Friday, March 19, 2021

Nehemiah 2.12-18 Faith Replacing Fear

I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me.  I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem.  We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.  After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates.  Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble.  So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.  The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans.  I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.  But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in.  Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.  Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!”  Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.  They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.  Nehemiah 2:12-18

Have you ever heard someone say, I wouldn’t bet the farm on it?  I first heard that expression in connection with the political season of 1959-60.  It was uttered by a less-than-prophetic man in our community, who thought that “upstart” Senator from Massachusetts….somebody named Kennedy…didn’t have a prayer of beating out Vice President Nixon in November.  Did you ever wish you had put aside your doubts and fears and bet the farm on some long shot?  Latin scholars would call it carpe diem, or seize the day.

My grandfather had a sense of that, although not in an ethical way.  He ran a lottery at work just before I was born on when his new grandchild would be born.  Nobody at my grandfather’s workplace knew it, but my mother was scheduled for a Cesarean section on June 27th.  My grandfather just kept selling tickets, and if someone wanted the 27th, he would say, that date is taken.  It was…by my grandfather.  He made a killing when the doctor delivered me on June 27th.  Now, that’s a great example of acting on an opportunity without fear, but it took no faith at all to  take advantage of insider information. 

Today we will see that Nehemiah replaced fear with faith nine different ways.  In chapter 1 we saw that Nehemiah, cup-bearer to the king of Persia, had gotten the bad news that his homeland, Jerusalem was in disgraceful rubble.  The walls were broken down, and the people were severely distressed.  For four months Nehemiah fasted, prayed and mulled-over in his mind just exactly what he could do about it.  He was a thousand miles from home in service to a king who had ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem to cease.  It wasn’t normally a good idea to speak out on such issues; his boss, Artaxerxes was not a nice man!

In some ways perhaps you and I can identify with Nehemiah; he was a man of faith, not fear.  I’m certain none of us have the job of tasting the king’s food to make sure it isn’t poisoned (who would want that job, anyway?).  However, we can identify with seeing the walls of our society crumbling (divorce, drugs, crime, homes in shambles), and wanting to do something, yet feeling helpless.

To do something about his nation’s problems Nehemiah had to replace his fear with faith.  He had to stake it all on God coming through.  He had fasted and prayed, and worked on plans to act – if he ever got the chance – and that’s what replacing fear with faith is all about…being ready when God makes the impossible possible!  Let’s discover together nine ways to replace our fear with faith, ways to be ready to do whatever God calls you to do:

1.        When the stakes are high, pray, plan and trust God.

Nehemiah spent four months fasting, praying, and planning.  Some things require quick decisions; you cannot spend a long time praying when you’re on a train track and the whistle is blowing!  When, however, you are faced with a major decision, even in time of crisis, God’s plan includes including Him.  The higher the stakes, the more we should fast and pray.

The higher the stakes, the more reason to trust God.  Replacing fear with faith means praying, planning, and trusting God to provide an opportunity to act.

2.        When afraid to serve, serve anyway.

Nehemiah knew how this whole situation was shaping-up to be a dangerous minefield.  Navigating the political waters of Susa’s capitol brought visions of hangings!

One of his predecessors, Esther had access to the king as well.  It is even recorded in the book named for her how the Jews were subject to the whims of the king…even to death.  She recorded how no servant was allowed to come near the king with a sad face (Esther 4.2).  The task itself, of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem would be difficult and dangerous.  Conventional wisdom told Nehemiah that approaching the king was suicide.

A best case scenario of trusting God is to remember that fear has no place alongside faith.  When you’re afraid to serve, serve anyway.  And remember His promise:

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.  Isaiah 43:2

3.        When told to speak, pray first.

King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah to tell him what he wanted.  This was the invitation for which the cup-bearer had prayed.  Yet, even at this time, after four months of fasting, praying and laying out plans, Nehemiah was reluctant to speak before asking God one more time. 

I call it an arrow-prayer, but whatever you call this kind of request, it was meant by Nehemiah to subject himself to the King of Heaven before he spoke to the king of Persia.  That is showing proper respect – in good order. 

And, incidentally, a quick prayer in emergency is a good thing.  We ought to keep in mind that it is not a substitute for four months of earnestly seeking God’s face!

 

4.        When sacrifice calls for the best, volunteer.

I personally believe that prior to the king’s invitation to make a request Nehemiah had not laid out ALL the plans for rebuilding.  Somewhere in those first four months Nehemiah discovered that God was moving his heart to be personally involved.  He probably flinched when he said the words, send me to the king.

Some of us in this congregation would be surprised to hear the words tumble from our own lips, send me, O Lord, send me.  We think, “I’m no Isaiah.  I’m no William Carey or Lottie Moon.”  Well, my friends, where do you suppose God gets His servants; if not here, where; and if so, why not here?  Don’t ever try these words on God: 

·       I don’t speak so good….that didn’t work for Moses.

·       I’m just a kid…..that didn’t work for Timothy or Jeremiah.

·       I’ve sinned, y’know unclean lips….that didn’t work for Isaiah or Peter.

·       I’m all alone in this….that didn’t work for Elijah.  And so on…

Nehemiah, like the man who fell off his horse and exclaimed, “Saved between the saddle and the ground” made up his mind that he would volunteer to serve because this called for the best, and he was willing. 

Have you got time to serve God?  No?  Volunteer anyway.

5.        When the task is big, plan big, and ask in faith.

The king had entertained Nehemiah’s request to go by saying, “and how long will this take?”  Once Nehemiah’s plan was affirmed by the king’s readiness to let him go, he understood that he had understood God correctly.  Nehemiah then asked for the moon.  That, my friends, is just an extension of faith-asking.  We understand that God is in control.    

The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.  Proverbs 21:1 (KJV)

Having faith replace your fear means you pray, asking God for as many resources as you will need – and then set to work planning out how you will respond when God acts.

Following God is not a game of “blind man’s bluff”.  People who think blindly wandering their way through life without regard to the costs they inflict on others who bail them out constantly are not acting in faith – they’re an irresponsible drain.  You cannot plan for every contingency, but you must set goals, and lay plans to reach those goals.

Replacing our fear with faith is acting on the truth and it includes using all you’ve got, including your God-given wisdom.  Nobody ever said you’ve got to check your brains at the door when you come to church. 

6.        When God wants YOU, don’t imitate someone else.

If you check-out Nehemiah’s predecessor, Ezra the priest, you find that he went back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  He went alone.  In Nehemiah’s journal we find that this loyal layman went back accompanied by half the Persian army.

Whatever the reasons – and many scholars suggest many theories – it is good for us to recognize that God uses whom He chooses.  Most preachers imitate their heroes.  I have a friend who sounds exactly like Billy Graham sometimes.  Now, that isn’t bad, but if God had wanted Dr. Graham to preach the sermons my friend was supposed to preach, my friend would be a shoe salesman somewhere.

The pastor of my home church in Crystal River, Florida, L.B. Thomason, had a gracious way of welcoming folks to church.  With a grand South Georgia drawl, he would intone, “Wellllcommmme, Friiieends”.  Now, I couldn’t do that – I liked it, but it just isn’t me to talk like that.

And you don’t have to be a millionaire donor to the building fund if you aren’t a millionaire.  You don’t have to preach if you’re not called.  But, you DO have to do what God called YOU to do!  He calls and uses people in different ways…His ways!

7.        When opposition comes, close your mouth, and open your eyes.

Sanballat and Tobiah were local governors of Samaria and Ammon, respectively.  They had had some influence in Jerusalem.  The coming of Nehemiah with papers from Artaxerxes meant their power was diminished.  So they sniped.  It is true that when God decides to move it will always disturb those who are comfortable, and who don’t know Him very well.  Nehemiah looked and looked, and kept his observations to himself.  He knew the critics would try to derail his plans.  He pondered and focused on what God was up to.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:13

Our job is to maintain focus on who is in charge.  It is hard to do that with our mouths running and eyes closed. 

8.        When it is time to speak, trust God’s people with the truth.

Betting the farm is a great expression for this one.  When Nehemiah gathered the people together, he pointed to the walls, the broken, charred remains of the greatness of God’s city Jerusalem, and he said, “Brothers, that’s a disgrace!”  That was the truth!  He also said, “Brothers, let’s put it back up!”  That was encouragement.  And then, Nehemiah trusted the people to respond.  That was the hard part…and that was God’s part. 

9.        When unbelief mocks, stand firm!

Replacing fear with faith is all about standing firm for God and what’s right.  The issue is unbelief.  How do you recognize (and reject) unbelief, so that you can stand firm, and not just stand stubborn?  Nehemiah recognized unbelief when he heard it.  And he stood firm.  If you want to bet the farm on anything, make it this:

what God has said “do” - I will do;

what God has said “don’t” - I won’t! 

I’d bet the farm on that any day!

For the glory, honor, and praise to which You alone are worthy, o Lord, we pray in the Name of the Son, cooperating with the Spirit, to honor and exalt the Majesty of the Father.  Let it be so in each of our lives…Amen!

Title Image:  via Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation 



No comments:

Post a Comment