the house of the LORD , because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD 's house… When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down… and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground … worshiped and praised the LORD , saying:"For He is good,…For His mercy endures forever."...
Personal Commentary:. I don’t know about you…but I long for the day when all of God’s children get together in the house of God… and feel the powerful presence of God’s Holy Spirit resting on everybody in the whole house….resting on His pastors…. preachers… teachers… singers … and worshippers….at the same time…and when that day happens…we can truly sing that song that says…When all of God’s children get together…what a time…what a time…
B. Motivation:
So…with that etched in their minds and given a chance to go home and start over…. you can see them in your mind’s eye as the people traveled back to Jerusalem… with a heart and a mind to do the work…. But at some point…according to the book of Ezra….the work hit a snag …because in response of revival the people got happy and began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem… fierce opposition came to the work they had done….. and the next thing they knew….the work came to screeching halt… Now…the good thing …according to Ezra 4:1-16…was they were able to complete the building the temple… They restored the priestly order …they resumed their burnt offerings and their other sacrifices to God… they had a revival….but when they began to rebuild the walls… the devil got in the way …and the next thing they knew…they were constantly harassed… threatened by their enemies… then legal technicalities and low down dirty politics got in the way…causing the next king to bring “wall work” to a screeching halt…. What happened? Here’s what happened…..
V. Opposition to the Project:
When Rehum and Shimshai … heard that the exiles were rebuilding a temple for the LORD, …they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of all the families of Judah… and said, "Let us help you in your rebuilding … because… just like you… we seek your God… as a matter of fact…we have been sacrificing to him… ever since Esarhaddon …the king of Assyria, brought us here." But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the family heads of Judah told them sternly: "You (will) have no part with us… in building a temple to our God. We and we ALONE WILL BUILD IT FOR THE LORD...just like Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us… As a matter of fact: only those… authorized by the King can do the work….. and y’all not on the list”….
Point of Power:
Now you know, there’s got to be something rotten in the milk…. anytime your sworn enemies …offer to help you do anything for the Lord… and then claim that the reason they want to help you… is because they say…we are seeking the same God you serve. This is one of the main reasons why the Bible tells us to try the spirit by the Spirit to see if that spirit ….that word…that explanation comes from God. You see…you got to know the difference between true converts and overt enemies with a covert agenda. You got to know your enemy and how your enemy operates:
The Samaritans people were the sworn hated enemy of Judah and Benjamin … The Samaritan were a mixed race of people…. partly Israelites… but mostly heathen... While it may have been true …I said may have been true that they were seeking God, the “research record” reveals the Samatitans practiced a “hodgepodge religion” that had a form of Judaism… but contained a whole lot more of heathenism… than it had of Judaism….
What about the Modern Church? (institutional)
Well…we have people like that in the modern church….They confess to be Christian in their beliefs… but when you get to know what they really think….and what they REALLY believe doctrinally…you quickly discover… they have a bad case of “hodgepodge Christianity”… because they practice a little of this ….and a whole lot of that….they believe a little of this and a whole lot of that…because they have sampled a mixture of many false doctrines broadcasted in cyber space and on satellite disc…..and dare to call these doctrine’s Christian…. What they have a form of godliness….but they are denying the power thereof…I come by to tell the church today…. “heathenism” mixed with “holiness” is not “Christianity”…Light has no league with darkness. You you are a child of the MOST HIGH GOD…you can’t bow down at every altar….
Point of Power: That’s the real reason Zerubabbel and the heads of families said no. They knew the heart of their enemy….and they knew God really called them to the work…and because the work was God’s work… The work of rebuilding the Temple was pure and “holy work”… and if they had allowed the Samaritans to help them do “sacred work”… that sacred work would have been contaminated work… and it would have “poisoned” their pure religion. (Judaism)
VI. Concerning "Kingdom Work"
"There is kingdom work on this Christian journey that you got to do all by yourself"…I may as well say it right here: “Kingdom work” is “holy work”…to any of us to do “kingdom work” … unless God Himself put outsiders in the plan …we must do this holy work… by ourselves… that also means,… those of us …who have been chosen by God… must be consecrated for that ‘holy” work. Before you do any assigned work for the Lord…a good prayer TO PRAY IS…. Consecrate me now… to thy service Lord… by the power of grace divine….let my soul look up with a steadfast hope….and my will…be lost in thine…draw me nearer…. Nearer blessed Lord… to the cross… where thy has died… draw me nearer… nearer blessed Lord to thy precious bleeding side….Our minds and our hearts and our hands must be properly prepared for “holy” work…because not only is the workload great… but “holy” work…God’s work is “great work”. They told their enemies NO! And so should we!
VII. Opposition Escalates:
And from that point on… their enemies got so mad that the Jews rejected their proposal… They were “hell bent”… to stop the work at any cost…and went all out to discourage the people of Judah… to do everything they could… to make them scared to continue in their efforts to rebuild Jerusalem... Let me show you how “hell-bent” their enemy was…
The Bible said the Samaritans hired counselors…. to work against them … to frustrate all their rebuilding plans …and their efforts continued during the entire reign of both Cyrus the Great and Darius the Mede…. And when none of their efforts stopped the work, they switched to politics….
Rehum and Shimshai wrote a “half true” letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the new king…and based that “half-true” letter on “the truth” about Israel’s rebellious history…The Samaritans then “plugged” a lie in the letter about their “empire “concerns”… since they were part of the Persian Empire too…claiming that once the Jews rebuild the walls, they had plans to overthrow the Persian Empire…Well…after the new king (Artaxerses) read that in the letter…and did his research as the Samaritans suggested finding out history of rebellion was true… that the Jews were a rebellious people… had a history of rebellion… and God has had to discipline them many times….even though in this case the they posed no threat to the Persian Empire…. their "history of rebellion" still raised a “red flag”…and based on that… Artaxerses suspended the “wall work” was until further notice…..Rehum and Shimshai wasted no time …in enforcing the shutdown by using brute force….They tore down that part of the wall they were building up and then…burned the gates….As a result…. at the time of our Nehemiah text,… the city remained defenseless, the people were in bad shape… and left at the mercy of these marauding enemies…
VIII. Opposition against the Modern Church
For the church… fierce opposition to God’s work is not unusual… Just like the Jews… whenever the church has had to rebuild her walls…. evangelistically expand her ministry…. physically and spiritually…to establish or reestablish kingdom work in a particular community…she has face many an opposition from secular humanism… neighborhood heathenism… religious atheism… and internal apathy and rebellion between the institution and the “holy” organism… The church over the centuries has always had members that have been openly rebellious…. obnoxious… stirring up strife… keeping up confusion…. That's not nothing new and when God got tired of their foolishness…God had to discipline them too…
IX. Rebellion in the Modern Church
Rebellion is nothing new either…. The church faces "internal opposition" like this all the time… Satan always rears his ugly head….somewhere in the church… As a matter of fact….the truth is….Satan has a seat in every church….find the unruly member…. That’s his seat…find the rebellious member…that’s his seat…find the backbiting member…that’s his seat…find that rumor spreading member….that’s his seat!...
Opposition against the child of God and the plans of God is Satan usual MO Satan will use slander, half truths, witchcraft, sorcery, gross and evil criticism, threats and acts of violence, your past history and blatant lies in an all out attempt to knock you down and keep you wrapped up in fear. When these tactics don’t work,…he’ll run back and forth before the throne of God …constantly accusing the brethren and recruiting other people… even family members who have issues with the church and with you to interfere with the rebuilding the walls of your life.
X. Nehemiah's Resolve
So when Nehemiah heard this distressing news… the Bible said for a certain number of days, Nehemiah sat down… cried… went into mourning… fasted and prayed before God in Heaven…..Did you get that… All this time…when Nehemiah got the bad news… between mourning and crying …..crying and fasting… fasting and praying…he sought God day and night….I can hear some ask how long did it take…The Bible said he did this certain days….
How long did it take…. It took as long as it took….We can't hurry God god moves on our behalf at the time appropiate to HIM and not to usThey that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…they shall mount up….with wings as an eagle…. They shall run… and not get weary… they shall walk… and not faint…Notice… He prayed for them and he prayed for himself…. As long as it took … day and night… in intercession for Israel…and himself…
A. Nehemiah's Prayer:
This is what he prayed: "I confess every sin Israel, I, and my father's house, committed against you. We’ have acted wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed your commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. "You told us, 'If we were unfaithful… you would scatter us among the nations… but if we return to you… and obeyed your commands. No matter where we were exiled people are at the farthest horizon, you will gather us from there and bring us to the place you chose as a dwelling for your Name.' We are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and by your mighty hand. O Lord, hear our prayer revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting me favor in the presence of this man." Give me the words to say…prepare my heart and mind for what lies ahead. Well, from the time of mourning, fasting, crying and praying…
B. Nehemiah's Request:
Well…it actually took 4 months…but one day… the king noticed... the sad countenance… on Nehemiah’s face….The king asked Nehemiah…why. Are you looking so sad….I’ve never seen you look like this… I know you are not sick…the only thing it can be is sorrow in your heart…I heard Nehemiah say… Oh king… live forever….Why shouldn’t my heart be sad…when Jerusalem…where my ancestors gravesite are… lies in ruins… and the gates are burned up…The king asked him… what do you wish that I do for you….I Heard Nehemiah after he prayed within himself… If it please the king…. and I have found favor in your sight….let me go back to Jerusalem…. To my ancestor’s gravesites… and rebuild….The king asked him…how long will you be gone… Nehemiah probably said… it won’t be long… long enough to finish the work… and if it going to take longer… I’ll let you know…but while I’m at it… I need another favor…I need a royal escort….I need letters from you…. to grant me safe passage to Judah… and to grant me the materials necessary to complete the work….Not only that… but I need you to commission me to go as governor of Judah…to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem…and to stay until the work is finished…
C. Nehemiah's Appeal and the People's Resonse:
You know the story….The king gave him everything… he asked for… and when he got to Jerusalem….and presented the letters… Sanballat and Tobiah…got suspicious…. But Nehemiah did the smart thing…first he said nothing…nobody knew where he was or what he was doing….For 3 days… He walked the city day and night …. He viewed the gates….the dragon’s well… the dung port… looking around assessing the damage… then …when the time was right… the Bible said He gathered the people together… and I heard him say: You see the bad situation we are in; Jerusalem lies in ruins… the gates are burned… Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a disgrace. God gave me favor with the king… and the king has given us permission to do a great work…And they said… Let us rise up and build! So they strengthened their hands for the good work. And as I head toward a close…from chapter 3 to chapter 4… family by family worked side by side….everybody…did their part….and while they were working….opposition came their way…when Sanballat and Tobiah got the word that the people were rebuilding the walls… Sanballat was ticked off… and got very indignant… and started to mocked the Jews… and the work ….but the people had a heart and a mind to do the work….they put their mouth on them….but they did the work….they questioned their motives….but they did the work…they badmouthed the work… but they did the work …because they had a heart and a mind to do the work ….what kind of mind did they have….
D. Nehemiah's Mindset:
.
1. First of all they had a secure mind…
They knew that God presence was with them…God’s peace was with them…God power would sustain them…and God would give them the provisions they needed….it stirred them up… on the inside… and it was them that said. Let us rise up and build the walls… well… the church has the same blessed assurance. To do God’s “ holy” work…you got to have a secure mind. You got to know that God is with you… You got to know that God will grant you peace… You got to know that God will give you power to get the work done…You got to know that God will supply all of your needs… according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus….and in that security we know… that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens each and every one of us…
2. Second of all…they had a spiritual mind…
That the reason why the temple was rebuild first…In order to rebuild Jerusalem…they had to remember…what Jerusalem stood for…Jerusalem was the city of God…and they were God’s chosen people so if Jerusalem was to prosper… and the people were to prosper with her… their religion had to be right…they had to worship God in the beauty of holiness…they had to live a life of righteousness…and they had to take the lead in keeping the people and the city in right relationship with almighty God… The same is true in the modern church….The church belongs to Almighty God…Jesus said… upon this rock…I will build my church….and the gates of hell…shall not prevail against…He didn’t say that hell would come against her…he said that the gates of hell shall not prevail…against her…that being said. God people must seek God in all that we attempt to do… we are the church…and while we are being sanctified…God got to clean up what we messed up…. and start our lives… all over again…that is why… the Bible said…if any man…be in Christ….he is… a new creation….old tings…have passed away… behold… that means look… all things have become new…
XI. Conclusion:
God wants to rebuild…. the walls of your life…drugs have torn them down… alcohol has torn them down….immorality in and out of the church has burned the church and the community…riotous living ….baby after baby being born out of wedlock….one mother and more than one baby daddy…is tearing down the walls… and burned the gates of your life….open rebellion in the church is tearing down the walls and burning the gates of your life. Romans 12: 1 and 2: Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus…it’s time out… from conforming to the sin nature of this modern world…it’s time to be transformed… by the renewing.. .of your mind….that we can prove that good and acceptable and perfect will of God… what does that mean…I’m glad you asked…
It means…as far as salvation is concerned…in the words of the Apostle Paul: Brethren…..my heart’s desire…and pray to God… Israel is… that you might be saved… for I bear you record… under the unction… of the Holy Ghost ….that some of you have a zeal of God….but not according to knowledge….for those of you…being ignorant of God’s righteousness…have gone about…trying to establish your own righteousness…have not submitted yourselves…unto the righteousness of God…. It’s not about us…It is…all about Christ and finally… as I head toward taking my seat…the last mind... that the people had…
They had a single mind…They had a mind to do right…..they had …a mind to work right…they were focused…all working for the same cause…the focus was Jerusalem….not their personal agendas…they knew… the wall must be build…without the wall…. They were helpless…and at the whim of their enemies…The church needs a single mind….One Lord….one faith… one baptism…. One purpose… one goal… the only way that will happen… is we focus on Jesus… and stop focusing on us…The people had a heart and a mind to work…..what kind of heart do you have and what kind of mind do you have…when it comes to kingdom work…it all about Jesus…and not about us..
Dr. William Edward Boddie
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