Arise and Build
Notes
Transcript
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
Scatter piles of bricks around the sanctuary.
Title: Arise and Build
Nehemiah was a man who had a great purpose resting on him!
Almost 150 years before Nehemiah, Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem - the city has lain in waist all that time.
And a burden fell on him to do something about it!
Burdens are not fair… God don’t take in account everything that is going on in your life!
He had a lot of good things going for him…
He had a great job, an assured future and could had spent the rest of his days happy and content where he was.
But God begins to deal with him about Jerusalem and rebuilding the walls.
You can read the story of how he was released from service to go and accomplish this great purpose that God had for him.
In 2:11 he arrives and find it was worst than he thought…
Current culture was fear, doubt, poverty
And creating a new culture of faith and purpose was now his responsibility!
He has the permission from the king, finances from the king… everything he needs.
For three days he rides around the city and sees that everything in in ruin.
Piles of rocks and debris everywhere…
Now his job is to turn chaos into purpose!
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
All of a sudden 150 years of chaos didn’t matter!
All of a sudden fear began to loose its hold on them!
We can do this!
We find these moments all throughout the Word of God…
Moments where everything changes!
I am reminded of Joshua and Caleb
Looking at everything that they had against them and saying “We are well able to possess the land!”.
Let’s go up and take the land!
What was the difference between Num14 and Neh 2?
The people responded in fear to Joshua, Caleb and Moses.
In Nehemiah the people responded in faith!
The people of Nehemiah said “let’s build the wall”!
Nehemiah 2:20 “20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”
They began to clear out the trash, pick up the bricks and BUILD!
When I look around the world I see ruin and destruction… sin out of control and live’s in shambles… Piles of chaos everywhere.
BUT I will rise and build!
The opposition was immediate and great!
Nehemiah 2:19 “19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
They were laughed at
Discouragement
Fear
Threats
Distraction
Slander
Manipulation
Nehemiah 4:17–20 “17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.”
Nehemiah 4:9 “9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Nehemiah 6:3 “3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”
Conclusion:
Ez. 37 Arise oh mighty army!
Nehemiah rebuilt walls, God rebuilds people!
Let’s build together!
In 2026 we will “Arise and Build”
We build:
Godly culture
Processes
Each other
