“Building and Battling” Neh 6-9 & selected, Part 5 Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Feb 9, 2014

What is true success?

Building & Battling God works out His perfect plans, Involving His children God calls Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the task of rebuilding Nehemiah assembles God’s “Dream Team” & begins working Nehemiah persevered in battling as the walls went up Key Principle: Problem – Prayer – Praise as God works

I. The Rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls was completed Nehemiah 6:15-16 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Finished up construction details - 7:1 Godly servants began serving - 7:2-3 People gave financially to God’s work - 7:70-72

II. The Renewal of Spiritual Priorities

1. Unity within the Body Nehemiah 8:1 all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

2. Emphasis on God’s Word Nehemiah 8:3a “…He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand…”

3. Receptive Hearts Nehemiah 8:3b “…And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.”

4. Reverent Fear of God Nehemiah 8:5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

5. Passionate Public Worship Neh. 8:6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

6. Personal Repentance of Sin Nehemiah 8:8-9 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. 9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

7. Expanding Outreach Nehemiah 8:10a, 15 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared…15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem…”

Guatemala Village

8. Deep Sense of Well Being Nehemiah 8:10,12,17 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." … 12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. … 17b “…From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.”

III. The Revival of God’s People…

Brokenness over Sin Nehemiah 9:1-2 1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.

Hunger for God’s Word Nehemiah 9:3a “They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day..”

Authentic Worship Nehemiah 9:3b, 5b “… in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.…"Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting."

Prayer Neh 9:5-38 “… Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise…”

III. The Revival of God’s People Brokenness over Sin Hunger for God’s Word Authentic Worship Prayer