Chico Alliance Church
"Internal Affairs"
REVIEW
We have been carefully analyzing the correlation between the opposition Nehemiah faced as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and the opposition we face as we seek to build and secure the walls of protection around our own life. The walls of Jerusalem were destroyed because of their refusal to obey the Word of God. Our walls likewise disintegrate because of our refusal to walk in obedience to the clear principles of life written down for our good and God's glory. Nehemiah committed himself and all of his resources to help restore those ruined walls and encourage his brothers in Jerusalem. This was no small commitment for Nehemiah. He was a man of great influence and significance in the Persian Empire as cupbearer to King Artexerxes. He was willing to risk it all and even his life to help those in distress.
Because Nehemiah knew how to pray, he was able to respond to each attempt by the enemy to block the restoration project. Satan does everything he can, as did Sanballet against Nehemiah, to block the wall building process so that he might gain destructive access to our life.
1--He tried Questioning authority which was met by a declaration of privileged position and a denial of any part by the enemy,
2--He tried malicious mocking of their person and performance which was confronted by praying to God and pressing on in the work
3--He tried intimidation which was met by prayer and a continual guard.
4--He tried discouragement and fear which was met with 5 basic actions.
* Developed family fighting skills
* Dealt with fear by encouragement
* Determined to press on in the work
* Directed a balance between building and battling
* Devised a spiritual "911" system.
This morning we will look at an age old tactic of the enemy employed to disrupt any progress toward godliness.
INTRODUCTION
We fight a subtle foe. When he fails to succeed by direct intimidation, he will use people closest to us to obstruct growth. So far, Sanballet has failed to bring a halt to the wall building of Nehemiah. Nehemiah has been on top of every scheme thus far. Sanballet has been working behind the scenes for some time and now pulls an ace out of his robe that he hopes will do the job. Nehemiah now faces a challenge that has been a problem since the time of Cain and Abel. The scenes verbally painted in Nehemiah's journal now cycles from vivid external strikes by Sanballet to the vicious internal strife from within their own ranks. The work is delayed once again, disabled by discord.
Jesus clearly identified the badge of a bonafide believer.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
Unity and love were the hallmark of the early church. Rich and poor, slave and free, Greek and Jew experienced the wonder of Christ's love genuinely manifested on a horizontal plane.
Yet we still find some disturbing exhortations written to some of the early churches.
1Corinthians 1:10;3:3 Philippians 4:2 Galatians 5:26;5:15 Galatians 5:20 2Corinthians 12:20
Many churches and even entire denominations were born out of conflict and division. It is an attitude that often permeates everything they do. Rather than building walls against the Sanballats, we often erect barriers against fellow saints. Rather than learning to put on love the perfect bond of unity and letting the peace of Christ rule our hearts, we put out one another and let selfish ambition rule our hearts.
5. Scheme #5 Stir up internal strife 5:1-19
a. Nehemiah describes the problem 5:1-5
"There was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish brothers."
1--Larger families lacked basic needs and had no resources.
2--Famine forced families to mortgage their homes for food.
3--Families were forced to borrow to pay high taxes.
4--Families were force to liquidate all their assets and go into slavery to fellow Jews.
The situation was difficult. A great influx of people had streamed into Jerusalem from captivity. The land had not been worked for many years. Famine was in the land. Taxes were high. The people had diverted their attention from raising crops to raising walls. There was continual harassment and pilfering of the crops and supplies from the outside enemies. In addition to all of this, the rich were capitalizing on the situation and exploiting the poor. In spite of a great cooperation in this massive building project there were still those whose focus was selfish exploitation rather than selfless cooperation. They were acting more like bankers than brothers. These were probably some of the same "nobles" who refused to restore the wall in 3:5 and yet are ready to pilfer the poor at every opportunity.
One of the more effective measures of genuine spirituality relates to financial matters. If you want to test a person's heart, touch their pocket book. Whatever we treasure or value captivates the heart. Jesus said if we can't properly handle earthly riches, we cannot be trusted to handle things of eternal value.
The Jews continually had a problem with exploitation of others for selfish gain. Amos 5:11 Micah 2:2
The principles of dealing lending and relating to "family" had been clearly spelled out.
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. Exodus 22:25 Leviticus 25 Deuteronomy 23:20
The issue is our love of money or our love of people. The early church knew how to take care of one another.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Acts 2:44-45 No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them. Acts 4:35
Yet it wasn't long before problems arose in the early church as well. Acts 6:1
Paul clearly instructed Timothy the young preacher concerning the rich in 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Scripture reveals countless accounts of corruption due to an improper attitude toward money.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1Timothy 6:9-10
The bottom line here is a matter of selfless giving to one another or selfish grabbing from one another. Family love is to supersede love of money. Selfish hoarding and exploitation of one another is not limited to money.
Exploit and demand acceptance, affirmation, love, help and many other things.
James reveals the bottom line source of all internal conflict as selfishness.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:14-16
b. Nehemiah Responds 5:6-13
1). Considered his emotions -- "I was very angry"
There are many ways to deal with our anger. Not all are healthy.
*Stuffing leads to ulcers
*Denial leads to psychological disorders of all kinds
*Uncontrolled expression leads to greater conflict and alienation
James so clearly points out:
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:20
2). Consulted with himself
What do we do when we consult with ourselves?
1--Express and acknowledge our anger to God
2--Examine our motive. Selfishly manipulate or selflessly minister?
How I answer number two determines my next step.
I may properly express my anger to others only if it will bring greater benefit to the kingdom.
Expression of feelings to others is proper if it will bring about better relationships.
Expression is healthy if it stems out of genuine love for the other person not vengeance or selfishness. I must keep my anger between me and God if expressing anger will bring damage to the kingdom or is merely a desire to dump in order satisfy my own selfish desires.
After consultation and consideration, Nehemiah determined that this was an issue that must be confronted and expressed.
3). Confronted the wrong
a). Privately
Nehemiah first went to the nobles who were the offenders in this situation. Nehemiah merely stated clearly the violation of Biblical principles already known.
"You are exacting usury , each form his brother!"
The word "confront" carried the idea of a legal action.
b). Publicly
Nehemiah then called the offenders and the offended together. Once again the offense is clearly stated. There is no argument or debate or unnecessary words. Nehemiah simple asks two probing questions requiring a convicting answer and a clear evaluation of the situation.
1--"Seeing that God has brought about a return from captivity would you put them under bondage again to yourself?" They couldn't answer.
2--"Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?"
STATEMENT: "The thing which you are doing is not good!"
What will the unbeliever think when he sees that we are no different than anyone else? The testimony of the Christian comes under greatest scrutiny by the world in the arena of financial dealings. There are some that refuse to do business with Christians. Christlikeness must not be confined to a church setting. A servant heart and attitude must permeate every aspect of our life. Unfortunately many have failed the test.
Even Nehemiah fell prey to the practice and in verse 10 willingly acknowledges his own guilt in this oppression.
Nehemiah uses three motivations behind changing behavior.
1--The great redemption and grace lavished on us through Christ
2--The fear of God
3--Our testimony before the world
4). Called for a specific public commitment 10b-12
1--Please stop charging interest
2--Please return what has been exploited
The people responded to Nehemiah by agreeing publicly to give back and require no more interest.
5). Concentrated on their accountability to God vs 13
I believe in accountability to others on earth but our ultimate accountability is before God. Here Nehemiah reminds them that they have made a commitment before God who will bring about righteous judgment according to our word.
c. Nehemiah sets and maintains a good example 5:14-19
In order to demonstrate his own integrity in the matter, Nehemiah describes how he operated as governor.
1--Did not demand or claim previously granted privileges. vs 14-15
For twelve years Nehemiah refused to extract what previous governors had plundered from the people. Why? Verse 15, "I did not do so because of the fear of God." Often times our standard for behavior is what has been done by others rather than what God has allowed or instructed to do. Not Nehemiah. Fear of the Lord is to hate and abstain from evil as God defines it directly or by His own character.
2--He was not afraid to work along with the others. (16)
3--He practiced hospitality and compassion at his own expense. (17-18)
4--Looked to God for the reward in accord with his selfless giving. (19) Colossians 3:23-24 Hebrews 6:10
The bottom line, is that Nehemiah was others-centered not self-centered.
APPLICATION
What can we learn from this page out of Nehemiah's journal?
1--Clairify the problem!
Don't exploit family for personal gain.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
Can we give of ourselves without expectation of some sort of pay back, emotional or financial?
Realize that most conflict arises out of selfishness.
Have I caused pain to others because of my selfish expectations and exploitations?
Call selfishness what it is, "This thing that I am doing is NOT good!"
What has been the source of some of the conflict in the church?
Why haven't I been able to get along? Perhaps I was seeking to explioit
2--Consider my emotional response! What should I do about my anger?
3--Confront the problem! Get together to work it out.
4--Commit to cessation and compensation! Stop selfhness, make restitution if necessary.
5--Concentrate on accountability before God!
6--Conceive any reward as imparted by God not men!
