A Preview of the Book

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:3-4, 2:13-14, 16

They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire." When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven….So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass….The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

Insights: Yesterday we gave a brief history of Israel leading up to the book of Nehemiah.  Today, I am going to give us a brief overview of the book as it specifically relates to Nehemiah.  Today’s verses deal with two of the three roles Nehemiah held throughout this book.  First, Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king.  According to Chuck Swindoll, “it has been suggested by ancient historians that the cupbearer, like no other than the king’s wife, was in a position to influence the monarch.”  After hearing about the remnant in Jerusalem, Nehemiah needed a political favor from the king and his role as cupbearer gave him that opportunity.  Second, Nehemiah was a builder.  He knew, however, he could not just show up to Jerusalem and give this great plan for the rebuilding of the wall.  The reason for this wise decision was because Nehemiah knew people go through three stages to any idea that was not their own.  There was first rejection of the idea, then toleration for the idea and finally acceptance of the idea.  So, when he arrived as our verses today tell us, he went on a fact finding mission.  He surveyed the wall.  The final role Nehemiah held in this book was that of governor.  The people who were subject to him had been born slaves in captivity to parents in captivity.  They did not have much hope for their future.  When Nehemiah entered into this gubernatorial role it brought a since of hope to the people.  For the first time they believed there were signs of new beginnings for their lives.  Over the next two days we will see how these roles impact our lives.

Questions:

1. What roles have you had while serving the Lord?
2. In what role is God calling you presently?

Prayer: Father, I am so grateful You ordain my path.  You know exactly what I ought to be doing at every moment.  Give me the courage to follow hard after You into whatever arena You call me.  Amen. 

A Look at the Times

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 36:18-20

All the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officers, he brought them all to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles. Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia,

Insights: Jewish history began around 2000 B.C., but did not take on a national significance for another 1000 years.  It is then that king Saul comes on the scene and you have a united nation for three kings (Saul, David, and Solomon).  Solomon’s sin at the end of his life was so grievous to God that judgment was called down on Solomon.  The record of this judgment is found in 1 Kings 11:11-12.  At this point in history you have ten of the twelve tribes forming the northern nation of Israel and two of the tribes forming the southern nation of Judah.  In 722 B.C. the Assyrians came down and defeated the nation of Israel and they will not be heard of again in history.  The nation of Judah survives almost three hundred more years (586 B.C.) until Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar comes down and defeats them.  The reason both of these nations were defeated was because it was God’s judgment on them.  The people of the Lord could have been characterized as people who continually disobeyed the Lord God and followed a life of a downward spiral to destruction.  It is at this point today’s verses come into play.  Verse nineteen is crucial to remember as it describes the burning of the temple and the breaking down of the walls surrounding Jerusalem.  This captivity into slavery would last seventy years in fulfillment of God’s word through the prophet Jeremiah.  Then the king of Persia, Cyrus, would in a partnership with Darius, king of the Medes, invade Babylon and defeat them.  After their victory they released the children of God to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.  A group leaves under Zerubbabel and heads for Jerusalem.  Eighty years later another group leaves under the leadership of Ezra.  Finally a third group leaves thirteen years later under the leadership of Nehemiah.  Ezra would rebuild the temple.  Nehemiah would rebuild the wall.  The previous information helps set the scene for our study in this great book we call Nehemiah.

Questions:

1. Does your life follow a pattern of following hard of the Lord?
2. Does your life follow a pattern of continual disobedience to the Lord?

Prayer: Father, I am a frail and fallen person.  Forgive me of my selfishness and pride.  Move on my heart in such a fashion that my life is characterized by following hard after You.  Amen. 

The World in Which We Live

Scripture: Judges 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Insights: Yesterday was the first Sunday of the New Year.  It gives us hope for new imaginations, new prospects, and new opportunities.  We have a chance for renewed faith.  We have possibilities for strengthened character.  We live in such a time that we are desperate for fresh faith and bold character.  We only have to be reminded of James MacDonalds’ statistics from his book Vertical Church to realize the truth of this desperate time.  Six thousand churches close their doors every year.  Thirty-five hundred people walk away from the church every day.  Only one out of ten pastors will make it to the “retirement” years of life still in the ministry.   If we turn to a secular look we see the average American family has nine thousand dollars worth of credit card debt alone.  Our national debt has risen seven trillion dollars in just the past five years.  We have comedian and actress Wanda Sykes doing public service announcements during Saturday morning kids programming defending and supporting the homosexual community.  In essence, she is saying it is perfectly natural to be gay.  In a five minute span of time I flipped to ABC, CBS, FOX and 55.1 and on all four of those networks there was a scene that depicted sex outside the confines of marriage as okay and natural.  On January 4^th, the Barna research group released new findings regarding the changing shape of temptations in America.  One of interesting statistics was that sixty percent of Americans claim to procrastinate in all areas of their lives.  Consequently, sixty percent of Americans are also consumed with worry and anxiety.  Why are over half the Americans filled with such feelings? The answer is because they were not doing what they knew they ought to be doing and now they fear getting caught.  Beloved, we are living in the days of Judges 21:25.  We as a people do what is right in our own eyes.  As a result, we have a faithless and characterless society.  There is hope even in the midst of such information.  Over the next many weeks we are going to be studying the book of Nehemiah and we are going to build a wall of faith with bricks of character.  We are going to allow God to transform us and mold us into the people we were created to be.  Let us give all of our hearts for such an endeavor.

Questions:

1. Have you come to recognize the desperateness of the hour for the things of God?
2. Do you desire to be a person of faith and character?

Prayer: Father, I live in a wicked world that is filled with a void regarding faith and character.  I do not wish for my life to be represented by those characteristics.  Do what must be done to make me a person of faith and character.  Amen. 

What Satisfaction in the Lord Causes

Scripture: Philippians 4:20-23

Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Insights: Today’s Thoughts by Scott conclude the book of Philippians.  It has been a very enjoyable series of sermons.  I pray you have been blessed by reading these daily synopses of my sermon points.  Paul ended the book in proper fashion, which means he brought glory to God.  No matter what we face in this world, whether that is persecution from outside of the church or disagreements within the church, we can experience joy in Christ Jesus.  If we learn the lesson of contentment which we have written about this week, then we will experience this joy.  When we as Christ-followers are truly living this exchanged life in Jesus, we truly are bringing glory to God.  It is accomplished in two ways.  First, our very lives testify to God’s goodness and grace.  By living in submission to His will and trusting in Him alone for everything, we are content.  Living this way by faith proves our love for God and brings Him glory.  Second, as we live such a life before a watching world, people will be drawn to the Father.  In other words, lost people will want to know why we have such joy, peace and contentment and will begin to ask us questions.  If we are truly sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings, then we will be able to tell them about the love of Jesus.  When these lost people enter into that love relationship with Jesus, then God is again glorified.  So, Beloved, live life in total trust and obedience to the Lord and experience His joy IN you and allow God to be glorified as a result.  To God be the glory!

Questions:

1. Does your life of contentment draw people to the Lord?
2. Is your life bring glory to God?

Prayer: Father, let my life be used to draw men and women to You.  As they come into a saving relationship with Your Son, Jesus, may it bring You glory.  Amen. 

What Saints have Learned about Contentment - External Support

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-19

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Insights: Verse fourteen through eighteen in today’s verses deal with the assistance the church of Philippi gave to Paul.  This act of service is the second aspect of what saints have learned about contentment.  When we spend our lives in the service of others, we experience contentment.  The reason behind this is because we become a fragrant aroma and an acceptable sacrifice to God and He is well-pleased with us.  When He is well pleased, he supplies all of our needs and in the provision we experience contentment.  Now, please notice with me, God supplies our needs, not our wants.  We often times confuse our wants with our needs and when that happens we fall prey to the very things that steal contentment from the lost world—poverty and prosperity.  So, Beloved, ask for the Lord to open your eyes to the world around you.  Ask Him to let you see it as He does.  Then, begin to invest in those around you.  Serve those around you.  Become a blessing to those around you.  As you do, you will experience the joy of true contentment.

Questions:

1. In whose life are you investing?
2. Have you learned the secret of contentment as you serve others?

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the needs around me.  Help me to see as You see the world.  Grow me in Your Son and help my life be a fragrant aroma to those around me.  Amen. 

What Saints have Learned about Contentment - Internal Strength, Part 2

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-19

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Insights: Hudson Taylor, the father of modern missions, was a man deeply devoted and committed to Christ Jesus.  He worked long hours and sacrificed much in his life for the progress of the gospel.  Taylor, however, had not learned the secret of contentment found in Christ Jesus of which Paul has been writing.  Taylor did all things through Taylor’s strength and power.  In his book Spiritual Secret he has a chapter titled The Exchanged Life.  In this chapter he describes what he learned about Jesus’ presence IN the believer’s life.  He wrote, “To let my loving Saviour work in me His will, my sanctification, is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power; … resting in the love of an almighty Saviour, in the joy of a complete salvation, ‘from all sin’ - this is not new, and yet ‘tis new to me. I feel as though the dawning of a glorious day had risen upon me. I hail it with trembling, yet with trust. I seem to have got to the edge only, but of a boundless sea; to have sipped only, but of that which fully satisfies. Christ literally all seems to me, now, the power, the only power for service, the only ground for unchanging joy… It was the exchanged life that had come to him - the life that is indeed ‘No longer I.’ Six months earlier he had written, ‘I have continually to mourn that I follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious Master.’ There was no thought of imitation now! It was in blessed reality ‘Christ liveth in me.’ And how great the difference! - instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a restful sense of sufficiency in Another.”

Questions:

1. Are you trying to live life in your own strength and sufficiency?
2. Have you begun to experience the exchanged life of which Hudson Taylor spoke?

Prayer: Jesus, You live IN me and You alone are the source of my life, hope, and strength.  Put to death, O Lord, my self-rule and let me live the exchanged life found in You.  Amen. 

What Saints have Learned about Contentment - Internal Strength, Part 1

Scripture: Philippians 4:13-19

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Insights: I want to remind you of two words that were used in verses eleven and twelve yesterday.  In our English translation we used the word learned for both of these words.  In the Greek language, however, it is two separate words.  The one in verse eleven really does mean learn.  I will address that part in just a moment.  The word used in verse twelve, however, means initiated.  So, let me put this idea together for you.  The reason we are able to do all things through Jesus who strengthens us is because He initiated us into the secret.  This secret is available only to those who are a part of Jesus’ family—those who have been born again by receiving Jesus’ gift of salvation through His death and resurrection.  This initiation is the first of the three parts of salvation.  We call this part justification.  We are justified before God as righteous because of Jesus work in us.  Once we are initiated, however, we must learn how to be content in Christ.  This truth is the second part of salvation and we call it sanctification.  Sanctification is the process in which Jesus purges us of our old sin nature and conforms us into His image.  The third part of salvation occurs once we have entered into eternity with Jesus.  We call that third part glorification.  Tomorrow we are going to learn more about what life looks like when we have begun to learn these truths from Jesus.  Beloved, if we will humble ourselves to the glorious teaching of Christ Jesus, we truly will be able to do ALL THINGS for His glory because He supplies the strength to accomplish the task.  How glorious that will be when we truly learn how to live life in this fashion.  To God be the glory!

Questions:

1. Have you been initiated into the family of God?
2. Are you being pliable to Jesus’ teachings regarding contentment?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for teaching me how to live life inside out with You being the source of all strength and sufficiency.  Continue to mold me into a person of faith who trusts You completely.  Amen.