Nehemiah

1. Nehemiah Nehemiah God’s (והיה) Plan for Renewal God’s Plan for Renewal Nehemiah Nehemiah Nehemiah Nehemiah God’s (והיה) Plan for Renewal God’s Plan for Renewal God’s Plan for Renewal God’s Plan for Renewal Prayer ה Compassion ו Sacrifice ה Leadership י Purity Chapter 3 & 4: Friends & Foes/Helpers & Hurters

2. Nehemiah 3 as told by Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church… Pastor Elizabeth the high priest went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. She dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which she dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. Joan & Mary Gaetke of built the adjoining section, and Pastor Zig & Judy Deckerbuilt next to them. The Fish Gate was rebuilt by Ron Theiling & Virginia Theiling. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Phil & Betty Murray & their son Phil Murray Jr repaired the next section. Next to themCharlene Mahaffey & Lynette Harrison made repairs, and next to themMike Aldenderfer & Debbie Syrett also made repairs. The next section was repaired by Ann Mays and Yvonne Sienkiewicz, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Marvin & Ruth Caudle. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. Next to them, repairs were made by Lin Donnell of Rockport —places under the authority of the governor of Maine. Pat Riddle one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Gin Wooten & Pam Kordonis, two of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall…

3. Layout of the City & Organization of the Work A model of the City of Jerusalem

4. Layout of the City & Organization of the Work

6. The Sheep Gate was so named because it was the gate where shepherds brought their flocks to sell them. Up until a few years ago, this same gate was being used for this same purpose in Jerusalem. Organize & Build, Build, Build Nehemiah 3 is all about work - how over 50 families and groups pitched in and did the work together, coordinated and led by Nehemiah. • The work is described in reference to the gates of the wall. • The critical entry and exit points to the city • The places most likely to see an enemy attack • Therefore the work started at each gate and worked out from there “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel.” Neh. 3:1

7. Even the High Priest got his hands dirty! Eliashib the high priest: This was the first worker mentioned. He rose up to do the work with the other priests, and they worked at rebuilding the Sheep Gate and the section of wall near there. Why was the High Priest the first one mentioned? How did Eliashib demonstrate his leadership? Why didn’t he just focus on praying and performing other spiritual duties? How were sheep and shepherds viewed in society? Why didn’t he get a “noble” and “special” part of the wall to rebuild?

8. They consecrated the work What’s the difference between dedicate and consecrate? • Dedication is an expressed commitment to an intellectual or emotional purpose or a goal. • Consecration sets apart a person, an object or a place for the worship and service of God. • Why consecrate the gate or the work? • To recognize something as special, as uniquely set apart for God's glory and service. • These city gates were made special to God. Nehemiah and Eliashib knew that God wanted everything set apart special to Him, including these city walls and gates. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col 3:17

9. They made repairs… “Also the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok the son of Baana made repairs. Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; buttheir nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.” Neh. 3: 3-5 The Fish Gate: This gate got its name because of the nearby fish market. “Made repairs”: The word for repairs is the Hebrew word chazaq, used 35 times in this chapter alone. It has the idea of strengthening,encouraging, or making something strong.

10. …so that the body of Christ may be built up These are principles that have application to far more than material gates and walls. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:11-13

11. BUT their nobles… “…but their nobles or lords did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.”Neh. 3:5b Literally, the idea in the Hebrew is that they wouldn't submit - they would not "bend their necks" to what the LORD wanted them to do. Maybe they thought they had a better plan, maybe they didn't like how Nehemiah was doing it. Whatever their reason, you can be sure they later regretted it, because they stand in infamy as the only people mentioned in this chapter who did not join in the work.

12. The “Rebuilders”: From Every Walk of Life When we read the list of those who chose to rebuild the wall, we see many professions: • High Priest • Guards • Priests • Merchants • Goldsmiths • Residents • Fathers • Perfume-makers • Rulers • Mothers • Temple servants • Sons & daughters What are your gifts, skills, interests, abilities? What’s more important than your “resume” to God? What are you willing to do in “building our church”?

13. Nehemiah: Encouraging Ownership What does Nehemiah do to promote “ownershp”? “made repairs opposite his house” “made repairs in front of their house” “made repairs beside his house” “made repairs, each in front of his own house” “made repairs opposite his house” “made repairs opposite his living quarters” How can we encourage “onwership” by the members in Holy Spirit Lutheran Church?

14. Households for God The names of the men who are said to have made repairs in front of his house are interesting: • Nehemiah 3:10 mentions Jedaiah, and his name means He who calls unto God. Our homes must be places of prayer, where the family calls unto God. • Nehemiah 3:23 mentions Benjamin, and his name means Son of my right hand, speaking of a protector. Our homes must be places of protection and peace. • Nehemiah 3:29 mentions Zadok, and his name meansJustice. Our homes must be places of justice and integrity, especially with integrity regarding our marital vows and promises. • Nehemiah 3:30 mentions Meshullam, and his name means Devoted. Our homes must be places of devotion and separation to God.

15. There’s a big difference between “going to church” and “taking ownership” in your church. Going to church allows you to receive from the Presence of God and the ministry of the Word, but taking ownership begins when you start to invest into your church and take responsibility inside it. Ownership in Holy Spirit Lutheran It’s the plan of God that you would plant yourself into a local church and take ownership in it. “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”1 Peter 2:4-5 The Bible says nothing about just “attending church”. Instead, it talks about being “added to the church.” According to the Bible, you ARE the Church!

16. HOLY SPIRIT LUTHERAN CHURCH We don’t just belong, we’re investing God Wants You!! We Need You!! Here are five signs to determine whether or not you’re taking ownership- 1) You come consistently When you’re a living stone built into the walls of the church, you understand that you matter. We miss you when you are not at church. There’s a role that you only you can fill inside of friendship, encouragement, and ministry that is left empty when you’re gone.

17. HOLY SPIRIT LUTHERAN CHURCH We don’t just belong, we’re investing God Wants You!! We Need You!! 2) You are a giver You can’t say that your heart is somewhere if your treasure isn’t there. Taking ownership is costly and will affect your pocket book & your day-timer. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

18. HOLY SPIRIT LUTHERAN CHURCH We don’t just belong, we’re investing God Wants You!! We Need You!! 3) You are inviting people to church The church exists to tell people about Jesus. It is our mission. And you can’t really have taken ownership inside of your church until you are on board with the mission of why we even exist.

19. HOLY SPIRIT LUTHERAN CHURCH We don’t just belong, we’re investing God Wants You!! We Need You!! 4) You are willing to talk through problems Proverbs 14:4 –“Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox a large harvest.” This verse in Proverbs lays out the problem for every church, everywhere- you need people to bring in the harvest of God. The farmer needs oxen to bring in the natural harvest, but lots of oxen means lots of manure to clean up. There’re lots of people needed to bring in the spiritual harvest. Jesus told us to pray that more laborers would come. But the more people there are, the more messes they create. Community is a messy thing because people are good at creating messes.

20. HOLY SPIRIT LUTHERAN CHURCH We don’t just belong, we’re investing God Wants You!! We Need You!! If you are going to take ownership in God’s house then you have to become a “Pooper Scooper”. Take some responsibility and pick up a shovel. Some ways that you can scoop out the poop is to… 1) Confront sin 2) Shut down gossip 3) Work through hurts with leaders 4) Be honest and transparent instead of a man-pleaser

21. HOLY SPIRIT LUTHERAN CHURCH We don’t just belong, we’re investing God Wants You!! We Need You!! 5) You are serving in some capacity to make church happen There are lots of areas in which to serve. Your gift is needed. What are your “gifts”? God wants willing servants to come serve in His house and build what He is building!

22. The Re-Builders Had Sinful Pasts “Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.” Neh. 3:11 Malchijah son of Harim: This man is mentioned in Ezra 10:31 as one of the men who was confronted by Ezra for the sin of taking on a pagan wife. That was many years before this, so Malchijah got things right with God and now, years later, he served Him. Do you suspect that Malchijah was the only sinner in the lot? Can God use a repentant, contrite, humble and willing heart more than a rebellious and selfish heart?

23. The Re-Builders: Come One, Come All “Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.” Neh. 3:11 Everyone who could help did help in the repairs. With the great number of different people working on the walls, it was imperative that they all work with the same mind - or the wall would not be uniform and would not be a strong defense. Yet, each section was a little different because different people worked on each section. In the same way, in the family of God, the work must be done with a common vision and mindset - the mind of Christ, as Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 2:16. When believers work together in one accord, yet with each offering their distinctive gifts, the work of God gets done in a glorious way. “For who has understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.”

24. Going the Second Mile? “The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.”Neh. 3:5 “Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.”Neh. 3:27 What did the men of Tekoa do? Were they content to rest on their “laurels” from the first work they completed?

25. More Than Willing Hearts “Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs in front of his dwelling.”Neh. 3:27 Shemaiah was the keeper of the East Gate: Apparently the gate in front of his house was in good condition, so he pitched in and helped at the Horse Gate. His unselfishness was a great example. Meshullam made repairs in front of his dwelling: The Hebrew word for dwelling is actually chamber - it refers to a singular room. Meshullam had only one small room, yet he was devoted to God and to the work of rebuilding the walls. It is better to be devoted to God in one small room than to have a mansion and have a heart cold to God.

26. Nehemiah 3 Observations 1. This chapter shows the need for believers to work together to accomplish something. a. It pleased God to see His people working together in one accord, with one heart, with one mind. God will put us into situations where we must work together, and learn how to lead, how to follow, how to work together with one heart and mind. b. The wall was continuous. Any gap compromised the entire structure. Therefore, each space at the wall was important - even if someone did not think so. As well, the wall could never be strong if someone was tearing it down at a different section.

27. Nehemiah 3 Observations 2. The work done was a reflection on the family - almost everyone mentioned is mentioned as the son of someone. It is in the family our children learn how to work, and parents must be committed to teaching their children how to be hard workers. In a spiritual sense, our hard work - or lack of it - is a reflection on our spiritual family. Each Christian should be a good reflection of their spiritual family.

28. Nehemiah 3 Observations 3. Evidence of Nehemiah's leadership. a. He held each man accountable for his work. Each man had a section of wall he was responsible for, and it was known he was responsible for it. b. He organized the work for maximum efficiency. Everyone had their section, and the work was organized around the gates - the places most needful of the work. c. He began with the spiritual aspect of the work (the high priest's work is mentioned first), and by consecrating everything to God. d. He motivated all strata of the people to join together in doing the work. From leaders and the high priest to the man who lived in a single room – all worked together. e. He was willing to let people try new things - goldsmiths, priests, and perfumers all became construction workers. f. He made people focus on their own house first. g. He didn't disqualify people because of a past of sin and compromise.

29. Nehemiah 3 Observations