Count the Cost
Notes
Transcript
What does it cost to start the good work?
What does it cost to start the good work?
So you’ve had your heart broken, you’ve sat in the pain and you’ve decided that it’s time to get to work, and you’ve taken a step of faith, put it out there in front of God that you’re willing to say, Here I am Lord, Use me.
Because we are called to do the good work that he has created us to do, and it’s not a have to right… no it’s a I get to do this. We are not doing the good work to earn his favor but rather a offering of thanks and praise for all that he has already done for us.
But doing the good work can sometimes be costly… Do you know what it will cost you to go where God calls you to Go and do what God calls you to do?
What’s it going to cost you? Have you counted the cost of doing the good work? This is something that is vital to do before you actually start working.
Jesus in Luke 14:28-30 in context of talking about following him and being his disciple says these words...
The New International Version Chapter 14
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
So how do we count the cost? Well I believe that our story in Nehemiah will help us understand at least 4 things to think through as we begin the good work.
So this morning we are back in the book of Nehemiah. And today we are looking at chapter 2:9-20.
Catch us back up on the story. First week- Break my heart for what breaks yours. Nehemiah the cupbearer to the Persian King Artexerses was heartbroken when he heard about the state of Jerusalem.
Last week we looked at taking steps of faith and how Nehemiah, after sitting with the Lord, fasting and praying for 4 months took a giant leap of faith in asking his king to let him leave and go back home to do something about the plight of his people.
And the Lord was with Nehemiah and so the king blessed his request…which brings us to today. Where we are looking at counting the cost. What will it cost us when we begin the good work? What areas should we prepare to count the cost in and see if we are ready to actually do the work.
And the first one of these areas that When beginning the good work… We should...
Anticipate Opposition
Anticipate Opposition
9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. 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.
Anticipate that the cost of following God in the good work that he is calling you to will involve opposition. Anticipate opposition coming from at least 2 directions.
Our Neighbors
1 Samuel–Nehemiah 1. Arrival in the West (2:9–10)
Sanballat, the representative of the Persian government in Samaria, had special reason to be concerned. Northern Judah, including Jerusalem, was under his jurisdiction. Whether or not it was actually the intention of Artaxerxes to detach this area from Samaritan control is not clear. But Sanballat sensed that this was the intention of Nehemiah and reacted in a predictably hostile manner.
Our Relatives.
1 Samuel–Nehemiah 1. Arrival in the West (2:9–10)
Sanballat was joined in his opposition to Nehemiah by Tobiah, who is called the servant, the Ammonite. The term servant does not imply that he was a servant of Sanballat. Like Sanballat he was a servant of the crown and a deputy governor under the satrap of the province. Ammonite is used here in a political rather than an ethnic sense. Tobiah, whose name means “Yahweh is good,” was a member of a famous Jewish family in Ammon. Since Judah bordered the district of Ammon, Nehemiah’s arrival posed a threat to the power and influence of Tobiah.
What will this cost me relationally? Am I willing to pay that price?
Are we
Conduct Investigations
Conduct Investigations
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. 13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
Nehemiah 2:11 “11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days”
Why just wait 3 days? I believe when we first take time to settle in, it allows us the opportunity to begin the process of mentally preparing for the work ahead. It gives us time to actually begin an investigation, where we determine what might be the next best step. It allows us to begin counting the cost.
Look around, take time to take it all in.
3 days Nehemiah waited before doing anything. Jerusalem was altogether strange to him. To just rush in and think that he knew exactly what to do and when to do it would have been crazy. Taking time to take it all in and look around, doing a mental inventory of things is wise.
One of my favorite documentaries is called the Biggest Little Farm. It’s about this city couple, John and Molly Chester who wanted to get into sustainable farming and so they bought an abandoned and arid tree farm.
This 200 acre lemon farm in California that they had purchased looked like a desert but they had a dream of building a sustainable farm and self supporting ecology. “I would equate it to a parking lot,” says John. They brought in a diverse ecosystem that slowly rebuilt the soil but the really awesome thing about the documentary is all the problems that they kept running into. Because anytime you step out in faith and begin doing something that your learning as you go you can anticipate opposition. Two problems that they ran into is that they had a beautiful flock of 30 ducks who loved the little pond on the property. But all the duck poop in the pond made the pond a nightmare for the fish who kept dying.
The farm also suffered from a snail infestation that was attacking and killing all their trees. Each day the farmers and helpers spent all their time picking off snails from the trees in a desperate attempt to save the fruit harvest, but they were failing.
The couple wanted to quit over and over again. But each unique problem was first met with just trying to fix it. But after a little while the couple learned the most valuable lesson, and probably the lesson that was able to save their dream. They simply needed to sit back at look around.
They began to watch the farm, and wait and listen. And this small step of taking time and simply stopping to look around showed the couple that the ducks loved snails.
John explains that the regenerative mindset creates an equilibrium. For instance, ducks (farmed for their eggs) were polluting the pond. The ducks were moved into the orchards where there was a massive snail problem – the snails were attacking the trees. In just one season, 30 ducks ate 100,000 snails that returned nutrients to the soil.
There is wisdom in taking time to not just jump right in, but to conduct an investigation. To truly begin counting the cost by conducting an investigation. Looking around. What is already here. What ministries can I come along and possibly partner with. Who are the people that might already be trying to do the same type of work? Take the time to look around. But also...
Look forward. Keep the end goal in mind when doing an investigation. It keeps your mind focused. Nehemiah knew he was going to rebuild the wall and so his focus was investigating what God was calling him to do.
12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. 13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
Looking Within:
Counting the cost: we need to consider that the work could...
involve considerable danger
here is is going out in the dark…and in order to remain in the secret, he didn’t take a torch with him…he was relying on the light of the moon to guide his path that was littered with rubble. There was no safe path and at one point he had to turn around because it wasn’t safe to go through with his donkey.
God’s servants are often called to perilous places. Missionaries are often called to the hardest places, the spiritually dark places, giving up an easy life to take the gospel to the people who have never yet heard the name of Jesus.
Countless men and women have given their very lives in service to the King of Kings advancing his kingdom to the ends of the earth.
require personal sacrifice
Nehemiah gave up rest.
What are we called to give up to accomplish the work God is calling us to do.
Counting the cost involves us doing an inventory of what is already going on Looking Around. Involves us finding out what there is to do to complete the work…Looking Forward as well as examining our hearts and whether or not we are ok with the danger and the personal sacrifice…Looking Within
Next thing we need to consider when counting the cost is how are we inspiring others to join us in the work?
Inspire Cooperation
Inspire Cooperation
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.” 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 rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
He appeals to their
patriotism
pity
piety
He testifies about what has already taken place.
Testimony is a powerful tool for inspiring cooperation and motivating others to join you in the good work.
But this is costly. Asking for support can cost you relationships, and if your anything like me, asking for support, help be it prayer, financial, or physical help is a hard thing to do.
But let me ask you this. What would you be able to accomplish if you did ask? What is it costing you to not ask for help?
I think sometimes we are so used to working by ourselves and doing the work ourselves that the load becomes unbearable. And we are tired, worn out and the work doesn’t truly get done because we cannot do it all.
Part of counting the cost has to be looking around and asking the Lord, are there other people who you are calling me to ask to step into this work as well.
Maybe your a sunday school teacher who is feeling tired and worn down. You know what your doing is good work. You know that God has placed you there for a purpose but your finding the work to be too much for yourself. Maybe you skipped this part. Maybe you took on all the burden yourself instead of seeing if there was others there who were called to partner with you in the work.
This is a somewhat silly illustration but let me share it with you anyways...
Truck Cap- taking it off by myself…back hurting for a couple months afterward
slow learner
Put it back on by myself a couple months ago...
Count the cost… going at it by yourself, you may get there, you may even get there fast, but you will get there alone. There is an old African proverb that my friend Kelvin Walker loves to share. You want to go fast, go alone, you want to go far, go together.
We are a body, and part of counting the cost of doing the work is making sure we are taking along who God wants to join us in the work. It is sustained when we do it together.
US.Back in March in 2022 I went to a huge church planters conference called Exponential and one of our Alliance DS, was speaking there. Kelvin Walker.
He spoke these words.
“The gifts of the Spirit for the equipping of the body. The gifts of the Spirit, he owns them, we steward them. The gifts of the Spirit, are meant to unify not divide. The gifts of the Spirit are empowerment for all on mission. Brothers and sisters, if the work of the Kingdom is dependent on your gifts, and not the gifts that Spirit gives to the body, then it’s all done by you, it’s all dependent on you, and ultimately it will end with you. But if the work of the Kingdom is built upon the leading and the filling and the ministry and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He empowers the body, then the world will see that God is on the move, the gospel is being preached, Jesus is being exhausted, the kingdom is advancing. When empowered leaders are empowering the body, the collective community is going far because they are going together, the Holy Spirit is the Power source, the church is on fire and everyone get’s to play.”
Lastly, when counting the cost. We need to remember that we are not the ones who are responsible for the outcome. We are called to be faithful to what God is asking us to do.
Expect Deliverance
Expect Deliverance
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
The God of heaven will give us success.
There is an ultimate example of someone who counted the cost before he began the work that God called him to. And that is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12:1–3 “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Today we celebrate communion. We come around the Lords table.
Have the ushers come forward to distribute the elements.
Jesus counted the cost before he ever left his throne in heaven. God anticipated the opposition…the enemy, the temptations, the cross, the opposition from sinners.
Jesus counted the cost and he counted us as worthy of his personal sacrifice.
The communion table reminds us of the body that Christ sacrificed for us…for our healing. The precious perfect blood that he shed for us for the forgiveness of our sin.
Jesus counted the cost of the cross and still decided to say, I love you this much. That whoever believes in me, will not perish but have everlasting life.
Forgiveness of sin, healing and everlasting life is ours when we simply come to him in belief that he is our savior. That he is our deliverer. That he is our Healer…That he is our holiness…that he is our coming king.
Jesus counted the cost and was willing to pay for it with his very life. And so…we can have new life because of his life. And we can have the very spirit of God himself living within us. That very same spirit that rose Jesus from the grave, that same power. Because Jesus counted the cost, on the very same night that Jesus shared this meal, this communion with his closest followers and then later when to the garden and cried blood because he was counting the cost of what it would take to save you and me and said yes father. Not my will, but yours be done.
So we come to the table today…And we reflect upon the body of CHrist...
Lead in the body
We reflect upon the blood of Christ...
Prayer