日期：02 /10/2008

經文： 尼希米記三章一至五節、八節、十三至十五節、十六至十八節

題目： 讓我們來建造！

主旨 : 因為神透過人的責任來建造祂的教會 , 所以我們要培養正確的領導才能來參與這工程 .

今天的經文對我們來說是一件蠻大的挑戰，好像每一節都很相似的。對住在糖城的人來說，都很關心 90A 公路的建造，經過五六年的建造，大約在今年年底就要結束了。整個建造過程大約有廿英哩，平均每年大約建造三英哩，這包括將原有的路拆掉，然後要建新的高蓋橋，用了無數噸的水泥。更不用提在建造期間的繞道、交通的擁擠 . 這一切很快就要過去了，不再需要為了早上，下午開車而操心。

在我們剛才讀的經文中，在公元前四百年也有一個工程，這是建造耶路撒冷的城牆和城門，整個的工程大概一英哩半到二英哩半，然後在五十二天內完成。按著當時的標準來說，耶路撒冷的重建是一個很大的工程，在五十二天完工是一個記錄。在我們過去幾個星期的學習，知道耶路撒冷是大君王的居所，是眾民所喜悅的地方，是神在地上居住的象徵。在尼希米時代的時候，城牆破壞，城門被火燒毀，人民在痛苦、羞愧的當中，尼希米有重建的使命。這個城牆的重建也在投射，將來有一天神要在地上建立祂的教會 。以 這作為我們的背景讓我現在來看一下尼希米領袖的才能，試看從他的一些特點來看如何應用在我們今天在建立神的教會上。這也包括了個人生命的重建。

首先我們看的這一個圖，給大家有一個概念，建造的工程是如何進行，是從羊門開始，按反時鐘的方向有魚門，然後往下走來到南邊，這是是爐樓，這裡是古門、這裡是糞門、再往這裡上去，一直到羊門為止，這就是在第三章在建造的進展。

I.    建造神的居所是需要有技巧的領袖

在過去一兩個禮拜，我們看到尼希米是一位很有技巧的領袖，也有一個無可指摘的品格，他是一個純正的人。特別在上個禮拜我們也學習到，不要就停留在尼希米這個人，不要單注視他，他是一位很偉大的領袖，然而如我們上個禮拜所看的，尼希米也在那裡投射，暗示將來要來的比尼希米更要偉大的領袖！那一位要來的就是基督、祂是那位完整的領袖、完整的牧人。以這作背景 , 讓我們來看一下尼希米成功的秘訣 .

1 •  組織的能力

在第三章裡，我們可以欣賞尼希米組織的能力，他要將磚頭和木材在同一時候要運到不同的個地方，好使可同一個時間一起開始工程，尼希米也需要將這一個工作分派給個人，某群體，和來自不同的地方民眾，做他們所要做的。整個的工程，用很有組織和次序的方式來進行。

當我們看見次序和組織，這叫我們很多人想起創世記第一章裡神怎樣創造了人，祂是有次序、有組織的在創造天、地和其中的一切。然後在舊約聖經裡面，摩西的岳父教導他如何做一個領導，如何將他周圍的人力組織起來。

有時我們問一些人，在這這教會裡所喜歡的是什麼？很多時候有人說，這裡的事工相當有組織、有秩序，星期日的崇拜也是條條有理、有次序的進行。

我們的事奉是要好好的組織，個人的生命也是如此吧！當我們生命沒有組織，秩序，我們很容易被那些好像不重要的事所影響，我們被別人控制要做什麼，我們心中的煩惱、失望。一個有次序、有組織的事工，往往也在反映著我們一個有次序、有組織的神。

2 •  委託的能力

尼希米知道如何將他四周圍的人組織起來，成為一隊強大有效率的組織。他也知道如何將事工委派給別人，他按著他們的專業、家族、各人一些的專長，或他們居住的地方委派事工。

我們很多時候以為自己做事會比較容易，委派給別人是不容易的。先要組織你的工作、尋找適當的人，找到人後又要教他們做什麼和如何作。這些都需化時間。一想到這些，就覺得很疲倦了。不如自己做吧？

當我們不知道如何將工作委派出去，往往就會導致耗盡。很多時候我的壓力之下，我的後備行動就出來了—就是在你壓力之下的自然表現，在壓力之下的行為是什麼？在壓力之下往往我們會說：「不如自己做好了！」但一個好的領袖，知道如何將他的工作委派給不同的人。

這也豈不是反應出三位一體的神的特點 ? 我們時常說，父神是設計整個的救贖計劃，三位一體的第二位 , 聖子 , 計劃執行出來，最後死在十字架上，然後三位一體的第三位 , 聖靈 , 將這一個事工應用在我們的心裡。尼希米和他的群眾、百姓能夠在五十二天之內完工，因為他知道如何將工作委派給別人。

3 •  事工合宜的分發

在聖經裡，不同的人群、人，參與不同部分的建造，有些人只是在建造一個城門，有些是建造一段︳有一位註譯家說尼希米整個的工作適量的分配給不同的人，不同的人完成他們所接受的工作 . 他 將一個好大的工程，適量的一段一段的分開。

我還在神學院讀書的時候，我所歸屬的教會邀請我一個月講一次道，當然一個月一次，不是件很困難的事，但是對一位年輕人，有二個小孩，太太還在外面做事，又加上學習的量，每個月一次的講道就是一個很大的挑戰，有時每次想到一個月要講一次道就頭痛了，就感到應付不來了。這是我所做的。因為很多的講道，都是只有三要點，我就一個禮拜準備一個要點，然後三個禮拜下來，三個要點就準備好了，我就可以去講道。這樣一直持續下去有很常的一段時間。當然不是每個人都能這樣做。對有些人來說一個禮拜只做一個重點，對他來說是要命的事，因為這一點做好了，其他的就吊在那裡，不是每一個人可以這樣。對我來說是蠻好的。有時我們教主日學、查經有好多工作要做，如果能將這一個工作分成一段一段的來做的話，我們的準備就會容易多。

再拿我準備講道的過程來講，當我在每年選好了要講的書卷之後，我覺得最大的挑戰就是將經文分成能夠用來講道的段落，當我把整本書講道的分成為段落時，心中的壓力就沒有了！然後就一段一段的準備。當我們將事工委派給別人的時候，常犯的一個錯誤，就是將太多的工作給一個人，聽你說要做這個、做那個，本來是有心幫助的，看見整章工作的內容跟本就不敢去幫忙了。我們的挑戰，特別是在這個教會做領導的，仍是要將我們的事奉，把他變成適量的份量，使人可以安心接下來，將它完成。

4 •  維持多元化中合一

在這一段經文裡，我們問一下，是誰在幫忙這個工程呢？我們看到有祭司、利未人、不同的家族、區長、有時是整區的區長、有的是一小區域的區長、也有專業人才、金匠、香料—製造香水的、生意人，他們從不同的層面來重建耶路撒冷城牆和城門，他們是合一的重建神所聚住的地方。尼希米在這一個多元化的人當中將那合一帶出來，在多元化中，有一個合一，專有名詞是「合一與多元化」。

我想這個關念在曉士頓中國教會是不會陌生的，從表面來看，我們是一個單民族的群體，但實際上來看是多元化的合一，我們從不同的省份來，有北邊、南邊的，每一個省份都是不一樣的，也有從亞洲不同的地方來、南美洲，我們來這裡的推動力及原因不一樣，有的來唸書、有的隨父母、自己移民來的，你們也都聽過了，要去海外超文化的事工，我們是一個超文化的群體，當我們在這多元化的群體裡服事，也能幫助我們有一天到海外做超文化的事工。是的 , 我們是多元化，但我們共同處就是我們是神在祂恩典裡、時間裡將我們帶到一個被救贖的群體裡、我們來到這裡為的是要認識祂，也要使別人認識祂。

因此在這個教會裡做領袖的，包括了牧師們、長老們、執事們、團契小組的領導同工、輔導，在這樣的一個群體裡我們最大的挑戰就是在多元化的會眾中，要維持合一，靠著神的幫助，不強調我們的不同之處，仍要帶出我們的共同之處。當我們要維持共同之處時，有時候事工會比較慢一點，但這是對的。

我們看到尼希米是一位很有技巧的領袖，他有一組織的能力，他能將事工委派給別人，他也能將事工適量分派給不同的人，他在那多元化的群眾中能維持、帶出合一。讓我們繼續往下看。

II.    建造神的居所是需要對領袖的順服 .

尼希米是一個有技巧的領袖，但有沒有人跟隨他呢？在美國有一個傳道人叫 John Maxwell . 他多年 前 這樣說，如果你是一個領袖，你在前走，但回頭一看時，發現你後面沒有人，那你只不過是自己在散步而已。不錯，在尼希米那個時代，很多人都願意跟隨他，聽他的吩咐，但是在第五節：「 有一群的貴族他們拒絕參與這個工作。」他們覺得他們的身份太高，不能做這些事情。但其他的人跟隨著尼希米，跟著他的領導,在五十二天就把這工程完成了。

希伯來書十三章十七告訴我們說， “ 你們要聽從那領導你們的人、順服他們，你們要使他們交帳的時候快快樂樂的，如果他們嘆息就沒有好處了。” 希伯來書的作者要弟兄姊妹順服他們的領袖,使他們的工作能輕易. 在任何的教會，一定有人做帶領的，有人在後面跟住。我們這些做牧師的、長老、執事、團契輔導、同工我們經常要問的一個問題，我們有沒有帶領人，好叫人可以跟隨我們? 別人是否可以清楚的看見他們是在跟甚麼？如果沒有人在跟我們的話，我們只不過是在散步而已！

我要強調這裡所講的順服，不是盲目的順服，當那位領袖無論他是誰？牧師也好、長老也好、執事也好、團契的同工、主席如果說了任何事情，與聖經的真理有抵觸的話，那順服就到此為止，當牧師在台上講道，如內容和整體的真理有抵觸的話, 那也不是你們要順服的。我們所要順服的仍是那一些領袖按著聖經的真理教導、帶領我們。

1 •  服事主

在這第五節講到有一批人拒絕參與這個工程，尼希米是怎麼樣的描述他們呢？他說這批貴族不願意肩負他們的主的工作，他們覺得自己的地位崇高，這些粗工不是他們會做的，不是我們應該做的，由其他人去做好了。但尼希米怎麼樣說，他們拒絕做這些工作，他們是拒絕主的工，在另一些的譒譯本他們就拒絕在那裡服事主。有沒有看見這裡的真理？當我們參與神殿的工作、教會時，我們不是為這個教會，也不是為牧師在做，我們最怕聽見的是什麼？因你是牧師，你打電話給我，所以不好意思拒絕你，我是給你牧師的面子，我才去做，所以很多時候我們做主任牧師的，只要你講話人家就會聽！可不可以請你幫我做這件事，當然牧師蠻得意，我講話你就聽，但你心裡在想什麼？因為你是牧師，因為你是主任牧師，我就給一個面子，拒絕主任牧師是蠻難的事，好吧我就接下來吧！我覺得這是何等錯的關念！你不是為這個牧師做什麼，這是主的工作，多年來，我一直在抗拒這一點。很多人說，主任牧師講話大家都在聽，我說這是不對的。我們要培養一個心態這是聖經裡說的，這是我們要聽的，是我們要順服的，這是都是做主的工，在參與主日學或任何的事工，不是為牧師或長執,這仍是主的工, 是為主而做.我們是一起服事主.

2.    各自有意義的工作

獻祭的羊都是從這個門進來的，這裡是魚門，可能是去海岸的話要從這個出去，這裡有一個叫爐樓，可是用來烤麵包的，Tower of tha Oven，然後糞門，就是糞門，每一個人都有一個工程，我想，我在那裡的話，如果說薛孔偉糞門是你的，你會想什麼？這麼多門不給我，為什麼給我糞門？給我魚門、水門也好，因為水門在兩千年之後，有一個水門事件，英文叫water gate。但是沒有這些抱怨，每一個都接受所分配給他們的，他們就專心的去做，這讓我看見什麼？在神的家裡、教會裡，不但是所謂沒有小人物，也沒有一個小工作，每一個服事、工作都是有意義、很重要的，因為每一個工作都是替主作的。儘我們所能的，按著神給我們的恩賜，在我們的崗位上盡忠，尋找我們的意義，這是神所喜悅的，每當我們在做的時候，就是服事的了主。

III. 建造神的居所是需要確知神的作為

現在大概你已經體會到在第三章出現的人名，這些名字也代表了 叧 外一些沒有寫上的 人 名字。你有沒有想過，為什麼，聖經這麼注重這些名字。在民數記的時候，又有一大堆的名字，馬太、路加的家譜時又是名字？我們讀羅馬書十六章時，保羅又是按著名字一個一個的在問安，為什麼這麼注重名字？

我們可以想到幾個原因，最重要的尼希米要他的讀者，以後當人讀到這記載的時候，當他自己死了，讀的人可以知道這是一個歷史性的事件，是真正發生過的事，不是後人想出來的，這一個的重建，是一個真實的事，可以在很多年之後說，我的先祖曾經參與過這項城牆的重建工作。這是真的！

第二、尼希米要透這些名字，來肯定、認定他們的辛勞！任何事我們 都要學習的。很多時候，因為你在為主工作，不需要在人的面前稱讚你，名字也不需要提了，都是為主在工作，將來神會獎賞，我們聽過也講過這種話，但這段經文提醒我們這些參與工作的人都是很重要的，在神的眼中是很重要、寶貴的，我們也要尊重的他們，本來我們要請在我們教會清潔很多年的陳弟兄來到這裡來感謝他，他覺得不好意思，怎麼樣也不肯來，但我們要在這裡謝謝他。我們不要忘記，我們要學習欣賞別人所付出的時間及代價。

最後，大家有沒有注意到，這裡有很多的名字，但一個人的名字沒有在上面，是誰？尼希米，在這工程最後完成時，尼希米第六章，尼希米這樣說, “ 建城牆、城門用了五十二天，我們的仇敵聽見了，所有的民族都懼怕，真是一落千丈，他們都承認這工程是靠著神的幫助完成的。 ” 尼希米從頭到末都知道一件事，這不是他的工作，這是神在工作，神的好的手在他的身上，可以在五十二天完成。他自己的功德一點也沒有。當然尼希米熟悉舊約的聖經，他記得在過去不久巴比倫王的遭遇，但以理第四章三十節, “ 這大巴比倫城不是我用大能大力建造作我的京都， 為顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？ ” 你看這巴比倫是我的成就，我的威嚴，我的榮耀 。 後果怎麼？他被趕出離開了人群像牛吃草，身體被天露滴濕，直到他的頭髮長得像鷹毛，指甲像鳥爪。七年的日子滿了，我尼布甲尼撒舉目望天，我的理智恢復過來，我就稱頌至高者，讚美尊崇活到永遠的神。一個驕傲的人是神所不喜悅的，不錯我們是要欣賞那些下過工夫的人，但不要高舉我們自己，我們要知道做神工作的人，沒有一件是我們可以自誇的，從頭開始到末了，是神的工作，是神在動工。

結論:

當我們看見尼希米在重建耶路撒冷城牆、城門時，看見他組織能力、他的委派人的能力、面對敵人也沒被嚇壞，他將一群多元化的會眾帶到有一個合一的心態，看到群眾的順服他、聽他的話，導致短時間完成了神的工作，也看見尼希米他從頭到尾都知道這是神的工作，神也透過了他的百姓 在那裡作工，所以沒有一件可以誇張的事，

當我們聽尼希米的描述,我們想起新約聖經好幾段的經文，如保羅在羅馬書十二章、以弗所書第四章，林前十二章,教會就好像一個身體，有許多的肢體，每個肢體都是不一樣的，但每一個肢體都非常的重要，每個肢體在互相的幫助，唯有基督是頭。這個肢體互相幫助，可以成長，能夠像基督耶穌 。

上主日崇拜完後有兩位長輩，年齡有八十多歲，看到教會的需要，他們來到辦公室尋問他們能夠做什麼？他們說他們的手還可以動，我們可以將幼兒所的衣服帶回去洗、也可幫助宣教士包禮物寄給他們 。 如果長輩要把衣物帶回去洗的話，他們要帶一個很大的袋子，然後要坐接他們的小巴士然後在公寓中要用錢幣付錢來洗衣服，不是他們房間有洗衣機、烘乾機可以用，辦公室的人就拒絕了他們，說我們以後需要包宣教士禮物時，我們會請您們來，因為這兩位長輩知道做這些事情的時候，他們是在服事主。因為這也是主的工作！主的工沒有大小之分，都一樣重要 。

做一個國家的公民有該盡的責任，在每個家中也有家庭的責任，在神的家也有神家的責任 。 但你知道嗎？你在神的家，當你在投入進去一起來建造這個家,也是在建立神的教會，並且你也在服事神！這是神的工作！

Date:   02/10/2008

Text:   Nehemiah 3:1-32

Title:   Let Us Build

Theme: Since God builds His church through human responsibilities, therefore we are to acquire proper leadership skills to participate in this process.

Introduction:

  After almost 6 years, the construction of 90A is finally close to completion. The entire length is about 20 miles. Average about 4 miles of construction a year. It involved tearing down of the existing road, building overpasses and countless tons of concrete. Not to mention those detours and congested traffic. Now, it is about to be over and drivers can finally begin to look forward to the morning and evening traffic.

  In the passage we read today, we learn of another project in about 400 B.C. It was the rebuilding of Jerusalem ’s city wall and gates. The total project was approximately 1 ½ to 2 ½ miles in length and took 52 days to complete. According to the standards of those days, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls and gates was a big project, yet completed in record time. In our previous studies, we’ve learned that Jerusalem was the city of the great King and the joy of all people. It was the symbol of God’s dwelling place on earth. By Nehemiah’s time, this city was lying in ruins. Nehemiah’s mission to rebuild the city wall and gates foreshadowed the building and strengthening of God’s church. In light of this, we want to identify some of Nehemiah’s leadership traits, and apply this to the building and strengthening of God’s church and our personal lives as well.

I •  Building of God ’s dwelling requires skillful leaders.

In our previous studies, we saw Nehemiah was a skilful leader with impeccable character. He was a man of integrity. We learned that we are to see beyond Nehemiah in his skill as a leader. Instead, he also foreshadowed the Christ that is to come. Yes, Nehemiah was a great leader, but Christ will be so much more greater than he. He is that perfect leader and shepherd. With this understanding, let us identify some of Nehemiah’s secrets of success.

 1 •  Skill of Organization.

We can appreciate the organization work Nehemiah had to do. There had to be that perfect coordination of bricks and timber. They would have to arrive at different places at the same time so the work could start simultaneously. Nehemiah had to assign different individuals or groups of people to work in different locations. His project was carried out in a very orderly manner. This certainly reminded us how the heavens and the earth were created in an organized and orderly way. Moses father-in-law gave him the advice of how to organize his leaders. A good leader knows how to organize his people and tasks.

From time to time we ask individuals what they like about this church. Many made the comment that they like how the various ministries and Sunday services are well organized and carried out in an orderly manner.

Not only ministries are to be well organized, personal lives need to be organized. When our lives are not organized, we will be easily affected by the seemingly urgent but not important situations. We’ll let others determine our schedule and how we spend our time. This can only lead to frustration and disappointment with self. An organized ministry and life reflect the truth that our God is an orderly God., but there is more.

2 •  Skill of delegation.

Nehemiah certainly knew how to organize the people into a strong and efficient work force. He also knew that there was no way he and a handful of leaders could complete this task. He delegated the entire project to the Jewish people. Works were given to people according to their professions, family clans and location of their houses

Many of us may find it easier to do it ourselves. Delegation is hard work. You have to organize the project or ministry, find the right persons and show them the what’s and how’s. This is all time and energy consuming. One might as well just go ahead and do it on his own.

The failure to delegate is often the number one reason for burn out and disappointment in ministry. Sometimes when I find myself under pressure, my back up behavior will begin to surface. That is, I’ll say to myself; “It’s so much simpler to just go ahead and do it on my own.” A good leader knows how to delegate the work to others.

Isn’t this how the triune God operates? God the father is often known as the one who design the great Redemption Plan. God the son, Jesus would carry it out by dying on the cross. God the spirit would touch our hearts and apply the redemption to us. Nehemiah and the people were able to finish their project in 52 days, because of proper delegation.

3 •  The skill of dividing work into manageable size.

In this passage we see how different people or groups of people carried out different portion of the rebuilding process. We noticed some were given the task of building 1 particular gate; another given the task of building one section of the wall. Howard Vos was quoted as saying that Nehemiah divided the project into sizes that could easily be handled by different people.

I remember when I was a student at the seminary. I was given the responsibility of preaching once a month in the church we were attending. With a young family and study load, this monthly preaching was a challenge. Sometimes just the thought of it would made me feel overwhelmed. So this was what I did. Since most of the sermons were 3 points, so I tried to prepare one point a week. This may not work with everyone, but it worked out great with me. Teaching Sunday school or leading Bible study can be overwhelming at times, but if we divide the task into manageable size, it will make our preparation easier to handle.

Or take my sermon preparation. I feel every year after deciding on which book of the bible to preach, the greatest challenge is to divide it into preachable sections. When we delegate ministry to others, a common mistake we make is that we delegate too much work to one person. When I see one full page of job descriptions, no matter how I want to take part and help, it will scare me away.

Our challenge, especially to those who leaders in this church, is to learn to divide the task into manageable size and delegate them to different people.

4 •  The skill of bring unity in the midst of diversity.

Who were helping out with the rebuilding project? They were the priests and Levites, different family units, rulers of different districts (some smaller and others bigger districts). There were also the professionals: goldsmiths, perfume makers and merchants. They came from all walks of life. They came together to rebuild the city wall and gates. They were united in rebuilding God’s dwelling place. Nehemiah brought about unity out of a diverse group of people. There was unity in the midst of diversity.

For those of us at HCC can certainly identify with this. We may seem to be a mono-ethnic group, but in reality we are a very diverse group. We have come from different provinces in china, different countries in Asia and S. America . Our reasons or motives for coming here are all different. Some came to study, others immigrated here with parents. I often say that we don’t have to go overseas to do cross-cultural ministry. We are in a multi-cultural environment. Our ministry in this church can prepare us for oversea’s work. Yes, we are very diverse, yet there is one thing we have in common, and that is God in His own grace and timing brings us into this community of the redeemed. We are here to know him and to make him known.

Therefore as leaders of this church, pastors, elders, deacons or fellowship/small group leaders, our challenge is do our best to maintain this unity in the midst of diversity. With God’s help we are not to accentuate our differences but to highlight what we have in common. Yes, sometimes, ministries may not move as fast as we would like to because of our diversity, but this is the right thing to do.

We’ve seen that Nehemiah was a skilful leader in the way of his organization skill, his skill of delegation, ability to divide the work into manageable size and maintaining unity in a diverse community. Now let’s move on.

II. Building God’s dwelling place requires submission to their leaders.

  Nehemiah was a skilful leader. But did anyone follow him? John Maxwell once said, “If you are a leader and no one is following you, then you are just taking a walk by yourself.” Yes, majority of the people were willing to submit and follow Nehemiah’s lead. However, in vs.5 we learn of a group of nobles refused to listen to Nehemiah to take part in the rebuilding project. But others listened and submit to Nehemiah’s leadership and they finished the project in 52 days.

  Hebrews 13:17 teaches us that, “ 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.” the author of Hebrew urged the believers to submit to their leaders, thus making their job easier. In any church and organization, there are individuals who lead and people who follow. A question we pastors, elders, deacons, fellowship advisors, coworkers and steering committees should ask: are we leading so others can follow? Can others see clearly what they are following? You see, without followers, we, the leaders, are just taking a walk by ourselves.

Having said this, it is also important to know that this is not blind obedience. When the leader, whether it is one of the pastors or one of the elders and deacons, suggested you to do something that is not biblical, there is no reason you should continue to submit to him or her. When the pastor’s teaching is not compatible to the biblical teaching, that is when submission has to stop. We submit to teachings and directives that are not in contradiction to God’s word.

1 •  Serve the Lord.

We noticed in vs. 5 there is this group of people who refused to take part in the project. Listen to how Nehemiah described them: they would not stoop to serve the Lord. They were nobles, and they thought that their position was too high for them to stoop down and do these manual work. They were too good for this assignment. Not only this, Nehemiah also took their refusal to participate as a refusal to serve the Lord.

When we take part in the building of God’s church in this and other places, when we take part in the rebuilding and strengthening of this church, we are not doing it for the church. We are not doing it for the pastors, nor the elders and deacons. Dear brothers and sisters, do we see the truth that is in this simple narrative? When we see the broken walls and burnt gates in this church and take part in the rebuilding and strengthening process; we are not doing it for anyone, but it is for the Lord. We serve the Lord through serving one another.

2 •  Each finding meaning in his own task.

As the people submit to Nehemiah, they were each given a task they could handle. Take a look at some of the assigned tasks. Some build the Sheep gate. This is close to the temple, suggesting that animals brought to the temple for sacrifice would have to come through this gate. Fish gate may refer to the gate through which they approach the coastal region. Then there is the Dung gate. I certainly don’t want to work on this part of the project. How gross can it be? Give me the Water Gate, or the Fountain Gate, or the Tower of Ovens (where bread may be baked). No, none of this. Each received what was assigned to them and faithfully carried out their tasks. You see, in God’s church, there is not only No Little people, everyone is important; there is also no little ministry. For every ministry is important. Every ministry is the Lord’s work. By finding meaning in our service to the Lord, will bring great joy and fulfillment to us.

III.   Building God’s dwell place requires our recognition of God’s handiwork.

  By now, you have noticed the list of names mentioned in this chapter. There are the representatives of all the people involved in this project. Have we ever wondered why names are such an important part of the scripture narrative? We read of the names in the book of Numbers, genealogy in Matthew and Luke. In his letter to the Roman church, Paul sent his greetings to individuals by names.

  One can think of several reasons for this. Foremost is that Nehemiah wanted to impress upon his readers, those who would read this record long after he was gone, that this was actual historical event. This rebuilding project was real. It occurred in space and time. Years later, someone could say: my ancestors took part in this rebuilding project.

  Secondly, Nehemiah also wanted us to remember that project was the Lord’s work. But God worked through real people to bring about his redemptive plan on earth. Again, there is the balance of Divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

  Last but not the least. Did we notice someone’s name was not mentioned? Nehemiah’s name was not in it. Nehemiah in 6:15-16, “ 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah knew from the beginning to the end, it was God’s work and God at work.

  Nehemiah also remember King Nebuchadnezzar’s words in a not so distant past: Dan 4:30, “ 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon , which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” Nehemiah also knew what happened to this king, 4;33, “He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.” Proud and arrogant brought about God’s displeasure.

  Yes, we need to recognize those who had taken part in the rebuilding process. Yet, we also need to remember that there is nothing we are to take credit or to be proud of. From the beginning, it is God’s work.

Conclusion:

  As we study Nehemiah’s leadership in the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall and gates, we recognized his skill. He organized and delegated well. He divided the work into bite size portions that no one would feel intimidated. He brought a group of very diverse people and united them in serving the Lord. We also learned how the people submit themselves to Nehemiah’s leadership, resulting in a speedy completion of the project. Above all, we also see Nehemiah’s humility. He realized from the beginning it was God’s work, working through his people. There is nothing anyone can and should brag about.

  Even as we listen to this, I trust that many of the NT passages would come to our minds. We recall how Paul in Romans 12, Eph 4 and 1Cor 12 teaches us that the church is like a body with many members. Each member of this body is important and vital. Each member is dependent of the other. Christ is the head of this body. The members are to help each other to function and grow so this body of Christ, the church can grow into maturity.

  Last Sunday after the service, after reading some of the ministry needs listed at the back of the outline, two elderly ladies in their 80’s came to the church office to see what they can help. They wanted to do the laundry for the Nursery department and helped out with wrapping care packages for the missionaries. To do the laundry would mean that they have to carry the hamper or a big bag home, use the senior apartment’s coin operated washing machine. They know that by doing this, they are really serving the Lord.

  Yes, we have responsibilities as a country’s citizen. We have responsibilities as members of our individual families. We also have responsibilities in this family of God. And you know what? When we step up and participate in the building and strengthening of God’s church, we are actually serving the Lord.