Building the Church--Allowing Time for Proper Preparation
Building the Church--Allowing Time for Proper Preparation
Nehemiah 2:1-10
By Pastor Lee Hemen
May 7, 2011 AM
I had received one of those plastic model airplanes! This was going to be great stuff! With eager anticipation I opened the box and out fell hundreds of pieces of tiny little plastic parts, decals, and plans. What had started out as eager anticipation was reduced to utter disappointment. How was I going to build this thing with all of its hundreds of parts and pieces? My mother happened to come into my bedroom delivering a pile of clean clothes, she inquired why I was so depressed looking. I showed her the hundreds of plastic pieces and she responded, “You’ve just got to allow time for proper preparation. Read the directions and take it one piece at a time.” Now a ten-year-old kid doesn’t have a lot of patience with details, but I learned that spring that if I planned properly I could build a pretty detailed plastic model airplane!
A church can be a lot like a ten-year-old and not plan properly to reach its community. An individual can be the same way with his life. Whether building a church or our personal lives, we need to allow time for proper preparation. Nehemiah teaches us how this is possible.
READ: Nehemiah 2:1-10
Opportunity is everything. Children learn the best times to ask for certain things. I learned to wait for the weekend to ask my mother for anything because she worked so hard during the week. Four months went by before Nehemiah’s opportunity came, but the opportune moment did arrive. As he was going about his duties evidently Nehemiah had been preparing for the moment when he would ask the king for help in rebuilding Jerusalem. Nehemiah teaches us about allowing time for proper preparation in building our church. Nehemiah teaches us about--
I. Waiting (vv. 1-8).
1. The secret of waiting is to do exactly what God has you doing already!
1) My mother would say that a person often makes their own opportunity, but I have since learned that God is always in the details. Notice that Nehemiah wasn’t idle while he waited for God to present an opportunity for him to speak to the king--he prayed, he thought, he planned. He kept doing what he had been doing all along until God presented the opportunity!
1. Proverbs 14:15 tells us: “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” Henry Blackaby writes, in his book "Experiencing God, Knowing and Doing the Will of God," that we are to continue doing what God has us doing where we are until he tells us something different! I have found that to be great advice!
2) Nehemiah planned carefully and he knew his precise needs--letters of safe conduct, the king’s permission to the forest manager, and dependence on God’s help! Nehemiah had done some extensive research to know what was needed, who was in charge, and how he could ask. He wasn't idle, he began his preparation and he stayed put until God opened the opportunity. Far too often we try and force God to open a door when he has not even directed us to the threshold!
EXAMPLE: God’s work and our planning are not contradictory. J. White notes that “Prayer is where planning starts!” Nehemiah modeled good leadership and judgment; he prayed, planned, and acted in dependence on God and submission to His guidance. My mother was famous for making sure her children were not idle. In fact, we may have had a day of laziness planned, but my mother already had other things in mind. She would remind us, "If you boys can't find something for yourself to do, I can!" We learned real fast that the secret of waiting was to do something else right where we were in the meantime! In any activity that God blesses, He desires that His people are active in their waiting. Waiting should never be a time for wasting! While we wait is a time of great activity--we are to pray and plan.
Have you ever wanted something so much that your expectations began to bring about a great deal of anxiety as to whether you would actually get what you wanted? Every child at Christmas probably has experienced this. When we would bug my mother about what we were getting for Christmas. She would remind us, “If you keep asking me, I will give you something you wish you did not have!” We learned to quit bugging her. Nehemiah was not despondent because of wanting something so bad that he was insecure as to whether he would get it or not--he was worried because of the condition Jerusalem was in. Nehemiah teaches us that in rebuilding a city, temple, or our church there is an importance to--
II. Wanting (vv. 1-3).
1. The greatest enemy of man is not disease--it is unrealistic desire!
1) It must be noted that Nehemiah could have been risking his life. Persons who served a Persian king were never to show their unhappiness in any way around the royal presence--it could have been misunderstood as being unhappy with the king!
2) Evidently Nehemiah had a close relationship with the king. He was present during a special time when one of the queens was there, because the perhaps the king would be a better mood. So, we find that Nehemiah took the opportunity to say he was sad because of the condition of the city “where my fathers are buried.” Nehemiah knew what he wanted but did not risk it by letting his overwhelming desire to overtake his common sense!
3) God teaches us that it is okay to desire what He desires. King David would write: “Show me the way I should go...Teach me to do your will, for you are my God” (Psalm 143:8b, 10a)!
EXAMPLE: We can confuse wanting what God wants with what we desire. The important factor to remember was NOT what Nehemiah wanted, it was ultimately what God desired. The important factor is what God sought for Jerusalem and for the Israelites. Nehemiah learned that personal experience could not be his guide. Experience had to be controlled and understood by what God wanted to do through Nehemiah! Every teenager at some point thinks they know what is best for their lives. This is part of growing and maturing. Sometimes this can lead to wanting something so much we forget to listen to the wisdom around us! My mom would often remind us that, “You just might get what you wished for, and then what will you do?” The same is true for Grace Baptist. The same is true for our lives! We must always make our decisions based on biblical principles and not on wishful thinking! Wanting isn’t necessarily wrong, but we should desire what God desires! We should want the things that God does.
Most children quickly learn the old adage that “If momma ain’t happy, no one is happy!” As kids we learned to watch all the nuances of our mom closely. Nehemiah was a very perceptive person as well. He noticed things around him. Things about his king, his country; but most importantly, Nehemiah noticed how God was working around him to accomplish His will. Nehemiah teaches us an important truth concerning growing our lives or our church. Nehemiah teaches us about--
III. Watching (vv. 9-10).
1. Every person should take some time daily to look at the spiritual road map of their lives!
1) We already have seen how Nehemiah put together his “to do” list and here we see him watching out for where he should go and to whom he should speak. Why? Nehemiah learned evidently from God that there is always opposition from the world to what he desires in the lives of his people. In fact, most people would rather follow their own plans and programs rather than what God desires for their lives!
2) The Apostle Paul knew this to be true as well! Just when God wanted to do some truly great things at Corinth, the people wanted to do their “own thing.” Paul admonished them by saying, “I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good” (1 Corinthians 11:17)! Could a church get that bad? Yes.
3) We must watch to see where God is working and join Him there! Nehemiah did just that. He did not ask: “What is God’s will for my life?” instead he asked “What is God’s will?” Nehemiah’s focus was on God, not on his own life! Nehemiah was sensitive to watch where God was working and join God in what He was doing. Shouldn’t that be true for us today?
EXAMPLE: In Scripture we see those who opposed the early church being scolded by their own leadership! A “Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin” and admonished his listeners by telling them, “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:34, 38-39) When I was growing up, we would hike down to the Wenatchee River to swim. We had to cross a large cattle pasture and my mom would constantly remind us, “Watch where you step!” We knew if we stepped wrong, we would be in a lot of stink! We can face spiritual “land mines” in our lives unless we are willing to watch. Watching out means watching out for what God desires and for the opposition that comes when God begins to work.
Conclusion:
Remember in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy is in the cave? He very carefully listens, looks at his map, and then focuses his attention on where he is going to step. One wrong move and he could release a hidden trap, like a huge stone that comes rolling after him! Proper preparation helps us to avoid the traps.
We see what the results of Nehemiah’s efforts were. He was able to do what God wanted him to do. Nehemiah was able to go to Jerusalem and begin to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah waited, wanted, and watched the way God desired him to. Nehemiah was able to do the things God had planned for him because of that. Nehemiah had a great relationship with the Lord. He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Grace can build a strong church. It can happen when we wait, want, and watch for what God desires.
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 yearsin Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causesand maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by LeeHemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless youquote the entire article and have my permission.
Nehemiah 2:1-10
By Pastor Lee Hemen
May 7, 2011 AM
I had received one of those plastic model airplanes! This was going to be great stuff! With eager anticipation I opened the box and out fell hundreds of pieces of tiny little plastic parts, decals, and plans. What had started out as eager anticipation was reduced to utter disappointment. How was I going to build this thing with all of its hundreds of parts and pieces? My mother happened to come into my bedroom delivering a pile of clean clothes, she inquired why I was so depressed looking. I showed her the hundreds of plastic pieces and she responded, “You’ve just got to allow time for proper preparation. Read the directions and take it one piece at a time.” Now a ten-year-old kid doesn’t have a lot of patience with details, but I learned that spring that if I planned properly I could build a pretty detailed plastic model airplane!
A church can be a lot like a ten-year-old and not plan properly to reach its community. An individual can be the same way with his life. Whether building a church or our personal lives, we need to allow time for proper preparation. Nehemiah teaches us how this is possible.
READ: Nehemiah 2:1-10
Opportunity is everything. Children learn the best times to ask for certain things. I learned to wait for the weekend to ask my mother for anything because she worked so hard during the week. Four months went by before Nehemiah’s opportunity came, but the opportune moment did arrive. As he was going about his duties evidently Nehemiah had been preparing for the moment when he would ask the king for help in rebuilding Jerusalem. Nehemiah teaches us about allowing time for proper preparation in building our church. Nehemiah teaches us about--
I. Waiting (vv. 1-8).
1. The secret of waiting is to do exactly what God has you doing already!
1) My mother would say that a person often makes their own opportunity, but I have since learned that God is always in the details. Notice that Nehemiah wasn’t idle while he waited for God to present an opportunity for him to speak to the king--he prayed, he thought, he planned. He kept doing what he had been doing all along until God presented the opportunity!
1. Proverbs 14:15 tells us: “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” Henry Blackaby writes, in his book "Experiencing God, Knowing and Doing the Will of God," that we are to continue doing what God has us doing where we are until he tells us something different! I have found that to be great advice!
2) Nehemiah planned carefully and he knew his precise needs--letters of safe conduct, the king’s permission to the forest manager, and dependence on God’s help! Nehemiah had done some extensive research to know what was needed, who was in charge, and how he could ask. He wasn't idle, he began his preparation and he stayed put until God opened the opportunity. Far too often we try and force God to open a door when he has not even directed us to the threshold!
EXAMPLE: God’s work and our planning are not contradictory. J. White notes that “Prayer is where planning starts!” Nehemiah modeled good leadership and judgment; he prayed, planned, and acted in dependence on God and submission to His guidance. My mother was famous for making sure her children were not idle. In fact, we may have had a day of laziness planned, but my mother already had other things in mind. She would remind us, "If you boys can't find something for yourself to do, I can!" We learned real fast that the secret of waiting was to do something else right where we were in the meantime! In any activity that God blesses, He desires that His people are active in their waiting. Waiting should never be a time for wasting! While we wait is a time of great activity--we are to pray and plan.
Have you ever wanted something so much that your expectations began to bring about a great deal of anxiety as to whether you would actually get what you wanted? Every child at Christmas probably has experienced this. When we would bug my mother about what we were getting for Christmas. She would remind us, “If you keep asking me, I will give you something you wish you did not have!” We learned to quit bugging her. Nehemiah was not despondent because of wanting something so bad that he was insecure as to whether he would get it or not--he was worried because of the condition Jerusalem was in. Nehemiah teaches us that in rebuilding a city, temple, or our church there is an importance to--
II. Wanting (vv. 1-3).
1. The greatest enemy of man is not disease--it is unrealistic desire!
1) It must be noted that Nehemiah could have been risking his life. Persons who served a Persian king were never to show their unhappiness in any way around the royal presence--it could have been misunderstood as being unhappy with the king!
2) Evidently Nehemiah had a close relationship with the king. He was present during a special time when one of the queens was there, because the perhaps the king would be a better mood. So, we find that Nehemiah took the opportunity to say he was sad because of the condition of the city “where my fathers are buried.” Nehemiah knew what he wanted but did not risk it by letting his overwhelming desire to overtake his common sense!
3) God teaches us that it is okay to desire what He desires. King David would write: “Show me the way I should go...Teach me to do your will, for you are my God” (Psalm 143:8b, 10a)!
EXAMPLE: We can confuse wanting what God wants with what we desire. The important factor to remember was NOT what Nehemiah wanted, it was ultimately what God desired. The important factor is what God sought for Jerusalem and for the Israelites. Nehemiah learned that personal experience could not be his guide. Experience had to be controlled and understood by what God wanted to do through Nehemiah! Every teenager at some point thinks they know what is best for their lives. This is part of growing and maturing. Sometimes this can lead to wanting something so much we forget to listen to the wisdom around us! My mom would often remind us that, “You just might get what you wished for, and then what will you do?” The same is true for Grace Baptist. The same is true for our lives! We must always make our decisions based on biblical principles and not on wishful thinking! Wanting isn’t necessarily wrong, but we should desire what God desires! We should want the things that God does.
Most children quickly learn the old adage that “If momma ain’t happy, no one is happy!” As kids we learned to watch all the nuances of our mom closely. Nehemiah was a very perceptive person as well. He noticed things around him. Things about his king, his country; but most importantly, Nehemiah noticed how God was working around him to accomplish His will. Nehemiah teaches us an important truth concerning growing our lives or our church. Nehemiah teaches us about--
III. Watching (vv. 9-10).
1. Every person should take some time daily to look at the spiritual road map of their lives!
1) We already have seen how Nehemiah put together his “to do” list and here we see him watching out for where he should go and to whom he should speak. Why? Nehemiah learned evidently from God that there is always opposition from the world to what he desires in the lives of his people. In fact, most people would rather follow their own plans and programs rather than what God desires for their lives!
2) The Apostle Paul knew this to be true as well! Just when God wanted to do some truly great things at Corinth, the people wanted to do their “own thing.” Paul admonished them by saying, “I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good” (1 Corinthians 11:17)! Could a church get that bad? Yes.
3) We must watch to see where God is working and join Him there! Nehemiah did just that. He did not ask: “What is God’s will for my life?” instead he asked “What is God’s will?” Nehemiah’s focus was on God, not on his own life! Nehemiah was sensitive to watch where God was working and join God in what He was doing. Shouldn’t that be true for us today?
EXAMPLE: In Scripture we see those who opposed the early church being scolded by their own leadership! A “Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin” and admonished his listeners by telling them, “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:34, 38-39) When I was growing up, we would hike down to the Wenatchee River to swim. We had to cross a large cattle pasture and my mom would constantly remind us, “Watch where you step!” We knew if we stepped wrong, we would be in a lot of stink! We can face spiritual “land mines” in our lives unless we are willing to watch. Watching out means watching out for what God desires and for the opposition that comes when God begins to work.
Conclusion:
Remember in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy is in the cave? He very carefully listens, looks at his map, and then focuses his attention on where he is going to step. One wrong move and he could release a hidden trap, like a huge stone that comes rolling after him! Proper preparation helps us to avoid the traps.
We see what the results of Nehemiah’s efforts were. He was able to do what God wanted him to do. Nehemiah was able to go to Jerusalem and begin to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah waited, wanted, and watched the way God desired him to. Nehemiah was able to do the things God had planned for him because of that. Nehemiah had a great relationship with the Lord. He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Grace can build a strong church. It can happen when we wait, want, and watch for what God desires.
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 yearsin Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causesand maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2011 by LeeHemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless youquote the entire article and have my permission.
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