Kingdom Work
Toby DeHay
Nehemiah • Sermon • Submitted • 33:15
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· 327 viewsAre we working for the glory of God? In this passage we can learn some principles that will help us to do so. (The bones of this outline are taken from: Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Determined. “Be” Commentary Series. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.)
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1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.
3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
6 The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.
13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. They also repaired five hundred yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.
17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their countrymen under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.
22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. 23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. 24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; 32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.
Purpose in Work
Purpose in Work
That God might receive the glory
That God might receive the glory
Look back at
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”
“we will no longer be in disgrace” is focused on the mocking they received because of the ruin of the wall.
Remember, we talked about the tie between the City of Jerusalem and their relationship to God?
Here, the purpose of rebuilding the wall was ultimately for God to receive glory.
It is beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth.
Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Their purpose in work was not simply that they’d receive a rebuilt city, but that God would receive glory in the land.
Unfortunately, we are living in time where work is done solely for the monetary reward.
And unfortunately more still is the fact that many pastors and church leaders are not working to build up the church and train the saints as Ephesian 4 teaches, but for personal gain as well.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Cor.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Cor.
Church, remember, our purpose is not to simply reach a goal of 2, 017 Gospel presentations this year, or X,Y,Z evangelistic opportunities to be fulfilled, but to glorify His name in all we do.
Pattern in Work
Pattern in Work
There are certain assignments
There are certain assignments
Check out
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If you are born again, you have an assignment in the church. I’d encourage you to get alone with the Holy Spirit to see where He would have you to serve.
There is usually a leader
There is usually a leader
In this text, the leader is obviously Nehemiah. He was used to organize, encourage, and provide an example.
There is a goal
There is a goal
One of the definate patterns of work is the end goal.
If you grow a garden, you’d like to see vegetables.
If you work part-time at the grocery, you’d like to see the shelves stocked or people rung up, but ultimately you’d like to see the paycheck.
When you vacuum and dust, the end goal is a clean house.
We aren’t doing things simply to be doing them.
Christian friend, what is your goal when reading the Bible?
When you take time to pray, is there an expectancy to see God answer prayers?
Maybe you meet for Bible study or a special Christian group. Why? What is the purpose? If there is no purpose, might there be a better way to serve the Lord?
In working for the King, we have a goal in mind.
Togetherness=glory for God
Togetherness=glory for God
Also when we think about Kingdom Work and it’s Patterns, we think togetherness.
When we think about all the wonderful times of fellowship we’ve had as a church-we think about the various people we’ve spent time with.
When we think about the mission’s trips, the evangelistic outtings, the times when the choir went to sing at the park, we think about the people we did those things with.
When we gather to worship or have a time of Bible study, we do so with other people.
This is all done for the Glory of God!
People in Work
People in Work
God uses all kinds of people
God uses all kinds of people
Rulers and priests
,
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.
12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.
14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18 After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress.
Men and women
12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.
Professional craftsman ,
8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
32 And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.
People from outside the city. , ,
2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River.
Please don’t let your particular excuse be the thing that stops you from serving the Lord.
Leaders must set the example
Leaders must set the example
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.
Some will not work
Some will not work
5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
Friends, there are some people who simply will not work.
This is true at home, at our secular jobs, in places of volunteering, and in the local church.
We want to encourage them, but we don’t listen to a whole lot of what they say because they aren’t willing to work.
Some do more than others
Some do more than others
Here in Nehemiah, there are several verses that say they did more after they were done.
Verses 11, 19, 21, 24, 27, 30.
We aren’t shooting to do more than others on purpose, just to do as much as we can until the Lord calls us home.
Some work at home
Some work at home
, ,
Don’t be discouraged if you can’t leave the house very often in regards to doing kingdom work.
There are letters and emails to be sent out, calls to be made and other work that can be done at home. Listen to Charles Spurgeon on prayer: “[the] power of prayer can never be overrated. They who cannot serve God by preaching need not regret. If a man can but pray he can do anything. He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has Heaven and earth at his disposal.”
Some work harder
Some work harder
Some work harder
Some work harder
20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Let’s not strive to simply work harder than the next guy, but to simply work hard!
Warren Wiersbe is quoted as saying, “lazy workers not only rob themselves and the Lord, but they also rob their fellow workers.”
9 A lazy person is as bad as
someone who destroys things.
Are you a hard worker for the Kingdom of God? Are you busy following the narrow road set forth by scripture, died to yourself at the cross, and are following Him whole-heartedly as a disciple?
In chapter seven of the Good News red book available in the back you’ll see a picture of the wide road and narrow road.
The wide road according to scripture leads to hell. You get there by not coming to Christ in repentance and faith. You are resting upon your baptism, trying to follow the commandments, or living a good life.
The narrow road to salvation is only through the cross of Christ.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
You must be born of the Spirit to not only be forgiven of your sins, but to enjoy a new life today and one in eternity with Christ.
Would you trust Christ today as your Savior?