Stay Focused on Jesus

Notes: Stay Focused on Jesus
Nehemiah 11 and 12
Pastor Adam Eaton
January 23, 2018

http://podcast.harvestlive.net/mbf/2018/OCM180123.mp3

Recapping Nehemiah.
The people of Israel had been in exile up 70 years prior to Nehemiah. Many of the people had been in captivity or slavery during this time. Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel had written during this time. Then it was written in Ezra...

Ezra 1:1-3 NLT
[1] In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: [2] "This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. [3] Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!

God allowed this to happen to the people of Israel. It was punishment for the wicked ways of the people.

The book of Nehemiah and the book of Ezra in the past were one book. 

The walls being torn down were a symbol of God not being with the people during that time.

An impossible task was accomplished y the power of God.

1. Everyone do your part.

Nehemiah had everyone doing their part.

When God’s people rally together and everyone does their part, it all works and the glory goes to God.

Do your part in the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 12:14-27 NLT
[14] Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. [15] If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. [16] And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? [17] If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? [18] But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. [19] How strange a body would be if it had only one part! [20] Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. [21] The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." [22] In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. [23] And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, [24] while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. [25] This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. [26] If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. [27] All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.

The impossible becomes possible in the body of Christ.

The wall was rebuilt at an impossible speed. 

Nehemiah 6:15 NLT
[15] So on October 2 the wall was finished-just fifty-two days after we had begun.

The wall was finished it the celebration had not started because Nehemiah made sure certain things were accomplished first.

Nehemiah 11:1-2 NLT
[1] The leaders of the people were living in Jerusalem, the holy city. A tenth of the people from the other towns of Judah and Benjamin were chosen by sacred lots to live there, too, while the rest stayed where they were. [2] And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.

Repopulating the city of Jerusalem was the next important step. Moving families was a large sacrificial step.

2. Go where God wants you to go.

There may be a time that God calls you to do something that may seem radical.

Once the people moved in, it was then time to celebrate.

Nehemiah 12:43 NLT
[43] Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away.

3. Rejoice because of God’s work

God wants us to experience joy.

A joy that is incomparable can come from serving the Lord.

4. Stay focused on God...
That is what the people of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time missed.

In Ezra and Nehemiah three things were to be accomplished, Rebuilding the temple, reestablishing the law, and rebuilding the wall. 

God allowed His people to do these things because this was not His ultimate goal.

2 Chronicles 36:23 NKJV
[23] Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!

The point is that we should stay focused on Jesus.

Zechariah 2:5 NKJV
[5] For I,' says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"

Israel wanted the walls of Jerusalem to be their glory, God wanted to be their glory.

Stay focused on Jesus.