The People Behind the Wall

Introduction

Good morning!

We will be tackling the largest section of Nehemiah we’ve attempted in a single sitting - Nehemiah 11:1-12:26.

Before we get too far into our passage, I do feel its important to acknowledge something that happened this week. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, with the name Chuck - I was often called Chuck Norris by playground kids trying to get a rise out of me, but little did they know I actually really enjoyed it - because Chuck Norris was really really cool! Later in life, I learned that Chuck Norris had a deeply impactful relationship with Jesus Christ and was living for Him the best he could. He once said in an interview that some of his greatest regrets were times in his life where he felt he had drifted away from the Lord, but was always glad to know that the Lord never drifted from him.

Sadly, Chuck passed away unexpectedly on Thursday this week at the age of 86 after experiencing an unknown medical emergency while training in Hawaii. So in honor of Chuck Norris, I would like to take a moment to honor him in a way he would have enjoyed:

Chuck Norris didn’t cheat death, he just let it win to keep things interesting.

After coming in contact with Chuck Norris, COVID-19 had to go into isolation for 2 weeks.

Chuck Norris once got pulled over for speeding - he let the cop go with just a warning.

Chuck Norris didn’t die, he realized the Grim Reaper owed him $20 and he went to collect it.

Chuck Norris once stubbed his toe in Arizona. That’s why they have the Grand Canyon.

Chuck Norris once passed 6 kidney stones. Thanos collected them and called them “Infinity Stones.”

In all seriousness, it is great to see how a man who lived in Hollywood and made an incredible career for himself stayed faithful to the Lord and grew closer and closer to Him as he got older. That is the kind of life we should all strive for - to grow closer to the Lord as we prepare to meet Him ourselves, right?

— —

We are nearing the end of our time in Nehemiah and are in this final section where the broad overarching theme is God Reforming the Community. This theme will carry us all the way through the end of the book. We have worked through the other two big sections so far; first, Rebuilding the Wall, and second, Restoring the People. Now we are in the section where we see the big thematic emphasis is on Reforming the Community.

In order to reform the community, God used people who stepped forward with sacrificial service for their community. Jerusalem was woefully underpopulated, so they were lacking the basic man-power to do the basic and essential duties necessary to run the city. There were civic duties that needed to be done - like continued defense of the city after all the wall builders returned home, or maintenance to the temple and other structures. A city needs people in order to run well, and the majority of the people involved in the rebuilding of the wall lived in the towns surrounding Jerusalem.

What we see in the text today is people - whom God honored by name - give up their own direction in life in order to serve the Lord and His people by living on mission instead of living only for themselves and their own goals. This passage is full of names and reads a little more like a roster than what we are probably used to reading when we think about Scripture, and there have been occasions in the recent past where I have circumnavigated reading the text in its entirety - but seeing the purpose for God including these names and for the reason they were included, I felt that it was important to give honor where the Lord showed honor, so I will be fighting through the entirety of this passage today - names and all.

If you are going to take away one piece of today’s sermon, my prayer is that it would be this: that God accomplishes His work through people who step forward, serve faithfully, and build for the next generation.

If you are a note taker and didn’t get a copy of the bulletin insert this morning, here is a basic overview of our outline:

Some People Step Forward (11:1-2)

Every Role Matters (11:3-36)

Faithfulness Builds a Legacy (12:1-26)

Some People Step Forward (11:1-2)

Read with me in…

Nehemiah 11:1–2 CSB

1 Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of ten to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine-tenths remained in their towns. 2 The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

At first, I had to scratch my head over this portion of our passage today. I wasn’t quite sure why living in Jerusalem instead of the towns was a noble act of sacrifice, like it seemed to be pointing out in the text. The reason the people blessed the volunteers was because they knew that these men and their families were choosing mission over convenience. If you lived in Jerusalem, you didn’t have the property to produce crops or make a living from the ground, like many did in those times - city living came with more civic and spiritual responsibilities. Now that the wall was built, the city was wildly underpopulated - therefore, still in danger from enemy attacks.

So the goal was to increase the population of the city to help build up its defences against enemy attacks, to take part in the necessary task of local government and civic duties, as well as to take part in the spiritual requirements of Jerusalem’s residents. They were to sustain the capital and the temple life as they lived near enough to the temple to be charged with it’s care and maintenance. To put these people into contrast with the rest of the community living in the surrounding towns, those living in Jerusalem had less privacy, more responsibility to live as an example through their obedience to the Law and covenant they had just signed in chapter 10, the had less economic stability because they had less access to land for crops, herds and flocks (which were the major source of economic stability in their society).

God’s work advances when people willingly step into responsibility—especially when that responsibility costs them something. One in ten men - with their families - were being selected by casting lots, and these men would uproot their lives from the small towns they lived in to go live in Jerusalem. How many of you would be willing to go live in a large city? The cultural difference between living in a small town and a big city is huge! The economics are different, the way you would spend your day is different - every aspect of life would be dramatically changed for someone moving from, say, Bethlehem to Jerusalem. No more crops, no more herds or flocks - people probably had to get hired by others in the city in order to make any kind of living and get the food they needed to live, or start their own businesses. The important thing to note is that this relocation that some were being selected for - and others volunteering willingly for - was not out of convenience because it would have been massively inconvenient for them. No, rather this move was out of a desire to live on mission instead. They sacrificed their own convenience to live on mission for the Lord.

First, we notice that the leaders in the community are the first to stay. This reminds us of the importance of leading by example - the leaders didn’t merely assign risk and go back to their lives in their towns, they shared in that risk and were the first to make the move. Leaders gain credibility and the right to lead others when they go first.

In Christianity, leaders are those who serve and that is how they “go first” like these leaders in Jerusalem did.

Mark 10:42–45 CSB

42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Or like Jesus says in a parallel passage,

John 13:13–15 CSB

13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

In Christianity, we lead by serving others and sacrificing our own needs for the needs of those we lead. Service, in that respect, is one of our greatest avenues of leadership - leading by example the way the Lord gave us an example in washing the disciple’s feet.

Another thing to notice is that the Jews cast lots to see who would move to Jerusalem. In Jewish culture, casting lots was a way of making a decision and leaving the specifics to God. They believed that God would work in the midst of them casting lots by determining the outcome and directing the decision to His will. So for them, casting lots wasn’t leaving it to chance, but rather exercising trust in God’s sovereignty. It’s important to remind us all here that sometimes, God assigns us tasks or sends us places that we wouldn’t ever chose for ourselves.

In Christianity, we rely less on casting lots and much more on the wisdom and direction we get from the Holy Spirit directing us through the Word of God.

Psalm 32:8 CSB

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Hebrews 13:20–21 CSB

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Another thing here to take special note of is in verse 2 - the people acknowledged and blessed those staying in Jerusalem. This community recognized the courage of these volunteers. The recognized that walls don’t make a city, that people do. Jerusalem needed residents more than spectators - people to go about the day-to-day life within the city walls to continue rebuilding and repopulating it as the Lord directs and allows.

We can glean a few things from this ourselves:

ministry isn’t always convenient

sometimes we need to say yes before all the details are as clear as we would like them to be

sometimes we need to accept responsibility before being asked

leading often means choosing mission over comfort.

The biggest lesson from these verses we get though is the idea that the difference between progress and stagnation is often one person willing to step forward.

It’s not unlike what Charles Finney, an American Evangelist once said:

A revival may be expected whenever Christians are found willing to make the sacrifices necessary to carry it on. They must be willing to sacrifice their feelings, their business, their time, to help forward the work.

Charles Grandison Finney (American Evangelist)

God accomplishes His work through people who step forward, serve faithfully, and build for the next generation.

Every Role Matters (11:3-36)

Read with me again, picking up in verse 3…

Nehemiah 11:3–36 CSB

3 These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem (but in the villages of Judah each lived on his own property in their towns—the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants—4 while some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem): Judah’s descendants: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of Perez’s descendants; 5 and Maaseiah son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, a descendant of the Shilonite. 6 The total number of Perez’s descendants, who settled in Jerusalem, was 468 capable men. 7 These were Benjamin’s descendants: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai: 928. 9 Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city. 10 The priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin, and 11 Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief official of God’s temple, 12 and their relatives who did the work at the temple: 822. Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah 13 and his relatives, the heads of families: 242. Amashsai son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, 14 and their relatives, capable men: 128. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim, was their chief. 15 The Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the heads of the Levites, who supervised the work outside the house of God; 17 Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, the one who began the thanksgiving in prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his relatives; and Abda son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city: 284. 19 The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their relatives, who guarded the city gates: 172. 20 The rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the villages of Judah, each on his own inherited property. 21 The temple servants lived on Ophel; Ziha and Gishpa supervised the temple servants. 22 The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, who were singers for the service of God’s house. 23 There was, in fact, a command of the king regarding them, and an ordinance regulating the singers’ daily tasks. 24 Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was the king’s agent in every matter concerning the people. 25 As for the farming settlements with their fields: Some of Judah’s descendants lived in Kiriath-arba and Dibon and their surrounding villages, and Jekabzeel and its settlements; 26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-pelet, 27 Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba and its surrounding villages; 28 in Ziklag and Meconah and its surrounding villages; 29 in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, and 30 Zanoah and Adullam with their settlements; in Lachish with its fields and Azekah and its surrounding villages. So they settled from Beer-sheba to Hinnom Valley. 31 Benjamin’s descendants: from Geba, Michmash, Aija, and Bethel and its surrounding villages, 32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, in Craftsmen’s Valley. 36 Some of the Judean divisions of Levites were in Benjamin.

God builds His kingdom through many people serving in different roles—not just those on the platform. This section lists Tribal leaders, Priests, Levites, Gatekeepers, Temple servants, Administrators and Workers in the surrounding towns. This was what they were staying for - to help rebuild infrastructure for worship and the community life in the Holy City. A few observations are important here:

God records names because people matter to Him

This chapter is not filler to meet some kind of length requirement like an essay in school, rather, it’s evidence that God sees and values individual people. Sometimes I get lost in the idea that I am just a random person and that God’s love for me must be because of the love He has for all of humanity and that I am loved because I am clumped into the group - when nothing could be further from the truth - God’s love of us is on an individual basis - He sees and values each individual person because He is so involved in our lives that we matter to God.

Can you look at your neighbor and say, “I matter to God!”?

The fact that God’s word names people by name here communicates the value God sees in these individual people. It’s not all that dissimilar from the woman who used her hair with tears and perfume to wipe Jesus’ feet in preparation for His burial. Judas betrayed his greed by complaining that the perfume could have been sold to feed the poor (but several of the gospel writers noted that his intention would rather be to steal some of the money that went into the money bag). But look at what Jesus tells him:

Matthew 26:10–13 CSB

10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for me. 11 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. 12 By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Jesus knew she would be honored in the Scriptures and even indicated that should would be remembered for her kindness and love for Christ because it was recorded for that specific reason. To be honest, the canon of Holy Scripture is closed - you and I will never find our names written in the Bible, unless it’s written on the dedication page or stamped on the front cover. However, there is another book that we should be aiming to be recorded in. Scripture calls it the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those whose names are written in the book are those who have trusted on the Lord for salvation and are bound for heaven when their time on earth is done.

Perhaps even greater than being recorded in Scripture as an honor from the Lord, I would posit to you that it is of greater importance that your name be written in the Lamb’s book of Life, because the impact from that will last longer than having your names recorded in Scripture, like the names in Nehemiah 11 and 12. How does your name get written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? By trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ alone to save your soul from hell, by recognizing your sin as an offense against God and coming to him with contrition in your heart, by relying on the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice to be enough to do what He said it would do for you. The most important thing you will ever be faced with in life is how you respond to the name of Jesus. His is the only name under heaven which every person must come to a conclusion about.

CS Lewis was famously quoted for saying Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord of the universe - we have to pick one and live accordingly. If we say He is a liar, we have no place with Him. If we say He is a lunatic, we have to still explain the miracles He performed. If we call Him Lord, we need to submit to Him as Lord and live in service to Him and His people. Friends, if you have yet to decide for yourself who you believe Jesus to be, I would like to invite you today to recognize and embrace Jesus as the Lord of the Universe, the forgiver of your sins, as the only path to God! Trust in Him and He’ll personally write your name in the Book of Life.

Another thing that is important to note in our passage today is that God doesn’t just build walls, He also builds teams.

The work of God requires organization

You see structure in this passage everywhere: Security (gatekeepers), Worship (priests and Levites), Administration, Logistics and other Support roles There is a coordinated effort here designed to support and encourage the work the Lord was doing in the community. This isn’t to say that organization and coordination are somehow responsible for the revival work God was doing, but rather it supported it and organized all the various pieces of the puzzle so they could work together for greater efficiency and wider-spread impact.

In seminary, I learned that programs in the church are as much of a curse as they are a blessing. One of the pitfalls for many young pastors is to look at their ministry in terms of programs instead of people. There has been for the last 15 to 20 years a revival among pastors specifically that reminds them that their role is to shepherd people, not to be some kind of executive level professional of an organization. However, to say that organization is bad and to resist organizing people and resources to be as efficient as possible is a dangerous oversight and misstep. Without organization, ministry, worship and even the preaching of His word can fall into chaos - and chaos doesn’t really help people see God accurately. Rather, if we exercise our minds and lead people and programs well, we can better serve people with those programs and the various resources God provides for us to do the work.

D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, a prolific author and preacher, said this:

We must cease to think of the Church as a gathering of institutions and organizations, and we must get back the notion that we are the people of God.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

Another aspect of ministry and life in the church is clearly seen in this passage as well:

Visibility does not determine importance

Some roles were public, while others were hidden, but all of them were necessary. The temple couldn’t function without singers, guards, and servants. It’s purpose in the life of the community was to be a center for worship - and there are roles that are very noticeable and many that are behind the scenes and never noticed. When I was a sound guy, I knew that the best compliment and worst critique I could get was how good the mix sounded. For a sound guy, the best possible complement they can get is that they went unnoticed - that nothing in terms of sound or technology was distracting from what was going on with the service. Many people wouldn’t notice the guards at the temple but they were crucially necessary. I remember right after I started my internship when someone went into a church in Texas and killed 51 people. It was a solemn reminder of the need for churches to have security measures in place to keep things like that from happening as much as possible. There are some roles that are very visible, like the pastor coming up to speak for 30-45 minutes, the worship leader coming to sing, or the instrumentalists coming to play their instruments - many things have more visibility by nature of those roles, but don’t mistake visibility for importance - everyone has a role to play and they are all important.

The strength of the community was not in one leader—it was in shared responsibility. It is similar to what Paul said in

1 Corinthians 12:12–27 CSB

12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. 19 And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. 23 And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, 24 which our respectable parts do not need. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, 25 so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. 26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

We all have different gifts and talents given to us by the Lord to serve Him and the church in different ways. There are no parts in the body of Christ that are more important than others - from the pastor who preaches on a Sunday morning to the person who sweeps and vacuums throughout the week, both those roles are important, even though one in is more visible than the other. Visibility does not determine importance!

With that in mind, we can serve faithfully in unseen roles, knowing we are making a difference for the Kingdom. We can understand the tremendous value of support ministries, and gain more of an appreciation for those who serve in those roles. We can recognizing that ministry success is a collective effort of the entire church, but ultimately determined by the Lord Himself. No matter how much we labor, if the Lord is not blessing the work, it will bear no fruit. The other thing we can do is resist the temptation to play the comparison game. It doesn’t matter who is doing what or if there are others who can do what we can do better! The kingdom runs on faithfulness, not fame!

God accomplishes His work through people who step forward, serve faithfully, and build for the next generation.

Faithfulness Builds Legacy (12:1-26)

Read with me again, starting in chapter 12, verse 1…

Nehemiah 12:1–26 CSB

1 These are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their relatives in the days of Jeshua. 8 The Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah— he and his relatives were in charge of the songs of praise. 9 Bakbukiah, Unni, and their relatives stood opposite them in the services. 10 Jeshua fathered Joiakim, Joiakim fathered Eliashib, Eliashib fathered Joiada, 11 Joiada fathered Jonathan, and Jonathan fathered Jaddua. 12 In the days of Joiakim, the heads of the priestly families were Meraiah of Seraiah, Hananiah of Jeremiah, 13 Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, 14 Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, 15 Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, 16 Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, 17 Zichri of Abijah, Piltai of Moadiah, of Miniamin, 18 Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, 19 Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, 20 Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, 21 Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah. 22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded while Darius the Persian ruled. 23 Levi’s descendants, the family heads, were recorded in the Book of the Historical Events during the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. 24 The heads of the Levites—Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their relatives opposite them—gave praise and thanks, division by division, as David the man of God had prescribed. 25 This included Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, and Obadiah. Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the city gates. 26 These served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.

God’s work endures when leaders and servants remain faithful across generations.

This section records priests and Levites from he time of Zerubbabel through the time of Nehemiah. It traces continuity over decades. This is not just history—it’s testimony of both God’s faithfulness to the people, and the people’s faithfulness to the work God assigned to them to do. God preserves continuity through faithful people. These names represent decades of service to the Lord and to the Lord’s people around Jerusalem. Many of them served without dramatic moments, but they realized that faithfulness, not flash or some kind of ministry pizzaz was what sustained the work.

The other lesson we learn is that spiritual leadership is generational.

The list connects past leaders to present ones and shows intentional succession. The reality is that no ministry survives without transition of some kind. Thanks to the technological advances of radio and television, we have seen many ministries grow exponentially through the last 30 or 40 years - pastors like John MacArthur with Grace to You ministries, RC Sproul with Ligoneer Ministries, John Piper with the Desiring God ministries, or even J Vernon McGee with the Thru the Bible Radio ministry. Each of these men built up a reputation for serving the Lord faithfully through the preaching of the Word, and all but one of them (John Piper) have since gone home to be with the Lord - but even the one remaining has since retired and passed the baton on to the next generation. The passing of time respects nobody and effects everyone - including those in the ministry. At some point, people need to move on because they become incapable of doing the work, disqualify themselves from doing the work, or even pass away in the midst fo doing the work. This pattern hasn’t changed from the time of Nehemiah til now, so leadership transition and succession still takes place today like it did then.

3) Legacy is built slowly

Nothing here is spectacular or showy, but everything here is stable. What we see in the example of these priests and Levites are years and generations of consistent dedication and devotion to the mission God called them too. It is that consistency and faithfulness to the Lord that creates longevity.

What’s one of the things our culture desires right now more than anything? I would argue that stability has more and more appeal to people than anything. There are more people my age wanting to leave the city behind and go homesteading or start farming than any other time I can remember. Even in the city, people are figuring out ways to produce their own food and become more self-reliant than what typical city living normally allows. Consistency and stability are valued much more today than the flashy living depicted in Hollywood as supposed “life goals.” When it comes to ministry and the work the Lord has called us to do, revival is not measured by moments—it is measured by endurance.

Consider the words of the author of Hebrews,

Hebrews 12:1–3 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.

Within the church specifically, one of the biggest challenges we face today is the danger of celebrity pastor culture. In the same way that many of the faithful men were able to build a legacy through faithful teaching of the word, many many others have used similar media to deceive the church and get rich off deceiving believers with bad doctrine and promises of health, wealth and prosperity that are completely foreign to Scripture.

Endurance and faithfulness to the Lord are also contingent on the content of our message and the values we pass on to successive generations. One important thing we can learn is that the future of ministry depends on what we pass on, not just what we accomplish.

If what we pass on is divisiveness, then we leave devisiveness behind as our legacy. If we pass on fidelity to the Word, then faithful exposition and study will be the legacy we leave behind. We need to consider future generations and what we desire for them when we make decisions today.

God accomplishes His work through people who step forward, serve faithfully, and build for the next generation.

Conclusion

God rebuilt the population of Jerusalem through people who stepped forward, people who served faithfully and people who stayed long enough to build legacy.

The work of God still advances the same way today.

Not through talent alone but through people with gifts used for His service. Not through vision alone, but people gifted in leadership and administration to organize and lead. Not through buildings alone but the people who use those building for the work of the ministry. All of these things rely on people being faithful to the Lord with a desire to serve Him and His people on mission. God accomplishes His work through people who step forward, serve faithfully, and build for the next generation. So the big question we need to ask ourselves is whether or not we are willing to be uncomfortable if it means living on mission, or if our commitment to the Lord has unspoken limits and boundaries - like the 80’s song, “I would do anything for love, but I wont do that…”

To say that Sprague Community Church is going to have some rough days ahead is merely to state the obvious. Any time a church goes through a pastoral transition, there are aspects that are difficult and even painful. I know that Pastor Dan and Pastor Bob were loved here and that I have also been loved really well by the people here. My hope and prayer is that when a new pastor comes that he will receive the same kind of love that you all have shown me, and that in the interim that people step up and take on responsibilities where there are perceived needs going unmet. If there’s a ministry you want to serve in, make that known! Ministry leaders - your job is to facilitate preparing people for the work of the ministry! Christian ministry is one of the only places where your main role is to work yourself out of a job from the moment you start. We should be training people to lead and to minister well, using whatever gifts, talents and passions the Lord has given us.

As I prepare for the next chapter in my life, it looks different than what I had imagined for myself. I have spent the last 15 years preparing to be a pastor and have loved being your pastor - but I know that with the difficulties I have endured after my brain surgery that it is best for the church to have someone else in the role who can shepherd people better than I am capable of doing for the foreseeable future.

Be open to what the Lord may ask you to do and watch what He does with a group of people willing to live a priority of mission over convenience.

Let’s pray.