HOW TO REBUILD YOUR LIFE
THE TALK RIGHT NOW IS
“HURRICANE KATRINA”
* There’s not much to laugh about, is there!
* These are the common words on the news:
Restoration - Repair - Renovation
Renewal - Recovery
Rehabilitation - Reconstruction
Rebirth of the Cities
Retrieval - Return
Put it back like it was.
REMEMBER THE MARSHALL PLAN
- AFTER WORLD WAR II
Secretary Of State George C. Marshall devised a recovery plan for Europe.
- Massive rebuilding project.
- Cities of Europe had been devastated by bombing and battles
* America Responded with generosity
As fierce as its resolve to resist the Nazis.
IRAQ IS OUR PRESENT CHALLENGE
With a massive rebuilding effort in progress now.
BIBLICAL HISTORY GIVES US A SAMPLE OF HOW TO REBUILD
* Jerusalem had been Ransacked and Destroyed by Nebucadnezzar
2 Kings 25:1-6
1 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
2 And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.
5 And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.
6 So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him
7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.
8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:
9 And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.
10 And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
2 Chron icles 36:5-7 - Later, He carried the Temple Vessels Away
5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
* 142 Years Later, Nehemiah Was Stirred To Rebuild The City
Nehemiah 1:1-4
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
* Babylon had destroyed the walls in 587 BC, 142 years before Hanani’s report.
Did Nehemiah not know of the condition?
Or had it become “old news” until now,
And this time his heart is deeply touched.
Perhaps some of us live in numbness until one day,
old news pierces our heart.
We mourn over starving children in foreign 3rd World Countries,
Or over the many abortions in America.
BUT - It becomes “old new” and
we easily forget how serious it is.
(Communicator’s Commentary)
STEPS TO RENEWAL AND RESTORATION
#1 - Ask Questions, To See How Serious Your Situation Really Is.
Nehemiah 1: 2
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
- Nehemiah asked the right question
(He asked Hanani concerning those left in Jerusalem,
and about the city of Jerusalem itself)
“How is everything back in Jerusalem?”
QUESTIONS I SHOULD ASK ABOUT MY LIFE:
1. How is my walk with the Lord?
2. Am I walking in liberty and freedom from fear?
3. Am I fully supplied with God’s provisions,
or am I walking in spiritual poverty?
4. Who do I fellowship with:
a. The King’s people or
b. The Captors Agents?
5. Is my body the temple of the living God
Or, has my temple been ransacked of the holy vessels
And, Is my temple burned out?
6. Is there something in me that needs
renewal, revival and restoration?
#2 - Face The Truth - (Hanani said . . .)
Nehemiah 1: 3 -
3 The captivity are in great affliction and reproach.
The wall of Jerusalem is broken down
The gates are burned with fire.
Three things:
1. Affliction and reproach
2. Walls broken down
3. Gates are burned
#3 - Weep and Mourn, Fast and Pray
Nehemiah 1:4 “. . . When I heard these words . . . I sat down and wept, and mourned . . . and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Four Things To Do:
1. Weep
2. Mourn
3. Fast
4. Pray
His prayer was one of contrition and repentance:
Vs 6 - Confessed the sins of Israel
We have sinned against thee, O God.
Vs 8 - Please remember your promise:
Nehemiah 1:9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
The kind of prayer you pray brings your real motives, purpose and resolve to the surface.
“Honest Hearted Prayer”
* Speaks clearly
* Acknowledges oneself as a humble “SERVANT”
* I have sinned.
* I thought evil thoughts,
I said evil words,
I did evil deeds.
* I ignored your Word / Commandments.
NOTE: Half hearted prayer will not add to your re-habilitation.
#4 - Be Specific In What You Request From The King
Nehemiah 2:5 -
“If it is ok with you, King,
want to start back over and rebuild my life.”
Nehemiah 2:5-6 - And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
* “I want to start back over.”
* “I need help in going back.”
(I can’t do this by myself)
#5 - Tell The Truth About What You Intend To Do
Nehemiah 2:6
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
* How long is this going to take?
NOTE: Are you fooling around with God,
And just “playing religion”?
* Most of us have “good intentions” but
- - - Good intentions won’t save you!
* God wants to know,
“Are you serious about this rehab business?”
NOTE: God will finance you rehabilitation,
reconstruction, renewal and re-birth.
Nehemiah 2:7-8
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
* It won’t cost you anything to get your life straight with God!
- He will provide all the expenses.
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
#6 - Get Started Quickly and
. . . Don’t Let The Opposition Slow You Down!
(Sanballat & Tobiah)
Nehemiah 2:9-12
9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
* Not everyone wants you to have a strong spiritual life!
* A quick start for God will take the opposition by surprise.
* Why not get on with your spiritual rehabilitation, NOW!
#7 - First, Pay Attention To The WALLS and GATES and WELLS
Nehemiah 2:13-15
13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
WALLS - Your Walls tell you what you keep out of your life.
*Where do you draw the line?
. . . and What do you allow in your life?
* Your personal boundaries tell the world how close it can come to you
. . . and reminds you how close you will allow yourself to get to the world.
* Your walls or standards alone won’t save you . . .
(Your personal, spiritual relationship to Jesus Christ is your means of salvation.)
* But your walls speak disciplines into your life
. . . and become an example to others.
GATES - Your Gates tell you what you let in.
* What do you let into your life?
* Do you control the gates of your life?
* Gates can let things in, both good or bad.
( Habits, Attitudes, Acquaintances, Morals, Involvements, Doctrines, Connections, Cultural practices, etc.)
* Gates are for “opening” and “closing”.
( We must be open to some things and closed to others)
WELLS - Your Wells tell what sustains you on the inside.
* What gives you nourishment and keeps you hydrated?
*Wells of living water:
KJV - Isaiah 12:3
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Today’s Living Bible:
Oh, the joy of drinking deeply from the Fountain of Salvation!"
* Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38 Today’s English Version:
As the scripture says, 'Whoever believes in me, streams of life-giving water will pour out from his heart.
* What Wells are you drinking from?
From the fresh wells of God’s Spirit?
- OR -
The Toxic, Stale, Polluted wells of entertainment and self?
#8 - You Will Need Some Spiritual Help From Many Others
Nehemiah 2:17
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach
* Nehemiah realized he could not do the job by himself.
He needed help from the body.
No one says,
“Baby, heal thyself!”
“Young man, you’ll never get restored!”
“Young lady, you can find the way all by yourself!”
“Alcoholic, you’re off the wagon, so just walk alone!”
“Drug addict, we can’t and won’t help you!”
“Lukewarm saint,
Build your own fire!”
“Stumbler, keep on stumbling.
You’ll fall sooner or later.”
“Dry soul, there’s no water at this well.
We’re fresh out!”
* You Need Lots of Help With The Gates, Walls and Wells:
“Someone to restore and build . . .
* These Are the Gates Nehemiah found . . .
The Old Gate (Beams, Doors, Locks and Bars)
The Sheep Gate - (Market, place to supply the little things)
The Fish Gate - (Market, Place to supply other things)
The Valley Gate (Out to the farms and fields)
The Dung Gate (Enough said)
The Fountain Gate (The garden and the Pool of Siloam)
The Water Gate (Close to the brooks and streams)
The Horse Gate (Stallions for defense)
The Walls and Towers (section by section)
* Can you imagine an ancient city without these kinds of
. . . gates, walls and fountains?
* ASAPH SAID:
Psalm 73:1-2
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:13
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psalm 73:16-18
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
WHERE DO YOU TURN
IN THE HOUR OF YOUR GREATEST NEED!
Hebrews 4:14-5:1
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
CAN YOU SAY, “I NEED HELP”?
“I Need God!”
Psalm 22:19 - David said, “I need help, God!”
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psalm 109:26-28 - David asked God to “Do it publicly!”
26 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because you are loving and kind.
27 Do it publicly, so all will see that you yourself have done it. TLB
Psalm 121:1-2 - “My help cometh from God!”
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
REVIEW:
Eight Steps To Renewal and Restoration:
#1 - Ask Questions, To See How Serious Your Situation Really Is.
#2 - Face The Truth - (Hanani said . . .)
#3 - Weep and Mourn, Fast and Pray.
#4 - Be Specific In What You Request From The King.
#5 - Tell The Truth About What You Intend To Do.
#6 - Get Started Quickly and
. . . Don’t Let The Opposition Slow You Down.
#7 First, Pay Attention to the WALLS, and GATES, and WELLS.
#8 - You Will Need Some Spiritual Help From Many Others.
IT’S TIME TO PUBLICLY ADMIT YOUR NEED FOR GOD!
I invite you to come forward now.
Let God help you now.
Let Him do it publicly!
