1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,125 Gregg Marutzky: We're gonna dive right in. 2 00:00:01,889 --> 00:00:07,439 The theme of Nehemiah Chapter Two is Rise up and build and, uh, we 3 00:00:07,439 --> 00:00:09,119 want to welcome you to church. 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,399 And we have reset, right? 5 00:00:11,699 --> 00:00:16,709 Nehemiah chapter two in verse, uh, 18 is our theme verse. 6 00:00:16,950 --> 00:00:21,809 And it says, and they said, let us rise and build so they strengthen 7 00:00:21,809 --> 00:00:24,269 their, their hands for the good work. 8 00:00:24,269 --> 00:00:28,080 We're gonna talk about that, that's a part of this passage this morning. 9 00:00:28,439 --> 00:00:29,220 But, uh. 10 00:00:29,579 --> 00:00:33,239 There's some great characters in this chapter that I wanna share 11 00:00:33,239 --> 00:00:36,899 about, and the Bible's written sort of in a narrative way. 12 00:00:36,994 --> 00:00:37,644 It's a drama. 13 00:00:38,339 --> 00:00:40,589 And you gotta sort of get into the story. 14 00:00:40,589 --> 00:00:44,580 You gotta get into the plot, you gotta get into the characters. 15 00:00:44,939 --> 00:00:47,729 And there's usually three types of characters, right? 16 00:00:47,729 --> 00:00:53,550 You got an antagonist, a protagonist, a victim, a, a persecutor, a rescuer. 17 00:00:53,699 --> 00:00:58,080 There's all usually at least three types of characters in any plot. 18 00:00:58,319 --> 00:01:00,629 And in this drama this morning. 19 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:04,200 We have the Jews, we have Nehemiah, we have the pilgrims, 20 00:01:04,379 --> 00:01:05,730 and they're sort of the victims. 21 00:01:05,730 --> 00:01:07,170 But you can switch around. 22 00:01:07,170 --> 00:01:08,820 Nehemiah switches around. 23 00:01:09,149 --> 00:01:12,510 The persecutor are sand ballot, toba ham. 24 00:01:12,870 --> 00:01:17,220 At first it seems like maybe our exes is gonna be a persecutor, 25 00:01:17,220 --> 00:01:19,350 but he come becomes a, a rescuer. 26 00:01:20,065 --> 00:01:21,325 Nehemiah is a rescuer. 27 00:01:21,955 --> 00:01:23,575 Sort of see where you're at. 28 00:01:23,575 --> 00:01:27,654 We even have just a touch of the queen being a rescuer this morning, 29 00:01:28,015 --> 00:01:30,774 and so I hope you enjoy this story. 30 00:01:31,045 --> 00:01:35,634 But let's, uh, let's get a little, uh, educational value from this too, 31 00:01:36,115 --> 00:01:41,815 that there was a guy named Karpman that, uh, define the drama triangle. 32 00:01:41,815 --> 00:01:42,445 Okay? 33 00:01:42,684 --> 00:01:45,804 He said A good drama has a victim. 34 00:01:45,865 --> 00:01:46,315 All right? 35 00:01:46,315 --> 00:01:49,195 This person usually says that, uh. 36 00:01:50,039 --> 00:01:53,070 They're blameless and they're being persecuted. 37 00:01:53,340 --> 00:01:57,479 There's a, there's a issue that others are attacking them for. 38 00:01:57,810 --> 00:02:02,550 Then there's a perpetrator or a persecutor, and they usually 39 00:02:02,550 --> 00:02:03,810 feel like they're right. 40 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:09,570 They sometimes have more power, and then there's a rescuer, and sometimes 41 00:02:09,570 --> 00:02:15,150 that's a, a, a minister can be a rescuer, A therapist can be a rescuer. 42 00:02:15,209 --> 00:02:15,420 All right. 43 00:02:16,185 --> 00:02:19,904 Sometimes that can be overdone and become an enabler. 44 00:02:20,144 --> 00:02:24,105 Anytime there's an addiction, there's a victim, someone that plays the 45 00:02:24,105 --> 00:02:27,495 victim, and then there's someone that plays the rescuer, the enabler. 46 00:02:27,795 --> 00:02:33,285 And so, uh, let's see why people get into this kind of drama, this kind of 47 00:02:33,584 --> 00:02:36,015 crisis, so to speak, in their life. 48 00:02:36,105 --> 00:02:40,125 Part of it is because there's benefits to playing the victim, 49 00:02:40,875 --> 00:02:42,495 to having a victim mentality. 50 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:46,590 Unfortunately, it's not very healthy, okay? 51 00:02:47,250 --> 00:02:51,000 That when you play the victim, you get attention and validation. 52 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,650 Sometimes people want that. 53 00:02:52,650 --> 00:02:54,030 They want to be noticed. 54 00:02:54,030 --> 00:02:55,079 They, they don't. 55 00:02:55,110 --> 00:02:57,720 They feel invisible, and so they want to get attention. 56 00:02:58,290 --> 00:03:01,140 You don't have to take risks if you're victim. 57 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:02,610 It's not your fault. 58 00:03:02,610 --> 00:03:05,370 You're somebody else is doing something to you. 59 00:03:05,579 --> 00:03:07,320 You don't have to take responsibility. 60 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:08,519 It makes you feel better. 61 00:03:08,850 --> 00:03:11,550 You can blame others for your failures. 62 00:03:11,550 --> 00:03:13,380 Here's where it starts to go wrong. 63 00:03:13,649 --> 00:03:17,579 You can excuse yourself even for your sin. 64 00:03:17,579 --> 00:03:22,230 If you're a victim, I sin because this is somebody else's fault. 65 00:03:22,589 --> 00:03:24,149 So how do you overcome victim? 66 00:03:24,149 --> 00:03:25,920 We're gonna see this in this story. 67 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,640 We're gonna see Nehemiah overcome being a victim. 68 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:31,575 You realize you can take. 69 00:03:32,219 --> 00:03:34,620 You can respond how you choose. 70 00:03:34,890 --> 00:03:36,959 At first, Nehemiah feels helpless. 71 00:03:36,959 --> 00:03:39,750 He feels like he's just this, this nobody. 72 00:03:40,290 --> 00:03:44,730 He's a cup bearer for the king, but then he chooses how he's gonna respond. 73 00:03:44,730 --> 00:03:47,250 He takes responsibility for his life. 74 00:03:47,310 --> 00:03:49,079 He decides he is gonna be grateful. 75 00:03:49,079 --> 00:03:51,839 We're gonna see some great lessons from Nehemiah this morning. 76 00:03:52,140 --> 00:03:54,959 You choose to forgive others for their actions. 77 00:03:55,170 --> 00:04:01,350 You turn your focus outward towards goals, and you create a new story for yourself. 78 00:04:01,350 --> 00:04:05,250 This is key, and that's what Nehemiah did for the whole nation. 79 00:04:05,810 --> 00:04:10,250 This one cup mirror in this, this far away place in Babylon. 80 00:04:10,430 --> 00:04:15,320 He created a new story that God recorded in this chapter, and 81 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,029 then he began to help others. 82 00:04:17,029 --> 00:04:18,829 So let's dive right into the story. 83 00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:22,969 My, uh, preaching coach says you're, uh, the, the, the. 84 00:04:23,580 --> 00:04:25,590 The purveyor of the word of God. 85 00:04:25,590 --> 00:04:28,860 So dive right into the word as soon as you can, Greg. 86 00:04:28,860 --> 00:04:31,380 So here we go, Nehemiah two verse one. 87 00:04:31,380 --> 00:04:36,000 We're gonna see that part of Nehemiah's Destiny was he was 88 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,010 in a position of influence. 89 00:04:38,010 --> 00:04:38,730 He didn't know it. 90 00:04:38,955 --> 00:04:40,245 He was an influencer. 91 00:04:40,305 --> 00:04:40,845 All right? 92 00:04:41,025 --> 00:04:44,895 They didn't have social media in his day, but he was still an influencer. 93 00:04:45,225 --> 00:04:50,985 Listen to this, in the month of Nissan, in the 20th year of King Art of Xerxes, when 94 00:04:50,985 --> 00:04:56,295 wine was brought for him, I took the wine, this is Nehemiah, and gave it to the king. 95 00:04:56,715 --> 00:05:00,825 And I had been, had not been sad in his presence before. 96 00:05:01,065 --> 00:05:02,535 Why had he not been sad? 97 00:05:02,535 --> 00:05:06,435 Because, uh, the rule was if you were sad in front of the 98 00:05:06,435 --> 00:05:08,085 king, you were disposed of. 99 00:05:09,300 --> 00:05:10,380 You were put to death. 100 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,090 You always had to be cheerful. 101 00:05:12,090 --> 00:05:17,970 You always had to create this environment around, uh, the king that you were happy. 102 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,430 And the monarch expected that. 103 00:05:20,970 --> 00:05:23,700 So he put himself in a position of peril. 104 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:25,620 Listen to this, Nehemiah two, two. 105 00:05:25,950 --> 00:05:31,920 So the king asked him, why does your face looks so sad when you are not ill? 106 00:05:32,460 --> 00:05:34,920 This can be nothing but sadness of heart. 107 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,940 Nehemiah says, I was very much afraid. 108 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:41,460 I mean, he was caught. 109 00:05:42,599 --> 00:05:44,940 Can you imagine how he felt? 110 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,200 Talk about, uh, uh, fight, flight, or freeze? 111 00:05:49,650 --> 00:05:50,730 I mean, he froze. 112 00:05:50,730 --> 00:05:54,750 All of a sudden, uhoh, the king noticed and he wanted to fly. 113 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:55,560 Fly. 114 00:05:55,650 --> 00:05:58,980 He wanted to get out of there 'cause he didn't want to be put to death. 115 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,140 But listen to what he does. 116 00:06:01,140 --> 00:06:03,360 This is a true man of God. 117 00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:04,950 It. 118 00:06:05,610 --> 00:06:10,080 We all are in positions to fulfill our destiny. 119 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:11,040 Ordained for God. 120 00:06:11,130 --> 00:06:15,000 You may not feel like you're in a very significant place in your life. 121 00:06:15,630 --> 00:06:16,890 Oh, I'm just a student. 122 00:06:17,370 --> 00:06:22,515 I'm just a, you know, in this position, there's millions of them around the world. 123 00:06:23,190 --> 00:06:25,410 I'm not in a very significant position. 124 00:06:25,410 --> 00:06:27,660 I can't do that much, you know? 125 00:06:28,515 --> 00:06:30,495 We all are in positions. 126 00:06:30,495 --> 00:06:34,544 I believe that God wants us to be, and at a certain time in our 127 00:06:34,544 --> 00:06:37,215 life, he's gonna activate us. 128 00:06:37,305 --> 00:06:42,885 We're gonna be needed to do something special for God to build his kingdom. 129 00:06:42,945 --> 00:06:47,385 I really wanna convince you of that as we read this story, Nehemiah two three. 130 00:06:48,255 --> 00:06:52,034 Nehemiah was in a position of insight, but I said to the 131 00:06:52,034 --> 00:06:53,955 king, so he just told the truth. 132 00:06:54,015 --> 00:06:55,544 Always just tell the truth. 133 00:06:55,544 --> 00:06:55,905 All right. 134 00:06:57,315 --> 00:07:01,125 Whenever you get caught, you're tempted to uh, uh, uh, well, 135 00:07:01,185 --> 00:07:05,175 uh, make excuses rationalize. 136 00:07:05,475 --> 00:07:06,735 You get defensive. 137 00:07:07,035 --> 00:07:08,055 Just tell the truth. 138 00:07:08,775 --> 00:07:10,335 It always works. 139 00:07:10,575 --> 00:07:14,505 He said, but I said to the king, may the king will you live forever? 140 00:07:14,505 --> 00:07:18,560 Always show respect to those who respect is due. 141 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,240 Show respect to your parents? 142 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,120 Well, I'm not sure that my parents deserve it. 143 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,120 It doesn't say if your parents deserve it. 144 00:07:27,870 --> 00:07:31,440 It says, honor your parents, so it will go well with you, and 145 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,240 so you will have a long life. 146 00:07:34,530 --> 00:07:37,500 Does that mean your parents decide whether you live or die? 147 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:38,490 No. 148 00:07:38,490 --> 00:07:38,760 No. 149 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,240 That's taken scripture Way too far. 150 00:07:40,415 --> 00:07:40,715 All right. 151 00:07:42,433 --> 00:07:47,564 I do believe God decides how long we live and where we live and how we live. 152 00:07:47,625 --> 00:07:50,265 And he says, honor your parents. 153 00:07:50,505 --> 00:07:55,334 The Bible says to honor the king, so Nehemiah does that 154 00:07:55,365 --> 00:07:56,715 May the king live forever. 155 00:07:56,715 --> 00:07:59,745 Why should my face not look sad? 156 00:07:59,834 --> 00:08:00,015 Woo. 157 00:08:00,645 --> 00:08:07,424 He's getting bold when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins. 158 00:08:07,694 --> 00:08:10,395 Now, guess who made it a ruin? 159 00:08:11,790 --> 00:08:17,910 The king's ancestors, the country that the king is leading, the Babylonians. 160 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:23,460 And so this is bold and its gates have been destroyed with fire. 161 00:08:23,460 --> 00:08:27,630 So Nehemiah shares a truthful insight. 162 00:08:27,630 --> 00:08:32,159 He was in a position of insight, but he was also in a position of privilege. 163 00:08:32,225 --> 00:08:36,780 Listen to this, two four, the king said to me, what is it you 164 00:08:36,780 --> 00:08:40,320 want now that is encouraging? 165 00:08:41,234 --> 00:08:44,655 All a sudden his blood pressure went down, right? 166 00:08:45,645 --> 00:08:49,125 All a sudden he's thinking, Hey, this might go in a good place. 167 00:08:49,875 --> 00:08:52,935 He may have thought initially, Hey, if I'm gonna die, I might as well 168 00:08:52,935 --> 00:08:56,175 just tell the truth and try to ask for something great, and I may get 169 00:08:56,175 --> 00:08:57,795 it, and if not, I'm gonna die anyway. 170 00:08:59,055 --> 00:09:00,405 I don't have anything to risk. 171 00:09:00,405 --> 00:09:01,064 I'm caught. 172 00:09:01,125 --> 00:09:01,935 I'm stuck. 173 00:09:01,995 --> 00:09:02,865 I'm gonna die. 174 00:09:03,015 --> 00:09:09,194 So he told the truth, but then when he heard this, he's like, Hey, hey. 175 00:09:09,765 --> 00:09:11,205 Something's going on here. 176 00:09:11,925 --> 00:09:13,575 The king says, what do you want? 177 00:09:14,055 --> 00:09:18,675 When I prayed to the God, uh, then I prayed to the God of heaven. 178 00:09:18,765 --> 00:09:21,314 That's what I call an emergency prayer. 179 00:09:22,635 --> 00:09:24,885 Do you ever offer any emergency prayers? 180 00:09:26,445 --> 00:09:29,745 I don't know about your emergency prayer, but mine's pretty simple. 181 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,290 Help, 182 00:09:34,820 --> 00:09:35,110 help. 183 00:09:35,715 --> 00:09:38,805 I need somebody help, not just anybody. 184 00:09:40,110 --> 00:09:40,620 Help. 185 00:09:40,620 --> 00:09:41,400 I need God. 186 00:09:41,610 --> 00:09:41,730 Amen. 187 00:09:42,390 --> 00:09:42,870 Right. 188 00:09:44,310 --> 00:09:45,990 That's an emergency prayer. 189 00:09:47,310 --> 00:09:54,510 And I, I mean, I've slid on the black ice help carry Underwood. 190 00:09:54,690 --> 00:09:56,910 She starts singing, Lord, take the will. 191 00:09:57,990 --> 00:10:00,090 That's her emergency prayer. 192 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:01,260 All right. 193 00:10:01,590 --> 00:10:06,990 We all have these emergency prayers that we pray and Nehemiah prayed. 194 00:10:09,060 --> 00:10:16,530 For God's help, emergency prayers or prayers for help to fulfill our destiny. 195 00:10:17,310 --> 00:10:23,130 Don't ever forget, don't lose grasp of your dis destiny folks. 196 00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:28,140 And I mean, it may seem like you're far off from some of your dreams 197 00:10:28,140 --> 00:10:29,970 and some of your, your goals. 198 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,240 Some of us have had some of our dreams shattered. 199 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:34,500 Don't give up. 200 00:10:35,070 --> 00:10:36,330 God's not done yet. 201 00:10:36,824 --> 00:10:38,505 He loves a comeback story. 202 00:10:38,505 --> 00:10:40,454 He loves an underdog story. 203 00:10:40,694 --> 00:10:44,265 You know, I, I'm not betting on the game today, all right? 204 00:10:44,595 --> 00:10:49,005 The Seahawks are big favorites, but I like an underdog story. 205 00:10:49,005 --> 00:10:52,905 I don't really, I wanted the Rams playing, all right? 206 00:10:53,145 --> 00:10:54,944 I wanted the Broncos playing. 207 00:10:54,975 --> 00:10:59,204 I didn't want these guys playing, so I want 'em both to lose, all right. 208 00:11:01,290 --> 00:11:04,380 So I'm gonna watch and see where my heart goes. 209 00:11:04,380 --> 00:11:07,230 And I bet it goes to the underdog though. 210 00:11:08,130 --> 00:11:12,270 I bet it goes to whoever it seems like the refs are against, you know? 211 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,270 Ooh, I shouldn't have said that out loud. 212 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:15,720 Alright. 213 00:11:16,830 --> 00:11:19,740 But I'm gonna watch the game and, and it's, it's one of those 214 00:11:19,950 --> 00:11:21,900 non-stressful games for me. 215 00:11:21,930 --> 00:11:25,500 'cause I don't really care, you know, I don't really care. 216 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,660 I'm not gonna say any emergency prayers for either team today. 217 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:32,370 Two five. 218 00:11:33,390 --> 00:11:37,110 And I answered the king if it pleases the king. 219 00:11:37,110 --> 00:11:38,850 So again, he's being humble. 220 00:11:38,850 --> 00:11:40,439 He's taken the right posture. 221 00:11:40,439 --> 00:11:43,860 He's not being arrogant or bold or demanding. 222 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,150 He said, if it pleases the king and if your servant has found 223 00:11:48,150 --> 00:11:50,520 favor in his sight, and he's been. 224 00:11:50,955 --> 00:11:54,675 Building favor with the king year after year after year. 225 00:11:54,675 --> 00:11:58,335 He could have never become a cup bearer of the king if he wasn't 226 00:11:58,335 --> 00:12:02,295 trusted and he wasn't a good and faithful and loyal person. 227 00:12:02,565 --> 00:12:07,395 And it says, if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to 228 00:12:07,395 --> 00:12:14,085 the city and Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it. 229 00:12:15,015 --> 00:12:22,995 His sincerity, his singularity of purpose, his love for his city, for his ancestors, 230 00:12:23,115 --> 00:12:30,645 most of all, his love for his God, that the people of God are in disgrace. 231 00:12:30,645 --> 00:12:31,845 It's broken his heart. 232 00:12:31,845 --> 00:12:32,830 We read that last week. 233 00:12:34,410 --> 00:12:35,520 So what happens? 234 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,650 He's in a position of limitation, though. 235 00:12:37,710 --> 00:12:41,760 He's gotta ask the king verses verse six of chapter two. 236 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,340 Then the king with the queen sitting beside him. 237 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:46,320 This is the only time they mentioned the queen. 238 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:50,970 Here, ask me, how long will your journey take and when 239 00:12:50,970 --> 00:12:53,010 will you get back it, please? 240 00:12:53,010 --> 00:12:54,405 The king to send me. 241 00:12:54,540 --> 00:12:56,730 So I set a time. 242 00:12:56,790 --> 00:12:58,080 He's like feeling great. 243 00:12:58,350 --> 00:13:02,340 Hey, if he's asking me how long I been gone, I guess that means he's sending me. 244 00:13:03,525 --> 00:13:05,835 And so I don't know what Nehemiah says. 245 00:13:05,835 --> 00:13:07,965 This story leaves a few blanks. 246 00:13:08,565 --> 00:13:10,845 I know how long Nehemiah was gone. 247 00:13:11,595 --> 00:13:15,825 I think the king would've probably said, okay, you can have a few months off. 248 00:13:16,515 --> 00:13:21,285 You can take a sabbatical for a few, few months, maybe three months, four months. 249 00:13:21,315 --> 00:13:23,085 Well, because it's a long trip. 250 00:13:23,085 --> 00:13:24,975 Maybe it's gonna take you six months. 251 00:13:25,065 --> 00:13:27,045 Guess how long Nehemiah was gone? 252 00:13:28,125 --> 00:13:29,355 10 years. 253 00:13:31,140 --> 00:13:36,030 I don't think Art Xes expected him to be gone 10 years. 254 00:13:36,390 --> 00:13:42,480 I don't think he's saying, yes, you can be gone 10 years, but that's how long the, 255 00:13:42,510 --> 00:13:45,120 the scholars tell us that he was gone. 256 00:13:45,330 --> 00:13:48,900 If he was this concerned about how long he was gonna be gone, he 257 00:13:48,930 --> 00:13:50,580 didn't want him to be gone long. 258 00:13:50,910 --> 00:13:55,140 And I think part of that was because he trusted him and he needed to be 259 00:13:55,140 --> 00:13:58,350 protected by his cup Bear verse seven. 260 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:01,920 He was in a position of pragmatism. 261 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:03,180 What does that mean? 262 00:14:03,449 --> 00:14:05,219 You gotta always get practical folks. 263 00:14:05,219 --> 00:14:09,000 You can be as faithful as you want, but you gotta be practical and 264 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,040 honest with yourself and self-aware. 265 00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:14,819 He says, I said to him, if it pleases the king again, he 266 00:14:14,819 --> 00:14:16,140 gives deference to the king. 267 00:14:16,290 --> 00:14:21,569 May I have letters to the governors of trans so that they will provide me 268 00:14:21,569 --> 00:14:25,079 safe conduct until I arrive in Judah. 269 00:14:25,395 --> 00:14:28,305 He knows he's on in for a very dangerous journey. 270 00:14:28,485 --> 00:14:34,245 And especially if he, if he's going, uh, to, uh, and, and he's just a 271 00:14:34,245 --> 00:14:37,725 cup bearer, he knows that he's, he's going on a very dangerous 272 00:14:37,725 --> 00:14:40,275 journey and he needs to protection. 273 00:14:40,275 --> 00:14:43,935 So he's getting very practical for you and me. 274 00:14:43,995 --> 00:14:48,135 We are in positions to fulfill our destinies, ordained by God, 275 00:14:48,405 --> 00:14:50,685 but we definitely need help. 276 00:14:50,745 --> 00:14:52,155 We need help to do that. 277 00:14:52,515 --> 00:14:53,055 So. 278 00:14:53,475 --> 00:14:57,645 He asked for what's called patronage in the ancient world, verse 279 00:14:57,645 --> 00:15:02,475 eight, and may I have a letter to ASAP keeper of the rural park. 280 00:15:02,685 --> 00:15:07,335 So he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel of the 281 00:15:07,335 --> 00:15:12,165 temple, of the CI and the city wall, and for the residents I'll occupy. 282 00:15:12,375 --> 00:15:18,315 And because of the gracious hand of God was on me, the king granted my request. 283 00:15:19,785 --> 00:15:24,555 See, in the ancient world, a patron was somebody who was rich and they would give 284 00:15:25,095 --> 00:15:27,405 their riches to what was called client. 285 00:15:27,405 --> 00:15:30,585 So it was a patron client relationship, all right? 286 00:15:31,215 --> 00:15:35,205 And, uh, what that was called in the ancient world. 287 00:15:35,205 --> 00:15:36,195 Get this now. 288 00:15:36,555 --> 00:15:44,355 Whenever a patron gave something to a client, it was called a gift or grace. 289 00:15:46,260 --> 00:15:51,840 It was given, it was called Grace because the, the, the client, it was so much 290 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,880 the client could never pay it back. 291 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:55,319 So it was always a gift. 292 00:15:55,319 --> 00:15:56,730 So it was a called Grace. 293 00:15:57,030 --> 00:15:58,079 Guess what? 294 00:15:58,410 --> 00:16:02,010 The, the client was expected to give back to the patron. 295 00:16:03,150 --> 00:16:07,560 You're never gonna guess unless you've read this in De Silva. 296 00:16:07,709 --> 00:16:11,130 Alright, faith peace does. 297 00:16:12,245 --> 00:16:16,129 If they had to give back loyalty and honor to the patron. 298 00:16:17,955 --> 00:16:19,755 Loyalty and honor. 299 00:16:20,115 --> 00:16:23,385 They had to spread the reputation of the patron. 300 00:16:23,655 --> 00:16:25,485 That this is an honorable man. 301 00:16:25,485 --> 00:16:26,865 This is a great person. 302 00:16:26,865 --> 00:16:31,635 This is a generous person because they're giving to people in need. 303 00:16:31,635 --> 00:16:33,375 They're giving their riches away. 304 00:16:33,375 --> 00:16:34,845 They're giving grace. 305 00:16:35,430 --> 00:16:40,320 And so the response of faith is loyalty and to promote 306 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,390 the reputation of the patron. 307 00:16:42,810 --> 00:16:47,580 That's why it's called when God gives us Salvation and Forgiveness. 308 00:16:47,670 --> 00:16:48,780 It's called grace. 309 00:16:48,780 --> 00:16:53,010 And what are you and I supposed to give back to God, but faith, loyalty, 310 00:16:53,010 --> 00:16:55,320 and to promote the reputation of God. 311 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:56,220 Are you with me there? 312 00:16:56,220 --> 00:16:56,730 Amen. 313 00:16:57,090 --> 00:17:01,710 So there's a lot we can learn from Nehemiah here, and Nehemiah is bold. 314 00:17:02,070 --> 00:17:02,970 I want a house. 315 00:17:04,214 --> 00:17:10,035 I want all the supplies I need, and I want you to write me a check to the treasury. 316 00:17:10,815 --> 00:17:13,483 All right, so I can pay for it all. 317 00:17:14,055 --> 00:17:18,135 Now, this is being, I mean, he must have had, he must have said a little 318 00:17:18,135 --> 00:17:20,233 more than just the emergency prayer. 319 00:17:20,295 --> 00:17:20,775 All right? 320 00:17:21,525 --> 00:17:25,694 I think he had a pretty detailed list in his mind and. 321 00:17:26,204 --> 00:17:27,405 So he asked for it. 322 00:17:27,405 --> 00:17:30,885 The client patron relationship were common in the ancient world. 323 00:17:30,885 --> 00:17:33,975 Nehemiah asked the king for a favor or patronage. 324 00:17:33,975 --> 00:17:38,294 The king granted his request to enhance his own reputation. 325 00:17:38,294 --> 00:17:41,834 That's why the king did it, not because he loved Jews. 326 00:17:41,985 --> 00:17:43,544 He did like Nehemiah. 327 00:17:43,775 --> 00:17:45,665 But he loved himself even more. 328 00:17:45,965 --> 00:17:49,505 Nehemiah was obligated to advertise the king's generosity. 329 00:17:49,505 --> 00:17:53,945 The patronage from the king was a gift or grace because Nehemiah 330 00:17:54,005 --> 00:17:58,685 obviously could not afford to repay the gift, and Nehemiah offered faith 331 00:17:58,685 --> 00:18:00,965 or loyalty to the king in exchange. 332 00:18:01,505 --> 00:18:07,895 And here's the key, to be disloyal, to not promote the King's reputation, 333 00:18:07,895 --> 00:18:10,685 you became a dishonorable person. 334 00:18:11,370 --> 00:18:16,260 If you ever had the label of being dishonorable, if you'd been given grace or 335 00:18:16,260 --> 00:18:22,320 a gift and you were took it for granted, then you were the worst of society. 336 00:18:23,220 --> 00:18:24,630 You were the worst of the worst. 337 00:18:24,630 --> 00:18:30,000 You never, you never showed in gratitude for a gift. 338 00:18:30,824 --> 00:18:31,574 And that's why. 339 00:18:31,574 --> 00:18:37,814 So when we aren't grace, grateful to God for all the gifts he give us, sometimes 340 00:18:37,814 --> 00:18:43,155 that, that's why he just wants us to show some percentage, some, uh, evidence 341 00:18:43,155 --> 00:18:45,824 that we're grateful by giving each week. 342 00:18:46,395 --> 00:18:47,985 I appreciate what Dallas said. 343 00:18:47,985 --> 00:18:49,455 That was so good. 344 00:18:49,514 --> 00:18:53,504 I mean, I've never gonna forget that he was bit by mosquitoes. 345 00:18:53,504 --> 00:18:54,705 I'm, that's there. 346 00:18:54,735 --> 00:18:56,955 I mean, I've got that every time I look at his face. 347 00:18:56,955 --> 00:18:58,094 I'm gonna look close now. 348 00:18:58,245 --> 00:18:58,665 All right. 349 00:19:01,875 --> 00:19:03,375 It's so important. 350 00:19:03,375 --> 00:19:08,685 God expects us to show him that we honor him. 351 00:19:08,685 --> 00:19:09,795 Can I get Amen? 352 00:19:10,695 --> 00:19:16,275 And then Nehemiah two in verse nine, he was in a position of serendipity. 353 00:19:16,275 --> 00:19:17,475 What do I mean by that? 354 00:19:17,865 --> 00:19:22,305 So I went to the governor's of Transies and gave them the king's letters. 355 00:19:22,305 --> 00:19:23,175 Can you imagine? 356 00:19:23,205 --> 00:19:28,710 Here's this cup bears strutting around with these letters that says. 357 00:19:29,535 --> 00:19:31,275 I'm special. 358 00:19:32,385 --> 00:19:35,295 I get to pass through your country. 359 00:19:35,415 --> 00:19:37,065 You're gonna protect me. 360 00:19:37,095 --> 00:19:41,265 Anything I want, I can ask you for, because it's just like 361 00:19:41,265 --> 00:19:43,455 the king asking you for it. 362 00:19:43,785 --> 00:19:44,235 All right? 363 00:19:44,235 --> 00:19:47,085 Your emperor, the ones that conquered you. 364 00:19:47,595 --> 00:19:52,335 So here, he's feeling very good about himself and the king had also 365 00:19:52,335 --> 00:19:58,155 look at this, sent an army, sent army officers in Calvary with me. 366 00:19:59,715 --> 00:20:00,465 Wow. 367 00:20:00,735 --> 00:20:03,225 I think Nehemiah's feeling pretty good. 368 00:20:03,225 --> 00:20:08,445 I think he's feeling like I'm gonna pray the emergency prayer more often. 369 00:20:08,445 --> 00:20:08,925 Amen. 370 00:20:09,975 --> 00:20:12,824 So trans, what's that? 371 00:20:13,034 --> 00:20:14,685 It's the land beyond the river. 372 00:20:15,195 --> 00:20:17,625 It's the area west of the river. 373 00:20:17,985 --> 00:20:21,554 And that was the area of Syria and Fania and Israel. 374 00:20:21,645 --> 00:20:22,155 Alright. 375 00:20:22,544 --> 00:20:26,330 And the governors that he's talking about, if you want to know. 376 00:20:26,985 --> 00:20:33,225 There on the screen, Tati Nay, and also hum and uh, and Mhe. 377 00:20:33,554 --> 00:20:38,565 So those are who he's talking about, that he had to pass through their countries. 378 00:20:38,565 --> 00:20:43,245 So he was also in verse 10, in a position to be persecuted. 379 00:20:43,514 --> 00:20:47,205 Anytime you do something for God, you're gonna get opposition. 380 00:20:48,270 --> 00:20:51,540 Anytime you take a stand, anytime you take a position of 381 00:20:51,540 --> 00:20:53,490 leadership, you're gonna get a post. 382 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,440 There's always gonna be rebels. 383 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,780 Satan's always whispering in people's ears. 384 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:01,710 There's always palace intrigue, there's always division. 385 00:21:01,830 --> 00:21:05,520 As we do greater and greater things in this church, Satan's gonna 386 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,305 try to divide us more and more. 387 00:21:08,010 --> 00:21:09,960 We've gotta fight for the unity. 388 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:12,990 We've gotta fight for our righteousness and spirituality. 389 00:21:13,290 --> 00:21:17,220 'cause there's always gonna be a sand ballot in Toba and Geshe. 390 00:21:17,580 --> 00:21:22,350 When sand ballot, the Hor Horror Knight, see he's even got a terrible name. 391 00:21:22,410 --> 00:21:26,280 And Toba, the Ammonite official heard about this. 392 00:21:26,370 --> 00:21:30,115 They were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote 393 00:21:30,570 --> 00:21:32,970 the welfare of the Israelites. 394 00:21:33,735 --> 00:21:35,504 The status quo is changing. 395 00:21:35,834 --> 00:21:41,264 These guys had been stealing from the Israelites and they, they thought, uhoh, 396 00:21:41,294 --> 00:21:47,445 someone's coming and we're not gonna be able to have our comfy positions anymore. 397 00:21:47,834 --> 00:21:51,254 There's someone that's gonna come and they're gonna rock our boat. 398 00:21:51,794 --> 00:21:52,274 All right? 399 00:21:52,635 --> 00:21:55,665 We don't get things the way that we've always gotten them 400 00:21:55,784 --> 00:21:58,094 around here and sand ballot and. 401 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,260 Uh, Toba were very disturbed. 402 00:22:01,260 --> 00:22:04,800 They were pagan leaders that had been taking care, taking 403 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,350 advantage of God's people. 404 00:22:07,650 --> 00:22:12,510 They were persecutor, they were in the drama triangle as perpetrators. 405 00:22:13,230 --> 00:22:13,830 All right. 406 00:22:14,129 --> 00:22:17,010 He was, the sand ballot was the governor of Samaria. 407 00:22:17,010 --> 00:22:22,410 Toba was the governor of Amon Ham was one of the leaders of the Arabs. 408 00:22:22,710 --> 00:22:26,760 That, uh, had been taking care, uh, advantage of the Israelites. 409 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,410 What's going on in the Middle East now? 410 00:22:28,410 --> 00:22:29,460 It's nothing new. 411 00:22:29,460 --> 00:22:33,150 It was going on back then, and there's nothing new under the sun. 412 00:22:33,540 --> 00:22:38,580 But Nehemiah had a destiny and he had a position of purpose. 413 00:22:38,580 --> 00:22:40,770 Don't ever let go of your purpose. 414 00:22:40,770 --> 00:22:43,115 You ever let go of why you do what you do. 415 00:22:43,995 --> 00:22:49,365 Why you want to take a risk, why you want to be bold and ask a king for something? 416 00:22:49,814 --> 00:22:54,375 Why you want to go out and ask for funds you know that are not your 417 00:22:54,375 --> 00:22:57,705 money, but somebody else's money, but your It's for a good cause. 418 00:22:57,764 --> 00:22:58,725 Why? 419 00:22:59,264 --> 00:23:01,304 Because he had a purpose. 420 00:23:01,304 --> 00:23:07,304 He says, I went to Jerusalem and after staying there three days, 421 00:23:08,294 --> 00:23:09,915 he's gone on this long journey. 422 00:23:09,915 --> 00:23:12,074 He's got this purpose to rebuild the wall. 423 00:23:12,659 --> 00:23:19,770 Why did he delay to pray, to plan, and to prepare, 424 00:23:22,229 --> 00:23:25,080 and unfortunately, he knew what people are like. 425 00:23:26,969 --> 00:23:31,919 He knew people have their, he was going to, he was gonna face 426 00:23:32,070 --> 00:23:34,439 opposition and per persecution. 427 00:23:35,310 --> 00:23:39,179 He also knew that even among his own people, the Jews, there 428 00:23:39,179 --> 00:23:41,784 was politics going on, you know. 429 00:23:43,350 --> 00:23:47,100 And so he, he just decided I need to get a lay of the land here. 430 00:23:47,670 --> 00:23:49,620 I need to do some investigation. 431 00:23:49,620 --> 00:23:53,340 I need to check things out for a few days to see what's really going on. 432 00:23:53,340 --> 00:23:59,130 I need to get a plan together because just because God was with me, with, 433 00:23:59,370 --> 00:24:03,960 uh, the King of Babylon, with Art of Xerxes, he needs to be with me in, 434 00:24:04,050 --> 00:24:09,120 unfortunately, with my own people because there's always stuff going on. 435 00:24:10,605 --> 00:24:14,865 He spent three days praying and planning and checking things 436 00:24:14,865 --> 00:24:16,425 out, and he had a strategy. 437 00:24:16,425 --> 00:24:17,475 This is so cool. 438 00:24:17,475 --> 00:24:18,525 This is a great story. 439 00:24:18,525 --> 00:24:23,865 Verse 12, he says, I set out during the night why the night, so nobody'd see him. 440 00:24:25,185 --> 00:24:26,325 He's sneaking around. 441 00:24:26,895 --> 00:24:28,125 He's undercover. 442 00:24:28,695 --> 00:24:29,115 All right. 443 00:24:29,445 --> 00:24:30,435 He's an agent for. 444 00:24:31,605 --> 00:24:33,855 I sat out during the night with a few others. 445 00:24:34,125 --> 00:24:38,294 I had not told anyone what my God had put on my heart to do for 446 00:24:38,294 --> 00:24:41,115 Jerusalem because he's not a priest. 447 00:24:41,175 --> 00:24:43,725 He's not of the, the noble families. 448 00:24:43,784 --> 00:24:45,254 He's a cup bear. 449 00:24:45,705 --> 00:24:47,054 He's just a servant. 450 00:24:48,014 --> 00:24:52,155 You know, they may have thought he's even a spy for the king, and so he 451 00:24:52,155 --> 00:24:57,975 had to be wise, what God had put on my heart to do for Jerusalem there. 452 00:24:58,335 --> 00:25:04,545 Were no mounts with me except the one that I rode, and so he's exercising some 453 00:25:04,545 --> 00:25:10,095 very shrewd leadership here, verse 13, but he, but he really was a planner. 454 00:25:10,155 --> 00:25:11,385 This is really important. 455 00:25:11,775 --> 00:25:14,955 By night I went out through the valley gate. 456 00:25:15,420 --> 00:25:18,150 Towards the jack of well and the D gate. 457 00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:19,890 Now, why does he mention these gates? 458 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,220 Because historically everybody knew what he was talking about. 459 00:25:23,220 --> 00:25:24,600 This is a true story. 460 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:30,240 He's wanting you and I thousands of years later to realize this is all true. 461 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:31,740 Guys, I'm not making this up. 462 00:25:31,740 --> 00:25:33,180 This is, this is real. 463 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,120 We, we need to make a, a Netflix about this. 464 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:36,750 All right. 465 00:25:37,590 --> 00:25:41,070 Because we seem to believe these Netflix things, right? 466 00:25:41,130 --> 00:25:46,020 Examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down and its gates 467 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,620 which had been destroyed with fire. 468 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:59,520 10 gates, he examined, he went out, it says, uh, through the valley gate 469 00:25:59,940 --> 00:26:03,210 and it's, it's gonna say he's gonna return through the valley gate. 470 00:26:03,885 --> 00:26:05,475 He, he goes on a journey. 471 00:26:05,475 --> 00:26:06,915 He checks out the wall. 472 00:26:07,035 --> 00:26:11,625 At one point, he wants to go back inside to see what the condition 473 00:26:11,625 --> 00:26:15,165 of the wall is on the inside, but his horse won't fit through there. 474 00:26:15,285 --> 00:26:21,225 So it says he had to change his plans and eventually he went back in the gate. 475 00:26:21,225 --> 00:26:24,945 He left because he knew he could get in that way and he might not 476 00:26:24,945 --> 00:26:27,225 be able to get in the other ways. 477 00:26:27,495 --> 00:26:29,205 This is a great story. 478 00:26:29,205 --> 00:26:30,255 Verse 14. 479 00:26:30,825 --> 00:26:33,195 He was flexible, says in verse 14. 480 00:26:33,195 --> 00:26:37,665 Then I moved on towards the fountain gate and the king's pool, but there was not 481 00:26:37,665 --> 00:26:39,945 enough room for my mount to get through. 482 00:26:39,945 --> 00:26:44,175 Not because it was a fat horse, but because the gate had been collapsed. 483 00:26:44,175 --> 00:26:46,245 All right, let's, let's be generous here. 484 00:26:46,275 --> 00:26:46,665 All right. 485 00:26:47,565 --> 00:26:48,495 Verse 15. 486 00:26:49,485 --> 00:26:51,735 But he did understand the politics. 487 00:26:51,735 --> 00:26:56,025 So I went up the valley by night examining the wall. 488 00:26:56,055 --> 00:26:58,155 Finally, I turned back and reentered. 489 00:26:58,544 --> 00:27:03,584 Through the valley gate, he had to figure out how much materials, how much manpower. 490 00:27:03,675 --> 00:27:05,264 He had to figure out a plan. 491 00:27:05,264 --> 00:27:10,605 Verse 16, and so he was also in a position of persuasion. 492 00:27:10,665 --> 00:27:12,044 He figured it out. 493 00:27:12,105 --> 00:27:17,655 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing because as yet, 494 00:27:17,655 --> 00:27:22,814 I had not said anything to the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or 495 00:27:22,814 --> 00:27:26,145 any others who would be doing the work. 496 00:27:27,165 --> 00:27:28,304 He had made his plan. 497 00:27:28,845 --> 00:27:32,625 Now, these people knew he was somebody because he had all 498 00:27:32,625 --> 00:27:35,355 these Babylonian army officers. 499 00:27:35,445 --> 00:27:36,975 He had this whole calvary. 500 00:27:36,975 --> 00:27:42,405 He had an army with him and he had all these supplies, but nobody knew what he 501 00:27:42,405 --> 00:27:45,524 was doing until he was ready to tell 'em. 502 00:27:45,524 --> 00:27:49,455 And he's describing the opinion leaders here, the priests, the nobles, 503 00:27:49,455 --> 00:27:54,254 the officials, the wealthy land owners, the influencers of his day. 504 00:27:55,605 --> 00:27:58,635 Again, don't forget, he has a destiny. 505 00:27:58,665 --> 00:28:00,525 He knows it's gonna work. 506 00:28:00,615 --> 00:28:06,135 He's has the faith because God has a role for each of us. 507 00:28:06,135 --> 00:28:06,885 What to do? 508 00:28:06,885 --> 00:28:07,275 What? 509 00:28:07,575 --> 00:28:10,095 To get rich To win the lottery? 510 00:28:10,785 --> 00:28:11,295 Nope. 511 00:28:12,375 --> 00:28:13,395 To build his kingdom. 512 00:28:14,475 --> 00:28:16,695 I know for sure God's gonna help me do that. 513 00:28:17,985 --> 00:28:20,385 I don't know if God's gonna let me win a scratcher. 514 00:28:21,375 --> 00:28:23,240 I doubt he is 'cause I don't buy 'em. 515 00:28:23,810 --> 00:28:24,285 All right. 516 00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:27,570 It's pretty hard for me to win if I don't buy 'em all. 517 00:28:27,570 --> 00:28:27,929 Right? 518 00:28:28,439 --> 00:28:29,969 But I can't, I, I don't know. 519 00:28:30,014 --> 00:28:36,270 I, I hate wasting even a dollar, you know, if I don't, if I don't win, I 520 00:28:36,270 --> 00:28:38,100 feel like I just burned that dollar. 521 00:28:38,969 --> 00:28:40,139 I can't imagine that. 522 00:28:40,860 --> 00:28:42,659 But anyway, that's a personal thing. 523 00:28:42,659 --> 00:28:43,044 Let's keep moving. 524 00:28:43,050 --> 00:28:43,530 Keep moving. 525 00:28:44,935 --> 00:28:48,990 Verse 17, he was in a position of leadership. 526 00:28:48,990 --> 00:28:50,340 Here's what he finally said. 527 00:28:51,180 --> 00:28:55,140 He said to them, you see the trouble that we are in puts 528 00:28:55,140 --> 00:28:57,030 himself in a position with them. 529 00:28:57,930 --> 00:29:02,220 Jerusalem lies and ruins and its gates have been burned with fire. 530 00:29:02,250 --> 00:29:04,110 This is really bothering Nehemiah. 531 00:29:05,430 --> 00:29:12,450 Come let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace. 532 00:29:12,450 --> 00:29:13,710 That was his motive. 533 00:29:13,710 --> 00:29:16,560 He wanted God's promises fulfilled. 534 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,620 He wanted God's people to not be in disgrace. 535 00:29:19,620 --> 00:29:20,850 He wanted God honored. 536 00:29:20,850 --> 00:29:25,980 So in verse 18, he says he was in a position of calling. 537 00:29:25,980 --> 00:29:29,670 He says, I also told them about the gracious hand. 538 00:29:29,670 --> 00:29:33,450 My God had been on me and what the king had said to me. 539 00:29:34,050 --> 00:29:35,640 And that was enough for them. 540 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:39,420 And they said, let's start rebuilding. 541 00:29:40,290 --> 00:29:42,330 Let's start rebuilding. 542 00:29:43,650 --> 00:29:48,510 So they began this good work guys. 543 00:29:48,510 --> 00:29:52,320 Thankfully in the Orange County Church, we don't have to rebuild from scratch, right? 544 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,360 We've got so much here already. 545 00:29:57,810 --> 00:29:59,130 It is so on. 546 00:29:59,340 --> 00:29:59,880 Awesome. 547 00:30:00,030 --> 00:30:04,920 Most of the other regions of the LA church, think the Orange County Church. 548 00:30:05,010 --> 00:30:05,820 Whoa. 549 00:30:05,820 --> 00:30:10,350 If we could just be like the Orange County Church and so it's almost 550 00:30:10,350 --> 00:30:14,070 hard for me to say, let's start rebuilding 'cause we've got so much 551 00:30:14,070 --> 00:30:17,400 already, but I'm gonna say it anyway. 552 00:30:17,580 --> 00:30:19,200 Let's start rebuilding. 553 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:20,310 Let's build more. 554 00:30:20,310 --> 00:30:23,100 Let's build to the glory of God. 555 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:23,790 Amen. 556 00:30:24,210 --> 00:30:24,900 Amen. 557 00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:26,850 That's what this story is about. 558 00:30:27,150 --> 00:30:27,900 Thank you. 559 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:28,680 Thank you. 560 00:30:29,010 --> 00:30:29,940 Keep it up. 561 00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:31,200 Don't stop now. 562 00:30:31,290 --> 00:30:31,740 All right. 563 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:32,880 All right. 564 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:33,390 No. 565 00:30:33,390 --> 00:30:40,110 Do verse 19 and look what happens right after he gets everybody rallied to do it. 566 00:30:40,710 --> 00:30:41,070 Persecution. 567 00:30:42,210 --> 00:30:47,399 When sand ballot, the Ho, ho Knight, uh, abaya, the Ammonite official 568 00:30:47,399 --> 00:30:49,950 and Geshe the Arab heard about it. 569 00:30:49,950 --> 00:30:51,629 They mocked and ridiculed us. 570 00:30:51,629 --> 00:30:53,879 What is this you're doing? 571 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,149 Are you rebelling against the king? 572 00:30:57,510 --> 00:30:58,830 He's getting labeled. 573 00:30:59,430 --> 00:31:01,740 He's getting labeled as a rebel. 574 00:31:01,919 --> 00:31:03,480 As an insurrectionist. 575 00:31:03,990 --> 00:31:08,520 There's labels, guys that can destroy a person's life, and this 576 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:10,200 was one of them in the ancient world. 577 00:31:11,070 --> 00:31:17,370 They're trying to plant seeds, you know, among the people that ne that 578 00:31:17,370 --> 00:31:20,490 Nehemiah isn't serving our de Xerxes. 579 00:31:21,300 --> 00:31:27,450 He's a rebel and he's going to rebel against the king, and 580 00:31:27,450 --> 00:31:28,830 they knew what they were doing. 581 00:31:28,860 --> 00:31:31,800 But we'll catch the rest of this story next week. 582 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:32,280 Amen. 583 00:31:33,060 --> 00:31:35,760 So what are the morals of the story that we learned today? 584 00:31:36,750 --> 00:31:38,790 We, you and me, all of us. 585 00:31:39,435 --> 00:31:43,575 Our impositions, God's destined for us, and we're not victims. 586 00:31:43,580 --> 00:31:43,820 Amen. 587 00:31:45,044 --> 00:31:51,345 We must use our positions like Nehemiah did to glorify God. 588 00:31:51,555 --> 00:31:52,095 All right. 589 00:31:52,575 --> 00:31:55,905 We will be in positions to step out. 590 00:31:55,905 --> 00:31:59,955 In faith, it always is gonna come down to our willingness to 591 00:31:59,955 --> 00:32:01,695 take a risk and to have faith. 592 00:32:01,875 --> 00:32:05,835 We need courage to use positions that we have to build the church. 593 00:32:06,044 --> 00:32:09,825 We must use our positions when opportunity arises. 594 00:32:10,065 --> 00:32:12,794 We can change the world when we use our positions. 595 00:32:13,485 --> 00:32:19,334 We are in positions that seem dormant for years, but then God activates us. 596 00:32:19,635 --> 00:32:24,824 We will see our destiny eventually in every one of our positions. 597 00:32:24,824 --> 00:32:32,205 And finally, rebuilding will be opposed by persecution and threats. 598 00:32:33,165 --> 00:32:38,115 The better things start going, the more challenges, the more threats, 599 00:32:38,115 --> 00:32:43,635 the more persecution, the more drama, rebuilding requires purpose, 600 00:32:43,875 --> 00:32:47,085 worth, risk, and maybe death. 601 00:32:47,085 --> 00:32:51,465 That's what Nehemiah is willing to risk even his death. 602 00:32:52,275 --> 00:32:55,965 And I believe there's only one thing worth risking your death for, and 603 00:32:55,965 --> 00:32:58,245 that is God and the kingdom of God. 604 00:32:58,305 --> 00:32:58,815 Amen. 605 00:32:59,355 --> 00:33:01,365 Rebuilding needs, resources. 606 00:33:02,055 --> 00:33:07,695 From unlikely people, man, I'd love for the President to write us a check. 607 00:33:07,695 --> 00:33:08,205 Amen. 608 00:33:09,225 --> 00:33:12,705 I'd love for you know, our governor to write us a check. 609 00:33:12,915 --> 00:33:13,785 Who knows? 610 00:33:13,905 --> 00:33:15,675 Let's not, let's not limit God. 611 00:33:15,675 --> 00:33:16,215 All right? 612 00:33:16,275 --> 00:33:17,535 We just read this story. 613 00:33:17,535 --> 00:33:19,395 Let's not shut that down. 614 00:33:19,425 --> 00:33:20,055 All right? 615 00:33:20,805 --> 00:33:23,175 We need resources from unlikely people. 616 00:33:23,175 --> 00:33:28,905 Rebuilding takes leadership that works like Nehemiah day and night. 617 00:33:29,610 --> 00:33:30,210 All right. 618 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:34,200 Rebuilding necessitates planning and flexibility. 619 00:33:34,410 --> 00:33:37,320 If the horse won't fit through it, go around. 620 00:33:37,350 --> 00:33:37,980 All right. 621 00:33:38,220 --> 00:33:39,149 That's what we learn. 622 00:33:39,149 --> 00:33:44,910 Rebuilding rallies the people to glorify and honor God, and rebuilding anticipates 623 00:33:44,910 --> 00:33:48,000 hardship and challenges he planned ahead. 624 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:50,879 Rebuilding begins and ends. 625 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,810 I'm gonna tie in last week's sermon with prayer and faith. 626 00:33:55,410 --> 00:33:55,920 Amen. 627 00:33:56,670 --> 00:34:01,500 This is a great story in Nehemiah, applies to exactly where we are as a church. 628 00:34:01,500 --> 00:34:03,420 God, thank you for listening. 629 00:34:03,420 --> 00:34:04,980 Thank you for your patience. 630 00:34:05,190 --> 00:34:09,509 Excuse us for our little technical problems, but uh, 631 00:34:09,570 --> 00:34:10,650 we'll get 'em worked out. 632 00:34:11,159 --> 00:34:11,850 God bless you. 633 00:34:11,850 --> 00:34:12,810 Have a great week.