WEBVTT

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 I recently passed a personal milestone just over a month ago, 20 years as a disciple of the Lord Jesus.

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 It was the 31st of May, 1993.

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 I was sitting in the big shed on the Katoomba side, up at Katoomba, on the Christian Convention side in Katoomba.

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 And I remember it specifically as a Friday night.

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 It was cold, but I remember the words of John Wesley, my heart was strangely warmed as my chains fell off.

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 My heart was free and I rose and I went forth and followed him, the Lord Jesus.

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 And I've been exposed all of my life up until then to the Bible.

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 Prayer was pretty much a normal thing.

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 I even gave money to Christian organizations.

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 But up until that point, I had trusted in myself and not Jesus.

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 And the biggest and immediate change that happened in my life when I became a Christian was a love for Jesus' church.

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 It didn't exist up until that point.

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 I was suspicious and even judgmental of the church.

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 But a love for Christ went hand in hand with a love for Christ's church.

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 And I think the New Testament expects it.

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 Listen to how Paul puts it to the Ephesian church.

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 Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy,

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 cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

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 And present her to himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish,

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 but holy and blameless.

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 The church that Christ loves is one of the key features of God's plan for time and eternity.

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 All who love the Lord Jesus Christ ought to love the church,

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 which is the object of Christ's love.

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 And so I would suggest from the New Testament that there is something wrong with professing Christians

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 who do not identify with the church and love it and invest themselves in it and carry its needs on their hearts.

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 Now when I say love for the church,

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 I don't mean love for the institutional church.

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 Just need to clarify that.

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 Those who love the church in its institutional form

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 will have an enthusiasm for its liturgy, ceremony, bureaucracy,

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 and the labor that keeps the wheels turning.

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 It will express itself in a strong interest in preservation,

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 maintenance, and the nurture within a closed group,

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 accompanied by an indifference,

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 or even an opposition to revival, evangelism, and conversions that ultimately drive change.

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 The church that I fell in love with is the New Testament picture of God's people

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 getting together on a regular basis to do the things that the church does.

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 To praise and pray,

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 to hear the word of God through preaching and teaching,

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 to practice fellowship and pastoral care with mutual encouragement and accountability,

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 to exalt and honor Jesus Christ,

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 specifically by word and song and sacrament,

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 to reach out locally and cross-culturally

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 in order to share Christ with people who need him.

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 A church that sees itself not as an institution,

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 but as Mission HQ

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 for the glory of God.

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 It's a love for the church that is expressed in a constant quest

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 for faithfulness and holiness and vitality

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 in our individual and corporate life.

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 A love that results in a deep care

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 for the faithfulness and holiness and obedience

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 and spiritual vitality and a missional effectiveness of the church.

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 A love that is committed to praying and planning and sacrificing

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 and laboring and praying again

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 for the reformation and revitalization of the people of God.

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 That is what the next 30 days of time to build is all about.

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 What is immediate obvious to most of us

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 is that we have a building project.

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 It's kind of obvious.

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 It's been in process for three years.

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 Today we are voting as a church

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 as to whether we will proceed or not.

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 And if we do,

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 and I've suggested that we should,

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 then one of the purposes

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 of the next 30 days of time to build

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 is to raise the almost $1 million

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 we need to fund the project.

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 But even if we vote not to proceed with the building project,

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 this stuff's staying here

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 and we're proceeding with time to build.

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 Because what is most important to me in time to build

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 is the building, reforming,

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 and revitalization of the church,

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 the people of God.

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 Which is why time to build has three purposes.

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 Three other purposes, I should say.

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 And that is spiritual growth across the church,

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 the building of fellowship,

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 and the building of gratitude.

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 Even as we seek to redevelop our facilities,

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 the church that Christ is building

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 is the community of men and women,

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 boys and girls,

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 who have been redeemed by God the Father

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 through the finished work of the Savior,

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 Jesus Christ, on the cross.

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 This building means hearts being changed

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 so that repentance and faith and obedience

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 become more and more the pattern of our lives.

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 And the evidence of such building work

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 will be the humility and purity

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 and love and zeal for God and His Word,

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 a devotion to pray,

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 a love for the people of God,

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 a deep passion for those who need Christ.

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 That is biblical church growth.

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 And Nehemiah will instruct us in the next 30 days

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 because Nehemiah is about building saints

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 even as he seeks to rebuild Jerusalem.

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 Nehemiah loves the glory of God

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 and the people of God

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 more than the place where they came together.

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 His passion is for the relationship

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 between God and His people,

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 not so much the walls of Jerusalem.

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 Nehemiah was governor in Jerusalem

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 for 13 years.

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 It took him 51 days to build the walls.

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 Nehemiah starts in chapter 1, verse 1,

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 thousands of kilometers away

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 from their homeland of God's people.

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 Nehemiah is writing in his diary

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 in the month of Kislev in the 20th year.

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 That's about 140 years

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 after the most devastating event

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 in the history of Israel.

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 An event that they were warned would happen,

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 but it didn't cause them

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 to reform their life together

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 in order to stop it from happening.

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 And if you've read the Old Testament,

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 then you would know

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 that God had formed a people for Himself.

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 He had called them by name.

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 He had given them His law.

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 He had given them a land.

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 He had made His presence

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 to dwell amongst them

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 in the temple in Jerusalem.

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 And as His special covenant people,

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 Israel was to shine as a light

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 to the world around

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 so that the nations around Israel

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 could see how brilliant it was

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 to live in friendship with Yahweh,

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 the God of Israel.

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 Israel instead turned away from Yahweh.

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 They followed other gods

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 and they made idols.

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 They loved their wealth and their luxury.

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 They despised the word of God.

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 And despite repeated warnings from God

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 through the prophets

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 that He would punish His people

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 for their rebellion,

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 they just kept turning their backs on Him.

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 So in 587 BC,

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 Jerusalem finally fell

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 to the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar

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 and it was utterly destroyed.

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 The elite of the people

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 were put in chains and dragged off.

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 The king's eyes were put out.

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 His wife was killed.

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 The temple itself,

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 the place of God's presence

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 with His people

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 was sacked and left in ruins.

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 It's difficult, I think,

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 to express the humiliation

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 and catastrophe

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 that this event was.

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 Not to minimize it,

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 but this is not like

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 the occupation of France by Germany.

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 This is not the annihilation

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 of a native culture

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 or the brutality

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 of ethnic cleansing.

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 It is as if Yahweh,

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 the God of Israel,

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 was dead.

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 God had attached His name

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 and His glory

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 to that place

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 and its temple

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 in Jerusalem.

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 And now all of the evidence

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 points to the fact

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 that He has abandoned

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 His promises.

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 The God who would never

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 abandon His promises.

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 And He must be dead.

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 And so for many,

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 the exile was the death of hope.

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 But after 70 years in exile,

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 God began to do a new thing

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 to draw His people

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 back to Jerusalem.

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 Nehemiah is one of God's people

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 still left in Babylon.

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 But He had risen

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 to the absolute pinnacle

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 of the Persian corporate ladder.

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 He was cupbearer to the king,

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 King Artaxerxes,

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 the most powerful man

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 in the planet in the day.

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 Nehemiah was the only person

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 in the kingdom

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 who had access to the king

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 every day

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 and several times a day.

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 He had to be

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 utterly trustworthy

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 and an impressive individual.

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 But his occupation

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 is not his preoccupation.

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 Nehemiah's interest

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 was not his career

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 nor himself.

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 It was the glory of God

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 and the people of God.

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 His heart lies

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 in his homeland.

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 God had started

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 to bring His people

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 back to Jerusalem

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 after 70 years of exile.

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 But in verse 2,

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 Nehemiah gets some bad news

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 from home.

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 Those who survived the exile

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 and are back in the province

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 are in great trouble

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 and disgrace.

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 The walls of Jerusalem

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 is broken down

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 and its gates

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 have been burned with fire.

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 And verse 4

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 is Nehemiah's response

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 to this news.

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 When I heard these things,

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 I sat down and wept.

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 For some days,

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 I mourned

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 and I fasted

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 and I prayed

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 before the God of heaven.

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 He sits down

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 and he weeps

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 and he mourns

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 and he fasts

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 and he prays

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 for the city.

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 Verse 4 indicates

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 that Nehemiah's grief

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 and distress

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 continued for some months.

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 Most likely,

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 he stayed in that position

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 or in that state

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 for at least

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 four months.

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 But his concern

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 is more than a ruined city.

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 It is what this ruined city

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 represents.

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 Jerusalem was to be

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 the center,

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 the light,

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 the hope for the nations

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 as God dwelt

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 amongst his much loved people.

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 But it is in ruins.

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 It is a disgrace.

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 His concern is more

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 about what it says

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 about God

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 and God's people.

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 The prayer that dominates

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 chapter 1

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 reveals that

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 his deepest sorrow

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 is over rebellion

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 and faithlessness

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 and faithlessness

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 first and foremost

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 not over broken walls.

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 His prayer

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 first and foremost

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 looks to the character

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 of God,

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 the God that

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 it would appear

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 had died.

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 And he says,

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 O Lord God of heaven,

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 the great and awesome God

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 who keeps his covenant

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 of love with those

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 who love him

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 and obey his commands.

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 Israel's God

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 is a great

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 and awesome God

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 who is not

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 to be trifled with.

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 All the hosts

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 of the heavenly realm

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 bow in his presence.

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 This God

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 expects to be obeyed.

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 But he's also

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 a faithful God

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 who is committed

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 to his covenant

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 of love.

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 He is a God

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 who has made us

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 for himself,

00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:06.299
 who reveals his kindness

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:06.899
 and mercy

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.620
 and gentleness

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:09.059
 to those he loves.

00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:10.940
 And it is

00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:11.879
 this knowledge

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.439
 knowledge

00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:13.559
 of the character

00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:14.120
 of God

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:15.039
 that leads him

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.500
 first to confess sin

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.860
 and secondly

00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.259
 to plead

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.439
 the promises

00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:21.100
 of God.

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.220
 And so in the middle

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.820
 of verse 6

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.080
 Nehemiah acknowledges

00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:25.659
 the failure

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.519
 of God's people.

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.279
 He says,

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:28.939
 I confess the sins

00:14:28.939 --> 00:14:29.639
 we Israelites

00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:31.059
 including myself

00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:33.480
 and my father's house

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.679
 have committed

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.679
 against you.

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.120
 We have acted

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.360
 very wickedly

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.059
 towards you.

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:40.039
 We have not

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.179
 obeyed the commands

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.699
 decrees

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.419
 and laws

00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:43.539
 that you gave

00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:44.199
 your servant

00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:44.799
 Moses.

00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:47.259
 Notice that there is

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.619
 no us and them

00:14:48.619 --> 00:14:50.099
 accusation going on

00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:50.419
 here,

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.179
 but he is completely

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:53.359
 identifying himself

00:14:53.359 --> 00:14:54.559
 with the failure

00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:55.099
 of the people

00:14:55.099 --> 00:14:55.619
 of God.

00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:57.979
 And this little

00:14:57.979 --> 00:14:59.079
 prayer of confession

00:14:59.079 --> 00:15:00.739
 here is not just

00:15:00.739 --> 00:15:01.779
 some mere polite

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.500
 concession

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:04.219
 because as a culture

00:15:04.219 --> 00:15:05.739
 or as a church

00:15:05.739 --> 00:15:06.459
 we might admit

00:15:06.459 --> 00:15:07.179
 well no one's

00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:07.719
 really perfect

00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:08.259
 in the end.

00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:11.419
 Ezekiel 36

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:13.399
 speaks of the time

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:14.099
 when God would

00:15:14.099 --> 00:15:14.899
 bring his people

00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.939
 back from exile

00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:17.599
 and as part

00:15:17.599 --> 00:15:18.399
 of that returning

00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.119
 it says

00:15:19.119 --> 00:15:20.439
 in verse 31

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.679
 of Ezekiel 36

00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:23.419
 then you'll remember

00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:24.939
 your evil ways

00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:26.619
 and wicked deeds

00:15:26.619 --> 00:15:27.799
 and you will

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:29.279
 loathe yourselves

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.159
 for your sins

00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.419
 and your detestable

00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:33.000
 practices.

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.219
 Be ashamed

00:15:35.219 --> 00:15:37.279
 and disgraced

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.740
 for your conduct

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.600
 O house

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.220
 of Israel.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.120
 And so his prayer

00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:44.980
 here is not just

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.480
 some mere

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.019
 acknowledgement

00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.919
 of oh well no one's

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:47.480
 really perfect

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.199
 in the end.

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.819
 His contrition

00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:53.740
 is an intense

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.059
 loathing

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:56.360
 of sin.

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:59.539
 and this is the same

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.259
 contrition

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.159
 and acknowledgement

00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.159
 and remorse

00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.340
 and loathing

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:04.320
 of our sin

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.560
 that the gospel

00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:07.159
 requires of us

00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.919
 when we come

00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:09.639
 to Christ.

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.800
 Our grasp

00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:12.639
 of the wonder

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.560
 of the mercy

00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:14.419
 of the Lord

00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:14.899
 Jesus

00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.659
 is directly

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.440
 proportional

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.419
 to our grasp

00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.360
 of the desperate

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.440
 sinful state

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.279
 that we are in.

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:25.419
 superficial

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.259
 grasp

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:26.980
 of sin

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.199
 leads to

00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:28.699
 superficial

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.439
 grasp

00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.159
 of grace.

00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.399
 No mourning

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.139
 for sin

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:34.720
 leads to

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.500
 no joy

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.439
 in the gospel.

00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.639
 And if your

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.659
 psychoanalysis

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.319
 disagrees

00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:41.799
 with that

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.299
 they're wrong.

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.779
 They're wrong.

00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:49.759
 Sin

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.500
 is at the

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:51.919
 core of

00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.399
 Nehemiah's

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:52.879
 problem

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.220
 and Israel's

00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:54.620
 problem

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.220
 and our

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.740
 problem.

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.240
 Every time

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:57.879
 we disobey

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.399
 God

00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.019
 we are seeking

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.620
 to break

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.199
 away from

00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:00.439
 him

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.120
 and to put

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.899
 a barrier

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.379
 in our

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:02.779
 fellowship

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.340
 with him

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.900
 and that

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.359
 is why

00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:05.859
 Jerusalem

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.480
 is in

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.000
 ruins.

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:10.879
 You see

00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.500
 Nehemiah

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:11.980
 could have

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.639
 prayed in

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.339
 that moment

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.200
 for God

00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.539
 to restore

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.139
 Jerusalem

00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:16.639
 to its

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.420
 former glory.

00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:17.879
 Let's have

00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:18.240
 a prayer

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.559
 meeting

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.180
 get together

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.039
 let's pray

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.500
 for those

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.039
 walls in

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.500
 Jerusalem.

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:25.100
 Artaxerxes

00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:25.500
 could have

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.880
 pulled out

00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.400
 his wallet

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.259
 as he

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.620
 did

00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:28.300
 but he

00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:28.540
 could have

00:17:28.540 --> 00:17:28.840
 pulled out

00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:29.200
 a bigger

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.560
 wallet

00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:30.100
 pulled out

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:30.540
 the treasure

00:17:30.540 --> 00:17:31.100
 chest

00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:33.160
 like some

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.740
 Middle Eastern

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.400
 prince

00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.460
 with lots

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:35.900
 of oil

00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:37.600
 and built

00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.519
 a spectacular

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.200
 building in

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:39.700
 Jerusalem.

00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.180
 He could have

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.980
 made the walls

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.380
 bigger,

00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.080
 wider and

00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:44.620
 higher and

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:44.980
 he could have

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.660
 made Jerusalem

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.440
 into a resort

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.660
 town in the

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.300
 Middle East

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:51.039
 but it would

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.299
 have meant

00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:51.720
 nothing.

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.819
 It would

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.139
 have looked

00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.579
 good

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:58.200
 but it

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.399
 would have

00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:58.539
 meant

00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:58.919
 nothing.

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.460
 And we

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:00.879
 can fix

00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.279
 up our

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.839
 facilities

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:04.159
 but they

00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:04.940
 will not

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.700
 lead to

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.000
 greater

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.419
 intimacy

00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:07.259
 with Christ

00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:10.019
 or joy

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.279
 as a

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.659
 Christian

00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.819
 or to

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.200
 God's

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.559
 blessing

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.180
 being poured

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.619
 out upon

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.099
 us.

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:16.199
 repentance

00:18:16.199 --> 00:18:17.399
 and brokenness

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:18.059
 of heart

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.459
 before God

00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:20.079
 is the

00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:21.339
 only path

00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.659
 to intimacy

00:18:22.659 --> 00:18:23.919
 and communion

00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:24.819
 with the

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.240
 God of

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.579
 heaven.

00:18:26.459 --> 00:18:27.199
 Without the

00:18:27.199 --> 00:18:27.679
 repentance

00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:29.299
 there will

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:29.859
 be no

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.439
 return

00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:31.599
 to God.

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:32.919
 There will

00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.299
 be no

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.959
 return to

00:18:33.959 --> 00:18:34.500
 Jerusalem.

00:18:37.219 --> 00:18:37.599
 Nehemiah

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.000
 knew that

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.519
 the rebuilding

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:38.859
 of the

00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.359
 people of

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:39.679
 God

00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:40.359
 into the

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:40.859
 people of

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.259
 repentance

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.899
 and faith

00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:42.659
 is where

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.179
 the real

00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:43.679
 restoration

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.600
 work needed

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:44.900
 to be

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.220
 done

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.560
 and it

00:18:46.560 --> 00:18:46.980
 started

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.600
 with him.

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.640
 The second

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.140
 part of

00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:51.660
 Nehemiah's

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.259
 prayer is an

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:52.980
 appeal to

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.440
 God's

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.220
 steadfast

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.740
 love.

00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:56.380
 It's again

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:56.840
 an appeal

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.340
 to God's

00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:57.860
 character.

00:18:59.360 --> 00:18:59.759
 This is

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.200
 where we

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.460
 see he

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:01.840
 is a

00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.500
 man of

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.019
 faith

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.680
 and of

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:05.299
 faith in

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:05.799
 the promises

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.380
 of God.

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:07.600
 If you

00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:08.039
 cast your

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.420
 eye down

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.880
 to verses

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.440
 8 to

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:09.880
 10,

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:10.940
 Nehemiah

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.580
 quotes the

00:19:11.580 --> 00:19:12.200
 promises of

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.019
 God that

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.380
 God had

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:13.780
 made to

00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:14.420
 Moses in

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.060
 Deuteronomy.

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.340
 Deuteronomy

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.920
 30 describes

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.580
 exactly the

00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.260
 situation

00:19:20.260 --> 00:19:20.960
 Nehemiah and

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.440
 the people of

00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:21.940
 God are in

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.600
 right now.

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.420
 And it

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:23.820
 gives a

00:19:23.820 --> 00:19:24.520
 promise that

00:19:24.520 --> 00:19:25.040
 Nehemiah

00:19:25.040 --> 00:19:25.560
 remembers.

00:19:28.060 --> 00:19:28.440
 And here

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.000
 it is.

00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.180
 Deuteronomy

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.760
 chapter 30

00:19:30.760 --> 00:19:31.400
 verse 2.

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.380
 When you and

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:32.880
 your children

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.620
 return to the

00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:33.980
 Lord your

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.540
 God and

00:19:34.540 --> 00:19:35.140
 obey him

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:35.620
 with all

00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:35.980
 of your

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.920
 heart and

00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.440
 with all

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.740
 of your

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.240
 soul,

00:19:38.520 --> 00:19:39.160
 according to

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.960
 everything that

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.540
 I've commanded

00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:41.140
 you today,

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.260
 then the

00:19:42.260 --> 00:19:42.640
 Lord your

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.220
 God will

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.200
 restore your

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.160
 fortunes and

00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:45.940
 have compassion

00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:47.040
 on you and

00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:48.460
 gather you from

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.800
 all the nations

00:19:49.800 --> 00:19:50.560
 from where you

00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:51.060
 are scattered.

00:19:53.040 --> 00:19:53.580
 And Nehemiah

00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.800
 knows that

00:19:54.800 --> 00:19:55.360
 they're right at

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:55.880
 that point of

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.340
 history that

00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:57.080
 Deuteronomy 30

00:19:57.080 --> 00:19:57.880
 is talking about.

00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.680
 And his

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.820
 prayer to

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:02.140
 God is

00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:03.000
 reminding God

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:03.320
 of his

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:03.840
 promise.

00:20:06.840 --> 00:20:07.759
 He has

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.960
 faith that

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.440
 when God

00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.140
 promises

00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:10.740
 something,

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.500
 he will

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:11.900
 do it.

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.259
 That's

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:12.400
 his

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:12.860
 confidence.

00:20:14.540 --> 00:20:14.920
 It is

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.200
 this

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.560
 knowledge

00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:15.780
 and

00:20:15.780 --> 00:20:16.460
 confidence

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.440
 that God

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.180
 is awesome

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.900
 and powerful

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.560
 and faithful

00:20:19.560 --> 00:20:19.940
 to his

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.400
 promises that

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.120
 sees

00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:23.160
 Nehemiah

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.960
 make

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.660
 faithful,

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.140
 wise,

00:20:27.780 --> 00:20:28.160
 gutsy

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.020
 decisions for

00:20:29.020 --> 00:20:29.400
 the glory

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:29.840
 of God.

00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:31.800
 His

00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:32.800
 confidence is

00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:33.160
 not in

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.220
 himself as

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.620
 the cup

00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.000
 bearer to

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.420
 the king.

00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:37.759
 his

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.400
 confidence is

00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:38.779
 not even

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.160
 in King

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.900
 Artaxerxes,

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:40.860
 the most

00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.519
 powerful man

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:41.720
 in the

00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.019
 planet.

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.600
 Look at

00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:45.000
 the end of

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.519
 chapter 1

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.000
 and how he

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.039
 expresses this

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.759
 relationship.

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.240
 Give your

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.140
 servant success

00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.400
 today by

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:52.240
 granting him

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.160
 favour in

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:53.800
 the presence

00:20:53.800 --> 00:20:54.500
 of this

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.039
 man.

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.420
 I was

00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.080
 cup bearer

00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:57.360
 to the

00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:57.660
 king.

00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.680
 He might

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.080
 have had

00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:01.120
 unprecedented

00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.259
 influence in

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.860
 the presence

00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:03.320
 of the most

00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:04.560
 powerful man

00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.319
 on the

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.839
 planet.

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.460
 But compared

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:08.960
 to the

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.759
 almighty God

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.399
 of Israel,

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.379
 he is

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.059
 nothing more

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.399
 than a

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:12.960
 drinks boy

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.299
 for the

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.579
 king.

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:15.879
 And

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.539
 compared to

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:16.940
 the mighty

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.519
 God,

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.119
 Artaxerxes,

00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.799
 the most

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.659
 powerful man

00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:23.919
 on the

00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:24.279
 planet,

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.200
 is simply

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.639
 this man.

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.319
 Nothing

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:28.679
 more.

00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:32.599
 Nehemiah's

00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.539
 confidence is

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.240
 in his

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.720
 God.

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.279
 You see it

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:36.720
 again in

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.139
 chapter 2

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:37.680
 verse 4,

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.359
 when the

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.319
 king actually

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.299
 asked Nehemiah

00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:40.680
 what he

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.200
 wants,

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:41.920
 what did

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.599
 Nehemiah

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:42.960
 do in

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.480
 that moment?

00:21:46.159 --> 00:21:46.639
 He

00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:47.099
 prayed.

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.259
 He'd been

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.920
 doing it for

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.440
 months, but

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:50.779
 in that

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.079
 moment, he

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.519
 says, then I

00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:53.099
 prayed to the

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.480
 God of

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.839
 heaven.

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:55.980
 And when

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.339
 the king

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.920
 grants him

00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.599
 his request

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.079
 at the end

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.700
 of chapter 2

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.379
 verse 8,

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.039
 we see his

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.599
 faith and

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.220
 confidence within

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.559
 God.

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:02.860
 He says,

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.059
 because the

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.920
 gracious hand

00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.480
 of God

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.180
 was upon

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.519
 me, the

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.299
 king granted

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.279
 my requests.

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.960
 And when

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.600
 he finally

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.259
 tells the

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.720
 leaders in

00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.299
 Jerusalem,

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.079
 after a

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.440
 little trip

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:15.940
 around the

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.640
 wall in

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.460
 verse 18

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.180
 of chapter 2,

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.000
 that it was

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.579
 time to

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.319
 rebuild these

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:21.779
 walls, he

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.380
 reveals that

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.000
 his first

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.600
 confidence is

00:22:24.600 --> 00:22:26.559
 in God and

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.220
 not the

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.019
 official letter

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.640
 which is in

00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.240
 his pocket

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.779
 from the

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.339
 most powerful

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:30.759
 man in

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.179
 the world.

00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:33.839
 He had

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.539
 the same

00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.139
 letter in

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:35.799
 his pocket

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:36.500
 when the

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.599
 three stooges,

00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.639
 Sambalat,

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.319
 Tobiah and

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.939
 Jeshim, mocked

00:22:40.939 --> 00:22:41.220
 them and

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.139
 accused them of

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:42.939
 rebelling a

00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:43.659
 king against

00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.599
 King Artaxerxes.

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.559
 All he

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.039
 needed to do

00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.639
 was whip out

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.139
 the letter and

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.720
 say, hang on

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.480
 a bit, his

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.159
 name's at the

00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:49.659
 bottom of this

00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.179
 letter saying

00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:51.159
 we're on his

00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.759
 business.

00:22:54.199 --> 00:22:54.759
 But in

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.220
 chapter 2

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:55.859
 verse 20, he

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.319
 says the God

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.859
 of heaven will

00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:57.220
 give us

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.759
 success.

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:01.039
 His confidence

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.240
 is that when

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.099
 God says he

00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.679
 will do

00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:04.500
 something as

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.000
 he did in

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.500
 Deuteronomy

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.319
 chapter 30,

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.000
 then he will

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.279
 never abandon

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.019
 his promises.

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.740
 God is

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.319
 faithful to

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:12.859
 his covenant

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.039
 commitment to

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.659
 love his

00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:15.059
 people.

00:23:17.699 --> 00:23:18.459
 I can see

00:23:18.459 --> 00:23:20.019
 that Nehemiah

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.879
 was a man of

00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.419
 faith in the

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:22.079
 promises of

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:22.439
 God.

00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:24.179
 I cannot see

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:26.379
 anywhere in

00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.439
 this book

00:23:27.439 --> 00:23:28.819
 where he got a

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.000
 specific word

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.700
 from God

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:32.079
 to get up

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.200
 and to go

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.720
 and rebuild

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.279
 those walls

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.960
 in Jerusalem.

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.439
 He was

00:23:37.439 --> 00:23:38.059
 simply,

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.279
 faithfully

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.059
 acting on

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.720
 what God

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.399
 had promised

00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:42.119
 in his

00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:42.599
 word

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.779
 centuries

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.200
 before.

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.059
 And that

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.839
 is how the

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.240
 walls of

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.960
 Jerusalem got

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.359
 built.

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:51.559
 And that

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.139
 is how God

00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:52.619
 builds his

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:52.980
 people.

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.579
 By acting

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.939
 upon the

00:23:56.939 --> 00:23:57.599
 promises of

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:57.879
 God.

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.339
 in his

00:23:59.339 --> 00:23:59.639
 word.

00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:03.480
 2 Corinthians

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.720
 1 says

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.099
 that no

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:05.480
 matter how

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.099
 many promises

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.599
 of God

00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.480
 there are,

00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:09.259
 they are

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.019
 all yes

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.319
 in the

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.859
 Lord Jesus.

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.240
 They're all

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.980
 fulfilled and

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.619
 completed in

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:14.919
 the Lord

00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:15.279
 Jesus.

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.039
 In Jesus,

00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:18.740
 we are

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.259
 under a

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.980
 new covenant

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:21.359
 and God's

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:22.159
 purposes no

00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.960
 longer center

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.619
 around the

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.519
 physical city

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.299
 of Jerusalem

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.079
 and the

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.599
 nation of

00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.159
 Israel.

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.580
 to get

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:28.900
 to the

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.500
 presence of

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:29.820
 God,

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.200
 we don't

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.759
 need to

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.560
 make a

00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:31.980
 pilgrimage

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.640
 to a

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.220
 temple in

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.560
 Jerusalem

00:24:34.560 --> 00:24:35.160
 somewhere.

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:36.680
 In fact,

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.320
 Jesus said

00:24:37.320 --> 00:24:37.600
 of that

00:24:37.600 --> 00:24:38.100
 temple in

00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:38.580
 Jerusalem,

00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:39.480
 tear it

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.720
 down and

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.100
 in three

00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.620
 days I'm

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:41.779
 going to

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.440
 rebuild it.

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.200
 Through

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.779
 his death

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.540
 and resurrection,

00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.700
 we now have

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.560
 direct access

00:24:48.560 --> 00:24:49.120
 to God

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.340
 through the

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:51.019
 Lord Jesus

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.119
 by the

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.660
 Spirit.

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.579
 He promises

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:56.759
 us the

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.879
 right standing

00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:59.000
 before God

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.799
 and the

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.379
 intimacy

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:01.220
 before God

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.319
 that Nehemiah

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.259
 actually longed

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.839
 for here.

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.119
 Hear the

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.599
 promise of

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.019
 God in the

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.639
 Bible from

00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.339
 1 John

00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:09.519
 1 9.

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.839
 And when

00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:11.639
 Jesus says

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.180
 it, when

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.500
 the Bible

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.119
 says it,

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:13.579
 when God

00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.119
 says it,

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.680
 it's true

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:17.440
 and he'll

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.000
 fulfill it.

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.319
 And he

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.880
 says if we

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.599
 confess our

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:22.000
 sins, he,

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.859
 Jesus, is

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.660
 faithful and

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.920
 just and he

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.779
 will forgive us

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.420
 our sins and

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.799
 purify us

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:31.180
 from all

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.779
 unrighteousness.

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.619
 That's a

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:35.980
 promise.

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.079
 What Nehemiah

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:40.119
 longed for,

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:42.180
 we get in

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.539
 Jesus.

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.779
 He promises

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.619
 to forgive us

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.099
 and make us

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.720
 right before

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.140
 God.

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.000
 And what's

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.020
 more, Jesus

00:25:49.020 --> 00:25:49.860
 doesn't promise

00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.700
 those who

00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.380
 confess their

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:51.700
 sin and

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.720
 trust him a

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.460
 land carved

00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.880
 out in

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.400
 Palestine

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.040
 somewhere.

00:25:56.300 --> 00:25:56.740
 Jesus

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.600
 promises us

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.440
 a new and

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.100
 perfect and

00:25:59.100 --> 00:25:59.940
 eternal heavenly

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.900
 home where

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.500
 there will be

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:03.000
 no need for

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.940
 walls and

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:05.680
 gates because

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.240
 there will

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.180
 never be a

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:09.120
 threat that

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.080
 can challenge

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:10.680
 what he is

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.540
 eternally built

00:26:11.540 --> 00:26:11.900
 for his

00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.280
 people.

00:26:14.780 --> 00:26:15.780
 And until

00:26:15.780 --> 00:26:16.580
 that great and

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.419
 final day

00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:18.519
 when we see

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.119
 him face

00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:19.740
 to face,

00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:21.599
 God promises

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.460
 to give his

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.039
 people a

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.419
 foretaste of

00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.119
 our great

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:28.039
 future in

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.439
 the Lord

00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:29.539
 Jesus that

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.139
 he has built

00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:30.619
 for us for

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:30.980
 all of

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:33.659
 eternity by

00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:34.619
 building together

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.759
 up and out

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.379
 his people,

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.119
 the church,

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.699
 on the person

00:26:38.699 --> 00:26:39.159
 of the Lord

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.059
 Jesus Christ

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.079
 and his

00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:41.559
 gospel.

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.980
 That is

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:46.919
 Jesus' promise

00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:47.779
 to us in

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.839
 Matthew 16

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:50.240
 in response

00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:51.000
 to Simon

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.919
 Peter's

00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:52.539
 declaration

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.119
 that Jesus

00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.559
 was the

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.079
 Christ,

00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:55.179
 the son of

00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:55.440
 the living

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:55.919
 God.

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.279
 He says,

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.859
 blessed are

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.180
 you,

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.359
 Simon son

00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.819
 of Jonah,

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.420
 for this

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.819
 was not

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.299
 revealed to

00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:01.619
 you by

00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.059
 man,

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.480
 but my

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.079
 father in

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.379
 heaven,

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.279
 and on

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.960
 this rock

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.379
 I will

00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:06.940
 build my

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.399
 church,

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.139
 and the

00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.619
 gates of

00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.000
 Hades

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.519
 will not

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.019
 overcome

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.319
 it.

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.099
 Jesus

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.839
 promises

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:14.379
 in person

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:16.200
 to build

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.460
 his church,

00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.859
 and it

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:19.899
 will triumph

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:21.000
 over all

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.940
 forms of

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.619
 evil,

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.200
 and death,

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:26.160
 and wickedness,

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.680
 and governments,

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.000
 and the

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.340
 media,

00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:32.240
 and everything

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.559
 that will

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:32.759
 want to

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.460
 prevail against

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.180
 the church,

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:38.340
 cannot stop

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.740
 the building

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.200
 of God's

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.600
 people.

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.279
 That's the

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.720
 promise of

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:42.960
 God.

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.519
 He will

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.100
 build his

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:48.340
 church as

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:48.840
 the truth

00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.660
 about him,

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.740
 as ridiculed

00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.500
 and mocked

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.740
 it is,

00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.420
 is declared

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.380
 and received

00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.880
 as people

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.640
 respond to

00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.180
 Jesus in

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.519
 repentance

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.200
 and faith.

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.460
 That's what

00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:04.759
 happened to

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.180
 me 20

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.759
 years ago.

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.240
 He promised

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.920
 not just to

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.619
 leave us on

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.119
 our own

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.900
 sinful ways

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.420
 as well,

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.319
 but to

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.000
 increasingly

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.079
 transform us

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.700
 into his

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.900
 likeness as

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.700
 his spirit

00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.319
 works through

00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.900
 his word

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.720
 to bring

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.099
 about

00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:20.720
 obedience.

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:20.980
 obedience.

00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.299
 So my

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.920
 brothers and

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.500
 sisters,

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.000
 love the

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.600
 Lord Jesus

00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:28.900
 and love

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.839
 his church

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:31.420
 by giving

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.240
 yourself to

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.740
 the building

00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.500
 up of his

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.519
 people here

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.640
 at St.

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.259
 Paul's.

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:40.180
 Know this,

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:41.720
 we will

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.100
 always be

00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.819
 flawed and

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.299
 imperfect.

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.519
 perfect.

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.019
 We will

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.940
 never meet

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.879
 all the

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.700
 expectations.

00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.220
 We will

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.079
 always fall

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.960
 short of

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.639
 expectations.

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.700
 I will

00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.240
 always fall

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.619
 short of

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:55.779
 your

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.500
 expectations.

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.539
 But that

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.159
 should drive

00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.579
 us to the

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.159
 Lord Jesus

00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:00.960
 in confession

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.139
 and to give

00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:02.799
 us hope for

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.319
 the future

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.379
 day when

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.019
 he calls

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.639
 us to our

00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.599
 perfect home

00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:07.579
 with all

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:07.940
 of his

00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.299
 church from

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.220
 every tribe

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.059
 and nation

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:12.119
 and language

00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.979
 and generation.

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.379
 We should

00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:16.699
 be looking

00:29:16.699 --> 00:29:17.159
 forward to

00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:17.679
 that perfect

00:29:17.679 --> 00:29:20.319
 day and

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:20.799
 the decisions

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.519
 we make

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.759
 driving us

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.279
 towards that

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.919
 perfect day.

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.639
 And so

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.539
 today,

00:29:28.979 --> 00:29:30.619
 I want us

00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.399
 to vote yes

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.139
 to proceeding

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.579
 with the

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.099
 redevelopment

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.299
 of our

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:33.879
 facilities.

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.559
 But more

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.379
 than anything,

00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:40.599
 I want us

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.459
 to say yes

00:29:41.459 --> 00:29:42.439
 to allow God

00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:43.000
 to do a

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.379
 radical

00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:44.099
 rebuilding

00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.259
 of our

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:45.939
 individual

00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:47.179
 and corporate

00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:48.240
 life as

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.079
 his people.

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.759
 Where

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.279
 repentance

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.219
 and faith

00:29:53.219 --> 00:29:55.719
 become the

00:29:55.719 --> 00:29:56.099
 norm.

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.039
 May his

00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.759
 vision for

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.699
 his church

00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:03.120
 be the

00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:03.519
 driving

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.340
 influence

00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:05.000
 in our

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.160
 vision for

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.920
 his church

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.420
 and our

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.900
 love for

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.539
 his church.

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.019
 Amen.