Sermon Tone Analysis
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*PLUGGING INTO POWER*
*TEXT: * *Nehemiah 1:1-4*
*INTRODUCTION:* Nehemiah was the cupbearer of Artaxeraxes king of Persia.
One of his close kinsmen was informed of the pitiful condition of Jerusalem and residents of Judea.
Upon learning their condition, Nehemiah was much grieved and at once conceived an idea of going to Jerusalem and rebuilding the walls of the city.
This was a great task, which required much hard work; but Nehemiah was willing to work, and found others who were willing to work with him By a united effort and a will to I work, the job was finished.
Nehemiah Plugged in the Power by:
*NEHEMIAH*
Born in captivity, of the tribe of Judah.
His father as an unknown.
Sixty years earlier his people had been pulled out of Jerusalem by Babylonians.
Raised among the decadence and wealth of the capitol of Babylon, the fabled city of SUSA.
*CUPBEARER* \\ A cup bearer is a combination of prime minister and "master of ceremonies" rolled into one office.
Kings lived in isolation (intrigue and assassination a threat).
They gravitate to wise and trusted men around them.
He tested food, guarded sleeping quarters and would be general adviser and confident of the King.
*THE VISIT OF HIS BROTHER*
His brother Hanani came to see him in the month of Chislev (November ~/December) in the twentieth year of the King Artaxerxes (445 B.C.).
\\ BAD NEWS HANANI Instead of seeing half full, sees half empty.
The kind of guy who can hardly wait for the future so he can look back on it with regret.
Every time smells flowers, looks around for the funeral.
Also, it is impossible to be truly prayerful and pessimistic at same time.
When Nehemiah asked about Jerusalem he received the disheartening news.
The walls are still down.
The spirit is down.
The city is defenseless.
Few lives there (no wonder!).
*HOW DID ITGET IN THAT CONDITION: NEHEMIAH IN GENERAL HISTORY*
Review how Kingdoms divided after Solomon.
In 722 the northern Kingdom finally collapses under the Assyrians.
By this time they were scattered, and many had married pagans, compromised their faith and caused the Jews continually problems.
Since the chief city in that area was SAMARIA these were soon called SAMARITANS.
The Southern Kingdom (Judah [and Benjamin]) survived but failed to learn.
Eventually they were overrun by the Babylonians.
Unlike the Assyrians, however, the Babylonians did not seek to destroy their national identity.
They allowed them to stay together, worship God (usually).
During the seventy years they were in "captivity" Babylon itself was overrun by the combined forces of the Medes and the Persians.
King Cyrus, the new ruler, gave per-mission for some to return to Jerusalem.
Several groups returned over a period of fifteen years.
The word on rebuilding was begun, but never finished.
Finally, during the reign of Artaxerxes 1st Nehemiah came to Jerusalem.
Morale was low.
Wall was down.
Rich exploiting the poor.
Economic depression.
Spiritual ignorance.
*KNOWING THE NEED*
Nehemiah was in Babylon, he felt powerless to help his people He turned to God as the only answer.
All prayer must begin with knowledge of need.
Alan Redpath (Victorious Christian Service Revell, 1958), "Much of our praying is just asking God to bless some folks that are ill and to keep us plugging along.
But prayer is not merely prattle: it is warfare."
Nehemiah met a pessimist, depressing person who loves to tell it like it is as long as it is bad.
But when the outlook is bad, try the up look.
!
I. PREPARe FOR THE TASK
!! A. See the necessity of the undertaking.
(Nehemiah 1:2‑3)
!!! 1. His beloved city walls were destroyed
!!! 2. His people were suffering afflictions and reproach
!!! 3.
There was a job to he done and Nehemiah was the man for the task
!!! 4. Seeing the necessity of and feeling the responsibility for any good and worthy work is important to the final success thereof
!!! 5. We need to see the decay of Home, Lives, America
!!!! a) One must see:
!!!! b) The need of Christ in their lives
!!!! c) The need of Souls to be saved
!!!! d) The need of Growth in the Church- Spiritual and Numerical
!!!! e) The problems in our lives
!! B. Take God into the task.
(Nehemiah 1:4)
!!! 1. Nehemiah did not underestimate the job, neither did he undertake the great task before prayer
!!! 2. God's people often see the necessity of certain things to be done and undertake them without taking God into the task with them
!! C. Work with God in all Christian endeavors
*/1 Corinthians 3:9/*/ For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
/
!!! 1. Paul recognized the importance of working with God
!!! 2. To work with him we have to work His way, not ours
!!! 3. We are not independent workers
!
II.
RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTIES
!! A. The monster of fear (Neh.2:2)
!!! 1.
The first enemy he met was fear
!!!! a) He was afraid of the king
!!!! b) Nehemiah was about to cross the bridge before he came to it
!!!! c) When the king understood Nehemiah's problem, he encouraged and helped him to rebuild the walls
!!! 2. We always fear the future, never the past
!!!! a) Most of the things we fear never happen
!!!! b) We generate fear while we sit and wait
!!!! c) Fear is overcome by action
!!!! d) Fear has defeated more people than any other monster
!! B. There will be some enemies (Nehemiah 2:10)
!!! 1.
There are always some who oppose the Lord's work
!!! 2. Nehemiah did not become discouraged to the point of quitting, he fought on until the walls were completely finished
!! C. There are always some discouraging features in every good work
!!! 1.
The devil always opposes God's people and every good work, heaping upon them discouragement, extra burdens and every hardship possible
!!! 2. Discouragement is next to fear in defeating God’s purpose in the endeavors of His people
!
III. make up your MIND TO WORK
!! A. Put your hope in God (Nehemiah 2:20)
!!! 1.
When people have nothing else to depend on they usually turn to God
!!! 2. This is exactly what the children of Israel did and He helped them in time of need
!!! 3.
He will help everyone who relies upon Him
!! B. Be willing to work (Neh.2:18)
!!! 1.
When they heard the encouraging words of their leader, they said, Let us rise up and build
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