Wednesday, July 9

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Nehemiah 3:23

Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.

I love this verse because of the pronoun used before “house.”   Think about it for a moment.  Thousands of laborers and yet Benjamin, Hasshub, and Azariah got to re-build in front of and beside their own homes.  Let me ask you a question, “How faithful, excellent, or diligent would you be doing this work if it was right next to your home?

Granted I believe God has given me a heart for service…but I will always work harder at our home than I would yours.  I’m just calling the spade the spade.  Pun intended!

However, my encouragement with regards to this truth from Scripture is that it DOES start at HOME!  Truthfully, your faith is refined more at home than it is in God’s house, eh?  According to research the two most primary spiritual influencers in a person’s spiritual life are:

First – Mothers
Second – Fathers

Pastor takes third but grandparents are right there at number four!  So consider the research and connect the dots.  Your impact in the Kingdom occurs at home!  Each one of us is called to spiritually invest in our homes…in our family.  And it doesn’t matter how big or small our family is or how old you are in it!  Please, this day accept the responsibility to lead courageously in your home.  Serve in and outside of your home.  Equip your home to know and love Jesus and shine your light as a beacon in your neighborhood.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Faith at Home Questions to Consider:
Reflecting back on Sunday’s message, what two families are your “targeting” to be praying for, caring, and sharing?

What is a something you can do as a family this week to serve in the Kingdom?  If you are wrestling with finding a place don’t hesitate to reach out to Cheryl Pacilio (cpacilio@fbcg.com) our director of local serving to discover an opportunity to invest either inside the church our outside in our local communities.

BRUCE MCEVOY
Pastor of Family and Serving

Tuesday, July 8

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Let’s jump back to chapter three and let me ask you a question:  Which location would you be least excited to serve?  Where would you feel that you drew the short straw?  You’ll have to read the whole chapter over again.  Please don’t skim…remember these people are jacked up that their families have been remembered!   

Who remembers the game show Family Feud?  When I survey myself 100 times with regards to the question – least excited to serve, I come up with verse 14 and the location – THE DUNG GATE!

Nehemiah 3:14

The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.

As many of you know I spent a handful of years in Junior High ministry but seriously Malkijah got the worst assignment of anyone re-building!  He got placed on the wall were poo was hauled out of the city.  This was the gate where refuse was taken from the Jewish Temple and city into the Valley of Hinnom where it was burned.

Each of the gates surrounding the city also has some spiritual symbolism.  The Dung Gate describes, how the flesh will die. Through the Dung Gate, trash was taken out of Jerusalem, to the Valley of Hinnom, in which trash was burnt. In the same way as trash couldn't stink and smell bad in Jerusalem, but were burnt in the Valley of Hinnom, so sins must die from the heart of believer.

The Dung Gate’s spiritual meaning is that sin, which smells bad and destroys our heart and mind, must be put away  by dying of the flesh. We must face our issues concretely, by putting them away from our heart. Those issues include: 

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

All these evil things come from the heart, and defile us.  All sins, which live in the heart, must die. The Holy Spirit renews our mind, and affects our desire to reject sin. We are not going to be perfect, but told to die to our flesh and grow in righteousness.
Paul writes…

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

God washes the heart of believer through faith in the Holy Spirit. When we understand that we are not perfect, and are not becoming perfect in this time, but are growing toward it, that can't be an excuse for us to sin.  But the fact is…we need to grow and that there is the need to grow in righteousness. So we as Jesus' disciples, can't ever accept or support sin, but reject it and grow in the grace of God.

Faith at Home:

Yesterday the challenge was to be obedient to God’s BIG and step into it.  Today…lets press pause and look inwardly regarding what might be affecting our ability to hear God’s BIG.  Is there unconfessed sin that is thwarting your relationship with God or others? 

Stop right now and ask God to first CONVICT you of your sin and then CONFESS your sin to Him!  And for those who want to really button this all up…bring another into the loop and confess you sin to a brother or sister in the Lord and receive support and encouragement to leave it in your past!

Remember the truths of I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

BRUCE MCEVOY

Pastor of Family and Serving

Monday, July 7

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Nehemiah 3

3 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. ² The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

³ The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. ⁴ Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. ⁵ The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

⁶ The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. ⁷ Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah – Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth – places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. ⁸ Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. ⁹ Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 

¹⁰ Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. ¹¹ Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. ¹² Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

¹³ The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

¹⁴ The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.

¹⁵ The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. ¹⁶ Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.

¹⁷ Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. ¹⁸ Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. ¹⁹ Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armoury as far as the angle of the wall. ²⁰ Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. ²¹ Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.

²² The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. ²³ Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. ²⁴ Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, ²⁵ and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh ²⁶ and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate towards the east and the projecting tower. ²⁷ Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.

²⁸ Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. ²⁹ Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. ³⁰ Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. ³¹ Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; ³² and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.

I’ll never forget the first time my name was written in the local newspaper.  It even included a picture.  As you can see I still have it today.

Granted it wasn’t all that special…the bottom of the photo simply read – Doug McEvoy and his son Bruce caught two jumbo bluefish off the coast of Ocean City.  But it was the first time I saw my picture and name in the paper!

I also remember that it took nearly ten more years before it appeared again when my name appeared in an article following our first round playoff lose when as a freshmen I played for an injured Senior Soccer captain.  Honestly, it was only a nice statement made by the coach because I really didn’t do anything special, but I remember it!

Chapter three of Nehemiah is like one’s name being written in the local paper but times a bazillion.  Think to yourselves how you would have “felt” if your name was written in this chapter.  Would you dog ear the page?  Highlight it?  Buy a few copies of the book to give to friends?  Let’s not kid ourselves…you’d do ALL of that and more.  It is far greater than either of my first two newspaper memories.  It’s their family’s name written in God’s Holy and inspired Word.

This is no less significant to the Hebrews who were risking their lives for the vision set before them.  PLEASE read this whole chapter a bit slower and star the examples that make you scratch you head for whatever reason.  The “listing” is so much deeper, right?  Which one or two “names” stands out for you?  Why?

Faith at Home Questions to Consider:

Today share about a time when your name was recorded in the paper.  How did you feel?  Can you find it in a scrapbook in the attic?

What big God “assignment” have you been ignoring, that if your honest you need to “accept” and commit the next 52 days to?

…next don’t be silent about it.  TELL SOMEONE and start making the vision reality.

BRUCE MCEVOY

Pastor of Family and Serving

Friday, July 4

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But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”  Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”   - Nehemiah 2:19-20

Tobiah (a Jewish name) was a man of influence, being associated with the high priest’s family, and getting help from the priests (Nehemiah 13:4). “Tobiah” was a prominent name in priestly families for generations to come. The name “Tobiah” means “Yahweh is good” - a strange name for a man who was an opponent of the work of God.

Sanballat was connected by marriage to priestly families (Nehemiah 13:28). An ancient document from this period refers to Sanballat as “governor of Samaria.”

These men were Jews - fellow Israelites - of Nehemiah and the citizens of Jerusalem. We might have thought they would have supported his work, but they do not. Opposition is always difficult; but when it comes from inside, it can feel like it is mixed with the pain of betrayal as well.

“They jeered at us and despised us” Sanballat and Tobiah used scorn in their attack. They wanted Nehemiah to feel mocked, stupid, and foolish. They laughed us to scorn shows that they showed their spite (and despised us) with a humorous edge.

This scorn may come to us in an inward feeling (“Who am I trying to kid? I must be some kind of fool!”). Or it may come through the words of those who, if they know it or not, are being used by our spiritual enemies.

Many are turned away from God’s will because they experience or fear scorn. Men who were not afraid of death have been manipulated because they did not want to be laughed at. It seems that sooner or later, God will allow every Christian to be tested at this point; as to whom they regard more, man or God. We must never be more concerned about what people may say about us than what God requires of us.

The way that Sanballat and Tobiah used laughter and scorn as weapons against the work of God should also make us reflect on our own use of humor. Some Christians who are otherwise well-meaning are tools of the enemy, all for the sake of a few laughs.

“What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” This question shows that Sanballat and Tobiah had a low view of God’s authority. Their question showed that they figured the king of Persia was the highest authority in the land.

It is important for us to note that they were completely ignorant. They didn’t know what they were talking about. The king had given permission, even if they didn’t know it. The king was partner in the work. Many times, those who are being used by our spiritual enemies against us simply don’t know what they are talking about.

It is also critical to remember that they were not concerned with God’s authority. Really, it did not matter if the King of Persia was against this work, if the God of heaven and earth was for it. One with God makes a majority. Nehemiah could have turned the question back on them: Will you rebel against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

When faced with the choice of pleasing man or pleasing God, Nehemiah knew exactly what he would do. Let them mock - he would serve the LORD.

Nehemiah did not give a point-by-point reply. He did not show the document proving the king’s support of the project. If he did, Sanballat and Tobiah would have just claimed it was a forgery, or would have come up with another objection. Nehemiah knew that hearts that refuse to be convinced will never be convinced.  Nehemiah instead proclaimed his confidence in God. “It doesn’t matter if you are against us. God’s work will succeed.”

Jeff Frazier

Thursday, July 3

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Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.  But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.   - Nehemiah 2:9-10

Sanballat the Horonite & Tobiah the Ammonite, these two guys are going to come up again and again.  Nehemiah first met these two enemies of Jerusalem and of the work of God at the Governor’s station. They were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.  

You might wonder why they should care about Nehemiah or his wall building project at all?  Sandballat was the governor in Samaria to the north of Jeruslaem, and Tobiah was governor of the Ammonite territory to the east.  These two cared nothing as long as Jerusalem was weak and vulnerable; even though the temple was there, and worship conducted, that was fine, but a fortified Jerusalem was a threat to their political, economic and military security.

Notice when this opposition came: not at the heart stage, not at the vision stage, not at the prayer stage, not at the planning stage, but when progress came in doing something.  Opposition comes when God’s people start doing God’s will!  Later in the story, when Nehemiah makes his plans known and the people begin to work, these two rear their ugly heads once again.

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”  Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”   - Nehemiah 2:19-20

Some people are surprised when opposition comes and they quickly become discouraged.  Some people fear ever stepping out for the LORD, because they know opposition will come. They somehow think their life will be better or easier if they stay in their low, mediocre state before God. What deception! A better life from holding back for Jesus Christ? Tough times are going to come anyway; but when we are growing and stepping out to follow Christ, we are far more equipped to deal with them.

The Bible makes it clear we have enemies and opponents also, but chiefly they are spiritual enemies: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against . . . spiritual armies of wickedness in heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). However, we also realize that attacks from spiritual enemies can come through flesh-and-blood people.  We can experience spiritual attack on a direct inward level from spiritual enemies, or through people who are, wittingly or unwittingly, being used as tools by our spiritual enemies.

But whenever this kind of spiritual opposition comes our way, we should not be surprised and we should remember the words of Jesus, who said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Jeff Frazier

Wednesday, July 2

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I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem...The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.  Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”  I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.  - Nehemiah 2:11, 17-18

Nehemiah is abut to embark on a monumental task of rebuilding the nearly 41/2 mile long city wall of Jerusalem.  This wall has been in ruins for over a century, the people living in the Jerusalem have become used to the broken down condition of their city.   While rebuilding the walls is an important job, it is really not the main point of the book of Nehemiah.  The central theme in the book is the sufficiency of God.  Nehemiah’s mind is fixed on the greatness of God and he wants those who will join him in this wor to have the same focus. 

Nehemiah didn’t reach Jerusalem because he was a skillful persuader, or because he was clever or persuasive, or because the king was a generous benefactor, but only because God is a sovereign provider!  Since God had done all that, He would certainly help them to complete the task of rebuilding the walls.

Now remember that these people have been living in this broken down and vulnerable condition for 100 years!   Generally speaking, the longer people live with a problem or an issue, the more used to it and accepting of it they become.  The Jews in Jerusalem had likely become complacent about the condition of their city.  They probably thought, “well this is just how it is for us”, they had lost sight of the vision God had for His people and for Jerusalem.

So...how does Nehemiah rouse the people to action after 100 years of complacency?  What does he do to inspire them?  He doesn’t wow them with his intelligence.  He doesn’t fire them up with his strategic plans.  He tells them the story of what God has done!  This is what motivates them - the story of how God moved the heart of a king to allow Nehemiah to return. The power of a story to impact people’s lives is an incredible thing, and we have the most amazing story in the world to tell, it is the story of how God gave Himself to ransom lost sinners and bring them into His family!

By telling the people what God had already done, Nehemiah was firing them up for what He was about to do. His appeal focused on the glory and greatness of God. When you think about it, it’s amazing that the people said, “Let us start rebuilding.” Think about what they could have said. They could have been apathetic – they had been living in the rubble for a long time and could have just stayed there. They could have reminded Nehemiah that the Jews had “already tried that” before in Ezra 4 and were stopped by the authorities.

We often face those same two obstacles within the church. Either “we’re content with the way things are” or, “we tried that before and it didn’t work!” I’m thankful that this church responds much like the wall builders did in this chapter...because the gracious hand of our God is upon us, let us rise up and build!

Jeff Frazier

Tuesday, July 1

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I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.  Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”  I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.  - Nehemiah 2:11-18

After months and months of praying, planning and traveling, Nehemiah finally comes to the people and says, "Okay, I've got some news for you, but first the bad news." Rather than minimizing the problem, he emphasizes it.

Verse 17 "Then I said to them, `You see the trouble we're in? Jerusalem lies in ruins and it's gates have been burned with fire. Come let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace."

These are emotional word pictures he uses here. "The place lies in ruin ... burned with fire ... we're in disgrace."  He's lays out the seriousness of the situation. Why?  Because the people had been living in these conditions for years.

Isn't it a fact of life that when you live with a bad situation long enough, you start ignoring it, you start getting used to it?  When you live with a situation long enough you can become apathetic about how it is. In this third step, Nehemiah refocuses their attention to the problem "We have got a mess." He's getting them to face the facts!

Nehemiah does two very important things here; first he gets the people to face the reality of their condition.  Leaders face the facts; and leaders help others to face the facts. Change never occurs until we become discontent with the way things are. The second thing Nehemiah does that is so important is that he identifies himself with their desperate condition.  Nehemiah does NOT say, “you’ve got a problem”, he says “WE are in trouble.”  He is one of them, leading from among them.

When Nehemiah states the problem he does not use external motivators. We're going to rebuild this wall; whoever gets their section done first gets an all expense paid vacation to the Dead Sea! He doesn't use external things. The older you get, the less external motivations work. External motivators work great on kids. But the older you get those kinds of motivators don't work anymore.

The greatest motivation in life is not external, nor internal, but eternal. Nehemiah says, "Let's rebuild the wall for the glory of God! So God's name is not in disgrace. Let's rebuild the wall for the kingdom of God and for the glory of His people." He challenges them with the right kind of motivations.

For all of us - Let's build FBCG into the church that shakes the world for Christ!

Jeff Frazier