Introduction: New Coke
Read Scripture/Pray
Background: Nehemiah is headed into unfamiliar territory-four months and 8000 mi.
Purpose Statement: to be effective change agents for God it is essential that we...
I. Use the authority given you (v. 9)
A. Nehemiah went forth in the Kings Name
1. More importantly He went forward in the Great I Am
a. Car problem illustration
b. We have been give authority from God
2. We are to operate from that same authority
a. This is hard from self-centeredness
b. From Satanic influence
B. We wage a spiritual war everyday
1. We need to arm ourselves for battle
a. Paul in Ephesians
b. Nehemiah armed himself for battle as well
2. We need to recognize whom we battle for/against
a. power in the Name of the Lord
b. Satan and his minions are real
II. Prepare for opposition (vs. 10, 19)
A. People hate change
1. Cumford’s Law
B. Satan hates for God’s will on earth to be accomplished
1. Read the Screwtape Letters
2. We must be prepared for this at Eastside and in our personal life
C. Those who fight against you will share no part of the blessing (v. 20)
1. Whether for selfish reasons or out of spite Mule Illustration
2. Your reward awaits in Heaven Matthew 5: 11-12
III. Evaluate the work that needs to be accomplished (vs. 12-15)
A. Be sure to be properly ready (v. 11)
1. Never make decisions while tired or hurried
2. Never “ “ “ without thoroughly evaluating the situation
B. Pray for wisdom
1. Notice yet again the patience Nehe demonstrates
C. Make a list
1. Take stock in your life, it is a gift from God
IV. Exhort people to share in your vision (vs. 16-18)
A. They’d grown accustom to the mess
1. They overlooked it
2. CS Lewis quote
B. Whether a corporate or individual goal we need support
C. Shake people awake
1. We grow sleepy in our sin
2. Sloth illustration
Conclusion: Note Jesus’ life in this model, if He modeled this pattern ought we not to consider it important as well?
ILLUSTRATIONS:
New Coke
1980’ Coke found itself in danger of losing the cola wars. For the first time in history Pepsi outsold Coke in stores. Only a tight hold on restaurants and vending machines kept Coke ahead in total sales. Coca-Cola decided they needed to do something to improve the taste of Coke or else face being second to Pepsi. They undertook years of taste testing and finally found a flavor that bet both Coke and Pepsi in blind taste tests.
New Coke was introduced on 23 April 1985, and production of the original formulation ended that same week. The outrage of millions of Americans didn’t take long to sink in, and not all that much longer to be redressed. At an 11 July 1985 press conference, two Coca-Cola executives announced the return of the original formula. "We have heard you," said Roberto Goizueta, then Chairman of Coca-Cola.
Car Problem
In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.
After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.
Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.
For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Cumford’s Law
Nothing is ever done until everyone is convinced that it ought to be done, and has been convinced for so long that it is now time to do something else.
Mule Illustration
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule "braying", or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well were worth the trouble of saving. Instead he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back.....HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!It was not long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL. What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him.....all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems, respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness or self-pity... The adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit and bless us!
Matthew 5:11-12
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
C S Lewis quote
We are far too easily pleased…
Sloth—the Seventh Deadly Sin
This past year, the Chicago Tribune published an interesting series on the Seven Deadly Sins. While the author wrote from a strictly secular perspective, her essays clearly illustrate the insidious ways these sins creep into our lives. In her essay titled “Sloth, the Seventh Deadly Sin, Keeps You From Becoming the Person You Could Be,” author Regina Barreca addressed the sin of sloth (or laziness):
Sloth is insidious. It whispers that you might as well do it tomorrow, that nobody will know if you cut corners here and there to save yourself some trouble, that the world will be the same in a hundred years no matter what you do, so why do anything? Sloth says, ‘Don’t strain yourself,’ ‘What’s the big hurry?’ and ‘Just give me five more minutes.’
Sloth hits the snooze alarm, hits the remote control and hits the road when the going gets tough . . . Sloth cheats on exams, drinks straight from the milk carton and leaves exactly two sheets on the toilet roll so that it will have to be replaced by the next poor soul who finds out too late that the remaining paper is nothing more than a mirage.
Sloth does slightly less than the right thing. It doesn’t bother returning something to the lost-and-found, but pockets it instead; it doesn’t tell the clerk he has undercharged. Sloth has never written a thank-you note, sent a birthday card on time or entertained angels. All of this simply takes too much effort.
