Willing Hearts

Heat. Heat. Good morning, Cross Church Phoenix. How are you? >> Good morning. >> Good. Can you hear me? Okay. I have a different um system now, so I had to look at where the mute button was and where it wasn't. This is different. So, you guys can hear me. Okay. All right. Amen. I'm Pastor DJ. I'm the pastor here at Cross Church Phoenix. If I haven't met you before, if you're new, welcome. Would love to chat with you after. Uh we have a great uh great service, a great 9:00 a.m. and a great 10:30 service. And we've got some baptisms we're looking forward to uh today. So, praise God for all he's doing. If you would open your Bibles to Nehemiah chap 11. We are going to be covering two whole chapters this morning. So, it's going to be uh a little bit from a 30,000 ft level, so to speak, but it's going to be, I believe, a rich time. And you'll see why we're covering 11 and 12 together here. And while you're turning there, of course, if you need a Bible, if um you don't have one, there's one in the seat back in front of you. Feel free to use that. Make it yours. It's our gift to you. You can highlight it, underline it, mark it up, and bring it back and use it again next week uh and read it throughout the week. Um, while you're turning there, I want to also share that the Mexico mission trip information meeting, I think we have a slide for it, but um, if you are interested in that, that is next Sunday at noon at the surprise church. However, if you are interested and we already have a couple folks who are interested in going to Mexico who will be attending over there, uh, actually worshiping in Surprise and going to the meeting. But if you can't make it out there and if you would like to go on that meeting, we can talk with a leader. His name is Don Roycraft and he will uh be he is willing to come do another info meeting here at another time. So let me know if you're interested in that. And second, we have Sunday night service tonight in here at 6:00 and we are going to be um preaching through Nehemiah chapter 13. And so I'm not a bait and switch kind of guy. If you come tonight at six o'clock, you're going to get more music and worship and then you're gonna get Nehemiah 13. It's going to be great. I'm very excited for chapter 13 because basically um it's a chapter showing the complete failure of the people. Um and we can resonate with that sometimes. But uh I'm excited for that. Please come. I want to pack this place out. I mean, it would be great, right? Because we'll have 9:00 a.m. in here and 10:30 cuz it's just one service. So it's not like a 6:00 and 7:30. It's like 6:00 p.m. everyone in here. Um, and I know I said last week no child care. We actually do uh have child care available for you if necessary. And uh if you need that, Donna will be here to provide that. Um and so if you if you want it, if you need it, it will be there for you. And but also remember too that we want the kids in here as well. So whichever kind of fits best and works best. Uh, but come one, come all. Tonight, six o'clock here, we will be preaching through Nehemiah 13, closing the book out. Well, by the time we get to chapter 11, the Israelites are in full revival mode. The city and the people have come a long way. Back in chapter 2, when Nehemiah had first arrived in the city, you'll remember that he went to inspect it. He's going out. He's like, "I need to see the state that this city is in so that we can put a plan together to rebuild." And you'll remember in Nehemiah 2:14, the rubble was so bad, he couldn't pass through certain areas. It says, "I went on uh to the fountain gate and to the king's pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass." Um, so it was really bad. The place was a mess. And so big picture, right? because he's kind of I want to provide paint a little bit of the context for those who may not have been here. Big picture, the place was a mess. Nehemiah rallies everyone together to build the walls and build the gates of Jerusalem. And he does. Despite the opposition, he gets the job done. Not only did the city need restoration though, so did the people. And so if you remember in chapter 8 of Nehemiah, Ezra shows up and reads the word of God for hours, right? Like six hours he's just reading scripture. And it brought conviction. It brought um repentance. It brought a renewed obedience. And so God's word was given priority. And the people rededicated themselves to God as a result. Which is why we at Cross Church Phoenix must give the word of God priority here. Cuz as soon as we don't, we go astray. But the scriptures are what keep us in line. But there was still an issue. If you remember in Nehemiah 7:4, he Nehemiah says, "The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been rebuilt." So, it's great to have gates and walls, but you kind of still need people living in the city to have a city. And what I want to remind you of is that living in Jerusalem wasn't very attractive to some people. Babylon destroyed more than just walls and gates. They ransacked and destroyed the whole city. So there are parts even though they have a a a temple, that's the book of Ezra, and they have walls around the city and gates put up for protection and security, they're still parts and shambles in needing work. And so choosing to live in Jerusalem meant more work in rebuilding decimated homes. Right? Nehemiah chapter 7, he says there's no homes been built. Well, you need those to live. And some of those that's part of the destruction that Babylon brought before as we'll see some volunteered to live there and some didn't. So they start drawing straws and it's we'll get into that. But our focus on this whole build series through Nehemiah has been what we're built on. We've done built on justice. We've done built around the word of God. And this morning we're going to look at being built by willing hearts. So let's pray. Father, we thank you for this morning. We thank you for your word. Lord, I praise you for all that you are doing in and through us as a church right here on the corner of 19th and Grovers. God, you are doing amazing things in the lives of people. God, I pray that your spirit would speak your word to your people this morning, Lord. That only um what is honoring and glorifying to you would be spoken and that it would be edifying to each one of us here. So God, I pray that your spirit would give us eyes to see and ears to hear what the spirit has to say to the church at Cross Church Phoenix in Jesus name. Amen. Well, if you're looking through, if you thumb through a little bit of 11 and 12, you'll notice it is long and a lot of names. So, we're not going to read the whole thing. Otherwise, um I'd have the perfect sermon. Uh because all I would do is read scripture the whole time and it would be perfect because it was only Bible reading, which I'm tempted to do. But we will read portions of this and walk through the names, a few of the names, but not all of them. But let's read 11 1-4a. Now the leaders of the people stayed in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots for one out of 10 to come and live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine tents remained in their towns. The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. These are the heads of the province who stayed in Jerusalem. But in the villages of Judah each lived in his own property in their towns. The Israelites priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants. While some of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin settled in Jerusalem, then you'll see Judah's descendants and a list of names. Remember, if you're thinking, where are the other tribes? Well, Judah and Benjamin are what were left. The Assyrian captivity, which happened way before the Babylonian captivity. They took the 10 northern tribes captive and they're kind of lost in the south, so to speak. Um, they're still exist, but they're a little bit disoriented. And so, you had Judah and Benjamin that remained in the south until Babylon came. You also see residual of the le the the Levites from Levi who um are part of the priesthood. Well, by now we're acquainted with the fact that Nehemiah tracks many names. He's a detail-oriented kind of guy. There's not just 11 and 12, but there's a few chapters chalk full of names. And here we have another one from verse 4 through the end of the chapter. There's lists of names from different tribes, roles, and then you'll even see farming locations, right? The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, 4 and 7, priests and Levites, uh, verse 10 and 15. You have gatekeepers and guards and temple servants. in verses 19 and 20. Um, if you were to look down at verses 25-30, these are farming settlements. And if you're a geographical kind of guy, and I I like to just kind of see where things are on the map. Verses 25 through30 are farming settlements to the south of Jerusalem, and 31-36 are farming settlements to the north. So what Nehemiah is doing essentially is giving us a broad view of how the city and the surrounding fields are being settled. So what's the point? Right? You say, why is God why did God see fit to have this in the Bible? Right? What what does this have to do with anything? And what kept coming to my mind as I was reading through this and studying through it and and just thinking on it, what kept coming to mind that I believe is is ultimately from God and from his word is that these individuals are those who recognize that they are part of something bigger than themselves. if you have a handout. Um, and if you don't, there's some on the back tables if you would like one. But our main heading is being part of something bigger than ourselves. And so all of chapter 11, I want to make one point. One of the first principles we see is being part of something bigger than our uh part of something bigger than ourselves requires our willingness to serve God where he has us. requires our willingness to serve God where he has us. In verse one, the leaders stay in Jerusalem and the rest cast lots for one out of 10 to stay. And then you see in verse two, some volunteered. So some stay because they want to, some stay because they drew the short straw. So you have the the volunteered and the volunttoled, so to speak, right? If you've been there before in your workplace, you've all told something. But one thing we know is that the safety, success, security of Jerusalem matters big time. Why? Remember Jerusalem, the holy city as it's called, right, is the center, the hub for God-honoring worship, right? This is the headquarters for worshiping Yahweh. And that's why it's so terrible when it's destroyed not only by pagan nations but by the disobedience of the Israelites themselves who were called by God and told by God what to do and how to live. It is the center for worshiping God. And so Nehemiah his top priority is that Jerusalem happens and happens well right and succeeds and is thriving. And so the ones who are willing to stay are really ones who are putting God's agenda above their own. Those who stay in Jerusalem uh those who had to stay in Jerusalem thought though it wasn't their first choice do it because God ultimately called them to. So my question for you, are you willing to serve God where you're at right now? right where you are, whatever is going on in your life, are you willing to serve God right now? So, sometimes we're tempted to say, "I'll serve God later, when I have more time, right, when I retire, or when I have more financial security, or when everything is just right, then I'll get involved." And I got to break it to you, that day will never come. News flash, right? It's not going to come. There will always be other things to do, more money to make, more goals to achieve, more success to chase after. Now's the time to get involved in God's church. What are you doing with what God has given you right now? You know, we're not going to play like rock paper scissors to see who does what, right? Little modern version of casting lots, little ro, you know. All right. You're working in the kids ministry. You're working in the nursery, right? No, no, no. But we are called to work together as the body of Christ. For example, you don't need divine revelation to pull weeds or pick up trash at the church, right? You don't need God to open the windows of heaven to tell you that there are ways that all of us can serve and be part of the kingdom of God and serving the kingdom of God. This church is God's church. This property is what? God's property. This ain't Pastor DJ's house. This ain't we worship here, but this is God's house. So, it doesn't even belong to us. This belongs to God. And when you realize that this isn't about you, it's not about me. It's about God's church. It's about building each other up, equipping each other to share the gospel. Why are we doing evangelism training? To equip people, right? To do the work of the ministry. Straight out of Ephesians, that's the point, right? To provide training, disciplehip, whatever is needed. Why are we doing men's and women's ministries? to strengthen and build up men with men and women with women with women to in what particular maybe struggles that they might have to grow and disciple each other to be productive members of the body of Christ in our pizza with the pastor class which we have and if you haven't been to one please sign up because it's next week and I need to know how much pizza pizza to order but if you haven't been to one we go over our mission vision values of cross church what we're all about making Jesus known it's plastered all over the place. But also, I go over our statement of faith, right? What we believe, who we are, what we're all about. But in that class, we have a saying that says God doesn't call us to sit, soak, and sour, but to serve. And I kind of like that, right? Cuz sometimes we can get a little comfortable and sit and soak and then grow sour. And it all becomes it's all about you. It's all about me. It's all about my preferences or this or that, right? and it's no longer becomes about the kingdom of God or about the church. Maybe you will be called to be a missionary or maybe you'll be called to be a pastor, but what are you going to do in the meantime? I've talked to people who are like, I'm I'm called to pastor. I say, okay, well, what are you doing in the meantime? Well, I'm just waiting for a church. Okay. Are you serving in the kids ministry? No, dude. I ain't going to do that. This might sound a little harsh, but in my opinion, if you can't teach children, don't be a pastor. If you can't teach children, don't try to teach adults. Right? Some people think if you think you're above teaching children, that's a pride issue already. Get off. Right? And this gentleman like would did not want to serve um children, but thought like he is a profound teacher. Well, if you can break down biblical truth to like a 5-year-old level, that's good. That's a good challenge to do, right? But if all you can do is spout seminary level theology, don't do it. Those things are fun. I enjoy that. But when people think I'm above teaching kids, it's a kind of a red flag for me. What are you doing in the meantime? Jerusalem needed people to live and serve where God put them. And if God's will was to live was for them to live in Jerusalem, they did out of obedience to God. You say, "Isn't it by chance, right? They cast lots, DJ. That's by chance." Well, there's an interesting verse in Proverbs 16:33. It says this, "The lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord." So what we might see as chance, right? A roll of the dice. The Israelite would see as the decision of the Lord. I don't really want to live in Jerusalem, but your name got called. So you're going. Why? Cuz you're going, right? Are you willing to work in the nursery, for example? Are you willing to work with children? Are you willing to help clean the church? Are you willing to do what God has called you to do? whatever that might look like. There's other ways to serve. Those are just examples. But are we willing to serve God right where we are in life? Your abilities, capabilities, availabilities, all the illities. Take all your illities into consideration and ask, "Lord, what will you have me do?" Let's read. Let's jump down to chapter 12, uh, verse one. Chapter 12. Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabable son of Shiel and with Yeshua, Sariah, Jeremiah, Ezra and then again you're going to see what another list of names and it can be difficult to remember all the history here but when the Jewish people the reason that this is very important the Jew when the Jewish people came out of exile right the Meo Persian government conquers Babylon and frees Israel, they come back in waves. Okay? And Zerubbable, our man Zerubbable right here, son of Shield, right? He led the first wave 80 years before Ezra and Nehemiah showed up. So chapter 12 is almost looking back, saying, "Let's not forget those who've gone before us." And Zerubbable came with another leader named Yeshua. And let's jump down to verse 7 uh B where it says these were the heads of the priests and their relatives in the days of Yeshua. Um and if it says verse 8, the Levites and you have Yeshua, Binui, Cadmile, Sheriah, Judah, Mataniah, he and his relatives were in charge of the songs of praise. And if you jump down to verse 10, you'll see Yeshua named again, right? Yeshua fathered Joyakim. Joyim fathered Eliashibb. There's a reason I'm reading these names, and I'll tell you in a second. Eliashib father Joeda. Verse 11, Joya father Jonathan. And Jonathan father Jadua. When you get to verse 10 and 11, you might wonder, why is Nehemiah giving us the lineage of this guy Yeshua? And it's because he's the link. Okay, if you can follow me, Yeshua is Joyakim's dad and he's related to all these other guys in verse 10 and 11. Eliashab, Joa, Jonathan, and Jadua. Skip down in verses 12- 21. You have more names of people who lead priestly families. But look down at verse 22. It says, "In the days of Elijah, Joeda, Johannan, and Jadua, sound familiar? The heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded with Darius the when while Darius the Persian ruled. This is looking back right because King right now we have King Artic Xerxes. Verse 22 is the same guys in verses 10 and 11. Let's go down to verse 26. These served in the days of Joyakim. There he is. Son of Yeshua, son of Joedc. In the days of Nehemiah uh and in key right and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the pri the priest and scribe they served in the days of Joyakim and in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. What's being said basically here I know sometimes we jump into like a Bible study mode and not less of a preaching mode but there it's to make a point. What's being said is that before Ezra and Nehemiah came, there were men here serving, people here serving. Now, they weren't doing all that they were supposed to be. So, God sends them and Nehemiah, right? Get your act together. Build the temple. Build the walls and gates. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. But what's being said is that they were here serving before Ezra and Nehemiah ever came and continue to serve with Ezra and Nehemiah when they come. So chapter 12 is linking um the OGs with the new G's, right? The ones who have gone before the first wave of returnees with the current people that are there. What's going on in the present? And so this points to our second principle. Being part of something bigger than ourselves drives our willingness to serve God as long as we can. Drives our willingness to serve God as long as we can. These are men who haven't stopped. These are people who haven't given up. They're likely older men who've been at it for a while because like I said when Zerubbable, if you look at the dates, which we won't go over all of that, but the dates, uh, Zerubbable led the first group back 80 years before Ezra showed up. Ezra was the first one back over there. Then Nehemiah came 13 years later. So the group with Zerubbable had been there 93 years before Nehemiah showed up and 80 years before Ezra did. I think it's good to reflect on those who've served the church before us. Cross Church Phoenix is about 10 years old and there's folks who've been here since the beginning and are still hard at work serving this church. And for that, I am grateful. There's also a few of you who maybe you weren't here at the very start, but you've been here a while, well before I came, and you're still serving and loving this church. And for that, I am grateful. What's cool about serving a place in a long time, and I get God moves people, so that happens. But what I love, what's cool about serving a long time in one place is that you never know who you'll bless, right? There's people who've served a long time here and yet I get to be the recipient now of the blessings of their hard work and foundation when they didn't know me from Adam. Right? We never stop serving the Lord, even in old age. There's a pastor um in southern Oregon, his name's John Corson, and he was giving counsel to someone who was bedbound and felt completely useless. This guy was active in the church beforehand and then got um became sick and bedbound. He said, "There's nothing I can do." And I remember him teaching this and the saying has always stuck with me. He said this quote, "You're there in that chair for the purpose of prayer." I like it. You're there in that chair for the purpose of prayer. That was an encouragement to this guy. And all he would do is pray. Family, friends, the church, you can pray when you're bedbound until God takes you home. We may retire from jobs, but not from serving God. We're part of something bigger. And you know what? We'll have to pass this baton to the next generation, to kids in our kids wing, to youth in our youth group. And this kind of gets into chapter 13, which I'm really excited to preach. I hope you'll come back because chapter 13 is powerful. But it takes one generation to send our kids astray from God. And you see that in chapter 13, which I'm not going to get into right now. You have to come back tonight. But the fact that we are passing this on to the next generation should motivate us to serve at length as long as we can so we can set them up as best we can. Let's read. Look down at verse 27 of chapter 12. I want to uh read through this. This is the dedication of the wall. At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sent for the Levites wherever they lived and brought them to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyous dedication with thanksgiving and singing accompanied by symbols, harps, and lears. The singers gathered from the region around Jerusalem, from the settlements of the Netophathites, from Beth Gilgal, and from the fields of Gea in Azmouth. for they had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem. After the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the city gates in the wall. If you're an underliner or a highlighter, put a note next to verse 31 and just put chapter 4:3 and you'll see why. Um, but it's great. Nehemiah says verse 31, "Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall when I appointed two uh and I appointed two large processions that gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall toward the dung gate. Hosiah and half the leaders of Judah followed along with Azeriah, Ezra, Mashulum, Judah, Benjamin, um where are we? Shemiah, Jeremiah, all these people. And some of the priests sons with trumpets and Zachariah son of Jonathan, son of Shemiah, son of Mataniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zakur, son of Asaf. You remember Asaf. If you read the Psalms, David wasn't the only one who wrote Psalms. Asaf did. That's why there's a link there to the praise and worship going on. Follow as well as his relatives. Verse 36, Shmiah, Azerel, Mili, Gili, Mayi, Nathaniel, Judah, and Hani with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe went in front of them at the fountain gate. They climbed the steps of the city of David on the ascent of the wall and went above the house of David to the Watergate on the east. So what's basically happening is Ezra's leading a procession one way. Let's read start at verse 38. The second thanksgiving procession went to the left and I that's Nehemiah followed it with half the people along the top of the wall past the tower of the oven ovens to the broad wall above. He's just giving us the route above the Ephraim gate and by the old gate the fish gate the tower of Hannel and the tower of the hundred to the sheep gate. They stopped at the gate of the guard. In verse 40, the two thanksgiving pro processions stood in the house of God. So did I and half the officials accompanying me as well as the priests alike and measia, Minyammen, uh, Micaiah, Elleoni, Zachchariah, and Haniah with trumpets, and Measia, Shemiah, and Eleazar, and Usuzi, not Uzi, Uzi, Jehoan, Malcia, Elumzar. Then the singer sang with Jezariah as the leader. On that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because note this verse 33 God had given them great joy. The women and children also celebrated in Jerusalem's rejoicing was heard far away. Verse 44. On that same day, men were placed in charge of the rooms that house the supplies, contributions, first fruits, and tents. Keep that in mind when you come back tonight for chapter 13. The legally required portions for the priests and Levites were gathered from the village fields because Judah was grateful to the priests and Levites who were serving. 45 They perform the service of their God in the service of purification along with the singers and gatekeepers as David and his son Solomon had prescribed. So they're following what they're supposed to do. For long ago in the days of David and Asaf, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. So in the days of Zerubbable and Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions of the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside daily portions for the Levites and the Levites set aside daily portions for Aaron's descendants. So this is the dedication of the wall. It is a powerful, worshipful time. Take note of verse 31. I told you I'd come back to that. Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall. I think personally that Nehemiah has a sense of humor. I think he did this on purpose. Do you remember what Nehemiah's critics said about the wall in Nehemiah 4:3? Tobaya, who will show up in 13, Tobiah the Ammonite, an outspoken enemy of God and his people, said this in Nehemiah 4:3. Tobiia the Anomite the Ammonite was beside him and he said, "Yes, what they are building the wall. If a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall." I wonder if Nehemiah does this on purpose. You said a fox will knock down this wall. I'm taking these leaders up with a procession of singers. There's all kinds of people on top of this wall. It's a big old wall, wide enough for processions to go down. You said a fox will knock it down. We're standing up here rejoicing publicly. It can be heard far away, right? This is loud. And what's happening is they start at this place and Nehemiah's leading one group and Ezra's reading leading another group. And they're going around the city triumphantly praising God for all to hear, for Tobaya to hear, right? And then it culminates at the house of God at the temple where they break out in more worship together there. Notice how they don't turn, look at the wall, the gates, even the temple, and say, "Wow, look at what we did. Aren't we so great? Wow." No, it's about what God did. Look at what God did. Verse 43, God had given them great joy. They got to be part of it. Yes, we've read about their part in building and all this stuff, but it's not all about what they did. It's about what God did and is continuing to do. And so, what we see is that being part of something bigger than ourselves demands our willingness to serve God in both good and difficult times. both good and difficult times. Because when we interpret this holistically, like with the whole book in mind, we realize that it wasn't always fun. They're having fun now, but it wasn't always fun in games before. There were times where they were mocked, derided, ridiculed, threatened, but they were willing, these people were willing to serve God then, and then they get to see this breakout of worship and praise now. I love seeing people rejoicing and continuing to love and serve God and serve the Lord even when things are difficult in their lives. Our sister Jane Jane Allen, you say, "Who's that?" And some of you know, some of you may not. if you're new. She's a older lady who's a member here of our church and um was attacked by a pitbull and whatever you were doing Super Bowl Sunday, I'm sure you weren't wasn't you weren't doing what she was doing, which was undergoing surgery to lose her arm that they tried to save it and she lost it. And I think she's watching online. So, hi Jane. But I'm using her as an example because not once have I talked to Jane. I'm not saying she's perfect or she's not struggling. But not once have I talked to Jane where she has been upset with God, questioned his goodness and was angry at him. Every time I talked to her, she's like, "But God is good. I give all glory to God. Hey, I got some new things to learn." She loves her Apple Watch and is trying to figure out how to do things one-handed. There's some difficulties and things to learn. But guess what? She has not stopped giving glory to God. She hasn't skipped a beat in giving God glory in this situation that she's in. Amen. Amen to that. The the tendency is for some of us to give up when life gets hard or when ministry is tiring or when people become difficult. I give up because so and so said something mean about me. I give up on the ministry because this this this and this, right? I'm tired or I'm angry or I'm upset. And there are will be times of difficulty. But are you willing to serve God when things are good and when things are tough? When you remember that you are serving the kingdom of God, you're part of something bigger than yourself. It puts all that stuff into perspective. Even if it means losing a limb in the perspect from the eternal perspective, continuing to give glory to God in that is amazing. It's not all about us. This should motivate us, right, to continue to serve God whether life is good or life is throwing obstacles at you. And I can say this boldly and with humility that no matter what you're going through right now, whether it's physical, uh, emotional or spiritual, whatever difficulty you are going through, name it, whatever that is, it pales in comparison to what Christ endured on the cross for you. >> Amen. >> It is. It's it's like this in com in terms of eternity. And yes, it's hard. Yes, things get hard. I'm not minimizing the difficulty or the pain, the sorrow, the struggle. But what I am saying is that compared to what Christ endured on the cross for us, there's no reason why we can't give glory to God in the good and the bad. Job said, "What the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Read Job. God allowed a lot to be taken away from him. >> I want to end with this. We can look at these chapters with numerous names and get bored reading them or listening to them, right? And it's not just 11 and 12. There's more names in chapter 7 and other names all over this book. But let me tell you something. There is another book with thousands of names in it. Perhaps millions of names. name name far more than what Nehemiah has written in it. And this book were it to be read out loud full of names would have you and I hanging on every single name. You wouldn't be bored. You would be anticipating hearing your name every second. And that is the book of life. >> There will be a day when that book is opened. And Revelation 20:15 says, "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. When the new heavens and the new earth and the new Jerusalem come down from heaven is described in Revelation 21, it is a beautiful, glorious scene. Read it. It's fantastic. There's no tears. There's no death. There's no mourning, no pain. There's not even the need for a sun or or the moon. Why? Because God, his glory gives it light. The glory of God lights the whole place up. But this place is only only only. Did I say only? On only for those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Because Revelation 21:27 says, "But nothing," how many things? No things. Nothing unclean will ever enter it. nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life. And the only way to know is if you're in Christ. If you trust Christ. If you trust him to save you from your sin. You say, DJ, how can you be that confident? It doesn't come from me. The confidence of my salvation or your salvation doesn't come from Pastor DJ or any other pastor. And it doesn't come from you. It comes from Christ. And believing that he holds you. He's got you. He keeps you. Believing him and his promise. And the invitation is open right now to turn from your sin to Christ. That's how you know. How do you know if your name is in there? Cuz you know Christ. John says in his epistles, he says, "These things I write to you that you may know that you have eternal life." Not think you do or these things I write to you so hopefully you got eternal life. No. John's just as confident. Why? Cuz his confidence is not in himself. Oh, I'm the Apostle John and I say so. No, he's like because of Christ. That's why that you you may know that you have eternal life. And the promise is for those who put their faith and trust in him alone to save them. You're not saved by works. You can't earn it. Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace are you saved through faith. It's not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. It's not of works. If you're working your way to heaven, attending church to go to heaven, your name's not written in a lamb's book of life. Let me just tell you that, okay? Uh going to church doesn't save you. Baptism doesn't save you. Being nice and kind to people doesn't save you. You can attend cross church for the next 45 years till you the day you die doesn't save you. Christ saves you. You come to church and you serve God be not to get saved, but because you're saved, but Christ saves you. It is a gift. if you can work for it, it ain't a gift anymore. And God gives it to you and he offers it to you in his son Jesus Christ. We have wonderful examples of that this morning as we have uh as we move into baptism uh here, those who've placed their faith in Jesus Christ. But if you want to talk to me after this, you know, we can talk after service about what it means to have your name written in the book of life. All that means is knowing Christ as your savior. That's what that means. You can come find me afterwards. I'd love to talk with you about Jesus. I want to invite the worship team to come back up and be ready to go. And I want to invite um Angelina and Celeste um to meet me down here as we do baptism. All right. Come on down. and we're going to baptize Angelina first. So, a little bit about Angelina and Celeste. I got a um uh Chastity had reached out to me and said, "Hey, come come right around here to this side." Um do you want to kick off your Crocs? There we go. Um Chidity had reached out and said, "Angelina and Celeste are interested in baptism. Can we meet?" Um, if you know anything about me, I like to meet with those who are interested in baptism to kind of iron out a few things. I am passionate about what the word of God says about salvation and baptism. And a lot of people think baptism saves you. It does not. We get baptized out of obedience to Christ, not to get saved. And so I was meeting with Angelina and Celeste um this past um week in in the office and um we talked through the gospel first lay that foundation talk through the gospel and asked this is a summary of our meeting but asked if if they believe that if that described them if that if they're a Christian the response was actually no and you know what happened. We walked through the gospel, sin, the need for Christ, repentance, turning from sin, putting your faith and trust in Christ. And they prayed right in my office to receive Christ right there >> together. It was wonderful. It was wonderful. So, Angelina, if you want to step in on this side and facing the wall, if you want to climb in. It's freezing cold. Try it. Try it. Try it. I'm kidding. It's not. It's nice. It's nice. Uh, all right. If you want to come come on in and and sit facing this way or you can face that way if you want. No, I'm just kidding. Face this way for the pictures. I'm sorry. I almost forgot. Here. Can you scoot up this way? There you go. Perfect. You ready? All right. You want to cross your Okay. Here. Let me All right. Angelina, is Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior? >> Yes. >> Do you believe that he died on the cross for your sins and that he rose again on the third day, showing his power over sin and death, and that he has authority over your life? >> Yes. >> Well, upon your profession of faith, Angelina, I baptize you, my sister, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For we are buried with him by baptism unto death and raised to walk in newness of life. There's a towel. Here you go. All right. Now it's Celeste's turn. If you want to hang out right here, Angelina, that'd be great. Right here. All right. This is Celeste. Everybody say, "Hi, Celeste." She's she does not uh particularly like being the center of attention. So I said, "Well, we'll you'll be the center of attention for like a couple minutes, but I promise not to prolong it." Um but she too prayed to receive Christ right in my office. And we uh we talked the gospel and whoop, sorry. Um but yeah, you were you were the first to speak up to say, "I don't think I believe I don't I I did not know that. I didn't believe that and I'm not a Christian." And I was surprised, honestly, cuz sometimes you hear like the Yeah, that's me. Um, and we talked through that, but she was like, "No." And it was a very sobering moment. Um, honestly, and so we talk walk through it again, what it means to put your faith and trust in Christ. And she did. So, if you want to step in facing that way. All right. Celeste, you want to come come on? Sit down. Put your feet facing that way. All right. Celeste, is Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior? >> Yes. >> Do you believe that he died on the cross for your sins and that he rose again showing his power over sin and death and that he has authority over your life? >> Yes. >> Well, upon your profession of faith, Celeste, I baptize you, my sister, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For we are buried with him by baptism unto death and raised to walk in newness OF LIFE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S STAND as we sing our last song.