Today’s message is a conversation about Nehemiah and the story in the Bible about him rebuilding the wall and why this series was chosen to start the year.

“Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them. The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes. Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it. The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel. Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Winter Retreat: Locals 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭ 

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭30‬ ‭ 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭ 

““You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭67‬-‭68‬ 

https://www.bible.com/events/49551892

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 3 

Responding to resistance. 

Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.” 

To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again. 

As we continue in Nehemiah, we are looking at the middle of the rebuilding story to see the importance of a prayerful and practical response to resistance. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬ 

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” 

Whenever you are following the Lord’s plan of rebuilding for your life, you will face resistance. 

The first resistance we see here in the middle of Nehemiah’s rebuilding story comes from two enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah. They show up and are harassing the people of God, calling his plans and their abilities into question. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭6‬‬ 

Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 

Nehemiah made the resistance a matter of prayer and he kept on working. He did not allow resistance from enemies to distract him from the work God had called them to do. 

In verses 7-8 Sanballat and Tobiah round up some friends to come and stir up trouble, they were planning an attack against Jerusalem. Sandballat and Tobiah from the north, the Arabs from the South, The Ammonites from the east, and Ashdod from the West. Literally resistance was coming from all sides. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭12‬‬ 

But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 

Here in verse 10 we see that resistance to God’s rebuilding can come from things in the past. 

The people working on the wall are having to work through the rubble from the old walls that had been torn down years ago. 

It also comes from friends and neighbors as they repeat the threats they heard about from the enemy. Rather than being encouragers, they join voices with the enemy, adding their worry to the work. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬‬ 

Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” 

Nehemiah specifically sends people to work on the weak places, calling them to serve together with their families. 

He reminds them that the Lord is great and awesome- he will fight for them. And he calls on the people to remember who they are fighting for. 

Whenever you are in a rebuilding season with the Lord, it’s never only about you. You are working for your family and your friends too. Future generations will be impacted by your rebuilding. 

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭16‬‬ 

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. 

A wall 8’ wide, telephone pole tall, just over 2 miles long, rebuilt in just 52 days. This was nothing short of a miracle. 

From the middle to the end, with opposition from all sides, the people of God made it, and you can too. 

The big question for us today is simply this: How are you going to respond to the resistance? 

The rebuilding legacy of Nehemiah offers us a few practical tools and weapons to face our resistance. Remember the word BRICK. 

B- Balance. Rebuilding takes faith AND action. 

R- Remember The Lord. 

I- Intense Focus. 

C- Community Defense. 

K- Keep Going! 

       TEEN WINTER RETREAT

NEXT SUNDAY 9AM- 300 TEENS ACROSS STATE

•             THEY WILL WORSHIP THEN LEAVE AFTER 9

•             IF YOU ARRIVE AT 10:30 SERVICE-LOTS OF CARS

 BAPTISM SERVICE                

•             SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH- ONE SERVICE

•             10AM- CELEBRATION

•             EVERYONE TOGETHER

REBULDING                                      

•             SECOND WEEK SERIES ON NEHEMIAH

•             LAST WEEK INTRODUCTION ON WHO HE WAS

TIMELINE

•             FAR LEFT CREATION- THEN THE FALL

•             GARDEN – NO PAIN/SORROW/TEARS/WEEDS

•             FAR RIGHT- NOW

•             MOSES- 1000 YEARS AFTER CREATION

•             DAVID- 400 YEARS BEFORE JESUS

•             JESUS 2000 YEARS AGO

•             NEHEMIAH- REGULAR NORMAL MAN

•             LAST NARRATIVE IN SCRIPTURE BEFORE 400 YEARS

•             EXILE – JEWS ARE TAKE CAPTIVE BY NEBACHENAZER- DISPLACED MANY

•             DESTROYED JERUSALEM-CITY WALLS RUIN 140 YRS

•             NEHEMIAH IS BORN IN CAPTIVITY-445 BC

•             2.5 MILLION JEWS

•             PERSIAN EMPIRE BABYLONIAN (NEBACHANZER)

•             KING CYRUS SAYS LET JEWS RETURN JERUSALEM

•             WORKING FOR THE NEW KING-ARTEXERSES

•             CUPBEARER

•             NEHEMIAH IS 1000 MILES FROM JERUSALEM

•             HE ASKS HIS BROTHER HOW THINGS ARE?

•             NEHEMIAH IS BROKEN-WEEPS/PRAYS

•             NOT A CRYBABY JESUS WEPT- DAVID WEPT-PETER

•             CHAP 13- BEATS MEN UP/PULLS OUT THEIR HAIR

•             ASKS ARTEXES- CAN I GO HELP MY PEOPLE

•             WILL YOU FUND MY TRIP-LETTERS SAFE PASSAGE?

NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:6                                

   6. “THEN THE KING, WITH THE QUEEN SITTING BESIDE HIM, ASKED ME, “HOW LONG WILL OUR JOURNEY TAKE, AND WHEN WILL YOU GET BACK?” IT PLEASED THE KING TO SEND ME; SO I SET A TIME.”

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:9

   9. “SO I WENT TO THE GOVERNORS OF TRANS-EUPHRATES AND GAVE THEM THE KINGS LETTERS. THE KING HAD ALSO SENT ARMY OFFICERS AND CAVALRY WITH ME.

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:10

  10. WHEN SANBALLAT THE HORONITE AND TOBIAH THE AMMONITE OFFICIAL HEARD ABOUT THIS, THEY WERE VERY MUCH DISTURBED THAT SOMEONE HAD COME TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE ISRAELITES.”

 SANBALLET TOBIAH GESHAM

   THESE THREE MEN REPRESENT OUTSIDE OPPOSITION

OPPOSITION

•             EXTERNAL OPPOSITION- AKA “HATERS”

•             NEHEMIAH LEARNS NOBLES INSIDE- ALIGNED

DOESN’T REPRIMAND THEM FOR WHAT HAPPENED

SCRIPTURE NEHMIAH 2:17                          

  17. “THEN I SAID TO THEM, YOU SEE THE TROUBLE WE ARE IN: JERUSALEM LIES IN RUINS, AND ITS GATES HAVE BEEN BURNED WITH FIRE. COME, LET US REBUILD THE WALL OF JERUSALEM, AND WE WILL NO LONGER BE IN DISGRACE.”

MAP OF THE CITY

•             ORDER OF THE REPAIRS

NEHEMIAH IS PURPOSEFUL

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:18

  18. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE GRACIOUS HAND OF  MY GOD ON ME AND WHAT THE KING HAD SAID TO ME. THEY REPLIED, “LET US START BUILDING. “SO THEY BEGAN THIS GOOD WORK.

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:19

  19. BUT WHEN SANBALLAT THE HORONITE, TOBIAH THE AMMONITE OFFICIAL AND GESHAM THE ARAB HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY MOCKED AND RIDICULED US. “WHAT IS THIS YOU ARE DOING?” THEY ASKED, “ARE YOU REBELLING AGAINST THE KING?

CHAPTER 3

   3 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

•             of the goldsmiths-perfume-makers-

•             Shallum son of Hallohesh AND HIS DAUHTERS

•             22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests

•             28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs,

•             Sheep Gate-goldsmiths and merchants made repairs

22 TIMES- BEYOND HIM/NEXT TO THEM

OF COURSE THERE IS A LEADER- BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES A LEADER DOESN’T SHOULDER ALL RESPOBSIBILITY AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD COME TOGETHER AND GOD EMPOWERS THEM TO DO THE WORK

NEHEMIAHS NAME ISN’T MENTIONED HERE        

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:1

1.           WHEN WORD CAME TO SANBALLAT, TOBIAH, GESHAM THE ARAB AND THE REST OF OUR ENEMIES THAT I HAD REBUILT THE WALL AND NOT A GAP WAS LEFT IN IT-THOUGH UP TO THAT TIME I HAD NOT SET THE DOORS IJ THE GATES.

OPPOSITION

•             SOMETIMES REBUILDING TAKES A LONG TIME

•             WALLS BEEN IN RUIN FOR DECADES

•             NEHEMIAH GETS INFO- PRAYS 4 MONTHS

•             TILL HE GETS TO JERUSALEM- 4 MORE MONTHS

 ZOOTOPIA VIDEO                                           

•             I AM THAT BUNNY

•             LETS GO- RIGHT NOW

•             WAIT 8 MONTHS BEFORE WE LIFT A BRICK?

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:2

2.           SANBALLAT AND GESHEM SENT ME THIS MESSAGE:

“COME LET US MEET TOGETHER IN ONE OF THE VILLAGES ON THE PLAIN OF ONO. “BUT THEY WERE SCHEMING TO HARM ME;

SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:3

3.           SO I SENT MESSENGERS TO THEM WITH THIS REPLY:

I AM CARRYING ON A GREAT PROJECT AND CANNOT GO DOWN. WHY SHOULD THE WORK STOP WHILE I LEAVE IT AND GO DOWN TO YOU?”

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 6:4

4.           FOUR TIMES THEY SENT ME THE SAME MESSAGE, AND EACH TIME I GAVE THEM THE SAME ANSWER.

THINK THE ENEMY GONNA JUST COME ONCE OR TWICE?

THEY DIDN’T EVEN CHANGE THE MESSAGE- 4 TIMES

AFTER THIS HE TRIES AGAIN WITH DIFF METHOD

   NAME MEANS ADVERSARY.             

•             Satan comes from Hebrew means “adversary,” “accuser,” or “obstructor,”

•             describing someone who opposes or plots against another

DEVIL MEANS- THE SLANDERER/ACCUSER

•             REAL ENEMY IS THE SAME AS HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN

•             INSIDE OR OUTSIDE- OFTEN INSIDE IS WORSE

•             EVEN IF ITS IN YOUR OWN MIND  

•             DON’T BE CONFUSED ABOUT WHO YOUR ENEMY IS

•             IT ISN’T SANBALLAT/TOBIAH/GESHEM

•             IN EVERY GENERATION THROUGH TODAY-THE  ENEMY IS ACTIVELY OPPOSING THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

HOOVER DAM PICTURE

•             JOHN SAVAGE- STARTED 1931-FINISHED 1936

•             GRAVITY ARCH DAM- 726 FEET TALL

•             660 FEET TALL AT THE BASE

•             21,000 PEOPLE WORKED-100 LOST THEIR LIVES

•             REMOVE WEATHER ROCKS ON EITHER SIDE

•             POURED CONCRETE INTO SIDE WALLS-THICK BASE

•             ENOUGH CONRETE 2 LANE SF TO NYC-

•             GENERATES ELECTICITY IRRIGATES 1 MIL ACRES

•             LARGEST LAND MADE LAKE-

•             FLOOD CONTROL AND STORES WATER

OPPOSITION- EXTERNAL- OPPOSITION INTERNALLY

•             Harry Chandler/ Harrison Gray Otis (Los Angeles Times)

•             WILLIAM HUNT/Benjamin Moeur-GOVERNORS AZONA

•             DISCRIMINATION- NATIVE AMERICAN/HISPANIC

•             VERY FEW BLACKS

•             COULDN’T LIVE IN CITY IN BOULDER CITY

NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL- HE IS PURPOSEFUL

HE IS PRACTICAL

NEHEMIAH 4                                                                       

4 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”

 SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 4:10

  10. “MEANWHILE, THE PEOPLE IN JUDAH SAID, “THE STRENGTH OF THE LABORERS IS GIVING OUT, AND THERE IS SO MUCH RUBBLE, THAT WE CANNOT REBUILD THE WALL”   (RUBBLE IS A WALL THAT ONCE STOOD-THE PAST)

NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL

NEHEMIAH IS PURPOSEFUL

NEHEMIAH IS PRACTICAL-

•             Just because people are against you, doesn’t mean that God is.

•             Sometimes, obedience requires a fight.

•             Very few things God is directing will come easily.

https://www.bible.com/events/49548305

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus

Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 2

Lament, Repent, and Rebuilding

Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.”

To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again.

Over the next few weeks we will dive deeper into the story of Nehemiah to gain insight and encouragement for our own rebuilding story.

When Nehemiah hears that things have fallen apart, he gets busy right away, but it’s not what you migh think.

Rather than bricks and mortar, Nehemiah begins the work of rebuilding by slowing down and spending time with the Lord before he ever lifts a brick.

He starts rebuilding with prayer, confession, and lament.

Nehemiah 1:1-3

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. 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.”

The people are in great trouble and disgrace. They are ashamed of how it’s going, they are being harassed and heckled by their neighbors. The walls around the city of Jerusalem are still broken down and the wooden gates have been burned.

And this news is more than a deadline not being met, or a construction project failing. This news strikes deep in the heart of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 1:4

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

When it says he wept- It’s expressive of regret, disappointment, or bitterness. It’s ugly crying, ugly emotions, all expressed in the presence of the Lord.

It says he mourned- That is to show physical and emotional sorrow or regret. It has the idea of lament which is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow. He didn’t try to bottle it up inside, didn’t pretend he was tough and fine. He was honest with himself and the Lord about how he felt.

He fasted- He intentionally skipped eating so he could focus on prayer.

This critical work of rebuilding went on for 4 months.

Nehemiah 1:5-7

Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

As Nehemiah begins to put more articulate words to his mourning and grieving, he begins with worship.

He moves from worship to confession and repentance. Biblical confession is openly acknowledging the truth, admitting our sin and wrong, and ultimately seeing it through God’s perspective. It’s to agree with Him.

Nehemiah 1:8-11

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

As Nehemiah confesses sin, he turns and appeals to the nature and character of God as the great rebuilder of his people. He is calling back on the promises that he made to Moses, generations ago.

Nehemiah understands that God is a rebuilding God, and he is faithful. So Nehemiah’s prayers arent focused on his plans and what he wants- he is praying God’s promises. He has surrendered his desires and his plans for rebuilding to the Lord.

During this phase of rebuilding, Nehemiah did the important work of aligning his heart with the Lord. He challenges us to consider our response when things have fallen apart.

Will we rush into the rebuilding with our tools in hand, or will we turn to the the Lord for his rebuilding within us first?

This is the legacy of Nehemiah… Lament, Repent, Rebuild.