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The Bible Breakdown
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The Bible Breakdown
Nehemiah 07: Finish What You Start
Ever wondered what it truly takes to finish what you start with integrity and perseverance? In this episode, we explore the inspiring story of Nehemiah from chapter 7, who didn't just rebuild Jerusalem's wall but meticulously set up gates, appointed gatekeepers, singers, and Levites to ensure the city was fully restored. We delve into the vital lessons about completing projects with diligence and the significance of every role in God's grand design. Plus, we examine the genealogical records of those who returned from exile, offering a compelling look at their contributions to the community's re-establishment.
But that's not all. Maintaining the victories we've achieved is just as crucial as the initial triumphs. From breaking free from addiction to restoring relationships and fostering spiritual growth, we discuss how to set up boundaries and systems to sustain these successes. Drawing inspiration from Nehemiah 8:10, which reminds us that the joy of the Lord is our strength, we share personal stories and practical steps to help you maintain your gains. We conclude with a heartfelt prayer, asking for wisdom and continuous growth in your journey. Tune in for spiritual encouragement and actionable insights to finish what you start and keep your victories intact!
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The More You Dig. The More You Find.
Hello everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today. Nehemiah chapter 7, today's title is Finish what you Start. Finish what you Start. I don't know about you, but a lot of times it's very difficult or, excuse me, should I say very easy to do the first 80 to sometimes 90% of a project, but it's that last 10% that is always so difficult, because you're so close to being done, you just want to call it good. What we're going to see in Nehemiah chapter 7 is the calling for us is to not stop when we're almost done, but to go all the way with what God has called us to do. If you like what we're doing here, before we get into that, make sure you like, share and subscribe to YouTube channel, enter the podcast, leave us comments, let us know how you're engaging with God's word. And then, as always, we all go to the Bible Breakdown Discussion on Facebook and I'm going to tell you, the more we dig, the more we find. If you have your Bibles, want to open up with us to Nehemiah chapter 7.
Speaker 0:Remember this building theme that's going on. The first chapter was all about saying I take responsibility for something I see in this world that I live in. Then I'm going to cast a vision that is compelling, and then we can do it. Then I'm going to get to work and it's going to be hard work, but I'm here for it. Then we're going to expect opposition and then, after we expect opposition, we're going to make sure that our integrity matches our words. Then, when we have opposition again because of all of that man, we're going to have courage in the face of fear. And now that you're with Nehemiah, the wall is done. It's time to finish all the way what they've started. So let's read this together and let's see what God's word would say to us together. Today you ready. Nehemiah.
Speaker 0:Chapter seven, verse one, says this after the wall was finished and I had set up the doors of the gates, the gatekeepers, singers and Levites were appointed. I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hananiah, along with Hananiah and the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. Then I said to them Do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day and even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards and everyone on a regular watch. Some will serve as sentry posts and some in front of their own homes. And at that time the city was large and spacious, but the population was small and none of the houses had been rebuilt. So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and the leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Jerusalem, and this is what was written there.
Speaker 0:Here is a list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived. Their leaders were Zerubbabel, jeshua, nehemiah, saraiah, reliah, neshumani, mordecai, bishlon, mishpar, bikvai, rum and Benaiah. The number of the men who returned home from the exile were these the family of Parash 2,172. The family of Sheptiah 372.
Speaker 0:The family of Era 652. The family of Parah Moab, the descendants of Joshua and Moab excuse me, joab 2,818. The family of Elam 1,254. The family of Zetu 845. The family of Zam 1,254,. The family of Zetu 845,. The family of Zahi 760,. The family of Benai 648,. The family of Bebi 628,. The family of Azgad 2,322,. The family of Adakiam 667,. The family of Bigvi 2,067,. The family of Bigvi 2067,. The family of Adin 655,. The family of Atir, descendants of Hezekiah 98,. The family of Hashum 328,. The family of Bazi 328,. The family of excuse me 324,. The family of Jorah 112,. The family of Gebar 95. The people of Bethlehem and Netophah 188. The people of Anathoth 128. And the people of Beth Azmavith 42. The people of Kiriath-Jerim, kephira and Beroth 743. The people of Ramah and Geba 621. People of Michmash 122. People of Bethel and Ai 123. People of West Nebo 52. And the people of West Elam 1,254. Citizens of Hiram 320. Citizens of Jericho 1,000, excuse me 320. Citizens of Jericho 345. Citizens of Lod, hadid and Ono 721. And citizens of Sinai 3,930.
Speaker 0:These are all the priests who returned from exile. The family of Jediah, who is the line of Yeshua 973. The family of Emer 1,05. And the family of harim is 1017. These are the levites who returned from exile. The families of joshua and katmiel and descendants of hadovia, which was 74. The singers of the family of asaph was 148, and the gatekeepers of the families of Shalom, atir, telom, ekub, hetaiah and Seboah was 138.
Speaker 0:The descendants of the following temple servants returned from exile Ziah Hashpufah, tabuath Keros, sahaiah Padon, lebna Hagabaiah, shemaliah Henan, gedel Gahar, rehiah Rezin, nakoda Jezam. The descendants of these servants of King Solomon returned from exile. I need some names up in here. All right, here we go. I feel like we're back in the first part of 1 Chronicles.
Speaker 0:Another group returned at the same time from the towns of Tel-Mela, tel-harasha, kerub, adan and Emer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel. This group included families of Delilah, tobiah and Nekoda. The total was 642. Three families of priests Heboah, hekos and Brazilii also returned. This Brazilii had married a woman who was a descendant of Brazilii of Gilead, and they had taken her family name. They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests. The governor told them not to eat the priest's share of the foods from the sacrifices until the priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thorim, the casting of lots. So 42,360 people returned to Jerusalem or Judah, in addition to 7,337 servants, 245 singers, both men and women, and they took with them 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. Some of the family leaders gave gifts for their work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold coins, 50 gold basins and 530 robes for the priests. Other leaders gave the treasury a total of 20,000 gold coins some 2,750 pounds of silver, for their work. The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins and 2,500 pounds of silver and 67 robes for the priest. So the priest, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned, settled in their towns.
Speaker 0:Next it just kind of stops right there and goes into the next chapter. And if that sounds a little bit familiar to you, it's because some of that came from Ezra. As Ezra is writing down what happened, he's saying these are the people that came back. And what Nehemiah is doing now is now the wall is completed, but instead of just calling it good and leaving, he is setting up an infrastructure so that they can now maintain what they've started.
Speaker 0:And you know, one of the things that I've struggled with in my life and I've seen so many other people struggle with their lives is they do a great thing, god calls them to do something and they do it, but then, when they call it good. They fall back into where they were before. They don't maintain what God has done in their life and then that leads to so much regret, so much just negative things in our life, because they don't put some infrastructure and finish what they start, which wasn't just to win the victory, but then put some things in their life just to win the victory, but then put some things in their life to then maintain the victory that they've won. What does that mean for us today? This is my hope for you is that as you take responsibility for something in your life, you cast a compelling vision. You get to work and you expect opposition and you get it, but you keep moving forward. You make sure your integrity lines up with your words and then you have courage in the face of fear and then finally, god gives you success. Whatever that looks like, my encouragement for you is to finish the work. Don't stop at done, but create some systems in your life so you never go back before.
Speaker 0:I've talked to people who were sober for 20 years because they didn't create systems in their life to keep the freedom that God had helped them win. They fall back in a moment of weakness. I've talked to people who were free from pornography for 15 years because they didn't put some things, some infrastructure, some safety nets, some boundaries in their life to finish the work. In a moment of weakness, they fail. I've seen it so many times in so many people's lives and I've struggled with things like that in my life because I didn't put the systems and things.
Speaker 0:So I want to ask you this question when in your life have you experienced a victory? Is it freedom from an addiction? Is it a relationship? Is it a restoration of a relationship? I don't know, it could be a thousand things. You're seeing your friends come to Christ. Just so many wonderful things could have happened in your life.
Speaker 0:And I want to ask you this have you put some systems, some boundaries, have you finished the work so that it stays that way? Maybe, if you've found freedom, have you put some boundaries in your life so that you don't lose that freedom? Your friend has come to Christ. Well, you don't just. You know, just put them. You know, throw them out there. I hope it works out. But have you started to disciple them? Have you taken the next step to do the best that you can do to ensure that they keep moving forward? I don't. I don't know what that might be for you, but I'll ask you the question what have you done with the freedom or with the success that God has given you? Make sure you put some systems and things in place so that it will continue to move forward.
Speaker 0:Let's pray together, god. Thank you so much for today. Thank you, god, that you're with us and you're for us. Thank you, lord, for the victories that you bring in our lives. I pray, lord, you'll give us the wisdom to put some boundaries, to put some foundational pieces there, so that we can continue that freedom and that we can move forward. In your name, in Jesus' name, we pray Amen and amen. God's word says in Nehemiah 8, verse 10, don't be dejected or sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength, that settled, confident assurance that God is in control. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for Nehemiah, chapter 8.
