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TEXT: Nehemiah 3:1-32TITLE: PARTNERSHIP IN MUTUAL MINISTRY – GOD’S HONOR ROLL OF DEDICATEDWORKERSBIG IDEA:EVERYONE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SHARE OF GOD’S WORK– PARTNERSHIP IN MUTUAL MINISTRY GETS THE JOB DONEINTRODUCTION:All of Scripture is equally inspired … does not mean that all of Scripture is equallyinteresting or even equally helpful. This is one of those grind-it-out chapters providing a ton ofdetail. We just want to extract the higher level principles that will be helpful to us. Probably notpart of your Bible memory program.Charles Swindoll has preached effective insights from God’s Word for decades. He wrote a bookon Nehemiah (Hand Me Another Brick). He completely skipped Nehemiah 3.We are not going to skip Chap. 3 – In fact there are some valuable insights here for us.Look at map – started at the Sheep Gate in NE corner – worked around in counter-clockwisefashion – ending back up at the Sheep Gate = place closest to the temple where the sheep werebrought in to be sacrificed – All about access to the Holy God – the privilege we have ofworshiping Him and bearing a testimony to Him – that privilege must be protected and promoted6 PRINCIPLES OF PARTNERSHIP IN MUTUAL MINISTRYI. STARTS WITH CONSECRATION TO THE LORDMust start here: vs 1 “they consecrated it” – set apart to a sacred cause or serviceHave to start somewhere – Note that the high priest and the key spiritual leaders set the examplefor all of the people; such physical work was not above them; they fully participated and led thewayNot motivated from pride or selfish ambition or trying to establish a name for yourselfFoundation of all we do is Jesus Christ – otherwise walls will just fall down againPaul was careful regarding how he built – we are to follow his example1 Cor. 3:10-15Any project undertaken for the Lord must be fully consecrated to Him – to His gloryWe cannot do anything for the Lord until first our own lives have been set apart for the Lord todirect and use as He would see fitRom. 12:1 “Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies aliving and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship”Kidner: When it was complete, the entire wall would be dedicated in a ceremony of processions,songs and sacrifices (12:27ff).II. STRATEGICALLY FOCUSES ON THE AREA THAT MOST DEMANDS YOURPERSONAL INVOLVEMENT