R317 What Kind of God?

We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today to the Bible-based printing of Dr. Don Wilton here on the purging were the opening God's word to Nehemiah in a moment, but our phone number is open now it 866-899-WORD we would love to pray with you and for you at 866-899-9673. Call us anytime and now please turn with me in your Bibles this morning to the Old Testament book of Nehemiah chapter 1 trust you have a copy of God's word with you now beloved friends as we continue with this study on building a faithful foundation from Nehemiah. There are some very, very important principles that we all seeking to uncover together is of vital significance that we try and understand some of the background involved. Not only was Nehemiah but with these circumstances and the context in which we find everything taking place that would be a true statement of life would not be that it is very important to understand what is taking place because it gives to us an insight into what it was that God was doing as he revealed himself to his servant and to his people in the first message and I'm certainly not going to be doing this every Sunday because we run into trouble in a couple of months but in the first message that I preached on Nehemiah a couple of weeks ago we looked at the God of the Bible and the people of God drawing on nourishment from a general overview of the context in which Nehemiah is situated now why the God of the people God of the Bible and the people of God because it is very important and it is certainly very exciting to discover that the God of the Bible works together with the people of God to bring about his sovereign grace and the extinction of his will among his people.

That is to say that God uses people just like you and me just like you and me then lost Rigas subject was what kind of man. And as we studied. We did a very cursory in the glossary tried to understand even in the confines of just a 30 minute message of what it is that the Bible teaches us about this person.

Nehemiah and we discovered some wonderful truths about him as a person. I think that we also discovered how marvelous it is to know that God uses all of us uniting out again.

People come up to me and I say to me Foster what's up like being' church and of course I have so many wonderful things that I could tell you I wouldn't want to be anything else.

I would want to be anywhere else, then to be a minister of God amongst God's people serving God's people, in whatever capacity God calls me to serve to be a minister is that is to be a servant of God's people. That's what it means to be a minister. That's why Paul called himself a bondslave of Jesus Christ. But you know when one considers a local church. Just think about all the different kinds of people. Have you ever wondered how many thoughts that we have in this congregation this morning.

Have you ever wondered how many people like to do things in a different way.

Have you ever wondered how many opinions there are First Baptist Church want to challenge that had heavier have you ever wondered what it is and how it is that God could bring such a large group of people together and let them experience and enjoy such believable spiritual unity. You see spiritual unity. My friend is not a general consensus of agreement with in ourselves.

Spiritual unity is a general consensus and agreement in who God determines our best to spiritual unity is godhood. It's not man.

If spiritual unity was man would we would be in serious trouble. The whole world would be in serious trouble. Every congregation would be inserted. Some of us like this why some of us like that why some of us like eggs up the slack. Some of us like good real, I could just find that, why not that why the other one and eventually who knows what we want, but you know the wonderful thing about the body of Christ is that God takes all people together with a common purpose and a common agenda with a common goal and a common God is God of the ages is the only true God reveals himself to his people and the God of the Bible comes together with the people of God and something begins to happen. It is a miracle.

You see, salvation is a miracle of God. People say do you still believe in miracles, absolutely effects start at the point of salvation. Look at the Church of God look at this church.

Just look at this church.

Just think about the Church of God and think about the incredible miracle that God brings about people of so many different backgrounds and so many different oranges and so many different ways of thinking, and so many characters and so many likes and dislikes can all come together and can agree in the same direction with the same purpose with the same function. What an incredible miracle of all, if you're a father or mother of children. You know what a miracle that is severe, but try to get all your children to agree on the same thing at the same time.

Just try being a youth minister get a busload of kids and announced to them what would you like to go to eat today and watch the coyotes well so it is that we come down in Nehemiah to these very important basic presuppositions that we need to draw from within the text of the word of God before we can even begin to understand the incredible miracle that takes place at the feet of Almighty God today are subject. What kind of God. What kind of God we looked at what kind of man lost week. What kind of dog did Nehemiah serve. I want to say a few things by way of introduction, and then I want us to read from God's word is being said and I'm more convinced of it today than I've ever been before, that the way in which a person behaves is in direct proportion to what that person believes about God talking about theology.

Now you see the word CRS. My friends comes from the word of God. The Bible is gone from Genesis to Revelation. In fact, I went back into chapter 9 chapter 9 is filled with God you going to chapter 9. I said to myself, I'm never going to get to chapter 9 if God allows me to retire at this church. At the age of 101.

I want you to know something I'm never going to get out of chapter 9 of the book of Nehemiah Bibles are going to be worn out for years and years.

Why, because chapter 9 is so filled with the awesomeness of God's went back to chapter 8 and I discovered that God was in chapter 8. From the beginning to the end.

I said move this just won't do. I went back to chapter 7 I found God was there from one into the other went back to chapter 6 and chapter 5 in chapter 4 chapter 3 and chapter 1 I get going all the way to Genesis chapter 1 verse one and discovered something in the beginning God.

You see friends if you have a bad theology you going to have a bad lifestyle. If you have a loose theology you are going to have a loose lifestyle. If you have poor thinking about God. You can have poor behavior that matches it.

If you believe that God is a permissive God, you are going to be a permissive person. If you believe that God is a compromising God you are going to be a compromising press. If you believe that God has no standards you are going to have no standards if you believe that God turns a blind eye to soon you are going to turn a blind eye to soon see beloved friends. Your and my theology is in direct proportion to what we know to be true about God.

There are in fact six steps that lead to a person's behavior.

Number one first is your salvation experience that is the first step that leads to your behavior. Your salvation experience. See you concerning church until you're blue in the face. You can belong to every church under the moon and I saw my friend, but until you give your heart and life to Jesus Christ you have never left first vice, but then there's a second step in moving toward behavior. Step number two is the Bible you see the Bible, my friends, God's word from Genesis to Revelation without apology. It is the key that unlocks the key to kingdom living and the Bible will never be absolutely accepted as the inherent infallible word of the living God. Unless your relationship with Jesus Christ is in position first. Those who have a problem with the word of God. My friend have a problem with their relationship with God. So as we move into action and into gear. We begin first of all, without salvation. Then we go to what the Bible teaches about the CRS of the Bible, the God of the Bible. Step number three is your theology. You see your and my theology is going to be determined by what we believe about the Bible. Why because the word of God is God's revelation of himself to man. That's what the Bible is the Bible is the place that God has reviewed all about himself to his children. That is why this is such a precious book. That is why there is never a time that we could ever stand in this pulpit without preaching and teaching the unsearchable riches of God in Christ Jesus. Your theology is going to be in direct proportion to what you believe about the Bible and what you believe about the Bible is going to be in direct proportion to your personal relationship with a living true God. Step number three coming out of your theology is going to be your philosophy. It's going to be your philosophy, your way of thinking the way in which you operate Humana of operation. Your mode of operation is going to come directly from from your theology. You have a loose theology you don't have a loose philosophy. You have a loose theology. You gonna have a loose way of living and so your philosophy is made and completed and formed Bible theology which comes from the word of God, the Bible, which is based upon your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Step number five.

Your organization you see, once your philosophy is intact because your theology is intact because you believe the word of God because you got a relationship with God you going to organize yourself accordingly. In your private black republic life or business line your work life. You are going to is your life the way in which you do it your methodology you're carrying out the exercise of what you are doing in your philosophy of life. Your minimization is in direct proportion to your philosophy is in direct proportion to your theology is in direct proportion to the word of God is in direct proportion to what you know about God because of your relationship with him which leads to the six and the final point, your action. Have you ever heard a statement before actions speak louder than words. Where does that come from. I tell you what it comes from. It comes from your organization. It comes from your philosophy. It comes from your theology. It comes from the word of God. It comes from your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So yes, the Christian side pasta what is this all about Nehemiah is filled with action we going to discover some unbelievable things in the book of Nehemiah. What was the of the action that Takes Pl. in Nehemiah.

Why did God do what he did.

How was God able to do that. Please forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message. What kind of God from the book of Nehemiah with Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment, but there has been such a tremendous outcry for this fresh new book from Dr. Wilton call Saturdays with Billy. Here's Dr. Don to tell you all about it. My book Saturdays with 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 is 866899 word that's our prayer line available 24 hours a day also for resources like this at 866-899-9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org large a that's TE W online.org about today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton what God accomplish and why did he accomplish it and how did he accomplish it through his servant.

Nehemiah we will never understand the action of Nehemiah. If we don't understand is organization and we never going on the studies organization you got it. We don't understand his philosophy. We understand his philosophy. If we don't understand these theology and we never going understand these theology unless we understand what the book tells us, and what the book of the law of Moses told him and we never going to be able to understand that if we don't understand what kind of God, Nehemiah, Sue. You see, we dealing with the revelation of God three servant Nehemiah. Let's read together. Nehemiah chapter 1 verses one through five.

The words of Nehemiah signing up like a failure in the month of kids live in the 20th year while I was in the Citadel of Susan Hannah Nye, one of my brothers came from Judah was some other man and I questioned him about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem, let me pose a farmer beloved friends is that any way we can understand what is taking place. If we don't understand the context in which it took place. Who are these people why they day one of their circumstances.

How did they operate. How did God get through to them. Why did he choose nearby, who was Nehemiah. Why was it Nehemiah could have chosen somebody else what in God's sight of Nehemiah wanted Nehemiah do.

It's all right. Numbers three by said to me, those who survived the eggs are back in the province and are in great trouble and disgrace. You remember the group that came back with Zerubbabel, the group that came back with Ezra.

14 years later, here comes Nehemiah into the pitiful situation that he found down, which is) verse three.

What was they were in great trouble and disgrace the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire. When I heard these things, I sat down and whipped.

Now, folks. Just picture this remote jazz this great man of God cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in a privileged position. He's out of pocket. He's out of fellowship with these people because he's not with any here's this news and when he hears this bad news. What is a new he sits down any prize, and he weeps your site well goodness me. How's that going to help anything. How does it help to just sit down and have a good cry about. Well, there was something about the content of he's weeping that begins to give us the key to what was about to happen. Garrett is verse four. When these things. I sat down and where for some dieters doesn't tell us how long, but it was a long time. I'm old and I've fostered and I pray by myself talking to myself. No sir before the God of heaven.

Then I said then I said, it's as though he cut into the presence of God, and he began to cry and he began to see God's place and it is at that moment that God began to pull out a spirit upon him, and it is at that juncture that dogs man rises up from the ashes of the crumbling walls of Jerusalem and he said 00, God of heaven.

The great time awesome God who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obeying his grandma. The other man was on first base. My little righties word upon our hearts. What kind of God revealed himself to his servant. Nehemiah there are three basic summaries that you can like about Nehemiah's gone here in the whole book of Nehemiah. I want you to understand these all summary statements when you go through.

You can take a print do this sometime if you like.

By the way map some things to write down. It is so important to do that is so important to understand these things. Listen you want. Have a great time this week to pencil or pen go to the word of God and just set the name of God right through Nehemiah Just Cir., God. Every Time You See God Cir., God and then in your own private time. Go back and begin to ask a question what happened, why did it happen, happen.

How did happen when it happened related to God right. I want you to know if you have almost a question. I wonder what it is.

A preacher has to preach on try that sometime if you just Circle gaudy Nehemiah folks, we would be up for the next five years. Just in the book of Nehemiah. So what happens you go through and you begin to understand the relationship with Nehemiah between Nehemiah and God you begin to understand the awesomeness of what began to take place. It is foundational to an understanding of anything about Nehemiah and what the price. There are three summary statements about Nehemiah's God number one. Nehemiah's God is absolutely awesome.

That's the first). Nehemiah's dog is absolutely awesome I love that word also going to. I used to think that was a teenage phrase will might maybe it is. I love it when I talk to teenagers somewhere in there, they getting the word also. It's just an awesome word, don't you think you know one thing I've learned I learned that the Bible is always one step ahead of us.

Well, if you want to know where I got that word from. Look at verse five.

Then I said, oh Lord God of heaven. The great and awesome God.

God is awesome.

We going to discover my friends as we already discovering that the God of Nehemiah is positively and absolutely awesome.

Not only here in chapter 1 in verse five, you can go to chapter 2 in verse four and chapter 2 in verse 20 and on and on. You going to discover that this God is not any self-sustaining, but he is self energizing God not only sustains everything that is not what is he knew he energizes it. Here's the Energizer he keeps going and going and going and going and going. Why, because God is the energized. He's the greatest advertisement for himself behind everything that he ever said he would do is the sustainer of the universe. It is the beginning and here's the Nehemiah on these three people placed by believable predicament can only come to one conclusion. My goal is awesome is awesome. You can go on a journey with me.

Chapter 9 and verse five you going to discover that he is eternal.

This is where I would love something where I could show to you. Chapter 18 verse six. He is great in chapter 9 and verse 32. Nehemiah can hardly stand himself site puts them all together.

He says he's griped Annie's Monty, and he's also he begins to run out of superlatives and adjectives to try and discover the awesomeness of God. In chapter 9 and verse six.

He reminds us that even the angels bow down and worship him that he is the Lord of history that he is the God of judgment.

He is the God of every mercy that is ever been meted out toward mankind and us much Nehemiah reminds us my friends that God is the come on the of all reality. God is in control. There was a second thing Nehemiah came to understand. You see, Nehemiah's God is not any absolutely awesome, but Nehemiah's God is absolutely faithful. Nehemiah's God is absolutely faithful. I want you to be there so many verses let's just pick on one chapter 9 and verse eight bits go to chapter 9 in verse love to hear those pages turn chapter 9 and verse I if you don't mind off let's go back to verse seven chapter 9 verse 7C.

I'm gonna run into this trouble again. Chapter 9 and verse seven in your quiet time. Go back to verse five, stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting you okay let's start verse seven. This just listen to this you all. The Lord God who chose Abram and bolting out of of the chilled beings and name him Abraham parodies you found his heart faithful to you and as a consequence you made a covenant with him to give to his descendents the land of the Canaanites go down to the end of the verse you have kept your promise. Why because you all righteous that latches it is tied up into the root word you off Facebook.

You'll notice is the righteousness of God is on hold for both. It is in perishable, it is unchangeable. It is absolutely certain it is something that needs to be shouted from the hilltops God of Nehemiah is faithful. There's 1/3 thing about his covenant relationship. It is his basis for trust for hope and for obedience. It is God's stamp of his absolute faithfulness in terms of trust, hope and obedience. Think of those three things that God commands us, but there's 1/3 work. Nehemiah's God is absolutely trustworthy. He's absolutely trustworthy. You see friends by means of instruction through Moses and the prophets. We read about that in so many different ways.

Chapter 1 and verse site chapter 8 and verse one and also verse 14. Chapter 9 go to chapter 9 verse 20, just pretty quickly with me. Chapter 9 in verse 20. I want to show you something very interesting. I'll probably remind you of this next week as well because it's very important you see, God is saying to the prophet Nehemiah.

This is what I've done now because of this.

Therefore, you need to do that.

But verse 20 you die your good spirit to instruct them. What in the world is going on. Jesus hasn't even died, get on the cross, Pentecost hasn't taken place. Now that word spirit there is this is the word in the Hebrew text pronounced walk. Are you a CH if you want to transliteration of you see friends when it comes down. The Nehemiah not that these other things are not important fabrics of life. There are three things that Nehemiah understood about Nehemiah's God is also Nehemiah's God's faith.

Nehemiah's God is absolutely trustworthy, absolutely trustworthy, and Nehemiah's God can be your God. Open your heart not to just what you've heard from Dr. Don in the pulpit but as he comes in the studio 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 me right. Dear God, I know that on the seventh and I know that Jesus died for me across the day I repainted my sent in by faith I receive you into my heart.

In Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. If you given your life to Jesus Christ today when we dedicated your life.

Dr. Wilton has resources he wants to put in your hands absolutely free. We want to celebrate with you that 866-899-WORD that's our phone number 866-899-9673 or if you'd like to, you can connect online as well a TW online.org Dr. Don has been literally calling out and praying for every name is given their life to Christ he loved. Add to that list at 86689996