Nehemiah; Part 4 - More than motivated
We exist to do hard things!
So today, the whole message is this: You need more than motivation to do hard things!
"If Christians are called to do hard things, then the church is called to do more than just motivate!"
3 reasons from Nehemiah 4 that you need the church to do more than just motivate:
ONE - You need more than motivation, because the enemy is loud!
Because the enemy is loud!
Nehemiah 4:1–3 (ESV)
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
If you are attempting a work for God, expect the enemy of your soul to try his best to talk you out of it!
When we gather as the church - we will be more than just motivators who give you a golf clap and try to convince you that you can do it!
We are going to proclaim truth louder than enemy proclaims lies!
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
When you are here or at MC and we discuss the truths of scripture, its not just for motivational hashtag purposes
There is power in truth!
If you are fighting the enemy - you need your church family!
For more than just cheerleader
When we get together, the Bible declares in
Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
If you are going to accomplish a God-sized task, you need God to get in the middle of it!
So they decided that they would not let the voice of the enemy keep them from the task they had before them.
Nehemiah 4:10 (ESV)
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
Accomplishing a God-sized task is it's own problem!
TWO - You need more than motivation, because the task is difficult
WHILE THEY WERE WORKING - they started getting discouraged
At the point where they began to feel hopeless and discouraged - Nehemiah began expanding the team and reminding them what they were building for!
Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV)
14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
The reason that we do what we do isn't just because we are excited about Jesus.
There will be days when "we don't feel like it"
The task is difficult - but we have been called and commissioned to make the goodness of Jesus unavoidable in this city!
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We are empowered to reach this planet! Even though it is a difficult task!
But I don't need the church to motivate me Sunday after Sunday -
I need the truth of the word,
to be reminded of the call
to be empowered by the Spirit to accomplish the task at hand!
We need each other because this task is difficult!
Just before Jesus sent out workers ahead of him:
Luke 9:62–10:1 (ESV)
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
THREE - You need more than motivation, because the job takes more than two hands!
In Nehemiah 4, they realized that they weren't just builders, but they were also fighters:
Nehemiah 4:15–18 (ESV)
15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.
Building with unity:
Some fought
Some worked with bricks & mortar
some watched with trumpets
But they were all on the same team
That sounds a lot like 1 corinthians 12:
1 Corinthians 12:26–27 (ESV)
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Nehemiah:
While one person worked, someone else had their back
Some build the wall, others swung a sword, some served to warn for danger - together they build a city
What we are saying is that Hub City Church is far more than just a Sunday service to be a motivator to get you pumped up for the week!
In context of the story of Nehemiah:
The church is a voice that is louder than (and has authority over) the enemy
The church is a place where I am spiritually strengthened
The church is a place where you find friends who will guard me while I'm working
Psalm 133:1–3 (ESV)
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
In the unity of believers (thats the church) God has commanded a blessing!
