God deserves excellence
Notes
Transcript
Nehemiah is the leader that God has chosen for the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, but he is not alone. Chapter 3 is the description of great teamwork, for the glory of God.
In every team, we have three kinds of people: those who do not do their part; those who do their part, and those who do more than their part. This is what we find in this chapter.
In a church, it’s the same thing. we find people that should be doing more for the Lord, others who do what they ought to, and some who go the extra mile, beyond what is expected of them.
Nehemiah had these three kinds of people in his project. I would like for us all to be like those who stood out for the right reasons. At least, I would like to be like those who were exceptional workers because of their dedication and their effort.
Let’s look at those who stood out from the others, that the Holy Spirit specifically pointed out.
I. A consecrated work. v. 1
I. A consecrated work. v. 1
The leaders rose up. It is imperative that those who have the most spiritual responsibilities fulfill their responsibilities. No business, church, or family can effectively replace their leadership.
Fathers, your family cannot make up for your absence without consequence. Mothers, you cannot put your children second without reaping the consequences someday.
In the church, some people should be the leaders. That is the case in any church. Because of longevity, because of experience, because of knowledge, you can become a leader. A church cannot go forward very well without those that God put in that church taking the leadership that they should be taking.
Leadership is not a position; leadership is a choice and an action.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
In life, we either go forward or backward. We wither PROgress or we REgress. In the Christian life too, we either go forward or backward.
“Ye (who) ought to be teachers”…you have come to need milk. Every person who fails to fulfill his duty before the Lord will regress to a point where they look more like a new convert than a mature believer.
When the leaders rise up, it gives you hope of good things. The first encouraging sign in our text is that the high priests stood up. They worked. The laboured.
Nobody is worthy of being a leader or a boss until they are first willing to be a servant.
Leadership always presupposes service. Our supreme example, as always, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Please notice the name of the gate that the high priests built. It’s the sheep gate. Or the door of the sheep, if you will. It’s a door that still existed in the days of the Lord Jesus. The animals would pass through this door as they went to the Temple for the sacrifices.
Jesus used that very door as a picture of Himself.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Question: Have you passed through the door of the sheep? Through the sheep gate? Meaning, have you come through Jesus Christ, the door of the sheep? Are you saved?
If you go through the door of the sheep, you will be saved. You will find green pastures for your soul; you will find an abundant and satisfying life. This “door of the sheep” is Jesus Christ, who gave His life for you!
Notice in verse 1 that, as opposed to other doors, the door of the sheep did not have any locks or bars on it. This reminds us that the door of salvation is never locked; all those who want to have eternal life can have it in Jesus Christ. The door of the sheep is never locked, never barred, never bolted shut. Salvation is always freely offered to all in Christ; it is offered to each and every one that will pass through Jesus Christ.
The work that the high priests, the leaders, did was sanctified. They did a work that was set apart for God. They put out an effort, an excellence, a work that was worthy of the Lord.
Illustration of the “missionary closet” at a church on deputation. They had half-empty toothpaste tubes, very very worn out bedding, and many other things that even the Goodwill or Salvation Army would have turned down. We took some things so that we wouldn’t hurt their feelings, but honestly, I would never have offered that to anybody else. When I give something to God, I would like it to be worthy of Him.
What effort do you put into the work of God? He is worthy of your best efforts.
Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Our remnants, our half-baked efforts are never an offering worthy of our great Saviour.
And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; Will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.
Brother, sister, determine today that God is worthy of your best. He is not worthy of your leftovers. He is worthy of you 100%, all-in effort.
II. A willing work. v. 5
II. A willing work. v. 5
Not everyone will invest themselves in the work of God. Some will not want to get their hands dirty and do the work of God. The people of God rarely give a 100% participation. But we must not get down and discouraged because of those who don’t want to put their hand to the plough.
We sais earlier that the church leaders must lead and put their hand to the work for God. But what if the leaders are not doing the work as they should? That is not a valid excuse of the rest of us to not work.
I appreciate the Tekoites. They could have had a good excuse. Their nobles did not want to do the work of the Lord. This would have been discouraging and disheartening, but the Tekoites did not let delinquent leadership keep them from serving the Lord.
God does not force anybody to serve Him. That being said, nobody who refuses to service deserves a place of leadership.
Illustration: Our biggest conflict in the church in the last few years came because of a man who wanted a leadership position, even though he was not willing to serve.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
God is not looking for talent; he is looking for heart.
Matthieu 18.4
It has been said that the greatest ability is availability. Someone who volunteers without skill is a lot more useful to God than a skilled person who will not serve the Lord.
Illustration: One of the strangest classes that I took in Bible college was “Pastoral Theology”. All the young men were pumped about learning how to do some really practical ministry things, like baptizing, doing a wedding or funeral, etc. But the class ended up being more about “how to clean toilets”, “how to clean a church bus”, “how to sweep a parking lot”, etc. Because to lead well you have to serve well.
I don’T know what you are shooting for in life; what you hope to become, but God gives us the principle. If you want to become great, you have to become small.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Do not seek to be great in the eyes of men! Rather, seek to be great in the eyes of God!
III. A zealous work. (“earnest”) v. 13, 20
III. A zealous work. (“earnest”) v. 13, 20
Over ten times in this chapter, we find the verb “repaired”. Either a person repaired or a group of people repaired as a team.
But in one instance, the Spirit of God added a descriptive word: “earnestly”. (v. 20)
In verse 13, we find a group that did their part, then on top of that worked to build 500 extra meters of the wall!
1,000 cubits is about 9 Boeing 757 airplanes in a row. It’s a lot of wall to build!
God always deserves our best. The best effort, the best attitude.
My desire, when I do something, is to do my best. It’s not about impressing people; it’s about respect. Respect for God; understanding that God does not deserve anything halfway done.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Again, the Bible explains that it’s not about being seen; it’s about honouring the Lord. It’s about our heart. Yes, man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. However, what is done with all our heart will often be seen by men also.
Nothing that we do should be done for man. It should all be done for God. And if it’s done for God, it deserves my best effort, my best resources and my best hours.
When the Lord does something for us, it’s never halfways done.
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Jesus does all things well. In the original French is says “He does all this marvelously.” Everything that He does causes us to marvel. Creation. Salvation. Heaven. We ought to offer Him our best also.
Consecrated - 2. Willing - 3. Zealous...
IV. A local work. v. 28-30
IV. A local work. v. 28-30
We see that this great construction work was split into smaller parts. But we also see that each person took responsibility for what was in front of his door.
The main, basic, fundamental way to be involved in the word of God is to do what is right in front of us.
If I have kids, I should involve myself with children’s work. Others can do it, but I should do what is right in front of my door.
If I have a musical ability, a technological ability, a manual gift, or anything else, I should get involved in what is right in front of my door.
I should be busy inviting my neighbours out to church. I should be busy giving the people on my street the Gospel.
In giving Moses his instructions, God said:
And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
God puts you in the place where He wants you to serve, with the gifts that you need to serve Him.
Obviously other factors enable or hinder your service for God, such as your availability and faithfulness, but God wants to use you, if your heart is right before Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Have you entered though the Sheep Gate, through the Door of the Sheep: Jesus Christ? When did you become a child of God? We are not born into this world as children of God, you must be born again to be a child of God.
How important is the word of God in your life? Are you a committed, zealous Christian?
Are you busy with what God has placed right in front of your hands?