Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:13 — 46.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Nehemiah 1:1-11
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. We’ve been studying true spiritual revival. We have learned the fear of God is the foundation upon which every true Christian must build their life. We have also learned that wisdom and understanding do not come easy, but must be sought for diligently. Rebuilding one’s faith is almost as hard as learning to fear God, but the fear of God prompts and helps us build faith in God. Let’s look at an overview of Nehemiah as he teaches us a process of rebuilding personal faith. I borrowed the outline from another pastor because it is exceptional in its content.
- THE REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY! People most often focus on Nehemiah as a book that teaches “building programs.” It goes much deeper than that and focuses on true spiritual rebuilding. The walls were nothing more than an outward identity for people then; much like a church building is for congregations today. The building is not the organization, it is just the meeting place. The people are the true church! It is never our goal or desire to be identified by a building, but by our True Head The Living Savior, Jesus Christ!
- THE REBUILDING OF THE COMMUNITY! The consequences of Israel’s sin had left them separated from all that was dear to them. The people mourned and wept because of their sin (ch. 8), but that was after the walls were rebuilt. They had beautiful new wall around a city that was its own dump! Get the picture? The people realized their hearts and faith still needed much rebuilding. Faith from God’s viewpoint is being sure of what we hope for; and certain of what we cannot see. So the question here is, are you walking (trusting) in what you can see, or what (Who) you can’t see? More so called Christians today walk by sight than by faith! We choose to direct our own paths in our own way for our own comfort; rather than trust an unseen God to direct our lives His way for His glory!
- THE RESTORATION OF THE COMMUNITY! The result of rebuilding is restoring. Restoring means to bring back to a former, normal condition, or to bring back to health. The interesting truth is that it was not the enemy without that hurt Israel – it was the enemy within. It was their own stubbornness, rebellion, and sinfulness before The God of Heaven Who had provided so much for them. We as Christians must stop being sucked into secular humanist views and practices, then calling it Christianity!
- THE REFUSAL WITHIN THE COMMUNITY! Christians must refuse the common belief that just because we say we are Christians, or because we are in a church service on Sunday we are ok! It is also called keeping the status – quo! Satan couldn’t be happier with that philosophy. In real life there is no status quo. We either move forward, or we move backward. That is magnified infinitely in Christianity!! Nowhere does Scripture tell us we can stop learning, improving, growing and becoming more like Christ. It is our duty to refuse the commonplace and ordinary to press onward toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ.
If you would like more information on this or any other spiritual topic, call us at (574) 643-9419.
