Whatcha Workin’ With: All Hands On Deck!

Sermon Series: Whatcha Workin’ With: All Hands On Deck!

Sermon Scriptures: Nehemiah 4:4-6; Nehemiah 3:1-2,12, Jeremiah 29.11

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them... Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. Nehemiah 3.1-2,12

Nehemiah prayed, "Oh listen to us, dear God. We're so despised: Boomerang their ridicule on their heads; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no return; don't forgive their iniquity, don't wipe away their sin—they've insulted the builders!" We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work. Nehemiah 4:4-6

Pg. 50 Cyril Barber’s Nehemiah: and the dynamics of effective leadership

B.C. Forbes: “ If the whole prospers [the individual] as an active, effective, progressive part of it, will prosper with it”

Warning: As God’s people we show our connectedness to Him by adopting or praying to adopt His values. What do we see in these passages:

• God who created individuality didn’t create it to affirm islands

• God who created individuality did so like the create of jigsaw pieces...no jigsaw piece was EVER created to stand along, but father to connect and be connect with another.

• Since Garden Fiasco, God’s focus has been our restoration to Him. Therefore it is reasonable that He’d expect us to focus on someone else’s good since He’s so focused on ours.

• Since Jesus is working on our Heavenly Abode...can’t we help the homeless?
• Since God is our Father, can’t we love the fatherless?

We see 4 principles for Nehemiah’s success: All Hands Were On Deck!

• Coordination
• He knew where the breaches were and the work that was needed
• They had 40 sections of workers*
• Cooperation
• He used a variety of workers i.e. sexes, classes, marital status
• People knew were they belonged* because...
• People their skills and gifts*
• Commendation
• Their names were mentioned (acknowledgement)
• This motivates
• Communication
• People were in the know. They knew what and where and how & why!!

Chapter 4: New Attack due to the threat of success!!

• Sanballat and Tobias tried to dishearten the people (v. 1)
• It seemed to work (vs. 10, 11, 12)

From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Neh 4.16-18

Key Components To Remember:

• Outside support didn’t matter until inside buy-in occurred
• People worked like it mattered to their future (‘cause it did)
• Damage assessment; prayer; got the people involved
• Wall built for protection of worship, language, culture= because a defeated & culture-less we’re not effective.
• Having a heart to work means that the Father’s Heart for the lost & for justice is superimposed on our hearts
• God is up to something and you’re a part of it.

Challenge:

• Ask God to get you involved...close to your heart/home; ask Him for His heart for this work
• Find someone to work next to...someone who you can teach...someone who can teach you.
• You will find yourself as you lose yourself in God’s presence and in God’s work
• We need all hands on deck...not just for the building...but for the work of God’s Kingdom!

Whatcha Working With? (Willing People, Dire Needs & The Holy Spirit!)

Sermon Series: Building Material

Sermon Title: Whatcha Working With? (Willing People, Dire Needs & The Holy Spirit!)

Key Passage: Nehemiah 6:2-3

² Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages^[a^] on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; ³ so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:2-3 NIV)

One Slide: Persian Kings

Cyrus- “Israel's Shepherd” in Isaiah. Defeated Babylonians & allowed Jews to return home. Great manager who developed road, cities, postal systems & legal codes. His decisions were prophesied in Jeremiah 25.12.

Cambyses II- Cyrus’ son and successor. Egypt to to Persian Empire. (530 B.C. to 522 B.C.)

Darius- Unified kingdom using gold coinage, state highways, improved postal systems. Subsidized the work of the temple. (521 B.C. to 486 B.C.)

Xerxes l- Ruled Persia (485 B.C. to 465 B.C.) The book of Esther tells his story. She became queen in his 7th years of king and saved Jews from extinction.

Artaxerxes Longimanus (465 B.C. to 425 B.C.) Under his leadership two of the three major returns of Jews to Judah occurred.

History:

Ezra 1-6 is about Temple Reconstruction

Babylonians destroyed Temple 50 years prior

New Challenges politically/Socially are great opportunities for God followers to seek strategies from Him make God more known.

Ezra 4-6 You oppose your opposition via committed continued service to God

Earlier prophesies regarding rebuilding of temple (Jer 50.9; 51.11 & Isaiah 44.28 & 45.13)

Rebuilding Process:

1. Altar: Sacrifice
2. Temple: Worship
3. Opposition

*Work stopped, work resumed, people released (Opposition happened all the way)

Community Spiritual Renewal: Book of Nehemiah

• 12 years after Ezra’s visit to Jerusalem, Nehemiah is working in Persia

• Cup Bearer is a privileged position (informal and formal information)

• Casual inquiry about Jerusalem

• Impact hits Nehemiah.
• Watch what hits your heart hard...it’s most likely a calling of some sort

• Nehemiah was not planing on leaving his post. However, what he was doing was preparing him for what he was about to do.
• Respect the present! It is as holy to God as the future.

• Nehemiah confesses as he prays
• prays for personal restoration of people & favor with King
• pray for a few months

• Sanballat: May have been a Samaritan Governor with temporary jurisdiction over Judah

• After surveying damage and praying...Nehemiah solicits help from people living in Jerusalem---although he has financial support from King (2.17-18)

• When attacked for doing God’s work---respond by asserting your mission. Leave outcome to the one who commissioned you. Don’t defend God or yourself.
• We fight too many battles that aren’t ours.

• Nehemiah 2.23-30 People end us building near their houses
• your heart must connect with the work (Vested Interest)

• Forty sections/groups worked simultaneously!

• Chap 4 Opposition happens again:
• It is against God...let Him handle it.
• Task was huge and people felt discouraged
• Families were telling people to come back home (v. 11-12)
• Outside attacked again

Nehemiah improved security measures & motivated people to fight for their heritage which was grated by God Almighty.

Challenges:

• Ask God about your service.
• Is where it should be? What it should be? Directed toward whom it should be?

• Define what’s near your “house”?

• Remind yourself that the work you do for God is for God. He validates it. He will reward it. He will resource it. You just need to lay hold of it.

The Chase: Apprehensions

The Chase: Apprehensions

Vision= Seeing what God sees

Requirement: 1. God’s timing; 2. Human readiness (often via hardship and obedience); 3. Awareness of the vision and believing it.

✓Vision reminds us that God has a plan for our lives!

✓It is not something we chase...though we may think this...it chases us. “IT” is the reason we were created & called.

Chasing the Vision (Understanding that the vision is chasing us and God has gathered FOL for its special tasks and we’ve inventoried and assessed our preparation (and lack thereof) for the task). We’ve been called for a task and time like this! (Esther 4.14)

Jacob’s Dream/Vision:

• Jacob was running & He “happened...lighted...”upon this place)
• Vision is often the affirmation of an earlier promise- [BEAUTY OF VISION IS CONVERGENCE OF PASSIONS...GOD’S/OURS!!

• This is the third announcement of the seed that blesses to the third in the line of descent Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4.

✓You must awake and move from dream to action: Pillows...pillars...vow...provision

✓The Lord is here! (Gate of Heaven)...access!!! God spoke the vision. (PROVISION)

(Jacob got the blessing; Isaac blindly gave the blessing; now God is!)

✔When we accept Vision (our partnership with God to meet an unmet need) then Provision responds to God’s hand on your life!

✓But as the fulfilment of this promise to Jacob was still far off, God added the firm assurance, "I will not leave thee till I have done (carried out) what I have told thee."

✓The beauty of vision is that God rides shotgun in your life until it is fulfilled! When you grasp that you have a vision; you should grasp that God has grabbed you.

☛Challenges to congregation: Pray for faith. Pray for buy-in. Pray for incredible favor! Pray for the needs of our service areas (1 mi. radius/5 mi radius).

Possessing the Vision (Grasping the opportunity with our minds, hearts, souls and strength. Assessing the opportunity before us and numbering the myriad of options we have to serve those who don’t know our Savior. Seeing and seizing this window and maximizing it like the biblical character who increased his talent 10x.)

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Phil 3.12

☛Challenges to congregation: Ask ourselves what some of the unmet needs of our surrounding community?

• How could be live out the gospel with our expanded facilities?
• What do teens see as needs?
• What do seniors see as needs?
• What do teachers/students see as needs?
• What do parents see as needs? What are training needs of community?

Why?

✓God’s provision always meets an unmet need

✓People will be blessed when vision happens

✓God’s message to Jacob “I will bring you back to what I have promised your family”

Closing Challenges:

• The purpose of God’s Kingdom is to influence things back into God’s control/influence
• The Church was Called by God, qualified by Christ and equipped and sent by the Spirit to influence culture and society with integrity, excellence, compassion.
• A building isn’t the only way to “play ball”, however, it helps alot when you have a diamond or court or field.
• Let’s walk in authority (AG to Irgens “Because I can”; AG to Landgraf “We need jobs/training”)

It's Yo' Move (Challenges for the week)

Challenges: It's Yo' Move!

1. Where are you stuck in life/ministry/relationships thinking that you’re waiting on God for the next move?

1. How is God’s Covenant with you different than any other relationship you have?

1. Where are you most prone to to break Covenant with God due to disobedience?

1. Just knowing you have a Covenant with God should change our entire attitude about life, our lifestyle, our confidence, our relationships and our intimacy with God. Do you understand the Covenant? Strive to do so.

1. Phone #: 530-881-1000 Participant Access Code: 651737#

1. God is commited to you becasue of Jesus & His sacrifice. We owe God Allegiance, Praise, Obedience and a Testimony!!

On The Brink: It's Yo' Move!

It’s Yo’ Move: (You’re on the Brink of your Conquest) 1/29/12

Jordan = last obstacle before crossing into promise. It’s a conquest.

• You’ve gotta lay something down something personal and God’s gotta remove something!! (Ai)

(Jordan= Human failed efforts meet God’s power)

1. The children of Israel had wandered for nearly a half-millennium without permanent home
2. Most of that time was as slaves of Pharaoh
3. An add’l 40 years as slaves to their own fear and rebellion.
4. God was still committed to them! Why? His ‣COVENANT!!!

God moves then waits to see if His covenanted people will act in obedience!

God’s Move	Joshua/Others’ Move
God called Abraham	Abraham obeyed and left homeland
God called Abraham & offered a Promise	Abraham obeyed and went to Egypt
God gave A. promises re: Isaac	God asked A. to sacrifice Isaac
God sends Moses to top rung of Egypt	God calls Moses to destroy the system that trained him in military, leadership, economics, government, etc.
God gave His rescued people miracles of plaques and the Red Sea	They held to the slave mentality and couldn’t see beyond their giants & their memories.
God called Moses to the Covenanted Place He’d give A.	Moses disobeyed and could not enter into the full promise.
Josh is told that Moses is dead	Be strong, courageous, obey and meditate on His word
God promised the Land again	Joshua had the people to prepare themselves
God told the priest to go first and that the waters would open	They did...He did!
God closed the River...	They never looked back!
God told them to take stones from the river and to make a memorial	They did!
The Lord exalted Joshua & The Canaanite Kings melted with fear over J’s God	Re instituted Passover and circumcision @ an inopportune time.
God stopped Manna!!
Jericho was lockup up & gave told them to march around or 7 days	They did and the walls fell
God asked for full devotion	Joshua lost battle of Ai. Joshua tore clothes all day and questioned God’s progress
God said get up...there’s sin in the camp and you must uproot it or I won’t be with you!	Joshua scrutinized the entire camp and found Achan and his stolen plunder
Don’t be afraid and discouraged...I have given you victory	Joshua then attached Ai again and won
	J. took the men to Mt Ebal, copied the Law on Stones and read in the hearing of the people as they stood there
	This was the same place where Abraham sacrificed to God after the Covenant was given 600 years prior!

Deuteronomy 11:26-32

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— ²⁷ the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; ²⁸ the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. ²⁹ When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. ³⁰ As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. ³¹ You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, ³² be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.

On The Brink: A Favorable Position

On The Brink: A Favorable Position

Favorable Position= Mindset that acknowledges the presence of God’s plan @ all times.

This is the story of a CONQUEST (territorial, geographical, mental, spiritual, theological and personal).

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Josh 1:3

You set your foot i.e.

• Tuition reimbursement (you get a B ave & you’ll be reimbursed)
• Jump and I catch you.
• God “I promise & I fulfill...you must walk it out!”

God basically tells Joshua... “just go...I’m with you!!”

☀Favor is a serious thing with God because it is NEVER personal...only!!!

• God is very concerned about the development of the individual being used
• God doesn’t pick favorites arbitrarily

☀A person who desires to walk in favor needs to discern the times (seasons, needs, harsh realities, impending dangers, etc.

☀When God’s call comes...things are already in motion. Time is of the essence.

• The Favorable Position is the last big step into our promised land/destiny

• This will either be internal or how you internally process the external. This MAJOR step of victory is totally up to you!!!

• In Joshua..those who hid idols refused to receive the true blessing of the promised land...which was to be freed of idolatry and worship God

• They went as far as they could...then God showed up! Favor=the last step of the physical crossing.

Favor=God’s provision for God’s task. Otherwise, God is reduced to a fickle parent and a God of favoritism. This leads to discord and rivalry. True favor is designed for Godly gain, not human devices. (Segue into Joseph’s Story)

People confuse being the favorite and being favored!

Story of Joseph The Dreamer: Blessing or Curse?

• Favored by his father (Colorful coat)
• Bratty towards his brothers
• Ambushed and thrown in a hole
• Sold into slavery (Midianites)
• Sold to Ishmeelites
• Sold to Potiphar, Captain of Egyptian Army
• Framed by Potiphar’s wife
• (Test of Character...favor vs. favorite...entitlement vs. discipline and respect for God and man)

• ☛Because favor is at God’s discretion, it is given on the basis of their usefulness to God...not their maturity, ability or talent.

• ☛In the case of Joseph, he demonstrated immaturity and brattiness and as a result he suffered things that allowed his character to catch up with his favor!

• ☛It was several years before he was ready to experience the full power of God and to fulfill the purpose for which he was created, chosen and favored.
• ☞Human nature is blame God for the delay...= we still lack maturity!

• ™What impedes your brinking is your refusal of the breaking from the things on which you're banking that aren’t God-centered...hence toxic to your purpose!

™True FAVOR emerges when individuals grasp that theirs and God’s destinies intertwine into what is called PURPOSE.

Challenge for this week: 1. Read about Esther, David, Rahab positioned themselves to be blessed by God. 2. Where are you NOT setting your foot and how is that limiting God? 3. What Character issues is God currently addressing in your life (fear, honesty, integrity, anger, discipline)? 4. Study: Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed...be transformed by the renew of your mind; 2 Cor 10.5 Cast down imaginations and reasonings that compete against truth;

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen 50.20

Get To Stepping'

On The Brink Series

Sermon Title: Get To Steppin’ (Extending Your Territory)

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Background Points:

Joshua took steps towards favor...he wasn’t merely lucky (The Cost Ex 17, Num 14)

He believed; He aligned himself with God’s leader;

God Almighty:

Moses is dead! “I am not!” (Consider...really consider your Source!)

I am about to give you the Land

I am keeping my promise to Moses (Abraham and Isaac)

No one will be able to stand against you.

I will continue the covenant with you

I will never leave you

Be courageous

Be ☛Strong (Legs...in face of opposition) and ☛Courageous (Grip: God’s values, plans, purposes. Phil 3.12)

Other people’s blessings rested on Joshua’s obedience.

Obey the laws of Moses so that success will surely happen.

Meditate on the word so that you’re careful to walk in it

Again, be strong and courageous

Don't be afraid or discouraged

I will be with you wherever you go. (This is a promise that can’t be broken!)

Joshua:

Get you provisions ready! We’re about to cross!

Favor is not for your purpose. It is for God’s Purpose:

A person of purpose must understand this

“I will give you the places where you step” (He’s gone ahead of you)

No one will be able to stand before you (God enemies are yours and your enemies are God’s)

Favor requires more obedience; not less

The people agreed to obey

Joshua sent 2 spies out to Rahab

God will give you unlikely allies when you walk in purpose

The king of Jericho and others heard about the victory of Israel and how God had fought for them.

Chapter 3 Crossing

Follow the Ark (Evidence of God existence and God’s co-existence with Israel).

Understand why God gives miracles. (Make them last!)

Demonstrates His ability, might and concern.

Memorialize Acts of Favor☑

They took 12 stones from the Joran and carried them over to the camp & set them up as a memorial.

Why the Memorial? (Deut 6)

Humans are fickle and forgetful

God made it His duty to:

Give promises

Remember His promises

Deliver His people

Give his people a miracle

Help His people to memorialize His miracle so that it lasts. (Doggy bag!)

What do these stones mean?

Tell them about the dry ground

He treated the Jordan like the Red Sea

He did this it to show his might

He wanted people to always remember Him.

The enemies were frightened

Circumcision was reinstated

If you want the blessings of old promises, you must realign yourself with God.

Fear, pride, disobedience

Challenge: 1. Which of the spiritual disciplines have you left? 2. What steps will you take right now to realign with the Covenant? 3. Are you surrounding yourself with others who understand the urgency of this season?