Faith To Build: Let's Rise & Build

February 26th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Story: Building a home

Passage: Nehemiah 2:18 NASB

And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let’s arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.

Title: Let’s Rise & Build

Pray:

Background:

Nehemiah had a call on his life to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C. The Hebrew people had been overtaken 3 different times and placed in exile. It was 141 years later, in the year 445 BC under the rule of King Artaxerxes that Nehemiah heard about how his people had returned and were in distress. Not only are they in distress but also the walls of Jerusalem are broken down. The wall in a pile of rubble was a disgrace to the Hebrew people. He knew God had called him to this task and he was committed whatever the cost.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the King of Persia. He was also a Jew living in Persia, descended from the exiles, and he held a trusted post in the royal court. It was at this time that he heard about his people in distress. The walls are rotted and torn down and they are left defenseless. Nehemiah was not weeping for the broken walls, but for the brokenness of his people. He felt compassion for their welfare and this news led Nehemiah to both deep sadness and courageous action.

Main Ideas:

1. Favor is not achieved with charisma, effort, and manipulation. It is a gift, and prayer, humility, and an excellent spirit position us to enjoy it.

   1. Neh. 2:5 “if your servant has found favor…”

   2. 5 Attributes That Position Us To Enjoy God’s Favor

      1. Faith
         1. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.” - ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9‬ ‭CSB‬‬
         2. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭CSB‬‬
      2. Righteousness
         1. “For you, Lord, bless the righteous one; you surround him with favor like a shield.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:12 CSB
         2. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.” - ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭84:11‬ ‭CSB‬‬
         3. “One who is good obtains favor from the Lord, but he condemns a person who schemes.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭CSB‬‬
      3. Faithfulness
         1. “Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:3-4‬ ‭CSB‬‬
      4. Humility
         1. “This is the Lord’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.” - ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬ ‭CSB‬‬
      5. Wisdom
         1. “For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8:35‬ ‭CSB‬‬

2. Nobody deserves the favor of God. Nobody can earn the favor of God. Nobody can force the favor of God.

3. Favor definition “tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord.” That approval is given by grace, not earned, and a hard season does not mean it is gone.

4. I like to think of favor as running downhill with the wind on my back!

5. Favor doesn’t make the journey easy, but it gives you confidence that God has got you every step of the way!

6. Story: Ragnar race… every downhill experience.

7. Question: What is your next step?

   1. God told Jonah “Go to Nineveh”
   2. God told Noah “Build a boat”
   3. God told Moses “Set my people free”
   4. God told Zerubbabel “Build the temple”
   5. God told Nehemiah “Build a wall”
   6. God might be telling you “Share the Gospel with someone this week”, “Spend an hour every day with me”, “invite 3 people to church”, “Give a gift to someone in need”, “Send an encouraging letter to a loved one”.

8. God has more in store when you are willing to risk it all by faith

   1. Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the Euphrates River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. - Nehemiah 2:9
   2. Nehemiah only requested two things from the king, but he received a third unexpected blessing. Nehemiah gives the credit to the gracious hand of his God (2:8).

   3. Nehemiah Requested & Received:

      1. Protection - letters written to the governors
      2. Provision - letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest (home where I will live.)
      3. People - officers of the infantry and cavalry with me.
         4. Question: Why don’t we ask for more?

      4. Either we don’t think it’s possible with our effort and resources? Which is a result of pride.

         1. So we can choose to either settle or surrender. 2. Or, it’s that we don’t think God can do it. Which is a result of doubt.

         2. So we can choose to either believe and see the glory of God, or live a faithless life. 3. Keep asking, ask more, ask bigger, believe for it, and trust God’s will with the answer! 4. “Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20 5. “The God of more, has more in store.” - Ps Heiden Ratner

         3. God has more in store for those that have faith to build. Faith to move. Faith to go!
            5. Nehemiah needed approval from the king to leave his current position, and he needed authority from the king to do the work he felt needed to be done.

      5. He was granted both approval and authority, but beyond the blessing of the king, he had the approval and authority of the One true King.

         6. When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister He gave them provision to meet their needs and authority to accomplish the mission. (Matt 10:1-15 & 28:18)

      6. Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worthy of his food.

      7. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

         7. Story: Moving to plant Pinewood in Boulder.

      8. “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” - Matthew 6:31-33

         8. The journey from Susa to Jerusalem was roughly a two month trip.

9. 
   

Closing: Communion

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.

28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. 31 If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, 32 but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.