INTRO:

• In part 1 (Ch 1), we see Nehemiah, a man of prayer.
• In part 2 (Ch 2), we see Nehemiah, a man of action.
• In part 3 (Ch 3-6), we are now going to see how Nehemiah inspired God’s people into action to rebuild the walls.

#1) WORKING IN UNITY (Chapter 3)

• The chapter begins with the people rising up to begin the rebuilding of the gates, then the towers and the walls.

Observations:

(1) Everyone, all classes and background, worked together. Men & Women!

(2) They focused on their higher calling to God… their primary identity as children of God.

(3) They were united and stuck together… next to each other. Not alone.

(4) They are forever credited and seen by God as it is written in the Book.

(5) A few nobles did not want to partake in this wonderful opportunity.

#2) OVERCOMING WITH BOLDNESS (Chapter 4)

Observations:

(1) We are called to a battle. When you choose to do God’s will, you will have critics and you will have opposition.

(2) The enemy will plot against you by attacking the church & causing confusion within the church.

(3) God fights for His children. The key is to pray for God to intervene.

(4) God equips His children to be warriors and worshippers.

#3) DISTRESS SOLVED BY SACRIFICE (Chapter 5)

Observation #1: Oppression

Nehemiah 5:1-5 NIV

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”

Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”

• We see (1) Financial crisis (2) Famine. (3) Corruption (4) Slavery

Observation #2: Taking Counsel

Nehemiah 5:6 ESV

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

Nehemiah 5:7a ESV

I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials.

Observation #3: Give Generously

Leviticus 25:35-37 ESV

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.

Luke 6:38 ESV

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

• Give what freely?
  • Love (v.27 & v.32)
  • Bless (v.28)
  • Forgiveness (v.29 & v.37)
  • Lend Necessities (v.30 & v.34)
  • Goodness (v.31 & v.33)
  • No Judgment/Condemnation (v.37)

Hebrews 13:16 ESV

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Leviticus 25:39-40 ESV

“If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: he shall be with you as a hired worker and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee.

Leviticus 25:42 ESV

For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.

John 13:35 ESV

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Nehemiah 5:9-11 ESV

So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”

Observation #4: Accounted Repentance

Nehemiah 5:12 ESV

Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.

Nehemiah 5:15 ESV

The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

Fear of God = your love & reverence to God and the desire to please Him and be like Him.

#4) RUMORS SILENCED BY PRAYER (Chapter 6)

Observation #1: The Luring

• Enemy’s Plan A— To lure Nehemiah into enemy territory and get him.

Nehemiah 6:2 ESV

Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.

• The plan of the enemy is to get you alone outside of Jerusalem (God’s House)!

• What is trying to lure you out of God’s House?

Observation #2: The Focus & Persistence

Nehemiah 6:3 ESV

And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Nehemiah 6:4 ESV

And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.

Galatians 6:9 NLT

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

• Here’s plan B… An open letter accusing him of corruption and seditious motives for building the wall.

Nehemiah 6:6 ESV

In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king.

Nehemiah 6:8 ESV

Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”

Observation #3: Fight with Prayer

Nehemiah 6:9 ESV

For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

• Plan A didn’t work. Plan B didn’t work. Here’s plan C… Hire a hitman.

Observation #4: Face your Dangers

Nehemiah 6:10 NLT

Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”

Nehemiah 6:11 NLT

But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!”

• Doing the right thing is always the right thing.

Observation #5: Discernment

Nehemiah 6:12-13 NLT

I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.

Prophecy…

            ◦ True Prophecy — Edifies | Exhorts | Comforts | Convicts

            ◦ False Prophecy — Divides | Discourages | Discomfort | Condemns

Joshua 1:9 ESV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 54:17 ESV

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

CONCLUSION

Observation #6: God’s Power At Work

Nehemiah 6:15-16 ESV

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

• It was clear to everyone else that the walls were rebuilt with the miraculous help of God. God brought His people home.

• Finishing the wall is just the beginning. There’s more that Nehemiah was called to.

• So what can we learn from Nehemiah in these four chapters (3-6)?

1) We are part of the redeemed family

• We will be known by how we are with one another.
• We must take care of each other.
• Give freely… love, blessing, generosity, forgiveness…

2) Opposition is silenced when we asked God to intervene

• Prayer is key.
• Pray for your family, marriage, finances, health, soul health.
• Many times, the things we are experiencing is due to a direct attack.

3) God has fought & will fight for us!