Sermon Title: Rise Up: We Got This! Text: Book of Nehemiah 2:13–18 (NKJV)

Nehemiah 2:13–18 NKJV

13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

Rise Up: We Got This!

Introduction

The book of Nehemiah tells the powerful story of a man who refused to accept the broken condition of God's city. Jerusalem’s walls had been destroyed for over 140 years. The people had returned from exile, but the city still lay in ruins. The walls represented security, dignity, and identity. Without walls, Jerusalem was vulnerable and exposed.

Nehemiah was not a soldier or a builder—he was a cupbearer to the king. Yet God placed a burden on his heart to rebuild what had been broken.

Before Nehemiah ever laid a brick, he prayed, fasted, assessed the damage, and developed a plan. In our text, Nehemiah secretly rides through the city at night, examining the broken walls and burned gates. When he sees the devastation, he gathers the people and declares something powerful:

“Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem… Then they said, Let us rise up and build.”

And that declaration becomes the turning point.

Sermon in a Sentence: When God opens our eyes to what is broken and places a burden in our hearts, He also gives us the strength and the people to rise up and rebuild what has been torn down.

And church, during this Lenten season, we are reminded that God specializes in rebuilding broken things—broken lives, broken communities, and broken faith.

Point 1: You Must First Face the Reality of the Ruins

Nehemiah 2:13–15 “13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.”

Nehemiah did not rush into public speeches or grand announcements. Instead, he took a quiet ride through the city at night to inspect the damage.

The walls were broken. The gates were burned. The city was vulnerable.

Before you rebuild anything, you must honestly assess what is broken.

Sometimes we want restoration without examination.

But Lent teaches us the discipline of self-examination.

Lent is a season where we pause and ask:

What walls in my life have collapsed?

What gates have burned down?

What spiritual disciplines have fallen apart?

The Psalmist prayed:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart.” (Psalm 139:23)

Before resurrection comes reflection.

Before rebuilding comes recognition.

Nehemiah had to see the brokenness before he could lead the rebuilding.

And sometimes God will take you on a midnight ride through your own life so you can see what needs repair.

Point 2: A God-Given Burden Produces a God-Sized Vision

Nehemiah 2:17 “17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.””

Nehemiah finally gathers the people and says:

“You see the distress that we are in.”

Notice something powerful—he says “we.”

He identifies with the brokenness of the people.

Leadership does not stand above the problem—it stands within the problem.

But Nehemiah doesn’t just describe the problem.

He presents a vision:

“Come, and let us build the wall of Jerusalem.”

A God-given burden will always produce a God-sized vision.

During Lent we reflect on the greatest rebuilding mission ever:

Jesus came to rebuild humanity’s broken relationship with God.

The cross was God's construction project.

At Calvary, Jesus rebuilt what sin had destroyed.

Isaiah 61:4 says:

“They shall rebuild the old ruins.”

God is in the restoration business.

And just like Nehemiah, God is still calling people who will say:

“Let’s rebuild families.”

“Let’s rebuild communities.”

“Let’s rebuild faith.”

Point 3: The Hand of God Makes the Work Possible

Nehemiah 2:18 “18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.”

Nehemiah testifies:

“I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me.”

Before he talks about strategy, he talks about God’s hand.

Success in rebuilding never comes from human strength alone.

It comes from divine favor.

Church history shows us this truth again and again.

During the Civil Rights Movement, many leaders faced impossible odds.

But they believed something simple:

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

That same faith fueled the Black church through slavery, Jim Crow, and injustice.

We kept building churches.

We kept building schools.

We kept building families.

Why?

Because the hand of God was upon us.

Nehemiah reminded the people:

“God is already with us.”

And when people know God’s hand is on the work, courage rises in the room.

Point 4: Unity Turns Vision Into Reality

After hearing Nehemiah, the people respond:

“Let us rise up and build.”

Notice the language.

Not:

You build

They build

But WE build.

The rebuilding of Jerusalem was not a one-man project.

Everyone had a section of the wall.

Families built together.

Neighbors built together.

Priests built.

Merchants built.

Leaders built.

The work moved forward because the people moved together.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 says:

“Two are better than one.”

During Lent we are reminded that the body of Christ moves together toward the cross and toward resurrection.

Christian faith is never meant to be lived in isolation.

God rebuilds communities through collective commitment.

The Lenten Connection

Lent reminds us that:

Before resurrection there is reflection

Before victory there is sacrifice

Before rebuilding there is repentance

The cross looked like ruin.

But three days later it became restoration.

The broken Savior became the risen Savior.

The crucified Christ became the conquering Christ.

And because of that, we can rise up too.

Closing

Nehemiah looked at broken walls… burned gates… and discouraged people…

But he didn’t say, “It’s too late.”

He didn’t say, “The damage is too great.”

He didn’t say, “The people are too weak.”

Instead he said:

“Come… let us rise up and build!”

And I came to tell somebody tonight—

Your life may have some broken walls…

Your family may have some burned gates…

Your faith may have some cracks in it…

But God is still in the rebuilding business!

Because when the hand of God is on your life—

Broken things start coming back together!

Weak people find new strength!

Discouraged hearts find new hope!

And somebody in here needs to declare tonight:

Rise Up!

Rise above fear!

Rise above doubt!

Rise above discouragement!

Rise above what the enemy tried to destroy!

Because if God gave us the vision…

If God gave us the burden…

If God gave us the favor…

Then church I believe we can declare together:

Rise Up!

Rise Up!

Rise Up!

WE GOT THIS!

Because the same God who helped Nehemiah rebuild the wall…

Is the same God who raised Jesus from the grave…

And if God raised Jesus—

Then surely God can rebuild us.