Seven Habits of Very Godly People

Series: Building for God - Nehemiah Date: June 28, 2015 Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. Topic: Building the Walls (& Gates) Speaker: Pastor Joe Ong 15And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, For the ice breaker this week, let’s revisit our ice breaker from two its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of (the Pool of Shelah of the weeks ago about your wall or fence. How did you decide with what material king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of to build your wall or fence? Were you looking at cost, aesthetics, security, Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the ease of construction, or something else? Did you build it yourself with some artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17After him the help, or did you hire a contractor? Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of Today in Nehemiah, we look at the actual construction of the wall half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18After him their brothers and gates around Jerusalem and the people who were involved. repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress.20After him Sing songs of worship from the Sunday service or choose your own. Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the I. The Text: Nehemiah 3:1-32 (ESV) house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22After him the 23 1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. After them Benjamin and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of 24 They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. After him Tower of Hananel. 2And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of 25 them Zaccur the son of Imri built. 3The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Azariah to the buttress and to the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4And opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And the king at the court of the guard. 26 next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh and the temple servants living repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5And next to on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the 27 them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve projecting tower. After him the Tekoites repaired another section 28 their Lord. opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. Above 6Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29 repaired the Gate of Yeshanah (Old GATE). They laid its beams and set After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7And next to them repaired Melatiah the After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, 30 Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired. After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8Next to them son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of 31 Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. After him Malchijah, one of one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of Broad Wall. 9Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the the merchants, opposite the Muster (Assembly) Gate, and to the upper 32 district of Jerusalem, repaired. 10Next to them Jedaiah the son of chamber of the corner. And between the upper chamber of the corner Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired. of Hashabneiah repaired. 11Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the Synopsis of the Passage” son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. The condition of the walls of Jerusalem REVEALED the condition of the 12Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of people. Nehemiah Ch. 3 is all about WORK. Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters. Gates are a critical part of the walls that are built. They are the entry 13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. & exit points for the city, and will most likely see enemy attacks come They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a through here. There were 10 gates to Jerusalem. They began rebuilding thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate. 14Malchijah the son the north walls beginning with the Sheep Gate and went counter- of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung clockwise. It is significant that God keeps a careful record of all those who serve How do you think gay marriage will affect the local church? Do you Him; this is seen in the listing of those who repaired the walls and gates. think it will go so far as to endanger our constitutional right to religious Men and women, artisans and laborers, princes and commoners, all freedom? Will it cause us to have to allow gays to get married in our labored side by side. There was only one case of disunity—the nobles of church, allow gay members and even church leaders? How will this affect Tekoa shirked their responsibility (v. 5). our ability to use our new multi-purpose building for the community to Some who finished their assigned task took on an additional portion of borrow or rent? Do we have to be careful of setting any precedence? the wall. God has given different work assignments to believers today. He has Of course all this is just speculation right now, but do you feel what we equipped us with various gifts and abilities appropriate to our calling, and are steadily walking away from Biblical teaching as a church in general, He knows who is not really involved and who is doing double duty. and as a nation? We will look at the significant meaning of some of the gates below In this gay marriage issue, how can we strike a balance between protecting the truth of God’s Word in recognizing marriage being between a II. Discussion: man and a woman and expressing Christian love to all who are lost A. Builders of the SHEEP GATE (v.1-2) including the gay and lesbian? WWJD: “What would Jesus do?” 1. Worship is an important part of rebuilding the walls and gates. Sheep was brought in through this gate to be sacrificed to God. D. Builders of the Muster/Assembly (Inspection) Gate (v.31-32) Worship comes out of sacrifice to the God. What do you think about The Muster Gate represented gathering everyone together to participate the statement, “Worship requires sacrifice?” What should we in the work of God. For us, it means that our entire church should play a sacrifice to God today in lieu of sheep and bulls? Why can’t we part in the renovation and expansion work of our church. This is not just the worship God without sacrificing something? pastor, but everyone has something to offer. Rebuilding our church begins at 2. John 10:7-10 tells us that Jesus is the gate and sacrificed His life that home including spiritual change and improvement. Although the work of we might be saved. What are we willing to lay down, to sacrifice to God is voluntary, it is not about “equal giving”, but “equal sacrifice”. God? Are we willing to give our very life for Him? Just as God recorded that some nobles did not stoop to serve God, how do you think He would feel if some people did not participate in the B. Builders of the FISH GATE (v.3-5) rebuilding of our church, or worse left the church? Although God did not 1. The Fish Gate was where they sold the fish the fishermen caught. As record individual names, He recorded inaction and not-participation. Even Christians today, we are told that we are “fishers of men” as we if we personally may not have much money to give, what are some things introduce them to Jesus as our Savior. Are we consistently can we do to participate in our Building Expansion Project? proclaiming the Gospel to others? Who are we “fishing” for today? 2. It was also interesting that we are told here of the nobles who would not stoop to serve the Lord. Why do you think they didn’t participate  Pray and ask God what sacrifice He wants you to make for Him, to be in the building of the wall? Were they lazy, too proud to get their used of Him to build His kingdom. Ask Him how He wants you to be an “hands dirty”? Are there any jobs that we think may be too menial influence for Him by stirring your heart for what He wants you to do for us to do like cleaning toilets, washing cars? with your life. 3. On the other hand, if you are a willing servant, do you take notice of  Also ask God to show you how He wants to use you as a “fisher of men those who are not willing to help? Is there any tinge of resentment and women” in your family, workplace, school or neighborhood. because they don’t help? Or do you just go about the work joyously  Pray: Continue to pray and ask God for wisdom for our church serving the Lord? leadership and the church in general to know how to respond to this gay marriage issue with Christian love and also living by the truth of Bible. C. Builders of the OLD GATE (v.6-12)  Pray for Our Building Expansion Project (BEP). Continue praying The Old Gate represented the gate of truth—the truth that never changes. for the Elders and Deacons, the BEP and the Stewardship Campaign Pastor Joe shared his concern about the Supreme Court’s declaration that Committee as well as our architect, Max Guenther and contractor Gary same-sex marriage is a legal right in all 50 states as he read a response from Cordery as we continue moving forward with our Building Expansion. our C&MA denomination. This is a very controversial matter and will have Pray that God will direct us and provide the financial support we need. all kinds of consequences to us and the church in general in the future.  Pray for our Missions Teams: Mongolia, 6/15-7/6. Kristie Fukuzono, Andrew Arakawa & Reagan Ong. Sacramento, 7/30-8/10. Kathy Uyehara, Mel Tanoue, Catherine Bronnert, Gloria Chapman, Stan & Noah Lau, Zoe Ong, Linda Shores & Liz Siangco. Myanmar, 7/22-8/4. Milton Araki, Chad, Ronni, Shai, Christian & Sam Araki.

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