Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Anger
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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ILLUSTRATION: SNICKERS COMMERCIAL
Have you ever snapped angrily at someone when you were hungry?
When was the last time you were hangry?
Have you ever snapped angrily at someone when you were hungry?
Or has someone ever snapped angrily at you when they were hungry?
That’s hangry and it’s a real phenomenon whereby some people get grumpy and short-tempered when they’re overdue for a feed!
There’s science behind this!
So you’ve had a meal, but you’ve also exercised, dropped the kids off at school, and have begun walking around the office so the nutrients circulating in your blood stream start to drop.
If your blood-glucose levels drop significantly enough, your brain actually perceives it as a life-threatening situation.
By the way, I called my mom and said, “Do you remember all those times i’d get grumpy as a kid when I was hungry and you told me, ‘Aaron, it’s not life or death’ well, actually my brain was telling me it WAS life or death!”
So I have been to resolve some issues from my past through this knowledge...
But here’s the thing, unlike most other organs and tissues in our bodies which can use a variety of nutrients to keep functioning, our brains are critically dependent on glucose to do their jobs!
We experience this all time...
Simple tasks can become difficult when we’re hungry and blood glucose levels fall
It can be hard to concentrate.
When blood glucose levels drop our chances of making silly mistakes increase significantly.
In extreme cases your words can become muddled or slurred...
Some of you parents are like “I understand my teenager so much better now!”
Walking with Jesus is like that.
If we don’t depend on Jesus moment by moment we aren’t getting the fuel we need to live this life and accomplish the things he’s set in front of us to do.
Simple tasks become difficult when we’re not relying on Jesus.
It’s hard to concentrate when we’re not relying on Jesus.
When you’re not relying on Jesus your chances of making silly mistakes increases significantly.
In extreme cases your words and actions can wound yourself and others indefinitely.
So what’s the answer?
How do we depend on Jesus moment by moment?
We do it by faith.
Our lives will demonstrate faith day in and day out.
Nehemiah showed us to do this...
Nehemiah showed us to do this...
In chapter 1, Nehemiah was broken… He simply acknowledged that brokenness existed in his life and the lives of those around him and he began seeking God’s will and direction.
We left off last week with Nehemiah bearing the weight of the brokenness in his world, weeping and praying and fasting.
Nehemiah finds himself facing a difficult sitiuation and courageously moves forward by seeking God’s counsel and being confident in God’s goodness.
When we talk about demonstrating faith day in and day out…this is what we mean...
Facing life’s demands with wisdom
Facing life’s challenges with confidence
He was going to have to depend on God.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: What would it have been like to approach a king about a royal decree in that era?
Facing life’s setbacks with resolve
So here Nehemiah is.
He’s exemplifying our first declaration.
Nehemiah 2:1-
Our hearts will break for the things that break God’s heart.
look at this encounter
Nehemiah 2:
Whenever I am afraid I will trust in you!
Nehemiah felt what he felt but he moved forward in faith.
Trusting God doesn’t mean we have to ignore or diminish how we feel.
Nehemiah’s countenance was sad but his heart was confident in God’s ability to move the heart of a king.
And this is what Nehemiah is doing...
Nehemiah 2:
Nehemiah makes some other big asks.
he asked to be gone for an extended period of time
he asked for royal letters to be written and signed that he could give to all the governors of the territories he’d pass through on his way to Jerusalem
he asked for access to the king’s own private forest for timber to rebuild the gates of the fortress, the city walls, and for his own house!
And check this out...
Nehemiah 2:8
The good hand of my God was upon me.
Whatever you’re facing, you can move forward in faith.
Living by sight will cripple you but living by faith will free you.
Nehemiah demonstrated faith day in and day out because he trusted in his great & awesome God.
The good hand of God is upon his children!
Nehemiah demonstrated faith day in and day out because he trusted in his great & awesome God.
He knew he couldn’t please God without faith
He knew he couldn’t walk God’s path for him without faith.
This is our declaration:
Our lives will demonstrate faith day in and day out!
When we fulfill our responsibilities.
This is about being faithful where you are.
“If you’re faithful in the little things, you’ll be faithful in the bigger things.”
Taking responsibility for where you are and fulfilling your responsibilities in your current situation develops your character and prepares you for what lies ahead!
Nehemiah couldn’t control what he heard, what he was feeling, or what was going to happen next, but was able to respond.
Provide a home
That’s what responsiblity is: your ability to respond to life.
Protect my kids
You didn’t choose:
birth
parents
how your parents would raise or where
As a human being...
natural talents and abilities
caring for our environment
We demonstrate faith when we respond responsibly to the things we can and can’t control.
God has given us the freedom to respond to what comes our way.
We demonstrate faith when we show up to work...
We demonstrate faith when we open our bible...
We demonstrate faith when care for our fellow human beings...
We demonstrate faith when we protect and provide for our children...
We demonstrate faith when we keep our commitments...
Nehemiah had a burden that was from God, but that didn’t keep him from showing up to work.
He was faithful where he was and trusted God to get him to where he wanted him to be.
When we deal honestly with others.
And that takes courage too.
We demonstrate faith when we move forward with courage...
When we move forward with courage.
Nehemiah 2:
Faith isn’t demonstrated by our emotions but by our actions.
Notice the emotions here.
“Why is your face sad?”
He was visibly unhappy.
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