Holy Discontent

A mission from God, through us, for other peopleThe words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-2They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:1-2See 8 photos (I will run through them fairly quickly, but as soon as I start talking about camping, put up Camping 1 and 2 and hold #2 for a while as I set up the glamping metaphor.)“Christians are like manure: you leave them all in one pile and it stinks, but if you spread it out it makes things grow.” -Francis ChanThey said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3“Bad news is the genesis of breakthroughs.” –Caleb Anderson, Favor with Kings, pg. 37The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 39:8“I [King Artaxerxes] issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition…Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.” Ezra 4:19-21 “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” –C.S. LewisWhen I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:6-8I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people… Romans 9:1-4aWhen [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4b…As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15(Mariners Church Chapel, Irvine, CA)