A Change of Attitude
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Turn to Nehemiah 2:17-18.
In Nehemiah chapter two, God leads Nehemiah to have an important conversation with the king of Persia. That conversation leads to Nehemiah’s appointment to govern the area around Jerusalem and to rebuild the walls of the city.
In verses 9-16, Nehemiah stepped through the open doors and embarked on his life’s work. He put his words into actions. Resistance quickly followed. When you’re doing God’s will, there will be resistance. He arrived in Jerusalem, rested for three days, and then surveyed the walls. The stage was set for the great task ahead.
Introduction
Introduction
Read Nehemiah 2:17-18.
I don’t know about you, but I find that it is the most mundane things of life that are sometimes the hardest to do.
Going to the grocery store to get groceries - sometimes that’s a hard thing to do.
Taking the time to get a haircut - I have other things I want to do besides cut my hair!
Now in my stage of life, these things are not hard because of age or because of physical ability; they are hard sometimes because I just don’t feel like doing them.
There’s nothing inherently difficult about going to the grocery store and getting groceries. In fact, it’s much easier than hiking into the woods, shooting a deer, dragging it out, and processing it.
There’s nothing inherently difficult about going to Hobby Lobby and buying stuff. It’s much easier to do that than to make it yourself.
What I find hard about the grocery store and about Hobby Lobby is one thing: having the right attitude.
Oftentimes with these routine activities of life, I find that only one thing stands in the way of the job getting done: I simply need A Change of Attitude.
That is what the Jews needed in Jerusalem. They needed a change of attitude. Specifically, they needed a change of heart. God sent Nehemiah to lead them to that change.
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The Jews had an attitude of resignation - Nehemiah 2:17.
Nehemiah begins by openly talking about the elephant in the room. “You see the distress that we are in…”
They were acutely aware of the problem.
They knew that their city was still in ruins.
They didn’t need to be told that the walls were demolished and the gates were still burnt up.
The problem was not their awareness of the situation; the problem was their resignation to doing anything about it!
Nearly 150 years had past since Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and it was about 100 years since the first wave of Jews had returned. Some tried to rebuild the walls but they had been stopped. Now, an attitude of resignation had settled in.
“We tried that before and it didn’t work.”
The Jews had come to think that nothing could be done.
An attitude of resignation. That attitude has destroyed individuals, its destroyed marriages, and its even lead to the decline of nations. It is evident in so many ways in American society.
People will say, “I know I have an anger problem or I know I shouldn’t be bitter against that person, but it is what it is. It’s just the way I am. I can’t be changed.”
Husbands and wives will say, “I know our marriage isn’t what it ought to be, but we just don’t love each other anymore. I know I should spend more quality time with my spouse. I know we should talk to each other more. But we just don’t have time. It is what it is. It can’t be changed.”
Churches, like ours, might think, “I know God has done great things in the past, but people just don’t care about God anymore. Folks aren’t getting saved like they used to. The younger generation just doesn’t care about church. It is what it is. It can’t be changed!”
As I mentioned earlier, it’s seen on a national level too. For years we have been told that drugs like fentanyl pouring across our national borders could not be stopped. Nothing could be done about it while Americans were overdosing by the thousands.
For years we have been told that child sex trafficking is too engrained a problem - it can’t be stopped.
For years we have been told that the national debt is too big a problem to solve - it can’t be fixed. Sorry, it’s just too hard to get spending under control.
Here’s my point: our society reeks of this attitude! It can be illustrated a dozen different ways how it is apparent today whether from an individual level all the way to a national level. We have the same attitude as did the Jews in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah said, “You see the distress that we are in…”
“Yeah,” they shrugged. “It is what it is.”
Application: An attitude of resignation is often just a disguise for a heart of unbelief.
The Christian who says, “I can’t be changed…”
The couple that says, “Our marriage can’t be revitalized…”
The church that says, “God can’t do it again…”
Are all guilty of the sin of unbelief.
That unbelief then manifests itself in our lives as disobedience because we’re not willing to take God at His Word in the first place.
Last Sunday during the family service, God did a great work in my heart about this matter of unbelief. I’ve been thinking about it all week.
Our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think - why not trust Him for it?!
Why not believe that God can do great things in transforming my life so that Christ shines through me?
Why not believe that God can do great things in transforming our church to be a greater beacon of light and hope in our community?
Why not believe that God can revive His saints in this country? Why not believe that we can have a great awakening again?
Our God is able! I must reject any thought of doubt and choose to believe Him for it!
So must you.
It’s time to break this attitude, this habit of resignation.
It’s time to reject that heart of unbelief. Call sin what it is!
It’s time to start praying and diligently asking God to do what seems impossible.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Christian, God has not commanded you to be resigned to your problems; He has commanded you to be surrendered to His perfect will. Today, make the choice to start believing that “God can” rather than that God cannot. Reject the attitude of resignation! Say “no” to the sin of unbelief and instead be committed to trusting God!
So we see the Jews had an attitude of resignation. Secondly, our text indicates that…
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Nehemiah had an attitude of expectancy - Nehemiah 2:17-18.
Read Nehemiah 2:17-18.
Nehemiah was one man.
One man couldn’t build the walls.
One man couldn’t hang the gates.
One man couldn’t turn away the scorn and the taunts of their enemies.
But that one man believed that God could do the impossible. That one man expected God to do it. And that one man inspired the whole community of the Jews to believe God also!
One man with an attitude of expectancy.
“Come!” he said. “And let us build up the wall of Jerusalem!”
The Jews saw a city in ruin. Nehemiah saw a city ready for restoration.
The Jews saw themselves as weak and despised by their enemies. Nehemiah saw them as the chosen heritage of the God of Heaven.
The Jews were resigned to their circumstances. Nehemiah expected God to demonstrate His abundant power.
Nehemiah went on to tell them of how God had already blessed this endeavor. He told them how prayer had already been marvelously answered. He told them how the king gave him above and beyond what he had asked for. He told them how that he had been appointed the governor of the region. God was in this. They were not alone!
Notice their response towards the end of verse 18.
“And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
It was settled. They were all in. Now they were committed - all because of one man.
One committed man couldn’t build the walls, but he could inspire others to commit to build with him. That’s exactly what he did.
Application: God used one believing man to stir up a whole community to action. You could be that one man or woman that God will use to stir up this church and this community.
Nehemiah’s commitment to his God and his commitment to the work inspired others to renew their commitment to God and their commitment to the work.
Nehemiah’s example teaches us that you must be committed to doing the will of God. Your commitment may stir others (your friends, your spouse, your children) to commit also. Your lack of commitment may produce a lack of commitment in others.
Senior generation…younger generation.
Parents…children.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What is your attitude this morning? When it comes to God’s personal working in your life, do you have an attitude of resignation or an attitude of expectancy?
Invitation
Invitation
Baptism
Baptism
