Building Back: Reorganise

[0:00] We're starting at verse 1 of Nehemiah 7. After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.

[0:22] I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the citadel, because he was the man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

[0:40] I said to them, The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them.

[0:54] Also, appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses. Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

[1:13] So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return.

[1:31] This is what is written. And then we go on to verse 70. Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work.

[1:45] The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darocks of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. Some of the heads of families gave the treasury for the work 20,000 darocks of gold and 2,200 miners of silver.

[2:03] The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darocks of gold, 2,000 miners of silver and 67 garments for the priests.

[2:15] The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns.

[2:29] Thank God for this reading. Good morning again to all of you, and I'm delighted to see you. This is the first time I'm seeing you in 2025, and I say Happy New Year to you, though we are in February.

[2:44] Thank you very much for inviting me again to come. And every time I come here, I feel at home. I feel at home. And I want to thank God for the texts that you have chosen, and especially studying the book of Nehemiah, which is to rebuild again.

[3:07] And the lady who did the topics together, put them together, I just love it. React, reconnect, reorganize.

[3:18] Everything is R, R, R, R, R, R. Beautiful. So people are just gifted with words. Today I've been given Nehemiah chapter 7.

[3:33] And it's about reorganization or restoration of leadership, accountability, and importance of identity in God's plan.

[3:45] After the world was built, the focus shifts to reorganizing the community's spiritual, social, and organizational health.

[4:00] A city is much more than walls, gates, or houses. A city is the people. In the first half of this book, the people existed for the walls.

[4:12] But in the second part, from this chapter, chapter 7, the walls must exist for the people. For God's work is not just about structures, but about people in the structure.

[4:30] Let us now look at what Nehemiah puts in place to reorganize the community. The first thing they did was to secure a good foundation.

[4:44] They have been taken captive for 70 years to Babylon. They were unable to worship God. Nothing that they used to happened.

[4:58] So the first thing they did was to appoint gatekeepers. After 52 days, they have rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. The singers and the Levites to their rose for the temple work.

[5:14] Because it is a worshiping community showing that rebuilding the walls was just the beginning. Spiritual work requires vigilance.

[5:28] After a victory, the enemy often attacks complacency, hence the need for spiritual overseers, the gates.

[5:40] The gates needed watchmen to protect what was built. Our hearts are like the city gates.

[5:50] We must guard them with diligence to monitor what goes in and out. Because if we don't, the enemy can come in, tell the truth that is already there, and plant what is false.

[6:12] Imagine someone building a dream home, but leaving the doors open all the time without protection.

[6:27] The house becomes vulnerable. Similarly, the gates of Jerusalem symbolize spiritual vigilance over what God has done in our lives.

[6:38] And we need to guard what goes in and out of them. Or, may think of a company that has spent millions of pounds developing a cyber security system to protect sensitive customers' data.

[7:00] After installing the data at the system, they decide not to hire anyone to monitor it. Predictably, the system is hacked because there was nobody to guard it.

[7:18] Nehemiah's appointment of gatekeepers teaches us that diligence after victory is vital. Both physical and spiritual.

[7:30] Guiding our spiritual gates could mean filtering what we allow into our man's homes and churches. And I just want to thank the gentleman who came to speak about young people here.

[7:44] Because that is the generation the enemy is attacking. Social media is good, but the damage they are doing now is incredible.

[8:04] Guiding our spiritual gates could mean filtering what we allow into our man's homes and churches. Setting boundaries of screen time or social media for those with younger children.

[8:22] Teaching our children and our members the truth which is found in the scripture without adulteration.

[8:33] Actively maintaining prayer and scripture reading as daily routines. What gates in your life needs better guarding are there areas where complacency has crept in.

[8:54] The solution is to assign spiritual guards over your hearts prayer, accountability partners and regular Bible study to protect your faith.

[9:11] The second thing Nehemiah did was to appoint leaders for Jerusalem. Napoleon described a leader as a dealer in hope and Nehemiah certainly faced that description.

[9:34] Before the work began he inspired the people by assuring them that God will prosper their work. That is Nehemiah 2 18-20.

[9:47] When the people were afraid he prayed that God will strengthen them in chapter 6 verse 9. And when the enemy threatened Nehemiah stood his ground and called their bluff.

[10:02] That is Nehemiah chapter 6 verse 3-6. And the work was completed just in 52 days. Nehemiah upon his brother Hanani and another gentleman called Hanani as leaders because of their qualification.

[10:22] It's not because they are strong. It's not because they are clever. It's not because of their charisma but because they are faithful people and they fear God.

[10:38] Leadership in God's work is not about talent but about character. God values faithfulness over flashy skills which could be deceptive.

[10:52] I remember early in my ministry ministry. I was coveting big ministries. Oh I wonder you know in those days what was going on oh where do you see the church in five years.

[11:08] And I sat down there and it broke into my space. I said who caused you here? I said you. For whose work?

[11:22] Yours. who is going to do it? You. Then it has. Who asked you to do that? I said me. He said that's not what I call you for.

[11:34] Only one thing I require of you is just to be faithful. I know what it means to be faithful to God.

[11:46] From that moment I just thought what I was writing and by the grace of God till I step aside in 2021 there was no year we don't baptize people and the average was almost about between eight and twelve.

[12:05] Only 2016 which I call the following year we did not baptize. God is faithful. He will do it. The story of Ananias being chosen for the faithfulness and fear of God reminds us of David when Samuel was appointed anointed king.

[12:31] When Samuel anointed David as king he wasn't the tallest or the strongest but he had a heart after God.

[12:44] 1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7. Leadership is about character not charisma. Just like Gideon in Judges chapter 6 verse 14 to 15 the least in the family and his tribe was the weakest in Israel.

[13:04] God doesn't use strong or wise people but the weak and the simple ones so that his strength could be made perfect in their weakness and his wisdom perfect in their foolishness but all to his glory.

[13:26] A church once had two candidates for pastoral to fill their pastoral rate. One was charismatic speaker vibrant but lacked integrity while the other was less polished but deeply committed to God.

[13:45] The church chose the faithful one and years later their decision bore great fruit. Faithfulness leads to enduring impact.

[13:57] God rewards faithfulness because he is a faithful God. Are you faithful? in the roles God has given to you here at Han Hill.

[14:11] Whether big or small God is looking for leaders who fear him and are faithful and obey his word. The third thing he appointed other workers.

[14:27] Now you will realize in that chapter he mentioned gatekeepers twice. the first one that was in verse one to two was the one in the temple which is within the gate.

[14:42] This one now is the one outside the walls they have just built. What good are strong new gates if nobody is guarding them and controlling who enters and leaves the city?

[15:01] What good are the walls if the gates are open to every foe who wants to enter the city? Gates and walls are only as good as the people who guard them.

[15:18] The second group of people he appointed are the guards and two types of guards he appointed. The one at specific points.

[15:28] Nehemiah appointed two kinds of guards that is watches those to patrol the walls at specific stations and those to keep watch near their homes.

[15:43] Since many of the people had worked on the areas of the wall near their homes Nehemiah now challenged them to guard the areas they had built with guards at the gates watchmen on the walls and solid neighborhood watch the city was saved from outside attack.

[16:07] Most important unless the Lord built the house the labor in vain who built it. Unless the Lord guards the city the watchman stays awake in vain.

[16:20] Psalm 127 verse 1 but God was with them in all that they were doing. So they were secure. The fourth thing that he did was to establish citizenship.

[16:36] The genealogy of God's people. The chapter lists the names of the exiles who return. This genealogy emphasizes the importance of remembering one's identity, ancestry, and place in God's plan.

[16:55] Reading this long list of difficult names might be boring and off-putting to the modern readers.

[17:07] But these people were God's bridge from the defeats of the past to the hopes of the future. These Jews were the living link that connects their historic past with the prophetic future and made it possible for Jesus Christ to come into the world.

[17:33] Just like all of you that are sitting down here today, you are the link from the past to the future about what God is going to do in hand here.

[17:47] Fifteen years ago, some of you were not here. And I guarantee you, in another fifty years, a lot of us will not be here. But we, for now, we are the link from the past to the future.

[18:04] The temple personnel were listed in verse 39 onwards. The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers that is in the temple now, and various temple servants, Nethanim, they call them.

[18:20] These people are necessary in the temple for the worship of God. Nehemiah did not forget the animals, too. Lovers of animals here, you can see it here.

[18:35] He never forgot them. He mentioned the horses, he mentioned the camels, the donkeys, and these are the animals they use as their tool to carry, as potters, to carry things.

[18:51] They were important in God's work as well, because they are creatures of God. God knows each of his people by name, you and I. And each one matters to his redemptive story.

[19:07] We are not numbers, but beloved individuals, in his kingdom. A teacher once wrote all her students' names on the white board, and shared something unique about each of them.

[19:28] One student asked, Miss, why do you include me? I'm not special. here? The teacher replied, every name matters, because you matter.

[19:43] Similarly, the long list in Nehemiah's sermon shows that God never overlooks his people, and he keeps records and names of who are in his kingdom.

[19:55] and when you go to Revelation chapter 20, you will see it there, and anyone whose name is not in the book of life will be cast into everlasting sorrow.

[20:15] too many people today spend time and money on DNA tests or genealogical research to discover their roots.

[20:33] Why? Because knowing where we come from helps us understand who we are. And always it reveals treasures.

[20:48] The people in Nehemiah sermon been in exile, and their names reminded them that they belong to God's chosen people. We are immigrants on earth, regardless of which country we are.

[21:06] We are immigrants. We belong to heaven. As Christians, our identity is rooted in Christ. We are part of a redeemed family with a purpose.

[21:24] Do you live with the confidence as someone whose name is written in the book of life? Are you confident about that? Are you sure that your names are there?

[21:38] If not, I urge you to rediscover your identity in Christ, know that you are chosen, you are called, and you are loved by God, it has a purpose for you, just as it did for each name in that list.

[21:58] Therefore, I'm encouraging you this morning. I'm urging you, if you are here, you may be coming to church every Sunday. You may participate in their activities.

[22:09] Are you sure that your names are written in the book of life? And it's simple. It's only by believing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that he came in flesh, lived without sin, and died for you, for me on the cross, if you believe that.

[22:32] And you say, Lord, I'm sorry for all that I've thought, done, and acted wrongly coming to my life. If you do that, then your names will be written in the book of life.

[22:50] And you don't need to go to college. You don't need to go to university to believe. Because faith comes only by hearing.

[23:02] And as I'm giving a testimony to you today about Christ as the Savior of the world, accept him, and your names will be there. Next thing that happened in Nehemiah chapter 7, and especially beginning from verse 70 to 73, was giving for God's work.

[23:27] If you have given your life to Christ, you've done the best. Because that is really what you want. God is a God of love and he gives.

[23:40] He gives. He gives. The leaders, the people, and even the governor give generously to support the work of God.

[23:53] This shows their commitment and obedience to mission beyond the wars. Generosity is a mark of a restored heart. when we give, we reflect God's generosity towards us.

[24:09] John chapter 3, verse 16, for God so loved the world that he gave one and only son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

[24:22] He gave one and only. God is not asking you to give everything. but he's asking you to give you a proportion of what he has given to you.

[24:42] Generosity, sorry, it is unfortunate that the leanness of spirit has plagued some of our churches today that makes them improvised because people are not giving faithfully and generously.

[24:59] I know this particular topic, this area is a sensitive area, but I need to tell you the truth. I believe teaching about giving has to be resuscitated because it's dead in our churches without abusing it.

[25:26] If we don't teach it, we are depriving people of God's blessing for them. I know this because I've done it and with deep humility I want to share what happened in my previous church.

[25:50] I started in 2003, the income was $25,000 and the Holy Spirit said teach about giving.

[26:01] Five lessons. The mistake I made was to share it with the leadership. Every one of them, I think eight of them, they spoke they don't want it.

[26:16] They don't want to be prosperity church. I had to make a choice to listen to what God is telling me or to listen to them.

[26:29] I chose the former one and I told the two of them that we are helping in preaching. I said, I'm sorry, these five series, you are not going to take part in it.

[26:42] I will handle it myself. myself. And I started throughout the month of November, finishing up in the first Sunday in December.

[26:58] Do you know that April the following year, 2004, the income rose from that $25,000 to $49,500.

[27:13] Not that people were fluxy, not that we have many, many more members, but because people heard about the teaching, they were committed to it.

[27:26] And ever since, till I left, to God's glory, we were not impoverished. To the extent that more than twice, we had committed, projects, more than 100,000 each time, and we didn't need to think twice before we commenced them.

[27:47] When we teach people that God requires some things from them, there's nothing you give to God that he will not replenish to you in a hundred fold.

[27:59] That is the word of Jesus. We are just like children. You give him a packet of sweet, sweet. Five minutes later, John, give me one of the sweets, and then he puts it at the back.

[28:14] And you are the one that gave him a packet. You just ask for one. That is how we behave. when we don't give joyfully, generously.

[28:33] Many of our churches can do that if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. The question is, are you giving out of what is left over? Are you making intentional sacrifices for God's work, kingdom?

[28:50] Are you or you don't want to hear anything about giving? I want you to think about it. Stewardship extends to time, talents, gifts, and natural endowment.

[29:11] How can you dedicate your gift, your skills, talents, and time to God's purpose? If I had two calves and promised to dedicate one to God, when one of the calves died, he said the Lord's calf died because he had power to raise the dead.

[29:34] Often, we hold back what belongs to God, forgetting that everything belongs to him, including us. we are like, okay, I've said that, the people in Nehemiah chapter 7 gave their best to God, not only the people of God, even the governor.

[30:03] Examine your giving. Is it sacrificial or joyful? Unjoyful. your resources, your time, your money, talents, are tools for God's glory.

[30:19] You can't do gospel and mission without money. When you love, you give. And you can't love without giving.

[30:32] That will be ungodly. Verse 73 of Nehemiah 7. Everybody settled in their towns and their villages.

[30:49] That is a community restored to God. God's people united. The chapter ends with people settling in their towns.

[31:01] This shows the restoration of order and community life. Imagine walking in a jigsaw or a jigsaw puzzle only to realize that some pieces are missing.

[31:18] Each piece has a place and the picture isn't complete without them. Similarly, every person listed in Nehemiah chapter 7 had a role to play in restoring Jerusalem.

[31:35] them. So also at Han Hill Baptist Church today, every person listed in our membership and attendees, I'm sure when Han was asking us to count, it's not all the people that are in the membership list that are here today or even the attendees, but God has an account.

[31:56] He has a record of them all. You are like the missing puzzle and picture is not complete without you. You are depriving the church and God of all what he has to give if you are not counted.

[32:17] It's like a church outreach event which might involve preachers, greeters, cooks, and people setting up chairs and even some people praying.

[32:34] Every one of those groups, they matter in that job, in that work. And everybody is important.

[32:47] Whether they are in the front or walking quietly behind the scene, the question is, how can you contribute to the unity, to the work, and the head of hand here?

[33:04] Are you using your gifts and resources for God's glory? Or are you hiding, burying your talent, burying your gift, and even withholding your resources?

[33:23] resources? The final story is this. In 1961, President Kennedy visited NASA department and saw a cleaner mopping the floor.

[33:41] The president asked him what he was doing, and the cleaner confidently replied, I'm helping put a man on the moon. he understood that his small task of cleaning contributed to a larger purpose, and was proud of it, hence his confident answer.

[34:07] If you are asked today, what are you doing at hand here, what will your answer be? Every person in Nehemiah chapter 7 contributed to God's mission, whether rebuilding the world, leading worship, or donating resources, they all played a part in fulfilling God's plan.

[34:33] Likewise, you are called to play your part, no matter how small it seems. I have some practical applications that I would suggest to you.

[34:49] one, you do a spiritual audit. I urge you to do a spiritual audit of your life as an individual and your life as a church.

[35:07] And the questions to consider may be, what areas in my life need restoration organization, am I vigilant in guarding my spiritual work?

[35:23] Am I fulfilling God's given role with faithfulness? am I giving faithfully, willingly, and generously to God's work?

[35:39] And as I conclude, Nehemiah's sermon is about building people, not just works.

[35:52] It reminds us that God's ultimate goal is not the physical restoration, but the spiritual renewal of his people. As we serve him, let us guard what he has built in this place, lead with integrity for leaders, and faithfulness, and fearing God, we must embrace our identity in Christ, give willingly and generously, and foster the unity of hand-heeled Baptist joy.

[36:25] Let's pray. pray. Thank you.