Arise & Build

Introduction

When you look around at the brokenness and it breaks you.

Hurricane damage in Florida.

Recent school shooting in Uvalde.

The continuing atrocity by the Russian military on the Ukrainian people.

Driving around OKC and seeing the number of homeless.

Hate and division that are running rampant in our nation.

Moral failures of our religious leaders.

Certainly these are connected to the greatest sickness in the world, sin.

Laws, regardless of how well they are written or thought out, do not cure the depravity of mankind.

Yet, we have been trying to fight spiritual battles with the fleshly rule of law.

Nehemiah saw the brokenness of his people, following the exile, and knew something had to be done.

He realized the connection between the condition of Jerusalem and the state of their souls.

Nehemiah knew that he needed to do something about the brokenness.

This is the call of the church.

Paul felt it.

Acts 17:16 ESV

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

As we see the brokenness in our world, in our culture, our spirits should be provoked!

The solution to brokenness is the Gospel.

Let’s examine how Nehemiah went bringing healing to his culture.

The Gospel isn’t popular.

vv. 9-10

“Then...” Prior actions in Nehemiah.

These were people who were threatened by the success of the Israelites.

Not everyone is going to agree with the Gospel.

Especially when it leads to the ways that the Gospel leads to a change.

This can happen in one of two extremes:

First, when we think our job is just to speak the Gospel.

Build a bridge of relationship strong enough to bear the weight of the truth we have to give.

Sometimes this takes place as we meet physical needs.

“You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.”

William Booth

The other extreme is where we think if we are meeting physical needs that’s enough.

“Ski mission trip”

Sometimes, people won’t like that you are showing kindness.

It sounds like a joke to say, especially in the church. But, we have seen it happening in our culture today.

On the other end, some people won’t like it that we combine the gospel and good works. Because...

The Gospel is at odds with the world.

Sometimes standing for the Gospel will set you at odds with the world.

Yet, it is the cure for the world’s ills.

Nehemiah needed to do work that was both personal and public.

The Gospel requires personal work.

vv. 11-16

Nehemiah takes time at night, he goes off with just a few people.

He keeps his work to himself.

He surveys the city. Where is it broken (v. 13)?

You need time for quiet contemplation and exploration.

Not just for the culture, but for yourself.

When is the last time that you took stock of your spiritual life?

Dedicated time in prayer, asking God, who knows your heart, to reveal weaknesses.

This will include a close look at God’s Word.

This has led to times in the past where the church has stood on the wrong side of issues.

Influenced by politics or cultural norms.

Or simply by what we wish the Bible said. Rob Bell.

Study before you speak.

The Gospel is public work.

vv. 17-20

After Nehemiah had taken time to study, now it was time to speak.

Now it is time to rebuild!

Realizing the work to be done, they “strengthened their hands for the good work” (v. 18).

The prepared themselves, committing themselves.

Why is that important? Because they met opposition as soon as they started.

And despite the “fake news” that was being said about them, they were committed.

What was the basis of their commitment?

“The God of heaven will make us prosper” (v. 20).

God ordained is God blessed.

When we begin to pursue things that are not Gospel-centric, we find ourselves in opposition to God.

But, when we commit to being Gospel-centric, then we find ourselves blessed by God.

Conclusion

Being sick the last couple of weeks. Two trips to the doctor, couple of different prescriptions. A couple of days in bed.

Lots of coughing, but finally feeling a little better.

Knowing from past experiences, I need to see a doctor.

My symptoms were a sign that I needed to get help.

When we look around at the world, and we feel that brokenness, it isn’t cause for despair.

Brokenness is a call to action.

We, as the church, can make a difference.

As we bring about physical healing combined with spiritual healing, we make a difference.