Time to Get the Rubbish Out
Category: Repentance & Restoration
Key Passage: Nehemiah 4:10
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: August 13, 2023
One of our men, men’s prayer meeting, quoted that or read that over there. I think Psalm 43 about how he lifted me up, took me out of the miry clay, set my feet upon a rock and established my going. I love that. That’s a song really is illustrating that truth. And praise the Lord for Jesus Christ. We owe him everything.
Look in the book of Nehemiah, if you would, please. The book of Nehemiah. And Nehemiah, we’re going to start in chapter number four of the book of Nehemiah tonight.
How many got a nap today? You got a nap today? How many got a nap? All right? Well, probably about half of us. That’s good. Bad, you eat, and then you get a good nap. Now, come on, you know, and you gain about three pounds in the process. That’s the way it works, you know. And now, if you didn’t get your nap, don’t get your nap right now, all right? Okay, that’s not the time for it, you know.
Nehemiah chapter number four, and we’re just going to read one verse to really get us going here. We’ll go back to read a little bit in a moment. But Nehemiah chapter number four and verse number ten of God’s word. Nehemiah four and verse nine. Nehemiah’s one of those books you can kind of hide on you, you know. It’s right down to obtain Ezra, Esther, and all that, you know, it can do that on you.
Nehemiah chapter number four, would you please stand if you found it? If you haven’t found it, well, just look at your neighbor’s Bible. How about that, you know? And Nehemiah chapter number four and verse number 10. Nehemiah 4:10, you there? Amen? Good deal.
Verse number 10. In Judah—that’s the southern part of Israel, the Israelites, probably those that stayed there in that part—said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed.” Now, I think for the most part he’s talking about their oxen or their donkeys, the bearers of burdens. They maybe would load up a pile of rubbish on a cart and have an ox pull it off or a mule or a donkey, whatnot. I think that’s what he’s speaking of there.
And Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of the burdens is decayed.” They’re worn out. “And there is much rubbish.” Only twice in the Bible the word “rubbish” is mentioned right there, and earlier in the chapter, only in the book of Nehemiah.
And they’re trying to rebuild the wall. And Jerusalem had just been, I mean, the enemies had just wiped it out years earlier, but there’s still just much rubbish, much of trash left around. “And there is much rubbish so that we are not able to build the wall.” Now, we know the book that they did build the wall, actually, in 52 days. And even the enemies of God said that, the only way that can happen is God did that. And God did a mighty work there.
But this was a problem. And just a bit, I believe the Lord has focused on this thing: there’s much rubbish. The title would be: Time to Get the Rubbish Out. That was an issue for them, just God’s work going forward. They had to take care of the rubbish. There’s much rubbish.
Let’s pray. Would you pray that God would just, maybe in a real way, show us his righteousness tonight and help us get a glimpse of him tonight? Would you pray that?
Father, we live in such a sinful world. And, Father, sometimes I get used to just kind of standard thing, the rubbish. And, Father, would you help us to get our eyes on you, your holiness, your righteousness for just a bit tonight? And, Father, I pray that the rubbish of this world would seem more like the rubbish it is. And, Father, help us tonight to get the rubbish out of our lives. Lord, speak to us. Convict if need be, purge us. Lord, you work in our midst tonight, Father, please. And we’ll thank you, Lord, for what you do. Give me your words, your mind, to make your truth live for your people. And we’ll thank you, Lord, for what you do. Father, we ask for this in the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen.
Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated. I love the book of Nehemiah. It’s a wonderful, wonderful book. But really, the man Nehemiah, he was hundreds of miles away over in Persia, really the world power that day and time. He had a lofty position. He worked for King Artaxerxes; he was a king’s cupbearer. That was kind of like a cushy job. If you have that job, you’re kind of like set, you know, for life. It was a very trusted position. If you were the king’s cupbearer, it meant the king trusted you because of somebody trying to poison the king. They had to go through you, and you had tasted often before. And the king trusted you very much. You were not going to let anybody slip anything on the king. And so it’s just a very trusted, very valued, a very coveted position, if you will.
Nehemiah was set for life. I mean, he could just kind of sit back and drink sweet tea and everything. Life’s good, you know, life of ease, you know. And Nehemiah could have did that. But he had a friend come back from Israel, from Judah, from Jerusalem—it’s called the city of God. And he came back and he said, “Nehemiah, let me tell you how things are going back home in God’s country. Let’s just see, if you will, let me tell you how the work of God, if you will, is going on in our day and time. The city of God, it’s called. Let me tell you about it.”
And he gave a report to Nehemiah. I wonder all the wording that he used in giving Nehemiah that report. Earlier, 13, 14 years earlier, Ezra and some had went back and they had somewhat rebuilt the temple. It was nothing like it was under Solomon’s temple, but it was a temple. And God’s house was rebuilt. But now the enemies—and there were enemies; we’ll learn about them in the book of Nehemiah—they’re all in there. The enemies of God could just walk in any time and just kind of beat up on God’s people and hinder them and harm them, and they were living in fear. They were not people of faith in many ways because they had no wall, no protection.
And Nehemiah had this cushy job. He had it made in the shade with lemonade, you know. But Nehemiah, he got burdened about that. And it’s kind of like, well, how can I live in my sealed life, walls or sealed houses? Remember they’re talking about that when they’re building the temple. How can I just kind of take it easy and enjoy all my comforts when God’s work is in ruins? It’s a sad situation. And how can I just keep going on like I is? I got everything my way, but I can’t just sit back and relax when God’s work is not prospering.
And this man, he said, “No, the work of God and the city of God is more important than my life of ease.” And I’m very interested before. Did anything about it? He took four months. I imagine there’s four months and he fasted. And I don’t think he fasted the whole four months, but he fasted during those months. And he mourned and he prayed. I mean, he had a four-month long prayer meeting with God: “God, you’ve got to do your—you’re mightier than this, and for your city to be just laid in ruins, to no protection of walls. This is a shame. You’re too mighty, by God, for your work to be this bad off.”
And after four months, he went in before the king, very, probably the most powerful, humanly speaking, the most powerful man of the day and time. And he went in before him sad. Now, the kings of the East, like, they didn’t do that. You know where they’re sad when you went in there. But even if you’re hurting all over, you know, arthritis bothering every hip, you know, you got even hips you don’t—you’re hurting everywhere, you know—you still went in there smiling, you know. But Nehemiah went in there sad. And King Artaxerxes said, “Hey, hey, hey, you’ve never done that before. What’s going on?”
And Nehemiah said, “Well, how can I be smiling when my home country and the city of God and the work of God is just so sad?” And he said, “King, you know, it’s kind of like, I’m not trying to go against the King, but I’m burdened about this work of God.” And many think that his wife was Jewish. We’re not sure about all these sayings. But the King said, “All right, talk to me. What do you want to do?”
And Nehemiah said, “Look, King, if you give me your hand a blessing, I’ll go back, I’ll lead some people back. And God’s hand is on me, King. I’ve been praying about this thing. And if you let me go back…” And the King said, “All right, all right, I gave you my blessing.” And he even authorized much of the king’s resources to be used to rebuild the wall. And he said, “Set me a time.” And he prayed about it, set a time. And he said, “I’m going to give you a work leave for years, really.”
And he leaving the life of ease, and he goes back, and he leads some people back over to Jerusalem, the city of God. And when he first gets over there, for three days, he didn’t do anything. He didn’t go out there, “So let’s rebuild the wall.” Three days. He just kind of kept quiet what’s going on. And I’d select a few men, and at nighttime they would kind of view the city of Jerusalem. They’d travel throughout the city. I imagine there was tears shed in that little bit of just viewing of the walls and the city, and at nighttime they’d go around. Maybe they had lanterns, whatnot, and just walk around. And God’s work is just a shame. It’s so sad. And at nighttime, they’d view all the city and how it was just torn apart and just a sad situation of God’s people and God’s work, a sad reputation to the world. And three days at nighttime, that was what was to do.
And after that was over, they kind of viewed it enough. Nearby got the leaders together. He called all the leaders in Jerusalem there in the city of God, and he said, “Let me talk to you.” And he said, “Let me tell you, the hand of my God, your God, the hand of God’s good upon me.” And he told—I’m sure he told them about those four months of mourning and fasting and praying—“And I went in before the king, and King Artaxerxes, man, is a powerful king. He’s given us this blessing. He’s given us these resources, more than that, we have God’s blessing on it. And he said, we knew this thing: God can enable us to build the wall. We’ve got to build the walls.”
And the leaders, they began to get on board. It’s all right. All right, God’s working here. God’s doing something here. We’re going to follow you in this. And we got the king’s blessing on this. And so they began to get the effort together. By the way, it wasn’t just Nehemiah; it was a team effort. Oh, my goodness, you read, I think it’s chapter 3, and about all the different people that built different sections of the wall. It was a team effort.
And they start building. But sure enough, anytime you do anything for God, there’s going to be opposition. You just mark it down. This is just going to happen. I mean, just Satan’s not going to take it lying down. There’s just always opposition. That’s just part. By the way, don’t get thrown off. Don’t think it’s some fiery trial, some strange thing when it tries you. You know, that’s just going to happen. It’s just part of it.
And the opposition came, and there’s Sanballat and Tobiah, and these others, there’s just opposition. Let’s read a little bit of that. Chapter 4 starts opposition by ridicule. Look at verse number one, chapter 4, verse number one. “But it came to pass that when Sanballat heard that we had built, that we built the wall, he was wroth, took great indignation and mocked the Jews.” People get mad when you do things for God.
And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria and said, “What do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive stones out of heaps of the rubbish, burned on the other time?” Rubbish is mentioned all about right there.
Now, Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, “Even if that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.” They began just ridiculed them. You call that a work for God? You call that a mighty work? I mean, you’re not going to get money—you can’t. You got so much rubbish, you’re going to make rocks out of rubbish, and you’re going to do this work in a day? You’re not going to get that. There’s so much work to be done; you’re never going to get it all done. And even if you were to build a wall of the foxes, a little bitty fox climbs up on that thing, knocks it over. That’s what’s going on.
And by the way, you’re going to have ridicule when you do something for God. Do you just mark it down? Well, your convictions and standards—you don’t believe in doing anything for the church all the time—you’ll probably put money off. It’s just going to happen; it’s just part of it. Ridiculed. By the way, when you get ridiculed by the wrong crowd, you’re probably in good standing. I mean, you can tell a lot by an individual by their enemies. And if the world loves you ever think about you, probably something not right, friend. When the world starts ridiculing you, you’re probably doing real good. Amen, you know, that’s what’s going on here.
I mean, they’re ridiculed him. They’re asking, and I love this. Look what Nehemiah does about verse number four. He prays, “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised, and turn the reproach upon their own head.” This is some kind of prayer here. Look at this thing. “And give them for a prey in the land of captivity. And let them get devoured. And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee, for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.” He said, “Lord, that’s got to make you mad. These people are building and they’re ridiculing them. Lord, you’ve got to be angry at them.” He’s praying to God. I like his prayer. Pretty good prayer. Amen.
And look at that. Now, here, I love this. Look at verse number six. What did they do? They just kept building. “So built we the wall.” The ridicule—we’ll pray—we’re going to keep building, though. “So built we the wall, and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for the people had a mind to work.” I love that. Boy, by the way, many, many times talk about our church people over the years, people at Rutherford County Baptist Church, I said, “Boy, they have a mind to work.” Praise the Lord for that. I have so wonderful. Yes, you get God’s people that got a mind to work.
And a little sad thing, one portion, one verse, it talks about the nobles. They’re next to the head. Some of the nobles, some of the higher-ups, said, “Well, they’re not going to get involved in the work.” Shame on them. Shame on them. But praise the Lord, for the most part, people had a mind to work. Praise the Lord for that. Woo! I like that. They just kept building. I mean, just kept building the wall of God. And threats came and opposition.
But then verse number 10, we just read that, kind of a new opposition came. It wasn’t exterior opposition, per se; it was inside the children of Israel. Verse number 10, we read it, and Judah—after Israelites—Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish, much rubbish, so that we are not able to build the wall.” They’re saying, “We’ve got to get the trash out of the way,” what they’re saying.
Now let’s change gears for just a moment tonight. Y’all with me tonight? Y’all still out there? Let’s just talk about God’s goodness, what the Lord is doing at Rutherford County Baptist Church. I’m so thankful for that.
You realize God gave us an incredible spring this spring? Amen. I mean, each one bring one Sunday. It’s the first time we’ve had to put chairs out in an auditorium in years. Wasn’t that a great day? I mean, it was just awesome to see the church house full. I don’t know. I think it was 256 people came. And boy, just exciting the spirit. And Brother Dave Smith did a great job. And the Lord just really gave us an amazing spring. I feel like a little bit, maybe that each one bring one, God used that. Maybe he gets back on the offense. Amen. COVID’s done and all that. And boy, it just was a great, great spring. God gave our church a great spring.
And summer—summertime you go down in numbers. And praise the Lord, we’ve sustained in the summertime. That’s been wonderful. We’ve had transition, and that’s part of it. And I don’t necessarily like all those things, but we made it through transition. And God’s been very, very good to us. And, boy, I’m excited about the fall.
I mean, I’m looking, three weeks from today, service on the hill. Boy, I’m looking forward to that. God blessing it a great way, and I hope you’re already working and saying, “I’m going to bring somebody with me.” I think about a couple years ago, service on the hill. A couple that comes maybe ever once in a great while—I hadn’t seen them in years, I don’t think—and nobody had told them it was service on the hill. They lived down in Woodbury now, by the way, and they usually are here and smirred them. But they just showed up and said, “Wow, we’re having service back there?” “Yeah, we are. It’s a special day.” God brought you in on the special day, you know. That’s what God works on those special days, you know, and just God kind of showing you, it’s the Lord doing the work.
And I’m excited about service on the hill, and that’s been a great Sunday. I mentioned an immense prayer meeting tonight by October 22nd. We’re going to have a great day in Sunday school. I’m looking forward to that. It’s going to be like everybody coming to Sunday school Sunday. We’re going to work at that. It’s going to be a big day this fall. And we’re going to—every Sunday school class teacher is going to complain after that Sunday. They’re going to say, “We need more room, Pastor. Got a bigger room.” That’s what’s going to happen. Amen. That’s a good problem. Somebody say, “Amen,” right there. It’s going to be good. I’m excited about it.
October 22nd, go ahead and mark that down on the calendar. We’re going to get everybody we can to come to Sunday school. I mean, I’m looking for it. It’s going to be a great, great day. It’s going to be a good fall. By the way, anniversary Sunday in November, the Walkers. Remember the Walkers, Kevin Walker and his family, they’ll be with us on that day. It’ll be Roundup Sunday, amen, and we’ll have the carnival. Hopefully, prayerfully, we will have good weather. You never know in Tennessee. You know, whether they say, if you don’t like the weather in Tennessee, hang on for about a couple hours; it’ll change. Amen. You know, I remember what’s going on. But I’m looking forward to the fall, and God just blessing; he’s already been so very, very good to us, the Lord working.
I mean, I love it. One of our people this week was at Home Depot. And they began to just kind of just jail with a person that was selling them some appliance. They began to witness to him. And that person got saved at Home Depot. What about that? Amen. I just, I love people getting saved. We’ve had so many baptisms here recently. And praise the Lord, the one this morning. Not too long ago, had one in the morning and one at nighttime. Man, that’s just God. That’s God. God does that when the baptismal waters are getting disturbed. Praise the Lord for that. And we’re so thankful for God working.
The bus ministry had 49 on the buses this morning. Praise the Lord for that. God doing a blessed thing there. And the teenagers going out soul-winning for the bus ministry, and God working there. That’s a wonderful, wonderful thing. And our school—we only have 11 in the school. You said, “Well, that’s not much,” but we only had five last year, you know. I mean, had one classroom, one teacher, five students. Praise the Lord this year, we got 11 students, two classrooms, two teachers. Amen for that. We keep doubling. Oh, five or ten years down the road, we’re going to be in trouble, I’ll tell you what, now, you know. But I’m excited.
I mentioned already, but one of the moms of a student that about to put her child in the school, by the way, she’s from California. I thought about later on. I said, “Oh, my goodness, I’ve already met with her, me and Ms. Chisgar has.” But Sarah has. And I was talking about California this morning. Oh, this is not good, you know. And she’s a good lady, though. I think she’s fine. In fact, she moved from California because of what I was saying this morning, you know. And so she’s glad to be in Tennessee. But anyway, I’ve had to visit her from the school already, and just very excited about that.
And the property paid off, praise the Lord for that. What a blessing. That’s only the Lord. 1.3. By the way, 1.3 is how much we paid. You know all the extra fees? I was thinking about that here recently. Oh, my goodness, all the extra fees, the real estate fees. By the way, those real estate agents are getting rich off that property. You know what I’m talking about? It’s Shane’s hand, you know. And my 1.3, and then the interest on it. I mean, at first, all we could do is just make the payment. And wow, the interest. I remember the first year in my mind, you know, look, man, you know, I mean, money’s money, you know, it’s God’s money. So I’m thinking, man, do you realize how much interest we paid on that land? And how about what God knows, and God’s led, and God’s provided, and we’re just going to keep trusting the Lord. He can take that interest is true. We don’t have any interest. We’re paid off now, though. Amen. Debt-free. I just showed the men the balance over there, you know, and men’s prayer meeting, balance zero. Praise the Lord for that right there. Putting money back into the building fund. Hope we’re going to be working at building that thing up by God’s grace this fall also to get ready for the building, amen, you know.
But it’s exciting. God, I really believe God is doing a work, and I’m so thankful for what the Lord’s doing. And on the brink, on the brink of starting that building over there. I’ve been in God’s time. But Frank, just think about it for a little bit. Ever try to tell somebody how to get to Rutherford County Baptist Church right now? I mean, well, you go down Almondville Road. Well, it’s Nissan Drive, you know, and you go past the interstate, you know, and three lights—well, now four lights—and then you take a right on Poplar. What’s that? I’ve listened to our people. If anybody else has a better way to tell somebody how to get to our church, nobody does. I’ve listened to them, you know. And you take a right at that light on Poplarwood, the Church of Christ, that it? No, no, we’re bad-mouthed, you know. You take a right there, and then another real quick right on Seminary Road. Well, there’s two churches. Yeah, we’re one down on the left-hand side if you’re going that way. It’s just hard to tell anybody how to get there.
And I’m saying, you realize it’ll kind of change from a little neighborhood church to more like a city church. And I don’t say that so, you know, I say that so we can reach more people and more people get saved, more marriages helped, and more families built, and more children raised in God’s house. And, man, I’m just saying, hey, praise the Lord, what God’s doing around here. You know, a lot of churches as dead as last year’s supper, you know. I mean, praise the Lord, God’s doing, God’s moving, God’s stirring, God’s answering prayer, and it’s exciting to see.
But Satan’s not happy about that. Satan doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like it when the walls are being built. Oh, he didn’t like that. He’s going to bring opposition. He’s always busy. He doesn’t like it when families are coming to church. By the way, they’ve been part of our church for years, but what a blessing, Kyle and Kaylee and Matthias. What a blessing family is coming to church. And you’ve got the little ones. I love it, man, raising that boy just what God wants them to in the house of the Lord. It’s wonderful. But Satan’s not happy about that. He’s not pleased with the boys and girls riding the church bus and hearing about Jesus and getting saved and getting baptized. Oh, Satan’s not happy about that. He’s not pleased with that. Life’s being made right, and a church family—a wonderful church family—being built and loving one another. He doesn’t like all that, and the fellowship; he doesn’t like all those things.
You realize Satan—and not only that, but can I say this—God’s people, we have to deal with rubbish in our life. And that’s just part of it. Can I—I’ve said basically the rubbish was just trash in the streets there. But can I say all of us, all of us from time to time have rubbish in our heart and our lives? You said, “What do you talk about, Pastor?” Talk about just plain old sin in our lives. You said, “What hinders? What hinders the work of God and the walls of God being built?” Rubbish in our life, sin in our life. You say, “Preacher, is that what you’re trying to get at a little bit tonight?” Yeah, I’m trying to get that sin in our life, my life. Yeah, that’s what I’m trying to get at tonight.
If God is going to continue to bless and the walls are to be built and lives to be changed, friend, you and I, we need to make sure we’re getting the rubbish out of our life. Can you imagine what all God could do if God’s people got thoroughly right with God? Amen. Hey, we serve our mighty God. You believe that tonight? Amen. Oh, he’s a mighty God. Do you think God’s going to work? Do you think God—let me put it as, do you think God’s going to bless a mess? How about that? No, no, no. God’s plan is God’s people get right with the Lord and get their lives clean, and then God begins to work through those clean people.
How about you? Do you like to drink coffee in a dirty coffee cup? Well, that’s just little ants down in there, no big deal. We’ll just go ahead and drink out of the cup. Is that what you do? No. You think God said, “Well, I’m going to use those people. There’s a liar sin all over their lives, a bunch of rubbish, but I’ll go ahead and use them”? No, no, friend. He’s a righteous, holy God. I’m just saying, be a good night tonight. God’s been so good to just for just to stop for a minute and say, “Hey, I like to get the rubbish out of my life. Lord, is there any rubbish in my life?”
David said, “Hey, search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and if there be any wicked way in me…” I’m just saying tonight, be a good night for us to say, “Lord, do I have any rubbish? Would you get it out of my life? Would you reveal it to me? Would you show me where the rubbish is?” And Satan will love for us to have rubbish in our lives so God cannot work and he cannot bless. I like it. He loved that.
You know of rubbish that we all get from time to time? My head and a half is up on it too, friend. It’s the rubbish of pride. Well, I don’t—probably pride right there. We all battle that thing of pride. All this thing. And Satan would love it if God’s people had pride. Because here’s what happened. You know how Satan often attacks? If he can get Miss Shelby mad at Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Lewis mad at Miss Shelby—they’ve been friends for like, oh my goodness, 50—50 years. Long, long time. Amen. I don’t know how they’d be friends for 50 years or only 35 years old each, so I mean, I don’t know how that happened, you know.
But Satan loves to get God’s people fighting with one another. And I guarantee he’ll be after that in our church. But here’s the thing: there’s a Bible verse, Proverbs 13:10, says, “Only by pride cometh contention.” Amen. So why don’t I have fussing in my home? Why don’t I have fussing in my marriage? Because there’s some pride there, that’s why. Come on now. Oh, friend, listen, Satan would love for us to have the rubbish of pride in our lives. And God says, “I like to build the wall, but there’s rubbish there.” There’s rubbish there.
God’s able, but God’s people get sad. “I need to get rid of this rubbish out of the streets. There’s rubbish all over the place.” You know, it’s so common in a church house that somebody wants to be the center of attention. Over there in 3 John—has only got one chapter—verse number nine. He said, “I wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” Somebody just wants to be the top dog. Hey, listen, Jesus is the top dog, amen. That’s what it ought to be. But Satan will be working at that. And if we have the rubbish of pride in our life, oh, what a sad, sad thing.
You say, “What’s that?” Well, we don’t want to admit we’re wrong, and we all are from time to time. Pride. Pride. You know, when we’re critical of other people, that’s kind of us thinking we’re better than this pride. We all have this thing. The rubbish—we’ve got to get the rubbish out of this tree—the rubbish of gossip. Oh, my goodness, gossip will kill a church quickly. You said, “Pastor, are you seeing problems? You’ve got a problem?” No, praise the Lord, we’ve got a great church. I’m thankful for it, but we’re a church. Are you trying to solve some problems? No, trying to prevent some problems, amen.
But, oh, my goodness, you get people on the phone or in some corner talking and gossiping. “Did you hear? Did you know? You know, so-and-so.” You get all that. And, boy, that’s a bunch of rubbish. Instead of taking the rubbish out, piling rubbish in, maybe. Oh, no. Oh, my friend, Satan would love for us to have the rubbish—sometimes the rubbish of selfishness.
You know, one of the things that marks the end times, men will be lovers of themselves. One of the marks of the end times, over there in Second Timothy 3. And we just get so much about us, by the minute. If we get the mentality a little bit, “Well, we love our church family. It’s a wonderful church family. We’re good. We’re happy right here. We’re happy. And I don’t see that in us,” but I’m just, if we get that attitude, “I don’t want a lot of change; it has to grow, and all that stuff.” When we get over there, it’s going to be a city church, we’re going to have all kind of problems, and we just get—you realize it’s kind of us for—no more philosophy, and that’s about us, and that’s selfish.
What about that lost boy or girl that needs to ride a bus, and we have more buses than going to get saved when they’re? What about that person? What about that marriage that’s falling apart? They’re getting a good church, and God working their life, and God put that marriage. That’s what our concern ought to be. We cannot be us, us, us, us. Cannot be that. You’ve got to get the rubbish out. All the rubbish. Satan loves for there to be rubbish in our life.
Can I just ask you, are you harboring any sin? You know the verse, 1 John 1:9: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” That regard has to do with it. It doesn’t mean you don’t fall; we’ll all fall from here, but you’re regarding it. You’re harboring it. You’re holding on to it. Hey.
Hey, let me ask you, let me ask you: If I somehow could check all the movies you’ve been watching, what would come up? What about your music? I don’t know what you use nowadays. I’ve got Pandora, Spotify, all the rest of the—all the other “i-fies,” I don’t know them all, I’ll tell you. You can watch me, you can listen to music—watch music. You can listen to music any way you want to do in the world. I mean, they’re all over. Hey, what would be your selection, your music?
If I went to your refrigerator, if I opened it up, what would I find? What kind of bottle would I find in there? If I went to your workplace and I talked to your coworkers and say, “Hey, how is the language of Brother So-and-so, Sister So-and-so?” They said, “Oh, my goodness, some of those words.” How would your language be? You know, by the way, it’s amazing, cursing seems like one of those sins. When I use bad language, you get nothing from it. Just a bad testimony is all you get from it. How’s your language? I’m just talking about rubbish in our life. It’s a good thing for God’s people from time to time to say, “Hey, Lord, is there any rubbish in my life? I want to get it out of the streets because I want you to build the walls.”
Hey, how about on a computer? How about your history? What’s going on there? Is there rubbish in your life? You know, the Bible says the love of money is a root of all evil. That’s a pretty powerful statement. Root of all evil. Do you have just a desire? You just want money? “So I ain’t got no money, that’s why I want money.” Well, God’s probably not giving you money because you got a love of money in your heart. Come on now. It doesn’t say money is the root of all evil; that love of money—that’s the root of all evil. “Now, I just love money.” Well, get right by God and get rid of that. Amen. The root of all evil. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” and He’ll take care of all these things. He can handle that. Rubbish.
Satan loves it when God’s people have rubbish in our life. I heard—I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard of—they say raccoons, you know, they can be hard to trap. And back in the day before they had all the metal traps, the old hunter would go out in the woods and find a log or something laying down there, and he would carve out a hole, take his knife and take time, take a while, and carve out a hole, you know, just big enough for a raccoon to put his hand in there. And then he would toenail some nails in there, you know, sticking out in there. And then he’d take something shiny, just maybe a penny, a shiny penny or something, and he’d toss it in that hole.
And well, those raccoons are curious. Now, how’d a raccoon come along there and see that hole and see that shiny piece down there? And he’d reach his paw in there, and he’d grab that thing. And when he’d grab it, those nails, you know, he couldn’t pull that. Now, if he had just let go of it, he’d get his hand down. But he just had to have a hold of that. They can’t let go of it. And boy, they say that raccoon will stay there all night long, and he won’t let go of that. He’s got to have it and lose his head over it.
And sometimes as Christians are like that. We just got a hold of that. “See it? I will let go of that wrong friend. I want to let go on my language. I’ll let go on my music. I can do it. I want to my attitude.” Yes, all that’s true. And yet, you’ll never get your hand out of there. And the sad thing is the walls don’t get built because there’s rubbish.
Oh, friend, I think about a missionary. He said—he said, “It didn’t start a church. I took a church on the mission field.” He said, “We began to pray and fast and sincerely seek God.” That church is so dead, been dead for a long time. And I’m seeking God’s blessing on that church. And some of us just just seeking the Lord. And he said, “It wasn’t like we wanted to happen.” He said, “We thought God just began to blast.” But he said, “Actually, the more it seemed like the more we prayed, the more dirt came out.” And I’d have people visit my office, and I just was shocked at all the sinfulness. He said, “I just, wow.” And the more we prayed, the more God revealed it. And yet when God revealed it and it was taken care of, he said, “God began to bless in a great way.” There’s a church God put his hand on, blessed in a great way. Why? They got clean. They got the rubbish out.
Oh, friend, isn’t it a wonderful thing when God’s people get thoroughly right with God? God’s not waiting to hit you over the head if you got sin in your life. He’s waiting for you to come to him so he can cleanse you and get things right between you. What do you say over there? He said, “If we confess,” He’s waiting. I’m not acting like I got everything right. I don’t. I have to come and confess. I’ve got problems just like you. If you knew my problems, you wouldn’t want me preaching at you. Amen. You know, preaching really just one sinner preaching to a bunch of other sinners. That’s what’s going on.
But, oh, if I hide my sin, I regard, I keep the rubbish here, God can’t bless. But I bring it out to the light, oh, my goodness. Lord, I don’t want to try to justify my sin. I’m going to get my sin right for you. God can forgive. He’s faithful just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness. He’s a loving God waiting. He said, “Hey, come, let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Lord, the red like crimson, they should be as white as snow. He said, “Look, he didn’t say, ‘Stay away if you got sin.’” He said, “Come, let us reason together.” That’s the God you got. And you say, “I got rubbish.” All right. God’s waiting for you to come get it right. He’s able. You know, God’s just as able as ever has been. Yeah. Yeah, he’s able.
I love that other than Isaiah 51. He said, “The Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither is his ear heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face that he will not hear.” The sins are rubbish. God’s able to work. He’s able to work. Sometimes the biggest rubbish in our lives is unbelief.
Look, if you will, over in Psalm 78 real quickly today. Psalm 78. And we’re almost done. Psalm 78. And look in verse number 41. Psalm 78:41. This chapter is very much about Israel. God delivered them from Egypt. We’re studying about that on Wednesday night. And he led them through the wilderness over to the entrance into the promised land, Kadesh Barnea. And they had an opportunity to enter in. And remember they sent the 12 spies in? And those 10 spies just caused them to doubt and worry and fear.
Look in verse number 41, Psalm 78:41: “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and what?” And what’s the next word? “Limited.” Can we limit God? Yeah. “And limited the Holy One of Israel.” You know, one of the greatest sins we have, I have, is lack of faith. God said, “Won’t you enter in? Go forward.” “Well, God, I don’t know if you can do that or not. You can do it, but not with me.” That’s our classic statement. “You can’t use me.” Oh, yeah, God wants to use you. And yet when I say, “Well, not me, Lord. You can’t use me like that,” and we limit the Holy One of Israel. What a sad, sad thing.
An orator used to say, “I got a prescription for revival.” He said, “I’ve used it everywhere. It never has failed one time.” He said, “Let a few Christians—doesn’t have to be many—let a few Christians get thoroughly right with God. Not many. And he said, let them bind themselves together to pray for revival. Then let them put themselves together at the disposal of God for his use as he sees fit, in winning others to Christ.” He said, “It’s never failed one time.” What’s he saying? Get the rubbish out, and God will build the walls. He’s capable. He’s working. It was only 12 apostles, to remind you. It was only 120 in the upper room. It was just Paul and his little band of missionaries. They said they turned the world upside down when God’s able. We serve a reminding God.
Oh, tonight, and just just a bit, would you say, “Lord, I want to be right. Would you purge me? Search me, O God, and try me, and see if there be any wicked way in me”? Would you do that tonight? Would you just go to the Lord? “Lord, I want to get the rubbish out of my life.”
I love what David said in Psalm 51. He’s getting right with the Lord. In verse number 7, he said, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” It’s interesting, whiter than snow. Why did God put in there whiter than snow? Then I learned every snowflake is formed around a little bitty particle. There’s a little bit of dust, dirt particle, and that’s how the snowflake is formed around that. And God says, “I can make you whiter than snow.” Oh, yeah.
Well, we’ll just come to the Lord tonight and say, “Lord, we want to get any rubbish. Show us where the rubbish is. We’d like to be right. I don’t want to hinder your working in my family, my life, the walls being built.” Would you just for a minute do that?
Yesterday we had the rain. Boy, didn’t we get a downpour for a while yesterday? How about that? I tell you what, now, you know, I went to Lowe’s and, you know, inside Lowe’s that started pouring, you know, and…
There’s a lady I invited her to church many a time, and she knows me. She had a Bible question. We had a line of people behind us at Lowe’s, you know, and she’s asking me this Bible question. I can’t remember what it was. One of those you just put you on the spot, you know, and it’s like over there in, you know, the book of Jonah, chapter 1, verse number 8, you know, the Lord—what does it mean when he says “Lord” right there? And I’m like, “I don’t know.” I don’t know how Bible memorized, you know. Anyway, she’s a sweet lady, good lady. She hasn’t come to church yet, but anyway, she always—she said she would. She’s going to another church now, praise the Lord for that. But anyway, and I’m talking to her. She’s talking to me, you know, asking me these questions in the rain. I could just see it. Man, it’s starting to come down. And it’s like all of the bottom opens up, and it just, man, it’s pouring, you know. So I’m getting out of Lowe’s, you know, and anybody standing outside there, you know, I’m like, well, you know, I’m not going to melt, you know, an old guy like me. I’m going to run for it. So I ran out there to the truck, you know, and got soaked in that, you know.
And then I’m going to go to Walmart, you know, and take something back at Walmart. And so I went to Walmart. Well, I ran into Walmart. It’s still raining, you know. And Theo was there, and some other people were there. And I’m seeing people I haven’t seen. I’m inviting them to church, you know. And then later on I looked in the mirror. Man, my hair had been drenched. I thought, when I ran into Walmart, Brother Theo was standing right at the door. He said, “Are you all right, Pastor?” You know, I thought, why is he saying that? “Yeah, I’m good,” you know. And I’ve seen the mayor. I said, “Okay, now I know I was asking that,” you know.
And I was just pouring yesterday, and I wanted to get away a little bit yesterday afternoon. About the time I got home, summer alone there, and the afternoon later on in the day, the rain stopped. And me and Dixie, my dog, amen, we had a little time. And we went out. We caught the back forty and passed back forty out in the field over there. And it was just so clean, if you will, and fresh, because the rain had cleaned the air out. And it just seemed so clean and fresh. And rain gone, the sun was coming back out. And that’s the way it is when you get thoroughly right with God. You just feel so clean and so fresh.
And you confess, and you say, “Holy Spirit, show me any sin. I want to get the rubbish out.” And you have that freshness, that cleanness about you. Would you just take some time tonight? So, Lord, we’d like to get clean. We’d like to get fresh. We want your blood just to—we want to confess it, and want that cleanness to come back in our heart and life. Would you do that for a bit tonight?
Would you bow your heads? Close your eyes. I’m not going to ask you to raise your hand. I’m not going to do that. I’m asking you to say, “Hey, Lord, purge me. And would you make me whiter than snow?” You said, “Come, let us reason together.” I’m coming, Lord. Lord, you show me, O God, I didn’t stand in my life. I’d like to get it right. I’d like to see your hand move in my life, my family, church. Would you do that for a bit tonight?
Would you please stand right where you are? Would you please stand? We’re going to have word of prayer. Would you spend some time to the Lord tonight? You’d be obedient to him. Would you do that? Father, thank you that you don’t leave us to take care of the rubbish on our own. Lord, you come and you enable us and you help us. And through your shed blood, you give us the power to get the rubbish out. Lord, thank you. Your people there in Jerusalem, you did empower them; 52 days a wall built. Lord, I pray that your plan will be fulfilled in our lives. Bless us tonight. Father, help us to deal with the rubbish. And, Lord, would you clean us like a fresh field after the rain? Well, thank you, Lord, for what you do. Father, we ask for these things in the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen.
Would you spend some time to the Lord tonight as we sing? Would you just come to the altar, do it if you’d be obedient? Would you spend some time? “Lord, cleanse me.” “Would you cleanse me?”
I said, “Preacher, I don’t want conviction.” That’s a bad sign. No, that’s a good sign. If I never have conviction, that’s a bad sign. Because we’re falling people; we mess up, and I ought to have conviction from time to time. If I just never feel the tug of God, something’s not right. It’s a good thing if you feel the tug of God. Say, “Thank you, Lord, for that. I want to respond right. I want to be clean. I want you to be able to build the walls in my life.” Would you spend some time?
“Search me, O God, know my heart; try me, know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me.” Would you do that as we sing another verse? “All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee. Fill with Thy love my being, fall, I surrender.”
Glad you’re in church on a Sunday night. Thrilled to see you here tonight. And praise the Lord, we have a loving God. He’s not here beating you over the head. He’s here, “Hey, come over here. We’ll take care of the rubbish together.” And they did, and the wall was rebuilt in 52 days. Everybody said God did that right there. But they did have to deal with the rubbish, and God empowers you; he enables you to take care of those things. Glad you’re in church tonight. Praise God for you. Great, great people. Looking forward to the fall. I’m excited, man. I’m just—I’m ready for it to come. Amen. Looking forward to it. And service on the hill is going to be great. October 22nd, and harvest—Harvest Anniversary Sunday in November. That’s going to be good. Just excited about what God is doing and what he is going to do. Glad you’re part of it. Love you. Praise God for great people. What a great—good to have Marvin back with us tonight to be a part of it all. That’s awesome. Praise the Lord for that. And good to have Steve Page back with us. He was—he was a sick man, and glad he’s better. Good to have him back with us, and praise the Lord for Brother Steve Page. Would you dismiss us tonight with a word of prayer?
Original File: Time to Get the Rubbish Out - Pastor Paul Chisgar - Sunday PM 08132023