First Presbyterian ChurchRev. Michael J. Imperiale

Salt Lake City, UtahJanuary 11, 2004

“A Serving Faith”

Nehemiah 1:1-2:9

Introduction

Throughout the year 2003, we often centered our attention on the renovation of this beautiful, historic building. For several years, members and friends of First Presbyterian Church realized that this building needed a major overhaul if the 132-year, vital ministry of this congregation was to continue.

Needless to say, a project of this scope took enormous resources and energy to undertake. And sometimes our attention easily got focused on the bricks and mortar of a building instead of on the Lord, his people and sharing the gospel in words and deeds. It’s important for us to see the building as a means of ministry for people. We worship together, study God’s word together, enjoy friendship and fellowship in Christ, and then find ways to serve the community and world around us. Hopefully, 2004 will be a year of refocusing on a serving faith, a church that serve, a community of believers who continue to grow in gifts and effectiveness of reaching out with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.

Ezra and Nehemiah of Old Testament fame knew the balance of physical and spiritual building in their own lives as well as for God’s people. They knew how to participate in the renewal and rebuilding of the city of God as well as the people of God. We can learn much from their leadership and from their example.

I. God First (chapter 1)

Nehemiah heard about the deplorable conditions back in his family’s homeland. From Persia, he grieved about the news of Jerusalem because he loved the Lord and he loved God’s people. The first thing he did in his upset condition was to fast and pray. He turned to God in praise, confession, covenant, and request. “O Lord, you are the God of heaven; you are the great and awesome God, loyal to your covenant and faithful to those who love you and keep your commands.” He recognizes the sins of his people. He knows that Israel did not deserve God’s grace. Yet he asks God for mercy and direction for an answer to the problem. God keeps his covenant despite our unfaithfulness. And Nehemiah was looking for his place as part of the solution.

You may remember actress Nichelle Nichols. She played Uhura in the original Star Trek TV series and in six Star Trek movies. She was one of the first Black women regularly featured on a weekly TV show. But she had many obstacles to overcome. Back then, a few studio executives were hostile toward her and her character. They often diminished her role by script rewrites and even withheld tons of her fan mail. After the first year, she was fed up and told Gene Roddenberry she was quitting to return to a successful career as a singer and dancer.

At about that time, she met Dr. Martin Luther King at an NAACP fundraiser. He urged her not to leave the show because she had already become a role model for many young Black women. “When you meet a man like Dr. King,” she later said, “it’s daunting. It humbled my heart, and I couldn’t leave. God had charged me with something more important than my own career.”

Not only did Nichelle Nichols become a fixture on Star Trek, she actually influenced NASA to hire Blacks and women for their astronaut corps. In 1977 alone, she encouraged 1,600 women and 1,000 minorities apply.

Like Nehemiah and like Nichols, sometimes God calls us to give up our own plans to pursue something far more important – the cause of Christ. That’s the only place you and I will find our God-given destiny, our God-directed purpose. Jesus said it this way, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33).

Now that we have rebuilt the walls of this church building, are you asking the Lord for where and what your ministry is in your family, in your work, in the church, in the community?

II. God Provides (chapter two)

Nehemiah was the faithful cupbearer for the king of Persia Artaxerxes as he assured the safety of the king’s food and drink. Noticing Nehemiah’s sadness, the king asked about it. After hearing about the problems in Jerusalem, the king surprisingly asks, “What is it you want?”

What a great question! When, if ever, has God put something “in your heart” as with Nehemiah “to do for” someone? Are you passionate about doing something good for others because you love the Lord and his people? What would you say if a rich and powerful person asked you, “What is it you want?”

Nehemiah asked the king and queen to send him to Judah so he could direct this massive project of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. After discussing the details, he not only got royal permission but support for his trip and work.

“What is it you want?” I would want my brothers and sister (7 of them) and their families to come to a saving knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. I would want members and friends of our congregation to grow in their love for God and their every-day life of this serving faith. I would want people in Salt Lake City who are hungry or homeless, people who are jobless or lacking in direction, people whose lives seem empty and without hope to find the resources they need to have their lives turned around for good through the love and compassion of Christ and his people. I would want as many people in the two-thirds world to find life and hope through agricultural aid, medical treatment, education, economic opportunity through the gifts of time, energy and money of God’s people around the world. I’m sure my list and your list would go on and on.

I guess that’s why I belong to a church, a gathering of people seeking and following Jesus as we live in God’s grace, working together in this world not only with the permission of the King of glory, but also with his provision and support.

Nehemiah achieved what anyone would call a success. As an exiled Jew, he had become a high-level politician in Persia. He found his heart broken by reports of the conditions in Jerusalem. He went on to organize and supervise the rebuilding of its broken down walls. Nehemiah’s service was God-drenched, flowing out of his ongoing relationship with the Lord. He wept over the destruction of God’s people; he prayed with a confessional yet eager heart; he investigated the details and discussed the problems with powerful people who understood such things. His zeal for the Lord and his ministry for service are terrific examples for us to follow.

The Heber Valley Historic Railroad dates back to 1899 when this steam powered locomotive served the needs of early settlers. After highways replaced the practical use of the Heber Creeper in the 1970s, it became a tourist stop for railroad enthusiasts. Over 77,000 people ride the Heber Railroad each year now. Powering this train are a pair of 1907 Baldwin Steam locomotives. With water turned into gas, you may think that you see it above your whistling tea kettle or on your bathroom mirror. But the steam itself is a clear vapor between the hot water and the visible mist. At 212 degrees, H20 expands to take up more space than its liquid state. This explosive expansion, harnessed in a giant locomotive, is what powers this multi-ton engine along the Provo River. It’s an awesome, powerful force.

Just as steam gives power to a locomotive, so our zeal for the Lord gives power to a believer. The more we boil with zeal for Christ, the more power we have for service.

Conclusion

Here at First Presbyterian Church, your pastors and elders want to make many opportunities for serving the Lord available. Listed in the bulletin from time to time is a list of our elders who have oversight for various ministries in and through the church. Worship invites many to come into God’s presence through song, prayer, sermon, word and sacrament. Evangelism invites you to participate in the outreach of the gospel message. Christian Education offers classes for children, youth, and adults to learn and grow in understanding the Bible and how faith in Christ makes an important difference for good in every day life. Membership and Fellowship encourages supportive friendships with Christ at the center. Mission, Deacons, Stephen Ministers, and Outreach Committee are intentional about meeting the physical and spiritual needs of those in the congregation and the community who are having a difficult time.

With a love for the Lord and a heart’s desire to help others, I hope you have or will find your place in a serving faith. Yes, we now have a beautiful, restored building that we call First Presbyterian Church. Along with Nehemiah and Nichelle Nichols, I hope each person finds the zeal for serving people among the people of First Presbyterian Church and Salt Lake City.

Let us pray together.