Rebuilding
Neh. 1:1-2:9
Introduction:
General account of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall after captivity of Israel
- Takes place after 70 years of captivity
- Ezra chapter one – Cyrus king of Persia started to build the House of God
- Ezra commissioned to build the temple in the 7th year of Artaxerxes
- Nehemiah sent to build the wall in the 20th year of Artaxerxes
The success he experienced even though he had never seen the wall and had no building experience.
He got with God, and God got it done! 6:15
Verses 1-3
Do you have anything that has suffered affliction, reproach, is broken down or burned with fire? Is there something that you need to build or rebuild? Have some burned bridges? Have you ever seen it built, do you have any rebuilding experience? A relationship? spouse, children, relatives, parents, church brethren. A Friendship? Neighbor, co-worker. Your relationship with God? Your reasonable service?
This passage is full of help for us who have no rebuilding experience!
Concern (verse 2) How much do you care?
Verses 4-6
Sat down – stop what your doing and focus [Ps.4:4] or stop what you have been doing!
Wept – [Ps.34:18] the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart
Mourned certain days – not a brief concern, this world moves so fast, hard to stay focused
Fasted – a cause worth suffering for, or paying a price
Prayed- way more than a few seconds – day and night
Confession (verses 6-10) Give it to God!
Verse 6 As always, confess your sin – Your fellowship with God is affected by your sin
Verse 7 Confess your part in the problem, not theirs only.
Verses 8-9 Confess the truth and promises of God, Nehemiah knew God’s words, do you?
Verse 10 Confess a desire to fear His name and prosper – Give it to God, Ask for Him to Act.
Commitment (Chapter 2:1-9)
Verse 1 Four months later, Still sad, had a burden that was not going away
Verse 2 Afraid, fear For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear will stop any building project.
Verse 3 Honest, no tricky plans where you manipulate the circumstances!
Verse 4 Nehemiah prayer – No surprise to God, you and Him have already discussed the facts, He opens the door!
Verse 5 Asked the king to let him build it! Huge step of faith, no backing up now – committed! Once committed, God supplies all the needs.
Verse 6 Granted Permission
Verse 7-8 Granted Provision
Verse 9 Granted Protection
Whatever you have that needs to be rebuilt remember Nehemiah’s example:
His Concern – His Confession – His Commitment
Someone may be here today that has no relationship with God.
Nehemiah’s example:
He was a captive- You are a captive of sin, “having no hope and without God in the world”
He had no knowledge or experience in building a wall – “What must I do to be saved?”
Concern – “What must I do to be saved?”
Confession – Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Commitment – by Faith
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.