The Joy of Responsibility
Notes
Transcript
The Joy of Responsibility
Nehemiah 11:1- 12:26
INTRODUCTION
ILL- Football team
-It takes all types of players to make a team.
Quarterback- athletic brains.
Offensive Life- Giants with brains.
Wide receivers- Fast athletes/ divas
Running backs- Fast/fearless
Defense- etc.
-One offensive lineman taking a play off and QB gets hurt and season is over.
Risk of Living and Ministering within the City.
They needed everyone if they were going to worship in the Temple.
1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns.
2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.
4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite.
6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.
7 Types of People We Need on Our Team
1- Submissive (11:1)
1- Submissive (11:1)
1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns.
These men were drafted and went.
They didn’t rebel. They obeyed what their leaders asked them to do.
Sometimes in ministry we have to draft people.
Least effective, but sometimes necessary.
Prefer people using their spiritual gifts in a place of passion.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
2- Willing (11:2)
2- Willing (11:2)
2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
Others had already chosen to move to the city.
Those ready to do whatever is needed.
Didn’t have to be asked.
We have too many people that wait to be asked.
Be eager to sign up and find a spot to serve.
3- Leaders (11:3)
3- Leaders (11:3)
3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.
The chiefs. Clan leaders.
influencers by way of rank.
Probably born to this position.
But it guaranteed influence.
4- Valiant men (11:6)
4- Valiant men (11:6)
6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.
Brave men.
Those willing to leave all and follow Jesus. Left the comfortable to move to the city.
Example- Missionaries.
Lottie Moon
at 32 years of age, left her teaching career in the US and went to north China to teach at a boys school.
1873-1912
Went through plagues.
Stayed through War.
5- Mighty men (11:14)= Brave fighting men, wealthy men of substance.
5- Mighty men (11:14)= Brave fighting men, wealthy men of substance.
14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.
Time of David= the brave fighters.
By this time it referred to wealthy men of influence. Men who used their wealth and influence for the things of God.
1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
Influencers by way of social status and respect.
6- Temple workers (11:10-24)
6- Temple workers (11:10-24)
Priests worked in the temple.
Levites assisted them.
Some did the maintenance of the building. (16)
16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;
Some ministered with prayer and praise (17, 22)
17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise, who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.
22 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God.
172 guarded the temple (19)
19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172.
7- Civil Servants (11:23-24)
7- Civil Servants (11:23-24)
23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required.
It helps no having a government against you.
24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s side in all matters concerning the people.
People in government influencing policy.
Nehemiah was this person in chapter 1.
We need Christians in government.
Separation of Church and State
Baptists were a big reasons why we have it.
We didn’t want Government telling us how to worship.
We live in a democracy- we are responsible for who we elect. The world-view of those you elect matters. Are they fighting for our right to worship freely or not?
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
We must pray for those ruling over us.
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
CONCLUSION
We are the body of Christ. We must find our place on the team.
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Are you part of the body?
Are you part of the body?
The church is made up of those who have been saved.
You cannot separate the Christian from the Church.
