WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:13.800 practical ways. Well, hey, good morning everybody. My name is 4 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:17.120 Chris Tarbaugh and I'm Kyle Dobmeyer. Yes, and today we 5 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:19.559 are the Bible Guys because Jeff's out of town and 6 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:20.280 he's flying over. 7 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:22.199 Where is he by the way, I don't know if 8 00:00:22.199 --> 00:00:23.920 we could talk about it. Isn't it like a secret? 9 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:27.199 Oh? Yeah, you're right. He's in parts of the world 10 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.679 that he's that that are that are dangerous, yes, yes, 11 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:32.399 but he's there because. 12 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:35.679 He's helping with Timothy Initiative, yes, spreading the gospel. And 13 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:37.880 and I know that one thing he shared with me 14 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:40.000 is that some of the doors that have opened last 15 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:41.799 couple of years are things that he has been praying 16 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:44.119 about and their team's been praying about for years, and 17 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:46.200 God has allowed them to go into areas where the 18 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:47.479 Gospel was not present before. 19 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:48.159 So it's really cool. 20 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:49.039 Yeah cool. 21 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:50.719 And his and his wife's with him, so that's awesome. 22 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:53.280 Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. So Bonnie actually traveled with him 23 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:56.000 this time and she's keeping him safe. Yeah, I'll tell 24 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.719 you what she's she's a brave soul. Now we Kristen 25 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:02.640 like to do that? My wife would say no, ultimately, Yeah, 26 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:02.960 I don't know. 27 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:05.000 I think she'd like it, like try it, like going 28 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:06.840 once maybe, But I don't know. I don't think that 29 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:08.760 would be a normal Like I don't think Bonnie is 30 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.319 Bonnie is different. She's built different, right, Yeah, when it 31 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:12.519 comes to that, that's sure. 32 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:16.599 Yeah, Liz would say no, thanks, good for you, for you. 33 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:17.760 For you. 34 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:20.120 All right. Well, hey, today, before we jump into the 35 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:23.359 Book of Neamiah, which is extremely exciting, we're going to 36 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:26.280 be learning all about Neamiyah, you know, building the Wall, 37 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.400 and obviously that's a pretty famous story, uh for the 38 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:31.239 Old Testament. But before we dive into that, we have 39 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:35.719 a segment and the segment is written by Desiree and 40 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:40.239 it is Queen Desiree, and she says, guess the word. 41 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:43.680 Let's see if Kyle can guess the keyword based on 42 00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:47.680 the clues from Chris. While Chris avoids saying the italicized words. 43 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:50.640 Chris also gets to determine how many points that Kyle wins. 44 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:53.200 Nice, okay, so you get to determine the points. 45 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:56.719 Yeah, so each one that you win is worth one 46 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:57.560 thousand points. 47 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:00.280 Okay, And I just want to prep the viewers who 48 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:02.239 are listening. I'm awful these types of games. So this 49 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:02.760 is gonna be bad. 50 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.519 You're gonna be yelling at them. They're gonna be yelling 51 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:06.319 out lot, They're gonna be like this guy is an idiot. 52 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:09.520 No, it's gonna be great. And if you're watching on YouTube, 53 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:11.719 then hopefully we're gonna have the words on the screen 54 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.080 that I cannot say. Okay, okay, are you ready? All right? 55 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:21.240 The first one? If you want to put your knickknacks 56 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:23.479 in something so it doesn't chip, what do you put 57 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:23.719 them in? 58 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:24.840 It doesn't chip? 59 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:27.960 When when taking them from house to house? 60 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:34.560 Douffel bag? No, nick knacks, purse? Secure them before you 61 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:38.520 put them in the box. You secure them by uh 62 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:43.039 uh wrapping them in? 63 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:43.280 What? 64 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:46.159 Foiling them in? 65 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:50.560 Uh no? What's the fun stuff? Oh my gosh, you 66 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:51.479 get let you haul? 67 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:53.039 Oh? Strip wrap? 68 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:56.479 Bubble wrap? Yes, that's the word. 69 00:02:58.240 --> 00:02:58.520 Sorry. 70 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:00.599 Yeah, I couldn't say pop, no, no, no, that was good. 71 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:04.240 That was good. I couldn't say pop plastic, packaging, bubbles 72 00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:05.599 or shipping. 73 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:06.919 Okay, gotcha, bubble wrap? 74 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:07.280 All right? 75 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:11.319 Yeah, I'm sorry, man, I could have done a better. Yeah, 76 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.400 I'm gonna give you five hundred for that five hundred. 77 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.479 I'm just kidding, thousand, five hundred points. All right, here 78 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:22.039 we go. Ready, Oh geez, When a person throws balls 79 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:25.800 up in the air repeatedly, that is called uh clown 80 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:29.879 jug Yeah yeah, but what is he doing juggling? Yes, 81 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:35.039 a singular word, juggle juggle. Yes, that's correct, that's good. 82 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:39.840 I wasn't allowed to say circus hands, catch, toss, or rotates, 83 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:44.360 So yeah, that's it. So okay, how about this one? Ready, 84 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:50.560 and Emperor's new groove? Emperor Cusco turned into a donkey? No, 85 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:52.000 you don't, I. 86 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:52.879 Love what is it? 87 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.960 Have you ever seen Napoleon Dynamite? Yeah? Remember he goes, 88 00:03:56.039 --> 00:03:59.919 can you eat your dinner? What was that animal? A lama? 89 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:05.919 That is correct? Two references for that. I was allowed 90 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:10.319 to say animal spit, I'll pack a wool or South America? 91 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:12.759 Okay, good, Hey that was good. You went to do movie, right? 92 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:13.360 That helped a lot. 93 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:17.120 Yeah? Yeah, so dude, you said Emperor Cusco turned into 94 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:17.600 a donkey. 95 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:20.240 It's actually such a good movie. I just could not 96 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:21.519 remember what that animal was. 97 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:26.680 Good, it's such a good one. All right, here we go. 98 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:30.480 That's one of my favorites. By the way, how about 99 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:35.040 g is Okay, what do you put on hamburgers that 100 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:37.879 are green and crunchy? 101 00:04:38.519 --> 00:04:41.040 Hamburgers that are green and crunchy? What do you put 102 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:42.160 out that? A green? Okay? 103 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:45.639 Let us Uh that's that's one thing. What's sickle thing? Yeah? Pickles, 104 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:50.519 that's right, and uh pickles onions in the jar? It 105 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:54.879 is soaking in juice. Pickle juice, Yes, pickle juice, that's right. 106 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.720 I couldn't say sour vinegar, cucumber, brine or drink. 107 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.639 Okay, hey, did you do better than I am? I 108 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:01.639 give you a thousand points? 109 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:01.879 No? 110 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:04.759 Are you so far? Did you have four thousand points? 111 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.560 Four thousand? 112 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:08.639 Let's go all right? The last one is this? Oh 113 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:15.680 gee whiz okay? Uh. Old people don't don't uh keep 114 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:23.120 together their new balances with strings but rather with balance 115 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.480 another way. 116 00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:27.000 To tie your shoes killed. 117 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.959 A new balance wouldn't be with strings, but with what 118 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:32.480 old people do it all the time. 119 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:36.800 I don't even know girl, Yes, well crow, okay, yes, 120 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:41.439 I was yes, I wasn't allowed to say shoes, uh, 121 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.839 strap stick, rip or fastener? 122 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:45.560 Dude. 123 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:47.399 Wow, I'll get me honest, I think you did better 124 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:48.680 than I did, I would not have thought of new 125 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:50.040 I would not all old people. 126 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:50.920 That was really good. 127 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:52.879 Yeah, I couldn't say I couldn't say like new, I 128 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.360 couldn't say shoes, I said new balance, and I couldn't 129 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:56.920 say you know. Yeah. 130 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:58.680 But even still, I think I'd end up trying to 131 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:00.480 make sound effects or something if it me and I 132 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:01.720 had to describe velcrow. 133 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:04.560 I think it's against the rules. Probably, Yeah, I think 134 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.439 motions and sound effects the case. But at least if 135 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:08.439 you're doing taboo rules. 136 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:10.279 Yeah, yeah, right, So I got five thousand points. 137 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:13.759 Good job, buddy. I wonder how many listeners. 138 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.720 I bet you we have some pretty sharp people. Yeah, 139 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:18.800 they're probably on the road, just like that was easy 140 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:23.959 old people or maybe the rocket bell crow shoes. 141 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.560 So well, hey guys, thanks for playing along, and we 142 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:30.680 are now moving into the very exciting book of Neo Hi. 143 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:31.439 I love this book. 144 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:34.040 You know what's so funny is the listeners got Jeff 145 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:36.279 and Wesley last week, nice, and now they're getting Chris 146 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:38.879 and Kyle this week. Nice. So and you guys are 147 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:43.439 definitely the most present besides Jeff and I. You're the 148 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:44.360 most present on the Bible. 149 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.879 Guy, and if you're watching this from home. I didn't 150 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:48.759 realize until I stoodn't when I got here today, I 151 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.160 looked like a referee today. If you said you're watching this, 152 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:53.199 or if you're not, even go back and watch. I'm 153 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:55.839 wearing my referee re shirt. And then Chris is the 154 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:56.720 word of the Daily Bible. 155 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:00.959 Guys, he's representing, representing as if people need another logo. 156 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:02.759 Yes, you just need to get one with your face 157 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:03.079 on it. 158 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:07.079 So face f there's like logos surrounding us. So all right, buddy, 159 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:09.920 So here we go. Niamiah chapter one versus started through 160 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:10.879 eleven yep. 161 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:12.639 And we got some words that are gonna be fun 162 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:16.120 to say here, So be patient with me. 163 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:20.279 Neamaiyah, starting in chapter one, verse one says, these are 164 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:24.199 the memoirs of Neamiyah, son of Hakalayah. In late autumn, 165 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:26.959 in the month of Kislov, in the twentieth year of 166 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:30.199 King Arctic Xercees reign, I was at the fortress of 167 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.600 Susa Hannah, and I one of my brothers came to 168 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:35.800 visit me with some other men who had just arrived 169 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:38.399 from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had 170 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:41.639 returned there from captivity and about how things were going 171 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:44.879 in Jerusalem. They said to me, things are not going 172 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:47.360 well for those who return to the province of Judah. 173 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:50.680 They're in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem 174 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.480 has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed 175 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:57.480 by fire. When I heard this, says, I sat down 176 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.000 and wept. In fact, for days, I'm mourn. I fasted 177 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.720 and prayed to the God of Heaven. Then I said, O, Lord, 178 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:07.319 God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps 179 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:10.199 his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him 180 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:13.519 and obey his commands, listen to my prayer. Look down 181 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:16.879 and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. 182 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:20.639 I confess we have sinned against you. Yes, even my 183 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:23.439 own family and I have sinned. We have sinned terrible 184 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:28.639 by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you 185 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:31.519 gave us through your servant Moses. Please remember what you 186 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:35.120 told your servant Moses. If you're unfaithful to me, I 187 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.159 will scatter you among the nations. But if you return 188 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.879 to me and obey my commands and live by them, 189 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.039 then even if you are exiled to the ends of 190 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.039 the earth, I will bring you back to the place 191 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:48.600 I've chosen for my name to be honored. The people 192 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:50.919 you rescued by your great power and strong hand are 193 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:55.120 your servants. Oh Lord, please hear my prayer. Listen to 194 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:58.320 the prayers of those who delight in honoring you. Please 195 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.600 grant me success today by making the King favorable to me, 196 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.000 put it into his heart to be kind to me. 197 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:07.080 And that ends by saying that in those days, I 198 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:08.240 was the King's cupbear. 199 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.600 It's a quick eleven verses here, but it's a lot here. 200 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:16.639 Dude, Nehemiah is obviously writing this first person. He's the 201 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:21.279 King's cupbear. He is a Jew, and here he is, 202 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:25.679 you know, inquiring on the people back in Jerusalem. Now, 203 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:32.720 let's remind our listeners that the Babylonians captured the Jerusalem 204 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.480 and it was the Babylonian's reign and then the Jews 205 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:38.480 were exiled. And remember back in the Book of Daniel 206 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:45.200 five point thirty eight BC was the Persians coming in 207 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:50.080 and taking over the five thirty nine five thirty nine BC. 208 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:54.879 The Persians came in and conquered the Babylonians, and then 209 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:59.360 it was actually King Cyrus, who was King of the Persians, 210 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:02.440 who decided to say, hey, any Jews who want to 211 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:06.519 go back to Jerusalem can do so. And not everybody did, uh, 212 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:10.799 but but but a lot did, and so and and 213 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.399 and so. Yeah, and then we went through the Book 214 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:15.960 of Ezra, and obviously we saw, you know, some some 215 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:20.039 Jews like Mordecai, had not gone back. But in this case, 216 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.240 here's Nehemiah. He's still a cut bart to the king, 217 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.159 and now he's cup bearer to a new king. This 218 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:30.120 next king is art Xerxes, and art Dexerxes is king 219 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:33.759 of Persia. So here's the name. I very prominent right now, 220 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:35.279 even though you're a cup barrier, you're sort of like 221 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:38.759 a servant, but you're also revered as you know, somebody 222 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:41.799 who I'm sure people bowed to him. He had great respect, 223 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:44.879 he had great command, and I would also imagine that 224 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.159 he probably based on what we're going to be read 225 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:49.960 in chapters three for you know, all that that that 226 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:54.120 he was a person of great leadership, right he So 227 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:57.679 he had prominence, right and and this was a great 228 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:58.639 position for him to be in. 229 00:10:58.759 --> 00:10:59.559 Yeah, yeah, I think that. 230 00:10:59.720 --> 00:10:59.919 For me. 231 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.200 There's obviously a few different just in this first chapter, 232 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:04.840 a few things that stand out, but I find it 233 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:08.240 interesting because Neemyah is seen as somebody who kind of 234 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:10.840 steps in, just kind of fills in the gap there, 235 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:13.799 steps up and says, you know, this is something that 236 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.000 God is calling me to do. But really it starts 237 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.399 with a couple of things that stand out to me. 238 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.080 For one, it says that when he heard the news, 239 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:24.279 he sat down and he wept. Says for days, I'm mourned, 240 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:25.879 I fast and I prayed to the God of Heaven. 241 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.159 There'll be a recurring theme throughout pretty much the entire 242 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:32.120 book in Neemiyah where he in times of crisis and struggle, 243 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.879 where he pauses it says that he wept. It's interesting 244 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.519 because it doesn't shy away from this emotion that he had, 245 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.480 that he himself so that I wept, and then he 246 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:44.000 said he mourned, he fasted, and he prayed. And so 247 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:47.039 prayer is something that is like very prominent throughout this 248 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:49.720 entire storyline. You see this person who, obviously, like you 249 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:54.360 were mentioned, he's got a higher position of prominence, you know, 250 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.759 to have the ear of the king. 251 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:57.000 But at the same time he. 252 00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:59.720 Ultimately goes to the king of kings all the time 253 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.919 to pray. But I don't know about I'm sure, like 254 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.200 you've probably taught on this story a ton, but I 255 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:06.720 know one of the things that always stands out is 256 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.960 that that weeping part, right, the fact that it actually 257 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.600 broke his heart that his people were living this way, 258 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.840 that the walls of Jerusalem were torn down, and that 259 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:17.639 they were essentially wandering, they were essentially lost, and the 260 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:20.200 fact that he cared so much about his people. 261 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:25.440 Yeah, you know, it's interesting how so many times in 262 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:29.240 scriptures there's different examples of people's heart breaking for something. 263 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.480 You know. So I've been, I've been. I'm not nearly 264 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:36.080 as well traveled as Jeff Right, but I've been to 265 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:40.360 maybe I don't know, fifteen countries, you know. I've been 266 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.000 to Egypt and India, and I've been to you know, 267 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:48.279 Brazil in Israel and Costa Rica and Cuba and Haiti 268 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.720 and all those things. Right, So I've been to those 269 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:55.480 places and I've seen a lot of things. And it's 270 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.960 really interesting how even though that we had a lot 271 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:01.240 of global partners with our church, and was always pretty 272 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:05.039 moved by, you know, especially Cuba. I think Cuba probably 273 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:08.399 was the thing that moved me probably the most of 274 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:11.279 all the global partners from my previous church. But when 275 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:14.960 I came to Heritage Church about four years ago, I 276 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.240 was invited to I'm just talking about my heartbreaking. I 277 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:21.320 was invited to the Dominican Republic to go see college 278 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.919 buddy of mine who's you know, who's involved in anti 279 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:29.480 sex trafficking. He rescues underaged girls from sex trafficking. And 280 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.039 it's just one of those things where again I'm exposed 281 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:34.480 to a lot of things, you know, a lot of injustices, 282 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:38.559 a lot of you know, really bad things. And all 283 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:41.960 I had to do is just talk to a girl 284 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:46.639 who was rescued, and then we drove the streets of 285 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.879 this city and he was, you know, sort of giving 286 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:53.279 us a tour and showing us sort of the workings 287 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:56.759 of that area. And my heart just broke and I 288 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:00.519 just wept, and I think to myself, like, Okay, God, 289 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:05.759 God weeps all the time, right, So so for everything 290 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:09.200 that I'm placed in front of that is bad, that 291 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:11.679 is sinful, that is a result of sin and brokenness, 292 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:14.720 God weeps for all of it. Right. When I was 293 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:20.679 in India, for example, and Egypt, they discard their elderly. 294 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.279 It's it's pretty crazy, right. And even though I was 295 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:27.759 moved by that. I just I wasn't heartbroken the way 296 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.200 that some people were, you know, I was like, wow, 297 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:33.159 that was that's just that's just that's just awful. But 298 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.879 nothing like when I went to the Dominican and then 299 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.360 all of a sudden, Now, of course I'm for those 300 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:40.720 who know me, I'm on the board of Transformed one. 301 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:43.440 And by the way, it's a good opportunity to say, 302 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.360 go to transform one dot org, transform the number one 303 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.679 dot org and he just just donates something. Become a hero. 304 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:53.120 Hero is you know, forty nine bucks a month or 305 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:55.679 whatever it is. So anyway, bottom line is I just 306 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:59.320 want to talk about the fact that probably many people 307 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:05.080 have heard, hey, Jerusalem's walls are in ruin, your ancestral 308 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:10.639 city that your grandparents used to live in, is unprotected. 309 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:14.600 But Neamiah doesn't get moved. I don't think by the 310 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:19.440 fact that he knows, you know, his cousin, his cousin 311 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.840 lives in Jerusalem. Oh no, my cousin's going to be unprotected. Neamiah, 312 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:26.799 I think has moved because of God, because what does 313 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.679 he do. He prays and says, even my family is guilty, 314 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:33.039 we have sinned against you. And he's not referring to 315 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:37.559 his immediate family, sinning. Currently, he's referring to his lineage. 316 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:40.600 He's referring to the big picture. He's saying, like, I 317 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:45.120 realize that I've heard this. You know, Jerusalem's walls, they're 318 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:47.200 a remnant of what they once were. The whole city 319 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:49.559 is remnant what they once were. We were a great nation. 320 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:51.600 We were a nation that represented you. We were a 321 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:54.480 nation that once was serving you. And now all of 322 00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:00.679 this destruction and banishment and exile and scattering, and we've 323 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:03.960 all our ancestors have all contributed to this. We brought 324 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.279 this upon ourselves. He's taking responsibility for his own lineage, 325 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.919 and he's saying, even my family has done wrong. We 326 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:15.159 have all sinned. And then he quotes this promise, and dude, 327 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:20.320 it's it's one thing to read it and say, oh, nam, 328 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:22.519 I believe the promise, but it's another thing to be 329 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.360 in that situation. 330 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:23.919 Yeah. 331 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.720 Right. Have you ever been in a situation where things 332 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:29.320 seemed completely hopeless and you're thinking, there's no way this 333 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:31.799 is going to work out, and then you're you're sort 334 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.360 of forced in your faith to believe a promise. 335 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:38.080 Yeah, Yeah, especially for him considering what he had witnessed 336 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:38.799 what he'd gone through. 337 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.720 Yeah, no, I love that true. You're right. 338 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.600 The fact that he goes back, talks about all that, 339 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.399 and then talks about the fact that God was going 340 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.240 to rescue him, and then he believed that God was 341 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:47.759 going to hear his prayers. 342 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:50.960 Right, yes, right, yeah, And he actually said, he actually said, 343 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.960 he quoted a scripture and he said, so the promise 344 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:57.559 in here is that if you return to me and 345 00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:59.759 obey my commands and live by them, and even if 346 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:02.720 you're exiled to the ends of the earth, I will 347 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.759 bring you back to the place I've chosen, my name 348 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.359 be honored, and so and so so think about it. 349 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:11.400 He's he's hundreds of miles away and he's believing this 350 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:15.720 promise from you know, a couple of generations ago where 351 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:21.000 and he's he's thinking like collectively, as a whole nation. 352 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.839 This is how we know he's a great leader. He's 353 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.720 thinking not for himself or for his you know, families 354 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:28.119 in Jerusalem, he's thinking as a nation, as a people. 355 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:31.759 He's like, if we as a people came together and 356 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:35.960 returned to God, then God will bring us back. You know. 357 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.640 This is what Jerusalem needs, This is what the temple needs. Right, 358 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:43.119 this is what God. It's time for your you know, 359 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.880 for your for your name to be restored. Soniamiah has 360 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:49.720 this incredible vision and and so let me just say this, 361 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:55.160 don't ever underestimate the vision that God has given you. 362 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:58.519 And it may seem way too big for you, right, 363 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.000 it may seem like it's just a It's like, how 364 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:03.440 could I who am I that I should be able 365 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.880 to be a part of something, to accomplish something so great? 366 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:09.480 You know? How can I transform my workplace for Jesus? 367 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:13.559 How could I change my family culture to go to church? 368 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:17.759 How can I start praying at meal times or whatever 369 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.960 it is? And how can I start to become a 370 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:23.160 person of faith? Then you think maybe it's too big 371 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.359 of a dream, But don't ever underestimate that vision because 372 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.880 God can use you, one step at a time to 373 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:31.240 change a lot of things. 374 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:33.440 Yes, And I would even say, like, if there is 375 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.599 somebody listening to this, I'm sure there's everybody listening to this. 376 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:38.599 It's feeling like maybe a little bit of motivation on 377 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.279 this to step into the gap. And we're going to 378 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:43.759 see throughout the life of Neamiah through this story how 379 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:47.359 God does grant him favor, but also it all started 380 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:50.000 with his heart being broken. So I just want to 381 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:53.839 ask to our listeners, like, what breaks your heart? What 382 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:58.359 situation currently? Like Chris has mentioned he goes to Dominican 383 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:00.599 Republican his heartbroke for those people. But I imagine that 384 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.759 wasn't the first time. It's I've been dozens and if 385 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.279 not hundreds of times. I know my life, hundreds of 386 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:08.839 times we're a situation, whether it's a family member or 387 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.480 you know, even for me, I would even say when 388 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.480 I was brand new, before I even like felt called 389 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:17.400 by God into ministering to people as vocationally, I was 390 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.759 a small group leader to high school students and I 391 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:23.119 remember there was a certain type of students that I 392 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.240 was like, God broke my heart for them. There was 393 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.519 just certain students I was like, man, I just feel 394 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.920 like these kids are lost right here. And I remember 395 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:31.599 the youth pastor at the time when he met me, 396 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.359 he was like, hey, you seem like you can get 397 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:35.440 along well with these kids, and that they like you, 398 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.119 they respect you. 399 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.720 Would you mind playing basketball with them? 400 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.000 And it was those exact kids, the ones who were 401 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:43.119