NEHEMIAH, THE CUPBEARER TO GOVERNOR
…2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others… –Philippians 2:2-4
REVIEW
Last session, we talked about Baruch, the assistant to Prophet Jeremiah, a major prophet of Old Testament and a famous one in our modern day church as well. Baruch was an esteemed and influential person in his own right. But God called him to support the Prophet. He got weary and complained. God sent him a special word to correct his thinking and encourage him with what he had been given during those turbulent times of their nation. God’s response that we gleamed lessons from was: Jeremiah 45:5
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prize in all places whither thou goest.
Scriptural Account
1These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, …2Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” 4When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
An Administration of the Helps Ministry
Although I labeled this message an Armorbearer Training, it literally is for the local church. For at whatever level of growth we are in or whatever level we serve, servanthood is one of the main commands and ways of Christ. Armor bearing is an administration of the Helps Ministry. Even our beloved Buddy Bell who is affectionately called the Pastor’s friend described in one of his original books, his mixed emotions about being called to the servant’s message of Christ. He talked about how most people thought it was BOR-ING. But God began to deal with his heart and that’s where he’s been for the last 30+ encouraging the Body of Christ and the Helps Ministry. God showed him the need to encourage the Helps and celebrate the importance of their role.
My story and experience has been different I immediately related to his origin story. I too was concerned with how it would be received…One of my encouragement sources came from our First Lady’s commission to us to teach more about armor bearing so that more people could have a better understanding. The Holy Spirit would not let me rest about it and got downright indignant about it when I decided to put writing-the-message-down, after several heated events I decided to put the message down was when God stepped in let me know in no uncertain terms it was him desiring that another voice be added to the one person he had called ten years earlier…Hence a number books later, an eighteen year blog with hundreds of testimonials later. I can safely say it has been confirmed God wanted a revival of servanthood in his Body.
This session we feature Nehemiah, the Cupbearer and his promotion journey to one of the first Governors after the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in 52 days under Nehemiah’s leadership, according the book of Nehemiah. This reconstruction project began after Nehemiah, a Jewish exile serving as a cup-bearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes I, who was the son of Xerxes the previous king and husband to Queen Esther. Nehemiah received permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city’s walls. Despite opposition from local officials, the rebuilding was completed in a remarkably short time is the overview.
A few minutes earlier in our review, we mentioned Baruch had a little selfish ambition going on. And how God had to correct his thinking then he encouraged him with a special word about what he had been given and should be thankful for. Which is understandable for we’ve all been there if the truth be told. So, our first point starts with a couple of brothers called Sons of Thunder whose mother reminded me of another mother that a bit overzealous about her favorite son. The mother of Jacob who became Israel had a bit of that going on. I encourage you to locate yourself as we cover the topics. :
- Arguing About the Greatest – The Sons of Thunder John & James
Who’s The Greatest in the Kingdom?
…34But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.” 3
Matthew 20:23
“You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.” - Landing a spot in the Gospel as one of the Greatest
Mary became well-known not only for crying at the tomb which prompted a resurrected Jesus to stop by and see about her. But she was the same one who some days earlier washed Jesus feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. She broke open an alabaster box with an aroma so strong it was worth a year’s worth of wages and filled the room with its fragrance. The reactions in the room were just as strong that Jesus took up for her, rebuking them and commending her for being the only one who discerned to anoint him for burial in a few days. God used her mightily as the greatest at that moment. He said that wherever the Gospel was preached her name would be a part of it. - Serving the least of these? The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25:31-36 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. ‘” Whatever we do for the least of these around us — the vulnerable, marginalized, sick or impoverished — we do for Jesus. Jesus asked the question why did you not visit me in prison? Why did you not feed me when I was hungry? When did we see you Lord. His response was when you did for the least of these you did for me… - Washing Feet Principle and Symbol
John 13:1-17. This passage describes Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, as an act of service and humility, and uses it as an example for them to follow. Specifically, John 13:14-15 explicitly states, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you”. Also, it symbolizes true leadership - Greater Measure Principle
Philippians 2:3. It states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”. This verse emphasizes humility and putting the interests of others before one’s own. Jonathan knew the Greater Measure principle, John the Baptist with Jesus knew the greater measure principle, Elizabeth mother of John the Baptist knew the greater measure principle.
Remember in the kingdom of God and as his servants, we are honored, esteemed, highly favored and co-heirs with Christ. Jesus said to the early disciples and now us…
In summary, the lessons we discussed in this session, we discovered how to become the greatest in the kingdom. In the following principle, we observed the different responses to Mary’s spot in the Gospel wherever it’s preached. Then our encouragement to aim to serve the least of these. Finally, the principle and symbol of servant-hood and examine who we are applying the greater measure principle to in our lives.
I hope you got something out of today’s message to encourage you during the week.