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Our Doctrine

Kenneth H. Good Books

June 12, 2005

Pastor George H. Heiland

Identity and Security

¹Now when the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, ²then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. ³Then I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, let them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.” ⁴Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built.

⁵Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record:

⁶These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon hadcarried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, ⁷who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

A.  Nehemiah Organizes the Leadership vs.  1,2

1. Gatekeepers, Singers and the Levites vs.  1

¹Now when the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 

Nehemiah immediately secures the gates and appoints ministry personnel in preparation for the safety and spiritual needs of the people.

2. Military Commanders vs.  2

²then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

At first glance, this appointment may seem like an act of favoritism.  It must be remembered, however, Hanani was one of the messengers that caught Nehemiah’s attention regarding the devastation in Jerusalem.

See Nehemiah 1:1-3  Also, Nehemiah knew his brother to be a godly man.  He needed someone who could be trusted to put the Lord, His

purpose and His people before anything else.  It was the lack of a man that God could trust that had brought the city under siege.  See Ezekiel 22:30,31;

 “30 “And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 “Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord God.”

Nehemiah refused to go down that road.  Amen!

B.  Nehemiah Regulates the Gates vs.  3,4

1. The Security of the City vs. 3a

³Then I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, let them shut and bolt the doors. . .” 

The gates were normally opened at sun-up and remained opened into the evening.  Nehemiah wanted to minimize the danger of intruders and so ordered the gates be opened the few hours when the sun was at its highest point in the day.  Otherwise the gates were to be closed and bolted shut. There is coming a day  in similar fashion when God is going close the gates of the church and bolt them shut.  If you have never put your faith in Jesus Christ, why not trust Him today?

2. The Security of the People vs.  16b

“ . . . Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.” 

Not only was the city secured, but the infrastructure and private homes were to be patrolled and guarded by the people.

C.  Nehemiah Registers the People vs. 5-7

 “⁵Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first . . .”

Nehemiah found the register of the returned remnant and began a systematic roll call to establish the legitimacy of the residents and their service.  How privileged we are to be on the roll call of God!  Some may try to hoodwink them like . . .

 “ . . . Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some.” 2nd Timothy 2:17b,18

But God knows His own!

“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.’ ”    vs.  19

If you have never received Christ as you Savior,  you have no assurance of heaven.  Why not trust Him today?  If you know Him, take heart. He loves you!

⁹Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. ¹⁰So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

     Thanks for reading this message.  DO YOU have need of salvation? God's Word tells us to repent of our sins and come to God accepting the fact that Christ died on the cross, rose from the dead and paid the full penalty for all that come to Him in faith.   

See John 6:35-40

³⁵Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. ³⁶“But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. ³⁷“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. ³⁸“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Here are some points to consider:

Have you found a church home?  If you are in the area of Port St Lucie, why not visit us?

Have you found new life in Christ? Why not come to Him today? God will receive those who will come to Him.  He has provided the means for you to be saved, baptized and be a part of His New Testament Local Church ministry -- He gave His Son to intercede; all you need to do is cast yourself upon His mercy and grace.  

Jesus said in John 6:37-40

38 “For  I have come down from heaven,  not to do My own will, but  the will of Him who  sent Me. 39 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of  all that He has given Me I  lose nothing, but  raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who  beholds the Son and  believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will  raise him up on the last day.”

 It is important to note Luke's comment in Acts 4:12 

 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

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