ARE WE THE GUY WHO HOLDS THE “JOHN 3:16” SIGN AT SPORTING EVENTS?ARE WE THE GUY WHO HOLDS THE “JOHN 3:16” SIGN AT SPORTING EVENTS?

Dan NicholsonNehemiah 1:1-11 January 7-8, 2006

Dan NicholsonNehemiah 1:1-11 January 7-8, 2006

PREPARATION FOR RE-VISIONING AT SAC

PREPARATION FOR RE-VISIONING AT SAC

Post modern culture is most accurately described as “pre-Christian”. We are in many ways back in the first century in the midst of a culture that still has yet to hear about who we are and what we believe.

“Dr. Codrescu, I can certainly understand why someone not familiar with Christian theology would be confused and even bemused by the bewildering variety of views on Christ’s second coming. But if you would give me a moment, let me tell you what it means for me to say on a daily basis, “Maranatha” and what this doctrine of hope does for my life.”

“Dr. Codrescu, I can certainly understand why someone not familiar with Christian theology would be confused and even bemused by the bewildering variety of views on Christ’s second coming. But if you would give me a moment, let me tell you what it means for me to say on a daily basis, “Maranatha” and what this doctrine of hope does for my life.”

Robertson Davies said:

The world is full of people whose notion

of a satisfactory future, in, in fact, a

return to an idealized past.

Leonard Sweet says that change is when you have to do better what you already know how to do. But transition is when you have to do what you don’t know how to do. We are in a time of transition, a time when we have to do a whole lot of learning and unlearning in order to meet the needs of this generation.

Leonard Sweet says that change is when you have to do better what you already know how to do. But transition is when you have to do what you don’t know how to do. We are in a time of transition, a time when we have to do a whole lot of learning and unlearning in order to meet the needs of this generation.

I. A MIND ONCE STRETCHED WITH NEW INFORMATION WILL NEVER RETURN

TO ITS ORIGINAL DIMENSIONSNehemiah 1:1-3

I. A MIND ONCE STRETCHED WITH NEW INFORMATION WILL NEVER RETURN

TO ITS ORIGINAL DIMENSIONSNehemiah 1:1-3

Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. They set fire to

God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces

and destroyed everything of value there.11 Chronicles 36:18-20

Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. They set fire to

God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces

and destroyed everything of value there.11 Chronicles 36:18-20

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men

lay hold of it.Matthew 11:12

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men

lay hold of it.Matthew 11:12

When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told that you believed too much or you believed too little?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told you cared too much or too little?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told that you tried too hard or you didn’t try enough?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told that you were too forgiving or you were too

judgmental?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told “Well done, thou hyper hopeful and risk taking servant or Well done, thou sober, play it safe servant?”

When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told that you believed too much or you believed too little?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told you cared too much or too little?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told that you tried too hard or you didn’t try enough?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told that you were too forgiving or you were too

judgmental?When you stand at the Pearly Gates would you rather be told “Well done, thou hyper hopeful and risk taking servant or Well done, thou sober, play it safe servant?”

The bias of nature is toward the wilderness, never toward the fruitful

field.

Knowledge informs! Knowledge motivates! Knowledge empowers! Knowledge of the status quo is the first step to God’s kind of change!

The bias of nature is toward the wilderness, never toward the fruitful

field.

Knowledge informs! Knowledge motivates! Knowledge empowers! Knowledge of the status quo is the first step to God’s kind of change!

II. WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF THE “MEN OF ISSACHAR” WHO UNDERSTOOD THE TIMES AND KNEW WHAT ISRAEL SHOULD DONehemiah 1:4-11

The prayer included…• Praise for God’s greatness, His ability to handle

things• Confession of his part in this problem • Identification with the people of Jerusalem• Claimed God’s promise of intervention for His

people• Persevered over days and weeks and eventually four months. • Gradual realization of what part he was going to

have in God doing the unbelievable.

We need a diagnostic among the people that you know in this city…--what is the status of Christianity here in this city?--what are the prevailing social bondages?--what are the worldviews and allegiances that

dominate?--what direct spiritual opposition do we know of?--what has been the evolution of current circumstances – where did the problem come from?--what is the potential for spiritual breakthrough—what can be done to make things better?

We need Hananis that will go to Abbotsford and return with a report!

We need Nehemiah’s who receive the information and weep over it and pray!

We need all of us mobilized to know the trouble and the disgrace of the

city!