Protecting the Culture of the Church
Pastor Erickson preaches from Nehemiah 4, where the builders worked on the wall with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other, and says worship is what protects the culture of the church. He calls the church to guard holiness and Bible doctrine against a slow drift into the world's ways, to worship God with all their might like David, and to reach the culture instead of fearing it.
The message in 6 points
Worship protects the culture of the church
He says God impressed on him during worship that worship will protect the culture of the church. The church's culture is who we are, what we believe, what we stand for and what we do as a body.
1:08:08A tool in one hand, a weapon in the other
He reads Nehemiah 4, where Sanballat mocks the Jews for rebuilding the wall and the builders work with one hand and hold a weapon with the other. His assignment is to preach on protecting the culture of the church.
1:10:10The danger of a slow drift
He is thankful for the walls that protect his family: a pastor, the church, kids and youth ministry, small groups. Telling of a day in the ocean when he drifted far down the beach without noticing, he warns that a church not fully committed to its Apostolic culture will drift away the same way.
1:13:34We can only preserve what we protect
Israel let heathen culture in and was carried captive for 70 years, until Nehemiah returned and rebuilt the walls in 52 days. He says holiness, separation from the world and Bible doctrine must have spiritual walls built around them if they are to be preserved.
1:32:02The enemy despises worship
Sanballat mocks, asking if they will sacrifice, because the enemy hates worship, just as Michal despised David dancing before the Lord. He points to David as the great worshiper, with instruments, singers and worship in his tabernacle day and night, and says we worship for an audience of one.
1:37:10Build, defend and reach the culture
Back in Nehemiah 4:17, he says he must train his children and hold the sword of the Spirit over his family. He calls it a message of love, says true worship is what sets the church apart, and calls people to worship God on their own and to go win the culture instead of hiding from it.
1:56:19
In his words
“If we're going to preserve holiness and separation from the world, if we're going to preserve this great Apostolic Bible doctrine that we believe, if those things aren't going to be preserved, we've got to learn how to protect them, and the way to protect them is we gotta build walls around them.”
“Who cares what anybody thinks about your worship? You're only trying to please an audience of one.”
“We're not scared of what's happening in this culture. We're going to win this culture, we're going to reach this culture, we're going to win them to God.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Nehemiah 4:1-3
1But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2And 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 the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
King James Version.
Nehemiah 4:15
15And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
King James Version.
Nehemiah 4:17
17They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
King James Version.
Psalms 27:6
6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
King James Version.
Psalms 47:1
1O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
King James Version.
Psalms 134:1-3
1Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
King James Version.
Psalms 149:3
3Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
King James Version.
1 Chronicles 23:5
5Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
King James Version.
1 Chronicles 9:33
33And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
King James Version.
Psalms 122:1
1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
King James Version.
Psalms 27:4
4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
King James Version.
Psalms 84:1-2
1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
King James Version.
Psalms 84:4
4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
King James Version.
Psalms 84:7
7They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
King James Version.
Ephesians 6:12
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
King James Version.
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