So here Nehemiah is encountering something that often takes young leaders by surprise the first time it happens – opposition from within.

In Chapter 4 (and part of 6) Nehemiah and his team of builders were on the sharp end of opposition from next door. But you might expect all God’s people to be passionate about seeing God’s work progress, to see the wall be built. Not so!

Internal opposition to a project, and especially to God’s work comes in all sorts of colours. Sometimes it is explicit and direct, other times it is passive and much more sneaky.

The opposition that Nehemiah experienced here is of the passive and sneaky kind.

Nobles were behaving unethically and assuming that their behaviour was acceptable.

Here’s the situation

Nehemiah had brought with him some Jewish men from Babylon to help with the rebuilding of the wall and other civil engineering work in the city. Although the main wall was completed in record time (about 52 days) it’s clear that they stayed on for some considerable time to do the renovations within the city.

Then when a food shortage struck, things got very difficult.

Do you remember that (in ch 3) when the wall was being built, even the nobles of the city got their hands dirty and did some of the building.

The complaints

Not enough food (v1)

Neh 5:1-2 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers.

2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”

We have to eat! Clearly the common people were suffering economic hardship and it was affecting their ability to provide for their families.

These were not people complaining that they couldn’t afford a holiday in the summer, they couldn’t afford to buy food to stay alive.

Borrowing (v2)

Neh 5:3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

They had acted out of necessity (in order to eat) and ended up in deep debt

Taxation

Neh 5:4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

From archaeological records we estimate that the Persian king was extracting about 20million darics (the local currency) a year and almost none of it was being fed back into the local economy. This was usually in the form of gold and silver coin or artefacts and by Nehemiah’s time it was producing hardship.

Most of it was just melted down. When Alexander the Great invaded he found 340 tons of gold and bout 1500 tons of silver had been squirrelled away!

Unfairness

Neh 5:5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”

To grasp the severity of this situation you need to know this: If you borrow money (as a mortgage) to buy a house, you put up the house itself as collateral. In Nehemiah’s time you could put up people as collateral, because they could be worth something as servants or slaves. That’s what is happening here. If a man couldn’t repay the loan his children, his wife or even the man himself could be sold into slavery

• Because of their desperate situation these people were being caught by loan sharks.

• In Israel their rule was that if an Israelite had to sell himself into slavery, he should be released on the 7^th year – the ‘jubilee’.

BUT the people who were the loan sharks here were fellow Israelites!

You may remember I said that Nehemiah has more journal-type material than other similar OT books. And here is a good example:

Nehemiah was an angry man.

So what made Nehemiah mad?

• The lack of food – probably
• the necessity to borrow – probably,
• the taxation – even more probably

but I think the clincher was the sheer inequity of it all!

• The Hebrew word is hard to translate but it means something like “Holding your fellow Jews as pledges for debt” (NEB)

And when he realised that fellow Israelites were fleecing the honest, hard-working people of the land, he just saw red!

Neh 5:6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.

This man was seething!

OK, so you’re a leader. And someone inside your organisation comes to you to protest about something. You hear what they have to say and everything within you revolts against the injustice of it all. In that moment what do you do?

• Lash out, fire somebody, send an angry e-mail – and make sure that the right people get circulated in on it so as to give it the maximum embarrassment factor?

Be careful with anger! It can have such destructive consequences is it’s not used wisely!

Here’s how Nehemiah reacted -

Nehemiah was a controlled man.

Neh 5:7 I pondered them [the accusations] in my mind

he spoke to himself

Nehemiah had, under God, developed a vital skill for any Christian leader – to know what he was thinking and why before the thought could escape his control and run riot in his head!

• Modern psychology helps us here Capturing negative or unsettling thoughts before they take root and play themselves out in our thinking can help us to avoid the trouble that comes from reacting instantly.

• Paul said (2 Cor 10:5) We … take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. <ppt>
• He thinks before he acts. He reflects before he remonstrates,

And in that split second he probably realised that this extortion angered God more than it angered Nehemiah.

• You take the initial thought and you reason with it, you remonstrate with it, you don’t let it get away with creating a life of its own inside your mind

He adopted a good leadership strategy – first

he spoke to the people causing the hardship

Neh 5:7 I pondered them [the accusations] in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials.

Nehemiah did not allow himself to be manipulated He is by this time very clear about what the issues are and who should be changing their behaviour.

• So he goes to see just them

v7 … I told them, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!”

“extracting usury” is another hard to translate word – but it carries the idea of extortion. This is God’s people placing financial burdens on other people of God

and there is, at this point, no evidence that they took Nehemiah’s accusation on board or even acknowledged it

So Nehemiah finds it necessary to take the issue wider:

v7 So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

and at this point the nobles could have relented and stopped the financial pressure – but they didn’t.

They may not like Nehemiah for raising the issue, but at least they know where they stand. Nehemiah is not being two-faced!

He called a meeting

He got the nobles and the people into the same room so that the nobles could see the consequences of their greed.

7 … I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!”

So Nehemiah brought back from Babylon some Jewish brothers, let’s call one of the Amos

And having settled back in the land, near Jerusalem to help with the rebuilding, Amos finds himself in severe financial hardship – probably because of taxation – and now because of a lack of food and prices therefore going through the roof. Amos borrows to help his family eat but can’t repay and ends up selling himself as a slave. Slave Amos now has some value to his new masters (the Jewish nobles) who sell him at a profit to the other people with money, Nehemiah and his leaders.

Making an unjust profit from someone else’s debt – does that sound familiar?

• This is precisely the ethic that has got many nations, including our own, into such debt in the last decade.

Named and shamed

It seems that Nehemiah’s hope was that they would have compassion and relent. But they didn’t.

8 … They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.

9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?

What is it that really matters? It’s the reputation, the glory of God that really matters here. There is no way these people should find themselves exploited by their fellow Israelites. That’s wrong by itself

But the bigger picture is what this says to the nations around – the Gentiles. “What will they think of our God is this is the way we behave!?

• “No mercy! no compassion! What kind of Godliness is this guys!?”

Neh 5:10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop!

Usury is hard to translate, but it’s tone is the exploiting of cash-strapped people for personal gain.

So Nehemiah’s theology is very clear: Failure to relate others – especially other believers – with compassion – is an insult to our God himself

Prov 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God.

1 Pet 2:12-15 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

It’s a challenging message to Christians like us to take every opportunity we can to relieve genuine poverty and act with compassion when we get the chance.

Nehemiah was a decisive man

He asked for a decisive, binding commitment

Neh 5:11-12 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them– …

12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”

Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.

Nehemiah was wise in the ways of the rich and knew they could do the same again The greed-gene that got them where they were would not be changed by a simple hand-shake!

Nehemiah was a thrifty man

Neh 5:14-15 Moreover, [for the 12 years I was governor of Judah] — neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

He had the right to a lavish lifestyle, and it was a right he relinquished. <PPT>

15 But the earlier governors — those preceding me — placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people.

But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.

Now Nehemiah is governor, his post entitles him to levy taxes – but he chooses not to.

When Jesus was on earth there was a moment when the disciples were arguing about who should be greatest

Luke 22:25-30

25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

… and here is Nehemiah living just like that!

Power always carries with it the temptation to exploitation (after all I’m the boss now) and corruption (no-one will notice a bit on the side, will they?)

He could have used his position to pander to his personal craving for pomp and luxury

It’s the glory, the reputation of God again!

• If God is going to be seen for who he is, He will be seen in Nehemiah’s words and actions!
• This is a man of integrity.
• He was a man with a vision from God – he worked staggeringly hard to see that vision become a reality and he did not exploit people in the process. That’s integrity!

Nehemiah was a prayerful man

He’s praying – again! And again this prayer tells us more about Nehemiah and gives us another dimension to his communication with the Lord.

Neh 5:19 Remember me with favour, O my God, for all I have done for these people.

This soulnds as if he’s asking God to congratulate him for his doings. But this is not salvation by works

He’s saying ‘examine me!’, ‘Look at my behaviour – and grant me your favour as a consequence’

Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

(pray)

Nehemiah 3:1-32

Just look at the Hebrew names!

• If someone has a grudge against you they could get you to do the Bible reading when the church reaches Neh 3 – that’s the time to go to another church!

(to business) in Nehemiah 3 we have one of the most extensive matches between archaeological remains and a single chapter of the Old Testament. All of these gates can be identified and the walls traced.

On the surface Nehemiah 3 it’s an obscure piece of civil engineering peppered with a list of Hebrew tongue twisters. However this is part of God’s word and therefore there is something for us to learn and grow from – and as soon as we start looking at Nehemiah we see all sorts of spiritual lessons coming out, especially in relation to leadership.

• It’s a wonderful example of what can be achieved when God’s people work together with a single aim in mind.

I was reading about a man, Viggo Olsen, who helped rebuild ten thousand houses in war-ravaged Bangladesh.

• He said he derived unexpected inspiration from reading a chapter ordinarily considered one of the least interesting in the Bible: “I was struck.. that no expert builders were listed in the `Holy Land brigade.’
• There were priests, priests’ helpers, goldsmiths, perfume makers, and women, but no expert builders or carpenters were named” (with J. Lockerbie, Daktar [Chicago: Moody, 1973], p. 324).
• It’s an extraordinary piece of joint building that reconstructed the wall in fifty-two days flat (see 6:15)

Few things have transformed society like the internal combustion engine

• whatever you drive from 600cc fiat to a 6 litre Ferrari >>>

When we start our cars few of us give any thought to the mechanism by which all the energy embedded in the fuel gets converted into massive amounts of force that can get half a ton of metal hurtling along a motorway at 70mph

• induction, compression, ignition, exhaust – suck squeeze bang blow >>>

Prayer is the great engine of the Christian church.

• It provides the motivating power of human beings and releases the divine power of God himself.

• But few of us give much thought to the mechanism of how the energy produced by prayer turns into the reality

Answer – here in Neh 1-3

How did Nehemiah’s prayer become a reality? If he had just prayed it would have been little more than a spiritual exercise But add 4 things to it and God’s plane of a rebuilt wall and a city that would give him credit could come about

• relationships <ppt>, (Nehemiah had cultivated key relationships in his life. There was a whole network of relationship turned the crank of God’s plan)
• initiative <ppt>, (Nehemiah took bold steps that nobody else had done to make things happen)
• responsibility <ppt> (he took charge himself and motivated the people to get the job done)
• devoted hard work <ppt>. (he, and the people, all got their hands dirty!

Let’s start with a principle that we glossed over last time I preached on this.

1:11 – I was cup-bearer to the king

Ask the question – how did Nehemiah get to be cup-bearer to the King?

• How did Nehemiah become the right man in the right place doing the right for the right reason?

Principle:

He bloomed where he was planted

Nehemiah simply could not have had the clout among the residue of people in Jerusalem to get all these other people working for him had he not been the King’s representative.

Just think how he got there.

Back at home, Nehemiah and his family had every right to be bitter about their lot

• Taken forcibly from their homeland, compelled to live in an alien environment, having to learn a new language, eat new food, submit to new laws
• >>>

The way it almost certainly did not happen was that Nehemiah read an advert pinned to the palace gate when he was wandering idly past one day “wanted: cup-bearer no previous experience required! – apply within!

• N had painstakingly worked his way up the court ladder to end up where he was

He built himself a reputation

• Every time the palace wanted someone to do something with excellence, Nehemiah came to mind
• Whenever they wanted someone who was trustworthy – N came to mind
• Whenever they wanted someone to manage a project well, N came to mind
• Whenever they wanted clarity and someone who wouldn’t use management speke, someone who would give a straight insightful answer to an honest question and not twoddle – Nehemiah came to mind.

And (based on the other things we know about Nehemiah) I can imagine that when there was a gap where anyone could take initiative and step in, likelihood is they’d find Nehemiah was in there sorting things out, making them better, solving problems and getting himself knows as a man of potential.

And all the time he carried this very Jewish name “Nehemiah” so the people in the palace knew, every time they used his name, that there was the God of the universe behind this man.

• And he ended up in this position of enormous influence while at the same time he never forgot his Jewish heritage.

There’s a whole hidden story behind how N becomes cup-bearer to the king.

He’s worked his way through the ranks to this position of responsibility and influence

Important life principle:

Climb the ladder you’re on!

So many men – esp young men today – deep inside – are waiting for the big break!

To suddenly jump to a different career ladder because someone has spotted their potential and will trust them with fame and fortune (preferably fortune)

I know a lady called Wendy – she works of us at Spring Harvest – does a fantastic job. And I can tell you that if you’re going to get asked to speak on the main stage at Spring harvest the phone call will probably come from her (so be warned!)

So one day you pick up the phone “It’s Wendy from Spring Harvest here – I hear you’re a good chap – you’ve don’t a bit of speaking”

“yep, I’ve done a 5 minute spot … at my small group … once last year”

“We’d like you to preach on the main stage at Spring Harvest! We want to book you for 5 nights at Minehead”

Does it happen like that – no!

Wendy looks for people with track record, the very best Christian communicators in the world and asks them – men and women who have built a reputation for Godliness, theological insight and great communication. (That’s why it’s worth going!)

It didn’t happen like that with Nehemiah – he climbed the ladder he was already on, working faithfully and with excellence in the palace, and God expected him and needed him to do that”

• He couldn’t have got where he was by any other way.
• It’s honouring to God to do your best, whatever it is your doing.

Col 3 “work at it heartily as serving the Lord and not men” (that’s what’s going on in Neh 3)

• It gives you such a buzz when you realise you’re serving someone bigger than your boss.
• Whether or not you get the big break.

I heard of a senior minister who was writing to a friend about one of his staff (not here!) “he needs to learn to work cheerfully in the inconspicuous.”

• And where you’re planted may be hidden from view.
• I think that’s what N was doing week in and week out! – for maybe 30yrs before in the economy of God he was catapulted into the lime-light.

In the history of revival it’s often the totally unknown and unheard of. People who have just been praying for years that God uses most powerfully.

They were content with the inconspicuous and God used them.

E.g. Christian and Peggy Smith – 82 & 84 years of age. One blind, the other crippled with Arthritis. They prayed in the 1949s that God would pour out blessing on the far reaches of Scotland n the North of Scotland . Praying God would send revival to the Hebrides. The last great move of God in the British Isles (arguably) took place because of two praying sisters.

• Whoever said that to be effective you’ve got to be famous!

Be a DNA bearer

Every project or organisation or church has its own DNA, it’s own set of values that make it what it is

• Nehemiah was the one who carried the DNA for this project. His drive, His initiative, his insight, his team building all worked together to achieve this remarkable project.

And did you notice the list of people involved- let me talk you through some of them.

5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

Tekoa was a small town 5 miles south of Bethlehem

The job got done but they didn’t put much effort into it.

• ‘nobles’ (Literally ‘exalted ones’) – aristocrats who disdained manual labour
• ‘shoulders’ Literally the word for the back of the neck. Probably a reference to oxen pulling a yoke
• Possibly they thought repairing walls was beneath them. (=> always be willing to do the humble job)

‘supervisors’ Literally ‘lords’ (adonai) Interestingly, 600 years later the Tekoans were called up to fight in a war by another king (Bar Kochba) and they refused to be mobilised. (Possibly thinking this too was too much like hard work) so Bar Kockba turned his troops on them and wiped them out!

8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

You know how rough the hand of perfumiers are!

“What can I do Nehemiah” – “here’s your pick-axe!”

These people (goldsmith and perfumier) were doing something that wasn’t in their direct line of expertise, they were just turning their hand to it.

And they embodied the DNA of the project.

We have to be just a bit careful about our theology of gifting >>>

• We’ve got to be careful that when we find our spiritual gift that that that’s the only thinking I’m ever supposed to do!
• Our gifting policy >>>

9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section.

Here is the governor getting his hands dirty!

12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

The same applies here but look at who else was getting their hands dirty!

• The whole family brought in to the task of rebuilding.

13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. They also repaired five hundred yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

500 yards is a huge distance – probably this was less damaged

17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.

Spiritual leaders getting their hands dirty too – He could have said “oh I’m a levite, a priest, a minister I ought not to be doing this!”

• instead he bore the DNA of the project

20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

Zealous about their work! >>>

27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.

The men of Tekoa did double duty, whereas their nobles ducked out!

I’m calling you to a massive building effort in 40 DOC! >>>

Know who’s driving

This comes on the back of Ezra 4 where Ezra tries to build a wall but is prevented. He’s a priest – he’s a spiritual leader and gets the run-around from the local authority.

Ezra had a great pan for refurbishment BUT

Ezra 4:4-5 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.

5 They hired counsellors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

News got back to the king and it was spun to him in such a way as to make it look like a rebellion

Ezra 4:21-22 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.

22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?

So now we can see what a remarkable turnaround this building all the wall represents! – All because Nehemiah bloomed where he was planted!

• And here he was in the driving seat, as the King’s representative, having no nonsense from people who thought they would try to stop them (even though it obvious hurt Nehemiah deeply at times) If no-one claims to be driving then seldom will anything happen!

Principle: When gifting and ministry coincide then god’s blessing flows. That was Nehemiah in this situation.

Pra

Dear Uncle Screwtape*

Good grief, you’re on Facebook! I must admit I never expected to get a friend request from my old Uncle who helped me all those years ago but this is a very pleasant surprise. Now where have you been all this time – taking a career break or something? They say old devils never die but you’ve been keeping your head well below the radar. Dare I ask, are you into black ops? Or can you not tell me?

I’ve been quite pleased with myself recently. Even got a commendation from our Father Below for screwing up a conference – you’d be proud of me. My patient was the main platform speaker (the minions glorified him as a spiritual hero) and I’d been working on getting him to mess with a woman who wasn’t his wife. The trick here is to manage the exposure correctly and I got the news out just in time to hit the twitter feeds when it really hurt. What happened? Well the conference wasn’t cancelled it just went off at half cock. The place was alive with rumours, half-truth, innuendo and gossip. A much better result if you ask me because no-one will want to book for next year. (And by the way, I must tell you about twitter although I don’t think you’ll like it. Too mindless by a mile for you I guess!)

That conference was a big coup and I’ve never forgotten your advice to me, honest (I hate that word). “Don’t tempt the patient to do anything too extravagantly wicked” you used to say. Most patients just aren’t that gullible so I’ve spent much of my time honing my drip-feeding skills so that temptation only catches patients one slip at a time. Much more effective in the long run. After all my aim is to befuddle, confuse and eventually corrupt the patient and I’m proud of the way I can make them so preoccupied with entertaining themselves that worship, prayer and reading the awful book become optional extras. Then they can easily let these threatening habits slip without anyone noticing – except me! Much success here because, as we both know, the safest path to hell is a gradual one.

Anyhow – let’s not lose contact again. I’ve always valued your advice.

Still your admiring nephew.

Wormwood

* Just in case you’re wondering what all this is about, Uncle Screwtape is a senior devil who many years ago had the job of educating a junior devil, Wormwood, in the art of tempting Christians. In this article they re-establish contact. The original letters from Screwtape to Wormwood were written by C S Lewis and you can buy the book “Screwtape Letters” from the Victoria Baptist Church bookstall (preferably) or from here.

Have you ever heard some news that made you feel really depressed? – that’s where Nehemiah is in this story.

Reading: Nehemiah 2

You may be wondering what on earth has the proceedings of an ancient Babylonian court have got to do with us today.
The wonder of the Bible is its timelessness. God’s word is able to speak to us even though the event recorded took place nearly 2,500 years ago.

• Have you ever heard some news that made you feel really depressed? – that’s where Nehemiah is in this story.
• Have you ever had to make a big ask of someone you’re a bit scared of? – that’s where Nehemiah is in this chapter.
• Have you ever faced a nerve-wracking situation and said under your breath “God, help!” – that’s where Nehemiah is today.

And all the way through we’re going to see the enormous difference that having God in your life makes!

This book of the Bible is in effect Nehemiah’s personal journal <ppt> and over and over again we’re going to see him calling on God for a steer in tough decisions and for help when things get tough

We’re going to see a sovereign God working <ppt> behind the events of Nehemiah’s life and we’re even going to see God achieving his purpose through King Artaxerxes who, so far as we can tell, had no time for God at all!

So here the bible teaches us about depression and the effect it had on Nehemiah

and the difference that having God in his life made.

• it teaches us about praying – especially ‘arrow’ praying when we’re desperate
• and it teaches us about initiative-taking if God is going to use us to make a difference in our family or society

(quite a bit for one Sunday morning!)

backstory

The city of Jerusalem was attacked by troops from Babylon (modern Iraq) and most of God’s people there carried off into exile. Some had returned and others stayed in Babylon, including Nehemiah’s family.

Nehemiah has risen through the royal palace and is now the King’s butler – an enormously influential position in the realm.

The story begins in ch 1 with Nehemiah hearing about the state of Jerusalem from some other Jews who had travelled there – and the news wasn’t good, The city had fallen into disrepair and the walls were dilapidated.

• Then something unusual happens. Instead of saying ‘that’s sad’ this news plunges Nehemiah into the pit of despair

• Now this is not normal behaviour and I wonder why it happened.

We can get a grasp on this by asking ‘what kind of home <ppt> was Nehemiah brought up in?

• We can tell from his name is was a devout Jewish home. His parents were committed enough to God to give their son a name which means ‘the Lord comforts’

• “What’s Jerusalem like daddy?”
• “Oh it’s fantastic, the buildings are magnificent, the streets are wide, the people trust God and the temple – one day you’ll see it I hope!”
• Every year the family would celebrate the passover and look forward to going home. One key line in the passover script … “next year in Jerusalem!”
• So Nehemiah grew up longing for the day he could go to his home to his roots in this stunning city. “next year in Jerusalem”

So when some of his Jewish brothers arrived and he asked about the remnant that were in Jerusalem, he heard a very different story. The place was a wreck. The buildings ruined, the walls tumbled down, the gates burned and the morale of the people was at rock bottom.

This was devastating news <ppt> to Nehemiah! His emotions spun down a vortex of despair and wept for weeks. (While, keeping up a jovial and pleasant personality in front of his master, the king.)

Why was Nehemiah so depressed? Surely he had one of the best jobs in the land! His peers would envy him for his success in the Babylonian court – he had everything going for him! This tells us two things

• Depression can strike anyone, <ppt> even high achievers – No-one is immune – in fact there are some very famous high profile achievers who battled with it (Winston Churchill <ppt> and Stephen Fry <ppt>)
• this is a particular form of depression, a reactive depression which sets in as a response to a profound loss <ppt>
• (different from other types of depression like endogenous depression where sadness can go on for years and requires different treatment)

Losses are inevitable. We lose things all the way through life and God knows this!

• The moment you were born you lost the snug warmth and comfort of your mother’s womb. You may not remember it, but it was a profound loss!
• When you left school you lost the company of many of your friends
• When you became an adult and you may have taken on the responsibilities of a marriage you lost some freedom – and when it comes to having children – you’ll sometimes feel as if you’ve lost the lot!

I remember talking with one man we prepared for marriage a few months after his wedding. I asked him how it was going. ‘Marriage is good, but I can’t just go out with my mates any more, I’ve always got to be thinking of Jane’ – with all the gains of marriage, this was a loss to him! He wasn’t a free agent any more.

• As we earn money we may make choices which may lose us our money – that’s a loss
• We may lose spending power because of the economic plight of UK PLC – it’s a loss.
• As we move into middle age we may lose our glamour or our athleticism. (E.g. IW – remember how I felt the first time CJW raced me in swimming pool and won!)
• Much later on we loose our faculties, our eyesight, our hair and eventually lose life as we know it.

Looking at life through the lens of losses, life is not a happy prospect but this is how God has ordained it.

One of the most vital spiritual skills we can develop in our walk with God handling losses with Godly resilience.

And not only losses that are inevitable in life, but also those that aren’t. Especially those losses that are the consequence of our own choices. E.g.

• Investing all your money in your business and the business goes belly-up – and I made the choice
• Getting into a marriage which turns out to be a violent nightmare – and I made the choice
• or seeing your children go off the rails that you so longed they would run on.
• Or having a plan for your career which you’ve set your heart on, but has never materialised in spite of your best efforts.

I’ve found that I’ve grown as a Christian, and as a man, more through my losses than my gains – and I’m still growing.

So for Nehemiah to hear that the home he’d set his hopes on was in ruins was a deep loss

And it appears that he did what most of us men do when we’re depressed – he hid it. <ppt>

Neh 2:1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,

This is four months after he’d heard the news and prayed.

Nehemiah was typical! Men tend to struggle with losses because we’re schooled to be winners and successful, not losers and underachievers. This is the way we tend to socialise young boys!

• Be at the top! Compete and win!

Nehemiah, schooled in the ways of the palace, had kept the lid on his loss for 4 months

But finally the tension had got too much for him and his prayer in chapter 1 finished with

Neh 1:11 … Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of .. the king.

Today is going to be the day when I come out with it, when I let my guard down.

1 … when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before;

There’s something significant here:

• Men and women tend to show their depressions differently

I know I’m stereotyping here, but hear me out!

• Men tend to blame others for their depression, women tend to blame themselves.
• Men tend to act out their depression, women will turn their feelings inwards
• men will try to keep control of themselves at all costs! But women will allow the dam to burst much sooner.
• Men will tend to turn to some anaesthetizing behaviour to smother their depression (TV, alcohol, sex (pornography)) , women will tend to turn to food, or friends

Overall – men tend to act out (to behave) their depression – you won’t hear it in their words but you will see it in their behaviour

2 <ppt> so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

What God gave Nehemiah was a person who deduced his inner state from his behaviour and brought the problem into the open.

• How insightful was that king! “This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” – and we call it depression
• and Nehemiah was acting out one of the classic symptoms – anhedonia <ppt> – a lack of joy in something he would otherwise have relished – being the King’s butler.

Then Nehemiah showed another classic male trait when he heard the king say this. He realised that the truth was out, he’d been rumbled -

2 .. I was very much afraid,

fear <ppt>

Whenever a man feels his innermost secrets have been exposed he feels scared!

So Nehemiah now has nothing to lose by telling the king what’s on his mind.

3 but I said to the king, “May the king live for ever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

This is the heart-stopping moment when the hang-glider first jumps off the cliff – is the air going to hold him or not?

arrow praying

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

What a remarkable answer to Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter 1 “Lord grant me favour with this man!”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

Chap 1 was full of a long prayer, no time for that here. This is an arrow prayer “God help!” “Lord I need you here!”

Nehemiah was balancing two competing realities here.

• The need to pray in faith <ppt>
• and the need to have a practical plan of action <ppt> and therefore know what you need to say.

The first requires sensitivity to the Lord, the second requires clear, decisive and logical thinking

Question: How did Nehemiah know that what he was about to say to the king was right? A: He didn’t

So here’s Nehemiah’s arrow prayer method – Pray earnestly and quickly, and then just say what you think God wants you to say (using your mind, your intelligence, your wisdom – that which the Lord has already invested in you) – then leave the rest to him.

Neh 2:5 <ppt> and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Remember that Jerusalem was under the king’s jurisdiction so Nehemiah was asking him to make a trip to another part of the empire to rebuild something that was broken down.

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

Go for it!

Taking initiative

Now here is Nehemiah going for the big ask!

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?”

Here’s the key -

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. <ppt>

9 So I went to the governors of Trans-euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

(NIV)

Today we start a new series: the spiritual principles that emerge from Nehemiah, one of the bible’s great leaders.

In particular we will see that Nehemiah was a prime example of someone who put structures in place to achieve God’s will for his life. Especially a structure of prayer.

These were both personal structures in the way he approached life and organisational structures in the way he managed a huge civil engineering project which he completed in record time

History records that Nehemiah was a man who build one of the greatest walls in history.

• <ppt> Offas dyke – was supposed to keep out the marauding Welsh
• <ppt> Hadrian’s wall – was built to keep out the marauding Scots
• <ppt> Berlin wall was built to keep the east Germans in
• <ppt> And the great wall of china was built to keep out the Xiongnu people who threatened invasion from the north.
• <ppt> Here is the wailing wall of Jerusalem which is still a potent symbol of Jewishness for the people of Israel

Nehemiah was a Jew, passionate about God who was living in a foreign land.

Who was Nehemiah <ppt>

<ppt> Nehemiah started out in life as a butler but God had other ideas.

<ppt> he ended up as a leader of God’s people and a project manager

In fact few leaders achieved what Nehemiah accomlished in such a short time

why? – one of the main reasons is that he was a man of earnest prayer! This was one of the personal structures he had in his life. It was a framework around which other things happened

Nine prayers recorded in this book, most of which is Nehemiah’s personal journal.

• he poured his heart into it.
• we pick up his heartbeat – his joys – his frustrations
• and his journal is peppered with his praying

This first prayer is long and carefully worded

• others are mainly urgent prayers to meet a specific need. – ‘arrow prayers’

However the common pattern is that N is very confident that God hears and responds to his praying – although not always in the way we would expect!

As we go through the book of Nehemiah we will see that it would often have been the easiest thing in the world of Nehemiah to give up.

• He had opposition on every side! From inside and outside and a lesser man would have given up in despair.

So the primary question for today – What made Nehemiah one of the world’s great examples of a man who walked with God?

To dig into that we need to know about

Nehemiah’s background

Notice that

He was a member of an oppressed minority

Possibly born in exile

• so he knew what it was to be part of a hounded group.
• It would seem that his parents sought to keep up their Jewish tradition by giving him the name Nehemiah – ‘The Lord comforts’.

He was successful in his imposed homeland

Risen to the top of the tree – cup bearer – one of the most important posts in the land

• in his hands was the safety of the head of state. – therefore the appointment was not made lightly.
• it was a position that he could not obtain through influential friends – it was the gift of the King himself.
• appointed on the basis of stable character, sharp eyes, intimate knowledge of palace intrigue.
• And since his own life might depend on it too, an attention to detail.

Spiritual principle: bloom where you’re planted! >>>

He was prepared to hear and obey God’s voice

Many of these qualities were to be taken by God and used in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. He was like a butterfly just ready to emerge from his cocoon – perfectly formed, but never having tried his wings

Important spiritual principle here

• in God’s economy – no experience is ever valueless – even though we may not be able to explain it at the time.
• Our experience are often a training for what God has further up the road for us.

N’s training for God’s task was in the palace at Susa. – watching men, guarding his position, understanding the motives of people as they are displayed in their actions.

BUT (you may say) what about bad, bitter, experiences?

• As we yield them to Him – repent deeply of any sin that we’ve got caught up in – God is even able to use them to our good.

It may take time, it may involve the help of trusted friends,

it will involve praying

But I believe that God can even turn the bitter experiences of life for our good.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

How come?

When the Lord makes good come out of tragedy or tough experiences, He is recapturing Satan’s ground

part of His grace – unmerited generosity.

When people come to talk to me about tragedies in their lives, one of the most common questions is “Why?!” Why did God let this happen? Why did it have to be me?

• It’s a perfectly natural question and the honest answer is ‘I don’t know why’
• but what I do know is that the One who saw it happen, and was with you in the happening
• the One before whom no action or attitude is ever hidden

And He is good to his children

So what made Nehemiah one of the world’s great pray-ers?

He allowed trauma to be a messenger from God not a missile from Satan <ppt>

Nehemiah’s praying was rooted in reality

And it starts with a traumatic BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE

• We sit in our cosy worlds and in a matter of a few minutes we are bounced out of our lethargy when momentous news reaches us.
• Our world can be shaken by the information we receive
• Actually, to be more precise, it’s shaken by our reaction to it.

It is said that anyone who as alive when John F Kennedy was assassinated can remember what they were doing at the time

• same is true of with first landing on the moon Princess Diana’s death, or the destruction of the twin towers
• However, when momentous news has to do with someone close to us it affects us more deeply.

Nehemiah was concerned for the state of the land <ppt>

Jerusalem was N’s spiritual home. – The centre around which his life revolved. So it was more than just the geographical city that mattered to N – it was the people that city represented.

“those who survived the exile are in great trouble and disgrace” v3

However, there is a deeper reality

N was concerned with the reputation of the Lord

• that was intimately bound up with His people
• here they were, living in an indefensible city, and being derided by other ethnic groups living in the surrounding region.

So if N was going to do anything, he was going to do it because God’s reputation was at stake!

the importance of being earnest

His true feelings were not hidden

N now experiences a flood of emotion

v4 <ppt> “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven”

Look at what happened to N!

• Sat down => his physical strength left him
• Wept => he could no longer keep a cheerful face – so intense was his feeling for God’s land, God’s people and God’s reputation
• His whole being was gripped with the seriousness of the plight of Jerusalem.

Have you ever felt like that?

• a burden in prayer has been laid on your heart so heavily that all you can do is sit down and weep before the Lord?
• A Catholic writer calls it ‘the gift of tears’
• it continued this for “some days”

I’m not saying that we should only pray when we feel strongly about something

• e.g. Mrs. J O Frazer “When I’m driest, then I most need to pray”

But when our hearts burn within us that God wants to do something then we must pray

e.g. John White

Years ago in a daily prayer meeting missionary prayer-letter files were passed around. One morning my file contained a letter from a missionary in the Philippines. In it she described her hospitalisation in Manila for spinal tuberculosis. Her condition was serious and at the time called for a prolonged period in a sanatorium in a body cast. Unexpectedly (for the woman was a stranger to me) I was not only profoundly shaken but found myself virtually insisting that God heal her right away.

My prayer was remarkable in that I did not believe such healing was possible, and so I was astounded both by the content and the urgency of my own prayer. I suppose you could say that the Holy Spirit was allowing me to ‘see’ two realities – the need of the young missionary, and God’s power to do something my theology and medical experience told me was impossible. To the astonishment of her physician, this woman in the Philippines was miraculously healed that same day

… and soon after became my wife.

(See “Excellence in leadership” THI/WHI/350)

What had happened in N? God has shown him two realities

Nehemiah’s twin realities <ppt>

• a) God’s ideal of how his people should be
• b) the actual state of how they really were
• this brought tension <ppt> between God’s vision

Jerusalem restored -

once again displaying God’s glory

so that people would say “if their God is like their city – then He’s awesome! ”

… and the current reality

a city derelict and in shambles

he cried out to himself “Lord it ought not to be like this!”

In so doing,

Nehemiah grasped the true nature of God

v5 “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands”

This is not simply a flashy preamble to make his prayer sound good!

• it’s an expression of N’s faith in the Lord

Faith is not a feeling (although it involves feelings).

• It is the act of relying on someone who is both able and willing to do what I ask of them.
• “is anything too hard for the Lord?” >>>

His faith rests on the character and personality of God

• God of heaven
• No higher authority
• Great and awesome God
• No words can describe him, no mental concept can completely define him
• Whatever I think God is like – he’s greater!

Keeps his covenants

>>>

If this prayer shows N’s faith in the Lord, then it also shows his persistence

• his whole being was dominated by this burning desire to see God do something for several days
• Waking or sleeping it was always in the back of his mind
• It’s likely that this prayer was not just uttered once
• it’s a summary of what went through his heart over those few days.

v6 “let your ear be attentive and you eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants the people of Israel”

This is why a prayer diary is useful >>>

Scripted praying >>>

Nehemiah’s confession

(he understood the people)

v6 “I confess the sins that we Israelites, including my father’s house, have committed against you”

He confessed the sins of the people as if they were his own

• N’s life wasn’t free from sin, but this is more than that!
• he’s confessing, on behalf of the people, sins of rebellion and rejection of the Lord that he hadn’t personally committed.
• He’s saying “Lord, I AM one of your wayward people, I confess that we have turned against You”

It is almost as if

Nehemiah held God to ransom

Nehemiah claimed God’s promises – always a good path to travel in prayer!

Key word is in v8 “remember” – in so doing he was taking hold of God’s promises!

e.g. When our children were at school we’d often hear ourselves saying things like:

• “if home work is completed by eight o’clock you can watch “the Bill” on TV”
• 8 o’clock comes, all the homework is complete – But I don’t let them turn the TV on
• They object – “Hey, Dad – you promised that if our homework was done we could watch the Bill!”
• there’s insistence in their voices – they’re indignant that what I promised is not being delivered

and they’re right!

That’s Nehemiah here! “Now look here, Lord, you promised!”

Nehemiah 1:18 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, `If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

The Lord takes this kind of praying very seriously indeed.

It was this which led to

Nehemiah’s unbelievably, irresponsibly, unreasonably short shopping list

If it was me I’d be asking for everything from the first sentence of prayer!

But he had more insight that Ian White! He asked for what he thought he needed – and the request was a tiny one!

v11 “Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of the King!”

Now – in the light of all that has gone before in this prayer we might find the smallness of his request something of a surprise.

• Why such a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

The lessons is this

the major achievement of prayer is not the shopping list

prayer is never a monologue

We know he wept for days and if we compare 1:1 with 2:1 we see a gap of four months!

• Therefore this prayer represents the traffic between God and Nehemiah over a period of 4 months.

When you pray next, ask “Lord – how do you want me to pray? What are you asking of me?

• We think we know what we should pray for (an of course we should use our minds to think it out carefully – as N did)

but there is place – a larger place – for us to spend time carefully asking the Lord what he wants of us in our praying.

e.g. Napoleon -

• high vantage point -
• captains listening to him -
• brilliant strategist -
• “seize that barn at all costs”
• apparently trivial – but it was the key to the whole battle

We need to listen to our heavenly commander in prayer.

[recap]

Pray

 Victoria Baptist Church – 06/01/2011 (reflective only)

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This morning I want to encourage you to turn up the heat in your spiritual life as an aim for 2012 and in order to do that I want you to look at a letter that Christ dictated to John in the book of Revelation. I want you to see that this letter is packed with penetrating insight and a large dose of encouragement. It’s not he negative missive it’s sometimes made out to be.

We know the Christian group in Laodicea was once a thriving church.

• When Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians he asked that it should also be read in Laodicea too and that letter contains some of the greatest Christology (statements about Christ) anywhere in the New Testament
• However by the time John hears Jesus dictate this letter it seems the church has lost much of its fire. So much so that the allegation of lukewarmness is the one that shouts the loudest.

However, as I read and meditated on this passage in preparation for this morning I realised that Jesus’ accusation of being lukewarm is only part of the story. This letter is full of grace and generosity. It comes from the heart of God who wants his children to thrive – and that makes it a good passage to reflect on at the beginning of a new year.

• Its major message is not an accusation of lukewarmness but ‘I want you to be hot!’

Here is God the Father saying to his children through the lips of Jesus, ‘don’t be satisfied with half measures, I long for you to be on fire for me, to know my love and to receive my grace in every aspect of daily life! That is what will fill your heavenly father with joy!’

Look at who wrote it

Jesus describes himself with some pictures:

the amen

A curious term to use to describe yourself but it had real meaning for them

I was talking with a man this week who told me about asking some famous Christians speaker what the word ‘amen’ meant. He wouldn’t tell me what answer he got and I had an unnerving feeling that I was being tested here! It means ‘so let it be’

In Isaiah’s prophecy ( about 800 years before Revelation was written) the prophet heard God promise blessing on people who served him

<ppt> Isa 65:16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of the amen; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of the amen. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from sight.

In the gospels, when Jesus began to teach he sometimes started with ‘amen, amen’ – it’s a ways of saying “this is important – I’m using my authority here >>>

<ppt> So, in the letter to Laodicea Jesus is speaking with authority

the faithful and true

What is going to come out is Christ’s honest and truthful assessment of the church. Justice is undermined when faithfulness and truth are absent so Jesus is speaking here about what he knows to be true and sees with his own eyes. He is a faithful witness to the facts. He is an witness who can see the interior attitudes of the people of this church

<ppt>. So Jesus is speaking with integrity

the beginning of God’s creation

The word behind ‘beginning’ is the one for a ruler.

The Arians of the 4^th century did not believe that Jesus was eternal – and used this verse as one of their proof-texts. (the Jehovah’s witnesses do the same today)

• Jesus was God’s greatest creation, yes, but not eternal. He became God’s Son at a particular point in time.
• BUT this word not only means first in time, but first in rank, the originator, so Jesus is the premier of all creation. Paul uses it this way in Colossians

<ppt> Jesus Christ is the premier [person] in all the church so that in everything he might have the supremacy (Colossians 1: 18)

<ppt> Jesus is eternal

Christ’s analysis of the church <ppt>

What is Jesus analysis of this church.

<ppt> Rev 3:15-16 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

Laodicea is now called Pamukkale (near Istanbul in Turkey) and in the first century it was the wealthiest city in the area. It was famous for its banking, its medical school and its textile industry. But its major difficulty was its water supply.

And Jesus says: “It’s not just the water supply that is lukewarm – it’s you!”

v16 So, because you are lukewarm– neither hot nor cold– I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Notice very carefully that Jesus does not say he has already rejected them – he says he’s about to if things don’t change!

• And it’s a very strong phrase. The word behind ‘spit’ is actually the word for vomit – “You almost make me puke!” (although no translator is ever going to put that into print!)

Why such a strong reaction?

Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

“But you don’t realise it” – The tragedy of this church was not so much that they were lukewarm, but that they couldn’t see they were lukewarm! They had become desensitised to their true spiritual state.

• They had become so accustomed to lukewarmness that they no longer noticed it as unusual any more
• they had lost touch with what spiritual ‘hot-ness’ looks like

So the church in this city, which was renown for its

• bankers in their suits
• medics in their lab coats
• and textile makers with their high fashion

actually masks something very dark indeed.

The prosperous and successful outward appearance masked a wretched and pitiful internal reality.

What is true of Laodicea can be true of any Christian church to some degree.

I’m not saying this with any attitude of criticism that I’m aware of

But many people look at Victoria as an outwardly successful church – and we have so much to thank God for!

• I was on leave last Sunday and during the last week I’ve only picked up one comment about last Sunday’s service – a lady said to me (quite unprompted) “Ian your team did you proud last Sunday” Clearly God spoke through Carl’s preaching and the other people taking part – and that’s just trilling to hear

But – probably the greatest danger of a church like ours where most of the key ministries are in place and ticking over nicely is just that – ticking over.

• The greatest danger of a successful church is coasting.
• Flicking on the cruise control button, sitting back and letting everything just happen.

My prayer for 2012 is that we will go beyond coasting.

• That we will turn up the spiritual heat in Victoria

So that the ministries we have will grow, the power of God will be more evident and we will develop our spiritual muscles so the kingdom of God is strong and vibrant here!

• I want this to be a safe place for a dangerous message!

And this is where Christ letter to Laodicea helps us enormously

So if you’re looking back over the past year and thinking that ‘yes, things might have gone a bit lukewarm’ – here is Jesus Christ’s remedy – His way back to spiritual life and vitality.

He tells us

How to be hot

Christ give three pictures to set out what spiritual hot-ness looks like

be rich

<ppt> Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich

Don’t you wish you’d done that in 2000?

• $282 per oz, now $1616 per oz – that’s a 43% increase on investment per annum!

Of course it’s not financial investment, it’s a spiritual investment Christ is telling us to make.

• It’s to put resources of time and money into things that will bring a spiritual return.

Maybe you could invest some time – in encouraging someone’s spiritual growth – or serving on one of our ministries here – (Neil need some helpers for starters.)

Maybe you could reconsider what your giving is to God’s work her so that the ministry won’t be hindered by tight budgets

maybe it’s buying the book, getting hold of the DVD, going to the conference (we have just one 4 berth chalet left of our allocation for Spring harvest this year) >>>

Can I suggest that in 2012 you might invest in your spiritual growth

And God will bless you richly from his grace – and his blessing if free

Listen to Isaiah 55:1-2

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

<ppt> Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

It’s making and investment from which you soul is fed.

What does being hot look like? It’s making investments in your spiritual life.

be clothed

Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me … white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness;

When Adam and Eve listened to Satan they became aware of their nakedness.

Previously they’d been naked and unashamed, now they had something they wanted to hide.

What did God do? Rip off the fig-leaves and say “you’re not to hide your bodies?” No!

• He made them clothes – and clothes that would last (made out of skins, not leaves)!
• He was going to deal with the very deepest of all the issues they faced at that time – how they thought about themselves. How they must have tortured themselves over their failure,
• how every time they saw their nakedness it reminded them of what they’d lost.
• That shows me how grace-filled God is! He even covers their failures.

As you look back over 2011 do you see failure in some area of your life?

• Here Jesus is offering covering for previous sin and failure

This is what God is like!

• Grace-filled, forgiving, desiring his children to be confident in him, living with nothing to be ashamed of.

Too many of us see God as a divine examiner, constantly finding fault in us. And the logic goes something like this

• We know what’s on the shadow side of our lives and realise we’re sinful people
• God (being all knowing) knows what’s there too
• therefore (we think) God must think I’m an awful person

No! He treats us, in Christ he sees us as covered, forgiven, cleansed

• Although they had a kind of soap made out of tallow and ashes, it wasn’t commonly in use and white-ness in clothes was very difficult to maintain
• so white robes were very highly prized in this textile-rich city
• wear one of those and you were a cut above the rest
• that’s what the white robes are all about!
• And that’s how God sees us!

How to be hot? Let God deal with the shadow side of your life!

be aware

Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me … salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see.

They couldn’t see their true spiritual state so Christ says “buy some Optrex!” so you can see!

Looking back over 2011, I recall an incident of misunderstanding with a friend.

• He thought I was angry with him when actually I wasn’t. I’d given out the wrong message – and he was gracious enough to point it out to me so that I could see.

Here’s a dangerous prayer to pray “Lord, what do I need to see about myself that will make me more like you?”

In v 20 we have one of the best known verses in the Bible

Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Preachers (including me) will often use this verse to encourage people who aren’t yet Christians to invite Christ in (and it certainly has that message)

BUT now we can see that this verse is addressed to coasting Christians – to lukewarm believers!

In the first century there were no door bells. The way you made your presence known was to call out from the doorway – and that’s what Jesus Christ is doing here!

And it’s Christ saying “I am so close to you!” “I’m right in the doorway!” “all you have to do is invite me in” and we can enjoy intimacy of a meal together.

Will you do that?

Reading: Matthew 16:13-20

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I believe in the holy catholic church!

We’re going through the apostles creed on Sunday mornings because these 12 statements, 12 tweets constitute a summary of what being a Christian is all about.

Grasp these 12 messages and you’ll have a good basis of faith for your Christian life.

Today I’m going to be talking about the church, what it is and what it stands for.

The body of people we’re worshipping with today.

Unfortunately the church has sometimes attracted to itself a bad reputation (sometimes with some justification).

• There was a placard displayed at a protest which read “Jesus yes, Church no!” and that seems to reflect a feeling common in society.
• There are many people who are very accepting of the person of Christ, he is an intriguing character, but when they look at the church they see something they don’t particularly want to identify with.

Personally I love the church.

• It is something that gives me a great thrill, particularly when it’s working well.

There was once a man I know about who used to ask his friends three diagnostic questions if he wanted to take a conversation beyond the trivial or the mundane. “What makes you laugh, what makes you cry and what makes you dance?”

• Now if you ask me those three questions I think I’d give the same answer to all three

“What makes you laugh?” – the church does!

• Some of the things the go on in this building make the Vicar of Dibley look like a training video!”

“What makes you cry?” the church does –

• when it doesn’t work properly,
• when people are at loggerheads, when Christians behave stupidly, when they don’t live in a way that honours of glorifies Christ.
• That makes me cry – and has more than once reduced my to tears.

“What makes you dance?” the church does!

• When I see God transform people’s lives.
• When we see people’s situations and families change, when we see broken marriages put back together. When we experience worship that touches our hearts.
• That makes my heart dance.

In the Apostle’s Creed we have a simple statement

“I believe in the holy catholic church and the communion of saints.” <ppt>

So what do we mean when we talk about a holy church? If we look in the Bible we see several connotations to this word which are helpful for us when understanding what we mean by a holy Church

A holy church is set apart

Back in the OT the word ‘holy’ meant something that was set apart

Example: Exod 40:9

“Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy.

It’s distinctive, set apart

• The the meaning of the word ‘holy’ in the old testament was something that was distinctive, different or set apart.

Not only did that apply to things, it applied to people too.

• Time and again the the OT we hear God saying “Be holy, because I am holy!” – be set apart because I an set apart.

Now it is, of course, possible for us to be set apart for all the wrong reasons

• I remember when I was a student becoming involved in a ecumenical project to put a service together for the University for Christmas.
• It was a service for the whole of the University and the faculty would be represented, the student body would be there in their hundreds but to be honest, it wasn’t straight-down-the-line gospel. I felt I was having to make compromises to include other Christian streams that I may not personally resonate with.
• At that time I had a friend who was very keen that we should always preach the gospel and only the gospel – which is a very laudable aim – and one that I agree with. But I remember him coming into my office, picking up a Bible and ceremoniously reading to me (or rather at me) “come ye out from among them and be separate saith the Lord”.
• While I applaud his desire for seeing the pure gospel proclaimed and for Christians to be separate from some parts of society I don’t think he quite had the right message. Had I not been involved in that group there would, likely as not, have been almost no gospel content in the Christmas carol service. It would have been dominated by tradition
• and I felt that I was just about the only voice around that committee saying “friends we have to have some content in here that speaks about the theology of Christmas – what it all means!”

To be holy doesn’t mean to completely separate myself off from the rest of the world, it means to be distinctive – and distinctive because I’m one of God’s children.

The church is distinctive because we are the children of God and a holy church is a church that is set apart from the rest of the world and it’s Christ-less attitudes.

Furthermore

a Holy Church is set apart for a particular purpose.

So the church is God’s distinct people, people set apart for him and by him to show his wonder to the world

• BUT (you may say) there are lots of things that are distinct from the stuff surrounding them. My garden shed is distinct from the house
• True, but in the NT the word used of the church is ‘ekklesia’ a Greek word which means ‘to be called out’
• IT was an ordinary word that people would easily understand.

It wasn’t used exclusively of the church in fact it was used in Acts on one occasion of the Town Council at Ephesus (hardly a Christian body of people)

• it carried the idea of being set apart for a particular purpose.

When Jesus spoke with his disciples after he had died and been raised from the dead he said “ALL authority is given to me, in heaven and on earth, so I’m giving you this commission, go and make disciples!”

• That’s our commission! – That’s the purpose for which the church has been put together!

How many times did Jesus use the word church?

• If I asked many of us I expect we’d say a few dozen, maybe a hundred. But in fact he only used the word twice and one of those is controversial!
• But Jesus referred to the Kingdom of God literally hundreds of times. So the manifestation of the kingdom of God is intended to be the local church! That is why the local church is the hope for the world!

No other body in society can do what we have been called to do. We have been put together for a purpose and that purpose can be summarised like this …

We are here to glorify God

Something is glorified when we draw attention to it in such a way that it becomes an object of wonder.

• So to glorify God means to draw attention to him in such a way that we and others wonder or marvel at him!
• It means to enhance his reputation – or his ‘glory’ – to increase the wonder of who he is – it means for him to be seen as He is through the lives of ordinary people like us.
• That’s one of the great positives about the church.

I find that when I’m talking to someone about our church I don’t have to say to them “well, I wish the church was like this or that “.

• I can say “come to church and just look around you and you’ll see it. If you want to see people whose lives have been transformed, come into the church. Of course we’ve got many of the struggles that the rest of humanity suffer but we’ve also experienced transformation in Christ”

The purpose of the Church is to glorify God – to make people wonder at him.

The purpose of the church is to transform lives

Spring Harvest’s theme for 2012 is “The Church – God’s brilliant idea” – a simple statement that sums up the church – There is no other body of people like it on the planet!

We live in an era of unparalleled pessimism.

• Pessimism about the future, pessimism about money, pessimism about politics
• It saddens me when I hear Chris saying that when cut-backs are made in our society the first thing to go is youth work.
• That represents for us a wonderful opportunity for the church to communicate a message of hope and salvation to young people because they won’t hear it any other way!

The Christian church stands for something totally different from the prevailing pessimism – It’s about transforming people’s lives so they have purpose and meaning

• I believe that the local church is the hope of the world
• I believe this body has a redemptive potential that can be touched by nothing else on the globe. And our task as church leaders is to craft a future for Victoria that will maximise its capacity to redeem people by the power of Christ!

Let me remind you that …

The purpose of Victoria Baptist Church is the spiritual transformation of people so they become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

My friends the purpose of the church is not to run Sunday Services!

• If we found we could be more effective in making disciples some other way I’d close down our Sunday services next week! Actually our services help in that transformation process, they help in making disciples.

• A service which we love and enjoy so much is a means to an end and not an end in itself.

The purpose of Victoria Baptist Church is the spiritual transformation of people so they become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Two scriptures in particular impact me in this regard. The great commission “Go and make disciples” and the great commandment “Love God and love one another”

• because a great commitment to the great commission and the great commandment will grow a great church.
• That gets me out of bed in the morning!

Later on I’m going to give a few hints as to what to look for in a church – should you ever move away from here and need to look for another fellowship(!)

To defeat Satan

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.

What kind of image does that conjure up in your mind? In the disciples minds were well used to towns and cities with walls and gates.

• When a town was under threat it would call all of its people from the surrounding farm land to safety within the city walls and then bar and bolt the gates firmly shut.
• This gave them the best defence against the treat they were being exposed to.

So the picture Jesus is painting here is quite simple.

• Hell, the forces of Satan are like a village and they are battening down the hatches, barring the gates, bolting the doors because the onslaught of the church is so intense that hell can’t withstand it.
• The city being described here is not the church, the city is hell!
• And it’s under such threat from the church because of it’s love, because of the power of Christ that they have to fortify themselves against the church – and even then they will not be able to hold out against the Christian church.

The gates of hell will not be able to overcome it. This is a picture of the church on the offensive!

Peter and the rock?

• You may well know that there is a stream of opinion that teaches that Peter was the first ultimate leader of the church and that a succession of ultimate leaders (Popes) have followed on from him.
• I don’t see that idea in this verse, but what I do see is Jesus giving a simple piece of predictive prophecy.

Just look at the early years of the church .

• When, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit deluged the early church, Who did God have at hand to stand up and boldly declare what was going on? Peter.
• When the very first church was created in Jerusalem, who was its leader? Peter.
• When we look through the Acts of the Apostles and look for a leader among them, who was that leader? Peter

So here is Jesus saying to those disciples “Peter you’re going to be the rock on which this new church is built” It was a simple piece of predictive prophecy – Jesus said what he meant and meant what he said.

• And there is nothing in the text about apostolic succession – it’s just not there.

Jesus may only have spoken about the church twice, but he spoke of the kingdom of God over a hundred times

There are many parables “The kingdom of God is like …”

• a man who sowed good seed while his enemy sowed weeds (Matt13:24ff)
• a mustard seed that grows out of all proportion to its original size
• yeast that works it’s way into every nook and cranny of the dough – you’ll find Christians in every stratum of society!
• pearl hidden in a field – it’s worth giving all I have to get it!
• etc.

Results of the kingdom – joy!

• When Jesus brought people into the reign of God he shattered Satan’s rule of suffering and death. When this happens, there is immediately a an atmosphere of joy, freedom and celebration (Isaiah prophesied it).

• No wonder the people ‘glorified God’ when the paralysed man leapt to his feet in amazement, picked up his stretcher and walked home! >>>
• No wonder the seventy returned with ‘great joy’ when they saw the power of Jesus’ name to deliver people from demonic bondage >>>
• No wonder the cripple at the beautiful gate, when healed, entered the temple ‘walking and leaping and praising God’ >>>

Not only is the church holy, it is

catholic

Let’s say the blindingly obvious – this is not the Roman Catholic church, this is catholic in the dictionary sense of the word.

It’s a universal church

It was Ignatious, the Bishop of Antioch who (most likely) first used the term ‘catholic’ to describe the church in about AD 106 and he used it for a very particular reason.

• At that time there were some people who were teaching that Jesus never really suffered on the cross, he only appeared to – and they were getting themselves a following.

So Ignatious comes along and (in a letter to the Smyrneans) said “if you want to be confident of your faith, don’t follow the minority of people coming up with strange and divergent ideas, follow the catholicchurch – the teaching of the whole church.

• “Go to any established Christian church and they will teach you that Jesus died, was buried and rose again!
• “so when you hear these other people say that Jesus didn’t die (he just appeared to) or he didn’t rise again (it just looked as if he did) don’t follow them – follow the catholic church because that church is the guardian of the teaching of the apostles the tradition and gospel of Jesus Christ”

This, however, was what led the Roman Catholic church to add to their beliefs a theology of the authoritative word of God being transmitted through the tradition of the church not just through the scriptures.

On that point I find I have to part company with traditional Catholicism – although you will find that we have more in common with some British Catholics than we do with liberal Baptists.

It was Ignatious who first used the term ‘catholic’ as a way of guarding the church against wayward theological ideas.

We believe in a catholic – a universal – church that can be joined by anyone for whom Christ died.

The church of JC is universal through all time and space and includes

the church local

• Us here, God’s people at Victoria BC

the church global

• all people who have Jesus as their King here on earth today. (protestand, Roman Catholic, Orthodox or of no affiliation)

the church universal

• The vast group of people we will be at one with in heaven

There was once a man being given a guided tour of heaven

• huge wall – singing from behind it
• Peter “They’re the baptists – they like to think they’re the only ones here!”

It’s an inclusive church

Our church is open for worship to people of any background or creed or race

It doesn’t matter whether they are clever or struggling, rich or poor, male or female, gay or straight. There is place for everyone in the church of Jesus Christ.

• Now that doesn’t mean we agree with the behaviour of everyone who enters our church.
• It wouldn’t bother me if someone came in who was a convicted serious criminal. Because Jesus wants to reach people at the extremities of life as well as in the middle ground. Of course someone may come in here like that but we hope and pray they will leave different from how they arrived.

Too often in the Christian church we come ‘just as we are’, we sing ‘Just as I am’ and leave just as we were. While the purpose of the church is to transform lives – to bring God’s power and sometimes his discipline into our lives so we are more like Jesus.

I believe that the catholic church of Jesus Christ is an inclusive church.

It’s an advancing church

I believe God is on a quest to reach mankind

John 10:16 (an many others) Jesus said “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, …

God is on a quest to reach lost people and he has delegated that responsibility to you and me.

… which is why we do things like invite the Theatre Company who are performing soon

• because we know that people will come to that who will never come to a Sunday service and if we can ignite spiritual sparks in their lives, the Holy Spirit is capable of fanning them into flame.
• That’s why we run Christianity explored, Alpha and these other basics programmes – so that people who are just interested or only vaguely searching can come ans see examples of what it’s like to be a Christian.

The Christian church is to be an advancing church and it always saddens me when I hear somebody say “Oh our church is big enough” It’s not my friends – and it will never be big enough while there is someone out there who doesn’t know Jesus Christ.

• We’re not after numbers so we can show about how many people come to our church as compared with the church down the road
• In truth, the comparison we should be making is the comparison of the number of people who do worship God in Eastbourne and the people who don’t
• and that’s a much more sobering statistic.

We want to see the church of Jesus Christ advance into the lives of people who don’t yet know him, don’t understand him and, likely as not, have never even heard about him.

• I believe God takes no pleasure whatever in seeing a single person consigned to a lost eternity

• he is on a great quest to do that in our town and he has delegated that responsibility to us – isn’t that a wonderful privilege!

A bit closer to home:

• I believe that God is on a quest to reach Eastbourne – that there are people in Eastbourne who are the focus of God’s love and sacrifice
• and how is He going to reach them?
• barring miraculous intervention he can only do it through the local church!

… in just the same way that he reached us.

In fact even closer to home

• I believe that in His quest there are people in Eastbourne and its surrounding area who can only be reached by Victoria Baptist Church – that’s you and me

God’s primary route of ministry is a healthy, thriving local church.

• There are things the God does – and he deliberately chooses to do use the local church for this

Paul “You are the body of Christ

1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

so in the same way that your body is the physical, material, observable manifestation of you, so the church is the physical, material observable manifestation of Christ

God desires that his body should thrive!

• [diet!! - rabbit food]

The catholic church also displays the communion of the saints

communion

Is that just when we eat brad and drink wine? No! It’s the inbuilt one-ness that we share in Christ.

• time and again in the NT you’ll see that phrase ‘one another’ cropping up.
• Love one another, “teach one another and admonish one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” says Paul

A true church, one that is glorifying God and advancing his kingdom is going to be one where many of the ‘one another’ things are felt.

So this begs the question

How can I recognise a true church? <ppt>

If you’re going to move away from Eastbourne and you’re looking for another church let me give you some things to look out for.

True teaching of the word

Teaching founded on the teaching of the apostles teaching in the scriptures.

Incidentally if you look at the Nicene creed (a similar set of definitions of Christian faith) you’ll find it says “I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church”

When Paul was writing to Ephesian Christian he said this

Eph 2:19-21 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

So look for teaching that is consistent with the message of the Bible, the revealed word of God!

And look also for Jesus Christ being the one who receives the glory.

When you hear a preacher, does he relate his message to the person and work of Christ​ because he is ‘the chief cornerstone’

Paul goes on to describe this corner-stone and being the one which holds the whole building together. “the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.”

Does the church teach the word of God clearly and deeply in a way that engages people?

If yes, It’s a true church

right administration of the sacraments

Especially communion and baptism

Does the Church recognise the atoning death and physical resurrection of Jesus and celebrate it the way he taught us to?

Do the celebrate communion with integrity. Is there a moment round the Lord’s table where I come in confession and repentance and take onboard once again the body and blood of Christ.

If they do, that’s a sign of a true church.

Faithful exercise of discipline

This doesn’t mean the vicar has a cane, it means the framing of one another’s lives to live for Christ.

When Paul spoke (as I said earlier) of ‘admonishing’ one another, he was using the idea of framing one another’s lives

There may be times when we have to say to each other ‘there is a line in the sand here – thus far and no further’

Christian discipline should never be accusatory or demeaning but rather it should be to help someone walk with Christ who may be lagging behind.

E.g. Rosi and I took a bunch of YP up Snowdon.

• At one stage of the climb my task was to bring up the rear.
• That meant that I had to help the stragglers so they didn’t get left on the mountain because it was so misty.
• For some of them I ended up holding their hands and literally pulling them up the hill

That’s the most common type of church discipline; pulling someone up the mountain – Can I ask you: how are you doing in God today?”

• Would he say to you “you’re doing well my child, I love you to bits. But there is this part of your life that needs to be re-framed.” I hope you hear those messages from the pulit too. I hope you hear us say sometimes “this is how God wants us to live”

And as we seek to help one another like that we are doing the ‘faithful exercise of discipline”

• “Haven’t seen you for a while,” with the loving motive of preventing spiritual drift in my brother.

Of course sometimes in church life we have to be more specific than that. We have to say to some very clearly ‘you’ve crossed the line with your behaviour”

• Hard case spiritual discipline where Biblical norms are clearly being flouted is part of the Core Leadership Team’s ministry. We only ever have to do it rarely and we do it with great caution; but we are not afraid to do it.

So in your new church “is there some way that I will be helped to walk with Christ and my actions and attitudes framed to be more like his?”

If yes, it’s a true church.

Evidence of lives transformed by God’s holy spirit

If you go into another church and you see lives transformed by the Holy Spirit – that is evidence of a true church.

I’d like to finish by reading you a quotation from JB Philips who back in the 1950s, took the NT

• He said to himself “this wonderful book, the Bible, is usually being communicated through the King James version and people don’t easily understand it. It contains some majestic language but many people don’t understand it too readily. So I will write a paraphrase (initially of the Acts of the apostles) to help make its meaning clear by using common language.

JB Phillips – introduction to Acts “called the young church in action”

We cannot help feeling disturbed as well as moved, for this surely is the church as it was meant to be. It is vigorous and flexible, for these were the days before it ever became fat an short of breath through prosperity, or muscle-bound by over-organisation. These men did not make “acts of faith” they believed; they did not “say their prayers”, they really prayed. They did not hold conferences on psychosomatic medicine, they healed the sick. But if they were uncomplicated and naive by modern standards we have to ruefully admit that they were open on the God-ward side in a way that is almost unknown today.

How desperately we need a renewal of the same God-ward openness

It is significant that every major renewal of the Holy Spirit has brought back something that had been lost since the early days of the church.

My prayer for our church is that we will recover here more and more of a passion for God, love for Christ and the power of the Spirit.

Pray >>>

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Click here to download the powerpoint presentation that accompanies this talk

“I believe in the Holy Spirit”

We’re looking at the Apostle’s creed – a headline summary of some of the deepest truths of the Christian life.

• We are not doing Christian basics here. These 12 tweets represent some of the most profound aspects of Biblical truth we can master.

But, you may say to me, I’m not theologian or professor of philosophy, It’s as much as I can do to carry these twelve headlines in my head

Then fine – carry them in your head and as you let them sink into your heart God will bless you!

• Understand them as deeply as you are able and the Holy Spirit will feed you with them – After all, not one of us understands them completely!

As a church leader I have the enormous privilege of being able to spend time in the word investigating it, understanding it and (I hope!) making it clearer for all of us.

• I have to tell you that the more I dig into these scriptures and the more I investigate the more I realise there is to know.
• So think as deeply as you can about them, search the scriptures in relation to them
• and let the Holy Spirit speak to your innermost being!

THAT is what God longs to see in us. Not merely intellectual cleverness (although we need to understand as deeply as we are able) but a passion of soul to live wholeheartedly for our King

And we can only do that when we let His Spirit in

“I believe in the Holy Spirit” – and that’s all it says

There are some of us who know very little about the Holy Spirit

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and come away thinking “It not what they said that was revealing as much as what they didn’t say”. It’s the omissions that speak louder than the words.

Acts 19:1-2

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Paul was taking a shorter route to get to his destination more quickly and stumbled upon these believers and it looks as if he had conversations like that. “There’s something missing” and he quickly realised what it was. The Holy Spirit that fell at Pentecost just wasn’t there.

So he started to teach them about Jesus and God’s Holy Spirit

Acts 19:5-7

5 On hearing this, they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

(NIV)

Every blessing we receive from God comes via the Holy Spirit.

All of God’s blessing, direction and discipline is mediated through the Holy Spirit

• The HS is just as much part of Godhead as God the Father or Jesus Christ.

ON my personal computer, for example, everything is mediated to me through the screen and speakers.

• If I don’t see it or hear it, I don’t receive it
• Similarly all that God is and does reaches us by his Holy Spirit

Furthermore, the screen doesn’t draw attention to itself. I don’t sit at my PC saying “Oh what a beatiful Helwett Packard L2245w” screen. I take more notice of what the screen is displaying.

Similarly the Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself (usually) but he acts as God’s agent on the earth, bring all that God is,

• every ounce of his grace,
• every response to our praying
• every sense of closeness to him in worship,
• every prompting of his voice,
• every feeling of intimacy with God
• all our joy in Him –

are all mediated to us by the Holy Spirit.

So I shouldn’t be too worried by the creed just saying ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit (and nothing more) because it alerts us to the fact that the Holy Spirit is a self-effacing Spirit who points to Christ instead of drawing attention to himself.

• That doesn’t mean there aren’t times when the Holy Spirit makes himself plain.
• Healings, exorcisms, tongues prophecy are merely the spectacular tip of the iceberg

The heart of the iceberg is God’s grace, and love,

• living the Christian life is just not possible without the daily in-filling of the Holy Spirit
• of hearing God’s promptings,
• of finding resilience when life is tough or traumatic.

I’ve Divided the work of the Holy Spirit into four acts …

Act 1: From creation to Eden

Here’s how the Bible starts

Gen 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light,” … and there was

Scene 1 – the hovering spirit

Here is the Spirit of God hovering or brooding over the uncharted chaos from which the cosmos was made, as if he was waiting for God the Father to press the ‘go’ button.

I’m sure you’ve seen programs on TV about how the police catch criminals.

• One of their most potent weapons is the helicopter, hovering over the ground. When they know they have a man on the run and have police lying in wait for him, the helicopter just hovers, biding his time until just the right moment when the officer says ‘gogo-go’ in his radio and all the action starts.

So is was with Genesis’ account of creation. God was waiting for just the right moment to start and the Spirit of God was paused, waiting until God acted.

A second important thing that we see here is the first scene of the creation ’3 And God said, “Let there be light,” … and there was’

The word of God released the power of God <ppt> – and both were mediated by the Spirit of God.

• The word of God (He said it) and the power of God (something happened) are almost inextricably linked.

Scene 2 – the breath of life.

Scene 2 in Act 1 happens in the Garden of Eden when God breathes into a latent body the breath of life.

Gen 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Here the word used (and its is used often in the old Testament) is ‘ruach’ or ‘breath

• the breath of God brings life!
• And has continued this ministry ever since.

When you came to Christ he breathed his breath into you and your spirit was awakened – you recovered something of what was lost way back in the fall of man.

Act 2 – the fall to Bethlehem

How was the holy Spirit operating through the Old Testament period?

Scene 1 – the sinners sin

As the effects of mankind’s sin multiply, so God finds he can no longer

Gen 6:3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man for ever,

and the result was the flood

Scene 2 – the saviours save

As history ticked on God’s people went through a cycle of abandoning him and God raining up someone to save them and bring the nation back to its God-centered roots. These are the saviours (our translation = Judges”)

E.g.

Judg 6:34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning warriors to follow him.

Scene 3 – the penitent repent

How many times is the HS referred to in the Old Testament?

We might expect it to be hundreds – surprisingly the phrase “holy Spirit” occurs only twice

• and both of them are to do with repentance, with turning around with pleading with God for a new start.

Ps 51:10-12

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

When we read this we tend to jump to the conclusion that ‘Holy Spirit’ here refers to the third person of the trinity

But wait – this is OT, before JC had come, before the revelation of the NT – so they had no concept of the trinity.

Don’t forget that, in contrast to Genesis, we’re dealing with Poetry here.

• So the words convey their meaning, not just through their dictionary definition but through all the nuances they carry. Almost every word has emotional body-language – and when we take note of that, the meaning springs off the page!
• And it also makes accurate interpretation quite a challenge!

So what did David understand by ‘holy spirit’? And here we might have a surprise waiting for us.

He would understand ‘holy’ as meaning separate, something set apart for a particular purpose – particularly God’s purpose. Set aside for God.

And if we look at the parallels (explain parallelism) we can see it’s his own spirit he’s talking about in some way.

In David’s mind is the thought “my spirit has been made holy – it’s been set apart form others by You Lord,

• I know I have a well-tuned sense of what’s right and wrong, what is wise and stupid, what is beneficial and what is selfish.
• And that is vital to who I am, as a man as as the King.
• Lord – don’t take that away from me!” is what he’s praying.

Don’t withdraw my holiness of spirit

• it’s a precious gift from you

“Don’t take your holy Spirit from me!

Come back to the verse now and you can see it fit in with all the parallels.

Scene 3 – the prophets prophesy

Joel 2:28-29

28 “And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Act 3 – Bethlehem to the cross

Scene 1 – Jesus’ birth

God the Holy Spirit is to be found orchestrating things repeatedly around the time of Jesus’ birth E.g.

Luke 1:28-37

The angel went to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Mary (understandably) was greatly troubled at his words and asked “How will this be, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Scene 2 – Jesus’ ministry

Luke 4:17-21

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were glued to him,

21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Quite unlike their teachers of the law – or of any preacher today, Jesus was pointing to himself and the person who is uniquely empowered by God the Father for his ministry

Scene 3 – Jesus’ Death

When Jesus started talking about his death he scared his disciples – but just isten about how he talks to the disciples:

John 14:25-27

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you.

26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Counsellor => paraklete. One who walks alongside

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(NIV)

The holy Spirit’s presence is intended to make up for the Lord Jesus’ absence

Act 4 – ascension to return

Scene 1 – Pentecost’s power

Acts 2:1-4

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:14-17

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

They appeared to be drunk (today’s equivalent, rare, but very powerful!)

16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Previously the Spirit had been restricted – mainly coming on individuals. – now available for all

Scene 2 – Making waves

Acts 1:6-8

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Evangelism – It’s the Spirit who fills us with a desire to communicate!

• It’s the Spirit who grows the church by imparting gifts (charisma)

e.g. gracing the table. >>>

How does he operate today? Here are some picture the Bible uses to describe the holy Spirit

Seal

A stamp of authenticity. The Holy Spirit’s work in you is like the hallmark on a piece of gold. – It says “this is the real thing!”

Earnest

Old word for a deposit or a down-payment where there’s a promise of the complete sum to come later.

All that God does in us through the spirit in this like is only a down-payment of what is to come!

Firstfruits

>>>

Assurance

When we come to Christ ans we say “yep, I know I’m now a child of God” – you may not be able to put a time and place on it but you are deeply aware that God’s done his work in you – it’s now a done dal – that is the Holy Spirit giving you assurance.

It’s the HS who gives us that assurance – especially in the face of the enemy’s proddings

Scene 3 – the era of grace

Be filled now

Eph 5:18-19

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

(NIV)

Verb (not in English) implies present continuous – more accurate although a tad clumsy: “Be being filled” (Eph 5:18)

• Why do I often entourage you to be filled with the Spirit? Because I, for one, know that I leak and I need to be re-filled by Him as a daily experience
• To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with God, nothing more. (be satisfied with nothing less.

Pray >>>

Reading: Luke 9:57 – 10:9 & 10:17 – 10:21

Text: Luke 10:20-21

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

(A technical issue means that there are no Powerpoint slides with this sermon as yet. If you want them please contact me by clicking here. Thanks)

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I want to teach today about enjoying God. <ppt>

This week Manchester city beat Manchester united by 6 goals to 1! <ppt>

The Man C fans were ecstatic Joy was written all over their faces! <ppt: image out>

• For many people ‘enjoyment’ and ‘God’ don’t fit together in the same sentence. For many people ‘Enjoying God’ is an oxymoron
• the thought of joy fills them with delight and the thought of God fills them with gloom, dread, foreboding or just plain apathy.

BUT – when I look through the Bible and Christian history I find example after example of men and women who had real joy in God.

• Men and women who were thrilled in his presence, who were in awe of his majesty and in love with his person.
• And these weren’t the head-in-the-clouds mystics, they were sane, practical down-to-earth types who wrestled with the hassles and traumas of life – just like we do today.

And yet there is no question that their default position so far as God was concerned was one of joy and delight. Their reflex action was to enjoy him – in spite of any troubles they were experiencing.

Now I don’t want you to run away with the impression that pursuing joy in God is limited only to times when we’re in dire need. No way! Enjoying God is his desire for each of us whatever our external circumstances.

I want to point you to part of the text we had read this morning.

Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Many times you’ve heard me quote the Shorter Westminster Catechism – a list of questions and answers (dating back to 1647) which were designed to help ordinary people like us crystallise what we believe.

• It’s an FAQ set – Frequently asked questions about God, about Jesus about the Holy Spirit about the church and about the Bible.

First question is probably the most fundamental: <ppt> What is the chief end (or purpose) of man?

• Why do we exist, what’s the point of all this earthly life?
• We could come up with a whole variety of answers
• and economist would say “the chief end of man is to be productive to help stimulate the economy”
• a psychologist might say man’s main purpose is to find self realisation or autonomy

The Westminster Catchism was derived by Christian leaders in the 17^th century to help us in our faith – and we still use it today.

According to the very first question in the Catechism:

• Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever. <ppt>

This has two parts to it – glorifying God and enjoying him.

Before we come on to enjoying God let’s get a grasp on what we mean by ‘glorifying’ him.

Something is glorified when we draw attention to it in such a way that it becomes an object of wonder.

• So to glorify God means to draw attention to him in such a way that we wonder or marvel at him!
• It means to enhance his reputation – or his ‘glory’ – to increase the wonder of who he is – it means for him to be seen by us and the world as clearly as possible.

Just suppose (!) the Manchester City fans on their way to and from the stadium had to funnel down one of the streets in the city and you heard one of the residents of the street talking about it.

• Suppose you heard them say “The fans were fantastic – they were in high spirits, but they were polite, they weren’t rude, they were sober – they were amazing – If I wanted to support a football team – I’d support them!
• They are glorifying the club – it’s been seen and noticed

I’m going to blow our own trumpet for a moment.

• I heard a lady say “I used to find church a drudgery but since I’ve been coming here I’ve woken up on a Sunday and really wanted to come”
• She was glorifying the church – it’s been noticed / seen for what it is

I hear a husband talk about his wife and say “she’s the best thing that ever happened to me!” -

• he’s glorifying his wife – enhancing her image and reputation. She’s seen for who she is.

It’s all very well for a football team, a church or a wife, but how about our God?

How can we glorify God? How can he be seen / noticed in the church and in the world?

And in the answer to that question we get one of the most profound and biblical ways of glorifying God – of heightening his reputation – of enhancing his image on his earth

… it is by us enjoying him!

• Not learning about him (although that’s important)
• Not serving him (although that’s vital)
• Not giving to him (that’s necessary)

but by enjoying him. Finding our delight in him.

King David (Psalm 37) said

Ps 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

You won’t find yourself seeking your desires from another source!

• So the act of delighting in him changes the landscape of my heart as my desires co-ordinate with his and that’s where we derive our joy, our satisfaction

Only a few days ago I was talking to someone whose grandson had become a Christian and instantly Other members of the family noticed that that was what God does – He’s being glorified.

Here’s our headline message for today

God is glorified most clearly when we enjoy him most intimately

And we find enjoyment of God peppered throughout the scriptures.

Today’s reading

• turn around and pair off – find a partner (3 if you must)

In our reading Jesus sent people out in pairs and I want you to imagine that Jesus has just said this to you

Luke 10:3-11

3 [I'm commissioning the two of you to] Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not waste time with formalities …  “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

How would you react to a personal commission like that? I think you would take it very seriously indeed.

• It’s quite likely Jesus would have laid his hands on you and sent you off and said ‘we’ll meet back her this time next week’. Here’s what happened …

Luke 10:17 <ppt> The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

They were amazed at the way God was seen in their lives and the power of his name to change people. – And they were thrilled with it!

Luke 10:21 <ppt> At that [moment] Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

It was when Jesus was enjoying God (“full of joy through the Holy Spirit”) that he came out with such a profound thing – ‘you only get God when you receive him like a little child”

• and a young child’s natural desire is for intimacy with a loving parent.
• (indeed, if we are starved of intimacy it can affect us life-long)
• and that’s like us. We receive from God most intimately when we receive him as a little child.

Let me lead you through some other places in the Bible where intimacy and joy in God are revealed

John’s gospel

John the Baptist pictures himself as like the best man at a wedding waiting for the bridegroom! When the shout goes up that he’s finally arriving the best man is thrilled!

He’ pictures Jesus as the bridegroom and his followers (us) as the bride

John 3:29-30 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine (says John the Baptist), and it is now complete. He (bridegroom = Jesus) must become greater; I must become less.

To be in the presence of Christ, to enjoy intimacy with him (like a bride and bridegroom) provokes ecstatic joy in John – the best man who sees it all!

<ppt>The joy Christ gives to his children is like that of a bride and groom on their wedding day – an intimate consummation of a precious relationship

<ppt> God is glorified most clearly when we enjoy him most intimately

Later on in John’s gospel Jesus talking to his disciples – he’s just revealed that he will go to his death and we might expect that to be a moment full of heaviness and foreboding – and there’s no question their hearts were troubled – but listen

John 15:10-11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

He goes on

John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

The joy Christ promises here is not being restricted to a few specially favoured people, it’s for all his children.

• and it’s a complete joy – not qualified by conditions and small print, it’s just the simple joy of intimacy with God.

Later on, Jesus was talking with his heavenly father just before his arrest and death. Even here he’s talking about joy …

John 17:12-13 <ppt: blue image – Gethsemane> Father, I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

Christ’s intention for you is to “have the full measure of my joy within you”!

• And I could take you to passages in the other gospels, in Romans ((14:7, 15:13) in Galatians (5:22), in Philippians (1:25, 1:4), in Thessalonians (1Th 1:6) in 1 Peter where he says

1 Pet 1:8 Though you have not seen [God], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

And if ever we have any doubts as to why Jesus went through the cross for us – doubts as to what kept his going, just listen to Hebrews

Heb 12:2 <ppt: ‘for the joy’> Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It was joy in God that saw him through the greatest trial of his life.

• We’re not talking about superficial happiness or jollity.
• Joy in God is the gift of God to be received like a little child.

Jonathan Edwards was a brilliant preacher and theologian of the 18^th Century.

Man’s proper happiness consists in the enjoyment of God; but it is not possible that man should enjoy God with only those things in him which he receives from his first birth. So that there is this necessity of man’s being born again.” (“Born Again” from “the Works of Jonathan Edwards”)

>>>

So to enjoy God as I’m describing today you need to be born again – you need to have come to Christ.

I vividly remember a lady who came to one of our services once and it was obvious God was on her case. As I remember it, she was a Christian but her love for the Lord had dwindled to almost nothing.

• As she came in she sat unobtrusively in her seat and, rather to her embarrassment, she began quietly sobbing.
• She told me afterwards “I just wept the whole way through the service, but they were tears of joy and release. As last I had let go of myself and let God in and now I genuinely love him in a new way.”

• She was enjoying the intimate presence of God in her life that morning in a way she hadn’t before.

And if that vocabulary sound a bit strange to you, let me read to you part of Nehemiah.

• Nehemiah was a great Israelite leader who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed.
• His great concern was not so much for the architecture as for the glory of God. God’s reputation as lay at stake when the walls of His city lay in ruins.

Nehemiah knew that he had to do more than just a load of brickwork and at one point he took the book of law and had it read to the people, with the priests doing just what I’m doing now – trying to make its meaning clear.

• And what happened? The people began weeping as its message reached their hearts! And what did Nehemiah say to them?”This is a day of rejoicing! … The joy of the Lord is to be your strength!”

Change ministry time

If you have a ‘problem’, please contact me later / e-mail (address on News Sheet) / write it on a welcome card – we will pray with you about your problem – promise!

Just for today I’m not interested in ‘problems’

If you want to enjoy God, to have a deeper awareness of him, to be touched by His spirit, then come to the front.

If in your heart there’s a desire for increased intimacy with god so He is glorified in your life, come to the front while we are singing and we will pray together.

Pray

Lord I want to enjoy you more intimately and glorify more obviously

(These are my preaching notes from a talk at ‘Mosaic’, a service we do interactively around coffee tables. At several points the audience breaks to talk about interesting factors which arise from the message, You will see these headed by “around tables”)

(This message uses two clips for ‘Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves’. If you want to know how to find them please send me a comment from the end of this post or click ‘contact us’ above)

Leadership is something that rattles through our news papers and web sites. People often say they’re looking for leadership in their business or in government. This week we’ve heard of a school and a hospital that have failed because of ‘poor leadership’. So how about churches? And does being a leader and a Christian make a difference?

In God’s people the leadership that God uses to make his people thrive is in some ways the same as leadership in any other part of society, but in others it’s very different. So tonight I want to share with you come principles that apply wherever you may be leading (even if your circle of influence is relatively small) and what makes spiritual leadership distinctive.

around tables

• Make a note of some of the most effective leaders you can think of
• Talk about what makes them good (or even great) leaders…

Come with me to the World Trade centre on Sept 11^th 2001 at a moment when the planes are about to hit

• 6 men are waiting for a lift
• 5 in 3-piece suits
• 1 with a squeegee – a janitor
• about the 50th floor it happens – the plane hits, the lights go out the lift judders to a halt
• nobody knows what to do – nobody even knows what’s going on

It turns out that the man with the bucket realises that one thing they could do is prize open the door

• they use the handle of his squeegee to lever it open and he gets the men in suits to help him
• When they open the door thy don’t see a door on to a corridor of the building – they just see a huge blank wall with the number 50 painted on it
• this is an express lift – there’s no opening on the 50th floor
• all there is – wall between them and the rest of the world
• now what to do?
• so the window-cleaner thinks – and he realises that if he takes the rubber strip out of his squeegee he can expose some sharp edges
• it they take is off they can scratch away at what turns out to be 3 layers of dry wall
• with these sharp edges the poke away at the breezeblocks and make a 1 foot hole in the wall.
• this turns out to be under a washbasin the gent’s loo on the 50th floor
• they crawl through – much to the amazement of the firemen who thought they’d cleared the building
• they run down the stairs and out into the street
• then there’s a running sound and a rushing sound and the building collapses behind them as they run away into the street

Question

• - in that situation who was the leader?
• not the person you think! – top executives in 3-piece suit

it was the one who saw the dilemma and took the responsibility to step forward and take the lead and get other people to work with him to change things for the better

• anyone who does that is a leader and anyone who fails to do that is not a leader

… regardless of whether or not they have the title “leader”

lesson 1 <ppt> – leaders are people who make things happen and spiritual leaders are people who make things happen for the glory of God

Jesus Christ was arguably the greatest leader who ever walked the planet.

• Just think about it. He only preached and ministered to people for 3 years. He never wrote a book, he never formed an organisation, he left no estate. In fact he was the only person in history to successfully borrow a grave – because he returned it to its owner!
• And yet, 2000 years later a third of the world’s population acknowledge that they follow him (to some degree or another) churches are being created every hour of every day 24/7
• That is quite a following! No other leader in the history of the human race even comes close to Jesus Christ.

And that is very pertinent for us, because here in this room some of us are leaders, some are yet to be leaders and some think they are but need a little help to be effective leaders.

The essence of leadership is being followed – and Jesus was followed – massively <ppt>

• Read Mark’s gospel and again and again Mark refers to the vast numbers of people who followed Jesus.

And being followed is the essence of leadership.

In fact many leadership experts now focus as much on followership as they do the skills or abilities needed for leadership.

• Some bright spark once said “He who thinketh he leadeth and hath not a following only taketh a walk in the park”!

So as we come to look at Jesus and consider his gift of leadership – ask yourself this question: What makes me followable?

• Are there aspects of my life that other people want to follow – that I can work on to be an influential person and possibly a leaders in some sphere or another?
• Do I have the same mix that Jesus had – a mix <ppt> of vision, compassion, strategy, determination and empathy?

Lesson 2 – <ppt> leaders are people who have a following and spiritual leaders are people whose followers realise they are following Jesus

There’s a passage from Proverbs in the Bible I want you to read. Written by King Solomon – a wise and highly effective leader in his day. Here he is imparting his wisdom to his son:

Around tables:

Read Prov 4:20-23 <ppt> and work out what it has to say about leadership

Prov 4:20-23

20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.

21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Leadership is to do with the heart – with character.

Most leadership failures are not failures of skill or expertise, they are failures of the heart. Failures of character.

“So above all else guard your heart – for it is the wellspring of life”

• Sadly Solomon, who wrote those words, later failed – he became a sex addict and it took over his life. – a failure of the heart – of character.
• Robert Maxwell failed – he fell in love with his money and gave his life for it – and left £440m in debts – it was a failure of character.
• Robert Mugabe has failed to lead his nation well – he loves his power too much – it’s a matter of the heart – of character.

“So above all else guard your heart – for it is the wellspring of life”

Jesus said something very similar

Matt 12:34-35 … for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

It’s hardly rocket science >>>

Lesson 3 – <ppt> leaders are people who pay attention to their character and spiritual leaders are people who mould their character on the model of Jesus Christ.

I want you to watch a clip from a film “Robin hood prince of thieves”

Context:

• Robin Hood has come home from the Crusades with a Moslem friend called Azim
• But he’s arrived to find his father’s castle ransacked and the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham ruling the region with an iron fist
• The oppression his family and friends are suffering moves him very deeply and he decides to confront the sheriff
• In the ensuing fight Robin rides off on the Sheriff’s horse – a wonderful white stallion to meet the men cowering in the forest for fear of the sheriff

This is a skilful piece of script writing in which almost every line says something about leadership

(please overlook one piece of unparliamentary language)

[Discuss the lessons we spot along the way]

A leader takes initiative – and brings  a situation to a head

Even though he didn’t formally have the right to do so, this is what Robin did. Nobody had appointed him as a leader – he was just doing what came naturally to him for the benefit of the people around him. He had already confronted the wicked Sheriff and stolen his horse and his sidekick Azim is the first to question him

“how can I protect you?” asks Azim

Robin already has a follower who sees how valuable a character Robin is and wants to protect him

• But again, Robin is acting independently here
• he’s out on his own
• the dominant emotion in many leaders is not glamour – it’s loneliness
• Leadership is an isolating role because of the need to act independently

Will Scarlet to Robin “You’ve started a war!”

to which Robin replies “We’re already at war”

• A Leader will often state uncomfortable reality the way it is -they are fundamentally realists who don’t like sweeping under the carpet the tough realities of the situation

Robin to little-John “are you afraid?”

to which little John replies “yes – a bit”

• Leaders take notice of people’s feelings but at that moment Robin sees his opportunity to energise and inspire little John

Robin: “Duncan – Bread?”

Duncan is Robin’s murdered father’s servant who has been blinded by the Sheriff

• A leader cares about the people closest to him

“I say we strike back at the very man who takes our homes and hunts our children”

Leaders inspire people – and they do it with creativity and imagination -

• just see how he’s using the emotions here “takes our homes” – (precious) “hunts our children”
• Leaders often use emotive language to get their message across and to galvanise their followers

Then comes a classic line

Little John to Robin “You planning to join us matey?”

To which Robin shoots back: “No – to lead you”

• A leader will step in even if he hasn’t been elected, appointed or given the title
• He or she will just take initiative and assume a role he or she was never awarded

At this moment a leader is often challenged

a. Azim “these are simple people they are not warriors”

Whether out of fear or concern we don’t know – but Azim is trying to put the breaks of Robin’s leadership

• And what does Robin do?
• he takes notice of this contrary view but doesn’t necessarily respond to it
• This is very common in a position of leadership where at key moments you may be given entirely contradictory messages

Let me give you a f’rinstance that sticks in my mind:

At an evening service in our church in Purley, and I felt it was right as the worship leader to get the people praying in small groups in the church. We didn’t have circular tables like we have here so I just got them to turn around where they were.

The following day I met a man who was in the service and he raved over that moment.

• “It was fantastic!” he said “there was such a sense of the Spirit of God moving in that prayer time you could almost feel him! We must do more of it!”
• “Thanks for your encouragement” I said

Later the same week I led a weekly Friday prayer meeting and at the end of the meeting another man in the church took me on one side.

• “Last Sunday evening’s service” he said “I’ve just got to talk to you about it. Dividing the church into groups to pray like that was terrible. You should never break up God’s people like that. If you want me to carry on supporting you that must never happen again – ever”
• There was passion in his voice “I want you to promise me it will never happen again!”
• At that point may task as a leader was to listen to him, say I was sorry he felt that way.

This points up a tough side to leadership.

• Both these men were equally committed to Christ and to the church. Both of them had active roles of service in the church.
• But the thing that wrenched me the most was this:

• Both of them were my friends.

The choice that faced me was between being a leader and being a friend. And this is very common in leadership roles, particularly in the church.

Leadership can be a lonely road to travel.

Now talk together:

On Tables

<ppt> How much is leadership an inner ability that I’m born with and how much is it a skill that I can learn?

<ppt: countdown clock>

Look at Rom 12:3-8

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. … if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;

the word ‘gift’ points to nature –

• some people are gifted while others and not naturally endowed in this direction

the word ‘diligently’ points to nurture –

• it’s something we have to work at. The grammar of the sentence indicates that we are to be diligent about being good leaders!

Lesson 4 – <ppt> Leaders take natural skills of influence and work at them and spiritual leaders rely on God’s spirit for this task

Another clip from Robin Hood?

Story – The sheriff has unleashed a vicious reprisal against Robin and his men by burning down the village where they lived and now they’ve come to the forest to confront Robin

<ppt – clip>

Leaders always face opposition – and usually that opposition comes from the place you least expect it – and that is usually from within.

Notice the character of Will Scarlet in the clip – he seems to be opposed to Robin for no apparent reason. (If you see the rest of the film you’d discover the reasons for him being so cantankerous). But it left Robin out in the cold.

This is why leadership is so often a lonely experience

Please don’t think of leadership as a road to glory or admiration! True leadership tests you to the core, and you may find yourself opposed or let down by people who at some time you regarded as your friends.

Did you notice what Robin said to Will “The one true weapon which escapes you Will is courage”

and to be a leader you will need to call on all the courage you can find – it is often a lonely path to tread

In fact a highly effective leader is able to rebuild those friendships

E.g. Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane – loneliness! >>>

Lesson 5 – <ppt> Leaders face opposition with courage and spiritual leaders can discern the work of Satan when he is active

Finally – leaders inspire people! Listen to Robin again

“I would rather die than spend my life in hiding!”

“The sheriff calls us outlaws but I say we are free!”

“I will make you no promises except one – if you truly believe in your hearts that we are free then I say we can win”

lesson 6 – <ppt> Leaders inspire people and spiritual leaders inspire people to live for Jesus Christ

And if he can say that for a cheap feature film how much more can we say it about following Jesus Christ and being the people he wants us to be.

Jesus used his words to breathe inspiration into this followers again and again

For example

• “I will make you fishers of men!” What a contrast to what they were doing! >>>
• at a friend’s tomb – “I am the resurrection and the life!” – conquered death itself! >>>

I will never forget the first time I saw Mel Gibson’s film ‘The Passion of the Christ’.

• It was a preview being screened in London for church leaders who were invited so we would be aware of what people would be watching when they went to see the movie.
• At the end of film preview there is usually a lot of talk about production values, editing, acting performances, costumes and the like. But this was different. Totally different.
• The audience was stunned into silence, and that silence was maintained without any prompting until we had all left the cinema.
• The question that burned through my mind at that point was much deeper than I expected. “Is this man worth following?” Am I doing the right thing by giving my life, my career, my time, my money, my marriage and everything I hav over to the Lordship of this single individual?
• And the answer was an emphatic! ‘yes’.
• Nobody in human history has sacrificed more for the sake of the Kingdom of God and, more than ever before, I wanted him to be my Lord, my mentor and my master. There is no-one who has ever lived life like him”

Tonight I believe there are one of two people for whom this is resonating “Lord – that’s me” – and He is calling you to be influential where you are – to lead – to be followed.

We’d like to pray for you and with you

Prayer time >>>