Pastor Linnecar looks at the warning sound of the trumpet in Nehemiah, and what it means in our own lives, individually and as a church.
We’ve been looking at Nehemiah. This was a person who, when he heard that Jerusalem was in disarray, got permission from the king and went there to organise the rebuilding. There was opposition to this. In chapters 1, 2 and 4 we see those who were contrary to the project – Sanballat and Tobiah. They mocked what he was trying to do. He surveyed the scene before undertaking the task.
Nehemiah 4:13
There was no one without a weapon. We saw the importance of our sword – the Word of God, constantly our touchstone and our strength. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Nehemiah 4:18... And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
God can get our attention very easily. And at times He specifically makes it very clear what He wants us to do and which direction He wants us to take.
I want to talk about the trumpet, where God in His love and mercy calls us to do and be what He wants.
Nehemiah 4:19
The work is great and large. I was thinking about this in the context of someone here who sees such a mountain inside – so large that it seems impossible that mountain can be removed. A mountain of sin, of iniquity. The rebuilding of the walls is to do with not just the walls of our lives, but also the walls of the church, and this morning we’ll see what it means to help one another in the building.
Hebrews 12:1
It’s a great work, a large work which Jesus Christ did on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:19
A great work, a large work. There is no one in this hall this morning who cannot partake of that work of the Lord Jesus Christ – no one for whom the work of the cross is irrelevant. It’s vital for you. It’s for you today.
A great work, a large work. And as we consider Nehemiah and the great work he was undertaking – ten massive gates to be restored, swathes of walls to be rebuilt ... When God sorted out His great work for you and me in Christ Jesus, there was no way He would be swerved from completing it. The completion of His great work is entirely for you individually and for us collectively.
Nehemiah didn’t want people working on one gate to be detached from those on others. He didn’t want people to be picked off.
1 Peter 5:5
Our adversary seeks to pick off, to isolate, to bring people into condemnation, to lock people up in their minds so they can’t speak to anyone. His hallmark is division – husband from wife, parents from children, brother from brother, sister from sister in the church. Nehemiah was aware of this – if there was a problem on one side, you needed people to get over and help. He didn’t want anyone to think they were on their own. They weren’t.
The enemy struts about. A lot of noise, dramatics, antics. Resist him steadfast in the faith.
I like reading out things from Romania, from Pakistan, that broaden our perspective. God knows what He is doing. And I want you to know that there is a body of people called of God to be in this place who are here, brothers and sisters with you.
What was the joy set before Him? That you and I would be members of His church worldwide.
I’m assuming you are here this morning because this is where He’s put you. If He wants you somewhere else then that’s where you need to be. But this morning, we’re here all together.
Nehemiah 4:20
“Wherever the trumpet sounds, I want you to come. And our God shall fight for us.”
v18 says that the person who sounded the trumpet was by Nehemiah. So Nehemiah was alerted to what was going on. God alerted Him. And wherever He knew that support was needed, he could summon the people.
Then we’ll all be together at the point of need, and our God shall fight for us. It’s not as a result of us all being together that we’ll do things – but because we’re all together, our God shall fight.
We had a meeting of Springboard yesterday. Someone asked why we have church – why we meet together. There’s something about meeting together which brings a strength, when we praise God together and when we affirm the common bond of our life in Christ and the faith in our hearts.
Hebrews 10:23
We’re not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together – we’re to consider one another etc. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith. I love it when we’re all together, and we hold fast the profession of our faith and provoke one another to good works.
The people were to listen for the sound, and to move the moment they heard it. And as they moved and combined, their God would fight for them. God lives within each of us, but there is a mighty moving force in the church of God.
How should we help one another? If the trumpet sounds and we go to help, how should we be?
1 Corrinthians 12:25
If someone is suffering, it affects everyone. If someone is honoured, it affects everyone – we rejoice with them.
Philippians 2:2
It’s not “Me, me, me.” I’m in a church, linked up with brothers and sisters. The trumpet sounds, and I need to help where I can.
Galatians 6:2
Galatians 5:14
That’s the law fulfilled in one word:
Leviticus 19:18
You love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself.
There’s something about the trumpet sounding, that God seeks to get your attention. And it’s not a vague hope. He manages very easily and at the right time to get your attention. For some of you, this is a crucial time in your life. Why? The trumpet has sounded. There’s a jolt to the system.
There’s a very telling account of the need for the trumpet to sound:
Ezekiel 33:1
Is God being fair? Yes. If the trumpet sounds for you to realise that on your own you can’t manage your life ... if you hear the trumpet, and you know it means there will be an assessment of your life ... if you hear the sound of the trumpet and take warning, you’ll deliver your soul.
Ezekiel 33:6
What does this verse mean for me? I have to be faithful to preach God’s word. I have to bring to anyone’s attention what God intends. I’m not special – this is just what I’m meant to do. And if I don’t do it, it will affect me. The trumpet sounds for a reason.
Ezekiel 33:11
Ezekiel 33:15
If you know the right way to live and then don’t live that way, scripture says that’s sin. It may well be with the pressures in your life ... you’ve been painting the floor of your house and you’ve painted yourself into the corner of the room, and there’s nowhere to go, and the trumpet has sounded.
The moment you hear the sound of the trumpet, come over to the wall and God will fight for us. The trumpet sounded in your life is a warning. But it’s not a warning from a despot who wants to kill you. It’s a warning from a God of love who is saying, turn, repent, live right, be right. That’s the way I want you to be.
You’d think that a trumpet sounding would be clear cut. And yet we have:
Jeramiah 6:16
There’s a trumpet sounding, and the trumpet is for you as an individual and for us collectively to walk the way of God. It’s very clear.
What’s your reaction going to be in your life? Our God shall fight for us. His work was great and large. His work affected the whole world. The cross ... Jesus gave His life to break the power of sin and bring forgiveness for you, to change you on the inside, so that you are free to walk right. You don’t become a robot, but you’re free to live right.
And as a church, these verses are about how we should help each other. When the trumpet sounds, resort hither. Are you forever going to exist in a rumour mill of pulling someone down? No! Full stop. Our God shall fight for us.
Nehemiah 4:21
No let up. We laboured in the work from dawn to dark.
Nehemiah 4:22
They always had their weapons with them – steadfast, resolute, determined.
Nehemiah 6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
It’s the goodness of God which causes us to repent. It’s His goodness. He’s not some malevolent being. By His Holy Spirit it’s the goodness of God which leads us to repentance.
People will see you as an individual and us as a church and will say, “This work was wrought of our God.”
There’s a clarity, a freedom. There’s praise for God for what He did on the Cross and how He rose from the dead.
The following speaks oft he God with whom we deal:
Ephesians 1:18
That’s the power – the power that raised Jesus from the dead. When I looked into the grave at my aunt’s funeral recently, there was no death. She’s not there. Grave, where is thy victory, death where thy sting?
It’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance. How’s the timing in your life? The timing is perfect because Jesus Christ our loving heavenly father is organising things. The trumpet is clear. We all hear it. And whether it’s causing us to pray, to read His word, to share with one another, He’s bringing it to pass.
It’s the church. There’s something about the fact that I’m linked to you, and you’re linked to the person next to you. He wants you to live right. That’s’ why the trumpet is sounding so clearly to as individuals and to us as a church.
When you hear the trumpet sound, resort thither. Now is the time. His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. It’s the goodness of God which leads us to repentance. Our God shall fight for us.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Friday, 6 February 2009
Nehemiah (Part 5 of 9) - The Sword of the Spirit
We remember that there were some people that didn’t want the walls of Jerusalem to be built. Nehemiah dealt with this very well. The opposition was incessant.
Nehemiah 4:13
Nehemiah 4:15
When Nehemiah talked to the people he was unequivocal and clear. And when he conveyed to them “be not afraid of them, remember the lord,” all of them took courage and took heart and they realised that it was God who was going to fight for them as they themselves stood their ground.
‘...God had brought their counsel to nought’; this reminded me of many verses where we can see that man might have the best strategies on this earth but when it comes to fighting God’s purposes, God brings their counsel to nothing. And I was reminded of the words of Moses to Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:6
There was an assurance on the part of Moses that God was the one who had led them thus far and it was God who was the one who was going to lead them into the promised land. “Fear not”. I was reminded of other words of Moses.
Exodus 14:13
There’s a sense in which this was true to Nehemiah. He knew his destiny and the man appointed by God for that purpose. And the people rallied. And here when the people were about to cross the Red Sea “see the salvation of the Lord” it was then that he lifted his arm and stretched out his staff over the Red Sea.
There is no need to jump up and down. When God fights for you, you will hold your peace and you will see the victory He brings. And when He fights for you, there is no doubt that He has brought the victory about. The opposition that some of you are having at this time is for the reason that you are going to witness how God and He alone will bring the victory and you will know it’s of Him.
“You will hold your peace” as in he knows the outcome and he knows what you need to do at each points of the journey. He knows how to influence things, so that you meet this person at this time. It doesn’t matter what situation you are in. You will see as a result of you standing still, you will witness the victory that only God has brought about. That’s because he loves you. He loves to reveal His love for you.
And when Nehemiah told them to fight, they grouped.
Nehemiah 4:15
And there is a sense in which God uses opposition to unite people together. The focus is put on opposition outside. There is a common denominator where you are in difficult circumstances and you can say “I’m going to trust God in this” or you’re not. He’s not going to force you, but by His Holy Spirit, he is going to cause you to witness his victory, in your situation. The timing of that victory, he knows. The timescale of the pressure, he knows.
Nehemiah knew the wall had to be built.
Nehemiah 4:16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
So Nehemiah was given wisdom.
Nehemiah 4:17
So half of the people were there with the defence. The other half were getting on with the building. But even those on the walls, they had a weapon.
Nehemiah 4:18
It’s interesting because everyone but everyone was able to defend their position. There was no gap; no one was left out. You were in either half. Everyone was able to defend their position. No one missed out. It’s interesting, when we think about a sword. And I want to just zero in on that. When we think of the image of a sword, for the builders, 'everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded’. There was a readiness to defend; there was an awareness of their situation. They were there to rebuild and the advent of Nehemiah marshalling the forces, as it were, in a structured planned way, irrespective of the voices shouting at them and of those who were trying to cease the work. Nehemiah and the people got to work and every one of them had a weapon.
This book (the Bible) is our weapon and the defence of truth is this. That’s why there are some at the moment who are doubting this. Why? This is key.
I want to share with you some things about what this sword of the spirit means. This is what we strap to our side. Every one of us has one.
I want to just look at 10 things about this sword.
Ephesians 6:16
One thing that I’ve been very conscious of is that, going forward, we need to have a study going on of the Bible. There has been a profusion of interest in the Bible and a prompting to pray more. Please don’t neglect your sword. You’ve got to be ready to give a hope; a reason for the hope that lies within you.
Hebrews 4:12
Reading your Bible, asking God to reveal himself through the Bible, is crucial. There is no way that we want it to be anything but growing, acknowledging, getting involved in, reading, God’s word. Read the word of God. Why? It’s our sword. Why should we? Because we need to be ready. God wants for you to take part in His church and do what He has prepared you for. The opposition you’re facing right now is God whittling down the inside of you, questioning what is the basis of your life.
2 Timothy 2:15
If we do not make an effort to read this book, you won’t know how to rightly divide it. Read His word.
2 Timothy 3:16
Psalms 119:9
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth shall pass away; our lives shall pass away. But God’s word will not.
Are you reading the word of God?
1 Peter 1:22
Luke 16:17
This sword, that is in your possession is a daily, life giving, word of God. Every one had a weapon.
Romans 10:17
2 Samuel 22:31
How often are you reading the word of God? How involved are you with your sword? Does it only come out on a Sunday or do you have it to hand and it is something relevant to you? Every one had a weapon and the builders had a sword by their side.
This is a time for all of us to shake ourselves up and be aware that as rampant opposition occurs, with groundless words, as shouts occur, with fruitless aims, so it is that God is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. You’re a part of it.
Nehemiah 4:17
It’s time for you and me to take our part.
Nehemiah 4:13
Nehemiah 4:15
When Nehemiah talked to the people he was unequivocal and clear. And when he conveyed to them “be not afraid of them, remember the lord,” all of them took courage and took heart and they realised that it was God who was going to fight for them as they themselves stood their ground.
‘...God had brought their counsel to nought’; this reminded me of many verses where we can see that man might have the best strategies on this earth but when it comes to fighting God’s purposes, God brings their counsel to nothing. And I was reminded of the words of Moses to Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:6
There was an assurance on the part of Moses that God was the one who had led them thus far and it was God who was the one who was going to lead them into the promised land. “Fear not”. I was reminded of other words of Moses.
Exodus 14:13
There’s a sense in which this was true to Nehemiah. He knew his destiny and the man appointed by God for that purpose. And the people rallied. And here when the people were about to cross the Red Sea “see the salvation of the Lord” it was then that he lifted his arm and stretched out his staff over the Red Sea.
There is no need to jump up and down. When God fights for you, you will hold your peace and you will see the victory He brings. And when He fights for you, there is no doubt that He has brought the victory about. The opposition that some of you are having at this time is for the reason that you are going to witness how God and He alone will bring the victory and you will know it’s of Him.
“You will hold your peace” as in he knows the outcome and he knows what you need to do at each points of the journey. He knows how to influence things, so that you meet this person at this time. It doesn’t matter what situation you are in. You will see as a result of you standing still, you will witness the victory that only God has brought about. That’s because he loves you. He loves to reveal His love for you.
And when Nehemiah told them to fight, they grouped.
Nehemiah 4:15
And there is a sense in which God uses opposition to unite people together. The focus is put on opposition outside. There is a common denominator where you are in difficult circumstances and you can say “I’m going to trust God in this” or you’re not. He’s not going to force you, but by His Holy Spirit, he is going to cause you to witness his victory, in your situation. The timing of that victory, he knows. The timescale of the pressure, he knows.
Nehemiah knew the wall had to be built.
Nehemiah 4:16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
So Nehemiah was given wisdom.
Nehemiah 4:17
So half of the people were there with the defence. The other half were getting on with the building. But even those on the walls, they had a weapon.
Nehemiah 4:18
It’s interesting because everyone but everyone was able to defend their position. There was no gap; no one was left out. You were in either half. Everyone was able to defend their position. No one missed out. It’s interesting, when we think about a sword. And I want to just zero in on that. When we think of the image of a sword, for the builders, 'everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded’. There was a readiness to defend; there was an awareness of their situation. They were there to rebuild and the advent of Nehemiah marshalling the forces, as it were, in a structured planned way, irrespective of the voices shouting at them and of those who were trying to cease the work. Nehemiah and the people got to work and every one of them had a weapon.
This book (the Bible) is our weapon and the defence of truth is this. That’s why there are some at the moment who are doubting this. Why? This is key.
I want to share with you some things about what this sword of the spirit means. This is what we strap to our side. Every one of us has one.
I want to just look at 10 things about this sword.
Ephesians 6:16
One thing that I’ve been very conscious of is that, going forward, we need to have a study going on of the Bible. There has been a profusion of interest in the Bible and a prompting to pray more. Please don’t neglect your sword. You’ve got to be ready to give a hope; a reason for the hope that lies within you.
Hebrews 4:12
Reading your Bible, asking God to reveal himself through the Bible, is crucial. There is no way that we want it to be anything but growing, acknowledging, getting involved in, reading, God’s word. Read the word of God. Why? It’s our sword. Why should we? Because we need to be ready. God wants for you to take part in His church and do what He has prepared you for. The opposition you’re facing right now is God whittling down the inside of you, questioning what is the basis of your life.
2 Timothy 2:15
If we do not make an effort to read this book, you won’t know how to rightly divide it. Read His word.
2 Timothy 3:16
Psalms 119:9
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth shall pass away; our lives shall pass away. But God’s word will not.
Are you reading the word of God?
1 Peter 1:22
Luke 16:17
This sword, that is in your possession is a daily, life giving, word of God. Every one had a weapon.
Romans 10:17
2 Samuel 22:31
How often are you reading the word of God? How involved are you with your sword? Does it only come out on a Sunday or do you have it to hand and it is something relevant to you? Every one had a weapon and the builders had a sword by their side.
This is a time for all of us to shake ourselves up and be aware that as rampant opposition occurs, with groundless words, as shouts occur, with fruitless aims, so it is that God is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. You’re a part of it.
Nehemiah 4:17
It’s time for you and me to take our part.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Nehemiah (Part 4 of 9) - The Walls of Your Life
The book of Nehemiah has much to say about the building of the walls of Jerusalem and there is just as much need for walls in our lives. We look here at the walls of truth, obedience, love, joy, respect, and peace.
We’ve been looking at the book of Nehemiah.
The book was written by Nehemiah. Chapter 1 shows him becoming aware that the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which he thought was in hand, was not happening; and he was led to call out to God. Chapter 1 records his prayer. It’s good to pray, and God hears your prayers. Maybe you’ve prayed of late and have been wondering. God hears your heart-felt prayers. Nehemiah’s prayer was answered.
In Chapter 2, the king observed that Nehemiah was concerned about something, and asked what it was. Nehemiah asked permission to go, and the king let him go to oversee the rebuilding. Not only that, but Nehemiah was emboldened to ask for material assistance.
Chapter 3 has Nehemiah at Jerusalem, surveying the state of the city. And he explains to the people how God had prospered his way. Enemies of the city tried to undermine the work, but Nehemiah said God would prosper them.
Chapter 3 lists 72 people who joined together to do the work. There is reference to one group who got involved, but whose nobles refused. But in other cases, everyone joined in. For example there is mention of one man and his daughters who got involved. I believe they respected their father, respected what he stood for, and they got on with it.
As the work progressed, it was obvious that Sanballat and the other enemies were even more anxious about what was going on, and the opposition went up a gear. We’ll look today at this opposition and the way Nehemiah and everyone else responded.
It’s possible to think about the walls of Jerusalem as the walls of the church. I don’t want to dwell on that today. Today we will cover the walls of your life, as an individual. What is the foundation of your life? What is the foundation of you as an individual? And those of you who are fathers, what are the walls you are creating for your family? Married men, what walls are you creating for your wife? And for everyone, the walls need to be right in your life.
It’s possible to look at the gates in chapter 3 as the walls of a Christian life. The first gate mentioned is the Sheep Gate, where the priests were involved. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” Wonderful that God sent His son to be the way that we come back into life away from the paths of sin through the Sheep Gate, the entry point, Jesus Christ.
In Chapter 4 it was obvious that Nehemiah was organising things. He gave out responsibilities :-
Nehemiah 3:10
Nehemiah 3:23
Nehemiah 4:1
Sanballat thought in his arrogance that he could knock down the work which was being done. His first two questions were a direct hit – the Jews were weaklings; would they fortify themselves? It’s possible that the enemy of your soul through opposition makes a direct attack on you – “Call yourself a Christian? You don’t believe that, do you? Do you really believe in God?” There’s a chipping away.
Sanballat thought he was so clever. Would the Jews return to their religious observances, given the state in which Jerusalem found itself? And then there was a prod on the timescale – will they make an end in a day? What was the timescale supposed to be? Will they revive the stones? “Look at your life. You messed up. God isn’t blessing you. He hasn’t answered your prayer? How on earth is something going to be made out of that?”
Let’s just confirm here – we believe in the God who answers by fire and who makes the impossible, possible. You may be staring at an impossibility. You may be unable to think of a scheme to sort things out, and the enemy has come and said, “Are you going to make something out of that mess?”
Nehemiah 4:3
Nehemiah 4:4
Nehemiah 4:6
It’s how you think, your attitude to things, you as an individual stating, “OK – the foundation of my life is Jesus Christ, the foundation of my future is what He wants me to do. I want to please Him.”
I will look shortly at what the walls might consist of in a Christian’s life.
It would have take time to set up the walls. It wasn’t a day’s work.
Nehemiah 4:7
There was a conspiracy. The opposition was growing, and the opposition made loud noises. The conspiracy was real. But ...
Nehemiah 4:9
The watch was there twenty four hours a day. There was constant supervision. There was an urgency in sorting things out for the family. The enemy is real, and our vigilance needs to be there. Nehemiah was wise is setting a watch.
I was given an article about a teenage suicide as a result of a person being isolated from her friends on FaceBook. The article is all to do with how an innocent-looking thing like a social networking site can become a vehicle not only for gossip, but for isolating people.
If I want to share news with someone overseas, the technology is brilliant. But at the same time this can be a channel for the enemy’s work. I’m not against the internet and hi-tech. But be careful that this doesn’t become an addiction for you, so your time is spent on catching up with gossip and on pulling people down. Be careful. Be vigilant.
We need to look at the walls in our lives.
The walls were half way up, and the opposition were angry and conspired together.
Nehemiah 4:9
They weren’t bitter when they said this – it was just that people were tired. There was a lot to sort out and they couldn’t build.
Nehemiah 4:11
Judah pointed out that people were tired and there was a lot to do. Then the enemies started piling on the threats. And the people who were near the enemies, camped around the cities, and could hear what was being said, came with reports. Opposition can come like that – “What’s the point? It’s not going to last. It’s not real.” Ten times it came from the people who lived near the enemy.
Nehemiah 4:13
“You’re right – I’m not denying what people is saying.” So he organised the people, and set the foundation of their heart as they grouped in families. There was no equivocation. They knew, with their weapons in their hands, that there was no way they were giving up, no way they would give in to the opposition, no way they would give in to tiredness.
Nehemiah 4:14
Those of you who are fathers here ... are you fighting for your family? Are you bringing your family in prayer to God? Are you setting the example for your family of respect and love? What are the walls of our lives that God wants to strengthen and develop? I want to look at six walls ...
1. The wall of truth - Ephesians 4:14
“Speaking the truth in love”. “In love” – those words are important. What will be our common denominator when we speak to one another? “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus said the spirit of truth would come. You’re a Christian, so you speak the truth. “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” So when I speak about anyone or address anyone, I speak the truth in love. I don’t speak things to pull down and destroy. I speak in love to build up. Lying will be the one thing which will not happen in your family. No lying. I don’t dwell in grey half-truths. I don’t cash in on another comment which may or may not be true. “Speaking the truth in love.”
2. The wall of obedience to God - Acts 5:29
This was in response to them being imprisoned. To obey is better than sacrifice. Obedience to God is key. So a wall of your existence is to be obedient to God, to what He says for you and what He wants for your life.
Jesus had just ascended, and Peter was clear that they should obey God rather than men.
Obedience is crucial, because if I have a disciplined home – not tyrannical, but disciplined – where the norm is that every time there is obedience, it engenders an attitude of doing what we’re told. And when the Holy Spirit opens up the way for that youngster, the same attitude applies. There comes a shaft of light, and there’s a track-record of obedience. The heavenly father talks to that youngster and draws them in love. Obedience. And there’s been no lying, so there’s truth – “I know I’m a sinner. I know that power of sin has to be broken in my life.” There’s a track record of truth and obedience.
3. The wall of love - John 15:11
That’s the commandment – that you love one another as I have loved you. It’s a wall in your life – to see people as God sees them, to have His love expressed through you, not to write people off. There’s a love which goes the extra mile, which lays down his life for his friends, with Jesus as the foremost example.Truth, obedience, love. And in these same verses is another one ...
4. The wall of joy - John 15:11, Hebrews 12:2
That joy was a people for Himself – the Bride of Christ. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, because the Bride of Christ is being established. There is a strength in joy for each of us. That means there is a joy in knowing we are seated with Him in heavenly places. There is a security. It is His life inside by His Holy Spirit. There is a joy in us.
When things happen in your life, what’s it like for the people around you? Pressures are real. Do we smile when something terrible happens? No. But it means that the wall of your life is joy, the joy that you are seated in Christ in heavenly places. There’s a joy and security. It’s something you want to share with others, not something to make you arrogant. And it cuts out the sulking, the reaching for the violin at a moment’s notice.
Stand – and having done all, stand. The wall of your life ... joy. Maybe so far there’s been a murky world of half truth rather than clarity. You’ve known what to say, but you know it doesn’t ring true. What’s it going to be? What’s the wall of your life? Truth, obedience, love, joy?
5. The wall of respect - Romans 12:10
Respect is important as a wall in your life – respect for God; respect for the older generation; respect for God when you come into a meeting chewing gum; respect in turning up to meetings on time. If I were to tell you that we were all invited to Buckingham Palace next week at 10 am, you’d be up at 6 am to make sure you were there.
Truth, obedience, love, joy, respect.
6. The wall of peace - Colossians 3:12
There’s something you have to let happen – let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Let it rule you.
Nehemiah 4:14
Who is your brother? He’s sitting next to you. Some of you have sons, daughters, wives. All of us have brethren. We have a place to live, thankfully. We’re to fight? Why? Because there are matters the enemy would seek to destroy, and there are elements in your life that God is putting His finger on this morning. You know that God is speaking to you. There are walls in your life which must be there. And the reason you’re hearing this this morning is that God wants them to be there and will help you. He is the answer, the one who provides a way forward, the one who is the source of love itself.
So when we’re asked to love one another, it’s an expression of God Himself. God is the source of love. For any individual, my prayer is that you would know more and more of the love of God. What would be the result of that? It will be a coming together, of fighting for your brethren, not cashing in on rumour.
Nehemiah 4:14
The walls of your life are on the foundation of Jesus Christ. What a foundation! The walls wouldn’t be there but for Him. He is our foundation.
Romans 13:12
We’ve been looking at the book of Nehemiah.
The book was written by Nehemiah. Chapter 1 shows him becoming aware that the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which he thought was in hand, was not happening; and he was led to call out to God. Chapter 1 records his prayer. It’s good to pray, and God hears your prayers. Maybe you’ve prayed of late and have been wondering. God hears your heart-felt prayers. Nehemiah’s prayer was answered.
In Chapter 2, the king observed that Nehemiah was concerned about something, and asked what it was. Nehemiah asked permission to go, and the king let him go to oversee the rebuilding. Not only that, but Nehemiah was emboldened to ask for material assistance.
Chapter 3 has Nehemiah at Jerusalem, surveying the state of the city. And he explains to the people how God had prospered his way. Enemies of the city tried to undermine the work, but Nehemiah said God would prosper them.
Chapter 3 lists 72 people who joined together to do the work. There is reference to one group who got involved, but whose nobles refused. But in other cases, everyone joined in. For example there is mention of one man and his daughters who got involved. I believe they respected their father, respected what he stood for, and they got on with it.
As the work progressed, it was obvious that Sanballat and the other enemies were even more anxious about what was going on, and the opposition went up a gear. We’ll look today at this opposition and the way Nehemiah and everyone else responded.
It’s possible to think about the walls of Jerusalem as the walls of the church. I don’t want to dwell on that today. Today we will cover the walls of your life, as an individual. What is the foundation of your life? What is the foundation of you as an individual? And those of you who are fathers, what are the walls you are creating for your family? Married men, what walls are you creating for your wife? And for everyone, the walls need to be right in your life.
It’s possible to look at the gates in chapter 3 as the walls of a Christian life. The first gate mentioned is the Sheep Gate, where the priests were involved. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” Wonderful that God sent His son to be the way that we come back into life away from the paths of sin through the Sheep Gate, the entry point, Jesus Christ.
In Chapter 4 it was obvious that Nehemiah was organising things. He gave out responsibilities :-
Nehemiah 3:10
Nehemiah 3:23
Nehemiah 4:1
Sanballat thought in his arrogance that he could knock down the work which was being done. His first two questions were a direct hit – the Jews were weaklings; would they fortify themselves? It’s possible that the enemy of your soul through opposition makes a direct attack on you – “Call yourself a Christian? You don’t believe that, do you? Do you really believe in God?” There’s a chipping away.
Sanballat thought he was so clever. Would the Jews return to their religious observances, given the state in which Jerusalem found itself? And then there was a prod on the timescale – will they make an end in a day? What was the timescale supposed to be? Will they revive the stones? “Look at your life. You messed up. God isn’t blessing you. He hasn’t answered your prayer? How on earth is something going to be made out of that?”
Let’s just confirm here – we believe in the God who answers by fire and who makes the impossible, possible. You may be staring at an impossibility. You may be unable to think of a scheme to sort things out, and the enemy has come and said, “Are you going to make something out of that mess?”
Nehemiah 4:3
Nehemiah 4:4
Nehemiah 4:6
It’s how you think, your attitude to things, you as an individual stating, “OK – the foundation of my life is Jesus Christ, the foundation of my future is what He wants me to do. I want to please Him.”
I will look shortly at what the walls might consist of in a Christian’s life.
It would have take time to set up the walls. It wasn’t a day’s work.
Nehemiah 4:7
There was a conspiracy. The opposition was growing, and the opposition made loud noises. The conspiracy was real. But ...
Nehemiah 4:9
The watch was there twenty four hours a day. There was constant supervision. There was an urgency in sorting things out for the family. The enemy is real, and our vigilance needs to be there. Nehemiah was wise is setting a watch.
I was given an article about a teenage suicide as a result of a person being isolated from her friends on FaceBook. The article is all to do with how an innocent-looking thing like a social networking site can become a vehicle not only for gossip, but for isolating people.
If I want to share news with someone overseas, the technology is brilliant. But at the same time this can be a channel for the enemy’s work. I’m not against the internet and hi-tech. But be careful that this doesn’t become an addiction for you, so your time is spent on catching up with gossip and on pulling people down. Be careful. Be vigilant.
We need to look at the walls in our lives.
The walls were half way up, and the opposition were angry and conspired together.
Nehemiah 4:9
They weren’t bitter when they said this – it was just that people were tired. There was a lot to sort out and they couldn’t build.
Nehemiah 4:11
Judah pointed out that people were tired and there was a lot to do. Then the enemies started piling on the threats. And the people who were near the enemies, camped around the cities, and could hear what was being said, came with reports. Opposition can come like that – “What’s the point? It’s not going to last. It’s not real.” Ten times it came from the people who lived near the enemy.
Nehemiah 4:13
“You’re right – I’m not denying what people is saying.” So he organised the people, and set the foundation of their heart as they grouped in families. There was no equivocation. They knew, with their weapons in their hands, that there was no way they were giving up, no way they would give in to the opposition, no way they would give in to tiredness.
Nehemiah 4:14
Those of you who are fathers here ... are you fighting for your family? Are you bringing your family in prayer to God? Are you setting the example for your family of respect and love? What are the walls of our lives that God wants to strengthen and develop? I want to look at six walls ...
1. The wall of truth - Ephesians 4:14
“Speaking the truth in love”. “In love” – those words are important. What will be our common denominator when we speak to one another? “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus said the spirit of truth would come. You’re a Christian, so you speak the truth. “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” So when I speak about anyone or address anyone, I speak the truth in love. I don’t speak things to pull down and destroy. I speak in love to build up. Lying will be the one thing which will not happen in your family. No lying. I don’t dwell in grey half-truths. I don’t cash in on another comment which may or may not be true. “Speaking the truth in love.”
2. The wall of obedience to God - Acts 5:29
This was in response to them being imprisoned. To obey is better than sacrifice. Obedience to God is key. So a wall of your existence is to be obedient to God, to what He says for you and what He wants for your life.
Jesus had just ascended, and Peter was clear that they should obey God rather than men.
Obedience is crucial, because if I have a disciplined home – not tyrannical, but disciplined – where the norm is that every time there is obedience, it engenders an attitude of doing what we’re told. And when the Holy Spirit opens up the way for that youngster, the same attitude applies. There comes a shaft of light, and there’s a track-record of obedience. The heavenly father talks to that youngster and draws them in love. Obedience. And there’s been no lying, so there’s truth – “I know I’m a sinner. I know that power of sin has to be broken in my life.” There’s a track record of truth and obedience.
3. The wall of love - John 15:11
That’s the commandment – that you love one another as I have loved you. It’s a wall in your life – to see people as God sees them, to have His love expressed through you, not to write people off. There’s a love which goes the extra mile, which lays down his life for his friends, with Jesus as the foremost example.Truth, obedience, love. And in these same verses is another one ...
4. The wall of joy - John 15:11, Hebrews 12:2
That joy was a people for Himself – the Bride of Christ. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, because the Bride of Christ is being established. There is a strength in joy for each of us. That means there is a joy in knowing we are seated with Him in heavenly places. There is a security. It is His life inside by His Holy Spirit. There is a joy in us.
When things happen in your life, what’s it like for the people around you? Pressures are real. Do we smile when something terrible happens? No. But it means that the wall of your life is joy, the joy that you are seated in Christ in heavenly places. There’s a joy and security. It’s something you want to share with others, not something to make you arrogant. And it cuts out the sulking, the reaching for the violin at a moment’s notice.
Stand – and having done all, stand. The wall of your life ... joy. Maybe so far there’s been a murky world of half truth rather than clarity. You’ve known what to say, but you know it doesn’t ring true. What’s it going to be? What’s the wall of your life? Truth, obedience, love, joy?
5. The wall of respect - Romans 12:10
Respect is important as a wall in your life – respect for God; respect for the older generation; respect for God when you come into a meeting chewing gum; respect in turning up to meetings on time. If I were to tell you that we were all invited to Buckingham Palace next week at 10 am, you’d be up at 6 am to make sure you were there.
Truth, obedience, love, joy, respect.
6. The wall of peace - Colossians 3:12
There’s something you have to let happen – let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Let it rule you.
Nehemiah 4:14
Who is your brother? He’s sitting next to you. Some of you have sons, daughters, wives. All of us have brethren. We have a place to live, thankfully. We’re to fight? Why? Because there are matters the enemy would seek to destroy, and there are elements in your life that God is putting His finger on this morning. You know that God is speaking to you. There are walls in your life which must be there. And the reason you’re hearing this this morning is that God wants them to be there and will help you. He is the answer, the one who provides a way forward, the one who is the source of love itself.
So when we’re asked to love one another, it’s an expression of God Himself. God is the source of love. For any individual, my prayer is that you would know more and more of the love of God. What would be the result of that? It will be a coming together, of fighting for your brethren, not cashing in on rumour.
Nehemiah 4:14
The walls of your life are on the foundation of Jesus Christ. What a foundation! The walls wouldn’t be there but for Him. He is our foundation.
Romans 13:12
Friday, 30 January 2009
Nehemiah (Part 3 of 9) - Everyone Working Together
When the walls at Jerusalem were built Nehemiah was careful to record the name of every person who helped so that future generations would know. He did this to bring glory to God because He knew that it was God who had brought them together. Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and because of this God has a plan for our lives. We are here to bring glory to His name.
Chapters 1 and 2 told of the strength of Nehemiah’s relationship with God. His prayers were genuine and heart-felt. I know that many of you have identified with that in your own lives. The prompting of God causing us to pray recently has solely been to show you how timely His answers have been or will be. Chapter 3 is all to do with the record of those who built the walls of Jerusalem. There were ten gates in Jerusalem: the sheep gate, the fish gate, the old gate, the valley gate, the dung gate, the fountain gate, the water gate, the horse gate, the east gate and the inspection gate. The gates had to be repaired and so did the walls in between the gates and there were only a certain number of people who were able to do that. Here and there, in chapter three, it becomes apparent how delegated jobs to the people.
Nehemiah 3:1-4
First three verses we come across the fish gate and the sheep gate. The sheep gate had something about it because it was sanctified and was built by the priests. It is very significant that our lives are grounded in the faith of God and what He has done for us. He is the door of the sheepfold. The priest here is recorded specifically by Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 3:4-5
You get the gist of this. There’s a sense in which there’s a joint effort going on here. I want to emphasize the fact that everyone mentioned in this chapter was pulling the same weight. They were aware of the fact that they were doing something that was not welcome by the fraternity, but they knew this was something they had to do. It was like a sort of scrum in a rugby match where the players bind tightly together. The binding together was a distinct purpose born of God. Unfortunately, in v.4 the Tekoites put not their necks to the work of their Lord. The Tekoites were the nobles. There’s something sad and unnerving about the situation where you have a number of people, seventy-two listed here, joined together as one and yet a few decided not to put their necks to the work of the Lord.
Nehemiah 3:6-8
All sorts of occupations. It’s very easy to translate this into our own situation. Each one of us has our own abilities. When we come in here there’s a common bond – the faith of Jesus Christ. We are brothers and sisters in Him. There’s a sense in which where we are at the moment going forward fulfilling God’s purposes for His church. It’s time for us to link up together going forward.
Nehemiah was very aware that family by family they joined together as one.
Nehemiah 3:9-12
There are families involved here; Shallum and his daughters. It came to the point that they were building with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other hand. There was a task they had to do; opposition was not going to stop them. At each gate there was a group of people getting on with what God wanted them to do, it was specific for each person. To the end that the walls would be built. Young and old were involved, there was nobody on the side lines. Everyone together. It must have been a sight to see.
As I thought about these names that are recorded here I began to think about your name and where your name is already recorded. I just want to look at a few scriptures relating to that.
Luke 10:17-20
When Jesus spoke to the seventy He empowered them. The work that God has for you you will do as unto Him, it’s His church. The tasks that He has for us will bring glory to Him. As we lift up His name collectively, so it is He will draw others to Himself. We should not just rejoice in the work that we are going to be getting on with, we should rejoice because our names are written in heaven.
Isaiah 4:2-3
Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. With your name written there, as a result of what Jesus Christ has done for you, you know that our position is secure, seated in the heavenlies. We are seated with Him in the heavenlies. Why? So that we can walk in the ways He has prepared for us and so that we can make a stand for Him. It is as if we are collectively on top of a hill and the enemy of our souls is always trying to come up the hill, and the armour we put on is purely defensive. We are not going down the hill to fight, we are merely defending. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life so that you will bring glory to His name. Each of us has a work to do.
Hebrews 12:18-25
This is the time when our work is to be co-workers with Him. Sharing the good news of the Gospel with others, so that they can become part of His church worldwide. Our situation is secure in Him through His wonderful grace. He wants us to, both individually and corporately, reach out to others in need. It is His love in us reaching out to others. We are here to glorify Him.
Revelation 21:25-27
That’s where security is. Your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. For the glory that was set before Him He endured the cross. That glory was His church, the heavenly Jerusalem. Tonight I’m confirming to you that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. As a result of that there is a work for you to do. That’s not something we have to work out, we just have to lift His name up. Our lives are going to be a testimony to what He has done. We know the power of sin broken in our lives. There are people waiting for us to share the gospel with them. Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
You can imagine Nehemiah carefully recording every name of every person who worked on that wall, because everyone had put their hand to their plough and he believed it was important for future generations to see who had done the work. Nehemiah knew that what he was recording was bringing glory to God because it was God that had brought them together.
Ephesians 4:13-16
Jesus Christ is in charge of His church, He knows what He’s doing. This year we are going to see miraculous things, we are going to see people met. Now is the time when collectively we need to draw together because the enemy of our souls will try to stop us. As, in Nehemiah’s time, there is a specific work which God has for each of you here to do. He is already showing you what that work is. My responsibility before God is to identify and steer, by God’s Holy Spirit, to what collectively we can do. We can have a huge impact on many people in many ways. Is that to build us up? No. It’s to share the wonderful good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will fulfil God’s purpose in this place no matter what loud noises occur off-stage. We will set ourselves to the work that God has given us each to do. When Nehemiah started recording these names I’m sure He was meticulous in recording every single person that got involved. The reason for reading the section in Ephesians is all to do with v. 16: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” We shall be known by the love that we have for one another.
Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It will be that as we go forward together the glory will be to His name. We will see, undoubtedly, that it has been God who has brought things about. The way we have been protected since March last year has definitely been Him. He has things prepared that we will walk into for His glory.
Chapters 1 and 2 told of the strength of Nehemiah’s relationship with God. His prayers were genuine and heart-felt. I know that many of you have identified with that in your own lives. The prompting of God causing us to pray recently has solely been to show you how timely His answers have been or will be. Chapter 3 is all to do with the record of those who built the walls of Jerusalem. There were ten gates in Jerusalem: the sheep gate, the fish gate, the old gate, the valley gate, the dung gate, the fountain gate, the water gate, the horse gate, the east gate and the inspection gate. The gates had to be repaired and so did the walls in between the gates and there were only a certain number of people who were able to do that. Here and there, in chapter three, it becomes apparent how delegated jobs to the people.
Nehemiah 3:1-4
First three verses we come across the fish gate and the sheep gate. The sheep gate had something about it because it was sanctified and was built by the priests. It is very significant that our lives are grounded in the faith of God and what He has done for us. He is the door of the sheepfold. The priest here is recorded specifically by Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 3:4-5
You get the gist of this. There’s a sense in which there’s a joint effort going on here. I want to emphasize the fact that everyone mentioned in this chapter was pulling the same weight. They were aware of the fact that they were doing something that was not welcome by the fraternity, but they knew this was something they had to do. It was like a sort of scrum in a rugby match where the players bind tightly together. The binding together was a distinct purpose born of God. Unfortunately, in v.4 the Tekoites put not their necks to the work of their Lord. The Tekoites were the nobles. There’s something sad and unnerving about the situation where you have a number of people, seventy-two listed here, joined together as one and yet a few decided not to put their necks to the work of the Lord.
Nehemiah 3:6-8
All sorts of occupations. It’s very easy to translate this into our own situation. Each one of us has our own abilities. When we come in here there’s a common bond – the faith of Jesus Christ. We are brothers and sisters in Him. There’s a sense in which where we are at the moment going forward fulfilling God’s purposes for His church. It’s time for us to link up together going forward.
Nehemiah was very aware that family by family they joined together as one.
Nehemiah 3:9-12
There are families involved here; Shallum and his daughters. It came to the point that they were building with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other hand. There was a task they had to do; opposition was not going to stop them. At each gate there was a group of people getting on with what God wanted them to do, it was specific for each person. To the end that the walls would be built. Young and old were involved, there was nobody on the side lines. Everyone together. It must have been a sight to see.
As I thought about these names that are recorded here I began to think about your name and where your name is already recorded. I just want to look at a few scriptures relating to that.
Luke 10:17-20
When Jesus spoke to the seventy He empowered them. The work that God has for you you will do as unto Him, it’s His church. The tasks that He has for us will bring glory to Him. As we lift up His name collectively, so it is He will draw others to Himself. We should not just rejoice in the work that we are going to be getting on with, we should rejoice because our names are written in heaven.
Isaiah 4:2-3
Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. With your name written there, as a result of what Jesus Christ has done for you, you know that our position is secure, seated in the heavenlies. We are seated with Him in the heavenlies. Why? So that we can walk in the ways He has prepared for us and so that we can make a stand for Him. It is as if we are collectively on top of a hill and the enemy of our souls is always trying to come up the hill, and the armour we put on is purely defensive. We are not going down the hill to fight, we are merely defending. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life so that you will bring glory to His name. Each of us has a work to do.
Hebrews 12:18-25
This is the time when our work is to be co-workers with Him. Sharing the good news of the Gospel with others, so that they can become part of His church worldwide. Our situation is secure in Him through His wonderful grace. He wants us to, both individually and corporately, reach out to others in need. It is His love in us reaching out to others. We are here to glorify Him.
Revelation 21:25-27
That’s where security is. Your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. For the glory that was set before Him He endured the cross. That glory was His church, the heavenly Jerusalem. Tonight I’m confirming to you that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. As a result of that there is a work for you to do. That’s not something we have to work out, we just have to lift His name up. Our lives are going to be a testimony to what He has done. We know the power of sin broken in our lives. There are people waiting for us to share the gospel with them. Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
You can imagine Nehemiah carefully recording every name of every person who worked on that wall, because everyone had put their hand to their plough and he believed it was important for future generations to see who had done the work. Nehemiah knew that what he was recording was bringing glory to God because it was God that had brought them together.
Ephesians 4:13-16
Jesus Christ is in charge of His church, He knows what He’s doing. This year we are going to see miraculous things, we are going to see people met. Now is the time when collectively we need to draw together because the enemy of our souls will try to stop us. As, in Nehemiah’s time, there is a specific work which God has for each of you here to do. He is already showing you what that work is. My responsibility before God is to identify and steer, by God’s Holy Spirit, to what collectively we can do. We can have a huge impact on many people in many ways. Is that to build us up? No. It’s to share the wonderful good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will fulfil God’s purpose in this place no matter what loud noises occur off-stage. We will set ourselves to the work that God has given us each to do. When Nehemiah started recording these names I’m sure He was meticulous in recording every single person that got involved. The reason for reading the section in Ephesians is all to do with v. 16: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” We shall be known by the love that we have for one another.
Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It will be that as we go forward together the glory will be to His name. We will see, undoubtedly, that it has been God who has brought things about. The way we have been protected since March last year has definitely been Him. He has things prepared that we will walk into for His glory.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Nehemiah (Part 2 of 9) - The Good Hand of God is Upon You
The good hand of God is upon us. He orchestrates the circumstances in our lives so that we are drawn towards Him in prayer for the solution. As Nehemiah knew, when he came before the King, that was the crunch time. God delights in prompting us to pray and then being the answer to our prayers. God’s solution will be over and above what we could ever ask or think. He loves us, and He wants us to go forward in Him so that, through us, He can draw others to Himself.
Just a brief word concerning what we looked at previously, it was the first part of Nehemiah.
In chapter 1, Nehemiah thought that the building work in Jerusalem was continuing but when he heard about the state of the walls and that the work had ceased, it was not the news he had expected.
Nehemiah held a prominent position in that he was the cup-bearer to the King. It was as if by chance that someone brought back a report concerning the work. Jerusalem had been taken into captivity; it had become a laughing stock.
Nehemiah was shocked because he had thought that things were progressing. His initial reaction to this news was that he prayed.
What’s been going on in your life has been prompted by God for you to get on your knees before Him. It’s God’s delight for us, in humility, to come before Him and ask Him for the solution. Without that pressure or that problem we wouldn’t be on our knees.
Nehemiah 1:4
And then He prays. He reminds God of His mercy.
Nehemiah 1:11
At the beginning of chapter two it goes forward a few months.
Nehemiah 2:1
For four months Nehemiah could think of nothing else but Jerusalem. For some of you, in the situation you’re in, you’ve been thinking of nothing else. Each time you’ve thought about it there’s a sort of compression inside causing you to ask God for help. You know that you need God as the solution. That is not despair. That is the crystal clear reality of you realising who God is and what He wants to do for you. It says in James that we have not because we ask not, or we ask for things that are the wrong motive. But you need to ask.
For Nehemiah it was four months. It might be the shock you’ve had has been in your work situation or it might be in a relationship. That shock to your system is there because our God, who is our loving heavenly Father, wants you and me to be co-workers together with Him, as we witness the solution He is and He will be in your situation. It’s as if He knows just the right situation that, if you like, takes over our thinking, and causes us to say ‘Lord. You’ve got to work this out’.
Individually I can see that God is stirring in our hearts that we need to get hold of Him ourselves via His Word and prayer. There’s going to come a time when a characteristic of this group of people is that we are a people who know our God and who see Him answering prayer. He loves us.
For Nehemiah he was praying and he knew that God had to give him the answer. He was humble even though he had a high position in the land.
Nehemiah 2:2
It comes to that point where you’ve been praying and now it’s the crunch time. There was something in Nehemiah, because he knew that this was it. He knew that the King was going to ask about what had been bugging him all those months; Nehemiah didn’t know how the King was going to react. But he knew, by a God given urgency inside, it was now. Let’s translate that into your life. There comes a time in your life when you know that God has brought about a situation and now is the crunch time. You’ve been praying about it: now’s the time.
Nehemiah 2:3
I was trying to figure out the tone of his voice when he said that because he was letting the King know what he had been thinking about all those months.
Nehemiah 2:4
That was a surprise! He thought the King was going to be dismissive of what he was thinking about. The King had heard about the building of the wall but the King didn’t respond as Nehemiah thought he would. The answer that God gives you will be a surprise to you as well. Our God is a God who answers our prayers. Our God is a God who is strong; He’s the King of Kings. He knows what He is doing.
So Nehemiah prayed to the God of Heaven. Nehemiah was not thinking of himself, he was thinking of the people in Jerusalem. Here he had the King’s attention. It is God’s delight to answer our prayers, prompted by His Holy Spirit. The outworking of His purposes are sure. You can’t stop the mighty moving force of God, even though you might try.
We’ll see later in this chapter those who were mocking and scornful. But nothing can stop the mighty force of God. That force is a force of love who will outwork His purpose in your life. It’s important how you react to the pressures in life. You must pray.
Nehemiah 2:5 – 6
Are you ready for God’s answer? God will answer you. What God is doing in your life is developing that faith inside you, the faith that He’s given you. He’s making you more aware of who He is.
My foundation is Jesus Christ. My foundation is that, going forward, I want to do what God wants me to do. When God answers, the answer is clear and sure. I’ll tell you where I’m at. I am aware that God is going to build on the foundation that He’s laid in this place. It’s as if we’re going forward to outwork what He wants us to do. Now’s the time.
It’s interesting that Nehemiah set the King a length time that he’d be away for: he was ready with an answer. The expectation of Nehemiah is that God would answer. When you’re thinking about your future, God’s been speaking to you; you need to get on with it.
Nehemiah 2:7 – 8
The good hand of God is upon you. It’s a good hand. You may say that I don’t understand your situation, but I do know that it is a good hand. When Nehemiah walked out of that meeting he couldn’t believe what had happened. Nehemiah was giving up a lot to do this; he had been the cupbearer of the King. Sometimes God asks things of us, a change of direction. In his heart Nehemiah knew that he had to go. He was prepared to go even before the King had granted him his request. He had thought about it but hadn’t known how he would be able to go. He asked God to open up the way for him because he couldn’t see a solution. If we wait for God’s timing it is a good thing. God will bring the answer at the right time.
Nehemiah 2:9
Not only was the King allowing Nehemiah to go back to Jerusalem but he was providing the transport for him to get there. God answers our prayers over and above what we could ask or think.
Nehemiah 2:10
It grieved them because they thought they had got King Artaxerxes to end the work in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 2:11
When he got there he surveyed the situation. It’s not a bad thing to stop and take stock of your life. We must evaluate what is the foundation of our lives and what is our ambition. People might say that we are weak because we have to rely on God. Anyone who speaks like that is breathing the air that God gives them. They have life from him. Often when someone speaks like that it’s out of frustration in their life. Nehemiah wasn’t a ‘goody-two-shoes’, but he knew his God. Deep down you know your God. Sanballat and Tobiah didn’t like the fact that Nehemiah came.
Nehemiah 2:12 – 16
When you take a survey of your life, you are checking on the progress and the motives of your life. Is it the case, as far as you are concerned, that as a Christian God has a freeway in your life so that you can share with others the life of Christ within you? We are to love one another so that others can see and be drawn to the One who has caused us to have that love: Jesus Christ. The great commission from Jesus is to share our faith, His faith that God has put inside us.
The older people in the church are of value to us because they are prepared to do what God wants them to do. ‘These walls must be rebuilt’, Nehemiah said. As he was riding to Jerusalem he was thinking how wonderfully God had worked everything out. He knew that now was the time, so he decided to survey the situation.
Nehemiah 2:16 – 18
God’s timing. It didn’t take much to convince the people in Jerusalem of the need. They knew that he had come. Nehemiah told them he had come because of the ‘hand of my God which was good upon me’. He said that to encourage them to realise that it was the time to rise up and build.
God has a work for us to do. The wonderful thing is that the work He has for us corporately is being mirrored in your individual lives. That’s why the circumstances in your life are as they are now. God is ensuring that you are aware of the foundation of God in your life. He’s ensuring that your focus is right. He’s ensuring that there is a resolve to get hold of God for the solution. God gave you that resolve.
What’s going to be the result of that? That you will fulfil what God wants to be in your life so that His life can flow through you and affect those around you for good. In your life, as you succeed in the circumstances you’re in, witnessing and testifying to the faithfulness of God in your life, so there will be that flow from you to others. You will know that there is someone that can help others. His name is Jesus Christ.
Sanballat and Tobiah, and now another fellow, heard what Nehemiah said.
Nehemiah 2:19
The resolve in Nehemiah had increased.
Nehemiah 2:20
No discussion. ‘What you’re saying is against our God. Our God is the God of heaven and He will sort things out. He is the One we trust. We are strong because of the resolve He has given us.’ Some people twist it as if we are weak because we need God in our life. It is the complete opposite. There is no one here, and I mean that, who is outside of this thought, that together you’re involved in what God is going to do in our midst.
In your individual life you will find over the next weeks a resolve that God has put into you to stand your ground. A resolve to be open to what God wants you to do, to be. You are here on this earth for a reason. God wants to outwork His purposes in you. The circumstances in your life will cause you to get closer to God through prayer. It’s to the end that we will fulfil what God wants us to do corporately, that is, to reach out to those who have no answer. Now if I were to say ‘Ok, I’m in’, is that me convincing you in some rally-type turn? No, it’s God through this account in Nehemiah. Today God has been asking you what it is going to be for you.
This credit crunch has brought an additional pressure. Did God know about that coming? Yes. Did He know about the affect it would have on you? Yes. The God of heaven will prosper us.
Philippians 3:13 – 14
Today, the middle of verse 13 is important for you and for me: “forgetting those things which are behind”. And then in verse 14: “pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Today, in your situation in your life, the good hand of God is upon you. It’s not the devil: it’s the good hand of God. He knows what He’s doing. That God of love, in your situation, whether you're single, married, widowed, whatever situation you are in, it’s the good hand of God upon you. He loves you.
Just a brief word concerning what we looked at previously, it was the first part of Nehemiah.
In chapter 1, Nehemiah thought that the building work in Jerusalem was continuing but when he heard about the state of the walls and that the work had ceased, it was not the news he had expected.
Nehemiah held a prominent position in that he was the cup-bearer to the King. It was as if by chance that someone brought back a report concerning the work. Jerusalem had been taken into captivity; it had become a laughing stock.
Nehemiah was shocked because he had thought that things were progressing. His initial reaction to this news was that he prayed.
What’s been going on in your life has been prompted by God for you to get on your knees before Him. It’s God’s delight for us, in humility, to come before Him and ask Him for the solution. Without that pressure or that problem we wouldn’t be on our knees.
Nehemiah 1:4
And then He prays. He reminds God of His mercy.
Nehemiah 1:11
At the beginning of chapter two it goes forward a few months.
Nehemiah 2:1
For four months Nehemiah could think of nothing else but Jerusalem. For some of you, in the situation you’re in, you’ve been thinking of nothing else. Each time you’ve thought about it there’s a sort of compression inside causing you to ask God for help. You know that you need God as the solution. That is not despair. That is the crystal clear reality of you realising who God is and what He wants to do for you. It says in James that we have not because we ask not, or we ask for things that are the wrong motive. But you need to ask.
For Nehemiah it was four months. It might be the shock you’ve had has been in your work situation or it might be in a relationship. That shock to your system is there because our God, who is our loving heavenly Father, wants you and me to be co-workers together with Him, as we witness the solution He is and He will be in your situation. It’s as if He knows just the right situation that, if you like, takes over our thinking, and causes us to say ‘Lord. You’ve got to work this out’.
Individually I can see that God is stirring in our hearts that we need to get hold of Him ourselves via His Word and prayer. There’s going to come a time when a characteristic of this group of people is that we are a people who know our God and who see Him answering prayer. He loves us.
For Nehemiah he was praying and he knew that God had to give him the answer. He was humble even though he had a high position in the land.
Nehemiah 2:2
It comes to that point where you’ve been praying and now it’s the crunch time. There was something in Nehemiah, because he knew that this was it. He knew that the King was going to ask about what had been bugging him all those months; Nehemiah didn’t know how the King was going to react. But he knew, by a God given urgency inside, it was now. Let’s translate that into your life. There comes a time in your life when you know that God has brought about a situation and now is the crunch time. You’ve been praying about it: now’s the time.
Nehemiah 2:3
I was trying to figure out the tone of his voice when he said that because he was letting the King know what he had been thinking about all those months.
Nehemiah 2:4
That was a surprise! He thought the King was going to be dismissive of what he was thinking about. The King had heard about the building of the wall but the King didn’t respond as Nehemiah thought he would. The answer that God gives you will be a surprise to you as well. Our God is a God who answers our prayers. Our God is a God who is strong; He’s the King of Kings. He knows what He is doing.
So Nehemiah prayed to the God of Heaven. Nehemiah was not thinking of himself, he was thinking of the people in Jerusalem. Here he had the King’s attention. It is God’s delight to answer our prayers, prompted by His Holy Spirit. The outworking of His purposes are sure. You can’t stop the mighty moving force of God, even though you might try.
We’ll see later in this chapter those who were mocking and scornful. But nothing can stop the mighty force of God. That force is a force of love who will outwork His purpose in your life. It’s important how you react to the pressures in life. You must pray.
Nehemiah 2:5 – 6
Are you ready for God’s answer? God will answer you. What God is doing in your life is developing that faith inside you, the faith that He’s given you. He’s making you more aware of who He is.
My foundation is Jesus Christ. My foundation is that, going forward, I want to do what God wants me to do. When God answers, the answer is clear and sure. I’ll tell you where I’m at. I am aware that God is going to build on the foundation that He’s laid in this place. It’s as if we’re going forward to outwork what He wants us to do. Now’s the time.
It’s interesting that Nehemiah set the King a length time that he’d be away for: he was ready with an answer. The expectation of Nehemiah is that God would answer. When you’re thinking about your future, God’s been speaking to you; you need to get on with it.
Nehemiah 2:7 – 8
The good hand of God is upon you. It’s a good hand. You may say that I don’t understand your situation, but I do know that it is a good hand. When Nehemiah walked out of that meeting he couldn’t believe what had happened. Nehemiah was giving up a lot to do this; he had been the cupbearer of the King. Sometimes God asks things of us, a change of direction. In his heart Nehemiah knew that he had to go. He was prepared to go even before the King had granted him his request. He had thought about it but hadn’t known how he would be able to go. He asked God to open up the way for him because he couldn’t see a solution. If we wait for God’s timing it is a good thing. God will bring the answer at the right time.
Nehemiah 2:9
Not only was the King allowing Nehemiah to go back to Jerusalem but he was providing the transport for him to get there. God answers our prayers over and above what we could ask or think.
Nehemiah 2:10
It grieved them because they thought they had got King Artaxerxes to end the work in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 2:11
When he got there he surveyed the situation. It’s not a bad thing to stop and take stock of your life. We must evaluate what is the foundation of our lives and what is our ambition. People might say that we are weak because we have to rely on God. Anyone who speaks like that is breathing the air that God gives them. They have life from him. Often when someone speaks like that it’s out of frustration in their life. Nehemiah wasn’t a ‘goody-two-shoes’, but he knew his God. Deep down you know your God. Sanballat and Tobiah didn’t like the fact that Nehemiah came.
Nehemiah 2:12 – 16
When you take a survey of your life, you are checking on the progress and the motives of your life. Is it the case, as far as you are concerned, that as a Christian God has a freeway in your life so that you can share with others the life of Christ within you? We are to love one another so that others can see and be drawn to the One who has caused us to have that love: Jesus Christ. The great commission from Jesus is to share our faith, His faith that God has put inside us.
The older people in the church are of value to us because they are prepared to do what God wants them to do. ‘These walls must be rebuilt’, Nehemiah said. As he was riding to Jerusalem he was thinking how wonderfully God had worked everything out. He knew that now was the time, so he decided to survey the situation.
Nehemiah 2:16 – 18
God’s timing. It didn’t take much to convince the people in Jerusalem of the need. They knew that he had come. Nehemiah told them he had come because of the ‘hand of my God which was good upon me’. He said that to encourage them to realise that it was the time to rise up and build.
God has a work for us to do. The wonderful thing is that the work He has for us corporately is being mirrored in your individual lives. That’s why the circumstances in your life are as they are now. God is ensuring that you are aware of the foundation of God in your life. He’s ensuring that your focus is right. He’s ensuring that there is a resolve to get hold of God for the solution. God gave you that resolve.
What’s going to be the result of that? That you will fulfil what God wants to be in your life so that His life can flow through you and affect those around you for good. In your life, as you succeed in the circumstances you’re in, witnessing and testifying to the faithfulness of God in your life, so there will be that flow from you to others. You will know that there is someone that can help others. His name is Jesus Christ.
Sanballat and Tobiah, and now another fellow, heard what Nehemiah said.
Nehemiah 2:19
The resolve in Nehemiah had increased.
Nehemiah 2:20
No discussion. ‘What you’re saying is against our God. Our God is the God of heaven and He will sort things out. He is the One we trust. We are strong because of the resolve He has given us.’ Some people twist it as if we are weak because we need God in our life. It is the complete opposite. There is no one here, and I mean that, who is outside of this thought, that together you’re involved in what God is going to do in our midst.
In your individual life you will find over the next weeks a resolve that God has put into you to stand your ground. A resolve to be open to what God wants you to do, to be. You are here on this earth for a reason. God wants to outwork His purposes in you. The circumstances in your life will cause you to get closer to God through prayer. It’s to the end that we will fulfil what God wants us to do corporately, that is, to reach out to those who have no answer. Now if I were to say ‘Ok, I’m in’, is that me convincing you in some rally-type turn? No, it’s God through this account in Nehemiah. Today God has been asking you what it is going to be for you.
This credit crunch has brought an additional pressure. Did God know about that coming? Yes. Did He know about the affect it would have on you? Yes. The God of heaven will prosper us.
Philippians 3:13 – 14
Today, the middle of verse 13 is important for you and for me: “forgetting those things which are behind”. And then in verse 14: “pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Today, in your situation in your life, the good hand of God is upon you. It’s not the devil: it’s the good hand of God. He knows what He’s doing. That God of love, in your situation, whether you're single, married, widowed, whatever situation you are in, it’s the good hand of God upon you. He loves you.
Friday, 23 January 2009
Nehemiah (Part 1 of 9) - He Delights to Answer Prayer
Ezra heard about a situation, and God set it upon his heart to resolve it. There are things that you know, before God, you want him to sort out. Ezra knew that the information he was given was something that he had to respond to. There might be something in your life, where it’s as if you’ve been propelled into the arms of God through praying.
This the background to the information that Ezra received:
Ezra 4:11
Artaxerxes was king of Persia. Some people had gone back to Jerusalem to start rebuilding the walls, because Israel had been taken over by Babylon and were in captivity. Jerusalem, therefore, was in ruins.
Ezra 4:17
The work was ended. Nehemiah had heard about the Jews going back and he thought things were happening, but then Nehemiah heard the work had ceased, and it got to him.
Nehemiah 1:1
It was a shock, because what he expected to hear was that it was great, that they had got on with it and work was progressing. But, no. The work had ceased. Sometimes we come across a situation where it is a shock, and we can’t figure out how we didn’t see it coming, or how it had ended up like this.
Nehemiah 1:4
This affected him for days. He couldn’t get it out of his mind. It might be that something you’re facing is something where you need a resolution in God. You will see God provide the answer.
Nehemiah 1:5
Nehemiah was at one with the people who had gone to build the walls. He immediately linked up with them, and it was as if he took them with him to God. As time progressed, it dawned on him that he was in a position that God had put him in for that time. You are in a position for such a time as this. Whatever the situation you’re facing, whatever the mountain it seems you have to go over, whatever the valley you have to go through, you are alive tonight for such a time as this. You will prove for yourself the faithfulness of God and the way he will invigorate, change the situation, and be the answer.
Nehemiah 1:8
He remembered what God had previously said.
Deuteronomy 4:25
Nehemiah 1:10
God will provide the solution. You don’t have the solution. It’s not a vague hope – not at all. It’s God who is prompting you to pray. By his Holy Spirit he is getting hold of you. He delights to answer and to prove himself to be the solution. He is a merciful God who loves you, and he involves us.
Luke 18:1
Here is a judge who will sort it out just to get rid of the woman, and that was an unjust judge who said that.
Luke 18:7
The prompting of God in your life at the moment to pray is because God is going to answer what you are praying. The answer is coming, and it is on it’s way. But the timing will be perfect. It will be at a time when you conclusively know that the solution is from Him, and you accept it as such. It’s not what I’m going to do – it’s what he is going to do. He has prompted you to pray in the way that you are praying.
With Nehemiah, when this news came, it immediately caused him to go to God. There was a resolve in him to make a stand before his God. God delights to answer that prayer. Prayer is where God delights for you and for me to become co-workers with him. He doesn’t need to bother with us really but he loves us, and somehow, when he prompts that prayer inside, it’s his delight for us to realise that we know who made the provision. It is as if we are co-workers with him.
Nehemiah 1:11
He kept praying, and the solution came four months later. Do you have to pray for a certain amount of time to twist God’s arm to be the answer? Absolutely not. It is simply that he somehow causes things that we pray for, and it is his delight to answer at the perfect time and provide a complete solution.
Who am I trusting? Where is my faith? Who is the God I believe in? With Nehemiah, when this news came to him, it forced him onto his knees.
The prayer you’ve already prayed, God has heard. It is not wrong to pray about something more than once. And God delights to answer.
You can take everything to God and he delights for us to do that. Your need for an answer causes you to get hold of God more than ever before.
God will provide the solution. He delights to become co-workers with us, in the solution that he always is.
This the background to the information that Ezra received:
Ezra 4:11
Artaxerxes was king of Persia. Some people had gone back to Jerusalem to start rebuilding the walls, because Israel had been taken over by Babylon and were in captivity. Jerusalem, therefore, was in ruins.
Ezra 4:17
The work was ended. Nehemiah had heard about the Jews going back and he thought things were happening, but then Nehemiah heard the work had ceased, and it got to him.
Nehemiah 1:1
It was a shock, because what he expected to hear was that it was great, that they had got on with it and work was progressing. But, no. The work had ceased. Sometimes we come across a situation where it is a shock, and we can’t figure out how we didn’t see it coming, or how it had ended up like this.
Nehemiah 1:4
This affected him for days. He couldn’t get it out of his mind. It might be that something you’re facing is something where you need a resolution in God. You will see God provide the answer.
Nehemiah 1:5
Nehemiah was at one with the people who had gone to build the walls. He immediately linked up with them, and it was as if he took them with him to God. As time progressed, it dawned on him that he was in a position that God had put him in for that time. You are in a position for such a time as this. Whatever the situation you’re facing, whatever the mountain it seems you have to go over, whatever the valley you have to go through, you are alive tonight for such a time as this. You will prove for yourself the faithfulness of God and the way he will invigorate, change the situation, and be the answer.
Nehemiah 1:8
He remembered what God had previously said.
Deuteronomy 4:25
Nehemiah 1:10
God will provide the solution. You don’t have the solution. It’s not a vague hope – not at all. It’s God who is prompting you to pray. By his Holy Spirit he is getting hold of you. He delights to answer and to prove himself to be the solution. He is a merciful God who loves you, and he involves us.
Luke 18:1
Here is a judge who will sort it out just to get rid of the woman, and that was an unjust judge who said that.
Luke 18:7
The prompting of God in your life at the moment to pray is because God is going to answer what you are praying. The answer is coming, and it is on it’s way. But the timing will be perfect. It will be at a time when you conclusively know that the solution is from Him, and you accept it as such. It’s not what I’m going to do – it’s what he is going to do. He has prompted you to pray in the way that you are praying.
With Nehemiah, when this news came, it immediately caused him to go to God. There was a resolve in him to make a stand before his God. God delights to answer that prayer. Prayer is where God delights for you and for me to become co-workers with him. He doesn’t need to bother with us really but he loves us, and somehow, when he prompts that prayer inside, it’s his delight for us to realise that we know who made the provision. It is as if we are co-workers with him.
Nehemiah 1:11
He kept praying, and the solution came four months later. Do you have to pray for a certain amount of time to twist God’s arm to be the answer? Absolutely not. It is simply that he somehow causes things that we pray for, and it is his delight to answer at the perfect time and provide a complete solution.
Who am I trusting? Where is my faith? Who is the God I believe in? With Nehemiah, when this news came to him, it forced him onto his knees.
The prayer you’ve already prayed, God has heard. It is not wrong to pray about something more than once. And God delights to answer.
You can take everything to God and he delights for us to do that. Your need for an answer causes you to get hold of God more than ever before.
God will provide the solution. He delights to become co-workers with us, in the solution that he always is.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Time to Put Jesus First
We make the flimsiest of excuses to live our own lives. But the only true way forward is with Christ first in everything and we need to set the plan for our lives accordingly.
Previously we looked at the first half of Luke 14 which deals with Jesus having a meal with the Pharisees. It was a trap - they wanted to see if Jesus would heal a man who was there on the Sabbath. He healed the man, and Jesus answered what was in their hearts – is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? Jesus pointed out to them that they would rescue an animal on the Sabbath.
As the people gathered for the meal, Jesus saw them jostling for position. But you have God as your heavenly father and the life of Christ within you, and it is God who will exalt you if you humble yourself. We saw that we should love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly. Woe betide us if we puff ourselves up.
God will honour your stand as a Christian in your place of work. He’s been there all the time, and takes notes. We work as unto God – in all that we do. He’s sorting things out for our future.
In verses 12-13, Jesus says we should not invite those who will invite us back, but should look to those who blind, halt, maimed etc. We should see people as people. Visitors are welcome for who they are and we want to help where we can.
Luke 14:15
My words today will be directed at everyone. This first part may be to do with those people who currently are making an excuse for not becoming a Christian.
Then I will preach to certain individuals God wants to speak to specifically.
Luke 14:15 – 20
Three excuses. It’s odd the way we cling to flimsy excuses. Who would buy a piece of land without having seen it? Who would buy oxen without knowing their strength? Any excuse!
There has been an invitation to you. Jesus is talking here to the Pharisees and is highlighting the fact that they’re being invited to know Him, but in time the Gospel would go to the Gentiles.
God has been clear on you weighing things up as regards becoming a Christian.
Luke 14:21 – 24
Jesus Christ died and rose again from the dead to purchase a people – the Church. And one way or another, God is adding people to His Church. It’s important to those of you who have been weighing things up over the last months to stop making excuses.
You could say from this that God will not always knock at the door of your heart. I’d rather say that God is faithful, and has been nudging your thinking. Some of the excuses you have come up with are so flimsy, it’s ridiculous.
The house of the person giving the dinner party will be filled. Nothing will hinder what God will do for His people and the people He gave His life for. I want to make sure that anyone here is clear that God is being faithful to you in pointing out time after time that now is the time for you to get serious with Him. The invitation has gone out. Three of them came back with flimsy excuses – to do with possessions, with outward wealth, and with the question of what you value most. What is the most important thing in your life?
When Jesus said these words to the people around the meal table, the Pharisees and so on, it was clear what He was saying. The faithfulness of God is that He speaks clearly to you. This hits at the priorities in your life, how you spend your time, your ambitions. But it’s narrowing down to you as an individual.
Luke 14:25 – 27
Why does it use the word 'hate'? I thought the Bible said to honour your father and mother. In this context, 'hate' questions who is the number one in your life. Is it your children, your wife, your husband, yourself?
Jesus is continuing from what He spoke of earlier. He had spoken of those who made excuses because of wealth or natural associations. Now He is saying that we have to be open before God: He should be the number one in our life. Some of you are fed up with your own life, and God will use these words to sort things out.
Now is the time for Jesus Christ to come first. It may be that I’m more concerned about father, mother, children, brothers, children, than Jesus Christ. It may be that I’ve decided to postpone things for a few years, assuming that God will keep me alive to that point when I might think about Him. A flimsy excuse!
How do you hate your own life? For those who are aware of what sin can do in a life, of what it is to be so fed up with yourself, at the things you think and do wrong ... for you it’s not difficult to hate your own life. And it’s when you reach the position where you know you can’t fulfil the law of God, that there is inside you something which takes you the wrong way. We realise as the Holy Ghost convicts us of sin, that our lives stink, and we realise that the only way forward is with Jesus Christ.
There are pressures we’re all facing, and God is asking where we are with the priorities in our lives. What is your current excuse? “I’ve bought some land, bought some oxen, married a wife and involved with the family, involved in sorting things out for myself. I’m more involved with these things than with God.”
Jesus was direct – you can’t be my disciple unless there is nothing in the way of Me. This is a God of love speaking. It’s not a tyrant’s diktat. It’s a God of love.
Luke 14:27 – 30
In a natural sense, we make plans. If we’re going to build a house we want to know we have the funds. You’d plan things so you could finish the house. Now Jesus is asking, "What is the plan?" What is the plan of your life? If I handed out sheets of paper and asked you to write down the first things you want to happen, what would it be? What should be first? The first thing needs to be Jesus Christ first in my life. What I want to do in my life is what God has called me to do. In terms of number of years, I haven’t got much of a life if you compare it to eternity, so I want to fulfil Your purposes in my life.
Luke 14:31 – 32
We’re very good at making plans. True, we need to make plans. We’re good in the natural things. You draw up a business plan. If you’re building, you weigh up what it will cost. You weigh up the odds if you’re going to war. In the natural that’s what you do. So how does that transpose to your relationship with Him? You plan in your life. What’s the plan with Jesus? Well, the plan is Him first, whatever He wants.
Luke 14:33
That’s pretty definitive. You can’t be a disciple of Jesus Christ unless everything else is secondary. “That seems hard.” No.
There are people here now to whom God has been pointing this out. He has been calling you to the ministry of God. He has been faithful in talking to you over the last weeks. And the challenge to you is this verse above. God has been speaking to you specifically. You know He has been talking to you. On the one hand are all the temptations, and on the other hand is what God wants you to do. What is holding you back? Now is the time to address it.
Luke 14:34 – 35
If you dig out the Dead Sea area, apparently it’s full of a number of minerals, and you have to isolate the salt if you want it. What’s the use of what is left?
It’s time for those of you whom God is calling to say, “You have been faithful to me. You have given me those abilities.” God will make provision for you. Get on with it. That’s the requirement. And to everybody, looking at the priorities in our lives, as He sat at the dinner table with the Pharisees and as He talked to the multitude, He wasn’t trying to be a dictator – He was talking about the secret of life. The way forward is Jesus Christ first in my life. Very specific.
Ephesians 2:19 – 22
We all need to take our place in the building fitly framed together, growing to a holy temple in the Lord. Jesus Christ first in my life, and the place I have in the Church of God, reaching out to other people, going out to people in need.
Ephesians 4:14 – 16
Christ is the head. This is His church. I’ve been appointed pastor. That means I’m a servant of all, under Him, who is the shepherd of this church. And if He is lifted up, He draws people to Himself.
So today, the challenge to your heart is whether Jesus Christ is first in your life. Are you sitting there with the excuses, or are you listening? There’s a time when He speaks by His Holy Spirit. There are some here today for whom this is a specific direct challenge to go with God 100%, fulfilling the ministry He has given you to do.
We each have our part to play, in the body of Christ.
Luke 14:11, 33
He that hath ears to hear let him hear.
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