WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, if I haven't already said so to you.

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 For some scheduling reasons, I needed to fill a one week gap in our preaching schedule.

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! And so, I would like to speak with you about a topic that has been on my mind on repeat lately.

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 Ambition.

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 Is it okay to be ambitious, to desire to achieve?

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 The Puritan Thomas Brooks once called ambition, quote, a gilded misery, a secret poison, end quote.

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 Scripture often agrees, warning against selfish ambition that breeds conceit and disorder and vile practices.

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 Philippians 2.3, James chapter 3.

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 However, the Apostle Paul states that he was himself ambitious.

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 In Romans chapter 15, verse 20, he declares,

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 I make it my ambition to preach the gospel.

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 So, where's the balance?

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 If ungodly ambition is characterized by conceit, disorder, and vile practices, what characterizes godly ambition?

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 I want to do my best to answer that question by considering Nehemiah's godly ambition.

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 So, will you join me at the beginning of the book of Nehemiah?

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 And turn there with me in your Bible, and I'll pray for our time together.

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 Father, we ask this morning as we take up your word and think about this idea of ambition,

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 that we would rightly think about what godly ambition is.

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 That you'd help us to learn from your word without error.

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 We would rightly apply what it says to us in our lives.

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 That we would honor the Lord Christ in our time together.

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 We pray this in his name.

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 Amen.

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 I find we, myself included, are often far too ignorant of the books of the Old Testament.

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 I once heard a pastor tell the following story.

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 Quote,

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 A preacher made the mistake of showing two boys the text he would be preaching from that Sunday, the previous Saturday afternoon.

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 When he turned his back, the boys glued some of the pages of his Bible together.

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 So, on Sunday, when he stood to read, he read,

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 And Noah, when he was 120 years old, took unto himself a wife, who was, then turning the page,

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 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, built of gopher wood and pitch within and without.

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 Puzzled, he paused, read it again, and then looked up at his congregation and said,

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 I have read the Bible through many, many times, but this is the first time I have ever read this.

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 Yet I believe the Bible to be true from cover to cover, so I accept it as truth that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

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 Perhaps we ought to be a bit more familiar with the text than this.

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 So, as we peel apart the pages of Nehemiah, let me give you some brief background that will be necessary for our study this morning.

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 The book of Nehemiah takes place near the end of the Old Testament story.

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 It's not ordered that way in our modern Bibles, but that's where it takes place chronologically.

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 More than a century earlier, the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temples, tore down the walls, and carried the people of Judah into exile.

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 By Nehemiah's day, the Near East power had shifted to the Persians.

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 There are some Israelites still in the land.

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 Some have returned.

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 The temple had been rebuilt.

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 We read about that in the book of Ezra.

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 But the city still lay exposed.

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 Its walls still broken down.

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 Its gates were burned.

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 And God's people who were in the land lived in shame and reproach.

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 Around 445 BC, Nehemiah was serving as cupbearer to Artaxerxes, the king of Persia.

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 When he heard about Jerusalem's condition, he wept, fasted, prayed, and acted.

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 Nehemiah ambitiously sought to remedy a problem.

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 We will note in just a moment why this news was so troubling to him as we consider the first and most important characteristic of godly ambition.

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 And I have five for you this morning from the story of Nehemiah.

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 Now, first and most important foundational godly ambition seeks God's glory.

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 Look at chapter 1, beginning in verse 1.

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 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hakala, something like that.

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 Now, it happened in the month of Chislev in the 20th year, as I was in Susa, the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah.

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 And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.

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 And they said to me, the remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame.

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 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.

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 As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days.

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 And I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

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 And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.

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 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel, your servants.

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 Confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you.

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 Even I and my father's house have sinned.

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 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

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 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, if you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.

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 But if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the earth,

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 from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen to make my name dwell there.

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 Now I'm going to pause for a second at the end of verse 9.

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 He says at the beginning of verse 8, remember to God.

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 Of course God remembers, but God is very pleased when we pray to him, his promises.

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 So what he prays is an amalgamation, but a clear place you can find it is in Leviticus chapter 26.

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 I'll begin reading in 38 and then following.

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 There God says, and you shall perish among the nations and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.

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 And those of you who are left shall rot away in your enemies lands because of their iniquity and also because of the iniquities of their fathers.

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 They shall rot away like them.

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 But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery and they that they committed against me and also in walking contrary to me,

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 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies, if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity,

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 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham.

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 And I will remember the land.

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 So Nehemiah is biblically informed, right here.

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 He's praying back to God a promise that God had made.

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 And then first 10 back in Nehemiah chapter one.

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 They are your servants and your people whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

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 Oh, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name.

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 And give success to your servant today and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.

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 Referring to the king, Artaxerxes.

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 Now I was cup bearer to the king.

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 Why is Nehemiah distressed by this news that he hears?

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 Because the people who are in the land and those who have returned to the land, God's people, the remnant there in the province.

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 Are not doing well.

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 They're in great trouble and shame.

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 Jerusalem is in shambles and cannot provide protection for dwelling and commerce.

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 And therefore, in Nehemiah's correct estimation, God's glory was being profaned.

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 Now, before you think for a moment that the aim of our time is to convince you to build something, let me be clear.

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 That is not what I'm hoping to accomplish this morning.

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 I will not roll out blueprints at the end of our time together.

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 Under the old covenant, the glory of God was directly tied to the well-being of his people.

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 Come and see, cries the old covenant.

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 Go and tell, cries the new.

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 However, ambitious people build things.

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 Families, businesses, communities, cultures, and yes, churches, which do meet in buildings.

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 Godly ambition does so for the glory of God.

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 This is the great concern of Nehemiah, the heartbreak.

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 Not just that his fellow Israelites are not doing well, but that God's glory is being profaned.

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 Godly ambition seeks to make little of self, to forget self, and to make much of God.

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 Notice the foundation of Nehemiah's concern, right?

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 He knows his Bible, and he knows the promises that God has made.

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 Promises that he seems to not be keeping.

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 Nehemiah prays with confidence because he knows that God is a promise-keeping God who is zealous for his glory.

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 Even as he grieves the condition, he goes to God in prayer because he knows that God cares about his glory.

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 This is the most foundational characteristic of godly ambition.

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 Nothing else I will say this morning matters if we don't get this one right.

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 If our ambitions don't aim at God's glory, they are misguided and they are trivial.

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 Often, our ambitions mirror the world's aimed at success, security, significance.

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 But scripture calls us to aim higher.

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 2 Corinthians 5, verse 9.

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 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please God.

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 As C.S. Lewis once said in your bulletin quote,

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 Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in.

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 Aim at earth and you will get neither.

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 Ungodly ambition is not too big.

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 It is too small.

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 As concerns ambition, we can err in two ways.

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 First, which has been mentioned, ambition can be self-serving and not seek God's glory.

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 It can be about our glory.

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 But also, secondly, it could just be altogether lacking.

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 No ambition whatsoever.

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 However, I think apathy is the opposite of ambition.

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 No concern.

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 May we not be apathetic on the one hand or have selfish ambition on the other,

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 but be energized to see God magnified in everything that we do.

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 Godly ambition, firstly and most importantly, seeks God's glory.

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 Secondly, godly ambition thinks and asks big.

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 Thinks and asks big.

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 I am saying to you that we ought to be ambitious

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 and that that ambition ought to be aimed at God's glory

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 and therefore it ought to think and ask big.

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 Now look with me at the beginning of chapter two of Nehemiah.

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 Here we see recorded in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes.

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 When wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king.

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 Now I had not been sad in his presence.

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 And the king said to me, why is your face sad?

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 Seeing you are not sick.

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 This is nothing but sadness of the heart.

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 Then I was very much afraid.

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 It's not supposed to appear sad for the king.

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 He seems to have made every effort not to appear sad before the king.

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 His own record is that he had not been sad in his presence

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 and the king sees through it.

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 And he was afraid for the way his countenance was before the king.

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 Verse three, I said to the king, let the king live forever.

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 Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of my father's graves,

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 lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?

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 Then the king said to me, what are you requesting?

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 So I prayed to the God of heaven.

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 And I said to the king, if it pleases the king

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 and if your servant has found favor in your sight,

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 that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves,

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 that I may rebuild it.

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 And the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him,

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 how long will you be gone and when will you return?

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 So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.

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 And I said to the king, if it pleases the king,

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 let letters be given to me,

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 to the governors of the province beyond the river,

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 that they let me pass through until I come to Judah.

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 And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest,

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 that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple

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 and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall occupy.

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 And the king granted me what I asked,

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 for the good hand of God was upon me.

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 I believe that we are meant to note the date in verse 1,

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 as we were also told the date in chapter 1 and verse 1.

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 Chislev or Kislev to Nisan.

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 About four months have passed from the time that Nehemiah received the news

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 of Jerusalem's state until we see this encounter in chapter 2.

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 Four months have gone by since in verse 4 of chapter 1.

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 He says,

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 As soon as I heard these words,

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 I sat down and wept and mourned for days.

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 Four months worth of days.

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 And I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

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 The conclusion I believe we ought to draw

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 is that Nehemiah has been troubled all this time.

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 He has been in mourning and fasting with prayer.

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 The prayer of chapter 1 is an example prayer of the prayers that he prayed.

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 It was the substance of what he was praying across this time.

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 And I think that during this time,

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 he has considered a remedy to the problem.

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 He is troubled by this.

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 How might this trouble be solved?

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 The confidence of Nehemiah's prayers expresses confidence

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 in a God who can accomplish whatever he desires.

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 But Nehemiah's actions evidence that he knows

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 that God doesn't despise the means used to accomplish his will.

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 Nehemiah thinks big.

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 I'm imagining here, but in this time frame,

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 I think he's going,

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 maybe I should go lead the rebuilding of the wall.

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 The rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem was a massive task.

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 The wall was 1.7 miles in circumference.

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 It was 6 1⁄2 to 12 feet thick,

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 depending on the place of it,

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 and an estimated 20 to 25 feet high.

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 This is a huge, huge project.

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 There is no natural reason for Nehemiah to think

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 that he would be the instrument of God's choosing

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 to rebuild Jerusalem's walls.

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 He's not a builder of walls.

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 That's not what the chapter tells us at all.

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 That's not what he was trained to do.

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 He's a cupbearer.

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 He's been living in captivity.

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 He's the servant to King Artaxerxes.

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 He selects wine,

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 and he drinks from the king's cup before the king

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 to ensure his wine hadn't been poisoned.

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 This is the role that he played.

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 He is trusted as the cupbearer.

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 Often throughout history,

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 cupbearers gave counsel to the king

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 because they were always around,

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 because they were giving their life,

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 perhaps for the sake of his.

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 Sometimes the question would be asked,

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 what should I do in such and such circumstance?

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 So he is there.

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 He is trusted.

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 He is in a position to speak to the king,

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 but he is just a cupbearer, a servant.

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 Why does it enter his mind

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 that he could have this kind of ambition

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 to go back,

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 to ask that God would restore the wall,

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 and I'm saying perhaps use him to accomplish it?

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 It's because of his confidence in this God, right,

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 who upholds his own glory,

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 and we cannot know exactly what's going on

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 in the mind of Nehemiah, right?

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 Again, I think it's imagination here,

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 but I do think it's reasonable to think

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 that he, being troubled by the news,

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 being persistent in prayer,

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 is convinced in that process

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 that given the opportunity

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 that he should act.

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:33.819
 I believe that he asks big things of God,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.720
 and then, when the time is right,

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:38.839
 big things of the king.

00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:44.240
 He asks massive things of this king.

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.980
 The king says to him in verse two,

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:47.400
 why is your face sad,

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.619
 seeing you are not sick?

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:50.220
 This is nothing but sadness of the heart.

00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:52.779
 Then I was very much afraid.

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.700
 I mentioned already,

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:57.620
 this was not okay to be in front of the king forlorn.

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.680
 So what does he do?

00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.960
 He responds,

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:05.200
 the city is destroyed.

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:08.080
 Why should I not be sad?

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:08.880
 And the king asks him,

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.920
 what are you requesting?

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.180
 And notice what he does in verse four,

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:13.740
 so I prayed to the God of heaven.

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.620
 I just imagine as he goes,

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.480
 Lord, help me.

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:18.600
 I'm about to open my mouth,

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:21.000
 and I'm going to ask for something big of this king,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:24.740
 a thing that the king could have lopped his head off for.

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.119
 If it pleases the king,

00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:27.880
 verse five,

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:30.700
 if your servant has found favor in your sight,

00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:32.259
 let me go.

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:36.299
 Let me go rebuild the wall.

00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.900
 And not only does he request to be freed

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.819
 from his duty to the king,

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:42.220
 but also for an armed guard

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.380
 and a blank check

00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:46.680
 to gain the resources that he needs for the project.

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:50.859
 It is a huge ask.

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.119
 That's ambitious.

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.160
 Charles Spurgeon once said,

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:59.400
 this is the quote on the children's bulletin section

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.059
 of your bulletin.

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.480
 A little drawing that's there.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.539
 He once said,

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:05.900
 prayer pulls the rope below

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:10.000
 and the great bell rings above in the ears of God.

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.859
 Some scarcely stir the bell

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:14.900
 for they pray so languidly.

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:17.940
 Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope.

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:20.039
 But he who wins heaven

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.180
 is the man who grasps the rope boldly

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.519
 and pulls continuously

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:26.080
 with all his might.

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:32.640
 Do we think and ask big?

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:36.440
 Are we ambitious for the glory of God

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:40.380
 in all the areas of our life?

00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:44.760
 Let's not just ask that God would save our children.

00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.880
 I hope we do.

00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:49.280
 But that he would save them

00:21:49.280 --> 00:21:50.960
 and that he would shape them

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:53.400
 into mighty citizens of the kingdom of heaven

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.580
 for his glory.

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:58.599
 Let's not just ask that God would bless

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.579
 the work of our hands,

00:21:59.659 --> 00:22:02.240
 but that he would bless abundantly our labors

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:06.619
 that we should spend and be spent for his glory.

00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:10.959
 Let's not just ask that God would give our church influence

00:22:10.959 --> 00:22:12.579
 in our homes and in our neighborhoods,

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.579
 but that he would give us

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:17.099
 a little feeble group of people

00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.399
 that he would use us

00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:20.559
 to have a measurable influence

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.599
 for generations

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:25.500
 and to the very ends of the earth.

00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:28.799
 Let's be ambitious for his glory.

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:32.639
 Think and ask big.

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.920
 Godly ambition seeks God's glory.

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:38.080
 Godly ambition thinks and asks big.

00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.860
 And thirdly,

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:42.500
 godly ambition plans diligently.

00:22:43.020 --> 00:22:46.240
 Notice verses 11 through 16 of chapter two.

00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:50.380
 So I went up to Jerusalem

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:52.500
 and was there three days.

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.480
 Then I arose in the night

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.680
 and a few men with me

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:57.180
 and I told no one like God

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.740
 to put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.

00:22:59.280 --> 00:23:00.680
 There was no animal with me

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.000
 but the one on which I rode.

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.680
 I went out by night

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.680
 by the valley gate

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.860
 to the dragon spring

00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.700
 and to the dung gate

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:08.340
 and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem

00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:09.340
 that were broken down

00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:10.080
 and its gates

00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:11.580
 that had been destroyed by fire.

00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:13.720
 Then I went on to the fountain gate

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.620
 and to the king's pool

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.520
 but there was no room

00:23:15.520 --> 00:23:16.100
 for the animal

00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:17.460
 that was under me to pass.

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.280
 Then I went up in the night

00:23:19.280 --> 00:23:20.020
 by the valley

00:23:20.020 --> 00:23:21.000
 and inspected the wall

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.759
 and I turned back

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.980
 and entered by the valley gate

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.980
 and so returned.

00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.160
 And the officials did not know

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.900
 where I had gone

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.780
 or what I was doing

00:23:27.780 --> 00:23:29.360
 and I had not yet told the Jews,

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.860
 the priests,

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.300
 the nobles,

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:30.860
 the officials,

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.699
 and the rest

00:23:31.699 --> 00:23:34.240
 who were to do the work.

00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:36.279
 Notice the repetition

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:38.599
 in verses 12 and 13 and 15.

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.119
 Then I arose in the night.

00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:41.719
 I went out by night.

00:23:42.219 --> 00:23:45.019
 Then I went up in the night.

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.000
 I take this to mean

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.399
 that the three days

00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:49.759
 mentioned in verse 11

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.379
 was the time it took

00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:53.619
 for him to inspect the wall.

00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:56.399
 It would not take three nights

00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:58.339
 to travel 1.7 miles

00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.439
 around the circumference

00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:00.859
 of the dilapidated wall.

00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:02.519
 So what is he doing?

00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:05.159
 I believe he is making

00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:07.479
 diligent plans.

00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:09.739
 He's looking at each section.

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.839
 He's plotting out

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.979
 a course of action.

00:24:14.139 --> 00:24:15.159
 Now let me say again,

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.639
 God who created the world

00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:18.799
 ex nihilo from nothing

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:23.119
 does not despise means.

00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.940
 He uses his people

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:27.079
 to accomplish his purposes.

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:30.480
 So once we have ascertained a path,

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:34.759
 godly ambition plans diligently.

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.599
 Sees a destination

00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.440
 and makes a plan

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:39.639
 to reach that destination.

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:42.000
 I have found

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.960
 that I accomplished

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.579
 nothing meaningful

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:47.000
 without planning to do so.

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.859
 I never bumble my way

00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:51.240
 through the right thing.

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.720
 We do well not to ask,

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.740
 what do I feel like doing?

00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.259
 But rather,

00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:01.220
 what am I supposed to do?

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.039
 We will not be able

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.440
 to answer that question

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:06.240
 without a plan.

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:08.400
 Whatever the ambition may be,

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.599
 how will you accomplish

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:12.400
 that godly ambition?

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.420
 What is the path

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.920
 to get there?

00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:15.980
 Men,

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:17.660
 I know that right now

00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.920
 you feel like you're surviving

00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.120
 with littles in your home.

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.880
 Those days are coming

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.640
 to a completion

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.720
 sooner

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:25.420
 than you think.

00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:27.240
 What is the plan

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.519
 to raise up your children

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.319
 in the fear

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:29.940
 and instruction

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.460
 of the Lord?

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:33.460
 I never do well

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.380
 when I'm bumbling

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.299
 my way through it.

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.480
 Plan,

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.039
 follow through.

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.940
 How do you intend

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.519
 to accomplish

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.120
 the goals at your job?

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.299
 Witnessing to your neighbors.

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.359
 Any of these things

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:48.839
 require diligent planning.

00:25:50.659 --> 00:25:51.319
 So godly ambition

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.319
 seeks God's glory,

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.059
 thinks and asks big,

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.779
 plans diligently.

00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:57.700
 Fourthly,

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.919
 godly ambition

00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:01.839
 works hard.

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.839
 Nehemiah chapter 2,

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.899
 verse 17 and 18.

00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:09.880
 Then I said to them,

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:11.759
 following his inspection

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.840
 and his diligent planning,

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.920
 you see the trouble

00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.420
 we are in,

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.540
 how Jerusalem lies

00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.000
 in ruins

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.040
 with its gates burned?

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.140
 Come,

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.500
 let us build

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.420
 the wall of Jerusalem

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:23.019
 that we may no longer

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.700
 suffer derision.

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:26.600
 And I told them

00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.600
 of the hand of my God

00:26:27.600 --> 00:26:28.400
 that had been upon me

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.080
 for good

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:30.720
 and also of the words

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.340
 that the king

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:32.279
 had spoken to me.

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.920
 And they said,

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:35.559
 let us rise up

00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.600
 and build.

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.539
 So they strengthened

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.600
 their hands

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:41.799
 for the good work.

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.660
 Now,

00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.980
 I don't know exactly

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:45.440
 what that phrase means.

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.920
 There may be somebody

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.819
 who knows their Hebrew

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:49.420
 better than I do.

00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.100
 It doesn't seem to me

00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:52.120
 like they go to work up

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.819
 some calluses

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.600
 on their hands,

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.139
 but they're making a decision.

00:26:55.399 --> 00:26:55.939
 They're strengthening

00:26:55.939 --> 00:26:56.619
 their hands.

00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:57.559
 They're getting ready.

00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:59.480
 There's a big work

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.679
 ahead of us.

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.059
 We will be ready

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.000
 for that work

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.339
 to be accomplished.

00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.980
 And then Nehemiah chapter 3,

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.919
 which is a summary

00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:08.779
 of the builders

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:10.539
 and their accomplishments.

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.699
 You get this list

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.679
 of all of these

00:27:12.679 --> 00:27:13.279
 different people,

00:27:13.719 --> 00:27:14.740
 a bunch of different names

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.719
 that are very difficult

00:27:15.719 --> 00:27:16.240
 to pronounce.

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.439
 I'm just going to read

00:27:17.439 --> 00:27:18.799
 a few of them for you.

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.639
 Here's what they accomplished.

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.480
 Here's the work

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.719
 that they set themselves

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.120
 to beginning

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:25.200
 in verse 15

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.039
 of chapter 3.

00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.460
 And Shalom,

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:29.319
 the son of Kol Hosei,

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.799
 ruler of the district

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.759
 of Mizpah,

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.299
 repaired the fountain gate.

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.579
 He rebuilt it

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.259
 and covered it

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.319
 and set its doors,

00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.059
 its bolts,

00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:37.839
 and its bars.

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.539
 And he built the wall

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.759
 of the pool of Shalah,

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.839
 of the king's garden,

00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:43.819
 as far as the stairs

00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.519
 that go down

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.579
 from the city of David.

00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.240
 After him,

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:47.900
 Nehemiah,

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.120
 the son of Azbuk,

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.880
 ruler of half the district

00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.780
 of Beth-zur,

00:27:52.260 --> 00:27:53.160
 repaired to a point

00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.620
 opposite the tombs of David,

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:56.780
 as far as the artificial pool

00:27:56.780 --> 00:27:58.440
 and as far as the house

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.920
 of the mighty men.

00:28:00.020 --> 00:28:00.660
 And it goes on

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.480
 and it goes on

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.280
 for the entirety

00:28:02.280 --> 00:28:03.360
 of the chapter.

00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:07.360
 This is many hands

00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:09.120
 at hard work,

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:12.740
 resetting massive stones

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.080
 and beams.

00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.040
 You have heard it said,

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:18.000
 many hands make light work.

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.539
 We like to adapt

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.500
 that saying to say,

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:22.099
 many hands make

00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:24.579
 ambitious work possible.

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:27.460
 We would do well

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.740
 not to underestimate

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.880
 the difficulty

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:31.460
 of this task

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.980
 that they set themselves to.

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.900
 These men, though,

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:37.700
 had godly ambition.

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.880
 They saw God's favor

00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:41.359
 on Nehemiah.

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:41.720
 They said,

00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:42.839
 surely the Lord

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:44.160
 is with us

00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.119
 in this work

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.500
 and so we will

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:49.000
 work hard.

00:28:49.699 --> 00:28:50.619
 We're going to wait around

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.159
 for the stones

00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:52.500
 to levitate themselves

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.939
 and the wall to appear.

00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:56.659
 They went to work.

00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:58.559
 They were seeking

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.799
 God's glory,

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.879
 thought of a task

00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:04.299
 worth accomplishing,

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:04.699
 right?

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.619
 So they strengthened

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.339
 their hands

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:08.439
 for the good work.

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.759
 They had Nehemiah's plans

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.919
 and his oversight

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:13.160
 and they took up

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:14.380
 their part

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.820
 of the work.

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:17.180
 Not one man

00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:18.340
 built the entire wall.

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.480
 They shared

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.539
 in this large task.

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.340
 In total,

00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:25.400
 it only took them

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:27.259
 52 days

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.160
 to rebuild

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:29.500
 the wall.

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.320
 What a work

00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:32.940
 that was.

00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:35.640
 What might be accomplished

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.640
 if you

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.539
 strengthened

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.779
 your hands

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.820
 for a good

00:29:39.820 --> 00:29:40.980
 work?

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.660
 what might you

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.140
 see

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.099
 get done?

00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.860
 What might

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.380
 we

00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:47.120
 be able

00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.960
 to build?

00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.579
 Godly ambition

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:53.400
 seeks God's glory,

00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.500
 thinks and asks

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.860
 big,

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.819
 plans diligently,

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.259
 works

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.700
 hard,

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.079
 and lastly,

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:02.019
 expects

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.539
 opposition.

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.160
 Expects

00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:06.019
 opposition.

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.160
 There's a common

00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:08.660
 sentiment

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.700
 in today's church

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.539
 that seems

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.380
 averse

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:13.059
 to opposition.

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.299
 It seems

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:14.819
 to be framed

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.799
 up theologically

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.600
 like God

00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:17.460
 couldn't possibly

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.360
 ask us to do

00:30:18.360 --> 00:30:19.380
 anything hard.

00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:21.039
 If we encounter

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.960
 some difficulty,

00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:22.660
 perhaps we have

00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.779
 strayed from God's

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.140
 will,

00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:26.200
 goes the thinking.

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:28.080
 Just because

00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:28.960
 something is difficult

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.180
 doesn't make it right.

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.900
 But I can attest

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.680
 that everything

00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.519
 good that I've

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.240
 ever seen

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.799
 accomplished

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.660
 was accomplished

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:37.819
 with difficulty.

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:39.039
 there were

00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:39.759
 oppositions.

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.200
 There were

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.819
 things that

00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.619
 could have

00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:42.539
 shut the

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.220
 whole work

00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.359
 down if

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.379
 people weren't

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:45.939
 willing to

00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:46.919
 push through.

00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:48.899
 Beloved,

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.639
 you sit in a

00:30:49.639 --> 00:30:50.460
 congregation this

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.960
 morning that

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.179
 would not

00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:53.240
 exist

00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.639
 if countless

00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:55.019
 people,

00:30:55.419 --> 00:30:56.200
 including you,

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:58.079
 didn't work

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:59.019
 hard in the

00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.299
 face of

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.779
 opposition.

00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:03.339
 Nehemiah

00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:04.659
 faced opposition.

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:07.380
 They expected

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:07.920
 it and they

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.560
 put themselves

00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:09.279
 to the work

00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:11.240
 all the

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.519
 same.

00:31:12.540 --> 00:31:12.779
 This

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.360
 opposition is

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:13.880
 introduced to

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:14.480
 us in chapter

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.040
 two.

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:17.720
 The weight

00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.240
 of this

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.220
 opposition

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.560
 verses nine

00:31:20.560 --> 00:31:21.019
 and ten.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:22.759
 He says,

00:31:22.840 --> 00:31:23.620
 then I came

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:23.880
 to the

00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:24.460
 governors of

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:24.920
 the province

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.400
 beyond the

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:25.820
 river and

00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.300
 gave them

00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:26.740
 the king's

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.060
 letters.

00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:27.740
 Now the

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.060
 king had

00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:28.660
 sent with

00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:29.380
 me officers

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:29.759
 of the

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.540
 army and

00:31:30.540 --> 00:31:31.140
 horsemen.

00:31:32.340 --> 00:31:33.960
 But when

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.620
 Sambalot,

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.299
 the Horonite,

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.240
 and Tobiah,

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.259
 the Ammonite

00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.880
 servant,

00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.819
 heard this.

00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.079
 And these

00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:39.319
 guys,

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.420
 Sambalot and

00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.039
 Tobiah are

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.819
 trouble and

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.500
 trouble and

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.819
 trouble.

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.500
 It displeased

00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.259
 them greatly

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.900
 that someone

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.900
 had come to

00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.539
 seek the

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.340
 welfare of

00:31:48.340 --> 00:31:48.860
 the people

00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:50.120
 of Israel.

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:52.079
 A Horonite

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.039
 and an Ammonite

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.519
 that were

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.279
 profiting off

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:54.840
 the land

00:31:54.840 --> 00:31:55.819
 were troubled

00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.340
 that someone

00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:57.039
 came to

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.400
 seek the

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.059
 welfare of

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.500
 the people

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.240
 to whom

00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.980
 the land

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.840
 belonged.

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.779
 After the

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.279
 plan is

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.720
 made,

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.460
 and the

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.140
 decision to

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:05.759
 rebuild has

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.880
 been established.

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:07.519
 They've

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:07.940
 strengthened

00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.519
 their hands

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.480
 for the

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.019
 good work.

00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:10.880
 Verse 19

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:11.660
 tells us,

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.559
 but when

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.140
 Sambalot,

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.740
 the Horonite,

00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.440
 and Tobiah,

00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.240
 the Ammonite,

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.920
 servant,

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.000
 and Geshem,

00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:17.579
 the Arab,

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.259
 heard of it,

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.559
 they jeered

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.440
 at us and

00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.620
 despised us

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.340
 and said,

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.240
 what is this

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.799
 thing that you

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.259
 were doing?

00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:24.720
 Are you

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.279
 rebelling

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.120
 against the

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:26.500
 king?

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:27.940
 Then I

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.400
 replied to

00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:28.640
 them,

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.039
 the God

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.480
 of heaven

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:29.900
 will make

00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.600
 us prosper

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:31.160
 and we,

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.759
 his servants,

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.559
 will arise

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.440
 and build,

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.259
 but you

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.000
 have no

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.059
 portion or

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.839
 right or

00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:38.399
 claim in

00:32:38.399 --> 00:32:38.839
 Jerusalem.

00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:39.519
 Right?

00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:40.919
 Bold,

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.159
 bold words.

00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:43.720
 Then chapter

00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.339
 three gives us

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.059
 the record of

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.899
 work going

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.399
 on,

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:46.919
 that this

00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:48.059
 large task

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.779
 being accomplished,

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:49.899
 but chapter

00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:51.159
 four tells us

00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:51.960
 more about

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:53.240
 the opposition.

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:53.819
 I'm going to

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.819
 read it to

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.480
 you in

00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:57.319
 large part.

00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.220
 Verse one,

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.420
 now when

00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:00.220
 Sambalot heard

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:00.740
 that we were

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.400
 building the

00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:01.740
 wall,

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.720
 he was angry

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.620
 and greatly

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.500
 enraged and

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.120
 he jeered at

00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:06.380
 the Jews and

00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:06.900
 he said in the

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.480
 presence of his

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.299
 brothers and of

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.160
 the army of

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.740
 Samaria,

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.100
 what are these

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:11.860
 feeble Jews

00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.400
 doing?

00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:13.220
 Will they

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.259
 restore it for

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.740
 themselves?

00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.240
 Will they

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:15.839
 sacrifice?

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:16.799
 Will they

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.500
 finish up in a

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:17.860
 day?

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:18.440
 Will they

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.180
 revive the

00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:19.720
 stones out of

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.220
 the heaps of

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.100
 rubbish and

00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:22.400
 burned ones at

00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:22.900
 that?

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.259
 Tobiah the

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.779
 Ammonite was

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.440
 beside him and

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.039
 he said,

00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:26.860
 yes,

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.700
 what they are

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.140
 building?

00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.080
 If a fox

00:33:29.080 --> 00:33:29.620
 goes up on

00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:29.740
 out,

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.000
 he will

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.640
 break down

00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.519
 their stone

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.480
 wall.

00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:33.940
 And then in

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.940
 response here,

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:35.640
 oh,

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.380
 our God,

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.039
 for we are

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.019
 despised,

00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:39.180
 turn back

00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:40.299
 their taunt on

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.740
 their own

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.319
 heads and

00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:42.120
 give them up

00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:42.840
 to be plundered

00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:43.500
 in a land

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.160
 where they

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.860
 are captives.

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:47.340
 Do not cover

00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:47.960
 their guilt and

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.500
 let not their

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.160
 sin be blotted

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:49.819
 out from your

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.420
 sight for they

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.039
 have provoked

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.700
 you to anger

00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.380
 in the presence

00:33:52.380 --> 00:33:53.900
 of the builders.

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.660
 Verse six,

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.440
 so we built

00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.000
 the wall and

00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.100
 all the wall

00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:00.539
 was joined

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.140
 together to

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.000
 half its height

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.740
 for the people

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:04.019
 had a mind

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:05.200
 to work.

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:05.680
 I love that

00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.120
 phrase.

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.320
 But when

00:34:07.320 --> 00:34:07.940
 Sambalat and

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.579
 Tobiah and

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.300
 the Arabs and

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.960
 the Ammonites

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:10.599
 and the

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.800
 Ashdodites heard

00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:12.579
 that the repairing

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.300
 of the walls of

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.039
 Jerusalem was going

00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.820
 forward and that

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.460
 the breaches were

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.980
 beginning to be

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.480
 closed,

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.579
 they were very

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.920
 angry and they

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.360
 all plotted

00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.139
 together to come

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.800
 and fight against

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.460
 Jerusalem and to

00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.280
 cause confusion

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:22.820
 in it.

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:24.160
 And we prayed

00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:24.900
 to our God

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.039
 and set a guard

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.620
 as a protection

00:34:26.620 --> 00:34:27.260
 against them

00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:28.019
 day and night.

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.120
 In Judah,

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.840
 it was said,

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.559
 the strength of

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.220
 those who bear

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:31.820
 the burdens

00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:32.600
 is failing.

00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:33.760
 There is too

00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.400
 much rubble.

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.660
 By ourselves,

00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.460
 we will not be

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.220
 able to rebuild

00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:37.740
 the wall.

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.019
 And our enemy

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.440
 said,

00:34:39.640 --> 00:34:40.320
 they will not

00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:41.260
 know or see

00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:41.740
 till we come

00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.340
 among them

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.080
 and kill them

00:34:43.080 --> 00:34:43.900
 and stop the

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.220
 work.

00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:45.900
 At that time,

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.460
 the Jews who

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.220
 lived near them

00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:48.080
 came from all

00:34:48.080 --> 00:34:48.780
 directions and

00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.720
 said to us,

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.780
 ten times,

00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.680
 you must return

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.239
 to us.

00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:53.819
 So in the

00:34:53.819 --> 00:34:54.659
 lowest parts of

00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:55.259
 the space behind

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.719
 the wall,

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.899
 in open places,

00:34:57.399 --> 00:34:58.079
 I stationed the

00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.639
 people by their

00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.339
 clans with their

00:34:59.339 --> 00:34:59.899
 swords, their

00:34:59.899 --> 00:35:00.599
 spears, and their

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.039
 bows.

00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:02.299
 Remember the

00:35:02.299 --> 00:35:02.779
 Lord who is

00:35:02.779 --> 00:35:03.819
 great and awesome

00:35:03.819 --> 00:35:04.739
 and fight for

00:35:04.739 --> 00:35:05.279
 your brothers,

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.000
 your sons,

00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:06.679
 your daughters,

00:35:06.839 --> 00:35:07.500
 your wives,

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.619
 and your homes.

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.159
 When our enemies

00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:10.899
 heard that it was

00:35:10.899 --> 00:35:12.099
 known to us and

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.719
 that God had

00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.440
 frustrated their

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.299
 plan, we all

00:35:14.299 --> 00:35:15.000
 returned to the

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:16.339
 wall, each to

00:35:16.339 --> 00:35:16.859
 his work.

00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:18.279
 From that day

00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.099
 on, half of my

00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:19.899
 servants worked on

00:35:19.899 --> 00:35:20.719
 construction and

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.659
 half held the

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.659
 spears, shields,

00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:23.440
 bows, and

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.159
 coats of mail.

00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:25.279
 And the leaders

00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:26.119
 stood behind the

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.779
 whole house of

00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.319
 Judah who were

00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:28.079
 building on the

00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.379
 wall.

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.679
 Those who carried

00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:30.319
 burdens were

00:35:30.319 --> 00:35:31.259
 loaded in such a

00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:32.000
 way that each

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:33.179
 labored on work

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.159
 with one hand and

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.079
 held his weapon

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:36.199
 with the other.

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.480
 And each of the

00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.219
 builders had his

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.159
 sword strapped at

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.980
 his side while he

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.299
 built.

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.399
 The man who

00:35:41.399 --> 00:35:42.179
 sounded the trumpet

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:43.039
 was beside me,

00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:43.699
 and I said to the

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:44.159
 nobles, the

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:44.739
 officials, and the

00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:45.079
 rest of the

00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:46.139
 people, the work

00:35:46.139 --> 00:35:47.039
 is great and

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.079
 widely spread, and

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.799
 we are separated

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.819
 on the wall far

00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.480
 from one another.

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.519
 In the place

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.019
 where you hear

00:35:52.019 --> 00:35:52.440
 the sound of

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.199
 the trumpet, rally

00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.159
 to us there, our

00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:55.619
 God will fight for

00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.019
 us.

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:57.719
 So we labored at

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.659
 the work, and

00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:59.260
 half of them held

00:35:59.260 --> 00:35:59.880
 spears from the

00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.619
 break of dawn till

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.519
 the stars came out.

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.900
 I also said to the

00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:03.400
 people at that

00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.599
 time, let every

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.360
 man and his

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.280
 servant pass the

00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:06.780
 night within

00:36:06.780 --> 00:36:07.860
 Jerusalem, that

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:08.460
 they may be a

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.380
 guard for us by

00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.219
 night and may

00:36:10.219 --> 00:36:11.360
 labor by day.

00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.900
 So neither I,

00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.539
 nor my brothers,

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.320
 nor my servants,

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.059
 nor the men of the

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.699
 guard who followed

00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:16.460
 me, none of us

00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:17.079
 took off our

00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:18.199
 clothes, each kept

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:19.880
 his weapon at his

00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:21.320
 right hand.

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.059
 Godly ambition

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:26.280
 expects opposition

00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:28.200
 and, we will do

00:36:28.200 --> 00:36:29.260
 well to see,

00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:31.480
 responds appropriately

00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:33.500
 and presses on.

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:36.280
 They didn't stop the

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.340
 work, but for a

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:37.960
 moment.

00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:38.920
 They heard an

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:39.680
 attack was coming,

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.860
 they all got ready

00:36:40.860 --> 00:36:41.880
 for the attack, and

00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.680
 the text tells us,

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.539
 and they returned

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.860
 to work.

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.739
 They expected it, and

00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:49.639
 they just pressed on.

00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.480
 So be ambitious.

00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:56.759
 Don't be apathetic, but

00:36:56.759 --> 00:36:59.500
 have godly ambitions.

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.539
 Pray that God would

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:03.000
 work in your godly

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:04.119
 ambitions for your

00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.420
 home, your work, your

00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.139
 community, your

00:37:06.139 --> 00:37:08.679
 culture, and for our

00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.019
 church.

00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:10.800
 I hope that you will

00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:12.279
 find yourself reflecting

00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:13.260
 on lessons from

00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:15.000
 Nehemiah's godly

00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.720
 ambition.

00:37:16.620 --> 00:37:17.360
 Godly ambition

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:18.820
 seeks God's glory,

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.340
 thinks and asks big,

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:22.220
 plans diligently,

00:37:22.540 --> 00:37:23.940
 works hard, and

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:24.620
 expects

00:37:24.620 --> 00:37:26.220
 opposition.

00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:29.859
 I will close with the

00:37:29.859 --> 00:37:31.079
 doxology from this

00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:32.659
 morning's call to

00:37:32.659 --> 00:37:33.039
 worship.

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.699
 This is from

00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:34.739
 Ephesians 3, verse

00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:36.059
 20 and 21.

00:37:37.339 --> 00:37:38.059
 Now to him who is

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:39.659
 able to do far more

00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:41.279
 abundantly than all

00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:42.839
 that we ask or think,

00:37:43.439 --> 00:37:44.639
 according to the power

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:47.199
 at work within us, to

00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:48.039
 him be glory in the

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:49.339
 church and in Christ

00:37:49.339 --> 00:37:50.679
 Jesus throughout all

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:52.899
 generations forever and

00:37:52.899 --> 00:37:53.219
 ever.

00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:54.579
 Amen.

00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:56.259
 Let's pray together.

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:56.259