Building Together: The Hand of God

Key Point: Sharing our story should point to His Glory

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1

Nehemiah 2:11–20

[11] So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.

[12] Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.

[13] I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.

[14] Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

[15] Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and 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 was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

[17] Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”

[18] And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

[19] But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

[20] Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

1. Building Up God's Church Requires Rest (2:11)

"So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. "

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.” Genesis 2:2

Jesus took time to rest. Rest is so important that the Gospel writers recorded these times.

Nehemiah made his way to Jurusalem. Some say that this journey could have taken a month to complete.

When he gets there he takes time to rest. I wonder if the number one reason why people in church (pastors) burnout is because

they do not know how to rest.

Some of you here at Emmanuel need to rest. It's ok. Take a break and rest. Imagine what we could accomplish with some rest.

I have to remind myself to breathe and rest. Like I have said previously there are things I want to do but I have to remember to rest.

Ken stopped by my house a few weeks ago and we were chatting and I was telling him how I feel like I need more opportunities with you guys to be able to communicate vision and all kinds of other things.

He quickly reminded me to chill and not overdo it.

2. Building up God's Church requires some privacy (2:12)

- You’re not just throwing out ideas that come to you or plans you are quiet and waiting

- Nehemiah kept his plans to himself even while accompanied by others.

3. Building up God's church requires a Private inspection. (2:13-16)

- Nehemiah was out there physically inspecting the Wall and formulating his plan

- For us we need to be in the habit of examining ourselves our sin and our spiritual condition

4. Building up God's Church requires Sharing the load. (17-18)

A. Sharing in the problem (2:17)

B. Sharing in the Solution (2:17

C. Sharing the Why (2:17)

D. Sharing the Journey (2:18)

Shows the People God's in Control

Shows that God is using the King

5. Building up God's Church requires us to deal with the enemy (2:19)

A. Enemies will try and stop you and discourage you (2:19)

B. Enemies will accuse you falsely (2:19)

6.Building up God's Church requires us to Give God the Glory - Credit (2:20)

God