WEBVTT 131 00:21:25.734 --> 00:21:29.765 Great story. Great story. You know, Helen Keller once said, alone, 132 00:21:29.825 --> 00:21:33.165 we can do so little, but together we can do so much. 133 00:21:34.305 --> 00:21:36.325 On June 6th, 1944, uh, 134 00:21:36.345 --> 00:21:40.525 the world witnessed one of the most unified military operations and human 135 00:21:40.526 --> 00:21:44.885 history when the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and World War ii. 136 00:21:45.565 --> 00:21:49.484 Uh, it's arguably one of the most pivotal and future altering, uh, 137 00:21:49.485 --> 00:21:52.645 events in our history, known by most of us as D-Day. 138 00:21:53.385 --> 00:21:55.045 And if you don't know the story, uh, 139 00:21:55.046 --> 00:21:59.605 Germany was trying to establish this totalitarian empire dominated by a master 140 00:21:59.715 --> 00:22:03.205 race. And, uh, it's estimated that by 1944, 141 00:22:03.206 --> 00:22:08.165 approximately 6 million Jews had been killed by the Nazis as a part of the 142 00:22:08.166 --> 00:22:12.484 Holocaust. And the watching world was saying someone has to do something. 143 00:22:13.625 --> 00:22:17.445 And the allies determined that freeing the continuity was gonna require this 144 00:22:17.446 --> 00:22:22.405 massive assault on the heavily fortified Atlantic wall along France's, 145 00:22:22.605 --> 00:22:25.405 Northern coast. But to pull off and to plan for an invasion like this, 146 00:22:25.715 --> 00:22:29.405 like it was gonna require military leaders from multiple nations, 147 00:22:29.406 --> 00:22:33.405 it was gonna require intelligence on the ground. Uh, naval support, infantry, 148 00:22:33.406 --> 00:22:37.045 paratroopers. It's gonna require medics, uh, even civilians. And, 149 00:22:37.046 --> 00:22:41.005 and many of who knew that like, if we really jump into this battle, 150 00:22:41.825 --> 00:22:44.045 for a lot of us, this is gonna be our last day on earth. 151 00:22:45.585 --> 00:22:46.605 But by the end of the day, 152 00:22:47.285 --> 00:22:50.925 156,000 troops had landed on the beaches, 153 00:22:50.926 --> 00:22:55.165 and the allies established a foothold. And Normandy and D-Day set in motion, 154 00:22:55.325 --> 00:22:59.965 a chain of events that actually led to the unconditional surrender of Nazi 155 00:22:59.966 --> 00:23:04.925 Germany on May 7th, 1945. Alone, we can do so little, 156 00:23:04.945 --> 00:23:07.565 but together we can do so much. Uh, 157 00:23:07.566 --> 00:23:10.845 what we're gonna see in God's word when we open it up together is God's people 158 00:23:11.205 --> 00:23:13.325 actually living into and living out this truth together. 159 00:23:13.665 --> 00:23:16.805 And so we're in week three of a series that we're calling a fresh start. Uh, 160 00:23:16.806 --> 00:23:20.685 really what we're looking at is the book of Nehemiah. And you see God's people, 161 00:23:20.785 --> 00:23:24.965 the Israelites, getting a fresh start going back to the land, uh, 162 00:23:24.966 --> 00:23:28.005 that was promised to them by God after they had been exiled out, 163 00:23:28.385 --> 00:23:32.325 living in a foreign country for almost a century. If you missed, uh, the, uh, 164 00:23:33.065 --> 00:23:36.405 the first couple weeks, I do wanna encourage you to go back and check it out. 165 00:23:36.406 --> 00:23:38.125 You can go to our website and see the messages. 166 00:23:38.126 --> 00:23:39.805 You can go to our YouTube channel. Uh, 167 00:23:39.806 --> 00:23:42.645 but just for a quick high level review in Nehemiah chapter one, 168 00:23:42.825 --> 00:23:47.445 you've got Nehemiah. Um, I'm learning from his brother that, um, 169 00:23:48.244 --> 00:23:51.605 that the Israelites back in Jerusalem, like things aren't going well. Uh, 170 00:23:51.625 --> 00:23:55.445 the city's destroyed the wall around the city's burned by fire. And he, 171 00:23:55.446 --> 00:23:58.244 he learns like, man, they're in trouble. They're in sh they're feeling shame. 172 00:23:58.505 --> 00:24:02.405 And so Nehemiah does a couple things to align his heart with God for a fresh 173 00:24:02.645 --> 00:24:06.244 start. Uh, he asks some questions. He takes inventory. Uh, 174 00:24:06.435 --> 00:24:10.005 when he finds out what's going on, he actually sits in the brokenness. 175 00:24:10.025 --> 00:24:12.005 He allows himself to be broken and to, 176 00:24:12.105 --> 00:24:15.965 to sit in the implications that moves him to this humble prayer before God. 177 00:24:15.966 --> 00:24:19.484 And then through that humble prayer, it takes him to a place of confidence. 178 00:24:19.515 --> 00:24:22.405 Like, Hey, I've got to do something and I can do something. 179 00:24:22.406 --> 00:24:25.685 That's Nehemiah chapter one. Uh, you get to Nehemiah chapter two, 180 00:24:26.465 --> 00:24:29.605 and we see this truth that all of us really naturally know in our lives, 181 00:24:29.675 --> 00:24:33.645 like making a decision on day one. That's the easy part. 182 00:24:33.875 --> 00:24:36.885 What comes after day one is day two, and that's when the opposition sets in. 183 00:24:37.105 --> 00:24:41.205 And so we saw Nehemiah see all this opposition, opposition through waiting, uh, 184 00:24:41.206 --> 00:24:45.405 opposition through, uh, the naysayers. Remember Sam b and Tobias, 185 00:24:45.406 --> 00:24:48.205 like bringing out the haterade, foreign it out all over the place. Uh, 186 00:24:48.206 --> 00:24:49.565 so he faces opposition there, 187 00:24:49.566 --> 00:24:54.405 and then he faces the opposition of just flat out seeing all the brokenness like 188 00:24:54.406 --> 00:24:55.565 face to face. But what he, 189 00:24:55.875 --> 00:25:00.365 what he showed was that when we're aligning ourselves with God for a fresh 190 00:25:00.366 --> 00:25:01.685 start, we trust in God's time. 191 00:25:01.885 --> 00:25:05.805 If we recognize the gut's calling in our lives is greater than the rumblings of 192 00:25:05.825 --> 00:25:09.885 man, um, we recognize that our God is bigger than the brokenness. 193 00:25:09.886 --> 00:25:13.885 But when we left off in chapter two, Nehemiah had just given his best, 194 00:25:13.945 --> 00:25:16.085 Mel Gibson Braveheart speech to the Israelites. 195 00:25:16.505 --> 00:25:20.005 And all of the Israelites that were there came together in chapter two, 196 00:25:20.006 --> 00:25:24.005 verse 18 and said, let us rise together and build. 197 00:25:24.645 --> 00:25:27.244 So we kind of left off at this moment right before they were gonna start 198 00:25:27.445 --> 00:25:30.045 building the wall. We're gonna jump in into chapter three. 199 00:25:30.046 --> 00:25:33.045 We're gonna see how we can be encouraged. If you have your Bibles, Nehemiah, 200 00:25:33.046 --> 00:25:36.205 chapter three, verse one, I'm gonna tell you right outta the gate, 201 00:25:37.565 --> 00:25:39.244 a lot of Jewish names here. All right? 202 00:25:40.205 --> 00:25:43.244 I don't spend a whole lot of time talking about Jewish names, 203 00:25:43.315 --> 00:25:45.445 like these types of names. So I'm gonna give this my best go, 204 00:25:45.665 --> 00:25:49.125 and we're gonna act like we're nailing it. Okay? So here we go. Chapter three, 205 00:25:49.126 --> 00:25:52.885 verse one. Then Elias, the high priest rose up with his brothers, the priest, 206 00:25:53.305 --> 00:25:56.845 and they built the sheep gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. 207 00:25:57.315 --> 00:26:00.005 They consecrated it as far as the tower of the hundred, 208 00:26:00.945 --> 00:26:05.445 as far as the tower of Hannah Nell. So you have Elia, he's a high priest, 209 00:26:05.675 --> 00:26:05.965 okay? 210 00:26:05.965 --> 00:26:09.605 Essentially what that means is he's the leader of all the other priests having 211 00:26:09.625 --> 00:26:13.525 the priest involved as critical in particular for making sure that this is built 212 00:26:13.835 --> 00:26:16.244 back in line with God's commands. Uh, 213 00:26:17.165 --> 00:26:21.565 I want us to see this is not just the story of like a physical renewal of a 214 00:26:21.566 --> 00:26:26.005 wall. Like this is a story of a spiritual renewal for God's people. 215 00:26:26.006 --> 00:26:28.805 This was the fresh start on their identity as the people of God. 216 00:26:28.806 --> 00:26:32.125 They had lost their identity when they were in exile. And Babylon, 217 00:26:33.625 --> 00:26:37.365 what's the sheep gate? Uh, the sheep gate, most likely near the Temple Mount. 218 00:26:38.325 --> 00:26:38.326 Uh, 219 00:26:38.326 --> 00:26:42.725 it's the gate that's used for bringing in the sheep to the temple for sacrifice. 220 00:26:43.805 --> 00:26:45.405 Uh, you got a note here. Uh, 221 00:26:45.425 --> 00:26:50.125 you've got priests who might not be known for their subcontractor skills, 222 00:26:51.085 --> 00:26:55.295 okay? So if you need somebody to come over to your house and do trim work, um, 223 00:26:55.315 --> 00:26:58.055 you might not want ask a pastor. Uh, if you ask me, I, 224 00:26:58.095 --> 00:27:01.415 I actually grew up in a custom cabinet shop with my dad, so you'd actually, 225 00:27:01.475 --> 00:27:04.175 if I can make it and get it on my calendar, I'd be happy to come help you out. 226 00:27:04.365 --> 00:27:05.734 Most of the time, that's not the case. 227 00:27:06.835 --> 00:27:09.494 But these guys are responsible for the work that needs to be done. 228 00:27:09.615 --> 00:27:12.695 I was talking to Jay Jennings, one of our elders right before I came out here, 229 00:27:12.696 --> 00:27:15.295 and he said, man, sometimes it seems like when the movement of God happens, 230 00:27:15.365 --> 00:27:18.535 like it's just all hands on deck, right? And that's what we see when you, 231 00:27:18.935 --> 00:27:20.734 and so what we see in Nehemiah chapter three, 232 00:27:20.735 --> 00:27:23.335 when we align ourselves with God for a fresh start, 233 00:27:24.085 --> 00:27:27.455 everybody has a role to play. Everybody's got a role to play. 234 00:27:27.456 --> 00:27:29.815 Sometimes it's in our area of gifting, right? 235 00:27:29.835 --> 00:27:32.935 For the priest in the consecration of this stuff, 236 00:27:32.936 --> 00:27:36.455 like making sure it's done God's way, that's their wheelhouse. Um, 237 00:27:36.725 --> 00:27:41.255 sometimes it's not like the priests aren't builders, but there's clearly a need. 238 00:27:41.475 --> 00:27:46.055 And so everybody's got a role to play. Uh, jump into verse two, and next to him, 239 00:27:46.715 --> 00:27:51.015 the men of Jericho built, and next to them, zakour, the son of Emery, 240 00:27:51.175 --> 00:27:55.895 built men of Jericho, uh, referring to people from the city of Jericho, 241 00:27:55.896 --> 00:27:58.335 which is actually located for you guys, 242 00:27:58.336 --> 00:28:02.135 it would be this way east of no east of Jerusalem, all right? 243 00:28:02.136 --> 00:28:05.815 And so the mention of these guys knowing they're actually not from Jerusalem, 244 00:28:06.275 --> 00:28:09.975 it shows that people even outside from outside of Jerusalem, 245 00:28:09.984 --> 00:28:10.895 still a part of Israel, 246 00:28:11.005 --> 00:28:14.494 like they're showing up and being involved in the reconstruction of the wall. 247 00:28:14.495 --> 00:28:17.935 Like there's a unity amongst God's people that's selfless. 248 00:28:18.395 --> 00:28:22.415 And if you've ever been on a team that's like, had that we over me attitude, 249 00:28:22.435 --> 00:28:24.295 and they just understand, Hey, this is about me. 250 00:28:24.525 --> 00:28:27.815 This is about what we're trying to accomplish, special stuff happens. 251 00:28:27.875 --> 00:28:30.055 And that's what you see what's going on right here in verse one. 252 00:28:30.056 --> 00:28:33.455 You see the priests like they're handling something that directly impacts them, 253 00:28:33.505 --> 00:28:36.815 right? The temple, uh, they're consecrating it, they're doing their thing. 254 00:28:36.955 --> 00:28:37.656 But in verse two, 255 00:28:37.656 --> 00:28:41.535 you see folks coming from another town to do something just because it needs to 256 00:28:41.536 --> 00:28:44.015 be done. Uh, just last week, uh, 257 00:28:44.016 --> 00:28:46.895 if you're listening online and you don't actually live around North Carolina, 258 00:28:46.995 --> 00:28:50.575 we had a terrible snow storm. I mean like three feet of snow and ice. 259 00:28:50.795 --> 00:28:54.495 We had to shut everything down. Um, but at our Northwest carry campus, 260 00:28:55.325 --> 00:28:58.415 they actually couldn't get to their trailers to set up at Panther Creek High 261 00:28:58.416 --> 00:29:02.015 School. And our Garner campus delayed their start until 1115, 262 00:29:02.595 --> 00:29:05.935 but Quay was still gonna meet on time. But because of the snow and stuff, 263 00:29:05.936 --> 00:29:07.495 we had some volunteers that couldn't get over there. 264 00:29:07.495 --> 00:29:11.215 So like our Northwest carry campus folk and some of our Raleigh campus folk, 265 00:29:11.455 --> 00:29:13.935 gay pants, campus folk, they went over there and helped them out. I mean, 266 00:29:14.125 --> 00:29:16.775 when you're a part of a church family, that's, that's just what you do. 267 00:29:16.776 --> 00:29:20.095 Like you're not just looking to do what serves your own needs. 268 00:29:20.235 --> 00:29:23.685 So everyone's got a role to play. It said, 269 00:29:23.686 --> 00:29:28.125 next to the minute of Jericho was the co who was the cour, uh, from this, 270 00:29:28.126 --> 00:29:30.205 we don't know much about him, to be honest with you. 271 00:29:30.515 --> 00:29:34.805 What we do know is that he wasn't from Jericho like these other guys were, 272 00:29:35.505 --> 00:29:39.285 but he was working with him. And that could seem insignificant, 273 00:29:40.225 --> 00:29:42.645 but it's worth noting, like clearly he cared enough, 274 00:29:42.646 --> 00:29:45.805 clearly they were broken enough over what needed to be done, 275 00:29:46.195 --> 00:29:48.925 that they were willing to come together and put in the work that needed to be 276 00:29:48.926 --> 00:29:52.165 done. Everyone has a role. Verse three, 277 00:29:53.225 --> 00:29:57.365 the sons of Senna built the fish gate. They laid its beams. 278 00:29:57.675 --> 00:29:59.885 They said it's doors, it's bolts, it's bars. 279 00:30:00.395 --> 00:30:03.285 This is just telling you of yet another family that's jumping in. You know, 280 00:30:03.286 --> 00:30:06.325 we talk a lot about the church being a family of families. 281 00:30:06.326 --> 00:30:09.685 Like you're seeing this right here before our eyes. Uh, you get to verse four, 282 00:30:10.545 --> 00:30:14.005 and uh, here we go with the names. And next to them, MIMO, the son of Uriah, 283 00:30:14.345 --> 00:30:18.485 son of Kakas repaired, and next to them, Ulam, 284 00:30:18.505 --> 00:30:23.365 the son of Barak, son of Bel repaired. And next to them, Zac, 285 00:30:23.505 --> 00:30:27.605 the son of Banner repaired. Notice here, verse four, 286 00:30:28.225 --> 00:30:32.005 how it says not only Mary Moth's son of Uriah, 287 00:30:32.025 --> 00:30:35.285 but then it also adds like the son of Haas to the end of that, 288 00:30:36.985 --> 00:30:38.685 that's telling us that that mimo, 289 00:30:38.745 --> 00:30:42.125 he actually probably came from a pretty significant family lineage. 290 00:30:42.235 --> 00:30:44.205 Like it's this, and this is from his dad, 291 00:30:44.206 --> 00:30:46.325 but like that they really came from this, these people. 292 00:30:46.395 --> 00:30:49.725 Same thing when it mentions Lum, the son of Baraka, the son of 293 00:30:52.125 --> 00:30:54.805 mesh, Isabel, yeah, right? So, but look, I mean, 294 00:30:54.806 --> 00:30:57.205 this is like saying in today's world, like they were, yeah, 295 00:30:57.206 --> 00:31:00.725 they come from like the Rockefeller family. This is like saying, uh, 296 00:31:00.745 --> 00:31:05.125 for our younger audience, like, oh, they're related to Mr. Beast, okay? Like, 297 00:31:05.126 --> 00:31:08.125 this is a, this is a big deal. But what this is saying is like, 298 00:31:08.195 --> 00:31:10.805 this is not just regular citizens playing a part. 299 00:31:10.806 --> 00:31:13.405 Like everybody's all in their involvement in the building process. 300 00:31:13.945 --> 00:31:18.405 It shows the breadth of participation. Like everybody's in, uh, priests, 301 00:31:18.965 --> 00:31:22.845 everyday citizens, people with a big name, blue collar workers, you name it. 302 00:31:22.846 --> 00:31:25.925 Everybody's in it together. Because when we align with God for a fresh start, 303 00:31:26.155 --> 00:31:30.805 everybody's got a role to play. And this is probably, 304 00:31:30.865 --> 00:31:34.445 if you know anything about Nehemiah chapter three, um, 305 00:31:34.625 --> 00:31:36.925 or if you've just been paying attention this far, which I hope you have, 306 00:31:36.926 --> 00:31:38.645 you're probably tempted to ask, uh, 307 00:31:39.785 --> 00:31:43.045 is this whole chapter just gonna be about you going through names that you're 308 00:31:43.046 --> 00:31:47.325 having a difficult time pronouncing and then telling us what it was to they did 309 00:31:47.326 --> 00:31:49.605 to build the wall? And, uh, 310 00:31:51.425 --> 00:31:54.325 the answer to that question is yes. Uh, that's exactly what chapter three does. 311 00:31:54.665 --> 00:31:57.805 The whole thing tar up by literally the entire chapter. Uh, 312 00:31:57.806 --> 00:32:00.005 so I'm not gonna read the whole thing, all right? Uh, 313 00:32:00.025 --> 00:32:02.045 but there is one more verse that I wanna point out. 314 00:32:02.046 --> 00:32:04.525 We're gonna go through verse five, and then I'm gonna be tell you, hey, 315 00:32:04.526 --> 00:32:06.885 the rest of the verse, uh, chapter is just rinse and repeat. 316 00:32:06.886 --> 00:32:10.205 So go back and read it on your own. But verse five is so interesting, it says, 317 00:32:10.505 --> 00:32:14.205 and next to them, the teko whites, they repaired, 318 00:32:14.545 --> 00:32:17.685 but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. 319 00:32:19.145 --> 00:32:23.325 The Teko whites, you could probably guess this, they come from the town of Koa, 320 00:32:23.965 --> 00:32:26.005 uh, that was located in the southern part of Judah. 321 00:32:26.825 --> 00:32:28.365 But look at how the verse finishes. 322 00:32:29.055 --> 00:32:32.045 Their nobles would not stoop to serve the Lord, 323 00:32:33.825 --> 00:32:34.725 in case you miss it. 324 00:32:34.726 --> 00:32:38.805 This is Nehemiah 100% throwing shade at these guys for not wanting to get their 325 00:32:38.806 --> 00:32:42.405 hands dirty. I mean, he's calling 'em out right here. It's recorded. Now, 326 00:32:42.525 --> 00:32:44.365 the NIV, it translates it a little bit differently. 327 00:32:44.385 --> 00:32:46.485 If you have an NIV translation, it says, 328 00:32:46.486 --> 00:32:49.725 but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their 329 00:32:49.875 --> 00:32:52.125 supervisors. It's a little bit different than the Lord, 330 00:32:52.905 --> 00:32:57.485 but that's because the Hebrew word, it technically can refer to a God, uh, to, 331 00:32:57.705 --> 00:33:01.365 to our God, to the Lord God, or to human leaders. Uh, 332 00:33:01.395 --> 00:33:05.405 most scholars do agree though that it's referring to the Lord because, uh, 333 00:33:05.675 --> 00:33:08.645 they were viewed the rebuilding of the wall as like an act of worship, 334 00:33:09.645 --> 00:33:12.125 as an act of obedience for God's plans and purposes for his people, 335 00:33:12.126 --> 00:33:15.325 because they understood God's covenant to his people. Uh, 336 00:33:15.385 --> 00:33:17.765 I'm gonna deliver you to a promised land. Uh, 337 00:33:17.766 --> 00:33:18.925 you're gonna be blessed to be a blessing. 338 00:33:18.926 --> 00:33:20.685 So they believed they were a part of this, 339 00:33:20.705 --> 00:33:24.085 so this really was an act of worship for them. But either way, 340 00:33:24.905 --> 00:33:27.925 the Bible also tells us that no authority has been placed over us, 341 00:33:28.155 --> 00:33:32.605 such that has been allowed by God. And so if that's the case, 342 00:33:33.185 --> 00:33:37.445 the picture's really the same. So God's people are called into a fresh start, 343 00:33:37.815 --> 00:33:40.485 right? Into living out his plans and purposes in these men. 344 00:33:41.075 --> 00:33:42.565 They're not engaging in their part. 345 00:33:44.265 --> 00:33:47.365 And so what you really see is a lack of humility. 346 00:33:48.965 --> 00:33:52.325 Like what you really see is this excess of pride in these guys' lives. 347 00:33:52.745 --> 00:33:54.525 And so Nehemiah is saying with, uh, 348 00:33:54.565 --> 00:33:58.445 I wanna let you know with a not very appreciative tone, , he's saying, 349 00:33:58.446 --> 00:34:01.525 these men are acting too good to do the work that God's called them to do, 350 00:34:01.995 --> 00:34:04.085 when clearly the people around it need their help. 351 00:34:05.385 --> 00:34:07.405 And so we gotta ask ourselves this question, you know, 352 00:34:07.406 --> 00:34:09.125 and we will get to some application here in a minute, 353 00:34:09.145 --> 00:34:12.725 but are there areas in our lives where God's calling us to act, 354 00:34:14.105 --> 00:34:18.325 but we're tempted to maybe act like one of these nobles? 355 00:34:19.895 --> 00:34:21.475 Do we have those here in our lives? Men? 356 00:34:21.935 --> 00:34:25.395 Are we at the house knowing that something needs to be done, but we're like, 357 00:34:25.585 --> 00:34:27.475 well, this isn't what I do. 358 00:34:29.455 --> 00:34:33.895 Are we at our house being passive, uh, women? Are there things that we, uh, 359 00:34:33.896 --> 00:34:36.935 that we you see in your husband's life where, you know what, 360 00:34:37.925 --> 00:34:40.815 there's an area that I could probably encourage my husband that I could be a 361 00:34:40.816 --> 00:34:45.285 helper to my husband, but the truth is he just ought to be better. Like, 362 00:34:45.305 --> 00:34:47.725 do you have those areas? But if you do, by the way, 363 00:34:47.726 --> 00:34:51.325 I want you to know he needs your encouragement. He needs your help. 364 00:34:52.765 --> 00:34:52.766 Do, 365 00:34:52.766 --> 00:34:56.125 do you find yourself on a school project or at work or in your church thinking, 366 00:34:56.305 --> 00:34:57.844 Hey, somebody else is gonna do it. 367 00:35:01.355 --> 00:35:05.085 When we align with God for a fresh start, everyone has a role to play. 368 00:35:06.315 --> 00:35:11.085 It's not about our preferences, it's about what God's plans and purposes are. 369 00:35:12.605 --> 00:35:14.325 I'm gonna say that again. It's not about our preferences, 370 00:35:14.915 --> 00:35:16.445 it's about God's plans and purposes. 371 00:35:16.625 --> 00:35:19.765 We see that all throughout the Old Testament, God created, he had a people, 372 00:35:20.025 --> 00:35:23.045 he had plans, he had a purpose, he had a covenant. That's what it's about. 373 00:35:23.046 --> 00:35:27.364 We see the same thing. And then two testament, okay, we're gonna switch gears. 374 00:35:27.625 --> 00:35:30.005 That's the first five verses of Nehemiah chapter three. 375 00:35:30.305 --> 00:35:33.125 If you keep reading what you should go home and read, I am telling you, 376 00:35:33.185 --> 00:35:36.085 you're gonna see the same thing over and over and over again, 377 00:35:36.086 --> 00:35:38.485 just with other names that you might not know how to pronounce. So, 378 00:35:39.364 --> 00:35:41.485 but so as opposed to reading that what, what we're gonna do, 379 00:35:42.395 --> 00:35:43.445 same thing we did last week. 380 00:35:43.445 --> 00:35:46.844 We're gonna pull out some things that we can actually apply to our lives that we 381 00:35:46.845 --> 00:35:47.025 see. 382 00:35:47.025 --> 00:35:50.885 And then we're gonna see how Nehemiah three really fits into the overarching 383 00:35:50.886 --> 00:35:54.925 narrative of scripture. So, few principles that I wanna highlight for us, 384 00:35:58.975 --> 00:36:02.855 I want you guys to know I really did get an email. So I drink sparkling water. 385 00:36:03.125 --> 00:36:05.735 Okay? Sorry, it sounds a little bougie. I'm really not a bougie guy. 386 00:36:05.765 --> 00:36:09.855 Someone really emailed me and asked if I had a Rolling Rock on stage on the 387 00:36:09.856 --> 00:36:12.215 bottle. 'cause the bottle's kind of green. It's not. 388 00:36:12.844 --> 00:36:16.935 This is sparkling water promise. Okay? 389 00:36:18.515 --> 00:36:21.415 No idea why I just told you that. Alright, a few principles. 390 00:36:21.455 --> 00:36:24.135 I wanna highlight three things that jump out when it comes to God, 391 00:36:24.136 --> 00:36:27.575 when it comes to what God has for his people. Everybody has a role, 392 00:36:27.925 --> 00:36:29.575 chapter three of Nehemiah. You've got, 393 00:36:29.715 --> 00:36:33.375 you've got 40 different groups of people who worked on the wall. Priests, 394 00:36:33.425 --> 00:36:37.255 Goldsmiths, merchants, uh, even families came together, uh, from, 395 00:36:37.256 --> 00:36:40.215 from other places to work. Some families just worked on the, the, the, 396 00:36:40.235 --> 00:36:43.415 the sections of the wall closest to their home. But no one was too important. 397 00:36:43.515 --> 00:36:45.055 No one was too insignificant for the work. 398 00:36:45.925 --> 00:36:48.655 When God calls his people to participate in his work. It, 399 00:36:48.656 --> 00:36:51.094 it doesn't matter your background, it doesn't matter your skillset, 400 00:36:51.355 --> 00:36:53.895 it doesn't matter your title. It doesn't matter. Your bank account, 401 00:36:54.315 --> 00:36:59.135 the family is strongest when every member contributes within the family of God. 402 00:36:59.195 --> 00:37:03.975 We all have roles and responsibilities. Everyone has a role. See it clearly. 403 00:37:04.255 --> 00:37:06.935 Secondly, when it comes to what God has for his people, uh, 404 00:37:07.335 --> 00:37:12.175 rebuilding often starts at home. A lot of families were repair, 405 00:37:12.695 --> 00:37:14.575 were repairing the wall. If you go through and read, 406 00:37:14.576 --> 00:37:17.335 you'll see they're repairing the wall near their homes. 407 00:37:17.336 --> 00:37:20.455 Like Nehemiah's strategy was incredibly intentional. 408 00:37:21.055 --> 00:37:22.735 Rebuilding starts with what's closest to you. 409 00:37:23.435 --> 00:37:25.295 And so if you're looking for a fresh start in your life, 410 00:37:26.575 --> 00:37:30.935 I gotta say it's gotta start at home. Like before, 411 00:37:30.936 --> 00:37:32.815 like if the church is a family of families, 412 00:37:32.816 --> 00:37:34.455 before we can build a healthy church, 413 00:37:34.456 --> 00:37:36.375 before we can build a healthy community around us, 414 00:37:36.785 --> 00:37:39.735 we've gotta strengthen our relationship with God. Uh, 415 00:37:39.745 --> 00:37:42.415 we've gotta be willing to address the brokenness in our own lives, 416 00:37:42.416 --> 00:37:44.495 and we've gotta be willing to address the brokenness in our families. 417 00:37:46.215 --> 00:37:49.815 It starts at home. And lastly, when it comes to what God has for his people, 418 00:37:51.075 --> 00:37:54.015 it is we over me. It's we over me. 419 00:37:54.645 --> 00:37:58.025 Some folks that were working on that wall, they weren't, 420 00:37:58.026 --> 00:37:59.105 they didn't even live in the city, 421 00:38:00.045 --> 00:38:04.825 but they understood this is imperative for God's plans and for God's purposes. 422 00:38:04.975 --> 00:38:09.145 They understood that God had a desire for, for their people to thrive in Israel. 423 00:38:09.165 --> 00:38:11.344 And this was a part of actually bringing that to life. 424 00:38:11.525 --> 00:38:15.145 And the temptation is to go through life and think this someone else will do it. 425 00:38:16.245 --> 00:38:19.665 That's not my skillset, that's not my area of passion. 426 00:38:19.805 --> 00:38:22.505 I'd rather give my time and energy and resources somewhere else. 427 00:38:22.685 --> 00:38:25.505 But we've gotta be careful not to be like those nobles. 428 00:38:25.506 --> 00:38:29.385 Like we've gotta realize the call on our lives that we were created to live out 429 00:38:30.205 --> 00:38:33.385 is bigger than ourselves. It's we over me. 430 00:38:35.505 --> 00:38:38.165 So that's the application from Nehemiah chapter three. Um, 431 00:38:38.225 --> 00:38:41.285 I'm gonna come back towards the end and I'll sum it all up again. But I want, 432 00:38:41.445 --> 00:38:44.245 I want us to see how it fits kind of through a New Testament lens. 433 00:38:45.025 --> 00:38:46.125 So I wanna take a look at this, 434 00:38:46.126 --> 00:38:48.525 how it fits into the bigger overarching narrative of scripture. 435 00:38:48.605 --> 00:38:51.485 I told you last week, Nehemiah is not really a story about Nehemiah. 436 00:38:51.525 --> 00:38:53.645 I mean it is, but it's really a story about God. 437 00:38:53.646 --> 00:38:57.325 Like this is a story about God's faithfulness to his people and the covenant 438 00:38:57.326 --> 00:39:01.605 that he made with his people, right? The covenant that he would be their God, 439 00:39:01.635 --> 00:39:05.085 they would be his people. They would live out his plans and purposes, 440 00:39:05.086 --> 00:39:07.325 and then they would be blessed to be a blessing to the world around them. 441 00:39:07.795 --> 00:39:12.245 Like this is a story of how God called and worked in and through his people 442 00:39:12.705 --> 00:39:15.725 for his covenant. But guess what? 443 00:39:17.195 --> 00:39:18.685 Even though they get the wall built, 444 00:39:19.915 --> 00:39:21.925 they still turn around and start messing things up again. 445 00:39:21.926 --> 00:39:23.805 Like if you remember from chapter one, uh, 446 00:39:23.806 --> 00:39:25.965 the Bible tells us all through the Old Testament prophets, 447 00:39:26.155 --> 00:39:30.405 this was going to happen. If you don't turn back to God, if you don't stop, 448 00:39:30.995 --> 00:39:34.205 stop rebelling against God, this is gonna happen. Well now, 449 00:39:34.206 --> 00:39:36.485 like the prophecies come through, they've got back the promised land, 450 00:39:36.486 --> 00:39:39.364 they get the wall built, and then they start messing things up again. 451 00:39:40.485 --> 00:39:42.925 Nehemiah does realize this. He freaks out. 452 00:39:43.525 --> 00:39:47.885 I don't know if we're gonna cover this in our, uh, uh, uh, in our series. 453 00:39:48.205 --> 00:39:51.085 It's not necessarily the most politically correct thing to talk about, 454 00:39:51.105 --> 00:39:54.485 but Nehemiah literally shows back up, sees them getting things wrong, 455 00:39:54.486 --> 00:39:57.565 and starts pulling out people's beard. I mean, it's pretty intense. Uh, 456 00:39:58.344 --> 00:40:02.725 but like, even though that happens, he gets 'em straight for a little bit. 457 00:40:03.065 --> 00:40:06.844 But that's short lived. And that's really the story of the Old Testament. 458 00:40:06.845 --> 00:40:10.085 Like it's God's got this covenant with his people, they pursue God, 459 00:40:10.235 --> 00:40:12.525 then they start jacking things up, they pursue God, 460 00:40:12.594 --> 00:40:14.765 they start jacking things up, they pursue. I mean, 461 00:40:14.766 --> 00:40:17.085 it's just over and over and over and over again. 462 00:40:17.705 --> 00:40:20.805 And so what you see after Nehemiah is you start transitioning into the New 463 00:40:20.965 --> 00:40:22.885 Testament, is God has a bigger plan. 464 00:40:24.665 --> 00:40:26.085 And so you get to the New Testament, 465 00:40:26.205 --> 00:40:29.885 Jesus shows up on the scene and through his life, death and resurrection, 466 00:40:29.945 --> 00:40:33.765 God institutes a new covenant. So old covenant with the Israelites, 467 00:40:33.864 --> 00:40:37.085 the family of God or the Jewish people, new covenant says, no, no, no, 468 00:40:37.086 --> 00:40:39.525 you no longer have to be an Israelite to be a son or daughter of God. 469 00:40:39.795 --> 00:40:42.364 Like this is now open up to every man, woman, child. 470 00:40:42.625 --> 00:40:45.885 You simply just have to believe that Jesus was the son of God, 471 00:40:45.995 --> 00:40:49.805 that he's the Messiah that the Old Testament prophesied about and accept that he 472 00:40:49.835 --> 00:40:53.364 paid the price for your sins on a cross, and that he rose from the dead. 473 00:40:53.545 --> 00:40:56.565 And if you believe that you're a part of the family of God, 474 00:40:57.864 --> 00:41:02.085 and now you will be blessed to be a blessing if you live out God's plans and 475 00:41:02.086 --> 00:41:03.485 purposes for the world. 476 00:41:05.815 --> 00:41:08.245 Jesus referred to this as the kingdom of God. 477 00:41:09.265 --> 00:41:12.285 And I think it's crazy like the church in the West, like in America, 478 00:41:12.545 --> 00:41:14.485 we don't talk about the kingdom of God all that much. 479 00:41:14.505 --> 00:41:17.485 And it sounds kind of spooky and crazy. And what does that really mean? Uh, 480 00:41:17.985 --> 00:41:19.885 we talk about getting saved and that type, 481 00:41:20.005 --> 00:41:21.165 but we don't talk about the kingdom of God, 482 00:41:21.166 --> 00:41:24.844 which is nuts because Jesus talks about the kingdom of God all the time. 483 00:41:25.835 --> 00:41:28.285 Like he teaches in parables. The kingdom of God is like this. 484 00:41:28.286 --> 00:41:29.565 The kingdom of God is like this. The kingdom, 485 00:41:29.745 --> 00:41:31.005 the guy was only on Earth three years. 486 00:41:31.125 --> 00:41:34.005 I promise He wouldn't be telling stories about what the kingdom of God was about 487 00:41:34.006 --> 00:41:38.005 if it wasn't important. In fact, mark chapter one, verse 15, uh, this, 488 00:41:38.006 --> 00:41:40.165 this is right when Jesus starts his ministry, 489 00:41:40.225 --> 00:41:43.885 the first thing he really comes out and says, he says, the time is fulfilled. 490 00:41:44.225 --> 00:41:48.165 The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. 491 00:41:49.265 --> 00:41:53.715 Believe in the good news of the kingdom. So I want you to understand, 492 00:41:53.716 --> 00:41:55.635 just because the old covenant is gone, 493 00:41:56.025 --> 00:42:00.275 like God's heart is still for his plans and purposes to advance throughout the 494 00:42:00.276 --> 00:42:04.955 world, like the New Testament is not start a new relationship with Jesus, 495 00:42:05.015 --> 00:42:06.275 so I can get to heaven and that's it. 496 00:42:07.645 --> 00:42:10.844 Like one day Jesus will come back to this earth, okay? And, 497 00:42:10.845 --> 00:42:14.245 and he'll establish a new heaven and a new earth and talk about building a, 498 00:42:14.325 --> 00:42:17.965 a new city. He's gonna put all this back together again. But until then, 499 00:42:18.665 --> 00:42:20.325 our call as the family of God, 500 00:42:21.185 --> 00:42:24.445 as Jesus's church is to live out the kingdom of God, 501 00:42:24.625 --> 00:42:26.885 to live out God's plans and purposes in the world around us. 502 00:42:27.145 --> 00:42:28.765 And I'm not saying that is, that's what, 503 00:42:29.205 --> 00:42:31.285 like our salvation is contingent upon that. 504 00:42:31.825 --> 00:42:35.765 I'm just saying our life and Christ and the life that God has for us is bigger 505 00:42:35.795 --> 00:42:37.085 than just a salvation moment. 506 00:42:41.005 --> 00:42:43.645 And I want you to see this very clearly. Like this should kind of be like a, 507 00:42:44.275 --> 00:42:47.685 like, okay, that makes a lot of sense, just putting the, 508 00:42:47.745 --> 00:42:49.925 the scriptures together. Old Testament, new Testament, 509 00:42:50.335 --> 00:42:55.085 while we see Nehemiah being used by God to build a wall, uh, 510 00:42:55.915 --> 00:42:59.844 it's really a picture like it's, it's really a symbol. 511 00:42:59.915 --> 00:43:02.885 It's a glimpse of how Jesus came to build his church. 512 00:43:04.765 --> 00:43:07.025 You know, Nehemiah is using these broken, 513 00:43:07.535 --> 00:43:10.265 beat up burnt stones to rebuild this wall. 514 00:43:11.985 --> 00:43:14.725 And then now you've got Jesus, and I don't know about you, 515 00:43:14.755 --> 00:43:19.525 I'll just speak for myself, but using this beaten, broken down, 516 00:43:20.495 --> 00:43:24.725 shame filled man to somehow play a role in building his church, 517 00:43:24.726 --> 00:43:27.565 which is gonna be a part of expanding hische. I mean, it, 518 00:43:27.765 --> 00:43:31.165 it doesn't even make sense. But that's what Jesus came to do. And we, 519 00:43:31.705 --> 00:43:36.165 how we play a part in Jesus building his church. It's really no different, 520 00:43:36.885 --> 00:43:37.305 uh, 521 00:43:37.305 --> 00:43:41.405 for us as the New Testament Church than it was for Nehemiah and the Israelites. 522 00:43:41.525 --> 00:43:42.358 In Nehemiah chapter three, 523 00:43:42.645 --> 00:43:45.045 I want you to look at what Paul wrote to the church in Rome. 524 00:43:45.046 --> 00:43:48.405 This is a New Testament. Just in case you don't know, Romans chapter 12, 525 00:43:49.605 --> 00:43:53.165 verses four through eight. It says, for his in one body, we have many members, 526 00:43:53.585 --> 00:43:56.285 and the members do not all have the same function. 527 00:43:56.945 --> 00:44:01.525 So we though many are one body in Christ and 528 00:44:01.645 --> 00:44:05.565 individually members one of another, that means we're interdependent. 529 00:44:05.566 --> 00:44:09.325 Like you can't separate it, right? Like we're all in this thing together, 530 00:44:09.825 --> 00:44:14.325 having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Uh, 531 00:44:14.475 --> 00:44:15.308 some of the, 532 00:44:15.765 --> 00:44:20.085 our guys on our worship team like Sam Cannoli and Rob Jones and Aaron Pelosi, 533 00:44:20.086 --> 00:44:22.645 these guys are clearly given a bit more, um, 534 00:44:23.055 --> 00:44:26.245 grace to the gifts that they have than the rest of us. Um, 535 00:44:26.965 --> 00:44:29.805 I can grow a good beard. That's about it. Uh, having , 536 00:44:29.806 --> 00:44:32.200 having the gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, 537 00:44:32.465 --> 00:44:35.245 let us use them if prophecy and proportion to our faith, 538 00:44:35.665 --> 00:44:39.045 if service in our serving, if the one who teaches and is teaching, 539 00:44:39.046 --> 00:44:40.685 if the one who exhorts in his exhortation, 540 00:44:40.686 --> 00:44:44.565 if the one who contributes and generosity, the one who leads lead with zeal, 541 00:44:44.566 --> 00:44:48.844 and the one who does acts of mercy, do so with cheerfulness, Paul's saying, Hey, 542 00:44:48.864 --> 00:44:50.725 if you're a part of the family of God, 543 00:44:51.705 --> 00:44:55.285 you have a role to play play it well. He's like, 544 00:44:55.286 --> 00:44:57.445 you have a role to play in living out God's kingdom. 545 00:44:57.585 --> 00:45:01.445 You have a role to play in living out God's plans and purposes and for this 546 00:45:01.446 --> 00:45:02.645 world, for it to come to life. 547 00:45:04.065 --> 00:45:07.755 You have a role to play and bringing healing to your family. 548 00:45:10.395 --> 00:45:11.655 You have a role to play in, 549 00:45:11.815 --> 00:45:16.655 like in bringing mercy and justice and compassion 550 00:45:17.515 --> 00:45:21.935 to a world that desperately needs it. You, you have a role to play and man, 551 00:45:22.055 --> 00:45:26.975 and bringing the love of God to people's lives who desperately 552 00:45:26.976 --> 00:45:27.515 need it, 553 00:45:27.515 --> 00:45:31.255 who truthfully are still sitting right in the midst of their sin and brokenness. 554 00:45:32.315 --> 00:45:36.935 But that's our responsibility, that's our call. And it takes all of us, 555 00:45:38.185 --> 00:45:39.755 like every single one of us have a role. 556 00:45:40.614 --> 00:45:43.555 And so we say at hope that we're a family 557 00:45:45.094 --> 00:45:48.875 who loves God follows Jesus and shares hope, but I want you to, man, 558 00:45:48.885 --> 00:45:51.075 those aren't just words that we throw up on a wall. 559 00:45:51.076 --> 00:45:53.795 Like that's not things that we put on a t-shirt. There is a so that, 560 00:45:53.815 --> 00:45:58.594 and it's so that we can display in part the kingdom of God to a broken world 561 00:45:58.785 --> 00:46:02.795 that desperately needs to experience it. Ultimately, 562 00:46:02.855 --> 00:46:03.995 that's why we don't go to heaven. 563 00:46:04.335 --> 00:46:08.355 The moment that we believe in Jesus is our Savior, like we have purpose. 564 00:46:10.215 --> 00:46:12.915 And so through the gospel of Jesus, the good news of the kingdom, 565 00:46:13.655 --> 00:46:17.045 the application is really the same. 566 00:46:17.795 --> 00:46:20.925 It's the same thing that we saw in Nehemiah when it comes to what God has for 567 00:46:20.926 --> 00:46:24.045 his people. Rebuilding often starts at home. 568 00:46:25.614 --> 00:46:27.605 Bless you. Look, look, 569 00:46:27.635 --> 00:46:32.165 none of this really matters if you don't have a personal relationship with God 570 00:46:32.166 --> 00:46:35.445 through Jesus. Like this would all just be self-help stuff. 571 00:46:35.446 --> 00:46:37.725 Chicken noodle soup for the soul. Like it, 572 00:46:37.875 --> 00:46:42.725 it's not va like all this is imp this is valuable because of who Jesus is and 573 00:46:42.726 --> 00:46:45.525 what he did for us on the cross and through his resurrection. Um, 574 00:46:45.594 --> 00:46:48.405 I've got a friend, uh, Jaren Holmes. He goes to the Apex campus. 575 00:46:48.505 --> 00:46:52.045 He posted on Facebook earlier this week. He said, just a reminder, 576 00:46:52.094 --> 00:46:56.965 there is a distinct difference between knowing about God and 577 00:46:56.966 --> 00:47:00.614 knowing God. Man, you, I'm just telling you, 578 00:47:00.615 --> 00:47:05.535 you could get up here and preach sermons on the Bible and actually not know 579 00:47:05.555 --> 00:47:09.895 God just because you know about God. And so we gotta, 580 00:47:09.945 --> 00:47:12.295 everything starts at home. Everything starts with us. 581 00:47:12.315 --> 00:47:16.175 And so if you've never made that decision to start a relationship with God 582 00:47:16.405 --> 00:47:20.435 through Jesus Christ, and I'm just telling you, 583 00:47:20.635 --> 00:47:23.795 I I'm praying that you just sense that prodding of the Holy Spirit, 584 00:47:24.465 --> 00:47:26.715 like you will not, I i just don't believe you. 585 00:47:26.795 --> 00:47:30.205 I know you're not gonna find the hope and the peace and the joy and the love 586 00:47:30.206 --> 00:47:32.245 that actually comes from living in this, 587 00:47:32.305 --> 00:47:35.005 living out this kingdom of God life that we're talking about. 588 00:47:37.385 --> 00:47:39.085 As you know, we talk about the church being a family. 589 00:47:40.075 --> 00:47:43.364 It's really a family of families. And so, but those individual families, 590 00:47:43.365 --> 00:47:45.005 your individual family is important. 591 00:47:45.175 --> 00:47:49.325 God's heart is for your individual family to thrive. And it starts in the home. 592 00:47:49.585 --> 00:47:52.685 And so I do want to tell you, if you're saying like, man, I am married, 593 00:47:52.686 --> 00:47:55.405 but I know my marriage could do some work. Um, I've got some kids, 594 00:47:55.745 --> 00:47:56.844 my parents who could do some work. 595 00:47:57.055 --> 00:48:00.765 We've got a couple classes I wanna tell you about really briefly, uh, reengage. 596 00:48:01.315 --> 00:48:05.525 It's our marriage class here at Hope. Uh, Dave Nuity is our marriage pastor, 597 00:48:05.665 --> 00:48:07.805 he and his team, and they do a phenomenal job. 598 00:48:08.075 --> 00:48:11.285 This is not just a class for somebody whose marriage is on the rocks and like 599 00:48:11.286 --> 00:48:13.485 you're on the brink of divorce, though, if that is you, 600 00:48:13.565 --> 00:48:15.765 I would tell you that it still would be a great place for you. 601 00:48:16.114 --> 00:48:19.165 I've never heard anybody go through this class and not come out and say, 602 00:48:19.166 --> 00:48:22.045 that's the best thing I've ever done for my marriage. Uh, 603 00:48:23.555 --> 00:48:26.245 hope for parents. If you're a parent, you're trying to figure out, Hey, 604 00:48:26.246 --> 00:48:29.285 what are God's plans and purposes for my life as a mom, as a dad, 605 00:48:29.286 --> 00:48:30.006 for us as parents, 606 00:48:30.006 --> 00:48:34.045 raising kids the way that God's word would have us raise our kids hope for 607 00:48:34.046 --> 00:48:37.405 parents. Great class. I believe registration goes live this Sunday. 608 00:48:37.805 --> 00:48:40.805 I know your campus host is gonna talk to you about it after the service. So, uh, 609 00:48:41.364 --> 00:48:43.364 rebuilding office starts at home. Secondly, 610 00:48:43.995 --> 00:48:47.125 when it comes to what God has for his people, everyone has a role. 611 00:48:47.825 --> 00:48:50.285 We saw it in the Old Testament with Nehemiah. Uh, 612 00:48:50.305 --> 00:48:53.525 we see it in the New Testament. And I, I we've talked about this, 613 00:48:53.526 --> 00:48:55.445 the whole message. I don't feel like I have to put a lot of time on this, 614 00:48:55.465 --> 00:48:59.485 but look, you have been gifted and called by God, and it is for a purpose. 615 00:49:01.205 --> 00:49:05.455 Um, if you're looking for your role, please let us help. Um, 616 00:49:05.915 --> 00:49:09.695 it just so happens, just as you see in the Old Testament, the old covenant, 617 00:49:09.795 --> 00:49:12.855 God wanted to bless the world through blessing the Israelites. 618 00:49:13.045 --> 00:49:16.575 It's the same thing within the church. So God's plan, uh, to live out, to, 619 00:49:16.675 --> 00:49:18.135 to see his kingdom lived out, 620 00:49:18.375 --> 00:49:21.535 his plans and purpose lived out is through the church. And so you say, Jason, 621 00:49:21.536 --> 00:49:23.895 does that mean you're telling me I gotta serve in a ministry, uh, 622 00:49:23.995 --> 00:49:28.575 on the weekend at a campus at Hope? Um, I think you should . I mean, 623 00:49:28.576 --> 00:49:30.295 if this is your church family, I think you should do that. 624 00:49:30.335 --> 00:49:32.695 I think it'd be good for you to go to a service and then serve, give back. 625 00:49:32.795 --> 00:49:36.495 But it's not just that. Like we live out this kingdom where we live, learn, 626 00:49:36.844 --> 00:49:39.735 work, and play. And so you've been gifted, you've been called. 627 00:49:40.815 --> 00:49:42.614 Everyone has a role. And then lastly, 628 00:49:42.615 --> 00:49:46.015 when it comes to what God has for his people, it's we over me. 629 00:49:48.555 --> 00:49:52.735 You may very well have an assignment, uh, on the wall, , 630 00:49:53.114 --> 00:49:55.335 or a role to play that is not your personal preference. 631 00:49:57.035 --> 00:50:00.455 You might be called to serve in an area that's not your backyard. Uh, 632 00:50:00.475 --> 00:50:03.815 that's not your primary gifting. We see that on the wall. 633 00:50:03.835 --> 00:50:05.655 We see that in the New Testament. Uh, 634 00:50:05.705 --> 00:50:09.975 there are times that we do ministry simply because ministry needs to be done. 635 00:50:11.075 --> 00:50:15.975 I'm telling you, I have loved my last 14 years back at Hope, 636 00:50:17.295 --> 00:50:18.815 man. There have been seasons like, 637 00:50:18.895 --> 00:50:22.495 I don't know if this is the place on the wall I wanna be working right now. Um, 638 00:50:23.415 --> 00:50:27.565 but man, when God calls you to it, you, you step in like it's all hands on deck. 639 00:50:27.566 --> 00:50:28.525 You do what God has. 640 00:50:28.675 --> 00:50:31.805 There's times where God's plans and purpose is called for sacrifice. 641 00:50:33.225 --> 00:50:37.165 That's what families do for each other. That's what Jesus did for us. 642 00:50:38.945 --> 00:50:39.844 So here's what I wanna do. 643 00:50:40.325 --> 00:50:44.605 I wanna celebrate with you a way that you've already been a part of what we're 644 00:50:44.606 --> 00:50:49.285 talking about right now. So in January of 2014, uh, 645 00:50:49.385 --> 00:50:54.205 we as a church family at Hope, we pa we partnered, uh, with a Haitian pastor, 646 00:50:54.206 --> 00:50:57.605 pastor John EK's Paul in Haiti to launch what, uh, 647 00:50:57.705 --> 00:51:01.765 we affectionately refer to as hope's International Campus Agape Church. Uh, 648 00:51:01.766 --> 00:51:06.565 over time, agape has really become our, our deepest, uh, global partner. I mean, 649 00:51:06.765 --> 00:51:09.405 we, we, we invest, they invest in us. Uh, 650 00:51:09.675 --> 00:51:13.525 hope is invested in Agape growth through things like ministry trainings, uh, 651 00:51:13.575 --> 00:51:16.765 staff development. Uh, we support their annual women's conference. 652 00:51:16.785 --> 00:51:20.525 My wife actually was a part of helping them launch a SPA v, which is a ministry, 653 00:51:21.245 --> 00:51:24.765 uh, for rescuing vulnerable women, uh, giving them job skills, 654 00:51:24.766 --> 00:51:27.725 getting them back on their feet. We've invested in their kids camps. We've sent, 655 00:51:28.125 --> 00:51:30.645 uh, mission trips. We've sent mission teams over, uh, 656 00:51:30.646 --> 00:51:33.165 to help with their kids camps. We've given financial resources, 657 00:51:33.166 --> 00:51:34.005 special projects, 658 00:51:34.114 --> 00:51:38.725 including things like helping raise funds to build a new community center that's 659 00:51:38.726 --> 00:51:40.285 really a lot like our Apex Campus. 660 00:51:40.675 --> 00:51:44.005 Like something that's 24 7 can invite some folks in from the neighborhood. 661 00:51:44.315 --> 00:51:47.485 From its outset though, agape rented a space in the community. 662 00:51:49.165 --> 00:51:51.325 When 2018, uh, a team from Hope, 663 00:51:51.685 --> 00:51:54.605 we had the privilege of actually going over to Haiti and to pray over the land 664 00:51:54.606 --> 00:51:57.725 that was purchased for this dreamed Agape Community Center. 665 00:51:58.114 --> 00:52:01.885 I've walked that property with John Leaks, we've held hands, we've prayed, 666 00:52:01.886 --> 00:52:06.085 we've trusted in God for what he's gonna do in it and through it. Well, 667 00:52:06.385 --> 00:52:08.645 as you know, like it's been a rough season in Haiti, 668 00:52:09.625 --> 00:52:14.364 but God's enabled agape to move forward with the construction despite the gang 669 00:52:14.525 --> 00:52:18.045 violence. Um, despite the food and supply shortages, 670 00:52:18.225 --> 00:52:21.725 the mass exodus of people that have left and spite the, of the government, uh, 671 00:52:21.726 --> 00:52:26.045 being overthrown by these gangs. And then Sunday, 672 00:52:26.046 --> 00:52:26.885 January 12th, 673 00:52:26.905 --> 00:52:29.805 we couldn't tell you about this before because of security reasons, 674 00:52:29.905 --> 00:52:32.965 but last Sunday, listen to this Agape Church in Port-au-Prince, 675 00:52:33.035 --> 00:52:37.125 they got to celebrate their 11th anniversary of God's faithfulness here. 676 00:52:37.245 --> 00:52:41.685 11th anniversary is being a church inside of the new Agape Community Center. 677 00:52:41.995 --> 00:52:46.685 Over 3000 people were able to come together and celebrate God's goodness and 678 00:52:46.686 --> 00:52:47.725 what he's done. I mean that 679 00:52:52.965 --> 00:52:57.725 Yeah, you wanna talk, you wanna talk about, um, diverse backgrounds and people. 680 00:52:57.805 --> 00:52:59.205 I mean, these are people from different countries. 681 00:52:59.206 --> 00:53:01.285 Some of you have given financially, you're never gonna go. 682 00:53:01.515 --> 00:53:03.725 Some of you have gone over, I don't know if you've given or not, 683 00:53:04.205 --> 00:53:06.965 but I I mean you've gone for training, you've gone to, to, to, 684 00:53:06.966 --> 00:53:09.085 to invest in kids. But, um, 685 00:53:09.905 --> 00:53:14.605 one thing I wanna point out is the recruitment of child soldiers there right now 686 00:53:14.745 --> 00:53:18.805 is up 70%. So with the gangs kind of overthrown everything. 687 00:53:18.806 --> 00:53:21.525 They're taking these kids, they're finding 'em in places of danger and they're, 688 00:53:21.725 --> 00:53:24.525 they're, they're guaranteeing them a sense of belonging and purpose, 689 00:53:25.105 --> 00:53:29.165 and they're kidnapping them and they're giving them a gun and pulling 'em into 690 00:53:29.166 --> 00:53:29.999 the gangs. 691 00:53:30.765 --> 00:53:34.045 You wanna talk about building a wall for the sake of protecting God's plans and 692 00:53:34.046 --> 00:53:36.285 purposes. This community center that you all, 693 00:53:36.286 --> 00:53:40.005 that we together as Hope Community Church are seeing come to life, 694 00:53:40.305 --> 00:53:44.805 is going to create a safe place for these young people to really come to know 695 00:53:44.955 --> 00:53:47.125 what God's plans and purposes are for their life. 696 00:53:48.765 --> 00:53:51.925 I want us to see this is an example of what can happen when God's people dream 697 00:53:51.945 --> 00:53:55.545 big, like when they have faith and what it is that God calls us to. 698 00:53:55.565 --> 00:53:58.825 And everybody plays their part. And seeing this come to life, 699 00:54:02.465 --> 00:54:06.985 I started this whole time together referencing June 6th, 1944 D-Day. 700 00:54:08.885 --> 00:54:13.505 We saw a clear picture of a war changing course because people realize alone 701 00:54:14.565 --> 00:54:18.305 we can do so little, but together we can do so much. 702 00:54:19.485 --> 00:54:21.585 The Bible tells us in Ephesians chapter six, 703 00:54:21.586 --> 00:54:23.985 that we actually don't wrestle against flesh and blood. Okay? 704 00:54:23.986 --> 00:54:27.585 So it's not the same type of war, uh, but against rulers, against authorities, 705 00:54:27.586 --> 00:54:31.145 against cosmic powers over this present darkness against spiritual forces of 706 00:54:31.215 --> 00:54:33.145 evil in the, in the heavenly places. 707 00:54:34.165 --> 00:54:36.864 We know our world is a hurting and broken place. I mean, 708 00:54:36.865 --> 00:54:41.145 there's clearly some beauty, right? That's for certain. But understand this, 709 00:54:42.364 --> 00:54:45.985 we are in a war. We are in a war, 710 00:54:46.645 --> 00:54:47.665 and we have an enemy. 711 00:54:47.805 --> 00:54:51.505 And he wants to rob everyone who will ever live of the kingdom life that God has 712 00:54:51.506 --> 00:54:55.425 for us, period. And there's hurt and there's emptiness, 713 00:54:55.426 --> 00:54:59.145 and there's searching for identity and belonging and purpose. 714 00:55:00.045 --> 00:55:00.878 And right now 715 00:55:03.125 --> 00:55:06.585 the suicide rates in middle school and high school are higher than they've ever 716 00:55:06.586 --> 00:55:08.105 been in the history of our nation. 717 00:55:12.344 --> 00:55:13.177 Enough's enough. 718 00:55:15.364 --> 00:55:18.585 And there's one thing and one thing alone that can combat what's going on in the 719 00:55:18.586 --> 00:55:21.225 world. And it's the church. 720 00:55:22.094 --> 00:55:24.625 It's the family of God coming together and saying, 721 00:55:24.965 --> 00:55:28.145 let us arise together and build. And not to build a wall, 722 00:55:28.925 --> 00:55:32.505 but to be a part of building God's kingdom and our own lives and our own homes, 723 00:55:32.905 --> 00:55:36.305 and our church, and in our community. But everybody's got a role to play 724 00:55:39.185 --> 00:55:43.545 in our differences, in our diversity, in our giftings, 725 00:55:44.225 --> 00:55:45.058 in our weaknesses. 726 00:55:46.165 --> 00:55:49.265 My prayer is that we will be a church that is unified and that will stop at 727 00:55:49.266 --> 00:55:52.105 nothing to share the hope that we have in Jesus. 728 00:55:54.505 --> 00:55:55.338 Um. 729 00:55:58.765 --> 00:56:03.265 The truth is, I know we will be. I know through the spirit of God, 730 00:56:03.575 --> 00:56:05.545 that is who we are. That is who you are. 731 00:56:05.546 --> 00:56:09.344 That is who we are as Hope Community Church, um, 732 00:56:10.395 --> 00:56:12.745 alone. We can do so little 733 00:56:14.114 --> 00:56:17.855 But together we can do so much through the power of the Holy Spirit. 734 00:56:17.856 --> 00:56:20.975 That's a work in us. Let's pray together. Father, we, um, 735 00:56:21.455 --> 00:56:23.965 I thank you for your word. I thank you for Nehemiah for chapter three. 736 00:56:24.085 --> 00:56:28.045 I thank you for an opportunity to get up on a stage and try to say a bunch of 737 00:56:28.046 --> 00:56:31.205 names that I have trouble pronouncing for the sake of helping us 738 00:56:31.206 --> 00:56:33.525 understand what it really means to be a part of your family, 739 00:56:33.864 --> 00:56:36.965 to live out your plans and purposes. Um, 740 00:56:37.565 --> 00:56:41.285 I talked about Jay Jennings earlier and another thing that he says all the time, 741 00:56:41.565 --> 00:56:46.485 it's following Jesus is not it's a team. It is, it's a team sport Lord. 742 00:56:46.486 --> 00:56:47.445 It's all hands on deck. 743 00:56:47.475 --> 00:56:52.125 It's the body of Christ coming together to live out together collectively what 744 00:56:52.126 --> 00:56:53.605 it is that you've called us towards. Lord, 745 00:56:53.685 --> 00:56:57.605 I pray that this text that we studied, um, I pray that the text in Romans, 746 00:56:57.606 --> 00:56:58.065 that it would, 747 00:56:58.065 --> 00:57:00.885 it would not just be words on a page that through the power of your spirit, 748 00:57:00.886 --> 00:57:03.805 it would come to life and our hearts, Lord. So one, 749 00:57:03.825 --> 00:57:06.965 one of the key things for the church to be the church is there has to be a 750 00:57:06.966 --> 00:57:10.325 brokenness over what's going on in the world around us. Lord, there's hurt, 751 00:57:10.355 --> 00:57:13.445 there's brokenness. There's families that are falling apart. There's a, 752 00:57:13.565 --> 00:57:17.205 a longing for, for belonging, for purpose, for hope. 753 00:57:18.795 --> 00:57:19.245 Lord, 754 00:57:19.245 --> 00:57:22.125 I pray that you would break our hearts and that you would do whatever needs to 755 00:57:22.126 --> 00:57:25.925 be done for our hearts to be awakened to being the church that you would call us 756 00:57:25.945 --> 00:57:30.605 to be. Lord, I thank you for how we're getting to see it. 757 00:57:30.606 --> 00:57:33.685 How when we, when we do step out in faith, like what we see in Agape, 758 00:57:33.686 --> 00:57:35.045 like we're seeing in some of our ministries, Lord, 759 00:57:35.105 --> 00:57:37.925 we actually do see your spirit at work. 760 00:57:37.945 --> 00:57:41.765 And we thank you for it and we pray and we beg you for more of it. Lord, 761 00:57:41.766 --> 00:57:44.805 we love you. Father, 762 00:57:44.806 --> 00:57:47.965 we thank you in advance for what it is that you're gonna do in our church family 763 00:57:48.025 --> 00:57:51.205 and through our church family, ultimately for your namesake and for your glory. 764 00:57:51.385 --> 00:57:56.205 We pray all these things in Jesus' name and everyone said, amen. Yes.