The Work That Cannot Be Stopped: Finishing Strong in a Distracted Age

[00:03:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:03:25] You are worthy of it all. Father, for a place in our hearts this week that we find ourselves coming here to do anything other than worship you, Father. Correct us on that. May our hearts and minds be focused on you. We want to hear from you. Father, you're worthy of it all.

[00:04:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:04:25] not used to this as you can tell uh i thank daniel for the introduction slash disclaimer i am not the lead pastor i do not usually do this most of y'all recognize me from driving the golf cart
[00:04:43] so i usually don't do this however i am thrilled and happy to be able to have the privilege to share God's Word with you this morning I'm going to sound different than Daniel I'm going to preach different than Daniel I will hug my notes tighter than
[00:05:08] Daniel and I will not share a dad joke with you however however I will share a mom joke why do you never hear moms at least new moms say I wish I could sleep like a baby because they say I wish I could
[00:05:39] sleep like dad I don't know us dads just do not that way at three o'clock in the morning just doesn't do anything for us right but the mom is right there she is ready so let's just jump right in okay the title of my sermon it's Nehemiah
[00:06:01] chapter 6 is I can't come down finishing God's work in the face of opposition the overall idea here is when God and trust they work to his people opposition will try to distract discredit deceive but through discernment prayer integrity and
[00:06:26] perseverance God's people finish and the watching world can't miss the fact that God was at was at work in this in this mighty test that he has given us this This work had been accomplished in Nehemiah with the help of a mighty God.
[00:06:51] If you've ever tried to do something that really, really mattered, something that you believe God had called you to, very important, like maybe it's plan a church, maybe it's begin a new ministry, maybe it's some sort of community outreach that you want to launch,
[00:07:10] maybe it's starting a business maybe it's restoring a marriage maybe it's starting a recovery from an addiction it's a huge task but you all know this if you've ever started something that big the closer you get to finishing the stronger the resistance gets and that is right
[00:07:37] where we are in nehemiah chapter 6. the walls around jerusalem are complete the um everything has been done to the walls except the gate the doors had not been set in the gates that was the
[00:07:55] only thing left to do and right then the enemy strikes and throws everything at nehemiah that they can think of distraction defamation even deception in a last-ditch attempt to derail the work warren weirsbe he was a pastor a bible teacher a prolific writer he wrote over 150 books
[00:08:22] but he's probably best known for his series of 50 books he called the b series b e b series be real be obedient, be mature, be joyful, etc. Wiersbe summarizes the whole book of Nehemiah with one
[00:08:40] simple call, be determined. Stand firm in the face of opposition. That's not stubbornness, it's steadfastness anchored in God's call. It's what churches, families, and leaders desperately need today. Before we get into God's Word, let's pray. Lord, as we open your Word, give us Nehemiah's
[00:09:05] focus. Give us his courage and his joy in you. Strengthen our hands, O God, for the great work that you've given us to complete. So starting in Nehemiah chapter 6 verse 1, I encourage you to
[00:09:24] keep your Bibles open. Keep your Bible apps open. I'm going to bounce back and forth a little bit.
[00:09:29] Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach in it, although up to that time I had not set the doors
[00:09:42] in the gate, Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, come and let us to get meet together at Heciferium in the plain of Ono. But they intended to do me harm. I sent messengers back
[00:09:58] to them saying I am doing a great work and I cannot come down why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you and they sent to me four times in this way and I answered them in
[00:10:14] the same manner number one we see distraction come let us meet Sanballat and Geshem sent to Nehemiah a friendly invitation or so it seemed come let us meet together in the plain of ono hey let's gather
[00:10:30] let's talk about this it sounds reasonable and it sounds even diplomatic but there was one problem that nehemiah points out they intended to do me harm in the hebrew this phrase is an objective declarative in other words it's a statement of fact it didn't that he perceived that they were
[00:10:57] going to harm him he knew that they were going to harm him they had planned that nehemiah discerns the danger and responds with one of the most clarifying sentences in the old testament I am doing a great work and I cannot come down he says it four times four
[00:11:18] times here Nehemiah's focus should not be seen as rudeness its faithfulness it's not that Nehemiah was above having a conversation with people he was just under a calling when you are under a calling from God it is important to
[00:11:39] protect focus this verse proves that when you're focused on what God has called you to do it is it is the enemy can only call you away from it and Nehemiah just wasn't picking up that call you could say he was in the
[00:11:57] original do not disturb mode when your focus is on God every distraction starts to sound like spam. The application for us here is that some invitations are not opportunities, but they're traps. Not every meeting is your mission. Not every crisis deserves your attention.
[00:12:25] I can tell you for sure here at the church, ministry dies a thousand deaths of reasonable yeses. You have to learn how to discern when to say no, what's important. Parents, students, leaders, fellow pastors, where is your plane of oh no? What requests, habits, or even lifestyle
[00:12:53] patterns are tugging you off the wall? God has called you to do something and to do something big. Protect that focus. The enemy's goal isn't always to make us fail, it's to make us busy.
[00:13:13] So busy that we just never get around to finishing the job that God has called us to.
[00:13:23] Next, I want you to look in Matthew 16. This is the part of my sermon where I find passages in the old testament in the book of nehemiah that parallel jesus and the new testament what's going
[00:13:38] on i call this the bridge to christ so look in matthew 16 starting in verse 21 from that time jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to jerusalem and suffer many things from the
[00:13:53] elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying far be it from you Lord this shall never happen to you but he turned and said to Peter get
[00:14:15] behind me Satan you are a hindrance to me for you are not setting your mind your mind on the things of God but on the things of man you see Peter that sounds harsh doesn't it that sounds Jesus was being harsh to Peter but you
[00:14:34] see Peter tried to steer Jesus away from the cross it sounded caring this shall never happen to you Lord but you see Jesus would not come down from his mission nehemiah stayed on the wall jesus stayed on the path to the cross don't be distracted by
[00:15:03] the enemy focus and stay on the wall next we see the enemies trying to ruin nehemiah's reputation and his character through defamation let's start reading in verse 5 in the same way sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand in it was written it
[00:15:26] is reported among the nations and geshem also says it that you and the jews intend to rebel that is why you are building the wall and according to these reports you wish to become their king and you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in jerusalem
[00:15:45] there is a king in judah and now the king will hear of these reports so come and let us take counsel together then i nehemiah sent to him saying no such things as you have said here
[00:16:03] have been done for you are inventing them out of your own mind for they all wanted to frighten us thinking their hands will drop from the work and it will not be done but now oh god strengthen
[00:16:19] my hands so when distraction fails the enemies publish this open letter right it's kind of like an ancient pr campaign really it's a smear campaign basically accusing nehemiah of treason You're building a wall to crown yourself king.
[00:16:41] You've even hired prophets to proclaim it.
[00:16:44] Slander is meant to frighten and give pause to the builders.
[00:16:49] Make them second guess Nehemiah.
[00:16:53] Sanballat and the rest of the enemies hoped to make the builders question the whole project.
[00:16:59] Or if Nehemiah really had good intentions, or was he doing this just to bolster his own self, to give him power. All this, they said, was to make the hands drop from the work so they would
[00:17:16] stop building. Notice Nehemiah's two-part response here in verse 8. Number one, a clear denial.
[00:17:25] No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.
[00:17:31] I love that verse. He's basically saying, that's fake news. I'm not going to give it any time of day, right? And then he turned right around, looked to God, and had a short prayer. Now, oh God,
[00:17:48] strengthen my hands. He doesn't waste time litigating each and every rumor. He gives only as much oxygen to the lie as it deserves then he goes straight to god and prays strengthen my hands and goes right back to work notice how nehemiah balances keeping good conscience and trusting god
[00:18:14] with his good name and his good intentions he refused to be sidetracked by public pressure nehemiah i think just had a great confidence in the fact that god knew the intentions of his heart that's because nehemiah had a great and close relationship with god
[00:18:40] that's why he knew that and he could let it go the application here for us is simple in a digital and social media age of public posts and open letters we need nehemiah's wisdom don't we
[00:19:00] some accusations should be answered briefly and truthfully but some accusations should just be left up to god do not let a pr crisis become a spiritual crisis do what nehemiah did Ask God not for an easier day, but for stronger hands today.
[00:19:25] The great preacher and theologian Charles Spurgeon counseled pastors to cultivate one blind eye and deaf ear to unfair criticism.
[00:19:37] Listen to honest rebuke, but don't become a curator of slander.
[00:19:43] leaders must expect criticism without being led by it that advice is good for pastors it's good for any leader whether you're in the ministry or you're in the secular world leaders must expect criticism but don't be led by it the
[00:20:04] bridge to Christ here Jesus was also accused wasn't he was even slandered we know we all know this many many false charges was brought about was brought against Jesus how did Jesus respond look at first Peter 2 23 he entrusted himself
[00:20:24] Jesus entrusted himself to him God the Father who judges justly Nehemiah's short prayer here foreshadows Jesus's far greater trust in the face of far greater slander right enemies try to distract they try to defame next they
[00:20:52] try to deceive deception looking at verse 10 now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Deliah son of Mahadebel who was confined to his home he said let us meet together in the house of God within the temple let us
[00:21:12] close the doors of the temple for they are coming to kill you they are coming to kill you by night but I said should such a man as I run away and what man such as I could go into the temple and live I will not go in and I understood
[00:21:36] and saw that God had not sent him but he had pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him for this purpose he was hired that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin and so they could give me a bad name
[00:21:55] order to taunt me remember Tobiah and Sanballat oh my god according to these things that they did also no dia and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid now you can see the enemy tries religious manipulation a prophet
[00:22:18] named Shemaiah, paid off by Sanballat and Tobiah, urges Nehemiah, hey, let's head out in the temple.
[00:22:27] They're coming to kill you, and they're coming tonight. It sounds sensible. It sounds like he was caring for his Jewish brother. It had a caring tone, but it directly contradicts God's word.
[00:22:45] nehemiah isn't a priest entering the holy place would be a sin you can find that law in numbers chapter 18 verse 7 i'm not going to put it on this on the screen but you can look that up
[00:23:01] nehemiah discerns this lie that's going on and he says should a man like me run away um could i even go into the temple and live of course not because i believe the goal was not
[00:23:19] merely to frighten nehemiah into sin but it was actually to kill him to set him up to be killed you see integrity matters integrity and credibility matters Daniel talked about this last week in his commentary on these verses in Nehemiah Matthew Henry
[00:23:47] said the greatest mischief that our enemy can do is to frighten us into sin right that's the greatest mischief that our enemies can do to us numbers 18 7 clearly says that the penalty for someone who is not a priest entering the
[00:24:09] holy place is death think about it Nehemiah's credibility wouldn't even be harmed they would just get rid of him altogether they were setting him up to be killed, and they would have had a legitimate reason to killing him, but Nehemiah knew what
[00:24:27] Scripture said, right? What's the application for us here? Not all spiritual advice is godly advice.
[00:24:37] test advice test counsel by scripture not by fear ask yourself does this course of action require me to compromise clear obedience to God does it put my safety above God's truth listen to this courage is not recklessness it's obedience when
[00:25:07] compromise seems safer the bridge to Christ here may be obvious to you we know how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness right by Satan Satan quoted Scripture to Satan it was twisted Scripture in attempt to move him from
[00:25:29] obedience you can find that in Matthew 4 Jesus refused to do that and this is the parallel this is the bridge to Christ that I really like it's a little different twist where Nehemiah refuses to illegitimately enter God's house
[00:25:47] Jesus the true high priest opens the way for all who believe to enter in that's is so cool to me enemies can try to distract defame even deceive but we when we are doing what god has called us to do especially as the work draws closer to completion
[00:26:12] nehemiah shows us to finish strong in the face of this opposition but don't stop there the story's not over dedicate the work to the Lord my next point dedication verses 15 and 16 so the wall was finished on the 25th day of the month of Elul in 52 days and
[00:26:39] when all our enemies heard of it all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly on their own esteem for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God so the wall was finished in 52 days 52 days
[00:27:01] and here is the line that I pray we will say of our lives of our work of our ministry they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God folks that is revival in one sentence a finished work that only God
[00:27:28] can explain you see as Daniel told us at the very beginning of this series on Nehemiah this is much more than a story of a building project this is a story of a great and mighty God perseverance under pressure is a megaphone for God's
[00:27:55] power finishing the work is a testimony to the glory of God what's the application here for us you finishing strong completing the the work that God has assigned to you may be the loudest sermon that your family that your
[00:28:20] friends that your neighbors will ever hear a completed assignment sometimes the best apologetic is a completed assignment a restored relationship that was so broken that people knew that that could only be God that restored that
[00:28:44] relationship it was so far gone a recovery from an addiction a faithful ministry a rebuilt neighborhood a reconciled community just imagine peninsula if we are here and we are accomplishing our mission of make disciples who make disciples which never ends this it's a job that never ends
[00:29:10] right but just imagine if we at the end of that we have a reconciled community not only in this church but in this community this whole community of mooresville what an awesome thing to even think
[00:29:26] about all through the book of nehemiah not just chapter 6 gives us a preview of jesus both nehemiah and jesus left royal courts to identify with a broken people both faced relentless opposition mockery rumors death threats nehemiah said i cannot come down and he finished the wall
[00:29:54] jesus would not come down from the cross and he finished the work of salvation in us amen we have six people today who are being baptized. That baptism is a testimony to God finishing this work of salvation in us. Praise the Lord. Peninsula, what great work has God put in your
[00:30:27] hands in this season? Where are you tempted to come down? What rumor or fear is weakening your hands to be today because Jesus declared from the cross it is finished we can pray as Nehemiah prayed Oh God now give us strengthen our hands amen
[00:30:57] father thank you for this word when distraction invites us down give us focus. When we face defamation, give us thicker skin and softer hearts. When advice sounds spiritual but is really meant to deceive us, give us clarity through your word. And when our hands
[00:31:26] grow tired, oh God, give us your joy as our strength. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher

[00:31:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:31:36] of our faith. Amen. Well, we're thankful this morning to be able to also, as a part of our time of worship, celebrate with some individuals who have made professions of faith in Christ.
[00:32:00] Over the last few weeks, we've been able to hear from them, get to hear their story of what God has been doing in their life. And we really have been pointing them to, in our baptism class we do,
[00:32:10] Romans chapter 6, which reminds us that our hope is not in anything that we do. That's something we've been very clear with them all about. In fact, if you ever go to one of our baptism classes,
[00:32:19] we tell them we talk about baptism at the very end, because the most important thing is you understanding what baptism is about, and that is publicly making known your faith in Christ. And that faith is saying it is not us who have earned or achieved our salvation, but it is us trusting
[00:32:35] in the work of Jesus. What Pastor Steve just said, the author, the finisher, the completer of our faith. He is the one who did it all. And so Romans 6 reminds us that in baptism, we show that we are
[00:32:46] united to Jesus in his death, dying to our old life, dying to sin, and we are resurrected. We are brought back to new life with him in his resurrection. And so in each of these individuals
[00:32:58] come up here, we're going to ask them a couple of questions, which is their way of getting to tell you about that decision to follow Christ. The first one simply, do you believe in his life, death, and
[00:33:07] resurrection Jesus done everything necessary to save you which essentially we could say do you believe what pastor Steve just said and that Jesus is the author he is the one who has done it the
[00:33:17] completer the finisher the one who's done everything for your faith and then have you repented and trusted uh repented of your sin and trusted Jesus as your savior to follow him for the rest of your
[00:33:26] life that is when they get to tell you not only do I believe he did it but I believe it for myself and I've decided to follow him uh so we're excited to get to invite you guys Brian or invite you up
[00:33:36] first? Brian Hartney?
[00:33:40] There you go.
[00:33:47] Alright, Brian, those same questions I asked you give you an opportunity to answer, but first and foremost, do you believe in his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has done everything necessary to save you?
[00:33:58] And have you confessed and repented of your sin and trusted Christ as your Savior to follow him for the rest of your life?
[00:34:04] Alright, Brian, then based on your profession of faith, we baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, buried with him in likeness death, and resurrected in new life. I'm going to switch off
[00:34:28] Give him a little high fives, because next is Brian's son, Cash.
[00:34:37] All right, Cash, do you believe in his life, death, and resurrection?
[00:34:41] Jesus has done everything necessary to save you.
[00:34:43] And have you confessed and repented of your sins and trusted Jesus as your Savior to follow him for the rest of your life?
[00:34:51] All right, Cash, then it is a joy to baptize you in the Father, Son, and Spirit, buried with him in likeness death, and raised to walk in new life.
[00:35:15] Next, we have Cash's sister, Sawyer Ann.
[00:35:17] And we get the same privilege to ask you the same question.
[00:35:20] Do you believe in his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has done everything necessary to save you?
[00:35:26] And if you confess and repent of your sin, trust that Jesus is your Savior to follow him for the rest of your life.
[00:35:32] All right, so we get to baptize you in the Father, Son, and Spirit, buried with him in likeness of death, and raised to walk in new life.
[00:35:51] After them, we have Beth DiOrio.
[00:35:53] All right, Beth, do you believe in his life, death, and resurrection?
[00:36:19] Jesus has done everything necessary to save you.
[00:36:21] Yes.
[00:36:22] And if you confess and repent of your sin and trusted Jesus as your Savior to follow him for the rest of your life.
[00:36:27] Yes.
[00:36:28] And Beth, it is a privilege to baptize you in the Father, Son, and Spirit, buried with him in likeness death, and raised to walk in new life.
[00:36:48] The next we have Evan Anastas.
[00:36:51] Anastas?
[00:37:11] All right, Evan, do you believe in his life, death, and resurrection?
[00:37:14] Jesus has done everything necessary to save you.
[00:37:17] Yes.
[00:37:17] And if you confess and repent of your sin and trusted Christ as your Savior to follow him for the rest of your life.

[00:37:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:37:23] Yes.

[00:37:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:37:24] All right, Evan, it is a privilege to baptize you in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit, buried with him in likeness death, and raised to walk a new life.
[00:37:42] And then Pastor Mark has one more for us.

[00:37:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:37:44] Good morning.
[00:37:45] I get the privilege of introducing you to Dylan Baranchek.
[00:37:50] Dylan and I, we first met through a mutual acquaintance by the name of Connor Redding.
[00:37:56] Connor was actually in a discipleship pathway group and he and Connor are friends and they had a conversation about what is it to be a disciple what does it look like to to desire to following Christ's footsteps and to really start to study alongside other believers to be
[00:38:16] a disciple who makes disciples and so he contacted me I mean just out of the blue emailed me and we start we we had a meeting and we just started friendship from that point forward I got him
[00:38:26] into a discipleship pathway group and it's just a wonderful thing just to see a brother growing in christ dylan do you believe that jesus has done everything for you through his life death burial resurrection to save you amen amen did you hear that church brother have you turned from your
[00:38:49] sin do you desire to to surrender to jesus christ and live your life and follow him for the rest of life absolutely he says well brother it is my privilege to baptize you in the name of the father
[00:39:01] the son and the holy spirit in the likeness of jesus we're buried to raise a new life in christ

[00:39:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:39:21] what a powerful testimony amen let's stand and sing through the words of the song called build my life. Worthy of every song we could ever sing. Worthy of every praise we could ever bring.
[00:39:50] Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe, and we live for you. Jesus, the name above every other name. Jesus, the only one who could ever save. You're worthy of every breath we could ever breathe,
[00:40:20] then we live for you oh we live for you holy there is no one like you there is none beside you open up my eyes in wonder and show me who you are and fill me with your heart and lead me
[00:40:49] In your love to those around me Holy, there is no one like you There is none beside you Open up my eyes in wonder And show me who you are And fill me with your heart
[00:41:14] And lead me in your love to those around me And I will build my life upon your love It is a firm foundation And I will put my trust in you alone And I will not be shaken

[00:41:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:41:49] What a wonderful time of worship this morning, amen?
[00:41:58] Just a couple of quick announcements.
[00:42:00] Just as a reminder, right after the second service this morning, we will have a starting point.
[00:42:05] So if you are registered for that, please make sure that you attend.
[00:42:08] We would love to have you.
[00:42:09] If you didn't get a chance to register, come on anyway.
[00:42:12] We'll have plenty of food and a lot of information to give you about your next steps at here at peninsular baptist church we're so glad that you're here with us this morning thank you so very much for coming guests especially and as always as we close
[00:42:25] out our service we want to make sure that we're reciting god's word as we walk out these doors in unity together so would you follow along with me at first corinthians chapter 15 verse number 58 the bible says therefore my beloved brothers be steadfast immovable always
[00:42:44] abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is

[00:42:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:42:50] not your sin happening again chick-fil-a's wind-shaped camps is coming back for our 15th summer at our location wind-shaped camp is a day camp for those in kindergarten through fifth grades that is in 90 communities nationwide and
[01:10:34] our community gets to host one of these camps camp is packed with Bible studies outdoor games, worship, and the coolest skills like soccer, fast food, archery, dance, basketball, gymnastics, rocketry, and so much more. And kindergarten families, let's lean in because
[01:10:53] this part is just for you. We have only 30 spots for kindergarten. 30, that's it. So don't delay signing up. We don't want your camper to miss out on the fun. Early access registration opens Sunday,
[01:11:07] March 1st at 1 p.m. And we are in a bit of a friendly competition with three other churches.
[01:11:14] So let's win this. Let's be the church with the most campers in our area signed up on March 1st.
[01:11:21] Let's show up strong, Peninsula. Set your alarm. Tell your friends. Be ready. March 1st, 1 p.m.
[01:11:28] Windshaped Camps. You can find the link to register and the early access code that you will need on our website. Okay, let's get hype. I say win, you say shape, win, shape, win, shape. I think you're

[01:11:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:11:41] ready. We'll see you at camp. Good morning, Peninsula. My name is Reagan Suitors, and you're probably thinking to yourself, I've seen that guy somewhere before, and it was probably at Walmart or something. So I want to tell you three things today that are going on here at Peninsula that
[01:15:20] you should know about starting point is happening today at 12 15. so if you're new to the church or you just want more information about getting connected serving or becoming a member this is the class for you even if you haven't signed up you're welcome to come join us at 12 15.
[01:15:38] the second thing i want to tell you about is the heritage church that is the davidson church plant that peninsula is sending the launch team interest meeting is happening wednesday february 25th at 6 30 p.m so if you're interested in serving with the launch team or if you're interested in
[01:15:56] learning more about the church plant please be at the meeting and you can get all the information that you're going to need there third thing i want to tell you about is the baby bottle
[01:16:06] boomerang initiative that we've got going on you've already gotten one of these hopefully And if you haven't, you can still pick one up.
[01:16:13] And you need to fill this with cash, change, a check, gold coins, whatever you have lying around the house.
[01:16:19] And return them by next Sunday, March the 1st.
[01:16:22] This is a great initiative for the moms and kids who need a little extra help for different situations that they're in.
[01:16:30] There's a lot going on here at Peninsula.
[01:16:32] And our mission is to make disciples who make disciples.
[01:16:36] There's a lot of ways that you can get involved here as part of that mission.
[01:16:39] And we invite you to check that out at our website, peninsulabaptist.com.
[01:16:45] That's where you can get all of the information, upcoming events, different ministries and what they're doing.
[01:16:51] And it's how you can stay informed here.
[01:16:53] Once again, thank you so much for joining us for worship.
[01:16:56] We will look forward to that time together to worship the King of Kings.

[01:17:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:17:00] Well, good morning.
[01:17:12] So good to see you this morning in here in the warm where the wind was blowing this morning.
[01:17:16] It was chilly.
[01:17:17] I came in this morning, it wasn't quite as cold, and then I walked out just a few minutes ago and I thought, what changed?
[01:17:22] So do we have another cold coming in, another snowstorm maybe?
[01:17:25] Any votes for that?
[01:17:27] Okay, we're mixed, we're mixed.
[01:17:29] I feel like we're calling for a football game or something, half and half here.
[01:17:33] So glad that you're here today to be able to be together.
[01:17:36] I know that so much more happens when you come and worship with us live like this, when you're with people sitting beside one another.
[01:17:44] It's not just about the hearing the word.
[01:17:46] It's about fellowshipping, and I'm so glad that we're able to fellowship.
[01:17:49] What a sweet fellowship that we have here at Peninsula.
[01:17:52] Well, I want to open up our time before we sing with our voices and with our hearts and with our minds with a time of prayer to kind of set our tone for being receptive to what we'll be experiencing as we walk with God.
[01:18:04] So let's all stand here, and in the video venue, let's stand as well.
[01:18:08] I want to tell you that today we have a special treat that we're going to have Pastor Steve is going to come and bring the message from Nehemiah.
[01:18:15] The way I say it is, Pastor Steve's going to come and build on the wall.
[01:18:20] And so, excited about him coming to be a part of this.
[01:18:24] This is not his normal thing, but he so graciously said that he'd be a part of this as well.
[01:18:29] And so, it'll be a treat for us to be able to experience that.
[01:18:32] Let's go to the Lord in prayer as we set our minds and hearts in form for him.
[01:18:38] Father, we thank you for this opportunity to be here today to worship you.
[01:18:42] We pray, Father, that you would help us to intentionally shake off the things that are pulling on us emotionally, the things that are just pulling on our minds, the busyness, the agendas that we feel that's just weighing on us.
[01:18:56] Help us to intentionally shake that off and to get our hearts and our minds in a way to be still and to know you.
[01:19:03] So, Father, as we sing with our voices, as we sing with our hearts, be present.
[01:19:08] we humbly empty ourselves out to free the spirit that is within us to move freely in our minds to know where we are with you and to be encouraged by your presence so Father as we sing
[01:19:22] be glorified as we worship you be praised allow us as we fellowship with one another fellowship with you and fellowship around your word to be changed to be able to face this week with the courage that only you can give.
[01:19:43] In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

[01:19:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:19:47] Well, good morning.
[01:19:48] How excited to be here.
[01:19:50] Let's worship this morning.
[01:19:52] The Lord is with you.

[01:24:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[01:24:32] Father God, we thank you.

[01:33:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:33:39] Sing songs like this, Father, because you do deserve.
[01:33:42] You're worthy.
[01:33:45] And Father, we've all experienced different things in the places we've been.
[01:33:51] to come together with other saints and to declare that you are worthy father we do that in unison together because father you're so good we love you and pray this in the name of jesus christ

[01:34:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:34:05] would y'all be seated daniel for the introduction and a disclaimer right this is not my typical role i serve as executive pastor here at the church and this is not my thing i don't preach however
[01:35:01] I am honored and grateful that I get the chance to share God's Word with you this morning.
[01:35:09] You know, there will be a lot of things different about me than Daniel, okay?
[01:35:14] I sound different, obviously, right?
[01:35:19] My voice is definitely different.
[01:35:21] And I don't know about you guys, but I hate to hear my voice loud like this.
[01:35:28] I don't know.
[01:35:28] but anyway my preaching is different I have a different style I will hold to these notes a whole lot tighter than Daniel will right and I will not share a dad joke with you this morning however I will share a mom joke especially for you
[01:35:56] new moms you will never hear a mom say i wish i could sleep like a baby they will say instead i wish i could sleep like dad i don't know what it is about especially new fathers we just don't hear
[01:36:14] that wah wah wah at three o'clock in the morning do we i don't know we're immune to it somehow but moms we we appreciate what y'all do right so let's jump right in the title of my sermon is
[01:36:29] i can't come down finishing god's work in the face of opposition nehemiah chapter 6. we're going to focus on verses 1 through 16 but the overall idea of nehemiah chapter 6 is when god entrusts a work
[01:36:49] to its people opposition will try to distract discredit and deceive but through discernment prayer and integrity and perseverance God's people finish and the watching world can't miss the fact that this work had been done a cup had
[01:37:13] been accomplished with the help of our God that's the overall idea have you ever tried to do anything that really really mattered something that you believe that God has given you to do like maybe it's plant a church maybe
[01:37:38] it's to begin a new ministry maybe it's to launch some type of new community outreach that will be impactful but maybe it's also to start a new business maybe it's to restore a marriage that's been broken maybe it's to begin the
[01:38:03] process of a recovery from an addiction these are huge things that God God has called you to do you will know this however in the midst of those doing those things the closer you get to finishing the stronger the resistance
[01:38:21] gets doesn't it this is precisely the moment we find in Nehemiah 6 the wall is finished all that has to be done is to set the doors in the gates and right then the enemy attacks throws everything that they can think of at Nehemiah to
[01:38:44] derail the work Warren Wiersbe he's a he's a well-known pastor he was a Bible teacher a prolific writer he probably wrote I think he wrote over a hundred and fifty published works but he wrote a book a series of books of fifty called
[01:39:03] the be series be be real be obedient be mature be joyful etc weirs be summarizes all of Nehemiah with a simple call be determined stand firm in the face of opposition that's not stubbornness it's steadfastness anchored in God's call
[01:39:27] it's what churches families and leaders desperately need today before we dig into god's word let's go to him in prayer lord as we open your word give us nehemiah's focus give us his courage give us his joy in you strengthen our hands for the great work that you've given us
[01:39:53] to complete so we're starting in nehemiah 6 verse 1 keep your bible out open your bible's open during this time now when sanballat and tobiah and geshem the arab and the rest of our enemies heard that i
[01:40:09] had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it although up to that time i had not set the doors in the gates. Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, come and let us meet at
[01:40:24] Heciferium in the plain of Ono. But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them saying, I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. And they sent to me four times in the same
[01:40:43] way and I answered them in the same manner number one we see here distraction hey come let us meet sin Sanballat and Geshem sent Nehemiah what seemed to be a friendly invitation right come let us meet together let's talk
[01:41:02] about this let's talk it out it sounds reasonable reasonable it even sounds diplomatic but there was only one problem Nehemiah points out they intended to do me harm in the Hebrew this phrase is an objective declarative
[01:41:20] in other words Nehemiah knew for sure they were going to do him harm he wasn't guessing he didn't have a feeling that they were going to do him harm he knew for sure that they planned to do him harm so Nehemiah discerns that danger
[01:41:38] and responds with one of the most clarifying sentences in the Old Testament, I believe, I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. He says that four times. Here, Nehemiah's focus should not be seen as rudeness, it's faithfulness. It's not that Nehemiah is above having a
[01:42:03] conversation right he's under a calling when you are under a calling from God it is important to protect focus this verse proves that when you're focused on what God has called you to do the enemy can only call you away from it you could say
[01:42:26] that Nehemiah was in the original do not disturb mode and he was just not picking up that call when your focus on God every distraction starts to sound like spam what's the application for us here some invitations are not
[01:42:49] opportunities but they're traps not every meeting is your mission not every crisis deserves your attention I can tell you for sure here at the church ministry can die a million deaths of reasonable yeses you can say yes to a lot of things
[01:43:15] but also you have to learn and discern when to say no when is that request going to pull you off your wall what request habits or lifestyle patterns keep tugging you off the wall that god has asked you to build where is your plane of ono the enemy's goal
[01:43:42] listen to this the enemy's gold isn't always just to make you fail it's to make you busy so busy that you just stop working so busy that you don't ever complete the task that god has
[01:43:59] given you to do look at Matthew chapter 16 I call this part of my sermon a bridge to Christ in other words I can see in the Old Testament in the book of Nehemiah how it parallels things that are going on in the New Testament with
[01:44:20] Jesus look at Matthew 16 verse 21 we'll put it on the screen from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and on the
[01:44:41] third day be raised and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying far be it from you Lord this shall never happen to you but he turning he said to peter get behind me satan you are a hindrance to me for you are not setting your mind on the things
[01:45:03] of god but on the things of man ouch he was harsh to peter wasn't he or so it seemed but you got to understand peter tried to steer jesus away from the cross it sounded caring it sounded like he was
[01:45:21] trying just to look after him he said this shall never happen to you lord but you see here jesus would not come down from his mission here's the bridge statement nehemiah stayed on the wall
[01:45:40] jesus stayed on the path to the cross don't be distracted by the enemy focus and stay on the wall next we see the enemies trying to ruin Nehemiah's reputation don't we and his character through
[01:46:00] defamation let's read starting in verse 5 in the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand in it was written it is reported among the nations
[01:46:17] and Geshem also says it that you and the Jews intend to rebel that is why you're building the wall and according to these reports you wish to become their king and you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem
[01:46:36] there is a king in Judah and now the king will hear of these reports so now come let us take counsel together then Nehemiah sent to him saying no such things as you say have been done for you are inventing them out of your own mind
[01:46:56] for they all wanted to frighten us thinking their hands will drop from the work and it will not be done but now O God strengthen my hands so you see here when distraction fails, the enemies publish this open letter. You could say it's an ancient PR
[01:47:17] campaign. Really, it's a slander campaign. It's a smear campaign, basically accusing Nehemiah of treason. Hey, you're building a wall to crown yourself king. You've even hired prophets to proclaim it. The slander here is meant to frighten and give pause to the builders, to make them
[01:47:39] second-guess Nehemiah Sanballat and the rest of the enemies hope to make the builders question the whole project or if he even Nehemiah had good intentions maybe he was doing this for his own power for his own good all this slander
[01:48:00] and misinformation just to make their hands drop from the work notice nehemiah's two-part response here number one a clear denial no such things as you say have been done for you are inventing them out of your own mind i love that verse basically nehemiah saying
[01:48:24] that is fake news get out of here i'm not listening to those lies right but then he turned for a short prayer to god and said now oh god strengthen my my hands he doesn't waste time
[01:48:42] litigating every rumor he gives only as much oxygen as the lie deserves then he goes straight to god and prays strengthen my hands and goes right back to work notice how nehemiah balances keeping a good conscience and trusting God with his good name and his good intentions, right?
[01:49:08] He refused to be sidetracked by public pressure. Nehemiah, I think, had a great confidence in his relationship with God. He had a great confidence to know that God knew the intentions of his heart. How did he know that? Because he knew God. He had a great relationship with God.
[01:49:34] He knew what God had called him to do. The great preacher, the application here is for us, I think, in this digital social media age of public post and quote open letters we need Nehemiah's wisdom
[01:50:01] don't we some accusations should be answered briefly and truthfully but many should just be left up to God do not let a PR crisis become a spiritual crisis do what Nehemiah did ask God not for an easier day but for stronger hands today the great preacher and theologian charles spurgeon
[01:50:28] counseled pastors to cultivate one blind eye and deaf ear to unfair criticism listen to honest rebuke but don't become a curator of slander leaders must expect criticism without being led by it and that's true for leaders in ministry pastors it's also true for leaders
[01:50:53] anywhere in the secular world you must expect criticism without being led by it the bridge to Christ here is pretty pretty obvious I think Jesus was also accused of slander wasn't he all the time false charges how did jesus respond look at first peter 2 23 he jesus entrusted
[01:51:22] himself to him god the father who judges justly nehemiah's short prayer foreshadows jesus's far greater trust in the face of far greater slander enemies tried to distract they defame next you'll see they try to deceive deception now
[01:51:52] starting in verse 10 now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Deliah, son of Mehedabel, who was confined to his home, he said, let us meet together in the house of God within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you.
[01:52:13] They are coming to kill you by night. But I said, should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live I shall not go in and I
[01:52:34] understood and saw that God had not sent him but he had pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him for this person purpose he was hired that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin and so they
[01:52:54] could give me a bad name in order to taunt me remember to buy in sand ballot oh my god according to these things that they did and also the prophetess no dia and the rest of the prophets that wanted to make me afraid so now the enemy tries
[01:53:12] religious manipulation a prophet named Shamaya apparently paid off by Tobiah and Sanballat urges Nehemiah hey let's hide out in the temple they're coming to kill you and they're coming tonight now it sounds sensible it has even a
[01:53:33] caring tone to it but it directly contradicts God's Word Nehemiah is not a priest entering the holy place would be a sin you can find that law in chapter and numbers chapter 18 verse 7 look it up I'm not going to put it on the screen
[01:53:55] but look that up Nehemiah discerns the lie that's going on here right should a man like me run away can a man such as I even go in the temple and live entering the holy place is a sin so the goal was not merely to frighten him but to make
[01:54:20] him sin so that they could discredit the work you see integrity matters and credibility matters Daniel talked about this last week in his commentary on these verses in Nehemiah Matthew Henry said the greatest mischief that our enemies can do is to frighten us into sin also I believe
[01:54:46] here the goal was not only to discredit nehemiah's work or or taught him but i believe they had really set him up the verses show this to be killed to totally get rid of him numbers 18 7
[01:55:04] clearly states that the penalty for someone who is not a priest entering the holy place is death think about it needs Maya's enemies would have a perfect legitimate reason to have him put to death and that way they get rid of Nehemiah they get rid of
[01:55:23] their problem and they discredit all the work that had been done up to that point so what's the application for us here in these verses not all spiritual advice or spiritual counsel is from Scripture test advice test counsel by Scripture not by
[01:55:51] fear it's not godly advice if it's not in Scripture and especially if it contradicts Scripture ask yourself these questions does this course of action require me to compromise clear obedience to God? Does it put my safety above God's truth?
[01:56:15] Listen to this. Courage is not recklessness. It's obedience when compromise seems safer.
[01:56:29] What's the bridge to Christ here? In the wilderness, Satan was tempting Jesus, right?
[01:56:37] he was he was not only tempting him but he was using scripture it was twisted scripture to attempt to move Jesus from obedience you can find that in Matthew 4 Jesus refused to be moved where Nehemiah refuses to illegitimately enter
[01:57:01] God's house, Jesus, the true high priest, opens the way for all who believe to enter in. Enemies try to distract, they try to defame, and they try to deceive when we are doing what God has called
[01:57:22] us to do, especially as the work draws near to completion. Nehemiah shows us to finish strong in the face of this opposition but don't stop there dedicate the work to the Lord listen to what's next in verses 15 and 16 dedication so the wall was finished
[01:57:48] on the 25th day in the month of Elul in 52 days and when all our enemies heard of it all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly on their own esteem for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of
[01:58:10] our God so the wall is finished in 52 days and here is the line that I pray will be said of my life will be said of our work will be said of our ministry
[01:58:28] They perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
[01:58:35] Folks, that is revival in one sentence, a finished work that only God can explain.
[01:58:45] You see, Daniel pointed out at the very beginning of this book in Nehemiah, of this series in Nehemiah, this is much more than a story of a building project.
[01:58:57] It is a story of a great and mighty God.
[01:59:05] Perseverance under pressure becomes a megaphone for God's power.
[01:59:10] And finishing the work is a testimony to God's glory.
[01:59:17] The application here for us is simple, isn't it?
[01:59:22] You finishing strong, completing the work that God has assigned to you may be the loudest sermon that your friends, your family, your neighbors will ever hear.
[01:59:40] The best apologetic is a completed assignment, a restored relationship that everybody knew, hey, that relationship was so far gone, God had to be involved.
[01:59:55] a recovery from an addiction a faithful ministry a rebuilt neighborhood a reconciled community just think about it peninsula as we god's given us a work to do to make disciples who make disciples who live biblical truth build solid homes and impact their community and world for
[02:00:19] christ just imagine at the end of that work which never ends by the way but at the end of our work here in our generation while we're on this earth a reconciled community mooresville not just this
[02:00:37] church mooresville what an awesome thing to even think about all through the book of nehemiah not just chapter 6 gives us a preview of Jesus both Nehemiah and Jesus left royal courts to identify with a broken people both faced relentless opposition mockery
[02:01:03] rumors death threats Nehemiah said I cannot come down and he finished the wall. Jesus would not come down from the cross and finished the work of salvation in us. Can I get an amen on that? He finished the work of our salvation. We're going to see someone getting
[02:01:37] baptized in this service. We had six people baptized this morning. This baptism is a testimony to how God finished the work of their salvation.
[02:01:53] It's a testimony to that.
[02:01:57] Peninsula, what great work has God put in your hands this season?
[02:02:03] Where are you tempted to come down?
[02:02:09] What rumor or fear is weakening your hands?
[02:02:15] today because jesus declared from the cross it is finished we can pray like nehemiah prayed oh god now give strengthen our hands let's pray father thank you for this word when distraction invites us down give us focus when we face defamation give us thicker skin
[02:02:52] and stronger and softer hearts when advice sounds spiritual but it's meant to deceive us give us clarity through your word and oh God when our hands grow tired give us your joy as our strength fix our eyes on jesus the author and finisher of our faith amen what is good to be

[02:03:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[02:03:25] able to continue in worship through getting celebrate when baptism um you know as pastor steve mentioned jesus is the one who accomplished our salvation for us he is the author the finisher the completer of our faith and one of the things that is really neat is every time we do one of our
[02:03:42] baptism classes, we tell them we spend the majority of the time talking about what it means to make that profession of faith, that faith commitment. Then we talk about baptism at the end of it,
[02:03:51] because that's how they get to share about their decision to follow Jesus. But the most important thing is every individual that we see get baptized, knowing that they understand their salvation is all due to the work of Jesus, what he has done for them and their acceptance and their faith
[02:04:08] and trust that they've put in Christ.
[02:04:10] And we tell them a lot.
[02:04:11] We point them to Romans chapter 6, where Paul says that in baptism, we have this picture of we are united, brought together with Jesus.
[02:04:21] Just like his death, we are died to our old self.
[02:04:24] We died to sin.
[02:04:25] And then just like his resurrection, that we are brought back to new life in Jesus.
[02:04:29] And we get to celebrate that.
[02:04:30] And that's why in just a moment, I'll ask Noah a question, two different questions.
[02:04:36] One is, do you believe in the life, death, and resurrection?
[02:04:38] Jesus has done everything necessary to save you.
[02:04:41] And that is our way of saying we understand salvation is not us.
[02:04:45] It's not what we earn or achieve.
[02:04:47] Our salvation is all in the completed work of Christ.
[02:04:50] And second, we ask, have you repented of your sins and trusted Christ as your Savior and followed Him for the rest of your life?
[02:04:57] And that's where he gets to tell you, yes, I've made that decision to follow Jesus.
[02:05:00] And we celebrate that with him.
[02:05:02] And so, Noah Gerhart, I'm going to ask you to come up here.
[02:05:05] Noah is in fourth grade.
[02:05:08] Keep him all the way to the end here.
[02:05:10] And in school with our kids, but also have a seat right here at the end.
[02:05:13] There you go.
[02:05:14] Face this way.
[02:05:15] There you go.
[02:05:16] Sit down right there.
[02:05:17] Have a seat.
[02:05:17] There you go.
[02:05:18] And Noah also got to have a lot of fun this winter.
[02:05:20] Got to coach Noah in basketball.
[02:05:22] So our kids' school, have a lot of fun with that.
[02:05:25] But even more importantly, we get to celebrate your decision and your faith in Christ today.
[02:05:31] So Noah, I want to ask you those two questions.
[02:05:33] And first, do you believe in his life, death, and resurrection?
[02:05:37] Jesus has done everything necessary to save you.
[02:05:41] And Noah, have you confessed of your sin and trusted Christ as your Savior to follow him for the rest of your life?
[02:05:47] All right, Noah, then it's our honor and privilege to baptize you in the Father, Son, and Spirit, buried with him in likeness death, and raised to walk in new life.

[02:05:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[02:05:59] What an awesome testimony to be able to see that together and give God glory through it all.
[02:06:13] Let's stand and let's sing on this song, Build My Life.
[02:06:32] Worthy of every song we could ever sing.
[02:06:36] Come on, church.
[02:06:39] Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring.
[02:06:45] Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe.
[02:06:49] And we live for you.
[02:06:57] Jesus, the name above every other name.
[02:07:01] Jesus, the only one who could ever save. You're worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. And we live for you. Oh, we live for you.
[02:07:20] There is no one like you. There is none beside you. Open up my eyes in wonder. Show me who you are and fill me with your heart and lead me in your love to those around me.
[02:08:14] And I will build my life upon your love It is a firm foundation I will put my trust And I will not be shaken

[02:08:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[02:08:41] What a wonderful time of worship this morning, amen?
[02:08:51] We get a chance to worship together, see an incredible baptism open up God's Word, and then just allow Him just to do incredible works in and amongst our lives, our families, and our church, our community. Just a couple announcements before we get going. Just
[02:09:06] want to let you know that this, right after this service, is our starting point. It's a time for you to come and just learn a little more about Peninsula Baptist Church, and we invite you to
[02:09:16] come. It's just right across the hallway in the fellowship hall. We've got lunch for you. You may be thinking, well, I didn't sign up. Come on anyway. We got you covered. If you did sign up,
[02:09:25] come on we want to make sure that you get covered so that you are here just to hear what god is doing here at peninsula baptist church the second announcement something that you've maybe been
[02:09:34] hearing a lot about and that's the davidson church plant heritage church is what the the new church plants uh the name of their church and we just want to invite you to come if you're interested
[02:09:45] in just learning a little more about what's going on down in the future tense as far as the davidson church plant you want to learn what's happening what's uh kind of what's been happening as far
[02:09:54] as all the preparation work or you may be just a little more interested from the standpoint that maybe god might be calling you to this church plant this coming wednesday night is your opportunity to to learn way more about what is going on in this in this uh this this god-sized
[02:10:11] movement heading down toward davidson so we just invite you to come you do need to sign up for that that's this coming wednesday at 6 30 go to our website you can get signed up it's easy no problem
[02:10:22] we'd love to see you there and as always we want to end our time quoting god's word letting it his word coming off our lips as we walk out these doors and today it's in first corinthians chapter
[02:10:34] 15 and be on the screen verse number 58 say this along with me therefore my beloved brothers be steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of the lord knowing that in the lord your labor
[02:10:51] is not in vain. You are sent.