The Obstacle of Reality
Notes
Transcript
The Obstacle of Reality
Nehemiah 2:9-20
INTRODUCTION
-The Revolutionary War- signers of declaration of independence were all wealthy because of the British. Things would get worse before it got better. Odds were they were more likely to fail than succeed. Many lost everything. Why go to war with the most powerful army the world had ever known? An even better tomorrow.
Reality can get in the way of something better.
Sometimes the reality is so bad it seems impossible to get past.
Sometimes the reality is too good to see that something can get better.
“I’m not a pessimist, I’m a realist.” A realist is a pessimist.
Nehemiah finds Jerusalem in a dreadful condition. Is it worth the effort? More likely to fail than succeed.
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.
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.
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.
16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
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.
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.”
4 Ways to Move Past a Negative Reality
1- Desire What God Desires (9-10)
1- Desire What God Desires (9-10)
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.
Not Everyone Wants What God Wants.
There are only two sides. Those who surrender to Jesus as Lord and those who do not.
If He is our Lord we want what he wants.
23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
God’s greatest desire for you.
He wants you to know him and make him known.
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Are you living for your own desires or God’s desires?
2- See How God Sees (11-15)
2- See How God Sees (11-15)
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.
Not Everyone Sees the world the way God sees the world.
Nehemiah was looking at the city with different eyes.
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.
Went at night so he wouldn't have opposition too early.
Many saw the walls as they were as a good thing.
Ezra had been here around ten years-They stopped when it got hard. Let opposition get in their way.
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build
Nehemiah understood that if the walls were not rebuilt that the Jews could never have a home back in Judah.
Babylonians destroyed the walls so that the people would be dependent on them and not rebel against them.
Walls were as important in biblical times as roads are in our time.
12 Hebrews words that we translate “wall”.
Does God care about buildings?
God uses physical things to bring about his plan.
Temple.
What about helping work on people’s homes?
Our church building is a tool God uses. We must keep it up.
Security was necessary for God’s people to return and prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
3- Do What God is Doing (16-18)
3- Do What God is Doing (16-18)
16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
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.”
Nehemiah called them to join in what God is doing.
Let’s build the walls together.
“derision”= a mockery- laughing stock.
So people stop laughing at our God.
What God’s people do reflects on our God.
Our obedience/ our stewardship
We carry the name of Jesus. Our failure reflects our God.
He gave his testimony. (18)
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.
God was already at work.
Nehemiah was inviting them to join in what God was already doing.
Nehemiah was an outsider and a friend of King Artexerxes.
Moses was an outsider when he came to lead.
Both Jews but not of the community.
Following Godly Leadership is important when being part of what God is doing. God uses leaders.
Someone defined leadership, “the art of getting people to do what they ought to do because they want to do it.”
How do I know God has great things in store for Del Norte Baptist Church?
He called me to leave a place I loved in the middle of a pandemic to come here.
He didn’t call me here to hide. He called me here to lead.
You want to be part of what God is doing?
Commit to the ministry of this church.
Be a participant, not a spectator.
Come to our revitalization classes on Sunday evening at 4:00.
vs. 18 “Let us rise up and build.”
It is “us” not “them” or “you”
4- Fear What God Fears (19-20)
4- Fear What God Fears (19-20)
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.”
Enemies Jeered= laughed
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Enemies Accused
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Nehemiah declared his allegiance.
This accusation worked when Ezra was trying to build.
He put his success in the hands of God.
Nehemiah declared they had no portion or right or claim.
Had no authority and could not share in the responsibility because they had no right.
Specifically- No present or historical right.
Do we have a right to the things of God?
Only by the blood of Jesus.
We are enemies of God because of sin.
We are children of God because of what Jesus did for us on the cross when he died for our sins.
CONCLUSION
Whose side are you on?
Whose side are you on?
Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?