From the Heart

Nehemiah Introduction and Chapter One (Page 750 – Blue Bibles)

April 20th 2008

Introduction: Have you ever built a fence or a gate? It takes time to build a fence. How long would it take you to fence in a mile square section? What types of difficulties could you face?

Building a fence is one type of big project. There are others though. Have you ever done something that you did not think that you could do? Stop drinking, smoking, run a race, stretch your mind, forgive, or just keep going when you do not seem to have it in you? It is amazing to overcome great obstacles and it can be life changing.

Today we begin our study through the book of Nehemiah. The Past: When did this all begin? Because of the sin and hard heartedness of the people of Israel the North was captured by Assyria in 721. The South including the city of Jerusalem was attacked by the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, first in 606 resulting in the capture of Daniel. The second deportation to Babylon was in 598 and Ezekiel was taken. The final capture was in 586 and Jerusalem was destroyed, the walls broken and the gates burned.

50 Years after the last capture (536) Cyrus the ruler of the Medes and the Persians (who had just defeated the Babylonians) released the captives if they wanted to leave. Cyrus is a pagan King who is prophesied about in Isaiah 45:1

"This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

We know from history that Ezra leaves Babylon in 458 (88 years after the date of release). Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem in 445 (13 yeas after Ezra) to build the walls and fix the gates. The book of Nehemiah covers the dates from 444 – 430 when Nehemiah goes back to Artaxerxes (which could be a proper name or the title for the King like Caesar or Pharaoh) in Babylon, and returns to Jerusalem at a later, but undisclosed date.

(Picture of a gate and of Jerusalem)

The Task: Ten gates are mentioned and the walls had not been torn to the ground but they had been damaged. From my research they had the task of enclosing a structure of 1 mile by 5/8 of a mile. Walls ranged from 10 feet thick to 30 feet think and in Nehemiah 6:15 it says that it took them 52 days. That was how long it took them to repair the breaches in the wall and Josephus tells us that it took 2 years and four months for final restoration. This was not an easy project for many reasons.

The Team: That is a big task and it is going to take a great team to do the work, right? Originally 50000 people returned but that was back in 538 (Ezra chapter 2) and some of them work at getting the Temple set up. 88 years later Ezra comes and he was a priest and a spiritual leader. He came to help rebuild the temple and to draw Israel into relationship with God. 1,300 people come with Ezra and Nehemiah but he was not a builder. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king.

He was important in Babylon, but he was not a builder. He saw something that needed done and he set himself and his people to the path that it would take to get the work done. Nehemiah works with the High Priest and perfume makers, to get the task done. His people are farmers and shepherds: they are common people doing hard work. So what drove them to take on this task? It was in their hearts. Their passion for God and this project moved them to action…even if they were not the best people for the job!

Let’s read chapter 1. (Page 750)

The principle that I want us to notice is what drives Nehemiah to get involved.

NE 1:1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

[He felt a connection with what was going on]

NE 1:3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

[He took his concerns right to God, and it bothered him deep in his heart]

How many others had heard the news and did nothing about it???

So what does he do?

5 Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.

I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

[He took ownership and sees his sins]

Notice his next technique:

NE 1:8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, `If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

[He knew the word of God even though he was a captive]

NE 1:10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king.

[He asks God’s direction and favor as he moves ahead]

He has a plan in place and gets things ready before he moves ahead.

The principle: You can not undertake great things if your heart is not in it. Congregationally this is true, and in your life it is true as well. Ask yourself: "What do I want to have happen?" What passion has God placed in my heart as a part of my SHAPE? How has God prepared me to take on the task that He is calling me into?

Gather those answers and then apply yourself and commit your heart to the task. God will work through that and use your preparation to make things happen. We need to have a passion and the abilities to do the tasks that God has given us.

As a congregation we took a step of faith and added more room to the auditorium. Is it a passion in your heart to draw people to God through our congregation and worship service? Is your heart ready to energize you into balanced healthy growth?

Are you ready to make things happen here? Is your God given passion helping you take on challenges that are too big for you, and are you working for His glory?

God wants to work within our hearts and so we need to commit our heart to great tasks, make them a priority. I renew my commitment to you. I commit to you that the growth of this congregation is my priority: both in root growth and in leaf growth. I have a passion for us to be a healthy congregation that God blesses with growth. I have a passion to work with those who want to grow. What are you passionate about? Together we move ahead for His glory.

Next week we look at the need for organization and unity in order to take on big tasks.

Original Presentation September 9 2001

Vernon Church of Christ

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