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News / Notes from Nehemiah

Posted by Johnny Douglas on Thursday, 13 September 2007

As a church we have journeyed through the Book of Nehemiah recently on Sunday mornings. The Book of Nehemiah is not just about building the walls of a city. It's about restoring a people to live as followers of Jesus doing the mission of God.  It gives hope and reminds us that our God is one who brings beauty from ashes; who always beckons us to repent and return. Nehemiah encourages us to rebuild!

Nehemiah shows us that whatever is broken down can be built up!
Nehemiah models what we can do in God when we work together!
Nehemiah reminds us that it's never too late to do what’s right!
Nehemiah demonstrates that God uses ordinary men and women like us when we are stirred and our hearts respond to the brokenness around us. The Holy Spirit would say … whatever our struggle, we can overcome … we can know victory in God.
Even though God’s people had messed up badly, it didn’t disqualify them from service or ruin their relationship with God. So,... don’t let your past keep you from doing what is right. It really doesn’t matter what you’ve done; what matters is that you seek the grace and forgiveness of God … that you renew your walk with God now.
What matters is that we ‘don’t despair’ but begin to repair and rebuild the walls of our own lives so that our community, and ultimately our nation, is affected.

Walking daily in the brightness of God’s presence is the invitation that transforms our lives.

Principles to ponder from Nehemiah ...
Don't play around with sin!
Cultivate a lifestyle of praise & persistent prayer.
Move out of your comfort zone.
Remember God.   
Build for eternity!
Without strong, capable spiritual leadership the people of God are like sheep without a shepherd. 
and so.....what about you and me?

Will I weep about a wall?
Will I repair rather than despair?
Will I believe God’s Word without compromise and submit to its teaching?
Will I move forward not knowing where I am going, or hesitate?
Will I stick out my neck for the sake of righteousness?
Will I build up rather than back down in the face of opposition and difficulty?
Will I stand firm on the truth of who God is or listen to my fears?
Will I battle for what is right?
Will I build for future revival or be paralyzed by present rubble?
Will I do life and work together with others, pray for others and post guards with, and for, others or be separated, isolated and weakened?
Will I bow down before God confessing my sinfulness, my failures and shortcomings or shy away?
Will I begin again to delight in obeying the commandments God has given?
Will I start afresh and step out knowing that ‘my God can’ or cling to what has gone before?
Will you build well? – not just for yourself or your family, not just in your home but your workplace, not just for the church family at Sawyers; but for the honour and glory of God in our town and in our nation?