Rebuilding Together #3: Faith in Reality
Opening: Living faith has power to connect between God’s word and reality.
Faith in Reality vs. Realistic Faith
“How is never a problem for God. How is God’s specialty.” (Andy Stanley)
Resting, Researching, Regrouping
I. RESTING
“We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days.” (Ezra 8:32)
Godly ambition vs. Selfish ambition
II. RESEARCHING
“I went out by night by the valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.” (v. 13)
“And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.” (v. 12)
III. REGROUPING
“And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me.” (v. 18)
a. People who would oppose
b. People who would cooperate and build
c. People who would not cooperate
“And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.” (3:5)
Closing: God’s promise always comes to fruition in reality.