Arise And Build

ARISE AND BUILD

Nehemiah 2:11-20

I. HE FIXED HIS FOCUS v.12 "And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon."

Nehemiah had a mandate from God. He knew how to get alone with God – remember he wept, fasted, and prayed and God told him what to do.

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Illus. D. L. Moody, “This one thing I do instead of these many things I dabble in.”) Nehemiah fixed his focus. I challenge you to get alone with God and fix your focus on finding the will of God for your life!

HE FOCUSED ON THE:-

THE PRIORITY OF THE WORK. "And I arose in the night," God had told Him to Build Matt 16 v 24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

THE PURPOSE FOR THE WORK.

Look at 2:17 “..let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” The purpose of all ministry is the glory of God! And Paul said, Eph 3 v 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

THE PROMISE IN THE WORK. "neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem:" See Nehemiah's

Resolve, "to do at Jerusalem" ie. He wanted to do something

Resources, "God had put in my heart to do"

Reasoning "neither told I any man" why? God's Call is Personal, Powerful, Purposeful.

Gal ch 1 v 15 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."

THE PRIZE THROUGH THE WORK

Heb 12 v 1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

II. HE FOUND THE FACTS V. 13 "And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire."

What were the facts? Walls in Ruin - Gates Destroyed. I want you to look around and get the facts.

A. Walls Of Prayer

B. Walls Of Participation

C. Walls of Purity

D.Walls Of Protection Isa 60 v 18 "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise."

E. Walls of Praise Ps 126 v1 "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."

III. THEY FORMED A FELLOWSHIP (V. 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."

(1 Cor 3:9) "For we are labourers together with God…" (Illus. Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; thinking together is unity; working together is success!”)