Somebody Loves You

Raul Ries: If you took the tour around the city of Jerusalem, you would begin to see that every man had been appointed to a task to be fulfilled. There were no grumblers, there were no people taking advantage of others, but everybody had a mind and a heart to work for the Lord. They were very united.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. Returning to the book of Nehemiah today, Raul will encourage us to be team players in building God’s kingdom. The Lord has given each of us unique jobs to do, but when we work together, the effectiveness of that labor is multiplied. Raul will show us how to be content with our God-given gifts and put them to use in the body of Christ. Let’s join Raul Ries now in the book of Nehemiah chapter 3 with a lesson sharing the workload.

Raul Ries: Tonight we want to turn to the book of Nehemiah. When you came in they gave you a little piece of paper. I don't know if it confuses you, but this is literally the city of Jerusalem at the time of Nehemiah. And the reason we gave it to you is because tonight we have a real important chapter to deal with and that is chapter 3. I don't know how many of you read chapter 3 tonight, raise your hands. A few of you. You need to read the chapters before you come.

If you read it you said, man, it’s like having a green lemon and what can you squeeze out of it? Very little. The first time I ever read the book of Nehemiah when I came to chapter 3 I just jumped it. I didn't even read it. Because it was all these names and all these gates and I said what does that have to do with Christ? But it’s amazing over a period of time and study and years going through the Bible how God will begin just to bring forth fruit almost out of nothing in the study of His word.

If I was to clarify and if I was to give you a theme tonight in chapter 3 of Nehemiah, this passage would come from the New Testament and it would give you a commentary on the book of Nehemiah chapter 3. And that would be in the passage of the New Testament in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, 11 through 13. Let me read it to you. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

You say, well, that chapter and that verse literally Paul is speaking of the Bema seat of Christ or the day of judgment for the believer. That’s true. In chapter 3 you’re going to begin to see this remarkable chapter, its recording of the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, which you have in front of you in this piece of paper. Remember that when Nehemiah came back, when Nehemiah came for the first time, he got permission from the King Artaxerxes to come back and to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem.

But remember it took him four months of prayer and fasting and waiting upon God for God to touch the heart of Artaxerxes and to give him permission and to give him the bodyguards and the guards to allow him for protection to go back to the city of Jerusalem and he would give him permission for 12 years to go back and repair the city of Jerusalem, the walls and the gates.

If you remember the people of God had been there for a long time and they were being oppressed by people that surrounded their city of Jerusalem, these outsiders. And they were constantly harassing them. They had no protection in the city. The enemy could come in, sweep and destroy and then move out again. And the people were always scared, always unstable because they had no protection against their enemy.

And yet God put it in the heart of Nehemiah by praying, never had been to Jerusalem. He was born in captivity. His parents had been actually taken to Babylon in captivity for 70 years and then as they were literally in Babylon then here Nehemiah was born in Persia and there in Persia he grew up and he became the cupbearer to the king. And that was one of the most dangerous jobs a person could have in his life, by tasting and drinking the cup and the meal of the king to see if it was poisoned. And yet God put Nehemiah in that position.

And the reason God did that and the reason God has put you where you are is because if God is going to use your life and God is going to send you somewhere, He will not only equip you, but He wants you to be in submission to Himself so that He can use you greatly in the work that He has for you. That’s what happened to Nehemiah. Nehemiah never dreamed that he would one day return to Jerusalem, a place that his parents and his grandparents and great grandparents and every Jew would talk about. Jerusalem, the city of our God.

And then to have his brother Hanani come and to give him report that the city had been torn down, burned down, there were no gates, the walls were all taken down, the enemy was oppressing, the people were depressed and there was no help. And so Nehemiah just began to pray, to fast, to mourn. And then one day after four months God spoke to the king and God gave him permission to go back and to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem.

You see the entire population responded not only to Nehemiah’s plea here. But through that prayer that the people were praying for and Nehemiah prayed, the people were not only being oppressed and depressed, but the plea was for help, for cooperation. And this account shows the warm-hearted enthusiastic spirit of who? Of Nehemiah coming to Jerusalem to help the people.

And you will see that here as Nehemiah comes now to Jerusalem, he comes not only as a manager but a great planner, a great CEO that takes control of the situation. He brings organization to his endeavor and what he’s supposed to do in setting up the people wherever they live and if they’re coming from the outside, appointing to them a job where they are best equipped to fulfill and then to accomplish the work that God had given to him.

One of the problems many times in the church and in corporations is that we don’t have the right people in the right job to do the right job. That’s why when Paul the apostle was sharing in the book of Corinthians chapter 12 through 14, he’s talking about the abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the city of Corinth. And then he talks to them and shares with them God’s order and not only in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but God’s order in the church for every individual person in the way every individual person can be used in the church with his gifts and his talents. As God becomes the head of the church and He equips and He sets up every person individually. That’s what Nehemiah did when he came to Jerusalem.

Each person became satisfied with his particular assignment. Every section of the wall cared for, no gaps left in the walls so that the enemy if he would approach they couldn't get into the wall. Beginning from the Sheep Gate of Jerusalem taking us clockwise around the city of Jerusalem from the west to the north to the east back again to the south to the Sheep Gate you will see that in your little map here we’ll start at the Sheep Gate and we’ll go backwards. We’ll go backwards, not forward all the way around. It’s in order. You will do a whole circle around the city and you’ll end up where? At the Sheep Gate once again. Ten gates are given to us and they’re very important tonight.

If you took the tour around the city of Jerusalem, you would begin to see that every man had been appointed to a task to be fulfilled. There were no grumblers, there were no people taking advantage of others, but everybody had a mind and a heart to work for the Lord. They were very united. No grumblers, no murmuring, no complaining, but everybody got excited because their leader was excited and had a passion and gave them not only the task, gave them the vision and then told them how the vision would be completed. And the application came how every one of them would be used in every area of the wall and they would stand there and they would fulfill that job that was given to them and everybody would be of one heart and one mind, all working in harmony with the Lord. Beautiful, beautiful picture here.

How we need today in the church people like-minded in doing God’s work God’s way. So many times in the church of Jesus Christ you have people that have their own agendas and all they do is they bring problems to a church. But how good it is when brethren are dwelling together in unity and when they catch the vision and the passion behind the leader and they begin to do the work of the ministry that has been given to us. The task is fulfilled.

It is so wonderful when a person knows his job and knows his gifts and knows his talents and uses them effectively for God’s work and he’s not trying to create problems and is coveting for that other person’s gift or talent. But he’s satisfied and content where God has placed him and he does what God called him to do. That’s something that is needed today in the church. In so many churches, they need to be united. They need to be content in what God is doing. That’s why Paul gave us 1 Corinthians chapter 12, 13 and 14 so that we can learn how to establish not only the work of God but our gifts and talents are given to us by God. We don’t make them up. We can’t buy them. They’re given to each one of us individually.

And here Nehemiah, his concern was about one thing only, that everything that we do is not Nehemiah but we give glory and honor to the Lord. That should always be in every church among every leader and every person. The whole total thing should be to bring glory and honor to the Lord in what I do. And if we can begin to think like Nehemiah, then we can begin to become great leaders.

Even though Nehemiah had a mind to work, it says let us build the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach. Why? Because the Gentiles delighted in mocking, making fun of the Jewish people by pointing out their condition of the city of Jerusalem. He says you think you worship God and your God’s going to help you, look at your city. Look at your gates. Look at your walls. If He’s such a great God, where is He? How come He hasn't helped you? And yet help was on its way.

Sometimes the enemy will come and bring doubts in our minds and he uses people to do that just like these people outside of the city of Jerusalem. And when you think of Jerusalem, even though the walls and the gates were torn down, in Psalm 48:2 it says, beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Psalm 87:2, the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. God loved the city of Jerusalem and He still does today.

Jerusalem, one of the greatest cities in the whole world. He didn't choose America. He didn't choose South America. He didn't choose Europe. He chose Israel. A place not only with great deserts, but a place where God would send His only begotten Son not only to be born but to be crucified and to die and to rise again on the third day so that one day He would come again to set up His kingdom in Jerusalem. That’s what the Bible teaches.

That’s why this book is so important to my life. And that’s why it’s really important to know that Jesus Christ is coming again. And even though there are many Jewish believers today and there’s hundreds and thousands and millions that don’t believe, one day they’re going to look at Jesus Christ and they’re going to say like Isaiah 53 says. He says they’re going to look at Him and they’re going to say who pierced your hands? And who pierced your side? And who pierced your feet? He said it was done in the house of my friends. You did it to me. And their eyes are going to be opened and they’re going to see that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Messiah, the anointed one of God.

Now God wanted at this particular time in the book of Nehemiah, God wanted to rebuild the walls. Setting up the gates, it meant what? The setting up of gates is means what? Protection, security for the people from their enemies coming and surrounding the city and making attacks on the city. And if the enemy was approaching the city during the night, then the shofar would become the alarm. They would blow it and the people would hear the sound of the shofar and they would get dressed and they would get ready for battle to defend the city in which they lived in. You see? But during the night when the gates would close they would feel safe. Just like when you go home. There was security, protection. And that’s what the walls and also the gates stood for.

And yet God still wanted to work within their lives spiritually speaking. If you have been backslidden, you’ve been facing a lot of problems and you’re not up to date in the Lord, then God wants you to do what? To rebuild your marriage, rebuild the walls in your marriage. Rebuild the walls in your single life. Rebuild your wall spiritually speaking as you come and you humble yourself before God and you repent of your sin. And you say, Lord, here I am. What do you want me to do? I’ll do whatever you want me to do tonight, Lord. Here I am. That’s why this chapter is so important for the child of God as it is for the Jew.

Nehemiah had come to that place arriving on the scene and he began with a challenge after walking at night throughout the whole city. The next time he met with the people, he challenged the people to rebuild the city of Jerusalem to the glory of God. We’re not going to do it for ourselves. We’re going to do it for the glory of God. Why? Because the glory of God will reflect upon who? Our enemies. God is with them. God has strengthened them. God is protecting them. God is on their side. You see? So important what God wants to do in our lives.

If you look down on this little piece of paper you will see that you have first of all the Sheep Gate and then the Fish Gate, then the Old Gate, then the Valley Gate, then the Dung Gate, the Fountain Gate, the Water Gate. Oh, there was a Watergate, remember? And the Horse Gate and the East Gate and the Inspection Gate. And where you come back to? The Sheep Gate.

So this is a very important chapter which sometimes we just jump over and we say, well, you know what, we really don’t want to read chapter 3 because it’s a bunch of gates and a bunch of names. But listen, these people here in this chapter are very important. Why? Because you will see that in every one of these gates, you will see Christ. Very interesting.

You say what do you mean? Well, let me give you a little background. The gate was near the temple, it was where the sacrificial animals were brought. Remember if you went to Jerusalem with us, remember that there by the actual tomb, if you went down that road to the corner before you went down to Gethsemane, you came down there was a corner that we walked behind before the Eastern Gate, there was a place where they made a parking lot.

That place every Friday in Jerusalem, Arab taxi cabs, Mercedes Benz, would pull up and they would open the door and all these sheep would come out of the actual Mercedes Benz. That was the sheep market. This is where the sheep were brought to be slaughtered for the sacrifices in the temple. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Interesting where we start at the gates. Where? At the cross. And we return to the cross once we go all the way around the city. The cross of Jesus Christ.

That’s why this Sheep Gate speaks of Christ and His work upon the cross when He died. In Isaiah chapter 53:7, look what he says. This is so cool. He was oppressed and he was afflicted and yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and a sheep before her shearers is dumb and he opened not his mouth. What’s the Sheep Gate? Where the sheep were brought to be slaughtered. Who is he talking about? Jesus Christ. 750 years before He died on the cross. Interesting.

And then in John 1:29 what does it say? Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. John the Baptist, identifying Jesus. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Interesting that the cross of Jesus Christ is where redemption was given for each one of us as we came by faith to Jesus Christ.

The cross of Jesus Christ took away what? Our sins. Buried them. Sent them as far as the east to the west and remembers them no more ever, ever again. The Sheep Gate. This is the gate that Jesus entered on that great day into Jerusalem. Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Jesus, the Lamb of God at the Sheep Gate, a symbol of the cross of Jesus Christ that He would come and that He would die and that He would rise again on the third day in order to deliver you and to deliver me as He would redeem you from all of our sins once and for all when we come by faith to Jesus Christ.

Guest (Male): No matter what role God has given you in the building of His kingdom, we hope today’s lesson has shown you that joining forces with other believers in kingdom work brings glory to God and multiplies our effectiveness. You’re listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. Today’s study was titled sharing the workload. If you’d like to get an unedited version with much more teaching, just call us at 800-634-9165 and for a donation of $5 or more we’ll send a copy to you.

We’d also like to tell you about Raul’s series, From Opposition to Victory. It’s available on CD and flash drive. This 10-part resource will guide you in faithfully living out your God-given calling, standing resolute against any ridicule or resistance you might encounter. You’ll also discover the power of prayer as you learn to follow the Lord’s daily direction. Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to order Raul’s 10-message study, From Opposition to Victory. We’ll send you the CD set for $22 or if you’d like the thumb drive for just $13. The number once again is 800-634-9165.

To order by writing to us, our mailing address is Somebody Loves You Radio, Post Office Box 4440, Diamond Bar, California 91765. Straight Talk is a program that streams live on our Somebody Loves You Worldwide YouTube channel that gives you a biblical perspective on issues and how they impact the body of Christ. Join Raul for Straight Talk every Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific. You’ll also find that link at somebodylovesyou.com.

We are so grateful for your partnership. Your contributions help us keep sharing God’s perfect eternal word. Tune in next time as we continue this series in Nehemiah with an intriguing look at the symbolism of each gate that was rebuilt along Jerusalem’s walls. You’ll see how Nehemiah’s work in restoring the city beautifully mirrors God’s renewal of every believer’s heart and life. This program is sponsored by Somebody Loves You Radio in Diamond Bar, California.