The city large & great, but the people were few therein

Sunday PM February 24, 2013

Nehemiah7:1-4, 8:1-8

A few cities have shrunk

Oak Ridge, Tennessee• Location of the

Manhattan Project

• Population swelled to 75,000 during WWII

• Today’s population is approximately 28,000.

Read Nehemiah 7:1-4

When the Wall was BuiltNeh 7:1 NKJV Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,

The wall was re-built at a tremendous cost, however, the work was not finished just because the wall was complete.

Parallels with the church

Matthew 16:16-19 NASB Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (19) "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Parallels with the church

Eph 2:19-22 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

City Large but the People are FewNeh 7:4 NKJV Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt.

The walled city of Jerusalem was large.

Only about 50,000 were present.

City Large but the People are FewMat 7:13-14 NKJV "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The World is Large

Act 1:15 NKJV And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

Col 1:23 NKJV if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

We must preach the Gospel

Mar 16:15-16 NKJV And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

How Do we Reach the World?Read Nehemiah 8:1-8

Standing up for the Word

Rom 1:16 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Rom 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2Ti 2:15 NKJV Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Standing up for the Word

2Ti 3:15-17 NKJV and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2Th 2:14-15 NKJV to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.