This is the final sermon in the What Mean These Stones? series. I preached this sermon June 28, 2009.
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:3
Introduction: One of the greatest monuments in our nation is the Washington Monument standing in the District of Columbia. Standing at just over 555 feet tall, it is an impressive structure and the tallest stone monument in the world, and when it was built was the tallest building in the world. Graffiti from the 1800s discovered by workers renovating the Washington Monument has quite a different tone from that usually found today on the sides of buildings and subway cars."Whoever is the human instrument under God in the conversion of one soul, erects a monument to his own memory more lofty and enduing (sic) than this," reads the inscription which can now be viewed by visitors to the monument.It is signed BFB. No one knows who that is, or who left the small drawings and 19th century dates on other walls.The markings in the lobby of the monument were covered over when it was decorated at the turn of the century. They were found when workers removed marble wainscoting as part of a year-long $500,000 renovation which was just completed. As we consider the memorial we are now erecting. We realize that no one may ever build a memorial to any of us, but our memorial will stand just the same. What will our memorial say of us? Paul speaks of something written on our hearts, and there is actually a dual meaning here that we will see more in a minute. But he contrasts something written on tables of stone verses tables of the heart.The reference of tables of stone that comes to mind is that of the 10 commandments. We remember how that Moses ascended the mountain of Sinai and there received the commandments of God written on tables of stone. We remember how that when Moses confronted the Israelites when they sinned by worshiping the golden calf and he threw down the tablets and they shattered. He later rewrote the commandments on stone tablets. Why stone? Papyrus and parchment were available. But to write in stone tells us several things. To write the commandments on stone tells us that what is written is important, it tells us that what is written is lasting, or permanent. And it tells us that what is written in stone is unchangeable. You didn’t write just anything on stone. But Paul says that what is written is on the heart, not on stone. Why, even with stone, time and elements will wear it away. Eventually this world will be destroyed along with stone. But what is written on the heart is eternal. And what is written on the heart is eternal. So what is written on the heart is important, it is lasting and it is unchangeable. While the law was written on stone, the gospel is written on the heart.There are three types of stones, if you will, that we must write on. Three things that are written on the heart that are important, everlasting and unchangeable.
The Keystone of Your Testimony
A keystone is the stone at the top of a stone arch and it is the stone that keeps the whole arch from falling. It is something on which everything else depends.
1. The gospel is written on the heart, a testimony of salvation. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
2. Testimony of obedience 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
3. Testimony of faithfulness – 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
When the cornerstone was laid some said this "No more Washingtons shall come in our time ... But his virtues are stamped on the heart of mankind. He who is great in the battlefield looks upward to the generalship of Washington. He who grows wise in counsel feels that he is imitating Washington. He who can resign power against the wishes of a people, has in his eye the bright example of Washington." While this monument was built in memorial to George Washington our first president, Washington built his own memorial as is evident in these words. And if that 555 tall obelisk were not standing, a monument of George Washington exists in the hearts and minds of Americans.
Do you have a testimony? Can you tell your testimony? Does your life demonstrate a testimony?
Milestones of a Walk of Faith
Events in life indicating significant progress
1. Time of trial and testing Ps 23 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
2. Times of victory 1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
3. Times of growth – 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
-1 Peter 2:2-3 2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Capstone of a legacy of faith
-finishing stone of a structure, it is the crowning achievement,
On the western face of the capstone is inscribed the message Laus Deo – latin for Praise be to God.
-Paul is speaking of the Corinthian Christians themselves being a letter written on his heart. (the problem of letters of commendation). This is his praise to God!
1. Legacy of spiritual children – Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
A true heart of compassion will let those on the way to destruction know they can escape, but the only escape is through Jesus Christ. We need to tell people they're in trouble with God and that God alone has provided a way to escape. But How? Do we all have to share the same way? No, the unbelieving world is made up of a variety of people: young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, urban, rural, with different race, personalities, values, politics, and religious backgrounds. It's going to take more than one style of evangelism to reach such a diverse population!
So what is your style?
Confrontational? (Acts 2)When Peter preached – and he pointed out they were responsible for crucifying Jesus. Repent and be baptized, save yourselves from this corrupt generation. (one style of confronting with 10 commandments)
Intellectual? (Acts 17) Paul debated with the philosophers on Mars Hill to convince them.
Testimonial? (John 9) One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!
Relational? (Mark 5) –the man at the tombs possessed by demons. Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.
Invitational? (John 4) The Samaritan woman at the well begged the people of the city to come and hear Jesus for themselves.
Serving? (Acts 9) Dorcas impacted her city by doing deeds of kindness.
Don't ever think you're a second class Christian because you don't proclaim Christ like Peter or Paul. Discover your own method. Then get out of your chair and use it, for the Glory of God. Live by faith, not fear!!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Smooth Stones
This is the fourth sermon in the What Mean These Stones? series. I preached this sermon June 21, 2009.
Text: 1 Samuel 17:39-40
Introduction: Being a typical boy growing up, I had my fair share of scraps and scrapes. Now I never was fond of fighting and never much good at it, but I did get into a few brawls. While I have no brothers or sisters that I grew up with, I had 3 cousins about the same age and we played together, grew up together and yes we fought each other many times. But thankfully we never really hurt each other badly.
One particular time 3 of us got into a fight. Brian, Scott and I had a heated exchange, a few pushes and threats. Scott hopped on his bicycle and was riding around the driveway taunting me and knew I couldn’t do anything about it. If I approached him he would ride off. So I picked up a football and threatened to throw it and knock him off his bike. Now you must understand, I am not an athlete and it was more or less an empty threat. He called my bluff cause he knew I couldn’t hit him with that football. I cocked my arm and he started riding off toward the road. I threw that ball as hard as I could, not really expecting to hit him. He was about 25 yards out and that football came down and hit him square on the head. Causing him to wipeout on his bike. Thankfully, he was more mad than hurt. I’m sure I got a spanking from dad, but I was overjoyed because I hit a moving target at that distance. Once in a lifetime.
Funny thing about kids when they fight each other is that often they fight those that are closest to them (their best friend), not their enemy. Kids usually fight over the silliest things, and fight, well, like children. Unfortunately Christians are a lot like children. Probably evidence of spiritual immaturity. We fight the wrong enemy, usually fellow Christians, those close to us. We fight over silly things that have no real significance and Christians fight like children.
Unfortunately, many of sitting here today are defeated because we are fighting like children in the midst of real spiritual warfare. We pick fights, we play church games, and yet there is a real spiritual warfare going around us and it is beating us down.
David was a young man, not old enough to be in the military, yet David had a remarkable maturity when it comes to the battles he fights. He was accused of childish immaturity and yet proved to be a mature warrior on the battlefield. He killed the giant Goliath with a sling and a stone, almost a child’s toy. We see that for his weapon, he chose five smooth stones. It only took one. People have often talked and questioned what about the other four. Some have suggested he saved them for Goliath’s four giant brothers. But I don’t see any evidence in the scripture that he killed Goliath’s brothers with the remaining four. We don’t know, but it could be that he kept them as a reminder of what God did.
As we consider the monument we are building in this life we realize the very reality of the spiritual warfare we face. And in this warfare we look behind us and see there are many battles that have been won and many lost. It is the victories won in faith that make the difference. We are building our monument, we need the chief cornerstone, and God can use the broken stones of our lives, but we also need to leave behind some smooth stones. Stones that represent the victories won by faith in our Lord. So instead of fighting in childish scuffles, lets wage in the spiritual warfare. Lets use this account of David and Goliath to give us some guidance.
Clear Identification of the Enemy
It was clear in this instance that Goliath was the enemy, an intimidating enemy at that!
We have chosen the wrong battles and often misidentified the enemy.
Ephesians 6:10-12 10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Peter said in 1 Peter 5: 8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
-we do not face a physical enemy, but a spiritual enemy, that is why we must have the spiritual weapons at hand.
The devil (accuser), Satan (adversary), tempter, murderer, liar and father of lies, thief, a serpent and god of this age.
Lucifer son of the morning Is 14:12-15 12: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13: For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15: Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Careful Preparation for Battle
Preparation for spiritual warfare must begin before we even face the enemy – vs 32-37
Rejection of Saul’s armor (David will not face the giant the way the world says it should be done) vs 38-39
Choice of weapons (reflect trust in God, God will use the weapons at hand). Vs 40 - 43
Put on the whole armor of God
Ephesians 6: 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Confident Expectation of Victory
You may lose if you fight, but you will most assuredly lose if you don’t
Choose battles worth fighting for – a hill on which you are willing to die
-God’s honor was at stake vs 45-47
Enter the battlefield and engage the enemy
Vs 48-51
Stand firm, resis the devil and he will flee from you James 4:7, Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 1 John 4:4
There are things worth fighting for: life, morality, souls…
You have prepared, you have identified the enemy and you have chosen that this is a battle worth fighting. The confidence you have lies in the prayers you have prayed and others are praying for you, without prayer you are in danger.
Prayer is the energy to fight the battle – Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19: And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Text: 1 Samuel 17:39-40
Introduction: Being a typical boy growing up, I had my fair share of scraps and scrapes. Now I never was fond of fighting and never much good at it, but I did get into a few brawls. While I have no brothers or sisters that I grew up with, I had 3 cousins about the same age and we played together, grew up together and yes we fought each other many times. But thankfully we never really hurt each other badly.
One particular time 3 of us got into a fight. Brian, Scott and I had a heated exchange, a few pushes and threats. Scott hopped on his bicycle and was riding around the driveway taunting me and knew I couldn’t do anything about it. If I approached him he would ride off. So I picked up a football and threatened to throw it and knock him off his bike. Now you must understand, I am not an athlete and it was more or less an empty threat. He called my bluff cause he knew I couldn’t hit him with that football. I cocked my arm and he started riding off toward the road. I threw that ball as hard as I could, not really expecting to hit him. He was about 25 yards out and that football came down and hit him square on the head. Causing him to wipeout on his bike. Thankfully, he was more mad than hurt. I’m sure I got a spanking from dad, but I was overjoyed because I hit a moving target at that distance. Once in a lifetime.
Funny thing about kids when they fight each other is that often they fight those that are closest to them (their best friend), not their enemy. Kids usually fight over the silliest things, and fight, well, like children. Unfortunately Christians are a lot like children. Probably evidence of spiritual immaturity. We fight the wrong enemy, usually fellow Christians, those close to us. We fight over silly things that have no real significance and Christians fight like children.
Unfortunately, many of sitting here today are defeated because we are fighting like children in the midst of real spiritual warfare. We pick fights, we play church games, and yet there is a real spiritual warfare going around us and it is beating us down.
David was a young man, not old enough to be in the military, yet David had a remarkable maturity when it comes to the battles he fights. He was accused of childish immaturity and yet proved to be a mature warrior on the battlefield. He killed the giant Goliath with a sling and a stone, almost a child’s toy. We see that for his weapon, he chose five smooth stones. It only took one. People have often talked and questioned what about the other four. Some have suggested he saved them for Goliath’s four giant brothers. But I don’t see any evidence in the scripture that he killed Goliath’s brothers with the remaining four. We don’t know, but it could be that he kept them as a reminder of what God did.
As we consider the monument we are building in this life we realize the very reality of the spiritual warfare we face. And in this warfare we look behind us and see there are many battles that have been won and many lost. It is the victories won in faith that make the difference. We are building our monument, we need the chief cornerstone, and God can use the broken stones of our lives, but we also need to leave behind some smooth stones. Stones that represent the victories won by faith in our Lord. So instead of fighting in childish scuffles, lets wage in the spiritual warfare. Lets use this account of David and Goliath to give us some guidance.
Clear Identification of the Enemy
It was clear in this instance that Goliath was the enemy, an intimidating enemy at that!
We have chosen the wrong battles and often misidentified the enemy.
Ephesians 6:10-12 10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Peter said in 1 Peter 5: 8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
-we do not face a physical enemy, but a spiritual enemy, that is why we must have the spiritual weapons at hand.
The devil (accuser), Satan (adversary), tempter, murderer, liar and father of lies, thief, a serpent and god of this age.
Lucifer son of the morning Is 14:12-15 12: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13: For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15: Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Careful Preparation for Battle
Preparation for spiritual warfare must begin before we even face the enemy – vs 32-37
Rejection of Saul’s armor (David will not face the giant the way the world says it should be done) vs 38-39
Choice of weapons (reflect trust in God, God will use the weapons at hand). Vs 40 - 43
Put on the whole armor of God
Ephesians 6: 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Confident Expectation of Victory
You may lose if you fight, but you will most assuredly lose if you don’t
Choose battles worth fighting for – a hill on which you are willing to die
-God’s honor was at stake vs 45-47
Enter the battlefield and engage the enemy
Vs 48-51
Stand firm, resis the devil and he will flee from you James 4:7, Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 1 John 4:4
There are things worth fighting for: life, morality, souls…
You have prepared, you have identified the enemy and you have chosen that this is a battle worth fighting. The confidence you have lies in the prayers you have prayed and others are praying for you, without prayer you are in danger.
Prayer is the energy to fight the battle – Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19: And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Monday, June 8, 2009
Broken Stones
This is the third sermon in the What Mean These Stones? series. I preached this sermon June 7, 2009.
Text: Nehemiah 4:1-3
Introduction: When I was a small child, probably not even in school yet I remember a flower vase that my mom had. It was a small glass bowl really, with a glass lid. Inside the vase, or bowl, was some small flowers. They were not real flowers. But they had a wonderful scent. When you opened the lid to the bowl and fragrant aroma would fill the air. I can’t really remember why, but this little vase of artificial flowers was very special to mom, it was precious to her. As a little child I enjoyed lifting the lid to the bowl and smelling the flowers. I would ask mom every chance I got to smell those flowers. I recall she used to set them on the console television we had. Where we could all enjoy their beauty and aroma when we wanted. I can remember the last time I smelled the flowers, when I picked up the bowl and dropped it on the floor and it shattered. I was so sad, I may have even cried and I remember mom was very sad too. I wanted to do everything possible to keep the flowers but there were too many pieces. It was broken and couldn’t be fixed, and sadly was never replaced.
There are times when life makes us feel like we are broken in pieces. Perhaps too shattered to believe there is any hope that someone could put the pieces back together.
Nehemiah is the account of jews returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The Babylonians had conquered Jerusalem, breached the walls and destroyed the temple leaving the city and the land desolate. Many of those that survived the Babylonian conquest were taken into captivity and deported out of Jerusalem. Nehemiah is the account of the man Nehemiah who was cupbearer to the king and felt the burden from God to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. In our text we see where Nehemiah has led the people to begin the work of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. We see how they were opposed by Sanballat and Tobiah and Sanballat asks the question in verse 2 “Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish which are burned?” In other words, can they really rebuild the walls from these old broken and burned stone? The answer he expects is no. The wall is too broken, nobody can pick up the pieces and put it back together.
But Nehemiah believed there is a God who could do the impossible.
The wall was so precious to Nehemiah that he wept and risked his very life to go to Jerusalem to rebuild. Maybe your life is in pieces, maybe your hopes are shattered and those things that were precious to you are like broken stones and you wonder is there any hope.
The God of Nehemiah is the same God that can put the broken pieces together again.
Broken Stones
the stones that are precious that have been broken
1. Broken past – those things behind us are often a hindrance to our service to the Lord. We let past failures, past mistakes, past sins keep us from being all that we can be in the Lord. The past is haunting, it often keeps people from salvation thinking God will never forgive. Or sometimes keeps us paralyzed because we can’t forgive ourselves.
-Paul’s advice – Phil 3:14 13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2. Broken dreams – not only may we have a broken past, but there are some that have a broken future. Dreams not realized, hopes unfulfilled, disappointments abound.
-Joseph was a dreamer –quite literally he dreamed of when he would lead his family. His jealous brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt where he ended up in the house of Potipher, then in prison. For years he was the lowest of low. Surely this is not what he expected, his dreams were broken. But then in his own time God raised Joseph second only to Pharaoh. Joseph had this to say about it to his brothers “20: But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20
3. Broken hearts – David had a broken heart Psalm 69: 20: Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Go back and read the first 19 verses)
-Psalm 147:3 : He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4. Broken commitments and promises – whether it be promises and commitments we have broken – God is a God who gives us a second chance. Or whether it be promises and commitments broken to us. God alone is always faithful, he never breaks his promise.
5. Broken relationships – friends or family you thought you could count on, but the relationship is broken. But God will never leave you nor forsake you
6. Broken homes – the ones closest to us may fail, but God is the one to whom we may cry Abba Father.
Break In Stones
-those things that try to break into your life - interruptions and oppositions in life
1. Anger of the enemy Vs 1 – they were angry that the jews were trying to put their city back together. It amazes me how that when you try to put the broken pieces of your life back together how people get angry about it and will ridicule you. But they will.
2. Taunting of the enemy Vs 2 – will they sacrifice implies that it will take more than prayer and worship to rebuild the wall –implies God is impotent. They would say your life is too much of a mess even for God to put back together.
-will they make an end in a day - means they will realize how impossible it is and give it up
(those who will taunt you when you become a Christian – it won’t last, He can’t do it, Look at what he has done in his past).
3. Discouragement of the enemy Vs 3 – if a fox crawls up on the wall it will all come down.
Breakthrough Stones
1. Not distracted by the enemy - they didn’t let the enemy’s lies keep them from their work.
-Peter was distracted by the enemy 21: From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23: But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
2. Prayer is the tool to put together the broken pieces Nehemiah 4:4-5
3. Kept on working on it – did not get discouraged, didn’t quit
-Nehemiah 4:6
4. The walls were completed
-Nehemiah 6:15 – wall completed in only 52 days!
Vs 16 – God gets the credit – they couldn’t stop the breakthrough because the breakthrough came from God.
-You can’t stop the Lord!
Text: Nehemiah 4:1-3
Introduction: When I was a small child, probably not even in school yet I remember a flower vase that my mom had. It was a small glass bowl really, with a glass lid. Inside the vase, or bowl, was some small flowers. They were not real flowers. But they had a wonderful scent. When you opened the lid to the bowl and fragrant aroma would fill the air. I can’t really remember why, but this little vase of artificial flowers was very special to mom, it was precious to her. As a little child I enjoyed lifting the lid to the bowl and smelling the flowers. I would ask mom every chance I got to smell those flowers. I recall she used to set them on the console television we had. Where we could all enjoy their beauty and aroma when we wanted. I can remember the last time I smelled the flowers, when I picked up the bowl and dropped it on the floor and it shattered. I was so sad, I may have even cried and I remember mom was very sad too. I wanted to do everything possible to keep the flowers but there were too many pieces. It was broken and couldn’t be fixed, and sadly was never replaced.
There are times when life makes us feel like we are broken in pieces. Perhaps too shattered to believe there is any hope that someone could put the pieces back together.
Nehemiah is the account of jews returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. The Babylonians had conquered Jerusalem, breached the walls and destroyed the temple leaving the city and the land desolate. Many of those that survived the Babylonian conquest were taken into captivity and deported out of Jerusalem. Nehemiah is the account of the man Nehemiah who was cupbearer to the king and felt the burden from God to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. In our text we see where Nehemiah has led the people to begin the work of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. We see how they were opposed by Sanballat and Tobiah and Sanballat asks the question in verse 2 “Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish which are burned?” In other words, can they really rebuild the walls from these old broken and burned stone? The answer he expects is no. The wall is too broken, nobody can pick up the pieces and put it back together.
But Nehemiah believed there is a God who could do the impossible.
The wall was so precious to Nehemiah that he wept and risked his very life to go to Jerusalem to rebuild. Maybe your life is in pieces, maybe your hopes are shattered and those things that were precious to you are like broken stones and you wonder is there any hope.
The God of Nehemiah is the same God that can put the broken pieces together again.
Broken Stones
the stones that are precious that have been broken
1. Broken past – those things behind us are often a hindrance to our service to the Lord. We let past failures, past mistakes, past sins keep us from being all that we can be in the Lord. The past is haunting, it often keeps people from salvation thinking God will never forgive. Or sometimes keeps us paralyzed because we can’t forgive ourselves.
-Paul’s advice – Phil 3:14 13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
2. Broken dreams – not only may we have a broken past, but there are some that have a broken future. Dreams not realized, hopes unfulfilled, disappointments abound.
-Joseph was a dreamer –quite literally he dreamed of when he would lead his family. His jealous brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt where he ended up in the house of Potipher, then in prison. For years he was the lowest of low. Surely this is not what he expected, his dreams were broken. But then in his own time God raised Joseph second only to Pharaoh. Joseph had this to say about it to his brothers “20: But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20
3. Broken hearts – David had a broken heart Psalm 69: 20: Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Go back and read the first 19 verses)
-Psalm 147:3 : He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4. Broken commitments and promises – whether it be promises and commitments we have broken – God is a God who gives us a second chance. Or whether it be promises and commitments broken to us. God alone is always faithful, he never breaks his promise.
5. Broken relationships – friends or family you thought you could count on, but the relationship is broken. But God will never leave you nor forsake you
6. Broken homes – the ones closest to us may fail, but God is the one to whom we may cry Abba Father.
Break In Stones
-those things that try to break into your life - interruptions and oppositions in life
1. Anger of the enemy Vs 1 – they were angry that the jews were trying to put their city back together. It amazes me how that when you try to put the broken pieces of your life back together how people get angry about it and will ridicule you. But they will.
2. Taunting of the enemy Vs 2 – will they sacrifice implies that it will take more than prayer and worship to rebuild the wall –implies God is impotent. They would say your life is too much of a mess even for God to put back together.
-will they make an end in a day - means they will realize how impossible it is and give it up
(those who will taunt you when you become a Christian – it won’t last, He can’t do it, Look at what he has done in his past).
3. Discouragement of the enemy Vs 3 – if a fox crawls up on the wall it will all come down.
Breakthrough Stones
1. Not distracted by the enemy - they didn’t let the enemy’s lies keep them from their work.
-Peter was distracted by the enemy 21: From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23: But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
2. Prayer is the tool to put together the broken pieces Nehemiah 4:4-5
3. Kept on working on it – did not get discouraged, didn’t quit
-Nehemiah 4:6
4. The walls were completed
-Nehemiah 6:15 – wall completed in only 52 days!
Vs 16 – God gets the credit – they couldn’t stop the breakthrough because the breakthrough came from God.
-You can’t stop the Lord!
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