WEBVTT 116 00:21:48.395 --> 00:21:52.875 Yeah. I'm telling you, if you have never had the privilege, 117 00:21:52.895 --> 00:21:56.115 the opportunity to go and check out the Watoto Children Choir, 118 00:21:56.494 --> 00:21:59.635 do everything that you can do to be at the Apex campus, uh, 119 00:21:59.636 --> 00:22:04.555 the afternoon of March night. I mean, uh, I'm telling you, uh, a couple of our, 120 00:22:04.575 --> 00:22:07.475 our campus, uh, family folk, uh, Dawn Stride, 121 00:22:07.476 --> 00:22:10.234 our Apex Campus Pastor Doug Stride, used to be on staff there. 122 00:22:10.235 --> 00:22:11.755 We have an incredible partnership with them. 123 00:22:11.935 --> 00:22:14.435 And you want to talk about a group of people that love God, 124 00:22:14.436 --> 00:22:17.035 follow Jesus and share hope with the world around them. I mean, 125 00:22:17.036 --> 00:22:20.555 these are incredible partners. Do everything that you can do to check it out. 126 00:22:20.855 --> 00:22:23.234 Hey, listen, we're gonna jump into a message this week. 127 00:22:23.255 --> 00:22:25.595 We are wrapping up a six week study, uh, 128 00:22:25.615 --> 00:22:27.795 on the book of Nehemiah that we're calling a fresh start. 129 00:22:27.796 --> 00:22:31.195 We know a lot of us beginning of the year, we're looking for a fresh start, 130 00:22:31.625 --> 00:22:34.315 looking for some new beginnings, uh, as a church family. 131 00:22:34.365 --> 00:22:37.315 God's calling us in this new direction he's calling us to, 132 00:22:37.316 --> 00:22:41.475 to chase after a fresh start as a church community together. And so we thought, 133 00:22:41.494 --> 00:22:43.875 Hey, let's spend some time walking through the book in e Miah, 134 00:22:43.876 --> 00:22:46.595 see how this can apply to our lives. James Clear, he's an author. 135 00:22:47.055 --> 00:22:51.075 He wrote a book called Atomic Habits. And, uh, I talk about the book a lot, 136 00:22:51.415 --> 00:22:52.315 but it, 137 00:22:52.535 --> 00:22:56.675 he has an illustration in this book where he talks about at the beginning of a 138 00:22:56.676 --> 00:22:57.509 hundred meter race, 139 00:22:57.975 --> 00:23:01.715 all of the runners show up on the starting line and they all have the same goal. 140 00:23:02.015 --> 00:23:06.835 What's the goal to win the race? Right? And second question, 141 00:23:07.305 --> 00:23:10.475 does every runner that lines up on that starting line with that goal? 142 00:23:10.476 --> 00:23:14.755 Does every runner win the race? No. Everybody does it. And so he points out, 143 00:23:14.984 --> 00:23:16.955 it's not the goal that makes the difference, 144 00:23:16.984 --> 00:23:20.195 it's actually the steps that you take leading up to that. So like, 145 00:23:20.196 --> 00:23:23.355 how do you train? How do you eat? How are you sleeping? 146 00:23:23.455 --> 00:23:25.435 Are you able to finish the race strong? 147 00:23:25.436 --> 00:23:29.795 And so what we're gonna see is that while God does offer us a fresh start in our 148 00:23:29.796 --> 00:23:30.875 lives, um, 149 00:23:31.255 --> 00:23:35.435 the starting line isn't the destination like finishing strong is the 150 00:23:35.436 --> 00:23:35.935 destination, 151 00:23:35.935 --> 00:23:38.955 the steps that we take along the way that's gonna dictate how we finish. 152 00:23:38.975 --> 00:23:41.915 And so what we're gonna see is when God gives us a fresh start, 153 00:23:42.705 --> 00:23:46.484 what he desires from us is a faithful finish. 154 00:23:47.305 --> 00:23:49.445 And so how do we chase after that in our lives? 155 00:23:49.446 --> 00:23:52.205 That's what we're gonna be looking at in our time together this week. Uh, 156 00:23:52.206 --> 00:23:55.005 so if you would turn in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter six. 157 00:23:55.615 --> 00:23:59.525 We're gonna pick up there in verse one. Somehow in our planning, uh, 158 00:23:59.526 --> 00:24:02.725 we've covered one chapter a week through Nehemiah weeks one through five. 159 00:24:02.825 --> 00:24:07.525 And now I am stuck covering chapter six through 13 in one setting. So, uh, 160 00:24:07.526 --> 00:24:09.925 buckle up. We're gonna have a great time, uh, 161 00:24:09.926 --> 00:24:14.445 just to kinda catch you up to speed. Uh, in case you've not been with us, uh, 162 00:24:14.505 --> 00:24:16.645 in Nehemiah, what you have is you have God's people, 163 00:24:16.665 --> 00:24:19.525 the Israelites who were in Jerusalem, who were in Israel, 164 00:24:19.715 --> 00:24:22.765 they're overthrown by the Babylonians, they're exiled out, 165 00:24:22.766 --> 00:24:24.325 they're held captive in Babylon. 166 00:24:25.025 --> 00:24:28.445 And then the Persian empire overthrows the Babylonian empire. 167 00:24:28.446 --> 00:24:31.325 They tell the Israelites, you can go back to your homeland if you want to. 168 00:24:31.715 --> 00:24:36.605 Some go. A lot don't. And then at some point, some 70 years later, 169 00:24:36.994 --> 00:24:39.925 this Israelite by the name of Nehemiah who stayed behind, 170 00:24:40.505 --> 00:24:43.765 he kind of works his way up in influence and in political power. 171 00:24:43.785 --> 00:24:47.765 And he's serving as the cup bearer to the king of Persia, king Art de Xerxes. 172 00:24:48.505 --> 00:24:51.405 And then his brother, Hanani, who was in Jerusalem, 173 00:24:51.545 --> 00:24:55.205 he comes back to him to give him a report on what's going on in Jerusalem. 174 00:24:55.744 --> 00:24:57.125 And he says, listen, it's not good. 175 00:24:57.715 --> 00:24:59.805 Like I know our people have been there for a long time, 176 00:24:59.825 --> 00:25:01.725 but the city's still in ruins, uh, 177 00:25:01.726 --> 00:25:05.405 the wall around the city for protection that's broken down. And our people, 178 00:25:05.406 --> 00:25:09.405 Nehemiah, they're, they're in shame. And so Nehemiah, 179 00:25:09.406 --> 00:25:12.525 like he has this conviction before God, like, I've gotta do something. 180 00:25:12.526 --> 00:25:14.365 I've gotta be able to help my people get a fresh start. 181 00:25:14.366 --> 00:25:18.285 And so he goes before King Art Xerxes and he says, if it pleases the king, 182 00:25:18.765 --> 00:25:19.645 I would love for you to, 183 00:25:19.665 --> 00:25:23.805 to grant me permission to actually go back to Jerusalem and to help them rebuild 184 00:25:23.806 --> 00:25:26.165 the wall. And so we've just been following along with them. 185 00:25:26.166 --> 00:25:27.565 Each week we're seeing things like, 186 00:25:27.715 --> 00:25:30.005 what does it mean to go to God in humble prayer? 187 00:25:30.435 --> 00:25:35.365 Like to recognize maybe our own actions have led to the brokenness that we're 188 00:25:35.366 --> 00:25:37.045 experiencing around us in our lives. 189 00:25:38.075 --> 00:25:41.285 What does it mean to have the faith to trust that God is actually bigger than 190 00:25:41.286 --> 00:25:43.685 the brokenness that we see in our lives? 191 00:25:44.915 --> 00:25:48.525 What does it mean to to have the faith that man's calling on our lives is 192 00:25:48.526 --> 00:25:51.725 greater than man's rumblings? What does it look like to go through opposition? 193 00:25:52.285 --> 00:25:55.765 Uh, and last week we saw when Dwayne walks us through, uh, and then Doug, 194 00:25:55.865 --> 00:25:58.765 if you were at the Apex campus, walked us through chapter five, 195 00:25:58.766 --> 00:26:03.725 we saw that one of the greatest challenges to the movement of God can sometimes 196 00:26:03.785 --> 00:26:06.885 be the people of God. Like sometimes we just get in our own way. 197 00:26:06.886 --> 00:26:10.685 This week we're gonna pick up in chapter six and look at how we can finish 198 00:26:10.686 --> 00:26:13.765 faithfully. So chapter six, Nehemiah verse one, it says, 199 00:26:13.766 --> 00:26:15.965 when sandal and tobiah and ham, 200 00:26:15.966 --> 00:26:20.125 the Arab and the rest of the enemies heard that I had built the wall and that 201 00:26:20.126 --> 00:26:22.765 there was no breach left in it, although up to that time, 202 00:26:22.925 --> 00:26:25.605 I had not set the doors in the gate. So they've almost got this thing built. 203 00:26:25.606 --> 00:26:30.244 They're almost finished sandal and gsem sent to me. So these are the enemies, 204 00:26:30.445 --> 00:26:31.925 these are the bad guys. They sent to 'em saying, 205 00:26:32.405 --> 00:26:36.165 come and let us meet together at Haem and the plane of Ono. 206 00:26:36.345 --> 00:26:38.445 But they intended to do me harm. 207 00:26:39.505 --> 00:26:41.405 And I sent a messenger to them saying, 208 00:26:41.685 --> 00:26:46.445 I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should I stop? 209 00:26:47.465 --> 00:26:51.165 Why should the work stop while I leave and come down to you? 210 00:26:51.465 --> 00:26:54.965 And so the first thing I want us to see, like to finish faithfully before God, 211 00:26:55.744 --> 00:27:00.725 we gotta stay focused on the work of God. And you see ne amiah right now, 212 00:27:00.726 --> 00:27:04.725 like he has this uncompromising focus on the work that God's called him to. 213 00:27:04.744 --> 00:27:06.125 And I know we've all been there in life. 214 00:27:06.126 --> 00:27:08.085 We're doing the thing that we think God's called us to. 215 00:27:08.305 --> 00:27:11.045 And then we've got these voices and we've got these distractions. You're like, 216 00:27:11.795 --> 00:27:15.005 what in the world is going on around me? And I want you to remember this line. 217 00:27:15.006 --> 00:27:16.405 Like if you've got folks coming to you, 218 00:27:16.685 --> 00:27:19.765 distracting you from the work of what God's calling you to remember this line, 219 00:27:20.815 --> 00:27:23.755 I'm doing a great work and I cannot come down. 220 00:27:25.135 --> 00:27:28.435 And I'll just tell you like in my life, like personally, 221 00:27:28.525 --> 00:27:31.675 there have been times over the last few years in my life where there have been 222 00:27:31.676 --> 00:27:33.515 people that have come to me and I'm, and I'm just, 223 00:27:33.575 --> 00:27:36.835 you just know in the back of your head that this is from the enemy. 224 00:27:37.905 --> 00:27:40.195 Like this is a distraction from the enemy. Now, 225 00:27:40.255 --> 00:27:43.555 I'm not saying carry yourself with arrogance and pride and don't have people 226 00:27:43.556 --> 00:27:46.275 that are close to you that you can listen to and that you can trust. 227 00:27:46.455 --> 00:27:48.115 But you know, when you're in that place, you're like, 228 00:27:48.225 --> 00:27:50.915 this is blatantly against what I believe God's calling me to. 229 00:27:51.175 --> 00:27:54.435 We have to have the confidence to not get caught up in that emotional distress 230 00:27:54.436 --> 00:27:58.595 and say, no, no, no, I'm doing a great work. I can't come down. No justifying, 231 00:27:58.935 --> 00:28:02.675 no explaining, no defending, stay focused on the work that God has for you. 232 00:28:04.494 --> 00:28:05.435 You get to verse four. 233 00:28:06.615 --> 00:28:10.315 And they sent to me four times in this way and I answered them in the same 234 00:28:10.316 --> 00:28:11.835 manner. And in the same way, 235 00:28:12.195 --> 00:28:16.795 Sam ballot for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his 236 00:28:16.796 --> 00:28:20.275 hand. And in it was written, it's reported among the nations. 237 00:28:21.055 --> 00:28:25.435 And Ham also says it that you and the Jews intend to rebel. 238 00:28:26.015 --> 00:28:28.595 That's why you're building the wall. And according to these reports, 239 00:28:28.734 --> 00:28:29.955 you wish to become their king. 240 00:28:30.695 --> 00:28:33.555 And you've also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you, 241 00:28:33.556 --> 00:28:37.515 concerning you in Jerusalem, there is a king in Judah. 242 00:28:37.695 --> 00:28:39.515 And now the king will hear of these reports. 243 00:28:39.615 --> 00:28:42.075 So come now and let us take counsel together. 244 00:28:43.485 --> 00:28:46.035 Every bit of this is lies and conspiracy, right? 245 00:28:46.615 --> 00:28:49.955 And you've been in these places in your life, and if you're not careful, 246 00:28:49.956 --> 00:28:52.235 you will get caught up in this wash. 247 00:28:52.236 --> 00:28:56.275 Like we can use so much emotional energy getting caught up in what's going on 248 00:28:56.276 --> 00:28:58.355 around us. Look, people write narratives. 249 00:28:59.335 --> 00:29:00.915 People are gonna write narratives about you. 250 00:29:00.916 --> 00:29:03.955 Sometimes it is with malicious intent. Sometimes it's not. 251 00:29:03.956 --> 00:29:06.235 Like sometimes people just don't understand the full truth. 252 00:29:06.295 --> 00:29:10.835 And we just have this tendency as humans to actually go to the worst case 253 00:29:11.075 --> 00:29:14.355 scenario and make assumptions. And so you're gonna hear things. 254 00:29:14.375 --> 00:29:17.195 It does not mean that it's worth giving your emotional energy to. 255 00:29:17.195 --> 00:29:19.435 You've gotta stay focused on the work that God's called you to. 256 00:29:19.436 --> 00:29:23.355 We gotta keep our hand to the plow. You get to verse eight, it says, 257 00:29:23.356 --> 00:29:24.235 then I sent to him, 258 00:29:24.595 --> 00:29:27.955 no such things as you say have been done for you're inventing them out of your 259 00:29:27.956 --> 00:29:31.155 own mind. For they all wanted to frighten us, 260 00:29:31.156 --> 00:29:33.875 thinking their hands will drop from the work and it will not be done. 261 00:29:33.876 --> 00:29:38.035 Look at what he says. But now, oh God, strengthen my hands. 262 00:29:38.665 --> 00:29:41.605 What does Nehemiah do to maintain this uncompromising focus? 263 00:29:43.125 --> 00:29:46.325 The same thing he's done in chapters one through five. He goes to God in prayer. 264 00:29:47.265 --> 00:29:50.685 And we're gonna find ourselves in these places where we're gonna hear voices, 265 00:29:50.895 --> 00:29:53.085 we're gonna have distractions. And we're gonna wonder, man, 266 00:29:53.185 --> 00:29:56.445 am I supposed to continue down this path that I believe God's calling me into? 267 00:29:56.585 --> 00:29:57.765 And I don't know what that could be. I mean, 268 00:29:57.766 --> 00:30:00.405 you could just be in the workplace and you have a supervisor. 269 00:30:00.465 --> 00:30:03.125 You don't feel like's giving you credit for what you're supposed to be doing. 270 00:30:03.145 --> 00:30:05.765 You could have a coworker jabbing you in the workplace. Look, 271 00:30:06.345 --> 00:30:08.325 you're not responsible for their behavior. 272 00:30:08.326 --> 00:30:11.085 You're responsible for carrying yourself the way that God's called you to carry 273 00:30:11.285 --> 00:30:15.645 yourself. We gotta learn this. You've seen it throughout the story. 274 00:30:16.065 --> 00:30:18.285 We gotta pray the prayer. God strengthened my hands, 275 00:30:19.445 --> 00:30:21.165 strengthened my mind to finish faithfully. 276 00:30:21.166 --> 00:30:23.925 We gotta stay focused on the work that God calls us into. 277 00:30:24.615 --> 00:30:28.445 We're gonna jump to verse 15. You get to verse 15, chapter six, 278 00:30:28.505 --> 00:30:30.925 the wall's complete. So this whole story, like we've, 279 00:30:31.185 --> 00:30:33.965 we start out the wall's down, Nehemiah's convicted, 280 00:30:34.005 --> 00:30:37.165 I gotta go help build this wall. We gotta provide protection, uh, 281 00:30:37.185 --> 00:30:40.405 for God's people. You get to verse 15, and it says, 282 00:30:40.406 --> 00:30:44.845 so the wall was finished on the 25th day of the month of Allah in 283 00:30:44.855 --> 00:30:49.845 52 days, less than two months. Um, 284 00:30:50.045 --> 00:30:52.645 I pointed this out a couple times throughout the series. Um, 285 00:30:53.935 --> 00:30:55.925 God's people there have been a, a portion, 286 00:30:56.085 --> 00:30:59.165 a remnant of God's people back in Jerusalem for 70 years. 287 00:30:59.585 --> 00:31:03.045 And the wall hasn't been built, but this man, they said, no, no, no, 288 00:31:03.225 --> 00:31:04.445 I'm gonna go to God in prayer. 289 00:31:04.545 --> 00:31:06.445 I'm gonna trust that he's bigger than the brokenness. 290 00:31:06.625 --> 00:31:08.605 And we're gonna see what it is that God can do. 291 00:31:08.755 --> 00:31:12.765 This is probably a good time to remember that Nehemiah spent more time in prayer 292 00:31:12.905 --> 00:31:17.885 before he went to the king than it actually took to actually get the wall built. 293 00:31:18.785 --> 00:31:23.325 And I wonder sometimes in our lives when we face something that seems 294 00:31:23.326 --> 00:31:27.885 insurmountable, do we spend more time in worry and in working 295 00:31:29.595 --> 00:31:34.145 than we do in worship and prayer? I mean, 296 00:31:34.146 --> 00:31:36.025 if we really believe what this says, 297 00:31:36.085 --> 00:31:38.385 if we really believe the stories that are in scripture, 298 00:31:38.935 --> 00:31:43.225 like we would stop what we're doing and we would stop the panic and we would go 299 00:31:43.226 --> 00:31:44.185 to God in prayer. And we, 300 00:31:44.186 --> 00:31:46.145 we've gotta do business with this like in our own lives. 301 00:31:46.285 --> 00:31:47.465 We need to be honest with ourselves. 302 00:31:47.575 --> 00:31:51.745 With whatever circumstances or situations that you find yourself in right now, 303 00:31:52.245 --> 00:31:55.385 are you spending the appropriate amount of time before your God in prayer? 304 00:31:56.525 --> 00:31:58.625 And I don't ask that as like a belittling comment. 305 00:31:58.785 --> 00:32:02.145 I i just ask it because from what I see in God's word, like until we get there, 306 00:32:02.146 --> 00:32:04.945 it ain't gonna happen. And it's not that God can't do it, 307 00:32:04.946 --> 00:32:09.585 but it's that God wants to get us to a place to where we realize we depend on 308 00:32:09.586 --> 00:32:14.585 him. We need his strength. Are we going to God in prayer? You get to verse 16, 309 00:32:14.885 --> 00:32:18.465 and I can kind of stop right here and kind of move off from this focusing on the 310 00:32:18.466 --> 00:32:21.825 work of God. But um, look what happens here. It says, and when they heard this, 311 00:32:22.205 --> 00:32:23.345 all of our enemies heard it, 312 00:32:23.605 --> 00:32:25.705 all the nations around us when they heard the wall was built, 313 00:32:26.045 --> 00:32:29.745 all the nations around us heard and were afraid and felt greatly on their own 314 00:32:30.265 --> 00:32:31.098 esteem, 315 00:32:31.145 --> 00:32:35.505 for they perceived this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 316 00:32:36.265 --> 00:32:39.285 Um, something we gotta recognize here, 317 00:32:40.875 --> 00:32:44.285 when God's people do God's work God's way, 318 00:32:45.385 --> 00:32:49.685 God gets the glory. And we gotta be aware that like oftentimes, 319 00:32:49.715 --> 00:32:51.565 like there's work that that's in front of us. 320 00:32:51.655 --> 00:32:55.005 God's called us to something that looks improbable, but by, by a watching world. 321 00:32:55.006 --> 00:32:59.285 But man, if we can stay focused God's way, if we can do things God's way, 322 00:32:59.286 --> 00:33:04.205 people are gonna see that God's gonna get the glory. And so that happens. 323 00:33:05.305 --> 00:33:08.805 The wall gets built and you think at this point, okay, the wall's built, 324 00:33:08.806 --> 00:33:11.325 that's what Nehemiah went to go do. The enemies are gonna run, 325 00:33:11.326 --> 00:33:15.885 everything's gonna get easy, right? Verse 17. Moreover, in those days, 326 00:33:16.025 --> 00:33:20.565 the nobles of Judah sent letters to Tobi and Tobias's letters came to them. 327 00:33:21.885 --> 00:33:24.005 You jumped to the end here in verse 19 and it says, 328 00:33:24.006 --> 00:33:27.045 and Tobias sent letters to make me afraid. 329 00:33:29.225 --> 00:33:32.125 And I read that because I want to give you a word of encouragement. 330 00:33:34.025 --> 00:33:37.885 If you're giving yourself to the plans and to the purposes of God, 331 00:33:39.075 --> 00:33:44.045 there's not going to be an end to the plans and schemes and attacks of 332 00:33:44.046 --> 00:33:48.895 our enemy. It's just a very real thing. Like we have an enemy. 333 00:33:48.915 --> 00:33:52.495 He wants to steal, kill, destroy, he wants to devour. 334 00:33:52.835 --> 00:33:56.015 And so he's not until Jesus comes back like, we're not finished with this. 335 00:33:56.016 --> 00:33:59.975 And so oftentimes we've gotta recognize like the finish line in our faith is 336 00:33:59.976 --> 00:34:01.295 really just a new starting line. 337 00:34:01.855 --> 00:34:06.095 Like it's going to require this uncompromising focus on the work of God. 338 00:34:07.225 --> 00:34:11.285 But how do we stay focused when we know like it's just gonna be one thing after 339 00:34:11.286 --> 00:34:14.925 another? The second thing we've gotta take into account, uh, 340 00:34:14.926 --> 00:34:15.805 to finish faithfully, 341 00:34:15.864 --> 00:34:20.805 is to anchor our minds into God's word on us to jump to chapter 342 00:34:20.815 --> 00:34:25.245 eight and all the people. So now the Israelites, 343 00:34:25.246 --> 00:34:26.844 the walls built right, all the Israelites, 344 00:34:26.845 --> 00:34:29.565 they come together inside the city of Jerusalem. It says, 345 00:34:29.566 --> 00:34:32.765 all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Watergate. 346 00:34:33.025 --> 00:34:37.205 And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the 347 00:34:37.206 --> 00:34:41.285 Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra, who's the chief priest, Ezra the priest, 348 00:34:41.286 --> 00:34:42.765 brought the law before the assembly, 349 00:34:42.875 --> 00:34:47.844 both men and women in all who can understand what they heard on the first day of 350 00:34:47.845 --> 00:34:50.245 the seventh month, seventh month. Small detail here. 351 00:34:51.035 --> 00:34:54.725 There's probably about three generations of Israelites here who have actually 352 00:34:54.726 --> 00:34:59.725 never heard God's word preached out loud, alright? It's probably been, uh, 353 00:34:59.726 --> 00:35:02.565 somewhere like 140 years. So they've never heard it. 354 00:35:02.566 --> 00:35:05.085 So these are people that they have no idea their identity, 355 00:35:05.235 --> 00:35:08.645 they have no idea God's plans and purposes for them. Uh, 356 00:35:08.646 --> 00:35:11.765 they have no idea what it is that God has done for them, uh, 357 00:35:11.864 --> 00:35:14.165 for thousands of years leading up into this point. 358 00:35:14.385 --> 00:35:16.205 And so you get to verse three and it says, 359 00:35:16.344 --> 00:35:19.245 and he read from it facing the square before the Watergate, 360 00:35:19.246 --> 00:35:21.885 from early in the morning until midday. So for hours, 361 00:35:22.275 --> 00:35:25.605 he's reading from the word of God and the presence of the men and the women and 362 00:35:25.606 --> 00:35:26.645 those who could understand. 363 00:35:26.864 --> 00:35:30.125 And the ears of all of the people were attentive to the book of the law. 364 00:35:30.344 --> 00:35:33.325 So you guys think sometimes like a 30 minute sermon is a long time. 365 00:35:34.805 --> 00:35:38.045 Like Ezra opens up and for hours he's just reading and people are sitting there 366 00:35:38.046 --> 00:35:39.885 and listening. You get to verse five, it says, 367 00:35:40.005 --> 00:35:43.364 and Ezra opened the book and decided of the people for he was above all the 368 00:35:43.365 --> 00:35:45.205 people as he opened it. And they stood verse six, 369 00:35:45.425 --> 00:35:49.285 and Ezra blessed the Lord the great God, and all the people answered, amen. 370 00:35:49.715 --> 00:35:53.725 Amen. Lifting up their hands and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord, 371 00:35:54.395 --> 00:35:57.364 worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 372 00:35:59.025 --> 00:36:01.405 When's the last time that we just opened God's word? 373 00:36:03.094 --> 00:36:04.915 And it just drove us to a place of worship? 374 00:36:08.515 --> 00:36:13.235 We get to verse nine. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra, 375 00:36:13.236 --> 00:36:15.875 the priest and the scribe and the Levites who taught the people, 376 00:36:16.305 --> 00:36:21.114 said to all the people this day is holy for the Lord this day is holy to the 377 00:36:21.115 --> 00:36:21.948 Lord your God. 378 00:36:22.675 --> 00:36:27.555 Do not mourn or weep for the people wept as they heard the words 379 00:36:27.556 --> 00:36:29.114 of the law. Why in the world were they weeping? 380 00:36:31.025 --> 00:36:33.555 They're weeping because as a people, 381 00:36:33.625 --> 00:36:36.715 like they've been living in shame with no identity. And they're, 382 00:36:36.825 --> 00:36:38.795 when you read God's word, 383 00:36:38.796 --> 00:36:41.915 like it's really talking about the Old Testament pre Nehemiah. 384 00:36:42.614 --> 00:36:47.515 But what you see is that God created them like God created man and woman 385 00:36:47.575 --> 00:36:49.315 and had a plan and a purpose for their life. 386 00:36:49.316 --> 00:36:54.155 You see God's faithfulness to his people to fulfill his covenant regardless of 387 00:36:54.156 --> 00:36:55.475 their rebellion against him. 388 00:36:56.135 --> 00:36:58.195 And so they're seeing this and they're learning like, wait a minute, 389 00:36:58.255 --> 00:37:01.795 we are the people that God wrote about. We are the people that God adores. 390 00:37:01.796 --> 00:37:04.395 We're we're the people that God wants to bless in our lives. 391 00:37:04.396 --> 00:37:06.795 That's God's faithfulness that God us to this point. Uh, 392 00:37:06.796 --> 00:37:09.515 when I was 30 years old, uh, 393 00:37:09.655 --> 00:37:14.355 my mom called me and my younger brother was actually at a church plant 394 00:37:14.495 --> 00:37:17.315 out of hope at this time and called us into, 395 00:37:17.316 --> 00:37:20.594 they were at our Sunday morning church service. And so in between services, 396 00:37:21.015 --> 00:37:24.355 she calls us into my office and she says, Hey, 397 00:37:24.356 --> 00:37:26.555 I want to need to talk to you guys about something. 398 00:37:28.505 --> 00:37:30.795 When I was in high school, um, 399 00:37:30.955 --> 00:37:35.795 I had a child and my mom didn't want anybody. 400 00:37:35.855 --> 00:37:38.355 Her mom, my grandma didn't want anybody to know. 401 00:37:38.575 --> 00:37:43.395 And so she sent her off to a pregnancy camp for unwed mothers and told 402 00:37:43.396 --> 00:37:47.955 her, you're going to give the baby up for adoption. And she said, that night, 403 00:37:48.435 --> 00:37:52.955 um, the night that I delivered, um, my first son, uh, the nurses were in there. 404 00:37:53.195 --> 00:37:56.114 I delivered the baby, they took him away. I was never to see him, 405 00:37:56.165 --> 00:37:59.875 never to be able to hold him. I heard him crying that night. She said, 406 00:37:59.915 --> 00:38:02.675 I got up and I ran in the room and I picked him up, 407 00:38:04.135 --> 00:38:06.075 and then a nurse found out that I was in there. 408 00:38:06.235 --> 00:38:08.035 And so she ran in there and took him out of my arms. 409 00:38:08.775 --> 00:38:10.195 And I've never talking to him again. 410 00:38:10.425 --> 00:38:14.275 I've never talked to him again or never seen him again. Um, and she said, 411 00:38:14.276 --> 00:38:16.715 until about two months ago, I got a letter in the mail. 412 00:38:18.175 --> 00:38:21.435 And so he had tracked down our family and she said, 413 00:38:21.436 --> 00:38:25.155 so I want you to know I met with him, I met his wife, I met his kids, 414 00:38:25.295 --> 00:38:29.635 and I'd like for you to meet him as well. And we met. And um, 415 00:38:30.225 --> 00:38:35.075 it's like in so many ways we're exactly alike. Um, one of the, 416 00:38:35.385 --> 00:38:38.525 pretty much the only difference is he's way better at shooting guns than I am 417 00:38:39.125 --> 00:38:42.445 . Um, but I'm way better at hand to hand combat. 418 00:38:42.585 --> 00:38:47.364 So it kind of bounces out. We're both devilishly handsome and, and bald. 419 00:38:48.485 --> 00:38:49.105 Uh, 420 00:38:49.105 --> 00:38:52.925 but like what happened in that moment was like I realized there was a part of my 421 00:38:53.445 --> 00:38:53.665 identity. 422 00:38:53.665 --> 00:38:57.005 He realized there's a part of his identity that he had never experienced before. 423 00:38:57.344 --> 00:38:59.125 My mom had never experienced before. 424 00:38:59.344 --> 00:39:02.364 But when you come to places like that in your life, you're like, oh my gosh, 425 00:39:02.365 --> 00:39:04.245 there's a part of me I never knew that existed. 426 00:39:04.545 --> 00:39:07.445 And so what they're learning is how God's been faithful to them despite their 427 00:39:07.505 --> 00:39:09.925 sin. Uh, they're realizing what they've been rescued from. 428 00:39:09.926 --> 00:39:11.925 They're learning how God created them to live. 429 00:39:11.995 --> 00:39:13.885 They're being convicted of their sin. They're like, 430 00:39:13.886 --> 00:39:16.844 for years we've lived in a way that we did not know that we were supposed to 431 00:39:16.845 --> 00:39:19.085 live. And, and they're moved to repentance. 432 00:39:21.225 --> 00:39:24.045 And what you start to see when they get into God's word, 433 00:39:26.195 --> 00:39:29.605 what we realize when we read in this story is in the eyes of God. 434 00:39:30.475 --> 00:39:34.844 This was not just about a physical renewal of a wall, 435 00:39:35.625 --> 00:39:38.085 but it was about a spiritual renewal for God's people. 436 00:39:39.885 --> 00:39:41.725 Like they're rediscovering their identity. 437 00:39:43.025 --> 00:39:45.965 And I just wonder how many of us are at a place in our lives, we're like, man, 438 00:39:45.966 --> 00:39:46.606 you know what we need to do? 439 00:39:46.606 --> 00:39:49.685 We need to discover or rediscover our identity before God. 440 00:39:52.344 --> 00:39:53.925 You get to chapter nine and, 441 00:39:54.165 --> 00:39:57.725 and one of the most beautiful worship services that you'd ever see just breaks 442 00:39:57.745 --> 00:40:02.005 out amongst the people, it says in verse one. Now, 443 00:40:02.165 --> 00:40:03.405 on the 24th day of this month, 444 00:40:03.406 --> 00:40:08.325 the people of Israel were assembled in fasting and in sat cloth and with earth 445 00:40:08.385 --> 00:40:11.045 on their heads, they put dirt on their heads. Like that's just a symbol, 446 00:40:11.235 --> 00:40:13.405 essentially mourning. They're praying, they're fasting, 447 00:40:13.406 --> 00:40:15.205 they're mourning over their sin. Verse two. 448 00:40:15.206 --> 00:40:17.645 And the Israelites separated themselves from all the foreigners, 449 00:40:17.646 --> 00:40:21.165 and they stood and they confessed to their sins and the iniquities of their 450 00:40:21.166 --> 00:40:22.325 fathers. And verse three, 451 00:40:22.505 --> 00:40:26.565 and they stood up in their place and they read from the book of the law of the 452 00:40:26.566 --> 00:40:30.085 Lord their God for a quarter of the day. And for another quarter of the day, 453 00:40:30.086 --> 00:40:33.725 they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. 454 00:40:39.075 --> 00:40:41.605 When you spend time in the word of God, 455 00:40:42.745 --> 00:40:46.445 it transforms your heart and mind. Like if, 456 00:40:46.545 --> 00:40:50.125 if we're gonna finish faithfully the start that God has given to us, 457 00:40:50.135 --> 00:40:53.965 we've gotta anchor ourselves in the word of God and it moves on. 458 00:40:53.966 --> 00:40:58.405 And what happens at this point is the priests come up and they start praying 459 00:40:58.406 --> 00:41:02.205 these prayers of thanksgiving really for what it is that they've read, um, 460 00:41:02.355 --> 00:41:05.085 through scripture. And it doesn't really say it this way, 461 00:41:05.086 --> 00:41:08.125 but if you really pay attention to the text, you can see that they're like, 462 00:41:08.126 --> 00:41:11.605 they're worshiping God as creator. Like this is what we celebrated in Genesis. 463 00:41:11.635 --> 00:41:15.245 They're worshiping God for the covenant that he made with Abraham and how he was 464 00:41:15.445 --> 00:41:17.725 faithful to Abraham to create a nation that they were a part of. 465 00:41:17.915 --> 00:41:21.805 They worship God for being with them and calling them out of slavery in Egypt. 466 00:41:21.806 --> 00:41:25.285 And they get to the Red Sea and God parted the Red Sea for them to move through. 467 00:41:25.435 --> 00:41:26.965 They celebrate about how, how, 468 00:41:27.165 --> 00:41:30.605 how God's provision for them in the wilderness came through manna and through 469 00:41:30.606 --> 00:41:33.085 water and through guidance, they celebrated, uh, 470 00:41:33.215 --> 00:41:36.445 God's faithfulness to actually deliver them to the promised land in Israel 471 00:41:36.446 --> 00:41:41.125 initially. And then they talk, they, they pray and recognize God's repeated, 472 00:41:41.725 --> 00:41:45.565 uh, display of mercy in their lives despite their act of rebellion. 473 00:41:48.105 --> 00:41:50.645 And they acknowledge actually over and over again like, 474 00:41:50.646 --> 00:41:55.245 this is what we have done, God, we we have, we have turned our back on you. 475 00:41:57.285 --> 00:42:01.465 And it's put us in captivity, whether physical or spiritual. 476 00:42:02.594 --> 00:42:05.145 We've turned to you. You've heard our cry. You've came and rescued, 477 00:42:06.605 --> 00:42:08.385 and then we've turned our back on you again, 478 00:42:10.045 --> 00:42:14.785 and then we've cried out to you and you've come to us and you've rescued us over 479 00:42:14.925 --> 00:42:19.265 and over and over again. But listen, this is why we have to get into God's word. 480 00:42:19.266 --> 00:42:22.145 Because we have to be reminded that this is the God that we serve. 481 00:42:22.895 --> 00:42:26.945 This is our God that created us. Like when we, when we get into God's word, 482 00:42:27.085 --> 00:42:30.785 it transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ 483 00:42:31.775 --> 00:42:35.545 because we see the goodness of our God, we're moved by his faithfulness. 484 00:42:35.605 --> 00:42:39.585 And that moves us to faithfulness ourselves like we see when we look at 485 00:42:39.745 --> 00:42:42.585 scripture. No, no, no. When we drop the ball, when we fall short, 486 00:42:42.586 --> 00:42:44.225 when we mess things up in our lives, 487 00:42:44.364 --> 00:42:47.825 we know that we have a loving God who's there, who's ready to forgive, 488 00:42:49.205 --> 00:42:52.545 to finish faithfully. We've gotta be anchored in God's Word. 489 00:42:53.455 --> 00:42:54.344 Chapter nine. 490 00:42:54.565 --> 00:42:58.185 It essentially ends with them being so moved that they start their own covenant 491 00:42:58.215 --> 00:43:00.945 with God. They actually write out their own covenant with God. See, 492 00:43:00.946 --> 00:43:02.185 when you're a part of the family of God, 493 00:43:02.186 --> 00:43:05.225 it just says it moves you to repentance. Like it moves you to act, 494 00:43:05.226 --> 00:43:06.825 it moves you to change some things. 495 00:43:07.005 --> 00:43:10.785 And so I'm gonna walk through these next few chapters very, very quickly. Uh, 496 00:43:10.786 --> 00:43:14.665 chapter 10, it's really a picture of spiritual renewal coming to life. 497 00:43:14.666 --> 00:43:18.585 Like what happens when spiritual renewal comes to life within the family of God. 498 00:43:18.844 --> 00:43:19.864 And so, uh, 499 00:43:20.855 --> 00:43:24.305 they make commitments before the Lord on things really in their everyday life 500 00:43:25.015 --> 00:43:26.745 like who they're gonna marry. Um, 501 00:43:27.114 --> 00:43:31.065 God's word calls God's people to only marry people inside the family of God, 502 00:43:31.285 --> 00:43:34.305 how they work. Like we're gonna work diligently, we're gonna work faithfully, 503 00:43:34.306 --> 00:43:36.225 but we're also gonna obey the Sabbath. You, 504 00:43:36.226 --> 00:43:39.825 you've commanded us to take a day to rest and your goodness to us. 505 00:43:40.045 --> 00:43:43.985 And so we're gonna be obedient to that, how they worship, uh, 506 00:43:44.405 --> 00:43:48.025 how they can tithe and how they tithe and ensure that ministry happens. In fact, 507 00:43:48.205 --> 00:43:49.945 the whole thing culminates with them saying, 508 00:43:50.165 --> 00:43:51.864 we will not neglect the house of God. 509 00:43:51.865 --> 00:43:55.905 Like there is a responsibility as a part of the family of God to make sure that 510 00:43:55.906 --> 00:43:58.785 the ministry of God can move forward. So that's chapter 10. 511 00:43:58.786 --> 00:43:59.785 You get to chapter 11, 512 00:44:00.055 --> 00:44:03.545 this is really all about who is actually gonna stay in the city, 513 00:44:03.594 --> 00:44:07.545 who's gonna stay in Jerusalem, uh, because the city is still being rebuilt. 514 00:44:07.735 --> 00:44:11.785 It's kind of a hardship on people to actually live inside the city gates at this 515 00:44:11.786 --> 00:44:12.285 point. 516 00:44:12.285 --> 00:44:16.705 And so they come to a decision that essentially a tithe of the Israelites, 517 00:44:16.745 --> 00:44:18.945 a 10th of them are actually gonna live in the city. 518 00:44:19.364 --> 00:44:21.745 The other 90% are gonna live in the outside cities. 519 00:44:21.746 --> 00:44:23.585 They're gonna be responsible for the farming, 520 00:44:23.685 --> 00:44:26.025 for making sure their supply lines to Jerusalem. 521 00:44:26.026 --> 00:44:28.864 But what you see is God's people, and we talked about this a couple weeks ago. 522 00:44:29.165 --> 00:44:31.065 You see God's family recognize, no, 523 00:44:31.125 --> 00:44:35.005 we have this interdependent relationship with one another where it requires a we 524 00:44:35.006 --> 00:44:39.565 over me attitude. So you see that in verse 11 and then, or chapter 11, 525 00:44:39.675 --> 00:44:40.885 then you get to chapter 12. 526 00:44:42.205 --> 00:44:45.645 And chapter 12 is really like the culmination. You know, 527 00:44:45.646 --> 00:44:50.205 we thought it was about a wall, chapter six. Um, then you see this phys, 528 00:44:50.565 --> 00:44:52.605 this spiritual renewal. And so when you get to chapter 12, 529 00:44:52.675 --> 00:44:56.885 it's really the culmination of the physical renewal and the spiritual renewal of 530 00:44:56.886 --> 00:44:59.445 God's people. And so they get together really to dedicate the wall. 531 00:44:59.446 --> 00:45:03.364 But what it really is, is this celebration of God's faithfulness to his people. 532 00:45:03.395 --> 00:45:07.045 It's about celebrating this rediscovered identity that they have is the people 533 00:45:07.046 --> 00:45:10.645 of God. Remember in chapter one, uh, his brother Heini comes to him and he says, 534 00:45:11.505 --> 00:45:14.965 our people are filled with shame. Like this is them celebrating. 535 00:45:14.966 --> 00:45:18.085 That's not where we are anymore. Like God has rescued us. 536 00:45:18.155 --> 00:45:21.805 He's restored to us our identity. We know who we are. And when you, 537 00:45:21.806 --> 00:45:23.485 when you read it, which you should go back and read it, 538 00:45:23.486 --> 00:45:25.045 but you see choirs singing, 539 00:45:25.105 --> 00:45:29.925 you see people giving generously to the ministry of God. You see children, men, 540 00:45:29.926 --> 00:45:31.805 women, husbands, wives, families, 541 00:45:32.344 --> 00:45:35.245 all singing together and celebrating about the goodness of God. 542 00:45:35.246 --> 00:45:36.079 And if it were me, 543 00:45:36.825 --> 00:45:40.325 it would seem like this would be a great place to end the story. Chapter 12, 544 00:45:40.665 --> 00:45:43.925 12 chapters of Nehemiah, uh, we're done. Uh, 545 00:45:45.114 --> 00:45:47.765 like kids are singing, running around, 546 00:45:48.355 --> 00:45:52.965 parents are singing choirs, angels fade to black, the whole thing's over. 547 00:45:53.645 --> 00:45:57.885 Um, but people are involved and it doesn't really work that way. 548 00:45:57.886 --> 00:45:59.885 And so what we see, really the third action step, 549 00:45:59.886 --> 00:46:01.125 if we're gonna finish faithfully, 550 00:46:01.305 --> 00:46:04.005 is we've gotta guard our hearts against spiritual drift. 551 00:46:06.265 --> 00:46:10.445 Here's what happens in chapter 13, Nehemiah actually goes back to king art, 552 00:46:10.805 --> 00:46:13.565 art Xerxes. Like if you remember way back in chapter one, the king asked him, 553 00:46:13.566 --> 00:46:15.725 how long are you gonna be gone? He's been gone for a while. 554 00:46:15.726 --> 00:46:19.205 So he goes back to see the king. We don't know exactly how long he's gone. 555 00:46:19.695 --> 00:46:23.045 Historians kind of disagree on this. We know it was a few years. Some say two, 556 00:46:23.075 --> 00:46:27.925 some say as much as 10. But you would think that when Nehemiah goes back, 557 00:46:27.926 --> 00:46:29.645 that things would be at least the way they were, 558 00:46:29.646 --> 00:46:33.525 maybe they've even gotten better, right? Uh, but people are involved. 559 00:46:33.885 --> 00:46:34.805 Remember what Dwayne said last week? 560 00:46:34.864 --> 00:46:37.645 One of the greatest hindrances to the movement of God can sometimes be the 561 00:46:37.646 --> 00:46:41.285 people of God. So here's some things that happen when Nehemiah gets back. Uh, 562 00:46:41.505 --> 00:46:43.565 Tobiah, remember the bad guy that we heard about earlier. 563 00:46:43.945 --> 00:46:48.245 One of the priests has given him a place to live inside of the temple. Uh, 564 00:46:49.355 --> 00:46:53.325 this is not only bad because Tobiah was like one of the greatest, uh, 565 00:46:53.625 --> 00:46:55.965 men of opposition against the plans and purposes of God. 566 00:46:55.985 --> 00:47:00.685 Tobiah was also an ammonite. Um, God's word says that Ammonites, um, 567 00:47:00.705 --> 00:47:04.405 should not be with the assembly of the Israelites when it comes to worship. 568 00:47:05.315 --> 00:47:08.445 Also, the temple is set aside for holy purposes. 569 00:47:08.446 --> 00:47:12.205 It has no place to be used for personal use. And so more than anything, 570 00:47:12.206 --> 00:47:15.685 what's happening here is a compromise on God's law or is called for his people, 571 00:47:16.155 --> 00:47:19.005 essentially for a political alliance 572 00:47:20.955 --> 00:47:25.635 like that could preach like a different sermon around election time. Uh, 573 00:47:26.575 --> 00:47:27.594 he also sees people, 574 00:47:27.915 --> 00:47:32.565 he finds that people haven't been tithing to the priests and the 575 00:47:32.566 --> 00:47:36.165 priests have had to go back to actually farming their fields just to take care 576 00:47:36.166 --> 00:47:38.085 of themselves. They're not making this up. Verse 10, it says, 577 00:47:38.325 --> 00:47:40.605 I also found out that the portions of the Levites, 578 00:47:40.606 --> 00:47:42.645 the Levites for the priest had not been given to them. 579 00:47:42.864 --> 00:47:46.765 So the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled each to his field. 580 00:47:46.875 --> 00:47:49.364 Look, this is something they just made a covenant about together, 581 00:47:49.565 --> 00:47:52.844 a written covenant before God. But that's a compromise on God's law. 582 00:47:53.805 --> 00:47:56.525 Spiritual drift. Uh, he finds people working on the Sabbath, 583 00:47:56.545 --> 00:48:00.125 not obeying God's command to just arrest and enjoy his provision, 584 00:48:00.445 --> 00:48:02.725 a compromise on God's law, spiritual drift. 585 00:48:02.945 --> 00:48:07.725 He finds that people are intermarrying and that half of their children aren't 586 00:48:07.726 --> 00:48:12.525 even speaking the language of Judah. A compromise on God's law, 587 00:48:13.685 --> 00:48:17.925 spiritual drift. And so Nehemiah, uh, being the man of God that he is, 588 00:48:17.945 --> 00:48:21.364 who constantly just goes to the Lord in peaceful prayer, um, 589 00:48:21.365 --> 00:48:22.245 what do you think he does? 590 00:48:25.705 --> 00:48:29.165 He legitimately throws tobias's stuff out in the street. 591 00:48:30.625 --> 00:48:34.645 He calls the people who aren't tithing and who aren't caretaking for the tithing 592 00:48:34.925 --> 00:48:37.005 the correct way. He calls them to repentance. 593 00:48:37.225 --> 00:48:39.205 He puts over their overseers in place. He said, listen, 594 00:48:39.435 --> 00:48:42.005 this is a part of God's plans and purposes for his people. 595 00:48:42.344 --> 00:48:46.725 He threatens to lay hands on people who are selling on the Sabbath. 596 00:48:46.785 --> 00:48:50.165 I'm not kidding. I wanna read this verse 21. But I warned them and said to them, 597 00:48:50.525 --> 00:48:51.645 why do you lodge outside the wall? 598 00:48:51.646 --> 00:48:55.445 They're lodging outside the wall so they can sell stuff if you do so, again, 599 00:48:55.685 --> 00:48:59.725 I will lay hands on you. He's not talking about like in the prayerful way. 600 00:49:00.505 --> 00:49:02.965 That's not what he's talking about. Like he's heated. 601 00:49:03.864 --> 00:49:05.965 And look at this in verse 25, 602 00:49:05.966 --> 00:49:08.844 this is what he says to the ones who are intermarrying and not raising their 603 00:49:08.965 --> 00:49:11.005 children in the ways of the Lord. Verse 25. 604 00:49:11.265 --> 00:49:16.245 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and 605 00:49:16.246 --> 00:49:20.725 pulled out their hair. Um, 606 00:49:21.325 --> 00:49:25.485 I don't do this to people in our church. I just want you to know that. Um, 607 00:49:26.105 --> 00:49:27.925 that's why I have Dwayne Calvin. Um, 608 00:49:28.025 --> 00:49:32.485 he takes care of that kind of dirty work for me. So former military guy, 609 00:49:32.545 --> 00:49:33.565 he handles that stuff. 610 00:49:33.825 --> 00:49:36.565 Why do you think Nehemiah's so Ben outta shape outta over this? 611 00:49:38.975 --> 00:49:40.425 It's because he knows that small, 612 00:49:40.925 --> 00:49:44.505 he knows that small compromises have big consequences. 613 00:49:46.465 --> 00:49:50.875 Like he's seen this already. He knows why they were in exile to begin with, 614 00:49:51.725 --> 00:49:54.435 right? Like you look at verse 18, this is what he says to them. He says, 615 00:49:54.575 --> 00:49:59.475 did not your fathers act in this way and did not our God bring all 616 00:49:59.476 --> 00:50:01.795 this disaster on us and on this city? 617 00:50:02.535 --> 00:50:07.395 Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. 618 00:50:10.065 --> 00:50:12.715 What Nehemiah knew is if you're gonna continue this fresh start, 619 00:50:12.716 --> 00:50:14.715 you've gotta have a faithful finish. In order to do that, 620 00:50:14.716 --> 00:50:19.275 you've gotta guard against this spiritual drift and the temptation, man, 621 00:50:21.344 --> 00:50:23.875 it's just a record thing. Well, it's just a small thing here. 622 00:50:25.455 --> 00:50:28.765 It's just a small thing there. We think, well, 623 00:50:28.766 --> 00:50:30.925 my lack of obedience here won't matter all that much. 624 00:50:32.905 --> 00:50:34.765 My lack of generosity, 625 00:50:34.835 --> 00:50:37.364 it's not gonna stop the ministry of the church going forward, 626 00:50:39.495 --> 00:50:40.435 me playing my part, 627 00:50:41.435 --> 00:50:44.475 whatever role or responsibility that is to serve in a ministry or to live out 628 00:50:44.476 --> 00:50:45.955 what it is that God's calling me into. 629 00:50:45.956 --> 00:50:49.035 Like that's not gonna impede on the ministry of the church. 630 00:50:49.535 --> 00:50:51.355 Me not spending time in God's word, 631 00:50:51.585 --> 00:50:55.315 like it's not gonna make a big enough difference to really matter in my own 632 00:50:55.316 --> 00:50:58.155 life. And it's so insidious. 633 00:51:00.735 --> 00:51:05.594 And we've gotta reckon we are so prone to wander and this stuff adds up and this 634 00:51:05.595 --> 00:51:07.955 stuff adds up. And it's not what God calls us into. 635 00:51:07.985 --> 00:51:10.795 It's not his plans and purposes. So to finish faithfully, 636 00:51:10.805 --> 00:51:13.835 we've got to guard against spiritual drift. 637 00:51:16.594 --> 00:51:20.645 Okay? We gotta wrap up. Nehemiah, uh, congratulations. 638 00:51:20.745 --> 00:51:24.285 You just made it through eight chapters in about 30 minutes. So well done. Uh, 639 00:51:25.435 --> 00:51:27.445 what do we see when God gives us a fresh start? 640 00:51:28.235 --> 00:51:32.405 What he desires from us is a faithful finish. And hope, 641 00:51:32.485 --> 00:51:36.725 I want you to hear me say it like we can be a church that thrives. 642 00:51:38.405 --> 00:51:39.625 We can be a church that, 643 00:51:40.775 --> 00:51:45.505 that both experiences and shares the the life that Jesus 644 00:51:45.575 --> 00:51:48.025 came to make available to us. Like Jesus says, 645 00:51:48.145 --> 00:51:50.665 I came that you may have life and that you may have it abundantly, 646 00:51:51.685 --> 00:51:55.344 but it requires us to be faithful to the things that He's called us into. 647 00:51:55.364 --> 00:51:57.825 It requires us to stay focused on God's work. 648 00:51:58.005 --> 00:52:02.825 We can't let distractions and oppositions and fears and outside voices pull 649 00:52:02.826 --> 00:52:04.905 us away from what it is that God's calling us into. 650 00:52:06.425 --> 00:52:10.735 We've gotta anchor ourselves in God's word. Listen, 651 00:52:10.965 --> 00:52:14.495 revival and transformation, it happens when we return to the Bible. 652 00:52:15.355 --> 00:52:18.775 And if I wasn't clear on that, in Nehemiah chapter eight and chapter nine, 653 00:52:19.315 --> 00:52:22.935 Romans tells us we need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. 654 00:52:22.995 --> 00:52:25.375 And something happens when God's people listen, 655 00:52:25.765 --> 00:52:30.455 when we stop playing church and we get in God's Word and we apply it 656 00:52:30.815 --> 00:52:33.255 tos and we remember the goodness of our God and what he calls us into, 657 00:52:33.355 --> 00:52:37.255 and we allow it to bring conviction, and it drives us to our knees to pray. 658 00:52:37.475 --> 00:52:41.895 And we go to God with this humble dependence on him, confessing our sins, 659 00:52:41.896 --> 00:52:44.415 and we say, God, whatever it is your word says, 660 00:52:44.435 --> 00:52:47.895 and whatever it is that you want to do, I'll wanna see it come to life. And so, 661 00:52:47.896 --> 00:52:49.055 God, we pray break prayers. 662 00:52:53.665 --> 00:52:55.614 We've gotta guard against spiritual drift. We, 663 00:52:55.615 --> 00:52:59.094 we've gotta keep our commitment to what it is that God's calling us into. 664 00:52:59.095 --> 00:53:02.655 And again, that happens through prayer. It happens through obedience. 665 00:53:04.155 --> 00:53:08.975 We heard last week, it comes through accountability. But hope, 666 00:53:09.455 --> 00:53:14.015 God, God is calling us into this fresh start, into this new beginning, 667 00:53:14.255 --> 00:53:19.135 to to live into and to live out this identity as a family, a family of families, 668 00:53:19.614 --> 00:53:21.895 families care for each other. They serve one another, 669 00:53:23.695 --> 00:53:26.765 a family who loves God, who follows Jesus and who shares hope. 670 00:53:28.565 --> 00:53:31.285 I mean, could you imagine if we were a family that just had this, 671 00:53:31.435 --> 00:53:34.844 this prayerful dependence who just prayed these big desperate prayers, 672 00:53:35.145 --> 00:53:38.125 not just for our lives, but for the lives of other people in our community, 673 00:53:38.625 --> 00:53:42.445 inside of our church family, could, 674 00:53:42.446 --> 00:53:44.885 could you imagine if we just fully embrace like Jesus, 675 00:53:45.145 --> 00:53:50.045 we know that you came here to make a new life, 676 00:53:50.285 --> 00:53:51.118 a new kingdom, 677 00:53:51.165 --> 00:53:54.565 a a new plan and a new purpose for us available if we believe that, 678 00:53:54.585 --> 00:53:57.364 and if we lived our lives like we believed it. But to do that, 679 00:53:57.365 --> 00:53:59.045 we've gotta anchor ourselves in God's word. 680 00:54:00.695 --> 00:54:04.685 We've gotta be willing to get on our knees before God and humble ourselves. 681 00:54:06.585 --> 00:54:08.885 That's why this next series that we're gonna go into, 682 00:54:08.895 --> 00:54:13.205 we're doing a three week series on prayer and dependency on God. 683 00:54:13.206 --> 00:54:16.165 We're gonna have 21 days of prayer. And I, I'm, I'm encouraging you, 684 00:54:16.225 --> 00:54:19.645 I'm challenging you do everything you can do to be as involved and this is you 685 00:54:19.925 --> 00:54:23.445 possibly can, but that's what I hope it does. I hope it drives us to our knees. 686 00:54:25.125 --> 00:54:27.885 It's like, God, I don't wanna play games. I want to know, 687 00:54:27.886 --> 00:54:29.125 just like the Israelites found out, 688 00:54:29.126 --> 00:54:30.805 I want to know the identity that I really have. 689 00:54:30.806 --> 00:54:34.725 And I really want to live out your plans and purposes for me and my life and for 690 00:54:34.726 --> 00:54:37.925 my family's life and for my neighbor's lives, and for my coworkers lives, 691 00:54:40.625 --> 00:54:44.765 For our brothers and sisters in Haiti, for our brothers and sisters in Uganda. 692 00:54:45.465 --> 00:54:49.445 But that's the church that God is calling us to be. Father, I thank you. 693 00:54:49.525 --> 00:54:53.125 I thank you for your work. I thank you for the book of Nehemiah, uh, 694 00:54:53.126 --> 00:54:53.959 that we can see. 695 00:54:55.275 --> 00:54:56.085 What. 696 00:54:56.085 --> 00:54:58.885 It means to not just trust you for a fresh start. God, 697 00:54:58.886 --> 00:55:01.565 we thank you for the gospel. We thank you that each and every one of us, 698 00:55:01.625 --> 00:55:02.525 no matter where we've been, 699 00:55:02.545 --> 00:55:05.725 we are not too far from you through what your son Jesus did for us on a cross 700 00:55:05.905 --> 00:55:09.315 and through his resurrection. But God, 701 00:55:09.355 --> 00:55:11.155 I also thank you that your word is clear, 702 00:55:11.185 --> 00:55:14.555 that you also desire from us a faithful finish. 703 00:55:16.295 --> 00:55:19.915 And we know your word tells us that he who started a good work will be faithful 704 00:55:19.916 --> 00:55:22.155 to complete it. But God, we have a role to play in that as well. 705 00:55:22.156 --> 00:55:27.075 And so I pray that we would be a church that is faithful and that people 706 00:55:27.076 --> 00:55:28.835 could look at and do. 'cause we saw today, 707 00:55:29.315 --> 00:55:32.435 if God's people live out God's plans and purpose is God's way, 708 00:55:32.975 --> 00:55:33.875 God gets the glory 709 00:55:36.725 --> 00:55:38.685 By their help us to be the church that you've called us to be.