Heavenly Citizenship: A Call to Spiritual Vigilance

• Revival and the State of the Church [00:00:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces Nehemiah as a story of revival, noting that the church (symbolized by Jerusalem) was in a bad state and needed God's intervention.
• Heavenly Citizenship vs. Earthly Identity [00:10:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts American identity with heavenly citizenship, citing Philippians 3:20 to argue that believers are pilgrims whose ultimate allegiance is to heaven, not earth.
• The Priority of Spiritual Welfare [00:12:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that born-again believers should be more interested in the state of the church than in the economy, sports, or personal desires, using Nehemiah's reaction to Jerusalem's ruin as the model.
• Church Welfare vs. Personal Interest [00:12:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the believer's priority for the church's state against personal interests like economy, sports, or financial gain, citing Nehemiah's reaction as the model.
• Evangelical Decline [00:15:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor cites a 2025 R.C. Sproul/Ligonier survey to demonstrate that many self-identified evangelicals hold unbiblical views on human nature, salvation, and worship, indicating a spiritual crisis.
• Nehemiah's Response to Crisis [00:13:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor analyzes Nehemiah's reaction to the church's poor state, highlighting his weeping, fasting, and humility as the correct response to spiritual decay.
• Corporate Confession and Prayer [00:20:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains Nehemiah's prayer strategy: addressing God as covenant-keeping, confessing the sins of the nation/church even if not personally guilty, and pleading God's promises from Deuteronomy.
• Desire to Fear God [00:26:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor concludes by defining the mark of true revival as a deep desire to fear, honor, and glorify God, contrasting it with a lack of worship experience.
• Desire to Fear God [00:26:57 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that 'fearing God' is not about terror but a deep desire to honor, glorify, and delight in His praises, linking this longing to the evidence of being born again.
• Heavenly Citizenship [00:27:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Ephesians 2:6, the pastor argues that born-again believers have a 'placeholder' in heaven and should feel a 'gravity upwards' toward it, rather than being attached to earthly comforts.
• Nehemiah's Burden and Faith [00:31:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses Nehemiah's visible sorrow before the King as an analogy for how Christians should be burdened for the things of the Lord, highlighting Nehemiah's quick prayer and faith in God's provision.
• Satanic Opposition [00:36:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor connects the anger of Sanballat and Tobiah to modern Jew-hatred and spiritual opposition, asserting that Satan hates the truth and the people of God because Christ is the only way of salvation.
• State of the Church [00:39:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor critiques the modern church as being '3,000 miles wide and half an inch deep,' urging believers to survey the damage and seek revival rather than compromising with cultural trends.
• Church Revival and State [00:39:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor critiques the shallow state of the American church ('3,000 miles wide and half an inch deep') and calls for a deep, inward revival similar to Nehemiah's survey of Jerusalem's walls.
• Self-Examination [00:39:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Charles Spurgeon's analogy of the soul as a fortress, the pastor urges believers to inspect their 'tower of prayer,' 'castle of communion,' and 'wall of love' to ensure their faith is genuine.
• The Necessity of Being Born Again [00:42:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 30:6) equates to being born again, which is the exclusive requirement for entering the kingdom and participating in God's work, citing Nicodemus as an example of religious pedigree without regeneration.
• Identity as Living Stones [00:48:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that born-again believers do not just build the church physically but become the spiritual house (1 Peter 2), serving as living stones and priests who offer themselves as sacrifices.
• Priesthood and Sacrifice [00:50:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines the believer's dual role as both the priest offering the sacrifice and the sacrifice itself, citing Romans 12:1-2.
• Presentation of the Body [00:50:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor quotes the imperative to present one's body as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice.

• Sermon Illustration [00:08:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains the historical context of Nehemiah being a Jew in Persia (modern-day Iran), serving as the king's cupbearer, a trusted but captive position, to illustrate a believer's status as an alien/pilgrim in the world.
• Sermon Illustration [00:13:59 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a rhetorical contrast between Nehemiah's deep grief over Jerusalem's ruin and typical modern self-centered desires (wanting a new job, house, or money) to highlight the proper spiritual heart posture.
• Sermon Illustration [00:13:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the biblical narrative of Nehemiah hearing that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down. Nehemiah did not ignore it or focus on his own comfort; instead, he went 'off the deep end of sadness,' wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed before God because the church (people of God) was in shambles.
• Sermon Illustration [00:15:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor presents data from a 2025 survey by R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries regarding evangelical Christians in America. Key findings included: 53% believe man is good by nature, 64% believe people are born innocent before God, 47% believe God accepts worship of all religions, 94% believe God loves all people in the same way, and 54% agree Christians should not let religious beliefs influence political decisions.
• Sermon Illustration [00:29:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor humorously imagines staying on stage for six to eight hours after the main pastor, only to be told by Pastor Joseph that he is 'nuts' because in heaven there is no sleep, only constant worship.
• Sermon Illustration [00:30:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the historical context of Nehemiah appearing before King Artaxerxes, noting the Persian rule that one could not appear sad before the king or risk death, and speculates on the presence of Queen Esther.
• Sermon Illustration [00:37:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the 'rock band and donuts and coffee' approach of modern culture with the hard truth of the Gospel, illustrating why Satan opposes preaching repentance and hell.
• Sermon Illustration [00:39:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses Charles Spurgeon's extended metaphor of the soul as a fortified city, asking congregants to inspect specific spiritual structures: the tower of prayer, castle of communion, gate of humiliation, gate of holy zeal, and the wall of love.
• Sermon Illustration [00:46:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee with the 'right genealogy' in Judaism, with the necessity of being born again to enter the Kingdom of God, illustrating that religious status alone is insufficient without regeneration.
• Sermon Illustration [00:44:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the historical context of Ezra and Nehemiah, where non-Jews with close ties wanted to help build the temple but were rejected due to lack of proper genealogy, drawing a parallel to the modern church's need for true believers rather than nominal Christians.

• Pastoral Charge [00:22:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > Pray for the local church (Cornerstone) and the global church.
• Pastoral Charge [00:18:29 ▶️ 📄]
  > Schedule a meeting with the pastor for further theological clarification regarding God's love.
• Pastoral Charge [00:29:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > Self-examination of one's desire to fear God, grow in holiness, and worship Him.
• Pastoral Charge [00:30:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > Praying for God to instill a genuine desire to fear His name in those who may lack it.
• Pastoral Charge [00:41:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to frequently perform self-examination regarding their salvation status and to pray for God to search their hearts for wickedness.
• Pastoral Charge [00:44:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor calls the congregation to adopt a posture of great faith and trust in God's ability to answer their prayers for revival.
• Pastoral Charge [00:49:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor calls individuals to bow the knee to Jesus as an act of submission and acceptance of His free offer of salvation.
• Pastoral Charge [00:50:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > Present your bodies as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to the Lord.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:00:00] We'll begin today by looking at Nehemiah 1 and 2, because really, the book of Nehemiah is a story of revival.
[00:00:09] The church needs revival. In Nehemiah's day, the church needed revival, and the church was more or less symbolized by Jerusalem.
[00:00:20] And Jerusalem is in a bad state, and as we're going to see, God lays it on Nehemiah's heart to do something about it.
[00:00:27] So without further ado, let's read Nehemiah chapter 1 and 2.
[00:00:34] Well, don't get carried away.
[00:00:36] One only has 11 verses.
[00:00:38] Now, Nehemiah chapter 1 and 2, we're going to read and study together today, and I pray there'll be a blessing for each and every one of us.
[00:00:46] Our sermon comes from the text, which is really Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 11.
[00:00:53] Do you desire to fear the Lord?
[00:01:00] Let's read now Nehemiah chapters 1 and 2.
[00:01:28] of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach the wall of jerusalem also is broken down and the gates thereof are burned with fire it came to pass when i heard
[00:01:41] these words that i sat down and wept and mourned certain days and fasted and prayed before the god of heaven and i said i beseech thee oh lord god of heaven the great and terrible god that keepeth
[00:01:54] covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments. Let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant which I pray before thee now day and night for the children of Israel thy servants and confess the sins of the children
[00:02:13] of Israel which we have sinned against thee both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments which thou commandest thy servant Moses. Remember I beseech thee the word that thou commandest thy
[00:02:34] servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations. But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though they were of you cast out unto the
[00:02:46] uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and I will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom
[00:02:59] thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear
[00:03:16] thy name, and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant, this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man, for I was the king's cupbearer.
[00:03:30] Chapter 2, verse 1.
[00:03:32] And it came to pass in the month Nisan, that's about four months after chapter 1.
[00:03:41] And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been
[00:03:50] before time sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
[00:04:03] and said unto the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my father's sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire. Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of
[00:04:21] heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou would send me unto Judah, unto the city of my father's sepulchres, that I may
[00:04:31] build it. And the king said unto me, the queen also sitting by him, For how long shall thy journey be? And when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time. Moreover,
[00:04:44] I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governor beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come unto Judah. And a letter unto Asaph, the keeper
[00:04:56] of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertain to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into,
[00:05:07] and the king granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me.
[00:05:16] Then I came to the governors beyond the river and gave them the king's letters.
[00:05:20] Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
[00:05:24] When Sanballat, the Horonite, Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
[00:05:41] So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days, and I arose in the night.
[00:05:45] And I and some few men with me, neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, neither was there any beast with me save the beast that I rode upon.
[00:05:56] And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port and viewed the walls of jerusalem which were broken down and the gates thereof were consumed with fire then i went on the gate of the fountain and to the king's pool
[00:06:12] but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass then when i up in the night by the brook and viewed the wall and turned back and entered by the gate of the valley and so returned
[00:06:22] and the rulers knew not whether i went or what i did neither had i as yet told it to the jews nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
[00:06:34] Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
[00:06:42] Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
[00:06:48] Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me.
[00:06:56] And they said, Let us rise up and build.
[00:06:58] So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
[00:07:02] But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said, What is this thing that ye do?
[00:07:16] Will ye rebel against the king?
[00:07:19] Then answered I them and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us.
[00:07:25] Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build, but ye have no portion, nor rite, nor memorial in Jerusalem.
[00:07:37] Let's pray.
[00:07:38] Heavenly Father, thank you for your holy word.
[00:07:40] Help us now as we see your servant Nehemiah and his faithfulness, this word that is recorded by your spirit for us.
[00:07:48] May it be a great blessing and a challenge to us, your church, this very day to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem for your glory, honor, and praise.
[00:07:57] And we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
[00:08:00] The lesson here is just as much relevant today as it was some 450 years before Christ when this happened and when it was written.
[00:08:10] Because the situation is very similar.
[00:08:12] Notice Nehemiah is a Jew, but he's not in Israel.
[00:08:16] Where is he?
[00:08:17] He's in modern day what? Iran. Isn't that interesting? Because the Bible is not relevant today. He's in Iran. A Jew in Iran. Sounds kind of strange today, doesn't it?
[00:08:30] Well, the Babylonians, the Iraqis, had taken over Israel in 586 BC under Nebuchadnezzar. Then the Persians, the Iranians, took over the Iraqis, right? A little bit after.
[00:08:42] And so now there's Jews in the court of the king and in Persia.
[00:08:47] And this is what we find.
[00:08:48] This is after the story of Esther.
[00:08:51] Esther, the Jew who became queen in Persia.
[00:08:55] And so here is this Jew who is now essentially a slave or a servant.
[00:09:02] But he has a high place because he's at the right hand of the king in the sense of he's his cupbearer.
[00:09:08] A very trusted job he would take to make sure that he doesn't die from poison before the king does, you know.
[00:09:15] And so this is a trusted position, yet he is still a captive away from his homeland.
[00:09:21] And so his heart is where? In Iran?
[00:09:24] No, he didn't leave his heart in San Francisco, but in Jerusalem.
[00:09:27] Okay, and so here he is in the palace, and some brethren came from Israel, because everything now is under Persian control.
[00:09:38] And he wants to know, he's interested in the state of Jerusalem.
[00:09:44] Now the church, if you will, the people of God, in the Old Testament, Jerusalem is key to the people of God.
[00:09:51] The prosperity of Jerusalem, where the temple is supposed to be, where the worship is supposed to be centered, is identical to the prosperity of the people of God and the church, if you will.
[00:10:03] Today that's not the case, but that was certainly the case here.
[00:10:06] So this man of God who is a pilgrim, who is an alien.
[00:10:11] You see, we who are Americans, we've been so blessed in this nation, and our identity as Americans is important, but our ultimate identity, our citizenship, according to the Bible, is not first and foremost American, but heavenly.
[00:10:25] As a matter of fact, it says that.
[00:10:26] If you want to look in Philippians chapter 3, verse 20.
[00:10:31] Interesting passage, just one verse.
[00:10:33] It says this.
[00:10:34] for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the savior the lord jesus christ the greek word translated conversation is like politumia which is a word we get politics from our citizenship literally it says our citizenship is in heaven and so yes we thank god that we're
[00:10:55] americans but one day we won't be americans we'll just be christians in heaven forever you know So America's great, but we don't get to take America with us to heaven, okay?
[00:11:07] And so we're in the heavenly Mount Zion.
[00:11:09] So this man, yes, he seeks the welfare of his city, Shushan in Persia, but his allegiance is to Jerusalem.
[00:11:17] Our allegiance is to the Jerusalem above, to heaven itself.
[00:11:20] That's what it says in Colossians.
[00:11:22] We've talked about it in chapter 3.
[00:11:24] Also 2 Corinthians 5 talks about we're ambassadors for Christ.
[00:11:27] We're pilgrims.
[00:11:28] true believers true born-again believers recognize this is not our home when you die where you're going and as we just said earlier if we're going to put on the sign eternity is a long time to be
[00:11:44] wrong right where you're headed i know where i'm headed how about you not because of me because of christ and so this man his heart is in jerusalem because his heart is for the lord and that's where
[00:12:00] the Lord at that time had chosen to put his name there in Jerusalem where the temple has just recently been re-erected for the worship of God after there had been judgment in 586 BC and the
[00:12:14] temple was destroyed and so this should be our hearts too as Christians though we're here upon the earth we want to be good citizens we want to be faithful stewards of the citizenship we have
[00:12:23] we should vote in a righteous way and we should be the light of Christ in America and rejoice in the blessings we have here, but we have to recognize this is temporary and that if we're
[00:12:32] truly born again, our citizenship and our heart is in heaven. We should seek the welfare of the heavenly Zion. But guess what? That Zion, that true church, the true church of God is both in heaven
[00:12:43] and on earth. And so we should be interested in how the church is doing in the whole world.
[00:12:51] That's what the case is with Nehemiah. Every true born-again believer is going to be more interested in the state of the church than the state of the economy.
[00:13:00] More interested in the state of the church than your favorite football or baseball or basketball team or sports.
[00:13:06] More interested in the state of the church than in anything else.
[00:13:12] Because that's our citizenship.
[00:13:14] That's who we are.
[00:13:15] That's where we're headed.
[00:13:16] And if we're not interested in the welfare of the church, that's telling us that probably we're not part of it.
[00:13:25] Amen?
[00:13:26] I got one or two.
[00:13:28] All right, so back to Nehemiah. We find that Nehemiah is extremely interested in the welfare of the church. That's essentially what it is, the people of God, right? And so much so that when he
[00:13:44] hears the report of his brethren, which basically says the church is in shambles, what does Nehemiah do oh that's too bad well at least i'm doing good no no i mean he he he goes he goes off the deep
[00:13:59] end of sadness if you will notice you know almost to the point of despair when he hears this uh in chapter one uh verse four and it came to pass when i heard these words that i sat down and wept
[00:14:13] and mourned certain days and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
[00:14:20] What?
[00:14:21] Oh, Lord, I wish I could get that job.
[00:14:22] Oh, I wish I could get a new house or more money or oh, I just wish people would stop bothering me.
[00:14:28] No.
[00:14:28] What is he so brokenhearted about?
[00:14:30] What is he fasting for?
[00:14:32] I'm fasting for a breakthrough that I can have more money or get special healing in this particular area.
[00:14:38] All about the self.
[00:14:39] No.
[00:14:39] He's mourning.
[00:14:40] He's weeping.
[00:14:41] He's fasting because the church is in a bad way.
[00:14:47] When's the last time you've mourned, fasted, prayed, and wept because of the state of the church?
[00:14:54] Well, as far as I know, it's doing okay, Pastor Joseph.
[00:14:56] Don't we have money in the bank?
[00:14:58] What more do you want?
[00:14:59] Don't you get paid every time?
[00:15:01] Yeah, yeah.
[00:15:02] We got paid double last time.
[00:15:04] It was a mistake they got to fix.
[00:15:05] But that's got nothing to do with it.
[00:15:09] That's got nothing to do with it.
[00:15:13] How is the church, by the way, in America?
[00:15:15] How's it doing?
[00:15:17] People tell me there's lots of churches, even around here, that have thousands and thousands of people.
[00:15:24] Pastor Andy, I must be doing something mighty wrong, right, Pastor Andy?
[00:15:28] Some got 10,000, 20,000.
[00:15:31] We don't even have 100.
[00:15:33] Something must be wrong.
[00:15:35] There is something wrong.
[00:15:39] It's really interesting.
[00:15:41] I won't take too much time with this, but some of you are familiar with R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries.
[00:15:47] And they did a survey last year, 2025, among evangelical Christians in America.
[00:15:53] Now, who are evangelical Christians?
[00:15:55] Well, they were defined by the Bible.
[00:15:58] They would say the Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
[00:16:02] Also, they would say it's very important for me to personally encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
[00:16:08] Also, they would say, Jesus Christ's death on the cross is the only sacrifice that can remove the penalty of my sin.
[00:16:15] And also, they would say, only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God's free gift of eternal salvation.
[00:16:23] That sounds good to me. That's evangelical.
[00:16:25] Well, what do evangelicals say when they are asked certain questions?
[00:16:30] Now, the evangelical church, of which we, in a sense, are a sub-part, these should be the most conservative or the most biblical of Christians, supposed to be.
[00:16:42] But this is a small part of society. It's even a small part of the church.
[00:16:48] I don't know, in America today, evangelicals, what are they, maybe 30% of the church?
[00:16:54] You know, of what calls itself the church? And then that's even a much smaller percentage of society.
[00:17:00] And so this is supposed to be, right, the most conservative views of Christians, supposedly.
[00:17:05] Listen to what they said when asked these questions.
[00:17:08] One of the questions was, do you believe that man is good by nature, born good by nature?
[00:17:16] 53% of evangelicals said yes.
[00:17:21] The question was put another way.
[00:17:27] Do you believe that people are born completely innocent before God?
[00:17:33] 64% of evangelicals said yes.
[00:17:38] Again, they are wrong according to the Bible.
[00:17:44] Another statement, God, listen carefully, God accepts the worship of all religions, including Judaism and Islam.
[00:17:57] Would you believe that 47% of evangelicals said yes?
[00:18:04] 45% said no, and the rest weren't sure.
[00:18:11] Listen to this statement carefully.
[00:18:13] God loves all people in the same way.
[00:18:20] 94% of evangelicals said yes.
[00:18:23] That's not what the Bible says.
[00:18:26] God does not love everyone in the same way.
[00:18:29] If you don't understand that, come see me later.
[00:18:33] How about this?
[00:18:34] God created marriage for one man and one woman.
[00:18:41] Only 65% of evangelicals agreed.
[00:18:45] 35% apparently said, no, we don't agree.
[00:18:51] And then, how about this?
[00:18:57] Christians should not allow their religious beliefs to influence their political decisions.
[00:19:07] 54% of American evangelicals said they agree.
[00:19:14] Now that's supposed to be the best, most conservative, orthodox, righteous, Bible-believing sect of the church today.
[00:19:27] Does that encourage you?
[00:19:29] What do you think about the rest of what calls itself the church?
[00:19:33] Is it time for weeping?
[00:19:35] Humbling ourselves before the Lord?
[00:19:37] Praying? Fasting?
[00:19:39] Or do we just say, well, I don't believe that. I'm not worried about that. Let's move on.
[00:19:45] Nehemiah wasn't that way. He was tore up.
[00:19:48] He was tore up over it.
[00:19:50] And if it doesn't really bother us, why doesn't it bother us?
[00:19:54] It should.
[00:19:54] It should concern us.
[00:19:56] If we are a part of the church, it should concern us deeply.
[00:20:01] Notice the response again, verse 4.
[00:20:04] And it came to pass when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned certain days and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
[00:20:12] And what does he pray?
[00:20:13] here in verses 5-11, he first addresses God as a covenant-keeping God. Here's the first thing we need to remember.
[00:20:21] These signs in front of us, 2 Chronicles 7-14, if my people which are called by my name will humble themselves, why aren't we interested? Why doesn't it bother us?
[00:20:31] Because we're not humble. If we'll humble ourselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. We're not humble. Ah, it's not us.
[00:20:43] I believe the right way.
[00:20:44] Don't worry about them.
[00:20:45] It's okay.
[00:20:47] No, no.
[00:20:48] Nehemiah humbles himself.
[00:20:50] He's tore up.
[00:20:51] That's the first step in revival.
[00:20:53] Humble.
[00:20:54] He humbles.
[00:20:54] He fasts.
[00:20:55] He weeps.
[00:20:55] Did Nehemiah commit these sins?
[00:20:58] The best we know, he never committed any of these sins.
[00:21:01] Maybe, I mean, nobody's perfect.
[00:21:03] We have no evidence that Nehemiah ever committed any of these sins.
[00:21:06] And yet, he is tore up about the sin of the church.
[00:21:10] and as we'll see in his confession he confesses the sins of the whole nation and of his family and he even throws himself in there. Does he have a particular sin? Well he says first he addresses God as a covenant God and because he's going to base his prayer on God's
[00:21:29] word we should always come to God pleading his word back to him. But first of all if we don't care, why pray anyways? But if we have a heartfelt concern and we come before God, we come humbly and we come
[00:21:44] addressing Him as a God of mercy and a covenant keeping God. And that's exactly what Nehemiah does in verse 5. He said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, that great and terrible God that keepeth covenant
[00:21:56] and mercy for them that love Him and observe His commandments.
[00:22:00] And he asked that his ears might be opened, that he may hear the prayer, verse 6, of his servant, which I pray before thee day and night. For who? For the children of Israel, thy servants. I'm praying who? For the church. Yes, pray for Cornerstone, but pray for the
[00:22:17] whole church. I pray that you might, he says, for the Israel, thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel. What's he doing confessing the sins of Israel? They're not confessing him, so he figures he will.
[00:22:33] Have you ever confessed the sins of the church?
[00:22:36] Oh, I don't have any sins, Pastor Joseph.
[00:22:38] Well, you just sin.
[00:22:41] We should recognize that the church confessed the sins of our nation.
[00:22:45] Are there any sins in America taking place?
[00:22:48] Do you think that the sinners are confessing before God and asking mercy?
[00:22:52] No. Well, who will?
[00:22:53] We need to.
[00:22:54] And that's what he's doing here.
[00:22:56] He confesses the sins of the children of Israel.
[00:22:58] Both we have sinned against thee, both i and my father's house have sinned he includes himself verse 7 how have they sinned we have dealt very corruptly against you and have not kept thy commandments nor the statutes nor
[00:23:11] the judgments which thou commandest thy servant moses and then he reminds god of his promise he says in verse 8 remember i beseech you thee the word that thou commandest thy servant moses saying if you transgress i will scatter you abroad among the nations and that's happened here they
[00:23:28] are they're scattered abroad but then he reminds them of the second half right if you repent if you turn from your wicked ways then will i hear from heaven forgive your sin and heal your land
[00:23:37] that's second chronicle 714 but that's basically a repetition of what god told his people in deuteronomy chapter 30 and that's why nehemiah is referring back to moses if you want to turn there briefly for a moment see what he's talking about deuteronomy chapter 30 verses 1 through 5
[00:23:55] and it came to pass it shall come to pass when all these things are come upon thee israel and the blessing and the curse which i have set before thee and thou call them to mind among all the
[00:24:08] nations with of the lord thy god hath driven thee this was written 1400 years before christ nehemiah is in one of those nations 400 some years before christ a thousand years later the word of
[00:24:21] God has come true and he's saying look when you have sinned and when I have judged you and when you've been cast out to all these nations you're going to remember me notice he says all these
[00:24:33] things the law is going to come to mind among all the nations whether the Lord thy God has driven thee Deuteronomy 30 verse 2 and you shall return unto the Lord thy God and shall obey his voice
[00:24:45] according to all that I command thee this day thou and thy children with all thine heart and with all thy soul then that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon
[00:24:56] thee and will return and gather thee from all the nations whether the Lord thy God has scattered thee that's what it says there then will I hear from heaven forgive thy sin and heal their land
[00:25:05] if any of thine be driven out verse 4 of Deuteronomy 30 unto the uttermost parts of heaven from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee and from thence will he fetch thee and the Lord thy
[00:25:18] God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed and thou shalt possess it and he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy fathers and this is what Nehemiah is praying we need to know God's word we need to plead God's
[00:25:30] word and he's pleading God's word back to him the promise of God and so this is how Nehemiah is praying and it's rather amazing he's not only praying but as he prays he is fulfilling the prophecy of
[00:25:46] Deuteronomy 30. Because here's one of the Jews who's been scattered because of his sin in a far away nation who humbles himself and prays and turns with all of his heart back unto God and God's getting ready to send him back
[00:25:58] to bring revival to the land and fulfill his holy word.
[00:26:03] Now, continuing on in that prayer, verse 10. Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand.
[00:26:17] O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant.
[00:26:22] That's Nehemiah.
[00:26:23] Add to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day and grant him mercy at the sight of this man, the king, for I was the king's cupbearers.
[00:26:37] I know I'm not alone.
[00:26:39] There are some people who desire to fear your name who are also praying the same thing.
[00:26:44] hear their prayer too lord and that's why we titled this are you someone who desires to fear his name nobody will repent to be born again unless they have a strong desire and no one
[00:26:57] no one is going to be in prayer unless they have a strong desire but a desire to fear his name that sounds kind of i don't want to be afraid what do you mean desire to fear his name
[00:27:09] a desire to honor him to glorify him to delight in his praises these people have been bereft of that worship experience of being in the temple of god in jerusalem the temple was destroyed they've been removed their hearts are sick for the true worship homesick for the true worship
[00:27:30] and intimacy of of worship with god that's how we should all be if we've been born again because even though we haven't been there we've been there if you've been born again it says in
[00:27:39] ephesians chapter 2 verse 6 and he hath raised you up and made you sit in heavenly places in christ jesus you haven't been someplace say i feel like i've been here before but you've never
[00:27:48] been there that's heaven if you're born again you have a placeholder in heaven somehow or another you're you're a citizen of heaven there is a gravity upwards towards heaven if you don't feel that. If there's no desire, if there's no longing, if there's no interest, there's a problem. But if
[00:28:06] there is, praise God, you're one of those who Nehemiah joins in with. He doesn't know who they all are, but Lord, hear my prayer and please hear the prayer of those that desire to fear your name,
[00:28:22] desire to draw close to you, desire to honor you. And as they draw closer to you, they will more and more have a reverential fear for your name because of your holiness and because of your majesty and
[00:28:33] because of your power and because of your greatness and because of who you are as they see you more and more and more as they draw closer and closer to your throne they will desire more and more to
[00:28:43] fear your name hear their prayers because it'll be right because their heart is desirous to go to heaven not to get to the golden corral or home to cook or go see friends or go play a basketball
[00:28:55] game or this that other thing you say i just can't wait to get to church i just i don't want to leave wouldn't the god that i'll be like that pastor andy we just keep on preaching you start at 11
[00:29:07] or 10 45 i'll take over at 6 p.m how many of you think i'll stay they just keep on preaching praise god and then after i preach for another six or eight hours pastor andy gets a nap he'll get back
[00:29:22] up here. Praise the Lord. Pastor Joseph, you're nuts. Well, in heaven, we're not even going to sleep. Constantly worshiping and praising our triune God. I want to ask you this question before we move on. We're running out of time. Do you truly desire in your heart of hearts
[00:29:48] to fear the name of God? Do you have a fervent desire to grow more like Christ?
[00:29:54] You have a strong desire to be more holy and more pure and to worship him in spirit and in truth and long to be with him.
[00:30:08] And if you're a Christian and the answer is no, then why not?
[00:30:13] And would it be then a great prayer for us to ask?
[00:30:16] Lord, if I'm born again, help me to desire, to fear your name.
[00:30:24] And so here we come into chapter 2.
[00:30:26] now this prayer was offered in chapter one in november now it's march did he not go because of the winter time or whatever was he afraid to come before the king and ask he comes before the
[00:30:38] king in chapter two and the king sees that he's sad remembering the kings of persia had some strange rules even the queen esther couldn't go in to see the king unless he asked for it
[00:30:46] and so one of the rules was you're not you can't come in sad before the king he could kill you so so maybe maybe uh nehemiah has been able to put on a poker face for the last four months
[00:30:58] but the burden is so heavy that sooner or later it's going to show and so the king sees him and notice in uh in nehemiah chapter two uh in in the nissan that's the month of march he comes
[00:31:14] before the king and says i've never was sad in his presence before but uh verse two wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thou countenance sad, seeing you are not sick?
[00:31:23] This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was sore afraid. Very sore because he could be killed just for appearing sad before the king.
[00:31:30] But he can't help it because this is a burden in his heart.
[00:31:34] And this is how our heart should be burdened for the things of the Lord.
[00:31:38] Is it? Or is it more burdened of the things of the world? Colossians 3, remember, set your affection if you've been risen with Christ, set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. Where is our affection? For where your treasure is,
[00:31:59] there will your heart be also. And so the king, verse 3, Nehemiah says, let the king live forever.
[00:32:10] That's a good start. Why should not my countenance be sad when the city and place of my father's sepulchres lieth waste and the gates are over consumed with fire? Then the king said to me,
[00:32:21] for what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. This was a quick prayer.
[00:32:25] He just shot one up, right? I said unto the king, if it please the king, if thy servant hath found favor in thy sight. Interesting. He's been a servant for a long time. He's been faithful.
[00:32:36] And now, and he said, who wants to be a servant? Who wants to be a slave? But in that servitude, he was faithful. And God prepared him for this very thing, for the revival of his church,
[00:32:47] to be the leader of the one who's going to rebuild Jerusalem.
[00:32:50] And he's been praying about this for now three or four months.
[00:32:54] He's ready.
[00:32:55] He's prayed up.
[00:32:56] He knows what to ask.
[00:32:57] He has faith.
[00:32:59] And he's not going to go short.
[00:33:02] He's going to go for broke, if you will.
[00:33:03] Because look, he asks not only that he can go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, verse 5.
[00:33:11] Notice it says, And the king said unto me, the queen also sitting by him, For how long shall thy journey be? Real quick, interesting note.
[00:33:21] The kings, Artaxerxes, the queen, we don't know for sure.
[00:33:24] The Persian kings, it's very difficult history because the names were often titles and not actual names.
[00:33:30] Some scholars believe that the queen that was sitting there was Queen Esther.
[00:33:36] She's only about 30 years before the time of Nehemiah.
[00:33:39] Now, others believe that it may have been another queen, but that Artaxerxes was the stepson of Queen Esther.
[00:33:50] Very likely, very possible.
[00:33:53] Because after all, Esther was the Persian queen who was a Jew who saved the nation.
[00:34:00] And maybe that's why Nehemiah points out, God blessed me because Esther was there.
[00:34:06] Maybe.
[00:34:07] Interesting.
[00:34:08] and so it says and the king said unto me the queen also sitting by him verse 6 for how long shall thy journey be and when will you return verse uh so it says he pleased the king to send
[00:34:18] me i set him a time verse 7 and i said unto the king if it pleased the king let letters be given to the governors beyond the river that they may convey me over till i come to judah i want safe
[00:34:30] passage got it no problem and by the way how about some provision and the letter unto asaph to keep of the king's forest that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which
[00:34:42] appertain to the house and for the wall of the city and for the house that i shall enter into and the king granted me according to the good hand of my god upon me so everything you get to go as
[00:34:52] long as you need you get safe passage i'll send my own uh army with you and whatever you need go ahead and take any kind of timber any kind of lumber whatever else and uh you go with my
[00:35:05] commission praise the lord praise the lord and so he was not holding back and god answered it says how and the king granted me verse 8 according to the good hand of my god upon me very interesting
[00:35:20] very interesting it says by the way in verse 11 in the end of his prayer in chapter 1 verse 11 i pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man for i was the
[00:35:35] king's cupbearer who's the man he's talking about the king why don't you call him king because he's just a man compared to the king of kings and he recognizes that the king of kings and the lord of
[00:35:47] lords can easily change the heart of any man any leader on earth and that's what he affirms at the end of the granting of his request so as he comes over verse 9 or is everybody excited about this
[00:36:01] he comes to the people governors across the river he gives the king's letters verse 9 and then there's a group of people uh samaritans and those surrounding jerusalem who are not jews but are very closely related to the jews who are not pleased that he's shown up take a look uh when
[00:36:20] But Sanballat, verse 10, the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it.
[00:36:24] It grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
[00:36:31] They were fitting to be tied.
[00:36:33] They are upset.
[00:36:34] They are mad.
[00:36:35] They are gnashing their teeth.
[00:36:37] Why?
[00:36:38] Because somebody came that wanted to help the Jews.
[00:36:43] Why are they mad?
[00:36:44] Because somebody wanted to help the Jews.
[00:36:47] And they're really that angry because somebody wanted to help the Jews?
[00:36:51] Have you noticed the rise in Jew hatred today?
[00:36:54] Comes from the same spirit.
[00:36:56] Satan himself.
[00:36:58] Why would you be angry that somebody came to help the Jews?
[00:37:00] Good, let the Jews get help.
[00:37:02] Okay, wonderful.
[00:37:02] Let me do my own business.
[00:37:04] They're extremely mad because this is satanic.
[00:37:07] This is opposition to the people of God.
[00:37:09] And when someone wants to preach the word of God, when someone wants to stand for truth, when someone wants to speak to this culture, there's salt and light and refuse to compromise and speak the truth and tell people that they have to repent.
[00:37:22] Tell people that they're on their way to hell.
[00:37:24] Tell people that there is no hope outside of Christ Jesus and His blood.
[00:37:28] Tell people that they have to live a life of sanctification, a life unto God, not just confess and mental assent, but to put their trust in Him, to be born again, to be transformed, to be heavenly minded,
[00:37:42] to walk this life as living sacrifices for Christ.
[00:37:47] Thanks, but no thanks.
[00:37:48] I can go down the street here have a rock band and donuts and coffee for free and they don't tell me any of that stuff they just tell me how good I am and how I'm
[00:38:00] chosen and how God just can't wait for me to get to heaven I'd go there if I was an unbeliever you see Satan hates the truth and he hates God and he hates the people of God
[00:38:20] because this is the only way of salvation and Satan hates each and every one of you And me too.
[00:38:26] And he wants us to be damned for all eternity.
[00:38:29] But as I said earlier, eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong.
[00:38:38] Lord have mercy.
[00:38:40] So these people are so angry.
[00:38:42] So what does Nehemiah do?
[00:38:44] Nehemiah goes in quietly, doesn't make a big, doesn't tell people what he's doing yet.
[00:38:49] He goes and he surveys the damage.
[00:38:54] And the wall and all that's going on at night time.
[00:38:58] And it's very interesting because we need to, as we mentioned, be aware of the state of the church.
[00:39:05] But not just the state of the church.
[00:39:07] As we said, I believe the state of the church, at least in America, is in shambles.
[00:39:13] I believe the church is 3,000 miles wide and half an inch deep.
[00:39:18] Maybe quarter inch deep.
[00:39:20] I think we're in trouble.
[00:39:22] And we desperately need revival, like Nehemiah wants for Israel.
[00:39:26] And so we need to go out and see.
[00:39:29] But before we go see the state of the church, why don't we have an inward tour of the state of this kingdom?
[00:39:40] Right here.
[00:39:42] And especially this, right here.
[00:39:44] And Charles Spurgeon preached a sermon on this.
[00:39:46] Let me just take a little bit from him on this.
[00:39:48] Let me speak to every professor here.
[00:39:51] You say, I'm a believer in Jesus.
[00:39:53] Well, brother, sister, then you can have no objection to look within.
[00:39:57] to search your heart.
[00:39:59] Let's take a ride around your soul.
[00:40:02] How about the tower of prayer?
[00:40:04] Is that well kept?
[00:40:05] Are you much with God in secret?
[00:40:07] And how about the castle of communion?
[00:40:10] Do you maintain fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ?
[00:40:14] How about the gate of humiliation?
[00:40:17] Do you bow before the Lord, humbly acknowledging that you owe to Him?
[00:40:22] Or has pride been pulling down the cornerstone thereof?
[00:40:26] How about the gate of holy zeal? Is that wide and in good care?
[00:40:31] Or has it been burned with fire and taken away?
[00:40:34] And what about the wall of your love? Does that stand erect as it used to do?
[00:40:40] Have you not heard of one of old, of whom it was said, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knows it not?
[00:40:47] May not that be your case? If you will spend an hour or two tonight, when all are asleep, if you should lie awake and commune with your own heart upon your bed, it might be a wondrous blessing to you.
[00:40:59] If you shall honestly look at yourself, not flatteringly, if you shall determine to know as God shall teach you the worst of your case, if you should desire to see which grace is fainting, which holy passion expiring,
[00:41:14] which sacred feeling ready to die, oh, it shall be well with you.
[00:41:18] Examine yourself whether you are a Christian.
[00:41:21] This is a duty which cannot too often be performed.
[00:41:26] Ask the Lord to examine you.
[00:41:28] Say to him, try my reins and my heart.
[00:41:32] Search my inward soul and see if there be any wicked way in me.
[00:41:38] And lead me into the way everlasting.
[00:41:42] Brothers and sisters, what we need is what God promised to the people of God if they truly turn to him.
[00:41:49] You don't have to go there. You're still in Nehemiah. I'll just read it to you.
[00:41:52] I read to you the words of Moses that Nehemiah quoted in Deuteronomy 30, verses 1 through 5, about if you will turn with all of your heart, I'll bring you back to your land.
[00:42:04] Even if you're cast to the uttermost parts of heaven, I'll bring you back.
[00:42:08] Right?
[00:42:09] And he says in verse 5 of Deuteronomy 30, And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it.
[00:42:15] And he will do thee good and multiply thee above thy fathers.
[00:42:18] But then verse 6, which Nehemiah didn't quote, but it applies to us today.
[00:42:22] And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live.
[00:42:36] And that's what it means to be born again.
[00:42:39] And that's why at the end of this, Sanballat and Geshem, the Arab and Tobiah, they're all grieved and angry and they're making fun of Nehemiah.
[00:42:51] nehemiah comes after he secretly surveys the damage and he tells him hey look god has blessed me i've got these letters the king is for us let's rebuild and and god has blessed and they said yes
[00:43:04] let's rebuild and so they go out to build and as they go out to build all these these uh the enemies of the church are angry whenever you want revival they're angry whenever you want to see the
[00:43:15] true church of god grow they're angry whenever you're going to preach the truth whenever you're going to stand against wickedness the enemy is angry and that's what happens here at the end of chapter 2 verse 19 but when Sambalab the Horonite Tobiah his servant and the Ammonite and Geshem
[00:43:32] the Arabian the Arab you got to watch out for Arab heard it I'm one if you don't know they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said what is this thing that you'll do will you rebel against the
[00:43:45] king when we talk about what's on the front what's your vision little cornerstone church with 80 people what's your vision our vision is um uh to see the revival of the american church so that we
[00:43:57] might once again be a guiding light to this great nation and bringing millions to a saving knowledge of jesus christ here and around the world pastor joseph you don't have 80 people and you're going
[00:44:11] to get millions? That's the devil talking. Nehemiah didn't ask for 80. He asked for the whole church to be revived. And he got it. You'll see as we read. And that should be our ask as well. We should
[00:44:26] have great faith and we should trust that we have a great God to answer from heaven. And as we end, let me say this. Notice, if you study Ezra, Ezra and Nehemiah go together. Ezra came back from
[00:44:40] captivity in persia a little before nehemiah and when he did they laid the the foundation of fresh of the temple and some of these same folks sanbalat and tobiah and others that preceded them they they came they're not jews but they're close it's kind of like folks today oh i'm a christian
[00:45:00] yeah where you go to church well uh grandma used to go over here where do you go to church oh well you know uh i was baptized over there where did you go to church oh well i haven't been to church
[00:45:09] here lately but you yeah you don't know the lord what's going on and so this is the kind of people and and when when ezra comes back and they lay the foundation they're going to build the temple
[00:45:20] they say hey let us build with you go back and read ezra chapter four he says no no no no you don't have the right genealogy you're not a jew you have no place in this this does not coexist
[00:45:32] you can't join in with us this has to be sanctified and set apart only true believers only true jews can do this. And that's the same truth about the true church of God. Only people who are born again
[00:45:46] are truly Christians. The only people who are born again can make any difference in the church or will even really care about any difference in the church. You have to have a right genealogy in Judaism to be able to be part of rebuilding the temple. So too, if you're a believer, you have to
[00:46:06] have the right genealogy. That's why you must be born again. Jesus says to Nehemiah, hey, he's a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He's in the Sanhedrin. He's one of the highest Jews in all of Judaism at the time. Jesus
[00:46:18] says, you ain't going to make it to heaven. And he didn't say it that way. That's a paraphrase.
[00:46:22] Jesus said, unless a man be born again, he shall not enter, not see the kingdom of heaven. Nehemiah's amazed. I'm not Nehemiah. Forgive me.
[00:46:34] Nicodemus, Nicodemus He's talking to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 Nicodemus is amazed Maybe a little offended How can this be?
[00:46:44] After all, I'm hot stuff He didn't say that, but he is At least in the eyes of man But in the eyes of God, he's nothing Because he doesn't have the right geology He's a Jew
[00:46:53] Ah, but there is a kingdom of God now And anyone who wishes to see the king Must see him as a son A born again child of God That's what Jesus said Verily, verily, I say unto you, unless a man be born again, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[00:47:11] And that's why at the end of Nehemiah chapter 2, these guys who are ridiculing Nehemiah, these guys who are ridiculing the efforts to revive the church of God, the people of God, who are contrary, who ultimately are satanic and adversarial, notice what Nehemiah says to them.
[00:47:31] Verse 20, Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us.
[00:47:39] Therefore we his servants will arise and build.
[00:47:44] But you have no portion, nor rite, nor memorial in Jerusalem.
[00:47:52] If you're not born again, you have no portion, no rite, nor memorial in the church of God.
[00:48:05] You have to have the right genealogy.
[00:48:08] Well, that's not fair, Pastor Joseph.
[00:48:10] Oh, it's perfectly fair.
[00:48:12] Because the author of the gospel is to every person on the face of the earth.
[00:48:19] Whosoever believeth shall be saved.
[00:48:23] Preach the gospel, God tells Paul, to every creature.
[00:48:30] And so, we don't get to build the house of God physically.
[00:48:34] Maybe you do if you're building a church.
[00:48:36] But ultimately, the house of God is spiritual.
[00:48:40] And as born-again believers, we don't build the house of God.
[00:48:44] We become the house of God.
[00:48:46] Praise the Lord.
[00:48:48] 1 Peter 2, verse 1.
[00:48:54] Wherefore, laying aside all malice and guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.
[00:49:04] If so be you have tasted, the Lord is gracious to whom coming is unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. Ye also, church, as lively or living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices
[00:49:24] acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. If you're born again, but you have to come as a servant. That's what, that's what Nehemiah said. You, you who are not born again, you who are not
[00:49:38] the people of god you have no right you have no portion you have no memorial in this but we his servants will arise and build they say well i thought we were sons in order to be a son you
[00:49:49] have to come as a servant you come and bow the knee to king jesus and he receives you freely because you've received the free offer but he doesn't leave you as a servant he takes you in
[00:50:01] and makes you his very son he doesn't just let you build the physical walls of jerusalem but he let you become a living stone and part of a living organism the church his body his head is in heaven
[00:50:13] and here we are part of his very body and in and through us the true born again believers on earth and in heaven we find the temple of god we find the presence of the holy spirit we find that we
[00:50:27] are not just called the temple living stones we are also called the priests to offer sacrifice And we're also called the sacrifice because Romans 12, 1 and 2.
[00:50:37] I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living, holy, and accepting Lord, which is your reasonable service.

[00:50:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:50:56] Are you born again?
[00:50:59] Do you have a desire to fear the name of the Lord?

[00:51:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:51:08] If so, take a look around you.
[00:51:14] See the horrible state of the broken walls of that which calls itself a church in the United States of America.
[00:51:21] Get a burden.
[00:51:23] Stop looking just at your own estate.
[00:51:25] But humble yourself, like Nehemiah, and pray.
[00:51:29] If we've got to fast, let's fast.
[00:51:31] Our synod moderator of our whole denomination called a day of fasting Friday.
[00:51:35] I failed to make that clear.
[00:51:38] I know Pastor Andy, I think, sent something out.
[00:51:40] We need to have some days of fasting.
[00:51:42] how often have you weeped over your own sins or the state of the church Nehemiah was broken up we can't find true revival which only comes from heaven if we don't really care why would we expect God to do anything
[00:52:01] if we don't really care but if you are born again and your heart has been circumcised to love him with all of your heart soul, mind and strength you can't help but love his church
[00:52:13] and delight to see it prosper and delight to see the gospel go and flow and the light of Christ and His aroma to the utterance of the earth, to see people saved, to see people snatched out of eternal damnation
[00:52:27] and fire and despair and a life with no purpose and be brought not just to be servants of God, but their chains of sin and bondage of idolatry to the self to be broken off by the power of Christ
[00:52:38] and for them to be freed, for they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.
[00:52:43] And Jesus says, whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
[00:52:46] Set free to not just be servants of the Most High God, but children, even sons with an eternal inheritance laid up in heaven for us.
[00:52:57] Called to be royal ambassadors from the greatest nation ever conceived.
[00:53:02] Heaven itself where the King of kings and Lord of lords reigns.
[00:53:07] You've been called to such a position as this.
[00:53:11] And you're going to waste your life on yourself.
[00:53:13] you've been called to such a higher calling such a great and tremendous and wondrous privilege to live your life for anything else is the greatest possible sin imaginable repent, trust in Christ receive the free gift of salvation
[00:53:34] have your heart filled with love for him and for one another and for the church and fight the good fight of faith as we march together arm in arm to the heavenly Zion that Christ is building
[00:53:48] and populated even now in other regions of the earth where people are coming to Christ, where coming to Christ means life or death, not just whether or not I get drunk on a boat or sit here and get bored by Pastor Joseph.
[00:54:01] No, it's in Iran.
[00:54:04] Where's the fastest growing church in the world today?
[00:54:06] Iran, I tell you.
[00:54:09] Does that not confuse us?
[00:54:12] Because they know the cost.
[00:54:14] Count the cost.
[00:54:15] And I'm asking you today, count the prize, count the benefits, eternal life, glory unspeakable, absolute peace, joy, perfect fulfillment, the presence of God himself, strengthening you even now, speaking to you, guiding you, directing you, all of your paths, keeping you in his right hand, covering you, watching over you, and looking forward, yes, because now you're his child.
[00:54:49] to the day that he'll receive you in heaven.
[00:54:53] Well done, my good and faithful son.
[00:54:55] Now that's a life worth living.
[00:54:59] Is that the life you're living?
[00:55:01] If not, repent.
[00:55:03] Receive it today and trust in what Christ Jesus has done for us.
[00:55:08] For he died for us and loved us and gave his life for us that we might live for him.
[00:55:13] Amen?
[00:55:14] To God be the glory.
[00:55:18] Lord, help us now as we have read your word, as we have heard the challenge, as we see the faith of Nehemiah.
[00:55:26] Lord, help us to have the same faith.
[00:55:28] Help us to have the same heart.
[00:55:30] Circumcise our hearts afresh that we might trust in you, that we might believe in you, that we might love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, that we might love one another with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength,
[00:55:41] even as ourselves.
[00:55:43] And Lord, that you might be glorified.
[00:55:45] You might be pleased to visit us afresh, to do something here that will glorify only you and praise only you in each individual heart but also in this congregation.
[00:55:58] Build it for your glory, for your honor, for your praise in Christ Jesus' name.
[00:56:03] Amen.
[00:56:05] I think it's time to march.
[00:56:07] Are you all in the marching mood?
[00:56:11] Come we that love the Lord.
[00:56:14] Number 550 in the hymnal.