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.