Imagine a place where there are people of God, but they are scattered, without direction and without a cohesive unit, facing a lot of opposition. There is a man far away who begins to pray, and he does not realize that God is going to use him.

Any ministry which is God called and God-ordained, that there will be opposition. However, we know that we will have the final victory. The enemy force is headed up by two individuals. They follow all the topics of those who want to oppose the truth. They pretend like they are interested and they come in; they used bullying attacks; then they use letters to intimidate; they use a threat of force, etc.

There are two walls being built. A physical wall built around Jerusalem for protection. One gate does not need to be rebuilt; the others do. We see the enemies trying to attack from within.

When Nehemiah was called by God, he was beginning some work but continuing some other. This is about 2500 years old, but it is relevant to our lives. As thse people pull together and bind for a common task. Nehemiah is going to set up revival in this nation. When God burdened Cunningham to pray for Australia, little did he realize that God would bring him there.

The author is Nehemiah. In the Scriptures, Ezra-Nehemiah is one book. Cunningham is inclined to believe that Nehemiah was at least the scribe here.

About 432 b.c. and this is the return from the Babylonian captivity. Some noble sons deported. 587 b.c. one set of deportation. Jeremiah told us that this deportation would last 70 years. 3 major deportations and 3 return times.

The restoration of the nation actually began with Zerubbabel. The restoration of the nation really occurred under 5 men. 3 prophets: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi were also involved.

Nehemiah is one of the last records written. These are among the final things written. Then there would be about 400 years of silence.

Elements of the service of God. Certain characteristics stand out. He will step down to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Remember those who were bound and those who are suffering as if we are with them why should we be concerned about all of these other places in the world? We are supposed to remember the needs of those in the world.

What are the elements of revival. What is genuine revival. Look at James 4:6–10 It begins with broken-heartedness. There will be required a rebellion against God. It is not this slap happy affair. Often a matter of great grief. The building of the wall

It has been 100 years since the return of the first group of captives. No walls still. Relentless opposition of the enemy. There was constant opposition to these walls. Nehemiah was a cup bearer of the king, but cup bearers were often castrated. In Neh. 13, he is angry. There is apathy of the people. Nehemiah in 12 years will accomplish what the people will not accomplish for 100 years.

Nehemiah could not do this alone; he needs the help of God’s people. It is a team effort. Some outstanding lessons about spiritual balance.

The Balance to be Struck

1. The balance of spirituality and practicality; Nehemiah does not think it all depends on him nor does he think he can sit and let God do it.

2. Prayer and works balance. Sometimes we wil answer our own prayers.

3. Balance between faith and fearlessness. When he steps out on fulfilling the plan of God, he fears greatly. He is terrified.

4. The relationship between the physical and the spiritual rebuilding.

Many times we will not see the power of God crashing into our lives until we take the first step. He steps out on faith and god is there to uphold him. The outline of his message based on all one’s difficulties?

Personal memoirs. Higher (arrogant) critics. They like to say, Nehemiah did not really write this; Ezra did not write this. They begin from the point, miracles do not occur. So, whenever there is a prophecy which comes to pass, then it is assumed to be written after the fact.

Nehemiah will go and give comfort to Jerusalem. Ezra means helper; Nehemiah = the Lord comforts; and Esther means star [relating to the crown]. If we persist, we will enjoy the crown.

The 20^th year is 445 b.c. is the time that Nehemiah puts on the writing of this book.

Isa. 44:24–28: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins'; who says to the deep, 'Be dry; I will dry up your rivers'; who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"

Isa. 45:1–9: Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: "I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it. "Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles'?

Jews did not like the idea that God would use a Gentile to deliver the Jews; and God says, “Who are you to quarrel with your maker?” God says He is going to use Cyrus to rebuild the city, and this is 120 before Cyrus and before the city was destroyed.

Ezra 1:1–4: In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel--he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem."

God moves Cyrus to have a desire to rebuild the Temple, and this begins with Zerubbabel. The prophet Isaiah says that God will use a Gentile. Then we read that we are fulfilling the words of Jeremiah. Ezra is talking about Jer. 25:11–12.

Jer. 25:11–12: This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste.

When Cyrus attacked Babylonia, the water was diverted. The water went dry; The bronze gates kept everyone out, but without the water, they could come under the gates.

Dan. 9:1–5, 24–28: In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans-- in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules..."Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."

Daniel picks up the book of Jeremiah and Isaiah, and they realize that the time has come. Now, they will pray that God will do what He says He will do. He confesses his own sins. They still identify themselves with these sins. An idea here which is unique. A sense of identify in the community of the people of God. This is the corporate witness and the corporate responsibility.

The angel of Gabriel has been sent to explain to Daniel how this will all come to pass. There is this starting point given to these people. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. This is the rebuilding of Jerusalem, not with the building of the walls or the temple.

When was the command given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem? Neh. 2. In Neh. 1, we have a confession of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah confesses the siins of his people, and then he goes in to do something about it.

Neh 1:1 –11: The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, 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. 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." 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. And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.

We have people thinking that Christians in the White House will solve everything. God’s solution is not through human means.

He speaks about Huckabee and said he is a nice guy, but he is now compromising. This is when Huckabee was governor of Arkansas.

A Few Points

1. History is working according to a divine plan. What God did 2500 years ago He does today through those who are willing to be used. We are either with it or against it.

2. Only God’s Word can tell history in advance. We look around the world and we see conditions which we take for granted, and they are fulfillments of Scripture.

3. When believers live by God’s Word, they will always be in step with what He is doing in history.

4. God’s plans are foretold through His prophets and fulfilled through His servants.

5. God has a part for each of us to play in amazing things which He is doing right now. We tend to look at these people and think what exciting times those times were; but they are just as exciting and as vital today.

When we get to the building of the wall, some will help, but just for a little. And some will do double duty. Some families, a couple will help and the rest does not.

The enemies are named here. When the wall was finished, then the enemies were ashamed. Tobias and Sanbalat. They are looked down upon today as opposing the plan of God.

Going to be a review at first. The book of Nehemiah is astounding. We often elevate these Biblical characters beyond imagination, but these people have their areas of weakness as do we. These are just people. God has a plan which He is working out in history, particularly in Australia, which is possibly from where he is teaching? Everywhere we look, we see churches compromising Scripture. We see men and women in pulpits where they do not belong; and they are leading people away of Christ.

He is asking about those who went back to Jerusalem under Zerrubbabel. Nehemiah mournes for many days about this.

What brought Nehemiah to this place. We won’t all have a spectacular position or function from the eyes of men. Because of rebellioni on the part of Israel, God sent them into captivity. The northern kingdom, the 10 northern tribes, were sent into captivity under Assyria, during the time of Isaiah. Isaiah was telling them that this was going to happen. The southern kingdom went into captivity in 606-586 b.c. during the time of Jeremiah.

Isaiah prophesies that the Jews would come back under Cyrus the king. Ezra 1:1: In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Prophecy and Nehemiah

1. Isaiah lived about 125 years before Cyrus and prophesied him by name. When Cyrus said the Jews could return, he was fulfilling the prophesies of Isaiah and Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23:11–12 25:9–10 spoke of this continuing for 70 years, and Cyrus made his proclamation at the end of this time period.

2. They build the altar first and then built the temple around the altar. God works from the inside out; advertising works from the outside.

3. Nehemiah had hoped they would rebuild the city, but the city is in ruins.

4. The prophet Daniel foretold of the command to rebuild the city.

5. Neh. 2 445 b.c. and take this to the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem. This is the 69 weeks, or 493 years. There is this converging in the life of Nehemiah. Prophesies of Jeremiah on Cyrus and Isaiah and the prophecy of Daniel all come together during the time of Nehemiah.

6. Neh. 2:7–8 is the fulfillment of all this.

7. If you had the Jews enslaved to you, would you want them to leave and set up a wall. The Greeks began to encroach on the western borders of the Persian empire, but Jerusalem is an ideal place to stand at the western border of Persia.

8. The Wiseman which came from the east were a remnant of the wise men under the instruction of Dan. 2:8, 2=38. They were trained in the study of the stars. They were correct, as a star led the wisemen to Jesus.

9. When Jesus entered Jerusalem in Matt. 21, it was the very time at the fulfillment of Dan. 9. Prophecy establishes a couple things which are relevant to our life.

We may take this for granted. God has included in the Word of God specifically relevant to our life. The Bible comes alive to us at times and some passages will speak to us in a particular place at a particular time. You will find out if you go against the Word, there will be misery involved and divine discipline. Only the Bible basis its validity upon prophecy.

If you covered the state of Western Australia and covered it a few feet deep in silver dollars, the chance of reaching into this pile and getting the correct one, is 1 in 10¹⁷, which are the chance that even 8 prophecies of Jesus coming true.

Neh 1:1 –4: The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, 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. 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." 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.

Neh. 1:5–11: And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Matt. 7 for the issue of prayer. Two things Christians struggle with: divine guidance and prayers which are not answered. The latter is an abnormal spiritual condition. The effective prayer of a righteous man. In the life of a believer pursuing the will of God for his life, exercising his right to come boldly before the throne of grace, that prayer is supposed to be mighty. This is God’s power at work.

Mos preachers say we should keep praying even if we don’t seem to get answers. However, Jesus tells us to pray expecting there to be an answer.

Matt. 7:7–11: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! You will never ask God for a good thing and not get it.

James says, if you need something, then ask for it. Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and whoever knocks, it will be opened to him. No one was more positive about the power of prayer than Jesus.

Then just out of the blue, Jesus then says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Prayers Ineffective

1. The first key is relationship, which implies love and concern. There is concern on the part of the father when there is need on the part of the child. Our society is abnormal where parents do not have much concern for their children. Mothers can give their children up for adoption; a father can walk away from the family, parents can use their children as bargaining chips in a divorce.

2. There are things which are necessary and good; a bonafide need. Going back to the stone for the bread and the serpent for the fish. Imagine a father would give a father scorpion for the son who asks for an egg. Now, if the child needed bread, the Father knows what he needs. He will not give us wrong things, even if we ask for it. Christians often ask for harmful things. We may ask to marry someone, and that person might make us totally miserable. God can save us a lot of heartache and misery by saying no.

3. There is persistence in the request. It is asking, seeking and knocking. There is the idea included, can I be a part of my own answer? You may pray for the salvation of someone, and it is possible that you will participate in being the person who witnesses to them.

4. Implicit in Jesus’ promise to answered prayer is a life of obedience. It is implicit; it is inseparable. The son comes naturally to the father asking for the things he needs.

5. There is certainty; God much more will give. That is the principle of a fortiori. Paul uses the much more when he speaks of more grace.

Notice in vv. 5–6 the relationship; no Jew in the Old Testament would have called God his father. And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. They have perverted and distorted God’s ways. We have not kept your statutes, ordinances, etc. There are about 8 of these words for commandments, statutes and ordinances.

Neh 1:8–9: Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.'

How many things are we lacking from God because we do not ask for them? I pray the word that you command; if you are faithful, I will regather you; if you are faithless, I will scatter you. Paul says, can the clay argue with the potter? Now, you cannot take this to the point of making a person a believer or an unbeliever. We still have free will.

Jer. 18:1–6: The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If it does evil in My sight, then I will not do the good which I had promised. Behold, I am fashioning a disaster. All of this indicates that we can turn things around. The idea is, we can choose.

Jer. 8:7–12: If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: 'Thus says the LORD, behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.' "But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'

We cannot lift ourselves out of the mire; but we can call to Jesus Christ to remake us. Many Christians trying so hard to be discipline; only to the point of saying, “God, I give up; remake me.”

Neh. 1:10–11: They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.

A Joshua and a Caleb can turn the tide in Australia. What does God want to do for Australia and who will be the vessel?

3 Shifts

1. The shift from the powerful leaders and an emphasis upon powerful, charismatic leaders, to a united community, working together rebuilding the walls.

2. The shift from the oral authority to the written Word of God. Ezra arrived about 12 years before Nehemiah.

3. The shift from the purity of the Temple to the purity of the people.

4 Primary things about Nehemiah’s Prayer

1. 3 elements to effective prayer. Prayer is a vital part of the believer’s life. Often we can pray and be ineffective.

a. An attitude of great reverence for God. Matt. 6 Our Father, hallowed by Your name.

b. There is a faith in God’s faithfulness.

c. Confessing; describing the sins committed.

d. An emphasis upon the Word of God.

e. The basis of his prayer is redemption. We pray in Jesus’ name, as it is based upon His work of redemption.

2. 3 More points on prayer.

a. Grant him mercy in the sight of this man. He has an idea in mind of what he wants to accomplish.

b. God has ordained to do certain things along with the prayers of men. 2Chron. 7:14 is a good example here.

c. Effective prayer moves arm of God. James 5:16

d. Nehemiah shot up a prayer when anything happened; whatever the need was, he expressed dependence on God.

Artexeres will actually commission Nehemiah to not only rebuild the city but to also to build the walls.

536 b.c. is the first return of the captives under Zerrubabbel. Ezra 1:1–2:2, Cyrus was named by Isaiah before he was even born (Isa. 44:28).

Neh 2:1–4: In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Nissan is the first month of the Jewish calendar and the time is 445 b.c. It came to pass is an indication that God is working behind the scenes. When things just seem to happen, that is God working behind the scenes. This is the principle of the providence of God.

Some people read the book of Esther and said that they got nothing out of it. God is completely out of sight in the book of Esther.

Providence

1. Gen. 22:14 Abraham calls God by a unique name: Jehovah Jireh, which means God will see to it.

2. The word providence from a Latin word meaning to see something before hand and there fore to provide for in advance. The Lord’s crucifixion is seen by God in advance

3. Isa. 44:8 45:1–8 is fulfilled in Nehemiah 2.

4. The are 3 lilnes followed by God:

a. The fulfillment of His Word.

b. The inner working of His people

c. His providential control of unbelievers and their actions and related events. God is at work behind the scenes at all times. His creative work was done at the end of the 6^th day; however, He continues His redemptive work.

5. The burden of Nehemiah becomes a prayer in the rest of Nehemiah. God put a burden on the soul of Hannah. He controlled circumstances and events involved with her life.

6. God works all things to fulfill His plan. He has a plan for today and a plan for this generation. Rom. 8:28 We will participate in it and enjoy it. Eph. 1:11 Psalm 76: God uses the wrath of men to please Him.

7. We must consider what God’s purpose and providence are working out for us right now. It is important that we know that we are a part of this.

Nehemiah is lacking a team and he will need to organize a team. God takes that which looks like a disaster and organizes it into an opportunity.

If Nehemiah is vital to the monarch and his life is filled with personal concerns, then he can be put to death. Nehemiah knows that his life can be in danger here. “Why should their not be evil in my face” Nehemiah literally asks. Now he has been fasting for 4 months.

In v. 4, there is a quick draw prayer. Nehemiah throws up a very quick prayer to God. Nehemiah teaches us that we can prayer quick prayers throughout. His prayers are quick, short bursts. Nehemiah prays between the king’s question to him and his answer to the king.

Neh 2:5 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it."

Nehemiah asks for everything. He does not hold back here. He is bold in prayer. He is close to the top to the king, and he asks to leave.

Neh 2:6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.

1. He sets up a time frame for the king here, and letting it be up to the king. This is a critical request at a critical moment. Nehemiah’s request here is going to depend upon his service to the king. If he was a sloppy servant to the king, why should the king grant him anything? We need to be faithful in order to have opportunities in the future.

2. Nehemiah asks to be sent to the land of his fathers. Only thing allowed was the building of the Temple.

In Dan. 9, we have a prophecy. While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." (Dan. 9:20–27). 69 7's is 483 years, which is when Jesus entered into the Temple. Jesus said, “You can tell the signs of the weather, but you do not know the signs of the time.”

Summary Points: Why is the King Pleased Here?

1. Egypt had recent revolted. They were under Persia. The Greeks began to press on the wextern borders of Persia.

2. Ezra 4:19–22 Artexerses stopped the building of the Temple. The attitude in Scripture is, Jesus could come to day.

3. God uses the wrath of men to praise Him; the will of the unbeliever.

4. This follows 4 months of fasting and prayer. Do you ever take the approach that, if you perceive something is the will of God, that you do not bother to pray? We need to pray.

5. There is a balance in the book of Nehemiah between prayer and action. Neither one alone gets the job done.

6. Do not pray without being willing to be a participant in the prayer.

7. Nehemiah is bold here; he is sweating out being killed because of his attitude. He asks for letters as safeguards.

Neh 2:7 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

He asks for a pass and now Nehemiah will need a workforce; he will need the people. The king grants it according to the good hand of my God on me.

7 Principles on the Good Hand of God on Me

We will all have to ask the question, as the ideas he will present to us, are they a part of the plan of God.

1. 1Peter 5:6: If we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt us.

2. We have to be willing to submit to our God of discipline and training in order to enjoy the blessing from His hand.

3. God is Spirit; hand is a figure of speech; and anthropopathism. The hand of God refers to the execution of His plan. Our hands become the instruments by which we execute His plan.

4. The Bible assures us that God’s perfect will for us is good, gracious and acceptable. Rom. 8:28 Eph. Jer. 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

5. When we surrender to God’s will, His mighty hand works to our blessing. 2Chron. 30:12: The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD. Ezra 7:9

6. When anyone believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior, that person is held in the mighty hand of God. John 10:29–30: My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." God was enlightening Nehemiah; he was strengthening Him; He was providing for him.

7. To reject Jesus Christ is to remove God’s hand of deliverance: Isa. 59:1–3: Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. God is able to deliver us; we cannot save ourself. Self-discipline will help us overcome sin is not going to work; God can deliver us and He is willing to deliver us. He is willing to deliver us; but our attitude may put us out of this deliverance.

If our future is in our own hand, our future is bleak; if our future is in God’s hand, then we have a great and wonderful future.

Nehemiah was a part of the captives taken into the Babylonian captivity. There were prophecies about Cyrus letting the people return to the land. Dan. 9:24–27 sets up a time table. 445 b.c., the command was given, and 69 weeks to Jesus entering into Jerusalem. We think that because we hold to a certain truth or to a certain doctrine, we are better than other believers; but God has love for all believers. We have the truth because of the faithfulness of God.

King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah the permission to go back into Jerusalem. Nehemiah is a man of rare faith and courage. He really stuck his neck out with Artaxerxes, because he could have been killed for making this request.

It is one thing to say that, 2500 years ago, Nehemiah did these great things; but there is a lesson for us. The same principles by which Nehemiah built the wall are principles that we can use to rebuild our lives. When we choose to go away from the will of the Word of God, we will have to turn back or we will be under discipline or taken home early.

Spiritual recovery: the church of Ephesus: “I have this one thing against you; that you have left your first love.” The moment there is something you love more than Him, you have strayed; you have left your first love.

7 Principles

1. If you are going to begin rebuilding spiritually or you need to light yourself on fire spiritually; someone, somewhere will have to be lit on fire. If you do not have a fire burning in your soul, then you need a spark. We must trust the providence of God. The good hand of God is upon me. God is overseeing everything which is taking place. God knows the way we need to go.

2. Prepare for varied resistence. There were officials who were disturbed about Nehemiah being concerned about the people of God. These figures here represent the kind of resistence that we will run into.

3. Vv. 11–16: Nehemiah does a reconnaissance. We need to do a personal reconnaissance.

Neh 2:9–11 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah, the Ammonite servant, heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.

The Ammonites are from Lot and one of his daughters. These have been enemies of God from that time forward. When we want to have some dedication to God, there will be some old sin of ours which keeps coming up. Be sure your sins will find you out. They may come to get us when we think they are long gone.

You will accomplish the will of God for your life. Satan convinces Christians to go out and do things which God really does not want done. Faithful is He Who calls you and He will do it.

James said, Count is as joy when you face various trials. There are often two characters who stand in the way of God’s will. Usually one is extremely arrogant and another person who is inadequate. Paul warns about wolves in sheep’s clothing. They may act as if they are with you, but they are not. John the Baptist called these men vipers, which was strong language. These are fighting words.

Neh 2:12–16 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

He goes out the dung gate. This is strong language, weakened by the English translation. Nehemiah is being very wise and cautious here, and he is going to check things out carefully first. We will have to evaluate the wall and find out where it is broken down. We are going ot have to check our lives and see where the problem is. 2Cor. 13:5: Test yourself. Evaluate yourself on a regular basis.

The 3 gates are significant:

1. The valley gate: we must begin with an attitude of humility, which is what this represents.

2. The dung gate, which speaks of cleansing. The refuse and waste was taken out of the city through this gate. In India, there are villages just in the same situation. There are places where there are gutters and that is where the waste runs through. 1Joh 1:9

3. The fountain gate; if we humble ourselves and if we confess. There are 9 gates and we want to be at gate 8. This gate is the gate of the Holy Spirit.

Neh 2:17 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."

Ezekiel speaks of finding a man who will stand in the gap. There wasn’t a man, but now there is. Will we stand in the gap for this nation? Will we rebuild this spiritual wall? The breakdown of the family destroys the souls of the kids. No father in the home destroys a child. He does not understand authority, strength or gentleness.

When we live for self, we are completely wrapped up in sin. 2Peter 2:8: Lot tortured his own soul. Desolation or ruin. The gates being burned; the idea here is loss; they lose something wonderful. He squandered his possessions on riotous living. Reproach is a word which means disgrace or shame. Let’s put an end to the shame of Jerusalem. When we live a selfish lifestyle, we are bringing shame to Jesus Christ.

Neh 2:18 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.

5. If we are going to rebuild our lives, then we will have to rebuild based upon the strength of God. We must rest and trust in divine power. V. 18

6. Disregard the tactics of the enemy. V. 19 These men use contempt and ridicule. The most dangerous thing with slander is taking something which has actually occurred and then you attribute an evil intent for their actions. You must disregard this. People will mock us. They will scoff at us. We have to disregard it. We let God take care of them. 1Peter 5:7–8: Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. The devil walks around like a roaring lion.

7. Trust in the Word of God; trust in His promises. V. 20 Nehemiah trusts in what God has promised that He will do. God’s will done in God’s way. If we live and walk by faith, we will overcome. Overcoming will be as normal as having breakfast in the morning. Rom. 8:37

God will do this for anyone who is willing to follow these 7 steps. Heb. 12:3– deals with becoming weary and God disciplining us. He disciplines us as a father disciplines a child. Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down. These are arms which have become nonfunctional. They are hanging down. Lameness refers to a member out of joint, which is us. A shoulder out of joint makes the arm useless. When we are out of joint, we are useless; we are a useless member. Pursue peace with all people and sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Purity of heart means that you can see some of the things which God is doing. Pursue sanctification; pursue that constant refining in your life. If you have trusted God, you will see Him in eternity; but we need to see Him right now.

Neh 2:19 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?"

Neh 2:20 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."

Nehemiah went out to see the work which was before him, to get an idea as to what you should do. Every good work will garner opposition. Some will wait until you are most of the way done, and then they tell you what you have done wrong and how you should have done it. They do not tell you in advance what you should have done; they wait until that is an impossibility.

If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. You need to determine in advance what you are going to do, not necessarily in great detail. You can become too extreme, because things do not always go according to plan. You need to establish a flexible plan based upon principle. Principle works on a broad system. We will then see the object lessons of the work.

Sometimes, a work is planned, and then not enough show up. If you are in a position of spiritual leadership, then you need to be one of the people there. A good work day on Saturday. There is a wonderful fellowship in rolling up your sleeves and working together. They are building some sort of adventure course.

Leadership and Work

1. Leaders need to be out in front, leading. We respect and follow the example of those we see.

2. The builders are given responsibility for specific work. Matt. 25:15 Mark 13:34

3. There is a record of the workers and there are 42 groups of men named. Those who take part of the work are noticed by God. This is important and can be applied today. Those who excel are noted as well. So, there is more than just showing up.

4. Each and every believer has a gift and a work which accompanies that gift. We are placed on the team by the Spirit of God.

5. We will each be evaluated by the Lord Jesus Christ. There will probably be a record presented of those who volunteer for work and those who show up. We will find out if we worked well or not.

Working as a Group

1. Nehemiah oversees the building parties and he puts the parties into action. There is a team effort by priests in v. 1, rulers in vv. 12–19, women v. 12, and several groups of craftsmen (vv. 8–32); including perfumers who probably prepare bodies for burial. Team effort, working together.

2. Many of them began building at their home. Vv. 10, 23, 28–30 and Christian service begins at home. They begin in front of their home.

3. There are some mentioned who were formerly disobedience to God. Vv. 11 who is found in Ezra 10:18, 31 for marrying a pagan wife. It is never too late to recover or to return to Christian service.

4. There is a phrase which occurs over 12 times and next to him; and the phrase after him. The emphasis is the side by side labor and effort. They were working together for a common goal. Fellowship is what we have in common; it is active engagement and things which are actively in common. There is quite a ministry for those who are willing to work together. There are some who are always there to help out; and there are others who are always out there to take in the good times. The idea is to teach and to work as a group and to grow. We are here to serve. You cannot have maturity apart from service; you will serve, if you are mature.

The object lessons are found in the gates; there will be 10 of them tonight. The priest taking the spiritual leadership begin building at the sheep gate.

God said, My ways are not your ways and My thoughts are not your thoughts. When God acts in an opposite way of nature. When a person comes to Christ, they become a new person in Christ and they operate on a plane opposite of those who are unbelievers.

Neh 3:1–2 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

The lamb as a sacrifice goes all the way back to the lamb offered by Abel; and then to the substitute for Abraham’s son.

Neh 3:3–5 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

The fish gate speaks of evangelism. Mark 1:17 Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. How can they hear unless someone tell them? There is a prayer list and some people have been witnessed to for several years.

Neh 3:6–12 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters. .

This is the way of faith, which is also called the old way because it never changes. Once the work of Christ is proclaimed and we respond, then we go to the valley gate. The valley gate is one of humility.

Neh 3:13–14 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate. Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

The rebel in the book of Ezra deals with the dung gate, which speaks of cleansing. Once the vessel has been cleansed, it can be used of God. When we lose that peace, then we need to examine ourselves and prayer for wisdom and insight so the God can tell us what the problem is.

The dung gate has significance to him for being in Jerusalem and they went to the steps of David as he escaped during the Absalom revolt. There is this picture of cleansing; David had failed and had destabilized the country. He is fleeing with an uncertain future.

Neh 3:15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the City of David.

John 7:37–39 speaks of the water associated with the Holy Spirit. Jer. 2:13. All the attempts to gratify oneself will be like water running through a broken cistern; it will run out of their hands.

Neh 3:16–25 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh

Neh 3:26–27 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

The 7^th gate does not need repair. Eph. 5:36 the cleansing affect of the Word of God. The necessity for spiritual growth is emphasize. The 7^th gate does not need repair because this is the number of perfection.

Neh 3:28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house.

The Horse Gate is the 8^th gate. Tekoa was a place where there was a school of wisdom or something. The horse gate speaks of spiritual warfare. The #8 marks new beginnings. We attack the strongholds of the enemy and he will counterattack. Once you begin to grow, conflict begins to emerge. There are all kinds of trials and we know we are there. Atheliah, the mother of Ahaziah, the evil king; she is related to Jezebel and was quite evil. She tried to take over the throne of Judah. Good versus evil; the will of God versus the will of the devil. We are to be good soldiers of Christ. Most people do not like the person of Paul because he is a soldier of Christ. He was a capable man during times of crisis. In the book of Acts, Paul sends Luke and the others by ship; and Paul went by ground, and he traveled through two mountain ranges. No soldier involved in active service entangles himself in this life. Eph. 6: the full armor of God. The idea of the warrior mentality. Our society is build around seeking comfort, pleasure; avoiding conflict, problems, difficulties. We will go through times of stress and difficulty and there will be times for it.

Neh 3:29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber.

The east gate speaks of Christ’s return. The more we are involved in spiritual warfare, the more we look to Christ’s return. How eager are we for His coming? The person who greatly desires it who looks for and longs for the day of the Lord; that is a man involved in spiritual warfare. However, others do not want to think about the return of Christ, as it would intrude in their plans.

Your house is left ot you desolate; you will not see Me again until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” One sealed a gate to attempt to keep Christ out at His return.

The Apostle Paul lived his life expecting the return of the Lord, and expecting the crown of righteousness. The grace of God which brings salvation.

Neh 3:31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

When Jesus returns, there will be judgment. 10 is significant insofar as God’s control and authority. As believers, as Jesus states in John 5:24, there is no judgment for the believer. “He that believes in Me won’t come into judgment.” God will separate between the wood, hay and stubble.

This is a picture of spiritual growth and spiritual progress. The Spirit of God will always lead us to the Word of God and the Word of God will lead us into spiritual warfare.

Summary

1. We are, as believers, building a living temple. 1Peter 2:5 the stones of the believers.

2. This is to be achieved by a united effort in the body of Christ. There should not be a civil war in Christianity. We should never interfere with the ministry of others. 1Cor. 6:19

3. When you are busy building the wall you are building you don’t have time to evaluate everyone else’s work.

4. We will never be good workmen unless we are growing personally. You cannot achieve spiritual maturity unless you are involved in some sort of spiritual service. What God works in, we work out.

5. Gates challenge each of us to press on to the high quality of Christ.

Nehemiah’s prayer, preparation, and the building of the wall. If you commit yourself to a worthwhile task, people will come out of the woodwork.

By way of background before we get into Neh. 4: there were 3 returns from the Babylonia captivity just as there were 3 deportations. 1^st return with Zerrubbabel; then 2^nd return was with Ezra, who drew the attention of the people to the Word of God. Nehemiah brought in the next group.

Daniel’s countdown began with Nehemiah received the authorization from Artaxerxes to return to the land to build the walls. Now, even though these people had tremendous spiritual accomplishments, we have much more than these people would ever have.

1Cor. 3:9–11: For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no one is able to lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. We often want to remake and remold the Lord into Someone Who will not disrupt our lives. His viewpoint will not be ours; His thinking is not our thinking.

If you are going to build a building a stones, then you must get each stone into its correct place. The believer needs to figure out where his stone goes. We have to take responsibility for our own spiritual lives. The minister can be so preoccupied with building others up that they do not grow themselves. All people must take responsibility for their own spiritual lives. Cunningham has a responsibility to his congregation this night; he needs to provide the spiritual information which others need. If Christianity is a game to us or a superficial thing, then we cannot call someone else into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s plan and our plan will not mesh unless we get with His plan. Every day, we face, it is His will or our will. He had to learn obedience. Paul tells us that we are God’s building.

God’s grace called Paul to be an Apostle. God’s grace worked differently in Paul’s life than in Peter’s. God’s grace works uniquely. I have laid the foundation and another lays upon it. No one can lay a foundation other than what God has laid, i.e., Jesus Christ.

Probably everyone there tonight believes in Jesus Christ and we all surrendered to that call and we trusted in Him and we received Him as our Savior. We need to come to the same point which Peter did, when he recognized that Jesus was his due authority. This did not come easy to Peter. He resisted and staggered and fell over and over again. He never quit until finally the Lord reigned in his life.

We are all building something in this life and Jesus Christ knows what that is. And what we are building will be exposed by Jesus Christ in His blinding essence.

4 Principles

1. God’s will will always involve a work to be done. If God has a purpose and a plan for us, then there will be a work for us to do. Study to show yourself approved” where study is not the goal but the means. We are studying to be equipped to accomplish the work which God wants for us to do. The studying is not an end in itself.

2. God’s work will always be opposed. When a believers gets serious about pursuing the Word of God in their life, they will always face opposition. Philip. 3:18 tells us that there are people who are committed to tearing down the work of God. They always tear down; they never build up. They are always there to destroy. Paul calls this kind of a person an enemy of the gospel and an enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ.

3. Faith will always meet and overcome all opposition. Nehemiah and those working with him willl meet thhe opposition. With each attack, there is a spiritual response. There are 5 sections which speak to this. 1John 5:4–5

Neh 4:1–2: But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish; stones that are burned? The critic brings in the spiritual aspect here.

Neh 4:3–5: Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach upon their own heads, and give them as spoils to a land of captivity. Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. Satan will mock us; whatever we do, he will find a way to mock us. We will be mocked for praying before a meal and we will be mocked for studying the Word of God. There is a full task ahead of this church; some sort of a camp. If we fail our part, we will lose out and never regain it.

Best way to meet this is with prayer. When we are mocked, meet it with prayer. Those who attack us are attacking Jesus Christ. God will take care of this. Be prepared to respond.

Trouble never comes alone. When something goes wrong, something else will go wrong to, which is Cunningham’s dad’s wisdom, apparently. There are often pairs of men who oppose spiritual things. This is often the arrogant and the inadequate. Turn to the Lord and use your first line of defense, which is prayer and dependence upon Him.

Neh 4:6–8: So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a heart to work. And it came to pass, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been restored up and the gaps had begun to be closed, that they were greatly infuriated, and all of them conspired together to come and make war against Jerusalem and to create confusion. Archeology has found out that these walls were 200 feet high.

Nothing will frustrate an enemy of God more than to see that God’s work is advancing. So they want to come to Jerusalem and cause problems. Nehemiah sets up a watch against these guys. They think they will make the Jews stop, and they are wrong.

First the mockery, then the attack, then the threats, and the response: prayer and the 2^nd lilne of defense is preparing to take actions—vigilance. When you are alert to the enemy, to their strategy and tactics, it is important. Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeing whom he can devour. Satan is out there and he is probing. Forewarned is forearmed. Spirituality was practicality in everyday life.

Neh 4:9–13: Nevertheless we prayed unto our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. Then Judah said, The strength of the laborers is stumbling, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall. And our adversaries said, They will neither know nor see anything, till we have come into their midst and killed them and put an end to the work. So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, From whatever place you return, they will be upon us. Therefore I stationed men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the bare places; and I stationed the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. There are always those people who complain or indicate that things cannot be done; they have no constructive advice. There is discouragement because of the rubble; there are so many rocks to be moved. Long hours, hard work, fear and anxiety; and just when the people are beginning to fail, they hear, “You never know when they are going to come.” and others which say, “They are going to get you.” There are those who will try to keep you from the plan of God.

Some think, you should just be involved in your own church. However, the church invovlment is from the center to the circumference. God’s plan is always expanding. It is not to be confined. We have had enough of superficial Christianity. It is time we realize that we are at war and we need to battle. Problems are met with exhortation and courage. Spread your courage and keep your fears to yourself. We need to help strengthen those around us and give them encouragement. We do not need to share any portion of our fears.

There is an effeminate mentality today, and that is not a part of spirituality. Jesus told his disciples, at one time, to sell one coat and buy a sword. 1000's of Christians are dying every day north of Australia and they are dying singing hymns. They are banding together. We have a right to defend our homes and our families. We do not just sit and try to figure out the psychological problems of a thug breaking into our houses. We have forsaken right thinking today. There are mobs who may attack us for being Christians.

There is a distinction between mobs and martyrdom. You do not submit to a mindless mob.

Neh 4:14–18: And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had broken their counsel, that all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants did the work, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they did the work, and with the other held a weapon. Every one who was building had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the shofar was beside me. They are building here, but they all have a sword on. You have to be alert to the enemy; he is going to do everything he can to hinder you. Nehemiah is wise; he is practical; he thinks through. He meets things on a practical level, bu always depending upon the Lord.

Neh 4:19–23 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the shofar, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us. So we did the work, and half of the men held the spears from the rising of the dawn until the stars came out. At the same time I also said to the people, Let each man and his servant lodge inside Jerusalem, that they may be a guard to us by night and workers by day. So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone sent them away for washing. Amazing practicality; they slept in their clothes and did not take them off until it was time to wash. Cleanliness is important in a foreign country on the mission fields. You can die on a mission field or get sick for not using soap. The 5^th line of defense is a wise strategy. How we are going to engage the enemy has to be figured out.

Command, and when the trumpet sounds, they are to come to the trumpet; communications; conscription. Nehemiah said we need people who live there at night; some had to be at the wall as guards. There were 24 hour shifts.

1Cor. 3:12–15: Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will be revealed; for the Day will declare it, because it will be disclosed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is consumed, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. We can choose every day of our life, whether to build with stone or with wood, hay and stubble.

1Cor. 3:16–17: Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which you are. You may be wise for being promoted, having a great job, or being successful. However, you need to be a fool for Christ.

1Cor. 3:18–19: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their own craftiness;...

Floor #1: the thinking of Christ, which comes about as we lay hold of the thinking of Jesus Christ for us. This means, an understanding of His grace. Grace orientation. We must realize that His attitude toward us is a sacrifice. Jesus Christ thinks that we are of great value. He considers us worth enough to die for us on the cross.

Once we lay ahold of the thinking of Christ, we can move ahead with our Lord’s thinking toward things. Nothing can supplant the Word of God. When we reach that point, we know we have mastered the details of life.

3^rd level: the thinking of Christ regarding others. This is where we begin dealing with loving your neighbor as yourself. It begins to extend out to others. It is willingness to show consideration; the ability to be forgiving. Everyone passes through life and is betrayed. Do not focus on someone who has let us down, but focus on people we have let down. Let the mind of Christ—the value of other people, each regarding the value of others above you—be in you. We are not clutching, we are not grabbing, we are not pushing self.

4^th level: we move beyond application to those around us, to love toward God, love toward a spouse, love toward friends. We need to have the mind of Christ toward others in a relaxed sense. A neighbor, someone you meet on the street.

Final level, the last level is the attitude of Christ in perfect inner peace and stability. We have a stronghold; a firm perimeter. You are my stronghold; you are my shield. Within David’s soul, within his spiritual growth and development, God has become David’s strength. I will not fear because you are my shield. A full perimeter of defense. He had peace, tranquilty. There are many Biblical synonyms for Paul’s buildings. We will be attacked this week. We will not go through one day or our life where we are not attacked. If we are so sidetracked or mislead, that Satan does not need to attack us anymore, as his attack has worked. This puts us on the sidelines. What God does, like the rich young ruler which came to Jesus. That was the area where the young ruler needed to fix.

We are either building something up or we are tearing it down; we are either advancing or retrogressing. Only we can build up or destroy our own spiritual lives. Others may help or encourage us, but they cannot build our spiritual lives. We are always accountable for our spiritual lives. Others may lead us astray, but we have to choose to be follow. We can only be deceived if we are willing to be deceived. We have to place the responsibility of spiritual growth plainly on our own shoulders. Anything which is worth building is going to be opposed. Anything worth building, is worth defending.

4 attacks:

1. ridicule and mockery (trouble comes in pairs, and those who are evil often work in pairs);

2. The threat of force (“we will come and we will attack you”) (which was not carried out);

3. The attack of discouragement (there was so much rubble). We may fail and screw up, but God can fix that.

4. Fear and panic among the people.

5 Lines of Defense

1. Prayer, which is a good first line of defense.

2. Then the people took action. They had a mind to work. Action neutralizes anxiety.

3. They were vigilant; they set guards on the wall; they watched and were alert.

4. They used teamwork.

5. They had weapons in their hands; they were ready to fight for their own freedom.

There are things worth fighting and dying for. If we are going to fight and win a victory, we need to know exactly what we are fighting for. We need a clear-cut objective. He uses Vietnam as an example of not having a clear-cut objective.

Neh 5:1–: And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their brothers the Jews. For there were those who said, We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live. There were also some who said, We have mortgaged our fields and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine. There were also those who said, We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our fields and vineyards.

This is a sad situation. There is no building in Neh. 5. When self rises up and turns its ugly head, we are in trouble.

Haggai 1:3–11: Then the Word of Jehovah came by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, and this house to lie waste? And now, thus says Jehovah of Hosts: Set your heart on your ways. You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but are not filled with drink; you put on clothes, but no one is warm. And, one hiring himself out earns wages for a bag of holes. Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: Set your heart on your ways. Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build this house. And I will be pleased with it, and I will be glorified, says Jehovah. You looked for much, and, lo, it came to little. And when you brought it home, then I blew on it. Why? says Jehovah of Hosts. Because of My house that is in ruins, and you, each man, runs to his own house. On account of this, the heavens above you hold back the dew, and the earth holds back her fruit. And I called for a drought in the land, and on the mountains, and on the grain, and on the new wine, and on the oil, and on that which the ground brings forth, and on man, and on livestock, and on all the labor of your hands. The people forsook their responsibilities with respect to the Temple of God. As Haggai emphasizes, the problem is spiritual and the solution must be spiritual.

Am I disregarding spiritual things for the day-to-day things. Anytime we are on the throne of our life, things will be messtup.

The Jews were not allowed to put money out on loan to other Jews at interest. 2 things happen: separation of one from the other. The Jews were to be a common people. Division, strife and warmongering would come in. James: Where to these wars come from? Don’t they arise from your lusts and the pursuit of your own pleasure? This