Scripture Nehemiah 1:1-5
Oh Lord God, my brother Hanani and others have come from Judah here to Susa, the capital where I serve as cup bearer to the king of Persia, They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." You know oh Lord I have been weeping and fasting for days.
Nehemiah 1:5-11
"O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
VIDEO: Nehemiah: What do you see? (Right Now Media)
Oh Lord God, my brother Hanani and others have come from Judah here to Susa, the capital where I serve as cup bearer to the king of Persia, They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." You know oh Lord I have been weeping and fasting for days.
Nehemiah 1:5-11
"O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
VIDEO: Nehemiah: What do you see? (Right Now Media)
20
years ago today, we woke up to a different world. We woke up one day after the
most gripping visual punch in the gut a country could imagine. On September 11,
2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda
hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the
United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World
Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside
Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Prior to that day, we lived in a world where war and mass killing took place “somewhere else”. Our military intelligence have prevented many other such attacks with no guarantee to stop all of them.
The spiritual parallel is found in the story of Adam and Eve. They lived in an idealic location where everyone lived in peace and relative safety. The moment they chose to sin and eat from the tree they were told to leave alone; it was like a terrorist attack on their soul. They woke up the next day, no longer walking with God in the cool of the evening. They were now separated from him and from the possibility of eternal life. It was not until one man took a risk with his own life, leaving the comforts and glory of heaven and taking on the form of a servant, he offered his life in place of all who sinned, so we could be made whole again and once more have, not the possibility, but the guarantee of eternal life.
In
the story of Nehemiah, we once again see who God is. When Nehemiah looked over
the city of Jerusalem – he wept and mourned that the walls lie in ruins. When
Jesus looked over the city of Jerusalem, he wept and mourned that the souls of
men and women lie in ruins.
Nehemiah’s
first response was to pray about the mess and destruction that people were
having to endure around them.
Jesus’s first response was to pray about the mess and destruction that people were having to endure within them.
Nehemiah relied on a foreign king, with whom he was very close, whose life he held in his hands, to provide items that were needed to begin rebuilding.
Jesus relied on the King of kings, with whom he was very close, to provide items that were needed to begin rebuilding people’s lives.
After walking around the city and seeing the scope of the destruction, determining what it would take to rebuild the walls, Nehemiah called together the nobles and officials to help him do the work.
After walking around for three years and seeing the scope of the destruction, determining what it would take to rebuild lives, Jesus called together his closest followers to help him do the work.
Once the work of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem began, opposition arose and tried to stop the rebuilding from happening so Nehemiah had everyone work with a weapon in one hand while they did the work with the other.
Once the work of rebuilding the lives around the world began, opposition arose and tried to stop the rebuilding from happening so Jesus has everyone work with a Sword of the Spirit (word of God – Bible) in one hand while they do the work with the other.
After 52 days, the walls were rebuilt and those living in Jerusalem could now live, work and worship in a place of safety, and a place of community.
For Jesus, the work of building lives will continue until he returns. 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Do
you know that the core word that describes the heart of Ashland is the word
“build”. During a 2 year process called church unique, everything we prayed and
talked about considering who Ashland has been, is and will be, considering our
current location and the culture in which we live, everything came down to the
single word “build”. I don’t know why I
was surprised by that revelation, when we look at who God was, is and will
always be. God is a builder.
God built the world and everything in it.
God built a nation of people for Himself.
When things fall apart, sometimes God builds new, sometimes
God rebuilds.
- Nehemiah – rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
God built a community into which Jesus would be born,
minister, die, be raised, and ascend to heaven.
God is building His church
Matt 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
God is building our lives for His glory.
God is building us a forever home.
John 14:2-6 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I’m reminded of the 2nd chapter of Acts song –
Mansion builder.
https://youtu.be/QqEFokssrfk
CONCLUSION
Mark 6:1-3 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"
God is always a carpenter.
Ashland is always a carpenter – Our Mission is to:
“Build an inspired community that creatively and compassionately connects people to Jesus Christ.”
Cornerstone
Prior to that day, we lived in a world where war and mass killing took place “somewhere else”. Our military intelligence have prevented many other such attacks with no guarantee to stop all of them.
The spiritual parallel is found in the story of Adam and Eve. They lived in an idealic location where everyone lived in peace and relative safety. The moment they chose to sin and eat from the tree they were told to leave alone; it was like a terrorist attack on their soul. They woke up the next day, no longer walking with God in the cool of the evening. They were now separated from him and from the possibility of eternal life. It was not until one man took a risk with his own life, leaving the comforts and glory of heaven and taking on the form of a servant, he offered his life in place of all who sinned, so we could be made whole again and once more have, not the possibility, but the guarantee of eternal life.
Jesus’s first response was to pray about the mess and destruction that people were having to endure within them.
Nehemiah relied on a foreign king, with whom he was very close, whose life he held in his hands, to provide items that were needed to begin rebuilding.
Jesus relied on the King of kings, with whom he was very close, to provide items that were needed to begin rebuilding people’s lives.
After walking around the city and seeing the scope of the destruction, determining what it would take to rebuild the walls, Nehemiah called together the nobles and officials to help him do the work.
After walking around for three years and seeing the scope of the destruction, determining what it would take to rebuild lives, Jesus called together his closest followers to help him do the work.
Once the work of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem began, opposition arose and tried to stop the rebuilding from happening so Nehemiah had everyone work with a weapon in one hand while they did the work with the other.
Once the work of rebuilding the lives around the world began, opposition arose and tried to stop the rebuilding from happening so Jesus has everyone work with a Sword of the Spirit (word of God – Bible) in one hand while they do the work with the other.
After 52 days, the walls were rebuilt and those living in Jerusalem could now live, work and worship in a place of safety, and a place of community.
For Jesus, the work of building lives will continue until he returns. 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
- Nehemiah – rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Matt 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
John 14:2-6 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
https://youtu.be/QqEFokssrfk
Mark 6:1-3 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"
“Build an inspired community that creatively and compassionately connects people to Jesus Christ.”
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