Introduction: 
Today I’d like you to take a journey with me through the book of Nehemiah. If you don’t know who he is, you will by the end of my message. He was given an assignment from God, one man, to reboot the dream of a nation. Today, as the church, we are called to be a Nehemiah.

Title: Dream Reboot

Chapter 1

• The book opens after a remnant of Jews had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra. They went back to rebuild the temple of God.

• Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King Artaxerxes. It was a highly trusted position, during a time of war and treason. He poured the king drinks. 

• One day his brother and his friends came to visit Nehemiah. He asked how things were going with the Jews that had returned.

• His brother reported that things were not going well. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire.

• Nehemiah begins to pray. “God remember what you told Moses? If you disobey me, I’ll scatter you, but if you come back to me no matter where my people are I’ll put them back in place, those I choose to mark with my name.” Let the king be kind to me today.”

Chapter 2

• He went in to serve wine to the king. He asked Nehemiah, “Why are you sad?” This was his opportunity, though he was terrified. He proceeds The city of my family is in ruins and the city gates are down. 

• “What do you want?”

• Send me to Judah where my family is buried so I can rebuild its wall and gates. He went as far as to ask the king for letters to validate this quest. The letters represented the king’s orders for safe journey and provision of materials for the rebuild. On top of that, the king sent an army escort for safe travel.

• The enemies Sanballat and Tobiah heard what was going on, they became angry that anyone would come to help the people. They began to mock their efforts.

• Nehemiah arrived and had been there for three days before doing anything. He finally went out at night, assessed the damage and came up with a plan. 

Nehemiah’s Dream Reboot 

• 2:17-18 He went back to the people and said “Jerusalem is a wreck. Let’s rebuild the wall and set the city gates. Let’s not live in this disgrace any longer.” The people were eager to get started. They agreed and said, “Let’s get started!”

• v. 19 The enemy showed up. “Ha, what do you think you are doing?”

• v.20 Nehemiah responded “God will help us. He will make sure we succeed! You have no say in this!”

Chapter 3

• The rebuilding of the wall and gates begin. People jumped in and worked together.

• Why was the rebuilding of the wall so important?

• With no wall, the city was vulnerable to attack. They appeared weak and open for an enemy to get in. The thought was to build the wall only to half it’s height, to begin, and enclose it. This way if an enemy was going to try to get in, they would have to first scale the wall. They would have to work to get in. As they completed a portion of the wall, they then restructured the gates. The plan was to work till they were completely closed in.

• God had a dream for the Jews. To set them up in land flowing with milk and honey. He would bless them and provide all they needed. This is what they were fighting for. It was worth protecting. Nehemiah and the people were working to keep the dream alive!

Chapter 4 

1-2 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger, vilifying the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he let loose: “What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of make-believe?” 3 At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, “That’s right! What do they think they’re building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.” (MSG)

• V 4-5 How did Nehemiah handle it? He did not engage with the enemy but prayed instead.

• v. 6 The people kept on working, they were almost done, things were coming together, they had a heart to work.

Nehemiah 4:7-9 “When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well—that the breaks in the wall were being fixed—they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could.” (MSG)

• v. 9 The people countered with prayer and set a round-the-clock guard against them.

• They were working hard, it was a big job. The people were getting tired. Their spirit was weakening. Fear and Discouragement saw their opportunity to set in. 

Nehemiah 4:10 “But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We’re in over our heads, we can’t build this wall. 11-12 And all this time our enemies were saying, “They won’t know what hit them. Before they know it we’ll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!” The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, “They have us surrounded; they’re going to attack!” If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.” (MSG)

• v. 13 So I stationed guards at the most vulnerable places with swords, lances and bows.

Nehemiah 4:14 “After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: “Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” (MSG)

• v. 15-18 The enemies plans were frustrated. The people went back to the wall and went to work. 

• ½ young men worked while ½ stood guard.

• Military officers served as back up for everyone working

• Common laborers were to hold a tool in one hand and a spear in the other

• Each builder had a sword strapped to his side as he worked

• Nehemiah kept a trumpeter with him to sound an alarm; if heard, the people were to all gather together in that place

• “Our God will fight for us!”

• The people worked by day and guarded by night. 

• They slept in their clothes and kept a spear in their hand, even when getting water.

Nehemiah had to reboot the dream God had given to His people!

• You have one enemy, the devil. He has one goal in mind and will stop at no means to accomplish that task. He wants to kill your dream!

John 10: 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)

1 Peter 5: 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT)

3 Take Aways from Nehemiah 4:14:

1. Fear/discouragement – will intimidate, lie, stop your momentum and try to kill   your dream.

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT)

2. Mind – Your mind will need to stay focused on your dream.

Isaiah 26:3“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)

3. Fight – be prepared to fight for your dream.

Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (NLT)

Closing:

Nehemiah 4:27-29 When it came time for the dedication of the wall, they tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs, cymbals, harps, and lutes. 31-36 I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large choirs. One proceeded on the wall to the right…38-39 The other choir proceeded to the left. I and half of the people followed them on the wall.” (MSG) 

• What did the enemy say early on? “Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.”

• The enemy does not have the final say in anything concerning you and the things of God!

Do you need a dream reboot? If you are child of God, your dream is God given. Like Nehemiah, you need to fight for it. If you feel like your life is not worth a dream, God has one for you!

205 Billion Apps will be downloaded this year...

The most used app - Facebook with 2.3 billion active users

The average person has between 60-90 apps on their phone.

• They use on average 25 apps during the month

• They use on average 10 apps 96% of time

Most apps are deleted within a week...

• 77% of all apps are deleted after 3 days

• 90% of all apps are deleted after 30 days

Why do people download and then delete apps?

• Use lots more resources than expected ($, memory and battery)

• Don’t function properly - cause problems while using or to other experiences

• Don’t live up to their promises

• Interrupt - notifications, updates

• Vulnerable to dangers (bad material, spyware,

• Deceptive

Their presence creates a negative user experience, so they are deleted.

REALITY: We are far better at recognizing and deleting bad apps from our phones than we are at recognizing/removing bad apps that we develop during our life journey. But to become the person God wants us to be to experience all that He has for us, we have to participating in this process of deleting bad apps, because they are there.

Acts 8:21–23 (ESV) (Peter to Simon The Magician) ...your heart is not right before God.  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

The Setting Of Acts 8

Acts 8:3 (ESV) But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 8:4 (ESV) Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

• When bad things happen, God redeems them in the lives of believers for His and their good.

• I fully expect for God to use COVID for good!

Acts 8:5 (ESV) Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

• On of the original 12 disciples

Acts 8:6–8 (ESV) And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.  For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

• Words win over the mind,  but a demonstration of power wins over hearts.

• Words alone has to rely on a well crafted argument - information

• The church today has a lot of information, but little demonstration.

• It has crafted an argument as to why there is no demonstration

• Samaria already had a ton of information

  • John 4:16–18 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”  The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;  for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

  • John 4:19–20 (ESV) The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

    • John 4:24 (ESV) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship John 4:24 (ESV) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

  • John 4:25 (ESV) The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”  

    • John 4:26 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

  • John 4:29 (ESV) “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

• Leonard Ravenhill - “A man with an experience of God is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.”

• L. H. Hardwick - A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion.” 

It’s important for us to declare truth, but it’s critical for us to look for moments to see the power of God released.

• “THERE WAS MUCH JOY IN THE CITY - REVIVAL!

  • Revival is more the result of the positioning of people for God to move rather than the moving of God.

OUR LIFE APPS ARE WRITTEN ONE EXPERIENCE AT A TIME.

During the early stages of our life, every different experience becomes the lab in which we write the code for the app for navigating similar related experiences in the future. These include our interactions with:

• Friendships

• Money

• Family

• Loneliness

• Rejection

• People in authority: men/women

• Sexuality

• Discouragement

• Success

• Failure

• Self image

• Criticism

• God

• Church

APART FROM GOD, OUR APPS ARE FLAWED.

We have experiences.

We lack information.

We misunderstand.

We are deceived.

We get bad input.

We formulate responses.

We are prepared for a similar situation, incorrectly.

Acts 8:9–11 (ESV) But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.  They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”  And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

• His whole life  was based on deception for gain - magic

• A means to wealth and fame.

• He wanted this fame so badly that he lied and told them he was someone great

• He clearly began this as a young man - And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

• Everyone (least to great) paid attention to him  - self made rockstar

• We love to be deceived (magician, haunted houses, 

• We are so hungry to see greatness that we listen to people with the confidence to say, “I am GREAT!”

• “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” (supernatural, spiritual)

• Every culture without the power of God is hungry/thirsty for a replacement

• Ripe for a con: someone to convince them through deception of a replacement and their representation.

• Simon has developed his app for now and for the future!

Acts 8:12–13 (ESV) But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

JESUS SAVES, 

BUT OUR BAD APPS CAN LIVE ON,

Acts 8:17–19 (ESV) Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,  saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

If only our salvation meant that all of the bad code were removed!

Similar experiences trigger bad apps.

Functioning in a bad app leads to bad outcomes.

We get trapped as we revert to what we know instead of what God wants to do.

That’s exactly what Simon did!

Can you recognize the activation of a bad app in your life?

TRUST GODS CATALYST FOR  DELETING OLD APPS AND DOWNLOADING NEW ONES.

God loves you

He wants better for you.

He is unwilling to leave you as you are.

Discipleship is the process of having our flawed apps deleted and replaced with His new ones.

Life will bring along a catalyst to expose the bad app.

• Reading the Bible

• Listening to a sermon.

• Reading a book.

• The voice of the Holy Spirit.

• Spiritual leaders.

Trust the catalyst and allow the surgery to happen there.

The catalyst for Simon required spiritual leadership.

Acts 8:20–23 (ESV) But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

Can you trust your spiritual leaders to be the catalyst for transformation?

Acts 8:24 (ESV) And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Closing: 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV) Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Ezra 4:1–2 (ESV) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you...”

Isaiah 54:17 (ESV) no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed.

Today’s Goal:

• To challenge you to live your life, on alert, and guarded, watching for the weapons of the enemy, forged against you, and to have the wisdom to resist them.

• To challenge you to discover undetected weapons that have made it past your security but are causing damage, and to immediately eradicate them with a simple REBOOT, so that you can step back into perfect alignment with God and the BEST LIFE He has for you.

MALWARE, (MALICIOUS SOFTWARE)

• ENGINEERED - real people, behind the scenes, intentionally creating code

• DECEPTION - trick you into onboarding

• VARIANTS: a. VIRUS, SPYWARE, RANSOMWARE - onboard code, take something hostage and extract payment from you and those you are connected with.

• GOAL: your loss, their gain

The digital attack is real, but the everyday attack against the people, and especially the people of God and the purposes of God is very real. Consider this plot in the book of Ezra:

• (589BC - 2 Kings 25) Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem, broke down the walls around Jerusalem, and carried everyone to Babylon except the poorest of the land.

• (538BC - Ezra 1) God stirs Ezra to send people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the House of God.

• Ezra 2:1 - they return to their towns

• Ezra 3:1 - in the seventh month they build the altar, offer sacrifices and celebrate Feasts

• Ezra 3:8 - in the second year they begin rebuilding the temple

Ezra 4:1–2 (ESV) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.”

• “Adversaries”

• “Approached Zerubbabel and heads of father’s houses” - fearless

• “Let us build with you”

• “We worship God as you... ever since we arrived here back in the days of Esarhaddon”

• Trojan horse approach

• This is an amazing all out nuclear assault

• THEY RECOGNIZED THE THREAT AND KEPT FROM ONBOARDING MALWARE - Ezra 4:3 (ESV) But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

• BUT THEY MISSED THE OTHER VERSIONS OF MALWARE AND FELL PREY! Ezra 4:4–5 (ESV) Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. (unti. Artaxerxes)

There is a very real focused attack, engineered for your life:

• 1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) ...be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him...

• John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

• 2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

THREE TYPES OF MALWARE

VIRUS - SIN THAT STICKS

• you onboard code that infect your operating system, doesn’t shut down your function, but makes it problematic.

• Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) ...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely (easily encircles)

SPYWARE - STRATEGICALLY TIMED ATTACKS

• you onboard code that waits for the perfect moment, steals key information to steal your resources.

• Luke 4:13 (ESV) And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

RANSOMWARE - ALL OUT ASSAULTS

• You onboard code that seeks to lock it all down and take you hostage, demanding payment

• Isaiah 59:19 (KJV 1900) ...When the enemy shall come in like a flood... Isaiah 54:17 (ESV) no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed.

1. live your life, on alert, and guarded, watching for the weapons of the enemy, forged against you, and to have the wisdom to resist them.

2. To challenge you to discover undetected weapons that have made it past your security but are causing damage, and to immediately eradicate them with a simple REBOOT, so that you can step back into perfect alignment with God and the BEST LIFE He has for you.

Titus 2:11–12 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,