ORDINARY ORDINARY WORLD WORLD

CHANGERSCHANGERS

NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”When I heard these things, I sat down sat down and weptwept. For some days I mournedmourned and fastedfasted and prayedprayed before the God of heaven.

11/22/2014 – Geneva |

UN is stepping-up to pressure Philippines to act against corruption. In the latest joint report released by United Nations and Transparency International, Philippines remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and the most corrupt democratic country.

Pakistan, Somalia, North Korea, and Iraq are the only countries ahead of Philippines.

“Philippines has a dysfunctional government when it comes to corruption”, the report said.

The report listed the “Pork Barrel Scam” as the biggest single scam scandal in Asia in the last 10 years which involves an estimated amount of $222.7M (P10B). Further details reveal that an estimated 40% of the P2.265T 2014 budget signed by Aquino will likely end up to politicians’ pockets.

The United Nations warns Philippines that it will remove the country from membership if Aquino or the next president could not improve the country’s corruption level in the next five years.

“The UN warning is more serious than China stealing the Spratly Islands. Philippines will be a total useless country if UN decides to cut it ties with the lowly country”, US economist and political analyst Steve Graham told CNN regarding the report.

Transparency International on a separate report said that Philippines should tighten its grip especially on BIR and Bureau of Customs, two of the most corrupt Philippine Government Agencies.

“Being removed from UN membership is like losing a war on terror. This could impact mostly on Filipinos who are working abroad because they are one of the biggest sources of the country’s income. Having a dysfunctional government is like having no country at all”, Peter Garfield, Political Science Professor at Oxford University said.

NEHEMIAH’S TIME

• Government is broken.

• Morals are broken. • Churches are

broken.• Marriages are

broken. • Families are broken. • Many live with no

hope!

NEHEMIAH

• Cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia: Butler

• Lived in Persia—almost 1000 miles away from Jerusalem

• Lived in comfort—status, influence.

God uses God uses ordinary people ordinary people to do to do extraordinary things.extraordinary things.

THREE QUALITIES HOW THREE QUALITIES HOW GOD CAN USE YOU TO GOD CAN USE YOU TO BE ORDINARY WORLD BE ORDINARY WORLD

CHANGERSCHANGERS

SITSIT DOWN TO DOWN TO CRYCRY..

NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.

WHAT BREAKS YOUR HEART?

• Child abuse

• Bullied• Broken families• Physical/Sex

Abuse• Poverty/Hunger • Unwed moms, • Human trafficking • Heart Callous to

God• People w/no hope

SIT DOWN TO CRY.

Let it in. Feel the pain. Embrace the

burden.

Let our brokenness be Let our brokenness be the healing of others.the healing of others.

KNEEL KNEEL DOWN TO DOWN TO

PRAYPRAY..

NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)

For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

STAND STAND UP TO UP TO ACTACT..

NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)

but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Somebody has got to do somethingSomebody has got to do something—might as well be me.—might as well be me.

You can’t do everything—You can’t do everything—but you can do something.but you can do something.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

YourYour greatest burdengreatest burden often opens the often opens the door to your door to your greatest blessinggreatest blessing..

Don’t worry if you’re deeply bothered Don’t worry if you’re deeply bothered by something—worry if you’re not.by something—worry if you’re not.

MARK 6:34 (NIV)MARK 6:34 (NIV)

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassioncompassion on them, because they were like sheepsheep without without a shepherda shepherd. So he beganbegan teachingteaching them many things.

You can’t do everything—You can’t do everything—but you can do something.but you can do something.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION