Rebuilding The Walls, Just What Will It Take?
Part 4 - Our Focus On The Task At Hand
INTRO.: Three weeks ago I started a series of message called Rebuilding The Walls, Just What Will It Take? This series will deal with the some of the problems at Jerusalem that happened during the captivity of the Children of Israel in Babylon, and parallels it to our lives. It was because of SIN that the Children of Israel were carried away into captivity. Sin cost them a great deal. Sin still costs us today!
Before I begin, I want to share again with you what I shared last week as seven items that are indications of broken walls in your life. They are:
If you have lost your Time of Prayer
If you are no longer Hungry for God's Word
If there is no Joy of Worship
If you have no great Desire for Fellowship with Believers
If you have quit Seeking His Guidance
If you have lost your Disdain for Sin
These are obvious signs of broken "walls" in our lives. Are your walls intact? Are some of them cracked, tumbled down? These are the things that should concern us when we find them in our own lives and see them in our church.
It is never easy moving forward to rebuild, there are always obstacles involved. Nehemiah had taken on a great big job. His plan to rebuild the walls would not be easy at the best of circumstances. He is facing hard times. BUT he has something in his favor. He had approached this with God's blessing and with much prayer and with a good attitude about what God could help them do. Let me look at the start of the rebuilding of the walls at Jerusalem.
While I do not want to read the entire chapter three, I do want you to see some things about the work from this chapter.
There are three obvious points that we can see from this story about Nehemiah's vision in rebuilding the wall…
The vision was great and The vision was hard and The vision worked.
We first find…
The Vision was great
The leadership set the example - vs. 3 - We have to be honest, the people needed a jump-start here.
Eliashib the high priest rose up
His brethren the priest rose up
They built the sheep gate
They did a complete job
They sanctified it.
Those around followed their example - vs. 2-5
Even those from outside the city - vs. 2
Even the tough jobs (fish gate) - vs. 3
Especially those taking care of their own house - vs. 10
Etc.
Some refused to help (Tekoite nobles) - vs. 5
Some do not see the need for repair
Some think it is for others to repair
Some do not care if there is repair
Many saw the need for increased vision - vs. 11
Built up the towers for a better view
We need a better vision of what God can do
We need a better vision of what God wants us to do
We need a better vision of what Satan is trying to do
With all their work, they turned the corner - vs. 24
We can be victorious
We can accomplish much
We can do this together
When many saw the accomplishments they worked even harder
Tekoites repaired another piece - vs. 27
The priests worked on another - vs. 28
Hanun repaired another - vs. 30
Etc.
We find…
The Vision was hard
But everyone did not share the vision of Nehemiah - Chapter 4:1-3
Some were already upset from the get go:
Envious 1:10
Scornful - 1:19
Angry - 4:1
Irreverent - 4:1
Influenced others - 4:2
So what did the people do?
THEY KEPT THEIR FOCUS ON THE JOB AT HAND.
They had a mind to work - God blesses our efforts- 4:6
They had an attitude to pray (watchfully) - vs. 9
It was harder work - vs. 10
People began to loose their focus and the work suffered.
But God sent help (warned of the strike) - vs. 12
They were prepared for battle vs. 13
And we see…
The Vision worked
Nehemiah's plan - vs. 14
Fear not
Remember the Lord
Fight for your family
Work was slowed, but continued on - 16-20
Carried burdens
Carried shields
Stood against the enemy
"Shoulder to shoulder" in spirit - knew others were near by
Willing to sound the trumpet for help
Worked hard continually
Totally stayed at it - vs. 23
We can see what Satan wants to do…
Defeat God's work
Delay God's work
Disrupt God's work
Discourage God's people
Distract God's people
Disband God's people
So what do we need to know about God's work at East 38th Street?
Know the work needs done
Know you want to do the work
Know the work is the Lord's
Know the work is hard
Know the hard work pays off
Know Satan wants to stop God's work
Are you trying to repair the "walls" in your life?
Are you trying to help rebuild the "walls" in our fellowship?
Are you willing to do your best for God?
Is He speaking to your heart right now to come to Him?
Will you come now?
Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 090201am