A Broken Heart - Discover Fresno
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
I am so thankful for this opportunity…
I have been connected to the Well for almost 8 years
Residency - Academy - Internship - ENP (Saturday Sports)
Today I want to deal with the topic a “Broken Heart”
722 BC the Northern Kingdom was captured. - Assyrians
Nehemiah 1
586 BC Southern Kingdom (Judah) was taken into captivity. - Babylonians
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
For 70yrs Isreal was in captivity which was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah…
After the 70yrs God promised to restore
“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.
After the fall of Babylon to the Persian empire. king Cyrus the Great in 538 BC, allowed the Jews to began to return to the land of Judah.
First you have Zerubbabel to led the first wave - To rebuild the Temple
But
A 57 year gap
Then Ezra Returns
A 12 year gap
Then we have Nehemiah
For 70yrs Isreal was in captivity which was prophesied by the prophet Jeremi7ah…
Over 70yrs after captivity
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,
Chislev (November-December)
Susa the citadel - 895 miles away from Jerusalem
Nehemiah was the Kings cup bearer - More than just a food taster, the cupbearer was chief of staff.
Even though they were no longer in captivity Isreal was still under the Persian empire…
He had a very good job… (Dangerous)
He had a very good
He was able to travel with the King… - Why would he be worried about Jerusalem…
More than likely Nehemiah was born post captivity… but even if he was born in captivity he was working with two generations. Captivity - Post captivity
3 Steps form Nehemiah:
Step #1 “Inquire”
that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
N
Conn
Nehemiah had a passion and a desire for his people the Jews…
“And I asked”
Jews who escaped - The remanent…
Jews who survived the exile
Concerning the condition of Jerusalem
Today you have completed the first step
You’re here because you have questions:
Questions about a specific breakout session (Information) - Human trafficking / Stories of Living on the edge in Fresno / Gen Z / Homelessness in Fresno
Where can I help?
How can I help?
I didn’t grow in SW Fresno but now I am a pastor and resident of SW Fresno (And I have Questions).
Step #2 Listen
And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah
Today I want you to be attentive… - listen with a heart to receive
Nehemiah heard about the great trouble and shame
Heard about the physical condition of the walls and the city gates
Tony Evans: “Jerusalem had me no progress in reestablishing what God had intended with regard to their physical, social, political, economic. and family life.
Today you may hear something that hits and you may not… Does’t mean you give up listening to the needs of our community.
Step #3 Pray
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
A Broken Heart -
When he heard “these words” I sat down and wept
Today you may hear something that breaks your heart
That makes you take a moment - “I SAT DOWN”
But don’t make an emotional decision - Make A God Decision
The book of Nehemiah Teaches us that prayer was he first Impulse.
Pray about the next move…
Your Next move with impact your NOW & NEXT
Your now is going to model and become a teaching moment for those around you
Friends & Family - As they see you develop a passion and a desire to make a difference
Also you now is going to impact the Next Generation
() The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,
Ha-She-li-ah -
I see 3 generations (Grandfather pre-captivity / Father Captivity / Nehemiah Post Captivity
Grandfather teaching his son / Hacaliah teaching Nehemiah.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
We have to be a reminder and help keep this next generation grounded!
Deuteronomy 6:6-
Deuteronomy 6:
We have to be a reminder and help keep this next generation grounded!