Identity Theft 7
Nehemiah 4:1–2
Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall,
he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked at the Jews.
2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria,
“What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves?
Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day?
Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”
Nehemiah was rebuilding the city walls
But only had damaged stones as building material
How can you build anything of Value with damaged stones?
What is our opinion about something that is damaged?
When goods are damaged, they can no longer be used
If it can be used, the value is reduced because quality is reduced
When you translate that to a person –
Because of events or experiences or circumstances in the past
damaged, impaired, diminished – not 100% (value, ability, image)
Have you had any experiences that left dents in their life?
Did you fall off the shelf – hurt, broken, rejected, abused?
Did you get damaged in shipping – on the way to your destination?
The enemy wants to label us “Damaged. Reduced Value. Do not use
Wants us to believe that we have not MADE MVP
Sanballat: Arguing that you can’t be used (see Neh 4:1-2)
1. Bringing up your past – burned
2. Pointing out our weaknesses – feeble & fragile
3. Reminding us of our inabilities – can’t finish; never be restored
Jesus was a stone considered damaged – He was rejected
Yet, he became the main stone in the building
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” Matt 21:42
1 Peter 2:4-5
As you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Good News: Your dents have not decreased your value
How does the Lord use Damaged Goods?
His Holy Spirit
Nehemiah 2:5–8
I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves,
that I may rebuild it.”
6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him),
“How long will you be gone, and when will you return?”
So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.
7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king,
let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River,
that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,
8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest,
that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.”
And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Rebuild
Romans 8:26–30
Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Advocate (letters to let me pass)
Jesus calls Holy Spirit the Parakletos: John 14:16, 26, 15:26 (1 John 2:1)
· Parakletos: called to one’s aid – Advocate, Helper
legal advisor, pleader, proxy, one who comes forward in behalf of and as the representative of another – intercessor
1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
When something happens that would seemingly reduce your value
He will speak on our behalf
Expunges your record
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these
He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. – Rom 8:30
Contractor (give me timber)
He does more than knock the dents out
He restores you to full use
The things that have happened to you have not decreased your value
They actually increased your value
Hebrews 4:14–5:4
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
Psalm 51:7–13
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.