Sermon Cloud

NehemiahModel for Ministry
Having a Mind to Work
Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
10 points from Nehemiah
Seeing who God is
Seeing who we are
The power and purpose of prayer
Seeing the big picture
Having a “mind” to work
10 Points from Nehemiah
6. Putting your hand to work
7. Knowing your enemy
8. Doing justice
9. Keeping worship pure
10. Following through to the end
Last Week
Vision is different than mission
Vision is specific
Vision is specific to entities
Vision is accompanied by evil
Last Week
When you have vision -
    choices are few and
    priorities are clear
Vision restrains you
Last Week
Vision also lets you face the worst but find the best
Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah 2:17-18
Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”

Nehemiah 2:17-18
I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.
Reminder/Perspective
Jerusalem was to be the place where God’s “Name” would dwell.
The people would live under God’s law
The nations would see it
This would be a place of “revelation” of the glory of God
How does this apply to us?
What does God expect from us?
What is it that God has called us to?
How can we apply this to our lives today?
Hebrews 12:22-24
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Having a Mind to Work
See the vision - become convicted (convinced) it is true and real
You are committed to the ideas you are convicted (convinced) are real

Having a Mind to Work
We are building a church where the environment is to “grow in grace and faith.”
That is, we are building to help people grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ
So that, we can grow to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ
Having a Mind to Work
Environment of Grace and Faith
Knowledge is NOT “head knowledge”
Knowledge is the kind of knowledge that when you apprehend it - it apprehends you.
Having a Mind to Work
Isaiah 60:18“Violence will not be heard again in your land,
    Nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
    But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.
Having a Mind to Work
What does this mean for me?
    It means that through the Word of God, driven by the Holy Spirit, your life can be changed from sinner to saint.
More than that . . .
Having a Mind to Work
Three characteristics that reflect the image of Christ
    teachable
    accountable
    vulnerable
Having a Mind to Work
Rom. 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Having a Mind to Work
You see the vision
Ask the Holy Spirit to make it a conviction
Commit yourself to God’s Word
Walk in the light
Find someone you trust and take down your defenses