God is very patient. In our own strength we can be very impatient. Perhaps that s why someone has written this.

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1 Pastor Paul Bawden Please Be Patient... Nehemiah 3 Phillips Brooks was a preacher noted for his calm spirit. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. "What's the trouble, Mr. Brooks?" he asked. Phillip replied, "The trouble is that I'm in a hurry, but God isn't!" Perhaps we have all felt that way at times. We become impatient with how things are going in our lives, our family lives, at work, at school, and even in the lives of others. But there is another side of patience, which requires a greater strength. It s the power to work under stress; to have a great weight at your heart and still run; to have a deep anguish in your spirit and still perform the daily tasks. To wait is hard, to do it with "good courage" is harder! In fact the word, patience, in the Bible, actually one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, who is God, means to persevere patiently and bravely, to be long of spirit, not to lose heart, suggesting the idea also of steadfastness, endurance, not giving up. It also includes the idea of being slow in avenging wrongs. God the Holy Spirit is patient with us. He never gives up on us. He never loses His cool with us. God is also patient, not willing that any should perish. He is longsuffering with those who even reject Him, as Christ forgave those who crucified Him on the cross. God is very patient. In our own strength we can be very impatient. Perhaps that s why someone has written this. Patience is a virtue, Possess it if you can. Found seldom in a woman, Never in a man. But how does patience fit into our text today - - a text which is filled with different names of those who worked on rebuilding the gates and walls of Jerusalem around 445 B. C? How does patience fit into our text today, when we find the different gates listed in our text. At first glance, this text seems very removed from our lives in our fast moving 21 st century. In Chapter 2, we find Nehemiah arriving in Jerusalem from Susa, the capitol of Persia where he had been serving the King as his cupbearer. Nehemiah, a man who had everything at his disposal and all that he ever needed in life. He had the best there could be-- the best clothes, the best chariot, and a life of comfort. He may have had a condo in the palace. He had it made. Perhaps at times he was tempted to forget his Hebrew heritage, and his belief in the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But Nehemiah held firm to his faith in the biblical God. He had believed in God as He has revealed Himself to him, and Nehemiah was a godly man of sterling character, a man of conviction, and a man of prayer, with great faith in the true and living God. When he heard about the awful condition of his people in his homeland, and the ruins of God s city, Jerusalem, he prayed to the Lord, and God miraculously stepped in and moved the king to send Nehemiah back to his homeland to rebuild the walls, giving him permission to obtain building materials for the work that needed to be done. Chip Ingram made this comment about Nehemiah, that came to me this week. He said that Nehemiah made this choice to return to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the walls, because Nehemiah had a dislocated heart-a prerequisite for being the kind of person God is going to use. Then he gave the

2 profile of a dislocated heart. A dislocated heart is a God-given concern that propels us out of our comfort zone. It is a passionate concern for God's people and God's agenda that supersedes our own personal comfort and prosperity. It's caring about things elsewhere when circumstances don't dictate that you have to. It is the kind of heart the apostle Paul demonstrated in Romans 9, when he grieved over his Israelite kinsmen who didn't know Christ. It is ultimately revealed in Christ who left His glory, and took upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh, and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross. A dislocated heart means stepping outside your comfort zone, which often begins with something very, very small. It's not about doing something great for God; it's about letting God do something great in your heart! God never does something great through us until He does something significant in us! Remember that even the largest task for God starts with a small step. I confess that I pray for an epidemic of dislocated hearts Arriving in the city, Nehemiah with his dislocated heart took three days to observe the desperate condition of the city. He did this by night. After dialogue with God through prayer, Nehemiah went before the leaders and told them how God had blessed him to be there. The peoples response in Nehemiah 2:18 was, Let us arise and build. Immediately, there was opposition to the rebuilding process by the enemies surrounding Jerusalem, but Nehemiah answered them directly in Nehemiah 2:19. God would give them success, and the enemy had no portion or right to Jerusalem. What happens in our text today, then, is the result of Nehemiah s observation of the walls, his leadership in getting the materials necessary to rebuild the walls, and providing as well the leadership for the walls to be rebuilt and the gates to be repaired. Obviously, it would have taken some time to organize what is recorded as happening in chapter 3 of our text. But Nehemiah was willing to step out of his comfort zone and lead the people of Israel to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. His dislocated heart inspired the Israelites to step out of their comfort zones as well, to be dislocated in their hearts, and be willing to unite together to rebuild the walls and gates of God s city. Note what happened in this chapter when people stepped out of their comfort zones. I. All kinds of people with different responsibilities became part of the construction team - that is, involved in rebuilding the wall and gates of Jerusalem. **The religious leaders were involved - High Priests and priests (3:1,22). **The Levites were involved (3:17) - Those who assisted the priests. **The Nethimin were there (3:26) - the hewers of wood and drawers of water for the temple. **Professional people were involved -goldsmiths and perfumers (3:8). **The rulers of the city had a part (3:15-16, 19). **The common worker, sons and daughters built on the wall - young people, perhaps children helped (3:12). With people stepping out of their comfort zones, II. Cooperation was at an all time high. The first word that Nehemiah had received concerning the people in Jerusalem was that they were in distress and reproach. Their lives were burdened and they were not living for the Lord. There was no one to step forward and lead in the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. Now with

3 Nehemiah arriving on the scene and sharing how God had miraculously brought him to Jerusalem along with the promise of materials, the people sensed that God was among them, and they must work together to accomplish the task before them. As Nehemiah 4:6 tells us that they had a mind to work. They threw themselves into the challenge at hand. They were willing and ready to live out of their comfort zones. At the same time, III. Lack of cooperation was present (Nehemiah 3:5). Did you notice Nehemiah 3:5. Their nobles did not support the work of their masters. The nobles were from Tekoa, the birthplace of Amos, 10 miles south of Jerusalem. They refused to work. They refused to cooperate. Why? Perhaps they were just lazy. Perhaps they didn t grasp the serious of the situation. Unless, the city walls were rebuilt, God s city and people would continue to be a laughing stock to the nations round about. Or these nobles may have been afraid of what Sanballat and the other enemies would do. So instead of joining in with the others to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, they didn t cooperate. They didn t want to fight the enemy. They would rather not be known for people who lived out of their comfort zones. They feared man more than they feared God. These are the one s who always are negative when God challenges a person, a family, or a church to step out and do something significant for God. These are the nay sayers. We don t have enough people to do that. Or that s not my spiritual gift. I m too busy. Or the money won t be provided. Or it takes too much sacrifice to do that. I believe that these Tekoites were focused on themselves and the desperate situation of the city, rather than on the Lord. They had a small God and big challenges. Rather than a big God with small challenges. Regardless, the attitude and response of these people did not stop the work of God. And it shouldn t stop the work of God. God s work must move ahead. Otherwise God s work will not get down. Note then, IV. The work that was accomplished (1) The sheep gate was built (Neh. 3:1). (2) The fish gate was built (Neh. 3:3). (3) The old gate was was repaired (Neh. 3:6). (4) The valley gate was repaired (Neh. 3:13). (5) The refuse (dung) gate was repaired (Neh. 3:14). (6) The fountain gate was repaired (Neh. 3:15). (7) The water gate was repaired - (Neh. 3:26). (8) The horse gate was repaired (Neh. 3:28). (9) The east gate was repaired (Neh. 3:29). (10)The inspection gate was repaired (Neh. 3:31). As the chapter starts with the sheep gate, the chapter ends with the sheep gate. Okay, so there were 10 gates that were built and repaired along with other areas surrounding these gates. Great. We re glad there was cooperation and the task got completed in 52 days which was an phenomenal feat, to say the least. Praise God for these who were willing to live outside their comfort zone. But lets make some spiritual applications. 1. The sheep gate is mentioned first in our text (3:1). This was certainly priestly work, for through this gate the beasts were led for the sacrifices at the

4 temple. These temporary sacrifices looked forward to the final and eternal sacrifice that Jesus Christ would make for us on the cross and be substantiated by His bodily resurrection (Isa. 53. John 1:29). This gate, then could look forward to the cross, where righteousness and peace have kissed (Psalm 85:10). Jesus Christ is also the door of the sheepfold (John 10:7). Jesus is the sheep gate through which we come by faith into His sheepfold, into His family. 2. The fish gate (3:3). This gate brings to mind the word of our Lord to Simon and Andrew, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men, and immediately they left their nets and followed Him (Matt. 4:17-20). One who comes into Jesus sheepfold will certainly have a heart for people that He has, for as Jesus looked on the multitudes, he was moved with compassion because they had no shepherd. Are we actively concerned about those around us who know not the Savior? Are we praying for our neighbors and those in our work place? 3. The old gate (3:6). Jeremiah 6:16 reads, Thus says the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest to your souls. The old gate could suggest that we need to abide in who God is and what He has revealed to us. Paul told Timothy to continue thou in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of who you have learned them (II Tim. 3:14). Paul is talking about the Scripture. The old never grows old. It lives and abides forever. 4. The valley gate (3:13). This could suggest the lowly position, the attitude of humility, which our Lord demonstrated when He became incarnate (Phil. 2:1-11). The opposite, of course, is the pride gate, acting as #1, which is part of the old nature. God wants us to seek the interests of others (Phil. 2:19-23). This gate could also suggest that even in the valleys of life, such as the valley of death, God is always with us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. 5. The refuse or dung gate (3:14). This is where they carried out the filth in order that the city not be defiled. We are called to holiness not to uncleanness (II Cor. 7:1). This is letting the Holy Spirit convict us of our sin, confessing that to the Lord, and letting the Holy Spirit continue to control our lives (II Tim. 2:19-23). 6. The fountain gate (3:15). In John 7:37-39, the Lord gave the invitation for people to come to Him and drink, and out of his inner most being would flow rivers of living water. Then John adds that Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit. The believer is to be controlled by the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18), and the word of God (Col. 3:15-16). The Holy Spirit is to glorify or show off Christ (John 16:13-14). The Holy Spirit is to show off Christ in us (Gal. 5:22-23). He activates Christ through us as we obey Him through the Word of God. 7. The water gate (3:26). The water gate suggest the Word of God. Nehemiah read the Word of God at the water gate (Neh. 8:1). Repairs made as far as the front of the Water Gate.The word of God lives and abides forever (I Pet. 1:22-25). We are clean through Jesus word (John 15:3). Not as well, Eph. 5:15-16; II Tim. 3: The horse gate (3:28). This is a figure of a warrior (Zech. 1:8; Rev. 6). A horse looks at one going to battle and coming from battle. We are reminded as believers in Christ of the battle we are in and the victory that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ now (Eph. 6:10-20), and the victory we will have with Christ some day (Rev. 19:1-16). 9. The east gate (3:29).

5 This point to the sunrise - to the morning without clouds. Our lord is the bright and morning star. Our Lord will return His second time to earth through the eastern gate (Ez. 43:1-2). What a hope for the believer. Jesus Christ will return to earth again. 10. The inspection gate (3:31). This gate stands for judgment or review, the gate perhaps were controversies were settled. We will all stand, as believers, some day before the judgment seat of Christ (I Cor. 3; II Cor. 5, and give an account of how we lived as followers of Jesus Christ. Note then in summary, (1) Sheep Gate - Foundation for our lives - Jesus Christ. (2) Fish Gate - Share the Lord with others. (3) Old Gate - Continue to follow the Lord. (4) Valley Gate - Maintain an attitude of humility. (5) Refuse Gate - Keep our lives clean before the Lord. (6) Fountain Gate - Let the Holy Spirit control our lives. (7) Water Gate - Be in the Word of God daily and let the Word conform us to the image of Christ. (8) Horse Gate - Use the armor of Christ in fighting against evil and the evil one. (9) East Gate - Be ready any time for the Lord s return. 10) Inspection Gate - Each of us will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of how we have lived for Him. And as mentioned, this chapter ends with the sheep gate as it started with the sheep gate. Which means that without the Lamb of God slain, risen, ascended, interceding for us, and some day coming for us, our lives here would be meaningless. That s why Paul said that for him to life was Christ and to die was gain. We are to believe in Christ as our Savior, live for Christ our Lord, and when we pass from this life, we will go to be with Christ. Whether we live or die we belong to the Lord. Only one life will soon be past only what s done for Christ will last. And what s His one desire for us? To deny our selfishness in His power, and take up our cross daily and follow Him. We are to seek His kingdom and righteousness first. In that process He wants us to use the talents, energy, spiritual gifts, and monies He s given us to further His kingdom. He wants us to cooperate with Him and step out of our comfort zones and be what he wants us to be, and to do what He wants us to do. He wants us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. And how does He treat us? With patience. Isn t that how He treated the Israelites who rallied around the Lord and Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. Some 150 years had passed since Nebuchadnezzar had ransacked Jerusalem. If God hadn t responded in patience, the walls would never have been rebuilt. But He is patient with us. Saying, don t give up. You can do it. You can be useful to me. I haven t given up on you. So don t give up on yourself. And in that process may we be patient with one another. May we be patient with each other individually. May we be patient with each other as husband and wife. May we be patient with our children, and teach them how to be patient with one another. May we be patient with each other in this assembly. May we be patient with those at our work place, at school and in our neighborhoods. God continues to encourage each of us spiritually. May we do the same to one another. Of course God s patience with us doesn t provide us an excuse to not do God s will. Listen to these words from Bill Bright, founder and director of Campus Crusade for Christ for many years. He just went home to be with the Lord recently.

6 I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again (Philippians 1:6, NLT). Dear friends: God's great love for us does not cause Him to wink at our sins and sinful nature. Just the opposite: Because He loves us, He works to change us. It is often said, "He loves us too much to leave us the way we are." God is not a doting and indulgent uncle, but a loving and wise Father who has our long-time interests at heart. Christian philosopher and writer C.S. Lewis ( ) wrote: "To ask that God's love should be content with us as we are is to ask that God should cease to be God. Because He is what He is, His love must, in the nature of things, be impeded and repelled by certain stains in our present character, and because He already loves us He must labour to make us lovable. We cannot even wish, in our better moments, that He could reconcile Himself to our present impurities -- no more than the beggar maid could wish that King Cophetua should be content with her rags and dirt..." An unknown author has written: "Longfellow could take a worthless piece of paper, write a poem on it, and instantly make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called genius. Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions of dollars -- and it's called riches. A mechanic can take material worth only five dollars and make it worth five hundred -- and it's called skill. An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called art. Jesus Christ can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in His blood, put His Spirit in it, and make it valuable to God -- and that's called sanctification. The Lord is in the business of taking rough, raw material and using it -- transforming men by His power to be the extension of His work in the world." In industry, there is a term called "work in progress." That is certainly what we are! Do you sometimes get discouraged with yourself and your spiritual progression? Don't. Remember Paul's words of encouragement in our theme verse, above. He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Yes, the saying is still true. Please be patient, God is not through with me yet. For in His time He makes all things beautiful.