All Hands on Deck
Notes
Transcript
A few weeks ago we began looking at Nehemiah
He received word from his brother that the walls around Jerusalem were still destroyed
This meaning they still had no protection and would still be a mockery to onlookers
So, Nehemiah fasts and prays for days
We look at his prayer model:
Prayer Model:
Start by acknowledging God’s awesomeness, power, holiness, etc.
Root the prayer in God’s love, faithfulness, and promises
Requests God listens and sees his heart
Confesses sins
Reminder of God’s full promise
Reminder they are God’s people
Request for God’s favor
Two weeks ago we read about Nehemiah going to the King to ask about going back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.
We know that this was a big ask as the King had previous stopped rebuilding the city for fear that the Israelites would rise up against him
Also, the cupbearer was a trusted position for the king and would not easily be replaced
But, we see that God not only honored his request, but that through the king, He went above and beyond
Providing letter for safe passage, wood to rebuild the walls and a soldier escort
Nehemiah made it there, inspected the walls, shared how God had blessed him and then gave the people the pump you up speech that God is with them and we start today with them rebuilding
Before we get there, let’s back up to the end of chapter 2
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?”
Let’s quickly discuss these guys and their roles
Sanballat the Horonite was the governor of Samaria according to extra biblical accounts
Tobiah was an official in Ammon - possible the governor
And we added a new one from verse 10 Geshem the Arab
So, essentially, we have these three areas around Jerusalem with officials not happy that the walls are being rebuilt
And so they ask the question, which is possibly a trap, or simply wondering why the king would be okay with it…are you rebelling against the king?
I love Nehemiahs answer to wrap up chapter 2:
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.”
God is with us and will help us! Pretty direct and to the point. And what does this concern you!
As we pick up in Chapter 3, we are going to get a look into who was building the wall!
I am going to mess up many of the names and won’t read all of them, but want to point out some of the people helping
1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.
I want to keep a note of the kinds of people who are helping
Those Helping:
High Priest and other priests
Men of Jericho
In the next few verses we have the sons of people helping and an interesting note in verse 5
5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
Notice who was not helping build? The nobles of the time were the rich elites who had lands and business
It is likely that they did not help due to political and economical reasons
Who might this sound like today in America?
Though the governance is different, it would somewhat resemble rich politicians who have a direct connection to laws and governance
So, possibly a noble would not want their name attached in case the neighbors, who likely they do business with, attacked them!
As we talked a little about how the church should resemble more of a battleship than a cruise ship in the spiritual war, maybe now is a good time to check out heart!
Pastor Bob had the computer help generate an image of all hands on deck warship saving the lost!
Are we comfortable cruising at sea in the middle of the war or are we offering to help?
Why is it that maybe we are not involved in the life and ministry of the church?
Do we think that we are like the “elites” of the day who don’t want to get our hands dirty for varying reasons?
Are there possibly other reasons that we are not involved?
I would encourage you this morning to ask the Lord to reveal how you can get involved!
As we continue reading, we read several more that are involved and jumping down to verse 8 we read
8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section.
Adding to our list of those helping
Those Helping:
High Priest and other priests
Men of Jericho
Goldsmith
Perfume-maker
Ruler of half-district of Jerusalem
12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.
Yes young ladies, you get to help build the wall too!
Those Helping:
High Priest and other priests
Men of Jericho
Goldsmith
Perfume-maker
Ruler of half-district of Jerusalem
Families
17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.
Those Helping:
High Priest and other priests
Men of Jericho
Goldsmith
Perfume-maker
Ruler of half-district of Jerusalem
Families
Levites
26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.
Those Helping:
High Priest and other priests
Men of Jericho
Goldsmith
Perfume-maker
Ruler of half-district of Jerusalem
Families
Levites
Temple Servants
32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.
Those Helping:
High Priest and other priests
Men of Jericho
Goldsmith
Perfume-maker
Ruler of half-district of Jerusalem
Families
Levites
Temple Servants
Merchants
As we look through this list, we noticed that many people were involved in the rebuilding of the wall!
They all caught the vision and were lending a hand to make sure that the ship was going as it should!
Is it possible this morning that you are living as if you are on a cruise ship?
Maybe this morning, you need to catch the vision!
I love the story of John the baptist - crazy guy in the wilderness
Matthew says:
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
look at what verses 5 and 6 says
5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Why is it that people would come to this crazy person to be baptized?
Mark gives us some insight
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The key here is the word “appeared”
It is the greek word ginomai meaning
4. LN 13.107 happen, implying what happens is different from a previous state
Something happened to John in the wilderness for him to “appear” - to be different than he was…what was that?
Luke gives us the answer to that:
2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
What came to John in the wilderness? The Word of God!
This wasn’t the scripture! God didn’t send down some scrolls or stone tablets for him
John knew the scripture, but this is the greek word “rhema” meaning the spoken word of God!
So the spoken word of God came to John and he appeared and people came to him to be baptized
You see, John already had the holy spirit and was in fact, filled with the holy spirit in the womb!
When the angel comes to Zechariah to tell him that he was going to have John, he tells him
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
So John knew the scripture, was filled with the Holy Spirit and the word of God comes to him - and he appears
Some of us are wondering around in the wilderness and you need the Spirit of God to fill you and the word of God to come to you!
Why?
Because there are people out there drowning!
We need all hands on deck!
Paul says
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Can we same the same? Do we have the same passions and purpose as Paul?
He also says:
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
We are people of the light! We walk in the kingdom of lightness, not darkness!
How much darkness do we see in the world?
What are we doing about it?
Are we in the battle?
If not, maybe this morning we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Or we need the Word of God to come to us!
