Finding Our Pace

Good morning welcome to our Online service!! We have had quite the week and like many of you I have been thinking and praying for those impacted by the fires. Our thoughts are with our firefighters and those who we know like Dave Shotts who has been fighting fires all week… We will continue to do that.

Today we are continuing a sermon series we started last weekend entitled, “The Good Work.” We are in the book of Nehemiah --- which is really his memoirs and record of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonians destroyed the walls in 586 BC and the challenge that the exiles faced when they returning back to Judah after living in Captivity.

The reason why the book of Nehemiah is so relevant to us today… is because it is a practical guide for Spiritual leadership during difficult times…

Nehemiah tells us how a God vision Works… It starts in the abstract form and moves towards concrete reality… A God vision.. begins with the heart-- in the inner mechanics of our lives… where we are broken over a felt need and it from sense of brokenness over that need that a burden is birthed.... A burden leads to a life of dependance on God.. through prayer and fasting— there comes this sense of calling that leads us to take steps of Faith…and risk.

The book of Nehemiah is a book about Spiritual leadership…

Do you think leaders are born or are they made? Why?

Pastor (I) mentioned that often we divide leadership into Categories — The pragmatists and the visionaries — those who are hands on and those who have ideas… Where do you fall into the mix? Why might we try and aim to be a mix of both?

There is this tension in leadership between to kinds or types of leaders - There are the pragmatists… like to be on the ground hands on.. and then their are the visionary types…have ideas..... Often we find either a visionary leader or practical leader..

What we find in Nehemiah is balance between his visionary and his practical approach to leadership…There is a great lesson in how to balance these two approaches.

We learn from Nehemiah on how to lead ourselves and others through challenging times.. The book of Nehemiah is a timely message for us… especially when you think about what we have faced this past several months with Covid and now the devastation that these fires here in California.…

In Chapter 1 Nehemiah had heard of the destruction of the walls while He was a cupbearer to King Artexaxes - He is in Susa which was about 1000 miles away… When Nehemiah hears the news that the people in Jerusalem were in trouble and in shame because the walls were still down … his heart is broken and he wept and prays and fasted - He stands as intercessor before God and the people… He repents… for the both the sins of Judah and also his personal sin.. then he prays for success before the King.. This goes on for several months… and the result is that there is this Strong calling and annointing upon his life.. Where we are told that, The hand of the Lord is upon Nehemiah…

God moves the Kings heart and he fully supports Nehemiah in his return to Jerusalem… nothing short of miraculous…

Nehemiah demonstrates some key leadership during crucial times.. He depends fully on God --- He had a clear sense of calling and mission…… We don’t see him rushing around — rather he stands out as a confident leader… One of the reasons is that he understood the importance of pace and timing…

T/S How does Nehemiah Set the Pace of His Calling and mission? He does it by...

1. Walking Purposefully

A couple of week ago it was my birthday on the 27 August and on the 31st of August is our anniversary… so on my birthday, Emma gave me this decorative, “letter B” and … I didn’t want to seem un grateful… so thank her for the gift —But to be honest I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with the letter B… or the purpose of the gift… Then Pam and I went away for our Anniversary weekend and while we were gone our Children had surprised us with a “bedroom make over…” And there on my side of the Bed was the letter B and on Pams side the letter P… all of sudden the purpose of the gift made sense...

When it comes to vision and mission… it is about a process of moving from the abstract concepts to the concrete... Starts out with ideas and thoughts... dreaming about future... Ideas and Concepts lack physical presence…and so it is only later that there is this full realization of the purpose..

When Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem —God has already spoken about his calling to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem — Nehemiah is confidently walking in purpose — but he also waits for the right time before sharing that purpose with others.. lets read our text..

Nehemiah 2:9–10 ESV

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

How does Nehemiah walk purposefully?

a. He had a clear sense of mission?

When Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem… He arrives with some of the King soldiers as escorts..

We do not know whether Nehemiah asked for this escort, or whether the king came up with the idea himself, but, at any rate, we do know that Nehemiah accepted the military support.

Nehemiah and Ezra had different ideas when dealing with the Kings Escorts — Nehemiah arrives with the Kings horseman and Ezra thought this would contradict the trust in God’s protection.. Both had difficult theological convictions and but the same purpose… What lessons should we learn about our differences? Whether Social Economically, Politically or Theological?

Now, This stands in striking contrast to the decision of Ezra not to seek an escort because he believed it would contradict his trust in God’s protection (Ezra 8:22).

Ezra and Nehemiah led with different styles and theological convictions… How many times has a theological differences torn the church apart?

What we can appreciate in Nehemiah is two men Passionate about the same work —both led Israel into renewal, they but having different convictions… These convictions didn’t tear them apart… Nehemiah and Ezra worked to the same purposes to see restoration and renewal of God’s people…

One of the theological statements that I love in the Free Church is when it come to doctrine…

Consider the EFCA statement."In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, charity. In all things, Jesus Christ." EfCA

What kept Nehemiah on purpose was a clear sense of mission/purpose… renewal of the walls everything else was secondary..

b. Being Confident of his Calling

Nehemiah was about to tackle a project that others for almost 100 years before him, had been unable to complete. Why did he think that he could build the walls of Jerusalem?

Nehemiah knew that God had brought him to this moment in Israel’s history...

He was confident is because God had been working in his heart for the past several months… as he sort after God through prayer and fasting… God given him a burden and his heart was broken over the trouble and shame that the people were enduring..…

Vance Havner the beloved professor from Dallas Theological Seminary once said that--- God uses broken things.. Broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, and broken bread to give strength… Here in our text God is going to use brokenness of Nehemiah to build the walls of Jerusalem.

vrs 12 Nehemiah says that

he told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem

God had spoken to Nehemiah and he was confident God would be faithful to his calling..

How did He walk purposefully....

c. Nehemiah anticipated Opposition to building — when arriving in Jerusalem...

When thinking about the history of Israel and all the enemies from Moses all the way to Roman Empire.. The Egyptians, Midanites, Amalekites, Philistines, Assyrians, Greeks… Why as God’s people do you think we should anticipate Opposition? What do we learn from the Nehemiah’s Opposition in Neh 2:10?

Nehemiah 2:10 ESV

10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

Contrast with

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Whenever there is a vision there will be opposition… sometimes the source of that opposition is surprising… When you anticipate opposition and make allowances for opposition — God will enable you to walk through those seasons.

Throughout their history, Israel and Judah contended with enemies committed to their destruction

During the Time of Moses and Joshua it was the Egyptians and Canaanites… During Gideon time of the Judges it was the Midianities and Amalekites. Moabites. During the Kings philistines — Then there were the super powers the Assyrians The Babylonians.. the Greeks and romans.

Often the enemies of Israel shared similar characteristics — they were often more numerous than Israel and better equipped..They were cruel, oppressive and cunning !”

But what we find is that God opposed Israel’s enemies — He would raise up leaders and help Israel overcome her enemies ”

He protected,He delivered,He destroyed Israel’s enemies…

We can walk purposefully in the face of opposition… because not only do we anticipate resistance — we anticipate — victory..

As soon as Nehemiah arrives in the region he meets resistance..

We are introduced to Sanballat and Tobia -who were officials in the region... An ancient letter identifies him as the “governor of Samaria,” who would have been authorized by the Persian king to carry out the kings wishes...

When they saw Nehemiah arrive in the city with the Kings escorts and they were disturbed... The reason is they did want anyone causing the people to rise up... As governors their concern was to keep things the same… don’t change anything… They were terrible officials because the did not have the peoples interests at heart… The scripture says that

“they were displeased that anyone would seek the welfare of Israel...”

This does not phase Nehemiah because his confidence is in the purposes of God… Paul tells us in Romans that...

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God works good for those who are called according to his purpose… The word purpose is prothesis… which means plan or intention... It is — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides planned actions… God has a plan…

T/S How does Nehemiah Set the Pace of His Calling and mission? He does it by...

1. Walking Purposefully

2. Walking Patiently

On Wednesday, I was driving on the 99 towards Chico and over Paradise there was just this deep red color in the sky… All I could think about was how those families that survived the paradise fire were feeling… it must have brought back all those feelings from that early morning on November 8th 2018..

That December we visited Paradise and got to see and walk around the devestation for ourselves.. We has watched the news and heard stories of how people escaped for their lives… But, there is something about going and seeing something for yourself to get an idea of how huge this was..

This week we also remember 9/11 another impactful event on our Calendar as we remember the lives lost in the world trade center and the brave firefighters and police that lost their lives... many of us watched live as watched in disbelief as we saw those towers fall. We vowed never to forget... I remember looking at the towers and wondering how long it would take to rebuild and 10 years later they had build the Milenial tower and the 9/11 memorial… Again we got to visit the ground zero and see the eternal waterfalls that cascade into thee foot prints where the towers once stood… Again, watching the news, It was hard to get an idea of the scale and size of those buildings… and the Milennial tower stands as a beacon of hope in the midst of the tragedy..

There is something about being on the ground and seeing and feeling the sights...

Read:

Nehemiah 2:11–13 ESV

11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.

How do we walk Patiently?

1. Being attentive to our own Need —

Before Nehemiah starts Building he rests from his long Journey from Susa to Jerusalem. How important is Spiritual Rest?

Ortberg says.. that.

hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. Hurry destroys souls

Do you agree?

Nehemiah starts with Rest —

One of the principles that we know that we often don’t practice is the need to take care of our own spirtual welfare… It’s that message that we tune out when we get on an airplane where we given safety instructions to put our own oxygen mask before trying to help someone else.. nehemiah took three days to rest…

when you think of the journey he just travelled… 1000 miles from Suza to Jerusalem… It must have been quite a journey… It was needed rest…

Ezra also rested three days when he arrived in Jerusalem (Ezr 8:32).

One of the temptations would have been to start immediately —.

How essential is Rest?

John Ortberg, wrote an article in LeadershipJournal.net (7-4-02)

that… shorty after moving to his ministry in Chicago — He found himself busy with life — pulled between ministry and family life obligations his life became busy... He confided in a friend asked or some help… how to be spiritually healthy?

Long pause. "You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life,"

Illuminating the Hurry was.… something he initially struggled with… but he has learned that rest is essential for his life and the well-being of the people he serves depends on following his prescription,

Ortberg says.. that.

hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. Hurry destroys souls

Charles Spurgeon in his sermon on Nehemiah… talks about the importance of an internal examine and audit of our lives — before venturing out and viewing the conditions of others… Spurgeon says… start with your spiritual life..

“look within, to search your heart. Ride round your soul now. How about the tower of prayer? Is that well kept? How about the castle of communion? Do you have fellowship with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ? How about the gates of humility? or the gate of Zeal? the wall of love...

T/s Once we are attentive to our own heart then we can...

b. Be attentive to the brokenness around you.

After three days of rest He gets up in the middle of the night to inspect the walls...

At this point we are told that he tells no one of his intentions... He tells nobody what God had placed in his heart..to achieve... He goes out late at night - he inspects the walls of Jerusalem - he notes which walls were down...

Imagine the scene. Late at night; you are Nehemiah and you are scouting out these walls. Every place you go you see the walls are down. You see the walls in shambles

We are given a detailed account of Nehemiah inspection...

Nehemiah 2:13–15 ESV

13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.

He wanted to evaluate the scope of the job that awaited him, yet without drawing attention to himself or giving away his plans too early.

He returns... He had not yet told those who were going to do the work...

Nehemiah knew there was no way he could share with the people in Jerusalem what God led him to accomplish without first doing some research and planning.. he took a few men into his confidence, men he could trust -

He takes in the sights - Important part of vision is identifying the need

We need to consider the process of our lives... We need to understand where vision and mission come from --- starts with inner work of God and his Spirit... paying attention to fallen structures... each gate matter -- each section of the wall matters…

Vision serves the people... Welfare of our church... welfare of our community... Nehemiah starts with a few men... it just takes a few to capture the vision --

T/S How does Nehemiah Set the Pace of His Calling and mission? He does it by...

1. Walking Purposefully

2. Walking Patiently

3. Walking Persistently

In his New York Times bestselling book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Daniel Pink explains the value of being a little behind. In the world of sports, a team that's ahead at halftime—in any sport—is more likely than its opponent to win the game.

This has little to do with the limits of personal motivation and everything to do with the heartlessness of probability. But researchers have noted one peculiar exception.

Jonah Berger of the University of Pennsylvania and Devin Pope of the University of Chicago analyzed more than 18,000 NBA games over fifteen years, paying special attention to the games' scores at halftime.

Teams that were behind by just one point were more likely to win. Indeed, being down by one at halftime was more advantageous than being up by one. Home teams with a one-point deficit at halftime won more than 58 percent of the time. Indeed, trailing by one point at halftime, weirdly, was equivalent to being ahead by two points. Berger and Pope then looked at ten years' worth of college basketball games, nearly 46,000 games in all, and found the same effect.

They found that the trailing teams scored a disproportionate number of their points immediately after the halftime break. They came out strong at the start of the second half.

Persistence is staying with something....and not giving up...

PLATO wrote the first sentence of his famous Republic nine different ways before he was satisfied.

Cicero practised speaking before friends every day for thirty years to perfect his elocution. ‘

NOAH WEBSTER labored 36 years writing his Dictionary, crossing the Atlantic twice to gather material.

MILTON rose at 4:00 A.M. everyday in order to have enough hours for his Paradise Lost,

BRYANT rewrote one of his poetic masterpieces 99 times before publication, and it became a classic.

Nehemiah 2:17–18 ESV

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

After 100 plus years… the broken walls were not noticed… it was normal…Nehemiah was not going to build this wall on his own... it was going to be enlist the people... How do walk with persistence? By

Do you have an example where persistence payed off?

1. Being Bold in Faith

a. Nehemiah persisted through Speaking words of Faith — He starts with the Problem before speaking words of Faith… Why do you think Nehemiah identifies the problem (theological problem of broken walls) before calling for them to build the walls.... The people strengthened themselves with the words of Nehemiah before building.... Why do you think you need an encouraged heart to build?

Nehemiah starts with making known the problem… see what trouble we are in... How Jerusalem is in ruins…

If you don’t see the problem there is going to be no need to make the change…

Nehemiah does not simply announce what he intends doing, nor force his own will on his audience. Rather, with the emphasis theological implications..

The people who had survived the exile where in great trouble and shame… Trouble because the walls were down… they were suffering shame…

Nehemiah is not only concerned about the protection of the walls… But that the Glory of God… was at stake.. God’s reputation…

The People Got the Theological significance...

The remarkable unanimity of the people’s response will have served as confirmation that he was on the right path

Nehemiah told the Jews, the priests and officials... the words that the King had spoken..

And they said 'let us rise up and build". ---

Come let us (inclusive collaborative language). let us build the walls of Jerusalem..

When Nehemiah gave his challenge, the people’s negative feelings became positive. Despair turned to hope. They responded and began the rebuilding process.

Before the people prepared themselves first strengthened their hands for the Good work... they encouraged themselves... they encouraged themselves for the good cause

How do walk with persistence? By

1. Being Bold in Faith

b. Dealing with Doubt

Apparently word spread quickly regarding the Jews’ response to Nehemiah’s challenge. As soon as their enemies heard the news they stepped up their efforts to hinder the process. They used every demoralizing technique they knew, beginning with ridicule (bûz means “to despise or regard with contempt“) and the suggestion that they were rebels.

The enemy often comes to us on the front end of the vision... While it still early stages... You can't do that... You cant go against the norm... don't you know these walls are down for a reason.. you would be just wasting your time... I have seen this played out so many times... Before there is even the energy... enemies sowing seeds of doubt... if this think takes off the enemy throwing seeds of doubt.. What is ironic is that it the King who has given Nehemiah favor...

Nehemiah sets a table before the people in the presence of his enemies... Nehemiah in the face of his enemies declares that the God of heaven will make us prosper.. these are Faith words... As servants of the most high God... we will arise and we will build...

How do walk with persistence? By

1. Being Bold in Faith

b. Dealing with Doubt

c. Expose the Enemy

Things had been so bad in Judah and the wall had been so completely destroyed that anyone who attempted to bring restoration seemed like a fool.

And so this is the Sandballat and Tobiah start to shame the people...

read

Nehemiah 2:19–20 ESV

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

The enemy jeered and despised Nehemiah (vrs 19-20 ) Nehemiah doesn’t defend himself… rather points to God of heaven who will prosper Him and then exposes His enemy as having no claim or right t Jersualem… What is the lesson here?

… mockingly saying -

“What is this you are doing?”Are you rebelling against the King? Nobody wants to rebel against the king? It was unthinkable that the people of insignificant Judah would dare to plot rebellion against the massive Persian Empire, or that they would dream of re building the wall of Jerusalem.

At this point It’s Nehemiah’s word against Sandballat the Governor...

Nehemiah doesn’t argue the point..... doesn't even refer to King Artexexes - He doesn’t pull out letters of commendation. Nehemia just says..

“the God of heaven will make us prosper."

By declaring “the God of Heaven Himself will prosper us,” he was admitting that the task was too large for mere human effort (v. 20);

that was precisely why Nehemiah did not place his confidence in his leader ship skills, but, rather, in God. He made it clear that the opponents were to have no part in the project, nor were they welcome in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah exposes the motivation of Sandballat and Tobiah out have not portion or claim in Jerusalem.. He has no stake…

There is no invested interest... there are those who have no right or claim to the work in Jerusalem.. refers to political association, as in 1 Kgs. 12:16; claim refers to a legal right relating to Jerusalem, such as Judean citizenship conferred; and historic right to traditional prerogatives, probably here a right to worship

Conclusion

One of our struggles is we want snap shots of our lives... we want to have validate that we have arrived at some point... We climbed to the top of the Mountain and we have the photo to prove it... We want to validate our success... Nehemiah teaches us that being faithful to the vision requires PACE purpose, patience, persistence...

What happens when God speaks to our hearts? First we have to be in the place for God to speak... Then we need boldness to step out in faith and trust God... then there is the need to Pace the Vision... Pace vision through prayerful Patience..

Last week in our small group Pam told our of our stopover in Cario Egypt... We took a taxi to look at the Pyramids -- we noticed that most of the buildings were two stories and most of them were half built and so we asked our driver why all the building were half built.. The reason is that they don't have to pay taxes for uncompleted buildings... How about our lives? What is keeps us from completion? What keeps us from God doing a complete work in our lives... God often uses life experiences to shape us

What are some of the things that might keep us back from seeing God complete his work in our lives and in our church?