Nehemiah | Session 2 | Working together (unity) Big Ideas: ● Last week’s review ● Leading God’s Kairos Seasons ● The Healthy Functioning Body of Christ Review The story of Nehemiah begins with an unassuming servant and follows his personal journey to become the official governor of Israel during its reconstruction, which reminds us that good leaders are called and forged by God through testing, trial, discipleship, and obedience. Leading God’s Kairos Seasons God does not need us to be fully convinced analytically for us to obey. Faith does not rest in having all the details figured out. Faith rests in obeying based on the faithfulness of God. Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 1 Peter 1:5-9 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. The Healthy Functioning Body of Christ “The church is not made up of natural “friends.” It is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything of the sort. Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus himself, they commit themselves to doing what he says - and he commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.” — D. A. Carson Nehemiah 2:16-18 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. • The resources for the harvest are in the harvest. (disciples, paul, timothy, etc) • All are gifted, called, and ministers. • You must buy in to play your part. • Unity does not mean we disappear or lose our individuality, but we become more together. Better together. Differences produce a beautiful harmony that isn’t experienced alone. • Unity does not mean full agreement and getting along. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Nehemiah 3:1-32 (can’t pronounce most of the names) · Built gates, hung doors and beams, and made repairs. · Priests consecrated as they went. · Goldsmiths and merchants used their skills to repair those parts as needed. · Perfumers used their skills to make repairs. · Leaders, priests, skilled craftsman, businessmen, sons, daughters, etc. all partnered their gifts and labor for the common goal Nehemiah lead them in. (people from all walks of life who normally would not be in unity, laid down a lot to do what God was leading them to do) 1 Peter 4:8-11 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. Acts 4:32-37 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 (context: ministry of the spirit in discipleship and life transformation) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. • My sacrifice allows His life to flow through me. • The mark (s) of death and sacrifice are always manifest in the lives of people God uses. • My death/sacrifice means putting myself, my dreams, desires, and goals on the altar. • My sacrifice will produce Kingdom fruit in others. Worship is at the center of the life of God’s people, and it includes the willing, joyful giving of their resources (time, treasure, talent) (10:28–39). Take Away: 1. What time, treasure, and talent has God given me and asking me to submit to His Kingdom purposes? 2. What practical step can I take to join in with what God is doing at Catalyst Church?