1 00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:09,600 A reading this morning is taken from Nehemiah chapter 6. 2 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,480 As you're turning to the place, let me just explain because this 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:20,880 is the last Lord's day of 2025. I sought the Lord for a single 4 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:27,400 individual message that would seek to close the year and next 5 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,920 Lord's Day morning in the will of God being the first Lord's 6 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,200 Day of 2026. Then we will open the year with 7 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,120 the model text, and then after that, we'll return to our 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,360 studies in First Thessalonians chapter 5. 9 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:45,600 So I haven't forgotten about First Thessalonians, and I value 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,280 your prayers as we plan for the year ahead. 11 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,240 Let's hear the word of God, Nehemiah chapter 6. 12 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,800 We're going to read verses one through to 16. 13 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:09,240 Let's hear the word of God, Nehemiah chapter 6 reading of 14 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,040 course, from the King James Bible. 15 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:19,320 Let's hear God's word. Now it came to pass when 16 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:25,800 Sambalit and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our 17 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:30,640 enemies heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no 18 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:35,640 breach left therein, though at that time I had not set up the 19 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:41,120 doors upon the gates. Then Sanballat and Geshem sent 20 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:46,160 unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in someone of the 21 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:50,880 villages in the plain of Hono. But they thought to do me 22 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:56,880 mischief, and I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a 23 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,160 great work, so that I cannot come down. 24 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:06,000 Why should the work cease whilst I leave it and come down to you? 25 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:14,000 Yet they sent unto me 4 times after the sword, and I answered 26 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:21,680 them after the same manner. Then sent Sam Ballot his servant 27 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:27,320 unto me in like manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his 28 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,640 hand. For in was written, it is 29 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:39,200 reported among the heathen. And Gashmu saith it, that thou 30 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:45,800 and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thy buildest the 31 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:51,480 wall, that thou mayest be their king according to these words. 32 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,480 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at 33 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:03,760 Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah, and thy shall it 34 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,760 be reported to the king according to these words. 35 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,920 Come thy therefore, and let us take counsel together. 36 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:20,200 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as 37 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,480 thou sayest, but thou finest them out of thine own heart. 38 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:33,600 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be 39 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:39,360 weakened from the work, that it be not done now. 40 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,800 Therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. 41 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:50,040 Afterward I came unto the House of Sheminiah, the son of 42 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:55,480 Deliliah, the son of Mihapiel, who was shut up. 43 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,440 And he said, Let us meet together in the House of God 44 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,280 within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, 45 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,000 for they will come to slay thee. Yeah, in the night will they 46 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:12,560 come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as 47 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:17,040 I flee? And who is there, that being as 48 00:04:17,079 --> 00:04:21,279 I am, would go into the temple to save his life? 49 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,880 I will not go in. And lo, I perceived that God had 50 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:31,600 not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. 51 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,240 For Tobiah and St Balat had hired him. 52 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:41,360 Therefore was he hired that I should be afraid and do so, and 53 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:47,200 sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that 54 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:52,640 they might reproach me. My God, think thy upon Tobiah 55 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:57,440 and some ballad according to these their words, and on the 56 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:03,160 prophetess no Adiah and the rest of the prophets that would have 57 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:07,600 put me in fear. So the wall was finished in the 58 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:14,520 20th, 5th day of the month, Elu in 50 and two days. 59 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,280 And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard their of, 60 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:24,520 and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they 61 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:29,360 were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that 62 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,600 this work was wrought of God. Amen. 63 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,320 We know that the Lord will bless to us these 16 verses of 64 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:41,080 Nehemiah chapter 6. These are infallible and 65 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:45,880 inspired words, and we pray God's blessing to be upon them. 66 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:53,360 Now my text this morning is taken from Nehemiah chapter 6 67 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:57,240 and the verse 15. It reads as follows. 68 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:02,320 Listen to the Word of God. So the wall was finished in the 69 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:09,800 20th and 5th day of the month, ELO in 50 and two days. 70 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:17,000 Now I've entitled this message focusing on finishing the work. 71 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:22,960 We could add the words God's call to persevering obedience. 72 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:29,080 Now you and I are called to a life of faithful service to the 73 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,960 end. Now this Lord's Day finds us 74 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:37,840 standing and a significant moment because we have come to 75 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:41,880 the final Lord's Day of the year 2025. 76 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:48,000 And then a few days this year will pass into memory, with all 77 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:53,360 the opportunities for faithful service gone and a new year 78 00:06:53,360 --> 00:07:00,880 dawning, unknown to us but fully known to God will begin. 79 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:10,200 And in God's will, we should aim to be finishing the year well 80 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,800 and trusting the Lord for what lies ahead. 81 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,160 You see, the Lord. Days like this invite us to a 82 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,240 moment of reflection. Naturally, we look backward. 83 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:26,160 We ask this question, What kind of year has it been for you 84 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:31,000 personally? What have you seen accomplished 85 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:37,160 or finished for God? What sort of advancements have 86 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,280 been made for the good of God's Kingdom? 87 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,800 What work remains yet to be unfinished? 88 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,600 Now, as we look forward, we asked other questions. 89 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:55,680 What will 2026 unfold? You see, it's our 50th 90 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,560 anniversary year. 50 years ago in February was the start of the 91 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:05,040 children's ministry in 1976. It's also the 75th anniversary 92 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,200 of the commencement of the Free Presbyterian denomination. 93 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:13,480 And, and here's some questions. Will I be true and faithful to 94 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,680 the Lord? Will the Lord help me and 95 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:21,000 sustain me this year? What will God help me to be, not 96 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,560 when He's faithful, but successful in the year to come? 97 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:29,200 Now, these are all relevant and all very important questions. 98 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,960 And as I asked them before the Lord, the Bible meets us at this 99 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,400 very place with a timely reminder. 100 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:44,159 You see, our God is a God who finishes the work that He begun 101 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,480 over there in the book of Philippians and Philippians 102 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:53,680 chapter 1 and in the verse 6. We read these words, Philippians 103 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:58,880 one and verse 6, being confident of this very thing that he which 104 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,880 have begun a good work on you will perform it until the day of 105 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:07,400 Jesus Christ. Our God is a God who finishes 106 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:14,360 what he begins, and therefore He calls us, his people, to a life 107 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,920 of faithful service, a life of persevering obedience. 108 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,360 Not just at the beginning of our Christian life, not just in the 109 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,320 middle years. And the middle years can be 110 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,440 difficult. Not just in moments of 111 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,720 enthusiasm, when we we we feel a sense of joy and overwhelming 112 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,080 duty, but all the way to the end. 113 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,480 He that persevereth to the end shall be saved. 114 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,360 And here's a simple sentence. And Nehemiah 6 and 15. 115 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,840 And it carries A profound picture. 116 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,520 It carries A tremendous meaning. Listen to what it says. 117 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,040 So the wall was finished in the 20th and 5th day of the month, 118 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:01,760 ELO in 50 and two days. So the wall was finished. 119 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,320 You see, it not only speaks to me of the completion of a wall 120 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:11,480 in Jerusalem, but also to the key ingredients of doing a 121 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,680 successful work for God. It speaks of a life of faithful 122 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:21,200 service, serving God to the end of the task that He has called 123 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,040 us to do. Three things very quickly. 124 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,080 One, the priority of a finished work. 125 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:34,040 Notice the words here. So the wall was finished. 126 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,200 You see these words? So the wall was finished. 127 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,960 Come after 13 years of doing nothing in Jerusalem. 128 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:49,680 You see, after they'd built the temple in Ezra's day, you could 129 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:52,120 have walked around Jerusalem and what did you witness? 130 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:57,600 You witnessed piles and piles of rubbish and it remained that way 131 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:05,120 for 13 whole years till Nehemiah came, who had a burden and a 132 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,760 vision for the building and rebuilding the walls of 133 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,280 Jerusalem. So here's the picture. 134 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:18,840 For 13 years and more, the walls in Jerusalem laying ruins and 135 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:25,920 those broken stones, the lack of gates, were a visible symbol of 136 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,480 a lack of vision among God's people. 137 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:32,120 Because after they'd finished building the temple, got into 138 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,000 that house to worship, then the work stopped. 139 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:41,920 Nothing more was done for 13 whole years. 140 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:47,600 It was a symbol of disgrace. It was also a symbol of 141 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:52,200 vulnerability. It was also a symbol of reproach 142 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:57,960 by the enemy. It had lain this way for years. 143 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,360 There was no active leader for 13 years. 144 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,600 There was no team to gather around the leader. 145 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:10,520 Then when Nehemiah arrived in the scene, the task before him 146 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:15,720 seemed absolutely overwhelming. Seemed soul destroying. 147 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:24,800 If you look with me at the text, it says in verse one, and it 148 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:29,120 came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian 149 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,680 and the rest of our enemies heard that I had builded the 150 00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:35,160 wall, and that there was no breach left there in, though at 151 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:38,440 that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates. 152 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,560 See. Almost immediately when Nehemiah 153 00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:49,000 started this work of rebuilding the wall, opposition arose. 154 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,080 If you read chapter 6 very, very carefully, and I encourage you 155 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:58,160 to do it, there's four schemes here by the enemy. 156 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,360 They're suggested by a man called Cyril Barker in his 157 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:06,120 expositors Bible verses one to four there was intrigue. 158 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:18,080 Then verses five through to 8 there was innuendo, and then in 159 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:24,160 verses 10 through to 14 there was intimidation, and then 160 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:31,280 verses 15 to the end there was infiltration. 4 schemes by the 161 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:39,560 enemy, Intrigue, innuendo, intimidation, and infiltration. 162 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:44,960 All designed to stop the advancement of the work. 163 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,360 If you were thinking of verses 1:00 to 4:00, I could see the 164 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:58,320 headlines in the we we call it the Sumerian News. 165 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,240 Nehomios Nehemiah says no to or no. 166 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,240 That would be the headline. In other words, he rejected A 167 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,280 proposed conference on the Judean Sumerian border with 168 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,400 Gershom, the leader of the Arabs, and Tobiah, the leader of 169 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,520 the Ammonites and San Ballot and himself. 170 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:25,920 San Ballot sharply criticises Nehemiah refusal to cooperate. 171 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,960 The purpose of the meeting was to work on a formula for lasting 172 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,560 peace in the region. They they had tried this four 173 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,760 times. This is the fourth time Nehemiah 174 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,120 has turned down the request to discuss. 175 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,880 And this repeated refusal, it means that Nehemiah is going to 176 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,960 be responsible for the ongoing tensions and any violence. 177 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,080 And it rests solely upon Jerusalem and upon us, our 178 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,480 leadership. Isn't it straight out of a 21st 179 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,880 century playbook? That's what we read in our 180 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:59,880 papers today. You see, Satan targeted the 181 00:14:59,880 --> 00:15:03,400 leader. His aim was to discredit and 182 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,560 bring down the leader. And if the devil can weaken the 183 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,920 leader of the church, he'd cause damage to the flock. 184 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,200 I invite you. I encourage you to pray for me 185 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,960 as this year closes and a new year dawns. 186 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,280 You see, the devil comes with subtle deceptions. 187 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:26,840 The devil comes with sound bites, all designed to lure us 188 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,520 into a trap, all designed to get us to compromise. 189 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,440 The devil's not playing games. The Bible says be sober, be 190 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,800 vigilant because your adversaries are roaring as a 191 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,120 your adversary. The devil is a roaring lion 192 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,960 goeth about seeking whom he might have are first Peter five 193 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,600 and eight. You think of a young Christian 194 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,120 girl growing up in a good Christian home. 195 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,640 She goes off to university and maybe she's drawn into your 196 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,240 relationship with a, an unbeliever. 197 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:59,560 And this, this is a, a nice, handsome young man and maybe 198 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:04,680 he's maybe even preparing for a successful career in business. 199 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,120 He's many fine qualities, but he's not a believer. 200 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,120 He doesn't know and love Jesus Christ. 201 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,840 He's no interest in God or the things of God. 202 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:16,520 And that young girl is drawn in and then they end up getting 203 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,120 married and, and life is hard and difficult because there's an 204 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:25,080 unequal yoke there. What about those that call upon 205 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:29,960 us to compromise the gospel? I've heard people saying to us, 206 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,440 well, the Christian Church is not known for sound doctrine, 207 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,400 but known for love. And we should set aside matters 208 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,600 that we disagree on and come together and matters that we do 209 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,480 agree on. But what they're really asking 210 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:47,240 is to set aside the gospel, and that's what the charismatic 211 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,680 movement and the ecumenical movement, sadly, it's all about 212 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,840 the Roman Catholic Evangelical together movement. 213 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,400 See, let me put it this way. In Paul's day, there were those 214 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,960 who believed in God, the same God that Paul believed. 215 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,000 They believed in Jesus. They would say Jesus is the 216 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,000 Messiah. Paul, we believe that. 217 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,119 That's good, isn't it? Fantastic. 218 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,720 But what about the Gospel? Oh well, now you need to be 219 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:18,319 circumcised in order to be saved and Paul denounced that because 220 00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:22,119 anything that adds to the gospel destroys the gospel. 221 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:30,200 Satan is relentless. 4 times. The same intrigue was used with 222 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,640 Nehemiah and Nehemiah stood firm. 223 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,440 Why? Because he knew what God had 224 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,440 given him to do, and he knew that work was important for the 225 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:44,840 Lord's sake and for the sake and well-being of the people of God. 226 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:52,240 His aim, his great priority, was to finish the wall, to finish 227 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,160 the work that God had given him to do. 228 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,160 He was aiming to be faithful. Oh yes, he could understand the 229 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,520 attempts of distraction and compromise. 230 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,160 He he knew about the mockery of the enemy. 231 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,800 He knew about the threats of violence. 232 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:10,160 He knew about the false accusation, the innuendo. 233 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,840 You, you're just building the wall because you want to be king 234 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,480 and you've got false prophets lined up. 235 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,000 You're going to declare you to be king. 236 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,680 You see, it's all here. This intrigue, this innuendo, 237 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,960 this intimidation, this, this infiltration. 238 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:30,600 It's all part of Satan's scheme. It's all here versus 1 to 15. 239 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:37,760 It's all part of Satan's plan. And yet Nehemiah stood firm. 240 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:45,800 He stood unrelenting. His chief priority was to finish 241 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:46,960 the work. And what do we read? 242 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:52,600 So the wall was finished. And I thought, well, there's a 243 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:57,080 lesson for us at the year's end. What is our chief priority? 244 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:04,600 Surely our chief priority has to be to the glory of God by 245 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:11,320 knowing, serving, trusting, believing in Jesus Christ as 246 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,680 Lord and Saviour. Our chief priority as a 247 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,320 Christian is to be conformed to his image and character. 248 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,640 Our chief priority is to have a hard relationship with God 249 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,400 through faith in Christ and allow nothing to pull us away 250 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,880 from that chief priority. Remember Paul says in the book 251 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:35,000 of Acts in Acts chapter 6 and he he says there in the verse 4. 252 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,360 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the 253 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:41,760 ministry of the word. And we read in Acts chapter 4, 254 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,640 Acts chapter 2 and verse 42 a tremendous statement about the 255 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,560 early church. And they continued steadfastly 256 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,160 in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of 257 00:19:52,160 --> 00:20:00,520 bread, and in prayers, as we stand at the end of the year. 258 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:06,760 And pause and reflect. We can't say everything that I 259 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:12,800 had planned was finished. We can't say this year went as I 260 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:17,680 expected it to go. But we can't say this God was 261 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:22,200 faithful this year. We can't say God helped us this 262 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,040 year. We can't say God has sustained 263 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,120 us this year. We can't say God has not 264 00:20:28,120 --> 00:20:32,960 abandoned us this year. And as you reflect, let's 265 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,800 resolve to hear this call to be faithful. 266 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,920 You've maybe heard me saying in the past, and I ain't going to 267 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,400 make a statement here, I believe now it was wrong. 268 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:49,640 God has called us to be faithful but not to be successful. 269 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:53,520 I don't believe that's true anymore. 270 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,840 God has called us to be faithful to the blood in the book, to the 271 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:03,320 gospel, to Christ, absolutely, but he's also called us to be 272 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:09,120 successful. God calls us to be faithful and 273 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:12,080 successful because God has promised to provide all that we 274 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:16,680 need to be successful and has what do we need? 275 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,320 We need the blessing of God in our church. 276 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,840 Remember what we read in the book of Joshua and Joshua. 277 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:28,520 One it says, Only, be thou strong and very courageous, that 278 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,000 they mayest observe to do according to all the law which 279 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,760 Moses my servant command, that they turn not from it to the 280 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,320 right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper. 281 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,080 Whither so ever thy ghost Notice those words. 282 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,240 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but 283 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,640 they shall meditate therein day and night, that they mayest 284 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,080 observe to do according to all that is written therein. 285 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:51,240 For then with the book of the law in her hand and in her 286 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:55,920 mouth, then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, then shalt thou 287 00:21:55,920 --> 00:22:00,960 have good success. Is it not written in Isaiah 53 288 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,480 and verse 10? The pleasure of the Lord shall 289 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:08,520 prosper in His hand. And over there in Isaiah chapter 290 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:14,080 55, a tremendous statement is made about the word of God. 291 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:19,600 It says, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my 292 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,280 mouth, that shall not return unto me void, but it shall 293 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,320 accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the 294 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:30,840 thing whereto I sent it. You see, it's the gospel that 295 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:35,160 causes us to triumph. Again, if we quote Paul's words 296 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:38,880 there in the book of Acts or a book of Second Corinthians 297 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,880 chapter 2, he says this in verse 14. 298 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,440 Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in 299 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:50,120 Christ and make us manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in 300 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:54,560 every place. See, we're not just called to be 301 00:22:54,560 --> 00:23:00,440 faithful, we're called to be spiritually successful. 302 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,200 Our aim should be a faithful and successful work with God. 303 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:10,480 Our aim should be a faithful and successful work for God. 304 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:16,080 We should aim to be a faithful and successful witnesser of God. 305 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:22,200 We we should aim to wage a successful and faithful warfare 306 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,880 for God. So I think many churches have 307 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,760 lost sight of that. Churches that have 300 in the 308 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,160 morning and 30 at night. Here's the attitude of the 309 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,720 minister and the elders. It's not really worth it, is it? 310 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,240 Only a handful. Life is busy. 311 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,600 We're swamped with work, better with time home with their their 312 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,200 family. We can have a we meet and sit 313 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,400 around the table in the kitchen or meet in somebody else's house 314 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,160 and have a we Bible study and a we talk. 315 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,240 But what about the work of God? What about the witness? 316 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:57,360 What about the worship of God? You see, it's all connected to 317 00:23:57,360 --> 00:24:01,160 this, the chief priority of a finished work. 318 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:08,680 Very quickly think about the perseverance of a finished work. 319 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:13,560 See faithful service. So the wall was finished. 320 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:18,640 Underline the word finished there by Nehemiah. 321 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:26,360 And think of this. It requires a deep perseverance, 322 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:33,200 especially under pressure. Faithful service is not about 323 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,960 perfect circumstances. I'll tell you something, There's 324 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:38,400 no such thing as a perfect church. 325 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:42,880 And this church is not perfect, but it's about steady obedience. 326 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,840 Nehemiah teaches us the measure of faithfulness and service. 327 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:52,680 It's not how easy the task was, but whether we stayed at the 328 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:58,640 work until God said it was done. Think of the opposition that 329 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:04,880 arose, the intrigue, the innuendo, the intimidation, the 330 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:06,640 infiltration. That's all here. 331 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:13,080 It doesn't mean God is absent. It doesn't mean that God has 332 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:15,560 abandoned the work. No, it means that God is still 333 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:20,840 at work and the devil is trying his best to stop it. 2025, your 334 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,800 faith has been tested. And this year as it stretches 335 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:29,400 into 2026, trials and troubles will stretch you even further. 336 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,560 Maybe you'll reach the point where you're at what's in corner 337 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,000 and you'll say to yourself, I can't take much more. 338 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,040 These trials and troubles that came last year, you didn't 339 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:44,120 choose. They, they, they impacted upon 340 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:48,600 you, yet you're still here. You're still trusting in the 341 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,040 Lord Jesus Christ. You're still gathering with 342 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:55,000 God's people. You're still looking to him for 343 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,200 help and grace and strength. That's evidence of a persevering 344 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:01,040 spirit. That's evidence of God's 345 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:05,560 sustaining grace. Nehemiah's faithful service 346 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,160 didn't mean the absence of difficulty, didn't mean the 347 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:17,160 absence of hardship, wasn't the absence of blood, sweat and 348 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,360 tears. No, it just means that God 349 00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:28,120 didn't abandoned the work. It didn't mean that God's 350 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:34,720 calling has ceased. It didn't mean that the cost 351 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:40,600 hadn't to be met. You see, in perseverance in the 352 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,520 Finnish work, there has to be an objective in the work. 353 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:47,880 And and I asked this morning, what's your objective for 354 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:51,480 carried off FPC? What's your aim going into this 355 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,680 year's it closes and into a new year? 356 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:58,080 Do you aim to be faithful and successful in your Christian 357 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,520 life? Do you aim to see progress? 358 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:09,560 Oh yes, we want to see soul saved family gathered in to 359 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,840 Christ. We want to see the children's 360 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,240 ministry built up and restored to what it was even 3040, fifty 361 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,680 years ago. We want to see the church 362 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,520 strengthen numerically and financially and also 363 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:24,680 spiritually. We want to have a a deeper love 364 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:28,840 for Christ and and for the the, the the Saints of God. 365 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,320 We want to have a deepening of our prayer life, a better 366 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,640 knowledge of the Word of God, a greater hatred for sin, a hunger 367 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,720 for the advancement of God's Kingdom, a life of conformity to 368 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:46,200 Christ and the Gospel, a display of a willing OO obedience to 369 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,880 Christ, a willing desire to be holy unto the Lord, a life of 370 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,240 faithful obedience. Service. 371 00:27:55,480 --> 00:28:00,200 Not looking for loopholes, not looking to forsake it. 372 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:08,600 Is that the objective? See, I I know you'll agree with 373 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,800 me that we want the work also to advance materially. 374 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,080 There's a lot to do, especially in the outside. 375 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:21,160 There's lots to think about. But what do we want to see? 376 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,680 Are we happy and content like the Jews wear with the piles of 377 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,640 rubble for 13 years? Or do we want to push on? 378 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:32,000 Do, do, do, do, do we want to do it for God? 379 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,400 If we do, we have to believe, we have to have faith. 380 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,760 We have to trust Him. We, we, we, we, we have to do it 381 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:42,840 with the help of God. We'll not do it in their own 382 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,360 strength or power, but we can do it with the power and help of 383 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:50,080 God. We can see it happen, but it's 384 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:51,440 not happening unless we're willing. 385 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,440 It's not happening unless we're united. 386 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:56,960 You see, there has to be objectives. 387 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:03,000 The persevering spirit looks to set goals. 388 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,440 Not only has a priority, but there's a perseverance in a 389 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,880 finished work very quickly. There has to be obstacles. 390 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,560 What did Nehemiah face? I've already given you 4 391 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:20,120 Intrigue, innuendo, intimidation and infiltration by the enemy. 392 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:22,720 But those obstacles had to be overcome. 393 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,680 Those enemies, those obstacles had to be conquered. 394 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:32,040 And you see, even if it's the obstacle of fear, it has to be 395 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,920 overcome. We're to let go of our fears 396 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,400 because God is our refuge and strength, the very present help 397 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,760 and trouble. If it's a lack of vision, then 398 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,320 we've got to remember that the Bible says where there's no 399 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:44,000 vision, the people perish. And we've got to confess that 400 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,600 and say, Lord, I have no vision. I've lost it. 401 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,480 And I I want that vision restored. 402 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:53,440 If it's a lack of willingness, then pray Lord, help me to step 403 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,400 out in faith. If there's a weariness, and I've 404 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,520 no doubt that there was, you think of the daily perseverance 405 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:03,360 in the days of Nehemiah 1 stone on top of another. 406 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:10,240 The Bible tells us here in 52 days, on the 20 and 5th day of 407 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:14,000 the month, Elon, the wall was finished, the last stone was put 408 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,040 on. That speaks of dearly grind and 409 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,560 and you imagine people going to bed weary and then getting up 410 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:24,040 again the next morning and back at it again with a trial in one 411 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,760 hand and a spear in the other. That's the way they laboured. 412 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,680 See, 13 years had passed and they were saying maybe next 413 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:38,600 week, maybe next month, maybe next year. 414 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:43,520 But it was because of these obstacles, the rubbish, the 415 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:47,480 fear, the weariness, the, the, the, the lack of vision, the 416 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:50,080 lack of willingness, the, the lack of a leader. 417 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,480 These were all obstacles. They had to be overcome. 418 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:01,320 They had to be conquered. In that sense, you see a life of 419 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,720 faithful service. Folks, as I point this out to 420 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:08,560 you, it's not an easy path. There's not an immediate reward. 421 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:11,360 There's no freedom from trials and troubles. 422 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:12,840 There's no freedom from opposition. 423 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,640 It means continuing when the joy fades. 424 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,920 It means continuing when obedience to God is costing it. 425 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,760 It means continuing when even the outcome was unclear. 426 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,040 It it means continuing even when others leave. 427 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:33,440 As we step into the new year, we're going to step out on the 428 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,920 ground of a finished work because God already knows what 429 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,560 lies ahead. God already stands in our 430 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:41,960 future. And I believe God will finish 431 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:46,200 the work that he has begun here and begun 50 years ago because 432 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,560 he's got a plan. And we can entrust this year as 433 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,000 it closes and the new year to our faithful God. 434 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:56,720 Oh, the work will be hard, it'll be difficult. 435 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:59,400 There will be blood. There will be sweat and tears. 436 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:03,440 There will be opposition. Opposition will come from 437 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,520 unexpected places. But it's God that assigns the 438 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,200 work. It's God who sustains his 439 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,480 servants. It's God who will complete his 440 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,040 purposes. Our aim, I'm telling you now, 441 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:22,200 our objective has to be faithful, successful service. 442 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:25,360 Aim to be faithful and successful. 443 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,000 If you remember nothing else this morning, go out with those 444 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,320 two words. Aim to be faithful and 445 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:35,480 successful in your corner where God has put you, and in this 446 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:40,520 church that means praying when you don't feel like praying. 447 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,120 That means coming to the church or the House of God even when 448 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,200 you don't feel like it, because it's easier to stay away when 449 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:49,360 things are wrong. But when trials and troubles 450 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:52,240 come, the House of God is the best place for you to be. 451 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:58,640 These people trusted God 52 days, one day at a time and one 452 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:03,520 stone was set upon another until so the wall was complete. 453 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,320 I want to finish this morning with something else, not only 454 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,960 the priority of a finished work than the perseverance of a 455 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,160 finished work, but think of the picture of a finished work. 456 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:17,320 You see this wall that was completed It ties in to 457 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:22,360 something of the Lord Jesus said in John 17 and we read in verse 458 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,960 4, I have glorified thee in the earth. 459 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:27,360 I have finished the work which thou gave us me today. 460 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:31,280 The work of the Lord Jesus was completely different from 461 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:35,280 Nehemiah because he came to do a greater work, far greater than 462 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:38,880 building a wall. His work was the work of 463 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:42,200 securing eternal redemption. Remember what we read in the 464 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:45,680 book of Hebrews and Hebrews Chapter 9 and verse 12. 465 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,600 It says this neither by the blood of goats and calves, but 466 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,000 by His own blood. He entered in once into the holy 467 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,880 place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 468 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:59,280 It says in verse 24 of the same chapter, For Christ is not 469 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:02,000 entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the 470 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:05,280 figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in 471 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:08,400 the presence of God for us. Nor yet that He should offer 472 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,280 himself often, as the high Priest entereth into the holy 473 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:13,000 place every year with blood of others. 474 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,080 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of 475 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,440 the world, but now once in the end of the world, that He 476 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:23,360 appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, and as 477 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:26,679 appointed unto man wants to die. But after this the judgement so 478 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:29,840 Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them 479 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,800 that look for Him shall He appear the second time without 480 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:40,239 sin unto salvation. His work was successful, His 481 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:45,639 work was sacrificial, His work is sufficient, His work is 482 00:34:45,639 --> 00:34:53,560 satisfying. He finished the work, came to 483 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:57,640 put away sin, so that God can make you a promise, and the 484 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:00,560 promise is this, and your sins and iniquities. 485 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,720 I remember no more. And when you think of Nehemiah 486 00:35:04,720 --> 00:35:09,360 finishing the wall, let that wall project you to the hill 487 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:12,440 called Calvary. And you think about the Lord 488 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:16,760 Jesus coming to do a far greater work, the work of securing 489 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:21,200 eternal redemption for all who would trust him as Lord and 490 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:24,480 Saviour. Christ's work is finished. 491 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:28,320 He offers peace with God. He offers a full and free and 492 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:30,520 forever part He. He offers to adopt you into 493 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:33,320 God's family, give you the right that God is your heavenly 494 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:35,800 Father. He, he, He wants to indwell you 495 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:39,280 by His Spirit. He not only is God with us, but 496 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:42,680 He's God in us by his Spirit and in Christ. 497 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:45,000 We're secure. We're not trying to earn God's 498 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,800 favour. God's favour has already been 499 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:53,760 earned and satisfied through the life, the sinless life and the 500 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:57,240 atoning death of the Lord Jesus. That's why God could say, this 501 00:35:57,240 --> 00:36:01,080 is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased, hear ye him. 502 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:06,360 Christ's work was sacrificial sufficient, but it was also 503 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:09,920 successful and it's also satisfying. 504 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:14,360 Whenever you finish at work, you look at the job, whatever that 505 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:19,720 job is, even ladies cleaning a room in the house, you look in 506 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:22,680 and you, you feel good, you smile. 507 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:25,520 You're, you're saying to yourself, well done. 508 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:30,560 Well see, that's the idea behind the finished work. 509 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,960 The Father would say to the Son, well done. 510 00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:37,520 And the proof is the resurrection. 511 00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:43,480 It is ascension to the Father's right hand, the picture of a 512 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:47,200 finished work. I trust and pray this morning as 513 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:51,680 we close this year that you'd think about the call to 514 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:55,280 persevering obedience. And you will aim to have this 515 00:36:55,280 --> 00:37:00,920 priority, you will manifest this persevering spirit, and you will 516 00:37:00,920 --> 00:37:05,040 rest your all on the finished work of Christ.