R316 What Kind of Man, Nehemiah?

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based freezing of Dr. Don Wilton in today's message from Nehemiah. We continue our study in Nehemiah and we continue being available for you right now@gwonline.org email for email from Dr. Don every day. It's available in tewonline.org large Dr. Don Wilton priest like a copy of God's word this morning and turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Nehemiah chapter 1 Nehemiah chapter 1 Nehemiah chapter 1 as we continue our series, building on a faithful foundation.

I hope everyone abuse got a copy of the word of God in your hands to good. Let's read together.

You listen as I read, and you follow along Nehemiah chapter 1 verse one the word of Nehemiah. May the Lord write his word upon our hearts this morning. I think probably that's the shortest Scripture reading that I've had while I've been your pasta. We just read what we going to talk about in study from God's word this morning they 13 chapters in the book of Nehemiah and for some reason, God has not allowed me to get any further than the first four words in the book of Nehemiah the words of Nehemiah. I'll message this morning is entitled what kind of man. What kind of man Nehemiah. What kind of woman are you.

What kind of teenager are you. What kind of mother are you what kind of person you you know almost every day. People die. We have funeral services many times a week you know every time I'm involved in a funeral service.

I cannot help think of THOSE four words, the words of Nehemiah because when we have a funeral service. There is a lot to be said about the person about whom we are talking on that particular occasion. If you were to die today. What words would be said about you. One of the joys that we have as ministers is to go to people's homes and to comfort them in their sorrow, and family members always tell you things about the deceased, and when you stand and you preach the funeral mass Angel when you're involved in paying tribute to that person you think about the legacy of their life and perhaps one of the greatest things that we could ever do is Christian man and woman is to ask ourselves, what about our words, what kind of man. What would be said about you and me today. Should the Lord Jesus Christ Corazon, what would be saved in this church tomorrow if you will. Funeral service were to be conducted here in this community. You see it.

If we want to understand something of Nehemiah. We perhaps wouldn't be quite so prone to elevating off role. He is not mentioned in the New Testament it all in and some scholars would say that if he is not mentioned in the New Testament, then he's not really worthy of such a detailed focusing of such attention. But there are other things about him that I wanted to turn with me. For example, to Nehemiah chapter full turn there in your Bibles I love to hear those pages rustling of God's word Nehemiah chapter 4 verses four and five. Listen to what the Bible says.

Nehemiah says this hero. So God, for we are despised turn their insults back on their own heads.

Can you believe that give them over his plunder in the land of captivity.

I mean, what is the matter with this man under Zerubbabel. First of all, and then on the Ezra off to the Medes and the Persians had conquered Babylon the Jews came back to Jerusalem. They even reconstructed the temple and 14 years after the return of Ezra Nehemiah comes in on the scene and he's got the audacity to say this to these people been through so much and have stood for so much. He didn't just say that. Look at verse five, King spoke through not, our pig guilt all blocked out their sins from your side, for they have thrown insults in the face of the Buddhist. I'm ready to entertain a motion that we just forget about starting Nehemiah. How can this man call himself a man of God, can you make, he actually lost God not to forgive those people. Now wait a minute, let me show you something else.

Nehemiah did this just boggles my mind works. You he even pulled out some of their head.

Turn with me to chapter 13 the lost chapter and verse 25.

Just so that you can read it for yourself.

Nehemiah chapter 13 in verse 25. Listen to what happened. I rebuke them, and I called classes down on them all. I'm not going to read the cycle. I beat some of the men and I pulled out they hear what a deacons meeting. I know something about not here to pull out. But this is just ridiculous.

I mean how can anything good come out of the man like this where you see my friends we going to discover that God takes us as we on God uses people and God appoints people for his specific costs, so there are several things that I want to suggest, as we look at the overall fabric of the book of Nehemiah.

First of all, he was a personality site now pasta that's probably the least profound thing I've ever heard you say what you mean he was a personality. This man was a personality. He was a character, folks. He he just kind of was brewing with character. Do you know that that they're all basically full groups of character or personality. Florence lip tower in an excellent book that deals with personality. She outlines these four different groups now not going to spend a lot of time on them but I bought them in front of me full groups.

There's the talker there's the worker there's the thinker, and there's the watcher now if you want the sophisticated name for this. There's the sanguine personality.

That's the talk there's the melancholic person. That's the think there's the phlegmatic. He's the watcher and there's the choleric who does the work that waters what, what's this all about this man was a personality well Florence lip tower tells us that the sanguine listen his emotional as he heard emotions, appealing personality, talkative the storyteller life of the party. Good sense of humor physically holds onto the listener emotional and demonstrative enthusiastic and expressive, cheerful and bubbling over curious. I like that good on stage, wide-eyed and innocent lives in the present changeable disposition sincere heart always a trial of what about his work ethic volunteers for jobs. Does the sanguine sinks up new activities looks great, creative and colorful has energy and enthusiasm starts in a flash. EY inspires others to join charms others to work for him or her what about friendships sanguine makes friends easily loves people thrives on complement seems exciting in the bar, others doesn't hold grudges, apologizes quickly, prevents dull moments like spontaneous activities anybody like that Don put up your hands right the melancholic does another personality. This is the thinker list deep and thoughtful, analytical, serious and purposeful, talented and creative artistic and musical and musical philosophical and poetic appreciative of beauty sensitive to others. Self-sacrificing, conscientious, idealistic, what about his or her work ethic schedule oriented perfections to be ever met a perfectionist before high standards detail conscience persistent in sorrow only and organize neat and tidy economical sees the problems finds creative solutions need to finish what he starts like drops and charts and you know all the percentages over time I what about friendships. This is for the melancholic makes friends cautiously content to stay in the background avoids causing attention, faithful and devoted will always listen to complaints can solve others problems are like a deep concern for other people moved to tears with compassion.

I what about the phlegmatic the watcher. This is what she says, low-key personality, easy-going and relaxed. Call him Kuhn and collected all I could patient will balance consistent quiet but 20 sympathetic and kind keeps emotions is in. What about work ethic, competent and steady, peaceful and agreeable has administrative ability mediates problems, avoids conflicts good on the pressure. What about their friendships easy to get along with pleasant and enjoyable inoffensive good listener, dry sense of humor enjoys watching people has many friends has compassion and concern and then we come to the fourth one. The choleric and I'm going to suggest you today frames that all of us have a bit of everything.

I don't believe unlike some people that you just have one strike down the line job description in your personality I think is a little bit of something or two things in most people listen.

I believe that Nehemiah fits the choleric personality listen boldly dynamic and active compulsive need for change must correct wrongs, strong-willed and decisive emotional not easily discouraged independent and self-sufficient expert excludes confidence can run anything. He is goal oriented. He sees the whole picture organizers will seeks practical solutions moves quickly to action. Delegates work insists on production makes the goal stimulates activity and he even thrives on opposition. What about the choleric's friendships has friends, he will work for group activities will lead and organize is usually always right excels in emergencies.

You see friends if we going to understand this man called Nehemiah. We would understand that he was a personality we gain to note the ferocity of his style we going to understand that he was rather robust in his manner that I want you to also note that he was the right man. He was the right man. The Bible is going to teach us. My friends even from the words of Nehemiah that this robots restless, forthright man was talented and uniquely gifted for the job that God had set before him. He was God's man.

For God's purpose for God's timetable for God's agenda. I'm more convinced today then I have ever been before, that God raises up within the fabric of God's church men and women and boys and those who are God's people for God's purpose for God's agenda. According to God's way of doing things God is presently actively engaged in seeking out men and women and boys and goes in God's congregation uniquely for the job that he states before him. Why, because there are no gift was children as far as God is concerned, but I want you to note also that he was a driven man. He was goal oriented.

He was a driven man. Nehemiah was a goal oriented person. He had a clear understanding of his coal.

He had a clear understanding of his purpose.

He had a clear understanding of each function. He understood these job description and he knew exactly what it was that God wanted him to do.

Forgive the erupted will be back with the rest of today's message. What kind of man Nehemiah with Dr. Don Wilton, but there's been so much interest in so many people asking about the new book from Dr. Wilton there's Dr. Don Wilton details my book Saturdays with Britney is about an extraordinary relationship with a precious man who impacted lives across the world. You don't want to miss this opportunity to be inspired by his life to the number to call for your copy of the new book from Dr. Wilton is 866899 word that's 866899673 or you can email us at online@tewonline.org G that's TE W-4 The Encouraging Word online.org join us today online@tewonline.org back to today's teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. You know what God wants you to have you been decisive in your response to the outpouring of grace of God upon you in your own particular life. Then we look at all the dads here in this congregation, all the fathers here tonight gentlemen all we men of integrity. All we promise keepers all we willing to take a stand. Mothers are you setting the example of righteousness in front of your children. All you a personality who is the right person at the right time and are you driven by that which God has laid before you, but also want you to note that Nehemiah was a very zealous man. You see if you got on the chapter 1 and verse 11 in Nehemiah's famous prayer. We have been gone, they will get the in good time to Nehemiah's prayer we cannot understand Nehemiah's prayer. If we don't understand Nehemiah we not going to be able to appreciate the depth and the circumstance the height of the glory of what it was that he was about we not going to be able to understand that this man was Berra to Artaxerxes the king would've cried out from the depths of these deities, all that God would pull God he should final glory upon the people of Jerusalem and that God would come down and make the impossible possible. We never going to be able to understand it out of understanding this man's ego chapter 1 verse 11. He begins to talk about honoring and glorifying God. He talks about keeping the main thing the main thing. Unlike the lukewarm Laodiceans that we read about in Revelation review going to see what God had to say to the church at Laodicea you going to understand that these were people who were content with the status quo. They were content to just simply drift along in a book call status eventually gardens them out of his mouth and said I will have no part of you turn back, keep your finger in Nehemiah but turn the numbers numbers chapter 25 numbers chapter 25 something in the life of Moses. I remarkable encounter.

Listen what happens. The Lord said to Moses, Pinus, son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, for he was listen to this.

It's remarkable for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. What happens here folks.

It is a remarkable theological statement of deep significance that God says to Moses, I am going to commit the zeal of God with the zeal of God's man and God's people, and because the true them meet at the same point I will not punish those people we going to discover in a little while that Nehemiah said wait a minute.

I don't want you to forgive these people but it was the zeal and the passion of these hawk that came out to Almighty God, and God was able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could score even think what a remarkable thing to think about all that God would raise up in this community and in this charts, and in these United States of America men who are status for the righteousness and holiness of Almighty God.

People who are living to take a stand.

One incredible thing to think that Nehemiah was a zealous man will what is the it's certainly not fanaticism. It's not wildness it's not irresponsible behavior and enthusiasm. It's not pushy egotism. It is humble, reverent, businesslike, single-minded commitment to knowing and doing the will of God.

That's what it is.

This man had a passion to be found. The St. of all of God's grace. That's what he wanted. He wanted to know God what he was, not on ERA zealous man. He was also a committed man. He was commended as a leader he he was a mover and a shaker. He was a compassionate man in service. He persuaded others to embrace what God had told him to do while you can turn to acts chapter 28 we don't have time to do that this morning, but in the twilight of the apostle pulls wonderful ministry. You can read there that from morning until night all day people came to the apostle Paul and what is the Bible say in acts 28, he persuaded them concerning the kingdom of God teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ.

And then there's a staggering verse. Some people believe the things he taught and some people believe not, but that word persuasiveness. It is the very essence of the heartbeat of the gospel message which burns in our hearts and souls. It is the same thing that must've comes to John Knox as he approached Scotland and cried from his toenails up, give me Auckland or I die. It is the same zeal with which preachers and men of God throughout the ages have told and shared the uncompromising unsearchable riches of God in Christ Jesus. This man Nehemiah. He was about the business of spiritual persuasion see my friends, you don't have to go to Brazil on a mission trip to be involved in persuasiveness with regard to the gospel.

You don't have to go to Georgia you don't have to go to you. You don't have to go anyway) Spartanburg we've got people everywhere desperately need to be persuaded that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life and that no man can come unto the father but by him all beloved friends what a prayer might submit to you today that one is only a leader if one is followed just the same as one is only a teacher. If others actually learn when you teach them. Such was the case with God's prophet.

Nehemiah, he consciously and he deliberately sold and responsibility of others will be he did it deliberately. He did because God had told him. He shouldered the responsibility of everybody else's well-being.

That's no mean tossed for any person in any church or anyone who is prepared to take a stand for righteousness. But I want you to note further than that. He was a practical man now like this particularly you see when we talk about practical we talk about the problem.

A lot of us have done. Especially me is a we can say a lot of things in theory, but try and put it into practice.

I we start getting down to the stuff that's very difficult Mockler friends, you and I can say all its do this let's do that. And how about that, but how about getting down, putting it into practice. This man was a practical man we got to see some practical rules about spiritual leadership. What a wonderful lesson. This was a man who had the ability to make realistic plans and then get things done. I like it wonderful.

Listen to me. He had management skills. Another thing we going to discover is that he had organizational skills. He had an organization. You cannot do anything if you're not organized properly.

It's not going to work it's going to become haphazard. He knew that as he began to rebuild the walls and yet fireproof the enemy at the same time, but there was something about his organization.

His organization that he instituted was not the payment upon the women's of his friend club or the complaints of his critics, he did what he did. Based upon his spiritual interaction in the science and integrity because of his relationship with God. God spoke, he wasn't swayed by all these things you going to find my friends as I'm going to find that Nehemiah constantly had Mel contents yapping Eddie's ankles right throughout everything that he did. They were always there. Samaritans and sand ballots and towbar the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the people from Medina and the people from without. They didn't like it in the malcontents with their older times yapping and napping and by binding away at him all the time trying to trip him up, but there were two things that Nehemiah put in place that are so biblical, my friends, it is not surprising that God did what he did through this man. First of all, he made sure that he's own relationship with God was want to go to be.

You see, when your relationship with God is what it ought to be your motives are going to be right at the second thing that he did was he surrounded himself with spiritual advisors. This man was not a law unto himself, he made sure that his relationship with God was what looked to be and then he surrounded himself with spiritual advisors and what was the consequence. Number one he secured safe conduct for the building materials from King Artaxerxes number two. He organizes and oversaw the building of the wall.

Number three. He organized Jerusalem's defenses while they were busy rebuilding the wall. Number four. He defused discontent and even averted frightening strikes number five. He conducted tricking negotiations with the community and with the business leadership number 60 impose new rules regarding the Sabbath regarding rights for right relations regarding temple worship.

This was the top man, God's man.

He had a lot of things hanging all over him. He had a lot of headaches and a lot of opposition, but all the joy that God gave to Nehemiah and people that reboot the walls of Jerusalem in just 52 days they restored regular temple worship. They brought back regular instruction in God's rule. They revived Sabbath observance. They literally restored godly family lives in living and lifestyle in the community of believers walked on believable jewel, and how we revel in that on believable joint. I pray that you know the joy of following Jesus Christ presses you been listening to Dr. Wilton teach today. You've heard more than his distinctive South African broke. You've heard the voice of God reminding you that he loves you he is a plan for your life, and a place for you in heaven. I pray that not only have you heard Dr. Wilton preach now hear him as he comes in the studio just to share his heart. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me on the first day I repainted myself and by faith I receive you into my phone in Jesus night, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting new if today you gave your life to Jesus Christ. We dedicated your life.

Dr. Don has wonderful resources. He wants you to have as you move into the next step. You can call us right now and let us know at 866899 word 866899673 or email us at online@tewonline.org want you to have these resources and there are number of resources there, but if you In your life to Jesus. Let us know about it that's online@twonline.org or call any time, 866-899-9673