The Promise of Rest - February 24th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Why is it you never see a group of Atheists standing on the street corner evangelizing? Well, first of all, what would they say? "Pardon me friend, would you like to lose all hope?" Now I’m not trying to be critical here. I’m not trying to belittle those who have chosen to not believe. But it truly makes no sense to me, and I wish someone could explain this whole foolish notion that God does not exist. [On a side note, I find it quite humorous that atheists point to the problems in the world as evidence God does not exist. But if God does not exist then all the problems in the world are our fault. So does that mean we should become ahumanist; disbelieving in humanity because of all the problems in the world? Just wondering]. Anyway, the truth is if the atheists are right and if it is true that God does not exist, then you and I are in a real mess.

King David has said, Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1). They are foolish because they divorce themselves from all hope. They remove themselves from the only one who can feed their starving hearts and quench their parched souls. They are fools because even though they made poor choices and destructive decisions that have left their life a train wrecked, they actually believe they can fix things; that they can clean things up on their own. They are fools because they figure that tomorrow or the next day things will turn around. They will get their life in order one of these days. But every night as their head hits the pillow they are reminded that the next day came, and their life is still a mess.

Oh yes, the fool is without hope. He struggles with self-esteem; always convinced that he is woefully inadequate and unqualified, and in his heart he knows that everyone else knows this. So he fights; not so much with others, but with the way he feels about himself. The fool is without hope. She is starving for love, to know love, yet every man she finds leaves her feeling empty and cold. And at some point in her life she begins to believe that she is unlovable.

The fool who has rejected God has no place to turn for purpose, for meaning, for hope, for strength, or for love. If they want these things in life they either must turn to other people (who will let them down), or burry their hopelessness beneath addictions and destructive behaviors. Repulsed at what they see of themselves, they numb their feelings in an attempt to escape shame, hopelessness, and guilt.

The fool who has rejected God is selfish; taking from others or using others for their own personal gain. It is the fool who has convinced himself that he deserves what others have. And he works endlessly to have the biggest and the best. It is the fool who builds his self-esteem upon what he has; things which moth and rust will destroy. On and on the descriptions will go; describing the wearisome heart that has been searching for what it will never ever find apart from God.

We live in a weary world; a world without hope, a world that knows no peace, and no love. We live in a world today where many people mask their sadness with jewelry, cars, houses, and careers. We live in a world where people chase after the very things they hope will bring them happiness, but in the end find that they have been merely chasing after the wind. And their life is just as empty and meaningless as it was before they gained all these things.

Hope, peace, and love cannot be found in being smarter, or richer, or happier. We are still just as hopeless even though we work hard at being successful, or work hard at promoting social justice (that’s when we strive to make sure all people are cared for and treated fairly). And lest you think I’m making all this up, listen to what the wisest man in the world once said. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now (Ecclesiastes 1:2-12). This is what happens when humanity attempts to live without God. And yet an Atheist wants me to reject God and accept THIS; a life without meaning and hope? What kind of a fool does he think I am? Who is the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?

Although many search the world for peace, love, hope, and assurance, Paul tells us that it cannot be found in this world (“Under the sun”, as Solomon puts it). “You lived in this world without God and without hope” (Ephesians 2:12b). Paul says that apart from God, there is no hope. Apart from God, a person will grow weary searching for meaning and purpose. They will work to exhaustion trying figure out life or find significance in life. They will be just as weary and heavy-laden with guilt today as they were yesterday. And tomorrow will be no different. And the writers at the Atheist Revolution want to call me delusional?

One of the significant promises of Jesus is the promise of rest. He says; no, He begs, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). Jesus turns to us and says “for those who are looking for significance, for those who have become exhausted by searching this world for peace, love, hope, and meaning, come to Me: I will give you rest”. But, they key here is that we must allow ourselves to be yoked to Him.

In our culture we don’t like the idea of a yoke. We have been taught since childhood that a yoke restricts and binds. It reminds us of bondage, or servitude. We shudder at the thought of being dependent upon others. Ours is a self-made, society of free men. But those who are self-reliant, self-made, and free are still in bondage, whether they want to admit it or not. They are held captive, yet are completely unaware. Hopelessness, fear, worry, insecurity, meaningless, and sorrow are strangling them to death. And by attempting to overcome these emotions on their own, they will find no rest, no peace, and no love.

Only those who are wise enough to admit that there is no peace apart from God will ever find what they are looking for. And the point is, if we truly desire hope, peace, love, assurance, and meaning in our life, we will need to disconnect ourselves from the yoke of this world and instead connect ourselves to Christ, which means we come under His guidance. We surrender our lives to His control. If we truly want rest for our souls then we must stop fooling ourselves into thinking that we can find what we are looking for on our own. It will not happen. It simply is not there.

Somehow it doesn’t seem all that foolish to reject a life without love, without hope, without peace, without strength, without purpose and without meaning. Maybe that’s why you see Christians reaching out to the lost. They know that only Christ can fill a life with all these things and so much more.

Jesus Is Our Foundation–Message for the McAlisterville Community Lenten Service, Feb. 17th, 2013

By Pastor Greg

A Congressman and two friends - a rabbi and a Hindu holy man - had car trouble in the countryside and asked to spend the night with a farmer. The farmer said, "There might be a problem; you see, I only have room for two of you in the house, so one of you must sleep in the barn." "No problem," chimed the rabbi. "My people wandered in the desert for forty years. I am humble enough to sleep in the barn for an evening." With that, he departed to the barn and the others bedded down for the night.

Moments later a knock was heard at the door. When the farmer opened it there stood the rabbi from the barn. "What's wrong?" asked the farmer. "I'm grateful to you, but I can't sleep in the barn” He replied. “There is a pig in the barn, and in my faith they are an unclean animal." So his Hindu friend agreed to swap places with him. But a few minutes later the same scene recurred. There was a knock on the door. "What's wrong now?" the farmer asked. The Hindu holy man replied, "I too am grateful for your help, but there is a cow in the barn, and in my country cows are considered sacred. I can't sleep on holy ground!" Well, that left only the Congressman. He grumbled and complained, but went out to the barn.

Moments later there was another knock on the farmer's door. Frustrated and tired, the farmer opened the door. There stood the pig and the cow.

Politicians sure do take a lot of heat. We, the people, are forever busting their chops. But unfortunately this is the opinion many people have of politicians, especially when we observe their bureaucratic posturing and their apparent disconnect with the common person. If politicians want to regain any respect from the general public, it will take a considerable amount of effort from all politicians to start acting like the public servants they are supposed to be. Of course, the same could be said about Christians and the Church.

We find ourselves in the beginning of the season of Lent. We’ve been observing Lent for about 5 days now. It is a Christian season that turns our focus inward toward our relationship with God. We pray the prayer of David. We ask God to search our hearts. We ask the Lord to, “Point out anything in (us) that offends (Him), and lead (us) along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:24). We spend time looking for anything in our life that might hinder our relationship with God, and ask for God’s help in removing that sin from our life in a desire to be holy. We strive to become what Peter describes as “royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession”.

I probably don’t need to remind you that the whole reason we desire to be holy in the first place is because of the Spirit’s convicting power within our hearts. We are pricked and prodded when we stray from the path. As Isaiah reminds us, Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). And I probably don’t need to remind you that we find forgiveness for our sin in Christ alone. I suspect every one of us has heard or read the decree of Jesus; where He proclaimed “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). But have you ever wondered why we have been called to be holy, just as Christ is holy? Have you ever wondered why Christians go through this time of cleansing and repenting in the first place?

I’d say the primary motivation is Love; a desire to demonstrate to God the depth of our love and commitment. We seek to bring Him honor and glory by our obedience to His commands and submission to His will. But Peter reminds us that there is a bit more to this surrendering; this work of repentance, and this desire to be a people of God’s own possession.

As if he was speaking on the first day of Lent, Peter says, So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2:1-10).

At the tail end of this section, Peter takes his readers to a conclusion that is often missed. As believers who strive for holiness we become living stones built into God’s new Temple. We have become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, but not just so that we might honor God, but so that we “can show others the goodness of God”.

I believe the Church dare not miss this. We cannot rejoice in the blessing (received God’s mercy) without realizing the responsibility (show others the goodness of God). As a matter of fact, right after he reminds his readers who they are and whose they are, he says Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world (1 Peter 2:11-12).

As the Church and as Christians continue to lose respect by the people of this world, it is imperative that we take Peter’s words seriously. As a holy nation within this nation, Christians have a responsibility to live as Children of the Light. We must keep our behavior excellent among our unsaved neighbors, classmates, and coworkers. We have that responsibility. We are to be holy not just because it honors the Father, but because the world will see the Father in us.

The people living in darkness will see a great light. And what the Church needs to realize is that in this present age it is the Christian who reflects the light of Christ. We represent Jesus to the people still living in darkness. And sometimes I wonder if we Christians have lost our credibility among the people of this world because we act like everyone else instead of like no one else.

As we spend time seeking holiness this Lenten season, may I remind you to not only keep God in mind as you repent, but also keep your un-churched neighbor in mind as well. Please remember that you might be the only Jesus they ever see.

The Promise of Forgiveness - February 17th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to hop the 1,000 steps to the top of a very high tower. A big crowd gathered to see the race, but no one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. "Oh, it’s WAY too difficult!" some exclaimed. "They will NEVER make it to the top. The tower is just too high!" Eventually the tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one they gave up, believing that indeed the tower was far too high and that they were much too small. The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!" Eventually all the frogs had quit the race, all but one, who continued higher and higher. He just wouldn't give up! He alone reached the top of the tower. He alone succeeded where everyone else expected him to fail. The other frogs were curious. How did he succeed? Where did he find the fortitude to keep jumping instead of giving up? It turns out that this little frog was deaf.

Have you ever had days like that; days that you wish you were deaf to the critics, the cynics, and the pessimists? I guess that’s one thing we need to learn as we grow and mature as Christians. We need to start listening to God who is trying to build us up instead of those who are trying to tear us down. But some days are more difficult than others. Some days even Satan begins filling our minds with doubts. And if we are not careful, we will find ourselves believing his lies. Do you ever have days like this? Do you struggle believing that God does indeed love you, that your sins are really forgiven? I think all of us struggle with this from time to time. And perhaps like me, you wonder how to overcome those moments when Satan (the Adversary) whispers failure in your ear. Well, I have found that the best way to overcome this is to focus on the promises of God.

There are several promises Jesus makes to believers that can be a source of strength, if only we will focus on those promises; if we will only turn a deaf ear to what Satan might say, and instead stand firm on His promises.

Take the issue of forgiveness. If Jesus is really who He says He is, then He has the right, the authority, and the power to forgive sin; something that shocked a bunch or religious guys one day (Read Luke 5:17-26).

When Jesus sees this man He declares that his sins are forgiven; not for something this man had done to Jesus. I mean, Jesus didn’t say “I forgive you for taking my parking spot earlier today at the grocery store”. This was a general statement that said “Anything you might have done that was an offence toward God is forgiven you”. But since this was Jesus forgiving this man’s sin toward God, what right did He have to speak this way? That’s like you telling me that I’m forgiven for tearing apart my sister’s Barbie dolls (which I did not do, by the way). I mean, who are you to forgive my offence against someone else, unless, of course, you represent that other person. So what Jesus basically did was tell this man “I forgive any offence you might have made against the Father”, indicating that He (Jesus) had the Father’s authority to grant that forgiveness.

The smart people in the room understood this exact point. They said “Who but God can forgive a sin committed against God”. Exactly. These guys are spot on. But what they missed was that God was standing in the room with them; God the Son. So when Jesus said that this man’s sins were forgiven, He declared that He had the authority to make that promise; that anything this man had done to offend God was no longer held against him because Christ granted forgiveness.

If Jesus is who He claims to be (the human manifestation of God), then He has the power to forgive and has the authority to declare that our sin will no longer be held against us. Now you know this. You’ve got Jesus right where He needs to be in your life. He’s right there in your heart. But there are some days you sure don’t feel forgiven, you know what I mean? There’s just this nagging guilt that eats away at your heart night and day. Yet you have already confessed that sin. You’ve even turned away from committing that sin (that’s called repentance). But every now and then the memory of that sin comes back to haunt you, and the guilty feelings return.

This is where faith steps in. This is where we hold fast to the promises of Jesus. He has promised us that if we believe He is the Messiah and if we choose to make Him our Savior, then our sins will be forgiven and our sin will no longer be held against us. Unfortunately Satan likes to hold that sin against us, and sometime so do self-righteous Christians; believers who want grace for themselves but are unwilling to grant grace to others. That’s why I want to encourage you to not stand on the condemnation of Satan or the criticism of the critics, but to stand firm on the promise of God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). This is Christ’s promise to all of us. He has promised that because of the cross, we have been saved from Sin’s penalty. It is through faith that we are being saved from Sin’s power. And one day we will be saved from Sin’s presence. “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (1 John 2:1).

May you find the assurance you need today to believe that indeed your sin has been forgiven. Stop listening to those who want to hold your sin against you. You are forgiven. I leave you with the words of King David found in Psalm 32.

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Counting the Cost - February 10, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Across the road from my Grandma's house there was a partially built home. The foundation had been dug, the basement walls had been built, but nothing more. The house stayed that way for years; poured basement floor and cinder block basement walls, nothing more. Eventually I asked Grandma Jones why the house was never finished. She told me that the person ran out of money and could not complete the project.

The image of that unfinished house always comes to mind when I read, But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ (Luke 14:28-30). Of course Jesus is talking about discipleship here; about the commitment and the sacrifice a person must make in order to truly be a Christian. But I believe the same can be said for those who have become a Christian. As a Christian, the Lord expects commitment and sacrifice on our part to do the work of the Kingdom as well.

One day, as Jesus was traveling through the land, He noticed how distressed the people were. They seemed lost and confused; a people without hope. So turning to His disciples, Jesus says, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields" (Matthew 9:37-38). In other words, Jesus points to the problem, then tells His disciples that they need to get involved. They should not just be praying for revival, but they should be praying that the Lord might call them to get actively involved in reaching and touching the lives of these people. Instead of sitting idly by doing nothing, Jesus tells His disciples to pray for an opportunity to become a player, not a spectator; to become a servant, not a consumer.

This calling and attitude is not something new. As God looked at the remnant of Jews living in and around Jerusalem, seeing their dismay and hopelessness, He planted the idea of service in Nehemiah’s heart. And after praying, Nehemiah was willing to make sacrifices, willing to submit, and willing to interrupt his life in order to be God’s servant. He was committed to follow wherever God might lead him. Nehemiah says of himself, “The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way” (Nehemiah 5:15).

I believe Nehemiah was one of those rare individuals whose commitment to God was greater than anything else in his life. Nehemiah was not someone who looked out after his own interests. He considered the needs of others as more important. Nehemiah was a servant, not a consumer.

As we wrap up this series looking into the leadership of Nehemiah, there is one last thing I'd like to point out about his ministry. As I said, Nehemiah was a rare individual, especially by today’s standards. Here was a man who made personal sacrifices in his life in order to accomplish what God had placed within his heart. He had counted the cost, yet was still willing to allow his life to be interrupted in order to fulfill what God was calling him to do. He was a giver, not a consumer.

Because of Nehemiah’s example of service and commitment, the people of Jerusalem came together and rebuilt the wall of that city in only 52 days. An incredible feat that happened, I believe, because the entire community joined with Nehemiah and got involved. The entire community was willing to make the commitment, make personal sacrifices, and allow their lives to be inconvenienced. But not only was a great work completed for the community, there was revival in the hearts of the people as well. (Read Nehemiah 9:1-4).

During Jerusalem’s six hour church service, no one seemed to grumble. No one seemed to be inconvenienced. How many confessing Christians do you know who would tolerate a six hour Church service? How many Christians do you know who are willing to inconvenience their lives for the good of others?

The Church in North America seems to be withering and dying. The life inside many congregations is parched and dry. Many Christians in America are thirsty for revival. There is a deep desire to see people become committed to God just like in the good old days. But why is revival so seldom seen? I believe it’s because most congregations are plagued with a consumer mentality instead of a servant’s heart.

Have you ever noticed how inconvenient Church has become to some individuals? Have you noticed the self-centered attitude of some Christians? They grumble and complain when their life is inconvenienced. When asked to serve, many Christians today complain about how they are far too busy to get involved. Of course, their schedule cannot be interrupted. Oh, they will participate in Church activities only if there is nothing else better to do. But don’t ask them to give up some of their time. The North American Church is plagued by Christian consumers; people who are involved with a church because of what THEY get out of it.

Paul called the Philippian Church to “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). This, my friend, is the cost of discipleship; where we make sacrifices and commitments not just for the Church, but for those still living in darkness. However, instead of training disciples, today’s Church has been raising spectators. We know this is true because of what many Churches are doing today; creating an atmosphere that is attractive to those looking for a church to meet their needs or starts and ends according to their schedule; that offers the programs and a worship style THEY want. Some Christians even withhold their giving simply because THEY don't like what's happening in THEIR church. For many Christians in our land, Church has become a spectator sport. There is no sacrifice. There is no giving. There is no “doing for others”. There is only “me”. Is it then any wonder that the North American church seems to be dying? Is it any wonder that revival is seldom seen today? And why should we expect it to happen, especially when there are so many taking instead of giving? I believe this is why we don’t see revival. Few are willing to serve. Few are willing to give. Very few are willing to make any sacrifice at all. This is why the example of Nehemiah is so important for us. He reminds us that to be a Christian is to be a servant obedient to God when He calls us and where He sends us. And where there are servants, there will be revival.

Doing God’s Work God’s Way - February 3rd, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

It’s amazing what can happen when a group of people come together with a common vision and a common goal. Doing God’s work enabled those living in Judea to accomplish something marvelous. Taking a city wall that that had been nothing more than a pile of rubble, they transformed it once again into a fortified wall in just 52 days (see Nehemiah 6:15). And the best part is that everyone participated. I know reading portions of the Bible can be a real drag, especially when we come to the listing of names. But what stands out in Nehemiah 3 is that everyone participated in this rebuilding project. Reading through chapter 3 we see that Priests and Levites worked alongside government officials. Temple servants worked with the local merchants and craftsmen. Men and women, people of all skill and trade came together and rebuilt this wall. And their work, by the way, was not as shoddy as Tobiah the Ammonite claimed it would be (Nehemiah 4:3). A portion of Nehemiah’s 2,500 year-old wall still stands today in Jerusalem. So Mr. Tobaih, now shoot off! This is what happens when God’s people do God’s work God’s way.

In spite of the intimidation, trickery, lies, and deception of men like Tobiah and Sanballat, the people of Judah came together and accomplished exactly what God had placed in Nehemiah’s heart; to rebuild the wall and restore honor to the city once again. But Nehemiah didn’t stop at merely rebuilding the wall. The twelve years he spent in Jerusalem as governor, he instituted many religious reforms. Once the two month building project was completed, Ezra returned to his teaching program, and Nehemiah called the people to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Shelters. Revival had come to Judea. And Nehemiah’s leadership sparked enthusiasm for God within the hearts of the people. They even took an oath to uphold God’s commands, and had the leaders sign the document. “Then the rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the Law of God, together with their wives, sons, daughters, and all who were old enough to understand - joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord” (Nehemiah 10:28-29). Glory Hallelujah Amen. Revival comes when God’s people do God’s work God’s way.

At some point after this revival, Nehemiah returned to Susa, as he had promised the king. However, while he was gone, some things began to unravel back home. And wouldn’t you know it; Tobiah’s name comes up again! But after reading about the revival, the commitment to God, and the oath, doesn’t it seem strange that the people of Jerusalem would allow that trouble maker to stir things up again? Why would the people of Jerusalem tolerate this? Didn’t they know how damaging this could be? Why would they permit themselves to be led astray? And if you’ll turn to Nehemiah 13, you’ll see just how damaging it can be to tolerate troublemakers in your midst (read Nehemiah 13:1-12).

At the center of this was a priest named Eliashib. In the list of name of individuals who helped with the rebuilding work, the first name mentioned is Eliashib the High Priest (Nehemiah 3:1). And at first glance it appears that he was a man in full support of Nehemiah’s vision. But once Nehemiah was gone, Eliashib gives Tobiah a room WITHIN the Temple. In Eliashib, Tobiah found a place for his destructive behavior to take root and grow. And because of this we read that giving had stopped. Eliashib and the rest of the people in Jerusalem tolerated the actions of a sinful man within their midst, and giving decreased.

Of course, if you read further in this chapter, tithing wasn’t the only problem. The bottom line is that the people had gone soft in their commitment to God and in their pursuit of holiness. This problem was not Nehemiah’s fault. The problem existed long before he arrived, and sadly it continued once he left. The people just seemed to be complacent and indifferent about those who would lead them away from holiness.

Perhaps the people in Jerusalem thought that it must be okay for Tobiah to have a special place among them, especially since Eliashib the priest seemed to think it was okay. So if the leaders are not doing anything about it why should they be concerned? But you have to wonder why the people didn’t seem to notice how lax they had become in their holiness. Didn’t they remember the oath they had pledged just a few years before? Surely someone would have noticed that they were being led away from doing God’s work and instead following the practices of the rest of the world. Didn’t someone perceive that all of this started once Nehemiah left and after Tobiah’s influence was tolerated? Had they forgotten that this Tobiah was the same one who lied, threatened, and slandered their work; that he had no desire to see Jerusalem prosper? Why didn’t the people rise up and do something about this?

Jesus asks the same question to the Church in Pergamum and the Church in Thyatira. Why do you tolerate those people that lead you away from holiness; people who are bent on damaging the Church instead of building up the church? Why do you allow them to get away with their ungodly and destructive behavior?

In Revelation Jesus says He will intervene. Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem and took charge to restore holiness and commitment to God’s laws. But what of the Church today? How should a Church respond to this story in Nehemiah? What lesson should it learn? Well, I tell you the truth; a Church needs to realize that its greatest strength is found when God’s people work together, not when a person works for them. The greatest strength is found when that church holds one another accountable to holiness and righteousness; when the church unites together to uphold the teachings of God. The lesson a Church should learn from this section of Nehemiah is that when someone within that church practices sinful, destructive behavior that is not Christ-like or diminishes holiness, the people of that Church should confront it. Yes, the people of that Church, not just leadership. That was the problem in Jerusalem. They had come to depend on Nehemiah to stand against the destructive sinful practices of Tobiah, and did not have the strength or courage to stand against him themselves.

As the first century church began to grow, many times it was necessary for the church to address the unholy destructive behaviors of some members. To the Church in Corinth Paul writes “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person”. He says to “Remove the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13). To Titus Paul instructs “Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings” (Titus 3:10). To Timothy Paul says “Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest” (1 Timothy 5:20). But above all of this is the call to address these people in love and with gentleness. “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too” (Galatians 6:1). And of course Christ gave us His perfect model in Matthew 18:15-17.

The truth is; when we remain silent against those who are destroying the church, we are, in effect, granting them permission to tear down what God has been trying to build up. Had the people of Jerusalem not allowed Tobiah to influence them away from their commitment to God, Nehemiah never would have had to intervene. But because Tobiah found someone sympathetic and tolerant, he was able to maneuver himself into the very city he was looking to destroy. Divisiveness, unholiness, and slander will not thrive in a Church where there is no soil for it to grow. This is why a Church needs to stand united against those who would lead them astray; against those who would cause divisiveness; against those who would destroy their holiness.

Called to be a Servant - January 27th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

While hiking through the Rocky Mountains back in 1977, we ascended one peak that was far above the tree line. That’s the point where vegetation stops because of various conditions caused by environmental conditions (temperature, rocky soil, thin atmosphere). Yet about 500 feet beyond the point where trees and bushes ceased, there grew a flower. In spite of the rocky soil and harsh surroundings, the flower grew; bloomed even amid hardship and adversity. I thought of that flower as I was reading about Nehemiah.

One of the reasons I enjoy reading about Nehemiah is because he’s someone we can identify with. With a broken heart Nehemiah came to God asking Him to lead, guide, and provide. “Lord”, he asks, “if it be your will for me to lead this rebuilding project, then give me what I need, soften the heart of the king, give me an idea how to accomplish this task, and make the people in Jerusalem willing to work with me.” But these were not the only things that needed to happen. Nehemiah would also be facing plenty of opposition from people outside Judah, and from within as well (Read Nehemiah 4:1-9).

The only thing Nehemiah wanted to do was restore honor and glory to the home of his fathers. He had no selfish ambition or desire for personal glory. Yet he constantly endured criticism from a group of people bent on destroying this work. They criticized those working with Nehemiah (verse 2). They ridiculed their work (verse 3). They threatened them physically (verse 8). They tried to distract Nehemiah’s leadership with pointless meetings (Nehemiah 6:2). And they spread lies about Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:6-7). Sure, some of the Jews who did serve alongside Nehemiah saw this as an opportunity for personal gain (Nehemiah 5:8), and a few from within Jerusalem tried to make Nehemiah sin (Nehemiah 6:12-13), but that was certainly not his fault. Yet in spite of all this opposition, Nehemiah remained steadfast and immovable. But how was he able to stay focused and undiscouraged while facing these attacks? Where did he find the strength to continue serving?

Three things really stand out in his story:

1. When Nehemiah faced opposition or encountered seemingly impossible odds, we find him praying. He prayed for four months before he even mentioned the idea to King Artaxerxes. He probably prayed during the two or three month’s journey to Jerusalem. When the antagonists criticized the workers, Nehemiah responded with prayer and action. When there was a plot to attack the workers, Nehemiah responded with prayer and action. When the antagonist slandered Nehemiah he denied their lies, and prayed. When they plotted to discredit him, he refused to cooperate and he prayed. When the people of Judah practiced destructive behavior, Nehemiah corrected them, and he prayed. Nehemiah knew their dependence was not to be on their abilities, human resources, or personal genius. Their hope was in the God of heaven!

2. Nehemiah had become a bond-servant of God. In other words Nehemiah did not insist on his own rights, but freely gave them up and became a servant to God. Throughout scripture there is a constant call to obedience to God and servant-hood for God. For example, Jesus says to His disciples "Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27). Nehemiah understood just who he was and who God is. He laid down his life in order to be used by God. He was first a bondservant of God. He recognized that this was God's work that he was doing, and that his efforts were for the Lord's glory.

3. Nehemiah knew that others were looking to him for hope and encouragement. People are people. And people naturally look to their leaders for hope. So you know that they began to wonder if they really could accomplish this great task. You know they began to doubt their own abilities. Maybe they even began to question if God had truly called them to rebuild. So they looked to Nehemiah for strength and encouragement. Nehemiah not only needed to remain steadfast for his own sake, but for those serving with him as well. If he stumbled and faltered, so too would those around him.

As Christians I think we need to keep these things in mind. ¹We are His servants. We must live a life surrendered to Him, ready to serve when He calls. Oh, He already knows our weaknesses. So don’t start pointing them out to God as an excuse why you cannot or should not serve. ²He knows the obstacles we will face; the criticism and the manipulation. So don’t use them as an excuse to give up the task. Instead pray for strength to endure them and for direction on how to overcome them. ³Remember that the Lord called you and that it is through you that others will find strength to serve as well. Why do you suppose that God removed every other obstacle except Nehemiah’s critics? I suspect God allowed them to remain so that the people might find strength and encouragement through Nehemiah's faith. When a servant of God thrives even amid adversity, others will draw upon that faith and strength to continue serving as well.

His is a story that touches our hearts. Most of us have not heard the voice of God or seen a vision from God. Most of the people who are serving the Lord today are doing so because there was simply a burden in their heart to get involved; to make a difference in this world in the Lord's name. And for many of us that's all we have; a passion and a desire. So what keeps us serving? How do we stay diligent and steadfast like Nehemiah did? How do we keep from becoming discouraged? We first recognize that we are not simply entering salvation by confessing Jesus as Savior, but we are also entering His service by calling Him Lord. So when the Lord places a burden within our heart or even when He clearly calls, the Christian needs to remember that this calling has come from God; our Lord and our Master. We are His servants. He is the one calling us to work. Sure, the calling may have been nothing more than a whisper or a gentle nudge. But it did come. And it came from God.

It is knowing whom we serve that keeps us laboring in spite of the obstacles that stand in our way and in spite of the critics who want to see us fail. And it is through prayer that we find wisdom and direction on how to overcome those obstacles.