10 - The Few (Nehemiah)
Nehemiah: A Time for Restoration • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsGod accomplishes his work through the few, not the many.
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The Few
The Few
10 - Nehemiah: A Time for Restoration
Church on the Park | Sunday, 6 DEC 2020 | Glen Gerhauser
Texts: Nehemiah 2:12; Nehemiah 7:4; Matthew 22:14
Theme: God accomplishes his work through the few, not the many.
Intro: Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). How can you be part of the few that are chosen? And what does Jesus mean by ‘the few’? Nehemiah is a book about the few. It was not a massive amount of people that restored Jerusalem, but rather a few chosen ones. Only a few returned from Babylonian exile and rebuilt the temple (Ezra) and the walls (Nehemiah). God used a few––it has always been his way. He didn’t wait around for everyone to say, “Yes! We will rebuild.” Instead, he used the ones that were willing and ready. We see the same thing in Gideon’s day: God only chose a few to bring deliverance––three hundred precisely. Again, who are the few?
1) The few are the rare, valuable and the precious (Matt. 22:14).
1) The few are the rare, valuable and the precious (Matt. 22:14).
The few are not ordinary––they are different from the crowd.
Listen to what Jesus taught about the few, the remnant.
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
When Jesus speaks of the few, he implies the rare, valuable and precious. He speaks about those who are chosen because of their quality. They are real and genuine.
They are not wanting Jesus to follow them, rather they want to follow Jesus.
They don’t want to just get something from Jesus. Instead, they want to do the Father’s will no matter the cost.
And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Listen to the whole parable: Matthew 22:1-14.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
The few are those that are faithful with the few.
They value the small and little.
They multiply the little that is given to them, rather than bury it.
How can you be part of the few?
2) F - Fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).
2) F - Fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Fix your eyes on Jesus rather than the brokeness.
Fix your eyes on Jesus rather than vain beauty.
When you fix your eyes on the brokeness of the walls and gates, you’ll find yourself depressed.
This is one of the things I’ve been battling.
The Lord said to me:
“Don’t get your eyes on the broken walls. Don’t put them on the unfaithfulness and rebellion of the people. Fix your eyes on me. I am the author and perfector of your faith...and theirs. Remember Peter. When his eyes got on the wind and waves he sank. So set your eyes on me; for I am the Lord of the winds and waves, and have allowed them to test you. I always test my people. Do you love me?” (My Journal, Tuesday 1 DEC 2020).
Listen again to the story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter’s response in Matthew 14:22-36.
3) E - Equip yourself with the Word and Empower yourself with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:1-10).
3) E - Equip yourself with the Word and Empower yourself with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:1-10).
The few are those who proactively equip themselves (2 Tim. 3:16) with the Word and wait on the Holy Spirit’s power (Luke 24:49).
Often people are looking for something more than the Word and the Holy Spirit to equip them.
But man’s wisdom (philosophy) and strength can never bring about God’s work and goodness.
The few live their whole lives getting ready and prepared to do God’s work.
They live their whole lives getting prepared for the Bridegroom and serving him.
Dress yourself.
Dress yourself, you’ve come of age.
Maturity is seen in dressing yourself.
God’s fivefold ministry has a purpose, but they cannot do all the work for you (Eph. 4:11-16).
They can pass you the armour, but you must put it on.
4) W - Worship the Father all day and everyday (John 4:21-24).
4) W - Worship the Father all day and everyday (John 4:21-24).
The few are those who worship God all day and everyday.
They don’t just worship God on special occassions or one Sunday a month.
The few live a life of poured out devotion to their heavenly Father.
They don’t base their worship on what the crowd or ‘congregation’ is doing.
They don’t worship because the atmosphere is right.
Instead, they worship no matter what.
They change the atmosphere.
They don’t fix their eyes on those who are not worshipping. Again, they fix their eyes on the one they worship: Jesus and his Father.
Conclusion: You will be a part of God’s chosen few when you 1) Fix your eyes on Jesus, 2) Equip yourself with the Word and Spirit and 3) Worship the Father alll day and everyday.