1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: down his life for us, and we ought to lay 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: down our lives for the brethren. First John three sixteen. Lord, 4 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: help me comprehend the kind of love that is willing 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: to lay its life down for another. I know your 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: death on the cross paid the price for my sins, 7 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: but the reality of that sacrifice is unimaginable. I feel 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: like a selfish child when I get upset things don't 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: work out the way I want them to. I am 10 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: concerned more about being the center of attention than honoring 11 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: and making others a success in your kingdom. Jealousy rises 12 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: in my heart when others are exalted and I see 13 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: how limited my love is. Show me how to lay 14 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: down my life for others. Help me recognize your kingdom 15 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: rewards humility and loving kindness. Amen. Thank you for listening 16 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: to today's daily prayer for more inspiration and an incredible 17 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: message from our feature pastor. Stay tuned to pray dot 18 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: COM's Sunday service. 19 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: Welcome to Cavalry Church with Skip Heitzig. We're so glad 20 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 2: you joined us today. As believers, we mourn the darkness 21 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 2: and decay around us, knowing that a city in shambles 22 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: reveals more than broken walls, it mirrors the more spiritual 23 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: condition of its people. In the book of nee Meier, 24 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: we find a template for taking ground and responding in 25 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: faith and obedience rather than fear or despair. This message 26 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 2: with pastor skip will help you transform your grief for 27 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 2: a broken world into a stepping stone to repentance, prayer, 28 00:01:59,400 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: and action. 29 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,079 Speaker 3: Turning your Bibles, please to the Book of. 30 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 4: Nehemiah. 31 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 3: You know, I just heard of dawned on me today 32 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 3: that that is a weird sounding name. If you're not 33 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 3: familiar with the Bible. I know this church is. But 34 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 3: if you even told the average Christian the Book of Nehemiah, 35 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 3: they might look at you like, what is that? Because 36 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 3: it's an Old Testament book. He is rather an obscure 37 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: individual in most of believers' minds. And yet we are 38 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 3: studying this book because of valuable lessons about I think, 39 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 3: the city we live in, the country we live in, 40 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 3: the times we live in, and in many cases, even 41 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 3: the situations that we find ourselves in. So while we 42 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 3: are in Nehemiah chapter three, and it is a lengthy 43 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 3: kind of a chapter, there's a lot of names in it, 44 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 3: and places in it, but we're going to try to 45 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 3: make some sense of it. I want to begin with 46 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 3: something that I found that somebody wrote. 47 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 4: He said, yes, I'm tired. 48 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: For several years, I've been blaming it on middle age, iron, 49 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 3: poor blood, lack of vitamins, air pollution, water pollution, obesity, dieting, underarm, odor, 50 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: and a dozen other maladies that make you wonder if 51 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 3: life is really worth living. But now I find it 52 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 3: isn't that I'm tired because I'm overworked. The population of 53 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 3: this country is over two hundred million. Eighty four million 54 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: are retired. That leaves one hundred and sixteen million to 55 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 3: do the work. There are seventy five million in school 56 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 3: that leaves forty one million to do the work. Of 57 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 3: this total, there are twenty two million employed by the 58 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 3: federal government. That leaves probably less now that leaves nineteen 59 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 3: million to do the work. Four million are in armed forces, 60 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 3: which means there are now fifteen million to do the work. 61 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 3: Take from that total fourteen million, eight hundred thousand people 62 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: who work for city and state governments. That leaves two 63 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 3: hundred thousand to do the work. There are one hundred 64 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 3: and eighty eight thousand in hospital so. 65 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 4: That leaves twelve thousand to do the work. 66 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 3: Now there are eleven thousand, nine hundred and ninety eight 67 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 3: people in prisons. 68 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 4: That leaves just two people to do the work, you 69 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 4: and me. 70 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 3: And you're sitting there reading this, so no wonder I'm 71 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 3: so tired. 72 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 4: Neamiah. Chapter three is. 73 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 3: The work of building the city of Jerusalem. The work begins, 74 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 3: the building begins. It's not one person doing the work. 75 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 3: It is a team of if I read it correctly. 76 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 4: Hundreds of people. 77 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 3: In chapter three, Jerusalem gets a makeover. 78 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 4: It had been in ruins. 79 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 3: It gets a total I would call an extreme makeover. 80 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 3: You know, for eleven seasons now, ABC has been doing 81 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 3: that show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Chapter three is Extreme 82 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 3: Makeover City Edition. 83 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 4: The whole city. 84 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 3: Gets a facelift because of Nehemiah. The word built appears 85 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 3: in this chapter eight times, as the workers form a 86 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 3: two mile unbroken circle of unity atop the walls of Jerusalem. 87 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 3: What chapter three amounts to is a building journal, what 88 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 3: they call in the construction business a whip report, a 89 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 3: work in progress report, a construction record, a list of 90 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 3: workers and locations and activities on the building site of 91 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 3: the ancient city of Jerusalem. Now we're not going to 92 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 3: read all of the chapter, and you'll see why in 93 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 3: a minute. 94 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 4: We are going to read and. 95 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 3: Notice several verses. I'll extract principles out of it, but 96 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: let's get a flavor for it. In verse one of 97 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 3: chapter three, then Elias Shibb, the high Priest, rose up 98 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 3: with his brethren, the pre and built the sheep Gate. 99 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 3: They consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as 100 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 3: far as the Tower of the Hundred and consecrated it. 101 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 3: Then as far as the Tower of Hanna Niel next 102 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: to Eliah Ship the men of Jericho built, and next 103 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 3: to them Zakor, the. 104 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 4: Son of im rebuilt. 105 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 3: And so it goes on and on and on through 106 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 3: the entire chapter down to verse thirty two. Reminds me 107 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 3: of that old saying, how do you eat an elephant 108 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 3: one bite at a time? How do you build a 109 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 3: city one stone at a time, one gate at a time, 110 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 3: one section at a time. And that's what chapter three presents. 111 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 3: But I think you should also know the chapter three 112 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 3: is the outworking of a commitment they made in chapter two. 113 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 3: I just want to drive your attention back to verse eighteen, 114 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 3: where the people of the city said, let us rise 115 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 3: up and build. Then they set their hands to do 116 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 3: this good work. 117 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 4: If you remember. 118 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 3: Last week, we talked about how to fix a problem, 119 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: and I said, first of all, go the distance, Second, 120 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 3: assess the need, and third get a group. And we 121 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 3: saw that Nehemiah had a very small group, then a 122 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 3: larger group of leaders. Now any even larger group with 123 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 3: him is building the city. 124 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 4: What I want to show. 125 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:37,119 Speaker 3: You are some applicational principles for working together. Applicational principles 126 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 3: for working together. That's what I'm calling this message, working together. 127 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 3: These principles are true of any church. They're true of 128 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 3: any organization, any business, or any project that requires a team. 129 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 3: These are principles that are universally understood. We even have 130 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 3: slogans for such things like many hands make light work, 131 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: or team work makes the dream work, or unity is 132 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 3: strength or strong together. All of these little axioms bear 133 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 3: out the same truth. 134 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 4: Of working together. 135 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 3: Michael Jordan said, Talent wins games, team work wins championships. I, however, 136 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 3: am specifically interested in God's work in this church and 137 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 3: in this city, hence the title city in shambles. Let 138 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 3: me give you the first principle and we'll put it 139 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: up on the screen. God's work should be orderly. So 140 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 3: first thing I noticed as I read through chapter three 141 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 3: is the order and the organization that is employed in 142 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 3: all of these verses. There is a logical, organized flow 143 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: they follow in the description of this chapter, the walls 144 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 3: of Jeri Jusalem from the northwest and they go counterclockwise 145 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 3: from the what would be to us the upper right corner, 146 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 3: and they move to the left and then down, going 147 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 3: counterclockwise all the way to the tip and then back 148 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 3: the east side of the city, from gate to gate, 149 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 3: stone to stone, place to place, beginning at the sheep 150 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 3: gate with eliyah shib north west, south and east. In 151 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 3: chapter three, and again we're not going to read them all, 152 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 3: there are thirty eight different names mentioned. There are forty 153 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 3: two different teams or groups that are working together. There 154 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 3: is a phrase that I do want you to notice. 155 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 3: It's the phrase next to them, next to them, next 156 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 3: to them. We read that a lot or after them. 157 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 3: It's repeated twenty eight times. So let's look at verse two, 158 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 3: next to Eliyash the men of Jericho built verse four, 159 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: next to them Merimath, the son of Eurijah, verse seven, 160 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 3: next to them, verse eight, next to him, and so 161 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 3: it goes throughout the entire chapter. The principle for this 162 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 3: is also. 163 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 4: Found in the New Testament. 164 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 3: In One Corinthians fourteen, verse forty, though Paul is speaking 165 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 3: about church worship, he said, let. 166 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 4: All things be done decently and in order. 167 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 3: We have that presented here. Let all things be done 168 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: decently and in order. In seven verses earlier in that chapter, 169 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 3: in First Corinthians, it says, for God is not the 170 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 3: author of confusion. A better translation for God is not 171 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 3: a god of disorder, but a God of peace. I'm 172 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 3: not ashamed to admit that my life, my early life 173 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 3: growing up, was pretty chaotic. 174 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 4: It was hard for me to focus. 175 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 3: My wife thinks sometimes it still is hard for me 176 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 3: to focus. I made impulsive decisions when I was young. 177 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 4: I was chaotic. 178 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 3: My mom would keep saying, man, I'm just hoping you 179 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 3: come to a place of stability and rest in your life. 180 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 4: I want you to settle down. I have found that 181 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 4: God is a. 182 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 3: God of order, and when God gets a hold of 183 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 3: a life, no matter who you are or your background, 184 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 3: God employs that order in your life. He's a God 185 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 3: of order, not of chaos. Think of creation. When God 186 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 3: created the heavens and the earth. When he brought the 187 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 3: world into existence, he brought order out of chaos, and 188 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 3: he created everything in Genesis one and two in a 189 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 3: very orderly sequence in six days a six day span. 190 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 4: He set the world into motion. 191 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 3: He made the sun, the moon, the stars to regulate 192 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 3: time and sees with precision and predictability. 193 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 4: Order. 194 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 3: Another good example of order is your own human body. 195 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 3: Your heart pumps blood to all the organs that are 196 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 3: able to receive it, to bring oxygen to them. Your 197 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 3: brain fires thousands of messages per second to regulate pain, temperature, respiration, 198 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 3: thought processes. Same brain controls six hundred muscles, tells them 199 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 3: when to contract, when to relax, ligaments organs. It is 200 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 3: an example of organized teamwork. It is teamwork making the 201 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 3: dream work your body. Think of the order. If you 202 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 3: are just at a backyard barbecue. You are there, they're 203 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 3: cooking burgers. Your brain receives a message from your stomach 204 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 3: that says I'm hungry. Then the brain sends a message 205 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 3: to your legs to walk toward the barbecue. 206 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 4: As you do, your eyes spot the meat grilling. 207 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 3: Your nose smells the onions that are also grilling. Your 208 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 3: brain sends a message to your hands. Your hand reaches 209 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: out and grabs the whole ensemble, and you stuff it 210 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 3: in your mouth. It is a symphony of organization just 211 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 3: to have a meal. I think God's work should reflect 212 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 3: his character. 213 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 4: It should be orderly. 214 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 3: Now, the Church is both an organism, but it's also 215 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 3: an organization. It's a living entity, but the entity the 216 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 3: organism must be organized. If the organism is not organized, 217 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 3: we have a name for that. 218 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 4: It's called a blob. 219 00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 3: But when the organism is organized, then function can happen. 220 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 4: And the Bible says. 221 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 3: That Jesus is the head of the. 222 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 4: Body of Christ, the Church. 223 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 3: He sends impulses to all the different parts. I see 224 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 3: the Holy Spirit more or less as the nervous system, 225 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 3: conveying the wishes of the head to all the different parts. 226 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 4: So we work together in. 227 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 3: Symphony in an orderly manner. God's work should be orderly. 228 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 3: Here's the second applicational principle. There's a place for everyone. 229 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 3: There is a place for everyone. One thing you notice 230 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 3: about the third chapter of Nehemiah is that it is 231 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 3: not a one man show. In fact, the name Namiah 232 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 3: doesn't appear in the chapter. This Nhamiyah Now there is 233 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 3: another guy named Niamiah. If you've read the chapter, go 234 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 3: that's not true. But it's a different Nahemaiyah. But this Naamiyah, 235 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 3: the son of Hakalaiyah, the author of the book and 236 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 3: the super of this project, is not mentioned, but several 237 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 3: others are mentioned. In verse one. We have priests that 238 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 3: are mentioned in verse two, the men of Jericho. In 239 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 3: verse five, the Takohites. These are people who lived in Takoa. 240 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 3: In verse seven, the men of gibbeon a town nearby. 241 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 4: Verse eight. 242 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 3: Goldsmiths are building, Perfumers are building. They're mentioned in verse eight, 243 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 3: and all the way down in verse thirty two merchants 244 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 3: are mentioned. Look at verse eight of chapter three. Next 245 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 3: to him Uziel, the son of are Haya, one of 246 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 3: the goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hannanaya, one of 247 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 3: the perfumers, made repairs and fortified Jerusalem as far as 248 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 3: the broad wall. Now, I'm just going to make a 249 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 3: guess that goldsmith's and probably have more delicate hands. They're 250 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 3: not used to that kind of hard work. I'm guessing 251 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 3: the next day they're muscles ached like the other guys didn't. Maybe, 252 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 3: or and perhaps they use the goldsmiths to do the 253 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 3: intricate work on the locks for the doors for the gates. 254 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 3: But they were all involved. But I suppose if anyone 255 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 3: could say it's not my job, it would be goldsmith's, 256 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 3: perfumeers and priests. Yet they're all working on the wall 257 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 3: doing the labor. By the way, just a little note, 258 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 3: if you ever come with us to Jerusalem, it does 259 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 3: mention the broad wall. Here in verse eight, they have 260 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 3: uncovered a whole section of Nehemiah's broad wall, twenty three 261 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,959 Speaker 3: feet thick wall in the ruins of Jerusalem. It can 262 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 3: be pointed out today look at something else. Twelve Next 263 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 3: to him was Shalom, the son of hallahsh the leader 264 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 3: of half the district of Jerusalem, so he's a big wig. 265 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 4: Noticed this. He and his daughters made repair. 266 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 3: I just find it interesting that's mentioned. Probably he had 267 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 3: no sons, or perhaps he had no sons in the 268 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 3: very least, this was a dad and daughter date they're 269 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 3: going to build together on the wall. But I pointed out, 270 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 3: because you probably know this, but the Bible isn't just 271 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 3: full of great men. It's also full of great women 272 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 3: that God used powerfully. Deborah, one of the great judges 273 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 3: who delivered the children of Israel at a very crucial moment. 274 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 3: Astor the Queen of Persia, who delivered the entire Jewish 275 00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 3: race in Persia. Ruth, the great grandmother of Jesus Christ 276 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 3: marrying Boaz in the lineage the great grandmother of David, 277 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 3: but in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Somebody once said, 278 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 3: when God wants. 279 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 4: To do a great work, he chooses a man. 280 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 3: When he wants to do an extraordinary work, he chooses 281 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 3: a woman. The point is, I'm not going to debate 282 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 3: that all that husbands and wife elbow each other all 283 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 3: the way home. The point is there there's a place 284 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 3: for everyone in God's work. And given the list of 285 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 3: the different types of people that worked on. 286 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 4: This wall, God loves variety. You know. 287 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 3: One of the things you ought to do in church 288 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 3: more often is look around at the people in church 289 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:52,159 Speaker 3: and look at how different many of us are, and 290 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 3: yet we are here over what really matters, we have 291 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 3: that in common. First Corinthians, chapter twelve. 292 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 4: All writes this. I'm going to put it on the screen. 293 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 4: There are different kinds. 294 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 3: Of spiritual gifts, but it's the same Holy Spirit who 295 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 3: is the source of them. 296 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 2: All. 297 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: There are different kinds of service in the Church, but 298 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 3: it is the same Lord. 299 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 4: That we are serving. 300 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 3: There are different ways God works in our lives, but 301 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 3: it is the same God who does the work through 302 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 3: all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each 303 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 3: of us as a means of helping the entire church. 304 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 3: Years ago, I read this crazy little story about this 305 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 3: is kind of a legend that all of the tools 306 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 3: in jesus carpentry shop in Nazareth were having a meeting 307 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 3: together and it was presided over by the Hammer. So 308 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 3: brother Hammer begins the meeting, and as he's beginning the meeting, 309 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 3: somebody shouts out and says, you know you have to go. 310 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 3: You have to leave because you're just too noisy. And 311 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 3: a brother Hammer said, well, if I have to go, 312 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 3: then brother Screw also has to go, because you got to. 313 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 4: Twist him to get him to do anything. And then 314 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 4: he said. 315 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 3: Well, brother Screw said if I have to go, then 316 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 3: brother Plane also has to go, because all of his 317 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 3: work is surface work. 318 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 4: He's not a very deep individual. 319 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 3: And the Plane said, well, if I have to go, 320 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 3: then brother Rule also has to go because he always 321 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 3: is measuring everyone by himself. And then brother Rule piped 322 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 3: up and said, well, if I have to go, brother 323 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 3: Sandpaper also has to leave because he's rough and he 324 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 3: rubs people the wrong way. Just then Jesus walked in 325 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 3: to build something, and he picked up the hammer and 326 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 3: the screw and the plane, and the rule and the sandpaper, 327 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 3: and they all work together to build what he wanted 328 00:21:55,720 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 3: to build. Every one of us is an instrument for 329 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 3: God to use. We have a part now, I said, Niamiah, 330 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 3: organize this. His name is not mentioned, but there's a 331 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 3: principle even in that one person, no matter how gifted, 332 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 3: can do the work of ministry alone. Niamiah knew that. 333 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 3: That's why he got a group. He began small, got 334 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 3: a few leaders after that. Now he has conceivably hundreds 335 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 3: of people doing it. One person, no matter how gifted, 336 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 3: can do the work of ministry alone. One Corinthians twelve. 337 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 4: I just read the body is not one member. But many. 338 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 3: Moses learned that lesson when he was in the wilderness. 339 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 3: You remember the story when Jethrow, his father in law, 340 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 3: watched him presiding over the people, and he's there from 341 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 3: morning until night, listening to everybody's complaints, counseling them, doing everything, 342 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 3: and his father in law that evening said, I am 343 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 3: not impressed. 344 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 4: What you are doing is not good. 345 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 3: You're gonna worry yourself out and you're gonna wear people out. Frankly, 346 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 3: you need to get other people to shoulder different responsibilities 347 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 3: to get the job done. Back in nineteen eighty one, 348 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 3: how many were alive in nineteen eighty one. Nineteen eighty one, 349 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 3: President Ronald Reagan was shot. It was an attempted assassination 350 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:23,919 Speaker 3: by John Hinckley Junior. 351 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 4: The President of. 352 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 3: The United States was hospitalized. 353 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 4: For several weeks. 354 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 3: What's interesting about this The country didn't shut down. Its 355 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 3: executive leader was laid up for weeks in the hospital. 356 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 4: The country did not shut down. 357 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 3: In fact, it had little impact on the nation's activity. 358 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 4: The government function. Hold that thought. 359 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 3: A few weeks ago in Birmingham, England, the garbage collectors 360 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 3: went on strike. 361 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 4: The city was a literal mess. In fact, it was. 362 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 3: A health hazard. It's stunk to high heavens question the 363 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 3: city almost shut down. Who's more important the leader of 364 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 3: a nation or the garbage collectors in a city. Now, 365 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:26,439 Speaker 3: before you answer that sort of a trick question, because 366 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 3: the real answer is both are necessary for the society 367 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 3: to function. All of these were necessary for the wall 368 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 3: to get built. So God's work should be orderly. Second, 369 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 3: there's a place for everyone. Let me give you a 370 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 3: third principle. Your service should fit you. Your service should 371 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 3: fit you. Now I want you to notice where people worked. 372 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 3: Go back to verse one. Elias Shibb, the high priest 373 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 3: rose up with his breath. The priests and built the 374 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 3: what gate, the sheep Gate. They consecrated it, They hung 375 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 3: its doors. They built as far as the Tower of 376 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,959 Speaker 3: the Hundred, consecrated it as far as the Tower of 377 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 3: hann and Eel. The sheep Gate, as we pointed out 378 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 3: on the map, is on the northwest corner of the 379 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 3: ancient city of Jerusalem. It is next to the sheep market, 380 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 3: hence the name Sheepgate. These were sheep that were brought 381 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 3: into the temple for sacrifice. This would be an area 382 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 3: that the priests would have special interest in because they 383 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 3: would receive the sheep given by the people bought the 384 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 3: market for the sacrifices. So they're building on a section 385 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 3: of the wall that fit their personality and their calling. 386 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,360 Speaker 3: Something else to make a note of, Look at verse ten. 387 00:25:55,320 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 3: Next to them, Jediah, the son of Harumah, made repairs 388 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 3: in front of his house. Now go down to verse 389 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 3: twenty three. After him, Benjamin and Hashu made repairs opposite 390 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 3: their house. After them, Azariah the son of Messiah, the 391 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 3: son of Ananaya, made repairs by his house. 392 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 4: Go to verse twenty nine. 393 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 3: After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in 394 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 3: front of his own house. 395 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 4: Also verse twenty eight, beyond the horse gate. 396 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 3: The priest made repairs each in front of his own house, 397 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 3: and that is also mentioned in verse thirty. 398 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 4: Why did they do that? 399 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:49,439 Speaker 3: Pretty easy answer, right to make sure they did a 400 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 3: good job. They're looking at it, you know, the old saying, 401 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 3: I think I did a good job. I can't see 402 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,720 Speaker 3: it from my house. They could see it from their house. 403 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,640 Speaker 3: That's a whole point. You want them to build right 404 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 3: in front of their house because they're going to be 405 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 3: looking at that baby every single day. So it fit them. Also, 406 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:17,640 Speaker 3: look back at verse twenty six. Moreover, the nephanem these 407 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 3: are that's a Hebrew word for the servants. I'll tell 408 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 3: you about them in a minute. The Methanim who dwelt 409 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 3: in Afel, this little bulge in the ancient city, a 410 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 3: mound made repairs as far as the place in front 411 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 3: of the watergate toward the east and on the projecting tower. Now, 412 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:46,360 Speaker 3: the Nephanem were Gibbea knights. You who are Bible students 413 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 3: may remember way back in the Book of Joshua, Gibbia 414 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 3: knights tricked Joshua into making him think that they came 415 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 3: from far distance, but they were just right around the block. 416 00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 3: And when Joshua found out that these were Canaan, they 417 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 3: didn't exterminate them, but they made them servants, woodcutters and 418 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 3: water carriers for the children of Visuals. 419 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 4: So it would make. 420 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 3: Sense that their responsibility is the water gate close to 421 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 3: the water source, the Gehone spring of Jerusalem. And so this, 422 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 3: you might say, is the first watergate crisis, is way 423 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 3: before nineteen seventy two. Oh and by the way, if 424 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:29,959 Speaker 3: you ever are planning to go with us to Israel, 425 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 3: I can show you a portion of the wall that 426 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 3: was built by the Nethanem and the Tacohites. They have 427 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 3: discovered that as well. 428 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 4: So here's the point. 429 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 3: Neemiah takes advantage of the natural conditions and the layout 430 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 3: of the city and the people who live in various places. 431 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 3: The principle is you, guys, build where you are. Build 432 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 3: where you are. You might say, bloom where you're planted. 433 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 4: Build where you are. 434 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 3: He didn't have the people commute from one part of 435 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 3: the city to the other part of the city. That 436 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 3: would waste time, that would reduce efficiency. He ensured that 437 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 3: each person put in their best effort because they have 438 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 3: to look at that wall in front of the house. 439 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 4: Here's the principle. 440 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 3: Your service for the Lord should be according to your 441 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 3: gifting from the Lord. 442 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 4: You should serve where you are fit. 443 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 3: John Maxwell, who's written many books on leadership, talks about 444 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 3: putting people in their comfort zone and in their gifting zone. 445 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 3: Find their comfort zone, find their gifting zone, and he 446 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 3: notices that often spiritual gifts and natural aptitudes will match. 447 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 3: By the way, speaking of being at home, some of 448 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 3: you are doing some of God's best work by raising 449 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 3: the kids that you raise in your home. That is 450 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 3: an important task to build the walls of the Kingdom 451 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 3: of God. You are infusing into those children his principles. 452 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 3: It is not a light thing, so God's work should 453 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 3: be orderly. There's a place for everyone. Your service should 454 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 3: fit you. Here's a fourth principle. Some work harder than others. 455 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 3: I know you know this, but I want you to 456 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 3: compare a couple. 457 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 4: Of verses with me. To see it. 458 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 3: Here in the scripture, go to verse twenty after him, 459 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 3: Baruk the son of Zabi, diligently repaired or carefully repaired 460 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 3: the other section from the buttress to the door. 461 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 4: Of the house of Eliashib, the high priest. 462 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 3: That word diligently or carefully, depending on what translation you 463 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 3: might have, is a word that means to burn or 464 00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 3: to glow. We would say, this guy's fired up about 465 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 3: his job. He's fired up, he's ready to do it. 466 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 3: He puts his whole heart into it. But I want 467 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 3: you to compare that with verse five of chapter three, 468 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 3: next to them that to Cohites made repairs, but their 469 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 3: nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of 470 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 3: their lord. 471 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 4: Interesting. Now, a word about Takoa. 472 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 3: Tacoa is a village about ten miles south of Jerusalem. 473 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 3: If you went to Bethlehem and just sort of kept 474 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 3: going when a little left, you're into CoA. I'm guessing 475 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 3: that some of these Tacoa ies were relocated to Jerusalem. 476 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 3: Maybe they're a little bent out of shape because they 477 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 3: had to. 478 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 4: Move to Jerusalem. I don't know, but. 479 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:54,600 Speaker 3: Maybe the nobles just thought this work is beneath me. 480 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 4: I'm a noble. 481 00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 3: Nobles don't build even though everybody else is building. They 482 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 3: showed up, but they didn't step up to. 483 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 4: Do the work. 484 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 3: All of that to say, we just need to realize 485 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 3: that some people won't do anything. She's got to get 486 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 3: used to that fact. Some people won't do anything. Others 487 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 3: will do more than some will do less, etc. That's 488 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 3: just the way it is. But laziness is never exonerated. 489 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 3: In the scripture, go to the ant, you sluggard, write Solomon, 490 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 3: consider her ways and be wise, he instructs. One comedian said, 491 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 3: I love work. It fascinates me. I can sit and 492 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 3: stare at it for hours. That's what these nobles were doing. 493 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 3: They were just looking, but not putting their shoulders to 494 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 3: the work. 495 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:53,600 Speaker 4: This is true in every. 496 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 3: Office, in every business, in every organization, in every school, 497 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 3: in every govern institution, in every church. It's even true 498 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 3: on every church staff. I'm not going to tell you 499 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 3: who's doing what. But for some people, church is nothing 500 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 3: more than a spectator sport. They dress up, they come, 501 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 3: they sit, they watch, they listen, they leave. 502 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 4: But never serve. 503 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 3: I've always loved how one coach described his definition of football. 504 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 3: He said, it's twenty two men running around on a 505 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 3: field who desperately need rest and fifty thousand people in 506 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 3: the stands who desperately need exercise. 507 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 4: That's football. That's the church. 508 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:53,680 Speaker 3: Sometimes there's a lot of people doing, a few people 509 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 3: doing a lot, and a lot of people not doing much, 510 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 3: but watching everybody run around doing stuff. 511 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 4: Ecclesiastes nine to ten. 512 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 3: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all 513 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 3: your might. Let me follow that up with one of 514 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 3: my favorite Charles Spurgeon quotes. He said, if you plan 515 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 3: to be lazy, there are plenty of avocations in which 516 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 3: you will not be wanted. But above all, you are 517 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:23,400 Speaker 3: not wanted in the Christian ministry. The man who finds 518 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 3: the ministry an easy life will also find. 519 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:27,760 Speaker 4: That it brings a hard death. 520 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:34,560 Speaker 3: They're building the walls of Jerusalem, sum are building harder 521 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 3: some or not. Let me give you the fifth and 522 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:47,759 Speaker 3: final principle. Work should be tied to purpose. Work should 523 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 3: be tied to purpose. Why are you working? Why are 524 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:52,839 Speaker 3: you building? What's the point of this? Is it just 525 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 3: to have a nice city with nice gates, and just 526 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 3: to protect. 527 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 4: From the enemy. 528 00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 3: What is is that the purpose? Or is there and 529 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:04,280 Speaker 3: even greater purpose in this case, there is a greater purpose. 530 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 4: Now for this, I'd like to. 531 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 3: Take you back to chapter two, back in verse seventeen. 532 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 3: I want you to notice the wording by Nehemiah. I, 533 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 3: that is, Neemiah. 534 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:19,280 Speaker 4: I said to them chapter two, verse seventeen. 535 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 3: I said to them, you see the distress that we 536 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 3: are in, how Jerusalem lies in. 537 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 4: Waste, its gates are burned with fire. 538 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 3: Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem that 539 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 3: we may no longer be a reproach. 540 00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 4: It's a key phrase, also a key phrase. Verse eighteen. 541 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 3: I told them of the hand of my God which 542 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:51,360 Speaker 3: had been good upon me, and also of the King's words. 543 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:54,279 Speaker 3: And then I'm even going to take you down to 544 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 3: verse twenty. I answered them, those are the enemies Sanballat 545 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,880 Speaker 3: Tobayan Gisham, I answered them, and I said, the God 546 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:05,279 Speaker 3: of Heaven himself will prosper us. 547 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,080 Speaker 4: Stop there. Just with that. 548 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 3: Language, pretty easy to see that Nehemiah is convinced that 549 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:17,279 Speaker 3: this is God's city. This is not like Shushan, not 550 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:20,280 Speaker 3: like Susa in Persia or any other town in the world. 551 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 3: This is God's city, and this is God's work that 552 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 3: we are doing, and we want God's glory. We're a reproach. 553 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:33,279 Speaker 3: God's people are a reproach. We want to do this 554 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 3: for the glory of God. Let me give you a 555 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 3: couple of scriptures that will just sort of tie in. 556 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:40,640 Speaker 3: I think one Issaw eighty seven or the Psama says, 557 00:36:40,719 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 3: the Lord loves the gates of Zion. That's Jerusalem more 558 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,240 Speaker 3: than all the dwellings of Jacob. 559 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:50,680 Speaker 4: Then in second Chronicles. 560 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 3: Twelve, Jerusalem the city which the Lord had chosen out 561 00:36:55,080 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 3: of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. 562 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 3: This is God's city right there. This is for God's glory. 563 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:09,040 Speaker 3: This isn't just for our protection. This is for the 564 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 3: glory of God. What's my principle. It didn't matter what 565 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,480 Speaker 3: you do in terms of a vocation. You could be 566 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:21,879 Speaker 3: a cleric of businessmen, a medical technologists, construction workers, scientists, 567 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:27,879 Speaker 3: clergy member. When you do your job with integrity and 568 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 3: skill and dependability, and especially if you share the Gospel 569 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:40,479 Speaker 3: at opportune times, you are living for the glory of God. 570 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:44,919 Speaker 3: You are serving and working for the glory of God. 571 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 3: That's an important truth that elevates work, that elevates whatever 572 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:53,759 Speaker 3: project you're working on to the highest possible level. First 573 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 3: Corinthians ten thirty one. If you eat or drink, or 574 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 3: whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 575 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:06,200 Speaker 3: Even a meal, eating or drinking the hamburger in the 576 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:10,120 Speaker 3: backyard barbecue. Do it for the glory of God. Thank 577 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:17,520 Speaker 3: you Jesus. Colossians three twenty three. Work hard and cheerfully 578 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:21,840 Speaker 3: at whatever you do, as though you were working for 579 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 3: the Lord rather than for people. Some of you are 580 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:31,840 Speaker 3: familiar with the Westminster Catechism, in particular of the Westminster 581 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:36,520 Speaker 3: Shorter Catechism. It's several questions followed by answers. First question 582 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 3: and first answer is this, what is the chief end 583 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 3: of man? What is the chief end of man? Answer? 584 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:51,600 Speaker 3: The chief end of man is to glorify God and 585 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:56,960 Speaker 3: to enjoy Him forever. That's a sermon right there. Glorify 586 00:38:57,040 --> 00:39:01,680 Speaker 3: God and enjoy Him forever. That happens to be the 587 00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 3: very purpose and the ultimate goal of human existence itself, 588 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,399 Speaker 3: and for your pleasure. They were created, we are told 589 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:15,840 Speaker 3: in Revelation. This is the reason we serve our church, 590 00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:18,000 Speaker 3: This is the reason we serve our city. 591 00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:19,800 Speaker 4: This is the reason. 592 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:23,239 Speaker 3: We have Love Day to demonstrate that, and followed by 593 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:26,800 Speaker 3: Freedom celebration. We want to make the name of Jesus 594 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:29,560 Speaker 3: as famous as possible. 595 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,360 Speaker 4: So work should be tied to purpose. 596 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 3: There's one final quote I'm going to throw up on 597 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:39,680 Speaker 3: the screen and I want to look at it together. 598 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:41,120 Speaker 4: It's by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 599 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:44,480 Speaker 3: I have a little book that he wrote, and I 600 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 3: think it's a hidden gem. 601 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 4: It's called Life Together. It's about fellowship. 602 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:51,160 Speaker 3: But he said something that just blew my mind. 603 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:52,279 Speaker 4: He said, the. 604 00:39:52,239 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 3: Person who loves their dream of community. 605 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:57,240 Speaker 4: Watch the wording. 606 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:01,120 Speaker 3: The person who loves their dream of com unity will 607 00:40:01,239 --> 00:40:09,760 Speaker 3: destroy community, but the person who loves those around them. 608 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 4: Will create community. 609 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:13,320 Speaker 3: Now, just keep that up for a minute, just just 610 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:16,919 Speaker 3: just let that sink in. Some people dream of the 611 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:22,080 Speaker 3: perfect community to live in. It's gonna be like this, 612 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,000 Speaker 3: I'm gonna it's a there's a utopia out there. I'm 613 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:28,280 Speaker 3: gonna I'm leaving here, the neighboring state, I'm gonna go there. 614 00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 3: That's what they dream of. Others make the place they 615 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:42,960 Speaker 3: live in utopia and serve the people around them, and 616 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:49,440 Speaker 3: that creates community. And that little statement just hit me 617 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:57,360 Speaker 3: between the eyes yesterday afternoon beautiful. The person who loves 618 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:02,480 Speaker 3: their dream of community will destroy community, but the person 619 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:05,160 Speaker 3: who loves those around them will create communities. So we 620 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 3: have five principles working together, all of them found in 621 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:13,399 Speaker 3: Nehemiah three. In this whip report by Nihemiah. God's work 622 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:17,240 Speaker 3: should be orderly. There's a place for everyone. Your service 623 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:22,319 Speaker 3: should fit you. Some work harder than others, but work 624 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 3: should always be tied to the purpose of God's glory. 625 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:29,960 Speaker 4: Let's pray, Lord. 626 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:33,520 Speaker 3: What a lofty goal that is, to glorify you, to 627 00:41:33,560 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 3: make you more famous by what we say, how we live, 628 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:48,759 Speaker 3: what we do in our church, in our city, in 629 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 3: our state, in our country, in the world. Lord, this 630 00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:56,680 Speaker 3: is the section of the wall that we are looking at, 631 00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:03,359 Speaker 3: this city, our neighborhood, where we live. I pray, Lord, 632 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:09,080 Speaker 3: it would be the best possible You would infuse us 633 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 3: with the same kind of tenacity that Baruch had to 634 00:42:17,160 --> 00:42:24,200 Speaker 3: work diligently, carefully fired up, the same kind of enthusiasm. 635 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:27,839 Speaker 3: The clergy here, the priests, even the high priest, the perfumers, 636 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:34,440 Speaker 3: the goldsmiths, the men, the daughters, working together to bless 637 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:37,800 Speaker 3: one another, this unbroken chain of unity, to bring glory 638 00:42:38,080 --> 00:42:38,840 Speaker 3: to God. 639 00:42:41,719 --> 00:42:42,400 Speaker 4: And so Father. 640 00:42:42,719 --> 00:42:46,120 Speaker 3: As we conclude, we just simply place our bodies before 641 00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:52,160 Speaker 3: you as a living sacrifice Romans twelve to one. We 642 00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:55,680 Speaker 3: dedicate ourselves to you for your purpose, for your glory 643 00:42:55,680 --> 00:42:56,520 Speaker 3: in Jesus name. 644 00:42:57,560 --> 00:42:57,920 Speaker 4: Amen. 645 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,400 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for joining us for this message 646 00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:05,239 Speaker 2: from Cavalry Church with skip Heisig. We would love to 647 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:08,879 Speaker 2: know how this teaching impacted you. Share your story with us. 648 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,440 Speaker 2: Email my story at Calvary NM dot church, and if 649 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:16,200 Speaker 2: you'd like to support this Bible teaching ministry with a 650 00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:21,560 Speaker 2: financial gift, visit Cavalry NM dot church slash gift. 651 00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 4: You will be like God human unity if God was 652 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:43,640 Speaker 4: severed and through it all, God's promise remain true. 653 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:48,640 Speaker 1: Follow me, April and I will make you great. 654 00:43:49,560 --> 00:43:53,400 Speaker 3: This is the Chosen People. 655 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:59,640 Speaker 2: Listen to the Chosen People at the Chosen People dot com. 656 00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:02,680 Speaker 2: At the Chosen People dot com 657 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:12,040 Speaker 1: MHM