I Need Strength
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As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
People matter!!!
When Jesus “saw” the people he had compassion…
The people were harassed and helpless, Like sheep without a shepherd!
Compassion: to be deeply moved (bowels) v. — to be affected deeply in one’s inner being, especially in that aspect (the bowels) characterized by sympathy and compassion.
Your compassion for people should affect you deeply!
People are hurting
People are lonely
People want connection
People are unfulfilled
People are in pain
People just need a listening ear
People need guidance
People need a push
Nehemiah asked a few questions
that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
I am asked them concerning the Jews (People) who escaped?
I am asked them about the (People) who had survived the exile?
I am asked them about Jerusalem? Jerusalem was the place where (People) lived!
People matter and Place matters!
And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Great Trouble: calamity (event) n. — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune.
Shame: shame (state) n. — a state of dishonor.
The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire!
Let’s get personal…
Nehemiah was in a position of power….
New place / New Space / No need to be connected to a group of people any longer!
But…. When your consumed with “yourself” you will miss your assignment!
Nehemiah was concerned with PEOPLE… The people was “His” people. They were Jews!
They were disinvested / socially, economically, and spiritually.
From a social and economic perspective; resources, attention, and investments have been systematically withdrawn or withheld from the remnant.
It was “Shame” - It was a state of dishonor!
When a neighborhood or city experiences disinvestment, the impacts on the community and its residents can affect nearly every aspect of life.
Economic Impacts
Economic Impacts
Job Losses and Unemployment:
Reduced Property Values:
Limited Access to Services and Goods:
Social and Health Impacts
Social and Health Impacts
Increased Crime Rates
Health Disparities:
Educational Disparities:
Psychological and Community Impacts
Psychological and Community Impacts
Decreased Social Cohesion:
Loss of Community Identity:
Mental Health Challenges:
Long-term Consequences
Long-term Consequences
Generational Poverty:
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
“As soon as I heard these words”
The 5 keys to bringing clarity to your assignment!
Fasting
Praying
Sit Down - Create a space for solitude (A period of reflection, self-discovery, or peace without the distraction of others.)
Weeping - was a natural and genuine expression of his deep sorrow and concern for his people and homeland.
Please don’t say real men don’t cry!
Mourn - Nehemiah's mourning and grieving were critical in acknowledging the past, addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of the present, and paving the way for future restoration.
Mourning is a major key to developing the programming or system to implement the solution.
God gives him a plan to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem…
News Flash!
You will always have opposition from people being upset at you trying to HELP people!
Nehemiah had opposition:
Sanballat the Horonite He is depicted as a governor of Samaria and a chief adversary of Nehemiah.
Tobiah the Ammonite He is described as an official or noble, possibly with some authority in the region.
Geshem the Arab His inclusion underscores the broader coalition of local leaders and groups.
They did not want to see progress take place… They didn’t want to see People or a Place to improve!
The Bible said that Sanballat and Geshem wanted to meet with Nehemiah but He knew that they wanted to do him harm!
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?”
And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
Nehemiah had an assignment to help people who were in need!
He also had an assignment to correct the foolishness!
Dealing with people will brings problems & FOOLISHNESS!
You don’t correct foolishness by entertaining foolishness, you correct it by focusing on the work in front of you!
We have to learn self affirmations!
“I am doing a great work and I cannot come down”
The reason why it’s great is because the “work” is not about me!
In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 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. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”
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.”
In leadership you will be confronted with “inventors!”
Inventing: to invent (falsehood) v. — to make up something artificial or untrue.
I hate to say it…. People do lie!
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.
The goal of opposers is for us to “drop the work”
For us to become discouraged
To become afraid
The opposition was not from the Devil but it was from people!
But God uses people to point you back in the right direction.
Nehemiah said… But now! After all i’ve been up against.
O God!
Strengthen my hands!
Hands represent the method I’m using to work the tool that I was given to fulfill the assignment for the people I’ve been called to.
Strengthen: Grow or make strong, prevail, have or show courage, seize, grasp, keep hold of!
God make my methods stronger!
God cause me to prevail!
God give me the courage to keep building!
God allow me to seize the moment!
God allow me to grasp new concepts and innovative ideas!
God allow me to keep hold of:
