How are political and social wars really worship wars?: Nehemiah 1

  1. Pew Research – Christianity is in decline, Nones doubled recent decades
  2. Widespread woke apostasy (gov’t replacing God as our hope for heaven on earth)
  3. National gov’t not favorable to God’s people living in obedience to Him
  4. Some states/cities increasingly hostile to faith, family, & freedom
  5. Exiles – Pushing many to move so they can worship God freely

= Exactly the storyline of Nehemiah

Nehemiah: The message

  • The book – 13 chapters, 1 chapter a week (read 1 hour; 15 min 2 ch’s 1X week)
  • End OT before Jesus comes
  • Journal entries (1-7, 13) & prayers
  • Lists of families who give & work to rebuild church home
  • Nehemiah/Ezra work together

=practical/spiritual; build/fill;   wall/worship (earth/people; body/soul, home/fam)

Nehemiah: The mission

  • God was faithful, His bride was not
  • Spiritual adultery so He does not bless/help
  • Lived under God’s blessing – became entitled & indifferent
  • God warned over & over through prophets (Isaiah & Jeremiah = Daniel’s day )

2 Ki 25:8–10 In the fifth month, on the 7th day of the month—that was the 19th year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.  And he burned the house of the Lord & the king’s house & all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were w/the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

Apostasy – Anti-Christ vs Unbeliever ($, fame, sex)

  • Military term soldier betray = treason against King & Kingdom (Rainbow; BLM)
  1. Place – once beautiful – abandoned & neglected

“great trouble” – strong word danger, disaster, calamity, misery = unlivable

  1. People – w/o safety, freedom, or hope

“shame” – reproach, disgrace, scorn, insult, contempt, threat = overwhelming

  1. Money: Economic downturn really hurting poor & middle class
  2. Media: Constant negative PR/media about the faith/church
  3. Men: Weak men marrying unbelieving women & not leading their homes

=  GOD vs GOV’T – hostility to 1). faith 2). freedom 3). Family

November/December 445 AD old news; new eyes like Jesus Jerus. (Lk. 19:41–44)

  1. What have you become numb to?
  2. What breaks your heart (me – old churches that are unused. CA missions)

“Remnant” & Revival (Joseph Egypt; Daniel Babyl; Jesus & 11; 120 b4 Pentecost)

Prune – Harvest

Nehemiah: The man

Leadership desperately needed

  • Name “God is my comfort”
  • Dad’s Hacaliah “hope in God” or “wait on God”; bro Hanani

= wealthy family (burial tomb Jerus. 2:5)

Cupbearer to King – trusted assistant, EX, confidant, wise counsel, wine, imp. Guests

  • Politically active believer
  • Persian King Artaxerxes (in Esther) – brutal murdered bro, beat bro, 2 rebellions
  • 4+ Persian kings murdered, 6+ took throne by conspiracy
  • Deep concern for and commitment to God & God’s people
  • Likely castrated & slave w/o legal rights. Serves God godless gov’t (Joseph, Daniel)

=In Susa. Hears about Jerusalem/Zion (1000X Bible re Jesus Christ)

Nehemiah: The method

Pray – 1st and longest of 9 prayers in the book (includes fasting & journaling)

  • 3-4 months = pray without ceasing
  • P- praise God (1:5)

5 “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

  • God’s attributes vs your personality
  • R- repent of sin (1:6-7)

6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

  • God blesses His Word
  • A-agree with God’s promises (1:8-9)

8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’

  • Stop when reading God’s Word
  • Y-yearn for God’s blessing (1:10-11)

10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

  • “servant” 8X. Find God’s will & join Him.

=Prayer then Planning

Rebuilding Home

6 yrs – 700 baptisms. 40% fixed assets/capital exp. 40% mortgage TO MISSIONS!

  1. Apostasy – broadcast vital
  2. Home: needed rebuilt = made sacrifices/worship (Scottsdale)
  3. Exiles – people moving to find freedom to worship God & live as family need home
  4. Gov’t – 2 years from now
  5. Pray – We have. You too!
  6. Plan – Park permit! $ (2 pockets)

=Remnant then Revival

Start pledges anytime. October 15-16 pledge weekend.

  1. Brochure
  2. B. Video

In this sermon from Nehemiah 1, Pastor Mark introduces the story of Nehemiah, who was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Temple before one of the biggest revivals in Church history took place.

TRANSCRIPT

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