Build His Kingdom 4

Announcements

Helps needed! Rotations for:

Church cleaning crew

AV Team

We also have some needs here at the facility with building projects or other maintenance.

Church on the Mountain We’ll have first planning meeting next Sunday after service

Gardaland! Aug 3rd. Sign-ups for group rate discounts and carpooling.

Welcome Home Party! today - an opportunity to find where you can be an active part of the Refuge Aviano family

RECAP

Ezra 1 “…build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel…”

Nehemiah 2:18 (CSB)

18 …They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened to do this good work.

GOD IS LOOKING FOR KINGDOM BUILDERS!

People, called by His Name, for His purpose, gifted for service in the Kingdom to Build His Kingdom.

Ezra and Nehemiah were builders - rebuilders even.

Ezra - build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel

Nehemiah - Let’s start building - and their hands were strengthened to do this work

He’s looking for Creatives - people who use their talents to create and facilitate moments for which God can meet someone in a sacred time and space - the moment at which they can be redeemed!

This reflects one of God’s characteristics: God, Himself, is the ultimate Creative!

This is what I love about Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:15–20 CSB

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

God is in the story-writing business. God is still writing out our stories with those God-wink moments that awaken us to His love for us, and His purpose through us.

We read an example of this through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah -

How God’s redemptive plan was at work to restore exiled Israel, and He used ordinary men with extraordinary potential to bring about a spiritual awakening in God’s people, and a restoration process for daily living.

We see the restoration of the Temple, and the definitive borders and access points for which each person could gain access to and protect the presence of God.

This is exemplified in the life of a follower of Christ Jesus.

The Temple, the City and its walls are reflective of the needs and priorities of every Christian believer.

And so we read a prophetic example of a Christian’s daily living in Ezra-Nehemiah.

As we read Ezra, it began with a call to restore the Temple - it was the presence of God they had been missing in their lives. They understood, they craved for the presence of God back as the center of each of their lives, and their society. They marched back from Babylon to their place where God chose His presence to dwell. They left the things of bondage to be reunified with God.

After that, Nehemiah led another movement - the realization that they as an entire people needed repentance. They needed forgiveness of sin to be able to reconciled with God. So they started rebuilding daily life with the Sheep Gate.

How many of you know God will make a Way, when there seems to be no way!

The priesthood provided the primary path for which people may be reconciled with God - through sacrifice and repentance God restored His presence among His people.

The Sheep Gate being the way that the sacrificial lamb would come into the City for sacrifice - is represented in Jesus Christ Himself, the perfect and spotless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World.

Adjacent to this Gate - that never locks and is always open - where walls and two towers that overlooked the City access. There was no other way by which forgiveness of sins could take place - Jesus is the Way, the gatekeeper, He is the Truth, and He is the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

And so we have access to the Father - to the throne of Grace - by which we’re welcomed to come boldly before - and make every request, every struggle, every hardship, every praise, every need before our Almighty Father - and find His peace!

Fish Gate - the need for Evangelism

The second gate repaired and reestablished for daily living.

Nehemiah 3:3–5 CSB

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. 4 Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. 5 Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.

The New King James Version (Chapter 3)

3 Also the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok the son of Baana made repairs. 5 Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.

Access intended for those going and returning from fishing trips.

The name of the Fish Gate derived from the fish market that flourished there.

Located along the northwest corner of the city it provided first access to those coming up the main coastal road from the Mediterranean as well as fishermen who might come down from the Sea of Galilee to sell their products.

It was a place where people of the city rubbed shoulders with people outside the City.

It was a common place for the common man - and a well-traveled road bringing access to the city gate.

This gate is also called the Damascus Gate - the path that led to the Damascus Road where Saul - who would become Paul - had a holy encounter with a resurrected Jesus who questioned him about persecuting God’s church.

The Fish Gate was established as the first access point of daily living AFTER finding forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

Jesus’s first chosen disciples were fishermen - and He told them He would make them Fishers of Men.

Matthew 4:19 CSB

19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Mark 1:17 CSB

17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Luke 5:10 CSB

10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.”

Which were all prophetically referred to by the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 16:16 (CSB)

16 “I am about to send for many fishermen”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and they will fish for them. “

It is a natural progression in our Christian life that after seeing and believing Jesus died for our sins, that we would want to talk about it! Your testimony - your encounter with God - of what He has done for you and your life - qualifies you to be a great fisher of men and women.

This is a natural next step after forgiveness in the Christian life.

We see this after Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well - and she went and told the whole town what He had said and done for her.

There is an intentionality and necessity in the life of a Christian to testify about what Christ did for you.

Strategy

What we read here is that there was a process and strategy in rebuilding the Fish Gate and its connecting walls.

TO go fishing - one needs to be prepared. There are some tools that are necessary for fishing:

Fishing Pole - an effort to reach out Tackle Box - knowing what you believe Lure - being salt and light to attract and not scare away people

Resilient

We see the gate was built structurally - with its supporting beams, and the doors hung with specifically fashioned bolts and bars for securing the gate.

There is a structural truth - both by way of the Word of God, and by personal experience - by which we testify.

If God has done something amazing for you, there is no way someone should discredit that from you. Its your personal experience. He/She whom the Son sets free is free indeed! And you’ll know it!

There’s also the importance of being in the Word of God - to know the Word of God for yourself and not just what a preacher said on a Sunday morning.

This is the importance of being in Bible study and surrounding ourselves with God-fearing, kingdom-loving people.

The way is protected! Walls are two-sided - dual purposed! They keep people in OR they keep people out!

In the same way, we must protect what is most valuable in our lives - the presence of God

- Influencers vs influenced

- The spiritual walls of my life are to protect my heart and mind; my engagement to the world outside is strategic and intentional.

- The spiritual life of the believer finds REFUGE in the Keep - the most-valued place where the presence of the Lord is

Functionality

The walls were intentionally functional - with bolts and a bar for locking

There will be a day when there will not be an opportunity to go fishing any longer - the Day when we are all called Home and to face the Day of Judgment - that day referenced in Malachi 4:5

Malachi 4:5 (CSB)

5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

Cooperation

The second major point here is that there was an intentional amount of communication and Cooperation.

It says the sons of Hassennaah built the Fish Gate. The tribe of Hassenaah - where Hassenaah was the patriarch - are specifically known as returners from the Exile.

When you’ve been set free from bondage and separation from God - you’re gonna want to be involved in the process of helping others get back to the presence of God as well.

Once you realize you’ve been forgiven and set free - you’re going to want others to be forgiven and set free as well!

And it takes cooperation - it takes communication. It takes seeking out those more mature in the Lord for advise on daily living. It takes an intentional amount of “seeking out your salvation with fear and trembling”. It takes working with our brothers and sisters at every opportunity to facilitate moments where God can meet someone new in His redemption plan.

In verse four we see Meremoth, Meshullam, Zadok all helped make repairs - building and rebuilding the Fish Gate and its walls.

We even see another Tribe - the Tekoites - the men of Tekoa, the home of the great prophet Amos, and the home of Ira, one of David’s mighty men - they came from about 13 miles south of Jerusalem to help with the rebuilding process.

God always has a people - and there are others who are able and willing to help.

In the same way of evangelism, we are all on mission for Kingdom work. Just like we’ve sent support by way of people and resources to help spread the Word of God, so are people sending support from around the world to Refuge Aviano for the mission here.

We are all fishers of men and its our responsibility - we’ve been commissioned - to take the Gospel to the world starting with everyone around you.

Reward

They are credited for being builders of God’s city; and as its been recorded here in Scripture - God has made known for all history that this man and his family were building in God’s Kingdom and purpose.

But not everyone would.

God keeps record. God keeps note. And we see an example of this in verse 5:

Nehemiah 3:5 CSB

5 Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.

The New King James Version Chapter 3

5 Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.

Unfortunately there are people - believers - who have not or will not do the work of the Lord. And God takes note of this. We see here the nobles of Tekoa would not put forth the effort - who wouldn’t work with their master and refused to get their hands dirty with such work

The Nobles - those who

- who were learned

- who were of financial capability

- who were of influence, and positions of influence: thought themselves to be too good for the work of the Lord; too important to get their hands dirty; too busy to be burdened with such a basic function

-who thought they had too much to lose in associating with the work of the Lord

- who were too proud to do the work of the Lord

James 4:6 CSB

6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

God rewards those who work diligently for His Kingdom! We need to be intentional to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us! It can be hard work - sometimes we get push back. Sometimes we may even receive persecution.

Jeremiah 31:16 CSB

16 This is what the Lord says: Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come— this is the Lord’s declaration— and your children will return from the enemy’s land.

The work of sharing the Gospel is never worthless or wasted!

1 Corinthians 3:8 CSB

8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

We may not see the results personally, but One Day, when we get to the other side of Glory and see all those who eventually responded to the Gospel - that will be a day of rejoicing and celebration!

Matthew 16:27 CSB

27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done.

You and I will be rewarded for what we do or don’t do for the Kingdom of God! 1 Peter 5:4

1 Peter 5:4 CSB

4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

And at which point we will gladly take these crowns and put them at the feet of Jesus - giving Him all glory, honor, and praise!

Closing

This Fish Gate is talking about evangelism - it’s talking about sharing the Good News of Jesus with those around you.

When you’re going about your day - there are moments to share the gospel with people around you.

When you’re out traveling about - there are moments to share the gospel with people around you.

When you’re out shopping or doing business - there are moments to share the gospel with people around you.

This Fish Gate is the first access point for people to use in gaining access to the City.

The first access - your lives and mine could be the very first instance they’ve known or even heard of Jesus. Your or my life could be the only Bible they’d ever read, the first sermon they’ve ever seen, the first indication of any kind of real hope that exists.

What Jesus has done in your life qualifies you to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the Messiah and Great I Am - whose return for His people is imminent.

You see, this gate speaks of the church baptized in fire where believers on fire for God sacrificed all and went out to turn the world upside down with the message of Jesus Christ! And that is what happened and it continues to happen! Starting with the Jews - as we’ve learned on Wednesday nights - and then traveling out to the Gentiles in the then known world, the disciples of the Lord truly were 'fishers of men' and the growth of Christianity spread rapidly.

God is looking for the willing - you may not know what to say, but you do know what He’s said to you. That in itself is worth sharing - and then connecting them to people more seasoned in the faith.

John 12:32 CSB

32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”

Raise the Name of Jesus. Bring Him up. Look for those divine appointments to share Jesus - because they’re there.