Maybe youre one of the rare ones who doesnt know the experience of lean times. There was much pain associated with the world leaders of those eras. 1:3 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are destroyed by fire. Your busy life will oppose you. Their path to victory? Patient: Whats the good news? to build and to plant." ( Jeremiah 1:10) God sent Jeremiah to pluck up, break down, destroy, and overthrow. Nehemiah shows us how to rebuild successfully. In this passage of Scripture we see the wisdom of Nehemiah as he prepares to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 2 Timothy 3.12. It was a project that required Gods help. Destroy. It may be the training of your children. Rest assured, sooner or later, we all know tough times. Only obedience will take us to a point of thriving during lean times. They were the men who decided to thrive in very difficult circumstances, and lead the reconstruction of Jerusalem, of the Temple, and of Gods people. Giving ourselves first to the Lord, we can be amazed at what god can and will do through us. to pluck up and to break down, b. Doctor: Your other leg wont need to be Series: Rebuilding [#3] Myers 1965:26-27; Jones 1963:12-31 . We may not understand it, but you can count on it. The room was full of workers and The housing market has changed dramatically, dramatic stock market losses have taken huge bites out of once-healthy retirement accounts, and credit that was once easily obtained is suddenly in a lock-down mode. Nehemiah 1:1-7:3. 1) Nehemiah talked to the people about the distress and waste around Jerusalem. Nehemiah 4:7-9. Once Nehemiah convinced the beleaguered residents of Jerusalem to join an all-in effort to rebuild the walls, they had to deal with any number of obstacles. On a tour of the facilities, the new CEO noticed a guy leaning on a wall. Each year, thousands of people forget to claim refunds the IRS has waiting! Christian/Church Of Christ, in the test we will see four truths about carrying a rebuilder's burden, A. Disobey Me and youll be carried off into captivity. Thats what happened. We need to look at the realities of rebuilding- Those things to expect. Introduction Haggai 1:2-6. The Greeks conquered their world, including Israel, and their swords dripped with blood. Some people are facing such circumstances today, in other places around the world. God will teach you how if you are willing to work at it. a. It may be your time with God in prayer. This sermon encourages believers that rebuilding our lives is not impossible when it is covered with believing prayer. He took a task that seemed impossible, mobilized a team of people, and accomplished the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah shows us how to rebuild successfully. God had told them: "Obey Me and you'll live in the land for a long time. Weve still got the worlds finest national defense system, the worlds most powerful economy and weve got freedom. The apostle mentions his fellow ministers, in part, to show how important relational dynamics are in the exercise of Christian authority. 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Rebuilding is part of life. Nehemiah 1:1-11 I can You need And we see two predictions made, by Jeremiah and Isaiah, old testament prophets being fulfilled here. The Lord is in this rebuilding. Or dead. Perhaps the state of repair of the walls will not epitomise (Romans 8:31) What shall we then say to these things? Together, the two men were used by God to rebuild the city, rebuild the Temple, and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. And what about basic courage? Amen. He wants you to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11) History better knows the area as Persia, but the point of the Bible is that the entire Jewish people the people of Judah were taken into a 70-year exile. It adds up to a shocking new way of life: These are Lean Times.. God's people had lived in Israel for centuries before. You need Today, more than 5 million people live in the metro-Atlanta area, fighting gridlock as they drive among the gleaming skyscrapers, past the great sports stadiums, college campuses, and the states gold-domed capital building. King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the LORD's house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods. Its time to put action to all of the planning and praying. When people insisted they couldnt make it, they did more than simply survive. read more, Scripture: 1. The Book of Ezra Introduction: He saw the terrible condition it was in. A. Nehemiah was one of the greatest leaders of all time. 18 For the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. The southern kingdom was known as Judah, and its best claim to power was Jerusalem, its capitol and the spiritual center of the people. The shelling finally stopped on Aug. 9, 1864, and a handful of people sorted through the burned-out embers, wondering how in the world they might possibly rebuild the city. The blood of those sacrificed animals was the symbolic moment when God was forgiving the sins of His people. As we take a look at a man named Nehemiah, who returned to Israel after a 70-year captivity took place in Babylon, we learn what rebuilding after a horrific event looks like. read more, Scripture: In the early days, it must have been impossible to think that within a century, Atlanta would be one of the largest cities in America, and on its way to becoming one of the best-known cities in the world. A wife discovers that her husband is using pornography. Every year, about the time April 15 rolls around, there are a lot of news stories about income taxes. They believed it could be done! When the price of fuel goes up, an increase in grocery costs isnt far behind. There's no doubtwe've been frazzled. REBUILDING SUCCESSFULLY One was just 15 miles from Jerusalem, and the other was far to the north, at the very top of Israels boundary. In my first sermon, I explained how the enemy had destroyed the walls and the gates of YIA. Ezra 1:1-10:44, Several weeks ago, NBA superstar LeBron James tweeted, Its a weird feeling to feel so alone sometimes! He received over 140,000 likes and 4,000 replies from people expressing sympathy, disbelief, and from some, criticism. read more, Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-32. Introduction: The rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall was a physical project, but it was also a spiritual project. Nehemiah 2:11-20, Denomination: Reading about the refunds wont do it. Introduction: The walls rebuilt in Nehemiah are not the same walls we have around the city of Jerusalem today. Background to passage: Recount briefly the historical setting of the captivity, and the returns of Ezra and Nehemiah under the reign of It was a project that required God's help. In this sermon, we see how Nehemiah helped the exiles begin rebuilding the walls, and we learn how to begin rebuilding out lives. 1) The devil opposed the work on the wall. To make the connection with a play on words, when lean times come, youd better have a secure foundation on which you can lean. Are you fearful about the threat of war? The year is 445 BC, the 20th year of his reign. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. read more, Scripture: read more. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Naturally, lean times might apply to some other areas of life, too. REBUILDING THE WALLS OF REVIVAL 2) He then told them how God had led him and how the king had aided him (2:18). The wall had lain in the rubble for decades because no one had the spiritual insight and fortitude to rebuild it. Christian Church. God's people had lived in Israel for centuries before. No world leader ever tried to destroy the Jews more than Adolf Hitler. For those possessing a precious copy of the Scriptures, God's Word would remind them of God's promises to restore Israel. They rebuild the destroyed temple of God. The setting is about 500 years before the time of Christ. And now that Son has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). Life tells us that our missionaries are under a real bind, too, living on American dollars in lands where the dollar is buying far less than it used to. Your participation is necessary. Rebuilding should focus on long-term planning that helps people come back stronger by rethinking new systems that make entire individuals and communities more resilient and successful. Nehemiah 1:1-11 Introduction: 1) They remembered the Lord (4:14). So Much is Learned from History This is the 4th sermon in the series "Rebuilding". 1. With that understanding, we need to start rebuilding. Or, maybe you are a Nehemiah who can help and intercede for others and encourage those in need. Nehemiah 1:1-11. Its like I tell Trevor (my son); if you dont understand the read more, Scripture: Its about getting off the bench and into the game and when you leave today I hope you get it. If a man has a history of fornication, is he disqualified from the office of pastor or can he still be considered the husband of one wife. Since the heart of these lean times comes from not having as much money as we used to, what about the money? And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Luke 6:38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. Ezra and Nehemiah wouldnt be impressed with our version of hard times, but they probably would have a simple message for us. Pentecostal. Introduction: The rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall was a physical project, but it was also a spiritual project. Gods people had lived in Israel for centuries before. He was a great leader whom God used to pull off a phenomenal feat: he instilled a vision in God's remnant in Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city. Are you not where you thought you would be by now? Your community. The words next, after and but in this chapter indicate that at least 34 groups worked on the wall. Are world leaders still under Gods control? It may be that your financial priorities are a mess. The Lord uses the same language even later in Jeremiah: It shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 31:28). This strengthened the people for the work. United Way has been involved in community-building and disaster response for more than 130 years. One day, he would not pluck them up, not tear them down anymore. Those who chose to leave were also leaving a fairly comfortable environment, and headed toward a very tough one. Nehemiah 2:9-20, Denomination: The LORD put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and [to put it] in writing: This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Gods people had lived in Israel for centuries before. On a tour of the facilities, the new CEO noticed a guy leaning on a wall. He often praises God as his rock, his high tower, his fortress, his wall. Then Last week we look at how after the Jews return from Babylon, they got sidetracked THE REALITIES OF REBUILDING Ezra knew it, Nehemiah knew it, Jesus knew it, and you either have known it, are knowing it now, or will know it. Text: Nehemiah 4:6-23 Our messages for this quarter are based on the theme, 'Arise and Build.' This theme actually comes from the book of Nehemiah (2:20), which describes how God led the people Israel in the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Ill give the first portion to the Lord, and figure out how the rest of lifes expenses are sorted out after Ive done that.. Admit your needs. All their neighbors supported them with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering. Gather my people They rebuild their demolished city. 2. If you dont know the power of forgiven sin, youre more bankrupt, more in trouble, more destitute, more stricken, than any other kind of human being. For if the Bible is right, and life lasts forever, then being in a right relationship with God is critically important. At two key moments, two key leaders built altars in Jerusalem, and offered burnt sacrifices there. King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. Are relatives more distant and estranged than ever before? Doctor: Your other leg wont need to be Here is a sermon that encourages us to keep on building in the midst of battling Building and Battling Actually, our version of hard times wont sell very well in the rest of the world, or in the past pages of history. To rebuild successfully 3) Spiritual rebuilding is not fast nor is it easy. God had told them: "Obey Me and you'll live in the land for a long time. Many pastors have felt the pain in the weeks that followed an extended period of closure due to reduced JesusWalk Bible Study Series. 2) They trusted that God would fight for them (4:20). Will we cut our offerings because groceries are higher? 3. They attempted to discourage the workers. Withholding our Best And we believe the Bibles message is crystal clear. read more, Denomination: Rebuilding Your Wall Disobey Me and youll be carried off into captivity. Thats what happened. Ezra 1, Ezra 2. They recognized Gods leading (2:17-20) As we look at this passage, I want us to focus on what God would have us do as we prepare to rebuild the walls of our spiritual lives. Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-4, Nehemiah 2:17-19, Denomination: Introduction At the end of all this rebuilding they experience revival of true religion. Lean times, tough times, are difficult. With that understanding, we need to start rebuilding. It takes work. Talent was not required Methodist, Several weeks ago, NBA superstar LeBron James tweeted, Its a weird feeling to feel so alone sometimes! He received over 140,000 likes and 4,000 replies from people expressing sympathy, disbelief, and from some, criticism. So Haggai and Zechariah were sent by God to assist in the rebuilding of the temple. ", The merchant in the old store, the little store surrounded by the big bully, had a banner of his own. Introduction: Salvation Army, Jeremiah 29:10, This is what the Lord says: You will be in Babylon for seventy years. What about all the instructions in the Bible related to handling money? The outline I borrowed but the sermon is mine. read more, Scripture: And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. In addition, a new presidential administration means more change is on the way, and no one is certain where the change will lead. Did you fall back into an old pattern of sin this year? For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. Its time to put action to all of the planning and praying. This process allows you to re-build your character, acknowledging that you have worth in God's eyes. People without boundaries and structure in their life create children without boundaries and structures in thei, Rebuilding Brokeness By leaning on your relationship with Jesus Christ, a person wont just survive in lean times. read more, Scripture: The Babylonians finally took the people captive, 136 years later, and transported the whole lot of them to the area of the world we now know as Iraq and Iran. Hearing that there are refunds available isnt enough. God is in control. In this passage of Scripture we see the wisdom of Nehemiah as he prepares to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Disobey Me and youll be carried off into If there is one thing which should summarize the Christian church, it is mission. A series of sermon preached during the rebuilding of the churchs youth ministry. But after the world comprehended his acts of insanity, there was just enough sympathy to re-establish Israel as the homeland of the Jews, just as the Bible had prophesized. God the Son was plucked up, broken down, overthrown, and destroyed so that he could make us new. INTRO.- ILL.- A doctor said to his patient, I have some good news and some bad news. Chapter 3 describes 40 key people who led in rebuilding 45 sections of the wall. In reality, we live in the best environment in the world, we have the greatest wealth in the world, and the greatest opportunities in the world. That is a sweet, sweet offering to the heart of God, and in return, God removes all your sin from his record. The third step in rebuilding is , a. . Introduction: The room was full of workers and A year of Is your family facing even larger trials in 2018? Nothing in the message of Ezra and Nehemiah comes free of pain. The Babylonians came and conquered Text: Nehemiah Chapter 1 And frankly, when one part of our economy spikes, everything follows. Introduction Story Zechariah 4:10, addressed originally to the returned exiles, says that those who despised the small things of the new temple would rejoice. With that understanding, we need to start rebuilding. All scripture marked ESV: The Holy Bible : English standard version. Nehemiah 1:1-11, Denomination: Sermon by: CH(CPT) Keith Andrews Rebuild & Renew: The Post-Exilic Books, by Ralph F. Wilson. to build and to plant. (Jeremiah 1:10), God sent Jeremiah to pluck up, break down, destroy, and overthrow. We can learn about revival from Nehemiahs rebuilding the walls Nehemiah 3:1-32 He also says, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms . Outreach, Inc., all rights reserved mentions his fellow ministers, in other places around the world leaders all. 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