Highest Place 671 – He Carried My Sorrows Opening Prayer 182 – I Believe In Mount Calvary 227 – There Is A Habitation Sermon “Hand Me Another Brick ” 307 – Are You Washed In The Blood? 390 – Anywhere With Jesus

Isaiah 53 Vs. 7 – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before His shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Vs. 9 – “And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, no was any deceit in His mouth.” Vs. 12 – “…because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Matthew 27 v.28 “And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.” v.29 “When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” v.30 “Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.” v.31 “And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”

Highest Place 671 – He Carried My Sorrows Opening Prayer 182 – I Believe In Mount Calvary 227 – There Is A Habitation Sermon “Hand Me Another Brick ” 307 – Are You Washed In The Blood? 390 – Anywhere With Jesus

“Hand Me Another Brick” Nehemiah 3 - 5

Getting Involved [“zealous of good works”] Points To Note: 1.The spiritual leaders of the nation lead the people by example, it was Eliashib, the high priest who arose up first with his fellow priests and started to rebuild. 2.Nehemiah didn’t get 100% involvement or cooperation, "but their nobles did not support the work of their masters" (3:5). But this didn’t discourage this group from Tekoa, for they repaired more than one section of the wall (3:27).

Getting Involved [“zealous of good works”] Points To Note: 3. In this chapter it is often said that someone made repairs, "opposite his house" (3:10,23,28 "each in front of his house"). "That may have been an assigned portion, which was natural and convenient; but knowing human nature I wonder if people then were like today, more likely to work if it served a personal interest. We are most concerned about the hole in the wall that exposes our own house“. 4. "After him Baruch…zealously repaired another section" (3:20). Zeal, a passion for God’s work, was in the end the only acceptable motivation, "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14).

Getting Involved [“zealous of good works”] Points To Note: 5. People made the time for God’s work, these people also had regular occupations, and families to feed, but they made time for God, ("the goldsmiths…one of the perfumers" 3:8). 6. The truly spiritual realized that social status doesn’t exempt one from doing God’s work (3:9). 7. "And next to him Shallum (SHAL uhm) the son of Hallohesh (ha LOW hesh), the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters" (3:12). (Matthew 5:14-16; Psalm 127:3-5)

Shooting Ourselves In The Foot Three reasons for the complaints in Nehemiah 5:1-5: 1.There was a famine. 2.There were too many taxes. 3.The high and inappropriate interest rate was causing them to sell their children and themselves into slavery. When All Else Fails, Read The Instructions. Nehemiah 5:6

"We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?’ Then they were silent and could not find a word to say" (Nehemiah 5:8). Nehemiah made three accusations: 1.You are charging interest to fellow Jews. That is wrong. 2.You are enforcing the permanent slavery of the Jews (violation of Leviticus 25:35-40). That’s also wrong. 3.You are losing your distinction in the eyes of the surrounding nations. Tragic! Nehemiah 5:9 “should you not walk in the fear of God…”

 God tells us, "give the enemy no occasion for reproach“ (1 Timothy 5:14)  Yes, Sanballat and his friends were probably just as greedy, but such can never be used as an excuse for the sins among God’s people.  More is expected of us. "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax- gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:46-47)

Solving The Problem I.Determine To Stop It. [Neh. 5:10] II. Make Specific Plans To Correct The Situation As Quickly As Possible. [Neh. 5:11] III. The Importance Of A Public Declaration. [Neh. 5:12]

Because of unfaithfulness, the kingdom Solomon had ruled would be divided (1 Kings 11:11), between the northern tribes (Israel), and the southern tribes (Judah). Israel was carried away into captivity (722 B.C.). Judah was judged in 586 B.C. Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem (and all Judah) and took the people captive (2 Chron. 36:15-23). After the Babylonian takeover, Jerusalem was in bad shape (Nehemiah 2:13-14). Seventy years later, God’s people were allowed to return to their land and Jerusalem. The first group left with Zerubbabel 536 B.C., (Ezra 2:1). About 80 years later, another group under the leadership of Ezra left Babylon ( Ezra 7:1), then 13 years later Nehemiah will lead another group. Almost 100 years after the first return, the walls still were down and much of the city was filled with rubble. Note, Nehemiah could not forget about Jerusalem—can we go for days without thinking about the kingdom? (Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 11:28-29). Nehemiah had a comfortable job, he "had it made", but he couldn’t get his mind off of God’s people and the city where God has placed His name. As long as Israel was suffering—his comfortable situation and promotions were meaningless. Note, secular promotions and accomplishments don’t have to endanger your walk with God—but they can.