Nehemiah Part 2/Gatekeepers

Everyone Stand: Nehemiah 2:17-18 (NLT) 17 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

Nehemiah 3:1 (ESV) 1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests… 

Blaise Pascal – Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.

Jude 1:3 (AMP) 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers].

Penned Truth- America desperately needs the Church to lead people back to a Gospel-centered way of living that affects the present culture. 

1. We must defend and speak the Truth, God’s Word.   

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God… 

Penned Truth- We, as the Church, have the seeds of renewal in us; it’s called Truth. 

Penned Truth: God is the author of truth entrusted to the Church.

2. Why are we to defend and speak the Truth? It’s our responsibility. 

Romans 12:1 AMP 1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.

3. What should a Gatekeeper of Truth do? 

a.         Gatekeepers must defend the truth” earnestly.” 

1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV) 20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

Penned Truth: The gospel is a treasure, and we have a serious responsibility to it. 

b.         Gatekeepers must live the gospel

Philippians 1:27 (ESV) 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ… 

Philippians 1:20 (NLT) 20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

c.         Gatekeepers must preach and teach the gospel  

Mark 16:15 (ESV) 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Penned Truth: We labor under a divine obligation to defend and speak the truth and the Church cannot neglected this sacred duty.

Final Statement: We have been called by God to defend His truth. God will call you to do all sorts of courageous deeds in order to protect His truth. So may we unite, lift the name of our Lord Jesus Christ higher, and shine unashamedly in a dark and weary world. And defend and speak the truth and rebuild this Nations Spiritual Walls.