Jesus the Greater Nehemiah: Unity to Build Together

And so although it was scary and it required very real risk even to his own life through prayer and a ton of favor from God, Nehemiah requested authority from the high king to return to the land of Judah, even the city of Jerusalem, which lay in shame and ruin and even destruction. And so we request this authority to rally God's covenant people and to build for God's glory. So we saw how God did indeed answer Nehemiah's prayers, and he gave him extreme favor with the king, and his request was indeed granted. [00:04:36] (35 seconds)  #RequestingKinglyAuthority

``But as we're gonna see, the story isn't just about Nehemiah. In fact, his story is about the greater invitation extended to all of us to rally and unify under a greater authority for a greater purpose, even a purpose that connects directly to Nehemiah's so many years ago. And so as we do, we are called to look to the same one, even the one that Nehemiah's story is blatantly pointing to, and I'm gonna show you that. I'm gonna show you that this story is just screaming. It is blatantly pointing to the author and finisher, the cornerstone of our faith, Jesus Christ. [00:05:38] (36 seconds)  #RallyToTheCornerstone

So, guys, creation itself cries out with the beauty of the creator and even things like music. Think about this. Music. Like, music declares god's glory. I mean, even godly principles of unity just think about the principles that happen. The first thing that an orchestra needs to do before they play a symphony, the first thing everyone everybody does is they tune their individual instrument to the same standard note. As long as everyone is in tune with that single note, the result becomes harmony. [00:07:05] (35 seconds)  #MusicDeclaresHisGlory

And so if you're familiar with the New Testament, guys, this should all sound very familiar. Like, these guys clearly foreshadow what would happen around, again, four hundred and fifty years later when Christ the king would come with authority from the most high god. But his authority would challenge the rulers of the day, the pharisees, the religious leaders, the political leaders, the sadducees. And they were more interested in their own position and title than they were in God's great gospel purpose and kingdom in the earth. [00:12:07] (33 seconds)  #NehemiahForeshadowsChrist

So, guys, if you are in Christ, you carry this authority for his kingdom and his glory, not to do whatever you want or whatever kinda is on your heart and preference or comfort or circumstances that you desire in the moment, but to build his kingdom in spirit and truth with wisdom and grace. And when we do that, by the way, it pulls out, draws out of us a deeper joy, a deeper purpose that goes beyond just navel gaze gazing and looking at ourselves, but looking at the king and operating like that sweet aroma. [00:13:19] (36 seconds)  #AuthorityForKingdomBuilding

Guys, this is the gospel. God became a man and he lived the life we couldn't live, and he died the death we deserved to die, and he conquered sin and death in the grave through the cross, and he paved the way through the resurrection, and he paved the way to eternal life with God the father. And it's an eternal life that doesn't just start one day when we die. It starts the moment we place our faith and our hope and what Christ did for us at the cross. And he fills us then with his holy spirit and he sets us apart and he says, this one is mine. for a greater purpose with a greater presence in his greater power to go and make disciples who make disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ. Guys, this is what this is about. This is what we do. [00:23:05] (52 seconds)  #GospelLifeNow

and the mission at hand, eyes to see the world around us, not just with empathy as the world does, but with compassion. Again, empathy just enters into the destruction, but compassion enters in with resurrection in mind. Purpose to unify, to strengthen, to rebuild. [00:25:23] (19 seconds)  #CompassionNotEmpathy

And so we look to Christ, and we point to Christ and we share this life in Christ, our risen Lord, with each other, our city, and beyond. Guys, again, it's not just about risen church. As risen church is about the kingdom of heaven. And when we partner together with all who are in Christ and all these other really healthy churches around the world even, guys, we're partnering in with something way bigger to to rise in Christ, guys, pick up the sword of the spirit and the trial of the kingdom and to build for the church, to build the church, Christ's church, which is the people. [00:29:32] (38 seconds)  #BuildChristsChurch