No to Privilege, Yes to God

Notes:  No to Privilege, Yes to God

Valor Nehemiah 6

Pastor Adam Eaton

Nehemiah 6 we learn:

1. Say no to privilege, and yes to God.

Jesus’ teaching on giving:

1. Jesus talks about cheerful giving.

2. Giving sacrificially.

It’s not about the amount, it’s about the sacrifice.

3. Generous living.

Organize your life so you can take care of the people around you.

2. Say no to pride.

Pray for and through everything.

3. Say no to distraction.

Nehemiah 6:1-4 NLT

[1] Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained-though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. [2] So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, [3] so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?" [4] Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.

Staying focused on the things of the Lord.

4. Nehemiah said no to fear

Nehemiah 6:5-9 NLT

[5] The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with an open letter in his hand, [6] and this is what it said: "There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. [7] He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!' "You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me." [8] I replied, "There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing." [9] They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.

Nehemiah chose faith, the antidote to fear is faith.

5. Nehemiah said no to sin.

Nehemiah 6:10-13 NLT

[10] Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight." [11] But I replied, "Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won't do it!" [12] I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. [13] They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.

Recognize sin and say no to it.

If it goes against the laws of God then you should not do it.

Nehemiah 6:14-16 NLT

[14] Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. [15] So on October 2 the wall was finished-just fifty-two days after we had begun. [16] When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.

When people look at your life, do they say God is with him?

Honor, Integrity, Sacrifice

Notes: Honor, Integrity, Sacrifice 

Nehemiah 5

Pastor John Collins

November 14, 2017

Is it possible to have honor and integrity without sacrifice? 

Nehemiah stood up for the poor, Nehemiah stood up for God and at time Nehemiah stood up alone.

Nehemiah 5:1-6 NIV

[1] Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. [2] Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” [3] Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” [4] Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. [5] Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” [6] When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.

Everyone took on the goal, but as work continued, the burden fell heavier on the poor.

There was at one time, many wealthy. From Ezra...

Ezra 1:9-11 NIV

[9] This was the inventory: gold dishes30 silver dishes1,000 silver pans 29 [10] gold bowls30 matching silver bowls410 other articles1,000 [11] In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The poor were doing a greater amount of work than the rest. The burden was throughout the whole family for these people.

Nehemiah heard the complaints, recognized the complaint and corrected the complaint with a Biblical basis.

Nehemiah was not there just to build a wall. He was there to build up God’s people.

Nehemiah 5:14-15 NIV

[14] Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year---twelve years---neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. [15] But the earlier governors---those preceding me---placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.

Nehemiah never focused on making his life easier. 

He chose to put Gods people first instead of his own.

Philippians 2:1-5 NLT

[1] Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? [2] Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. [3] Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. [4] Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. [5] You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Nehemiah seemed to live the example of Christ, before Christ came to live on earth.

Are you willing to take a stand for God and His people?

Can you say you stand apart from the world today? 

Can you write...”but so did not I, because of the fear of God” over your life?

Backyard Maintenance

Notes: Backyard Maintenance

Nehemiah 4

November 7, 2017

Pastor Tim Harding

Unconditional love exist. Jesus calls us with that kind of love.

Ephesians 5:25 NKJV

[25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

As Jesus’ people we are called.

No triumphs without troubles.

Nehemiah 4:1-3 NKJV

[1] But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. [2] And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish-stones that are burned?" [3] Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall."

People were mocking them, but Nehemiah was called by God.

1. Curb appeal over calling.

Step out to your calling, because you are not stepping out alone.

We all want to look good outwardly, but at what cost.

Study done by UCI found that the number one reason for alcoholism in OC was Keeping up with the Jones.

Nehemiah 4:4-6 NKJV

[4] Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! [5] Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. [6] So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

Friendship formula=Proximity + frequency + duration + intensity 

As intensity grows with others the impact is greater.

If we are too busy to build our kingdom, then our calling will crumble.

2.  Pirates and Vikings 

Nehemiah 4:7-12 NKJV

[7] Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, [8] and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. [9] Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. [10] Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall." [11] And our adversaries said, "They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease." [12] So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us."

Where did the problems come from? Within the group.

Big problems, originally were small problems unattended.

Nehemiah 4:13-14 NKJV

[13] Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. [14] And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

We are not fighting battles alone.

Isaiah 43:2-3 NKJV

[2] When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. [3] For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Remember God is with us and He is for us.

No job cam competed with the responsibility of shaping and moulding a new human being. - James Dobson

3. We have the cheat code.

Nehemiah 4:20 NKJV

[20] Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

[28] Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

You don’t have to fight your battles alone. Give your battles to God.

God will fight for you!!!: