Title:  Realms of Remembering (1 of 11)

Series:  Realms of Revival (The Gates of Nehemiah Chapter 3)

Wayne Hinson

Scripture:  Nehemiah 1: 1-14

Intro: There are four classes of Christians. They are:

1) Shallow Christians

They come to church once a week. You cannot count on them for anything else, although they have no problem going and doing anything else. They want no restrictions and no responsibility.

2) Sitting Christians

They come for most of the Sunday functions of the church. Occasionally a Wednesday night service. But that is where the line is drawn. Their service is limited to warming a pew.

3) Separated Christians

 The strength of their moral fiber is Christ. They have Christian principles and standards. They give to the causes of the church. Can be counted on, if asked, some of the time, but there are limits to their service.

4) Saturated Christians

 To them, Christ spells service. This is their life, not a sideline. They are always present when the doors are opened. They take the  initiative to do the work, even when not asked. Nehemiah was in this group. His vision was one of sorrow and remorse for the destruction in Jerusalem. His vision was also one of sight, in that he saw a vision of the walls rebuilt. It is a virtue to be close enough to Christ to see the tragedy, but it is altogether another virtue indeed, to see the triumph that can come out of tragedy. Our lives and our churches are in the same mess as those walls and gates were. As long as we are in this condition, we have no defense, we are vulnerable to the enemy's attack. Strongholds of the faith have been torn down, and it is our responsibility to rebuild them. We must begin to live in the "Realms of Real Revival". First, the realm of remembering brings us to see:

II.  A REMINDER OF THE PAST

As Nehemiah surveyed Jerusalem, he was quickly reminded of the glory of the past. No one would have ever believed that the walls and gate once stood as a sign to the world of God's strength and sovereignty. Now they lay in ruins because of the rebellion and sin of God's people. When we look at the modern 2008 so called church, no one would ever imagine that once the shekinah glory of God reigned free and full in these same buildings. Nehemiah's reaction to this sight is the only reaction that will bring revival.

A) He Wept

This pathetic sight had gone past his head and was now in his heart. this kind of grief is not merely sympathy or concern; this is the breaking of the heart. We need to have a broken heart over:

1) the conditions of our country

2) the conditions of our churches

3) the conditions of our communities

B) He Wailed

("mourned certain days")

Nehemiah mourned for four months, day and night, without intermission. This godly sorrow induced wailing produced work. There is no use is seeing the destruction unless you are willing to do something about it.

C) He Withheld

("fasted")

Fasting is not just going without food. That is called dieting. However in this modern day of church feasting, a little dieting wouldn't hurt most folks. Fasting is the total denial of fleshly desires for the purpose of acquiring the spiritual desires of the soul. It is the God given virtue of denial. We need to deny ourselves:

1) the desire for possessions

2) the desire for popularity

3) the desire for pleasure

D) He Wrenched

("prayed")

it is absolutely useless to fast without prayer. Jesus said: "Ye have not, because you ask amiss". The target of prayer is God's will. He is not obligated to answer the first prayer that is asked amiss, or misses the target. Promises, Provisions, and Power comes through hitting the target in prayer.

II.  THE REPROACH OF THE PRESENT

Everything that Nehemiah saw in ruins was a direct result of God's judgment on Israel for their sins. "Be sure your sins will find you out" The reproach of our present day ruins in our churches is also the direct result of our sins. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We have learned to go through the motions, thinking we will receive the same results. This is the devil's lie. The Baptist church somehow got into the trading business. It goes like this:

A) Traded Promises for Pleasures

(vs 7 "dealt corruptly")

Nehemiah was so earnest in prayer that he began to remind God of His promises in vs 8. Nehemiah also included himself and his family in the sin picture. We do not mind praying for the height of others sins, but it is our sins that are hindering us. When churches are sincere with God, they will begin to get the puppets out of the pulpits, programs out of the pew, and popularity our of the papers. If the church of 2008 were in a beauty contest, they certainly would not finished 1st.

B) Traded Power for Prestige

(vs 3 "the remnant is in great affliction and reproach"; the walls are broken down; the gates are burned with fire").

Symbolically, the walls represent our security, and the gates represent our freedom. Nehemiah's plan was not to build new modern walls or gates, but to restore the walls and gates as they once were. He recognized that the Old Time Way had power, but not necessarily prestige. Today, we are more concerned about how our churches look outwardly, and we have disregarded how they look inside. It is what's on the inside that counts. Did we actually believe that we could trade the OT way of preaching, praying, singing and shouting for puppets, programs and 7-11 songs, and still have the power of God? This is why the buzzards are circling over the steeples!!

C) Traded Presence for Political Correctness

The only difference in a church organization and a church organism is the presence of the Holy Ghost. We are being told that we should not offend anyone of a different religion or lifestyle. Well, I am not out to offend anyone, but I am about preaching the infallible inerrant Word of the Living God. And when that Word preached offends someone, I believe I have fulfilled my calling. I believe it is better to have hurt feelings, than hell's fury. Today's modern church has gone from "Lord, Lord" to "location, location". Nehemiah's desire to rebuild the walls and gates was not for real estate values, preacher popularity, crowd pleasing, it was to rid themselves of the reproach, and to regain the blessings of God.

III.  THE RECLAIMING OF THE PRINCIPLES

A) The Principle of Unity

 (4:6) ("willing to work")("mind to work")

1) Willing to Work -

I believe in "if you don't work, you don't eat"this implies the unity of physical work. Money can't buy everything.

2) Wanting to Work -

this implies the unity of minds. Our minds must be tuned into the frequency of work. We must be mentally prepared to do the work of God.

3) Willed to the Work -

this implies a heart of willingness not only for the work, but for the cause. Too many people have cases, when they should trade them in for the cause. Vs 5 records the heart wrenching confession of Nehemiah. This is the beginning of a willing heart. Visions of Calvary always bring virtues of commitment. Virtues of commitment always bring victories for the children of God.

B) The Principle of Uncertainty

(Chap 5)

1) There was censorship

(4: 1-3)

2) There was conspiracy

(4:8) outwardly and inwardly

3) There was compromise

(6: 1-2)

C) The Payday of Unction

1) To rebuild the walls

2) To restore the gates

3) To repair the structure