It's Time To Restore!

Nehemiah 1:3-6

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

It’s Time to Restore!

Time to Unite, Time to Pray, and Time to Rebuild

In this particular chapter is where we meet with Nehemiah at the Persian Court. As we can see in the first chapter he is inquisitive concerning the State of the Jews and the city of Jerusalem. As he learns of the deplorable situation of the people and the city it is then he develops a strong desire to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. He begins this process in fasting and Praying, and seeking our heavenly father regards to the rebuilding for his people, and finally Nehemiah was a leader who was in great piety unto God not in policy. Even thou his place of employment were in the Luxurious palace of Susa, and he held royal possessions in his current position for he was the cupbearer to the King. His duty consisted of tasting the king’s wine and was guardian of the royal apartment. Now think about if you held such a position would you turn to go restore a city that has been destroyed. Yet out of his respect unto God and his covenant unto the will of God after hearing the news of the people of Israel he quickly surrendered unto the Lord to rebuild Jerusalem.

First of all it is important to understand how the cities where protected in history. In ancient times it was for secure reasoning that cities where built with Walls and Gates to protect the people. For the walls kept the enemies out and protected the city; whereas gates and towers secured the entrance to the city. Keep in mind that when the Babylonian’s captured the children of Israel is when Jerusalem walls and gates where destroyed.

Currently todays cities, states and nations are not secured by walls or gates but as we all know there city limits, state lines and country borders to identify the territory. Yet looking at society today when we turn on the CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News every day we are facing some form of news good or bad. Over time there has been terrorist attacks and threats, robberies, the question of nuclear wars, political corruption, and so forth. There is a question that concerns me. How does any of these events affect the Church?

Does it affect the statistics of death by Gun fire in this world?

Does it affect the statistics of innocent lives lost due to terrorist attacks?

Does it affect the statistics of the laws man has changed to please man and dishonoring the Laws of God?

Does it affect the statistics of how we as God People are not standing United simply because of a denominational breakdown?

When we take the time to ponder these questions what come to mind. Well my brothers and my sisters in this message there are three points that we have to address.

1. How do we Unite

2. Let us Pray together

3. Where do we begin to rebuild

Now it is important to understand throughout the book of Nehemiah the verses are important because it is then he seeks God for understanding and direction on the proper steps to unite the people, to pray for direction, and rebuild Jerusalem. Such as the same that our Heavenly Father wants from his children today to unite as one and pray as one and rebuild as one. For in Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. God wants his people to take back our possession and to reestablish our spiritual wholeness.

As we expound on the first point How do we Unite? First of all Nehemiah took a leap of Faith for he trusted in God’s Faithfulness regarding the proper steps to take in this process of restoration. Keep in mind that Nehemiah goes before the Lord in deep Prayer for guidance in Nehemiah 1:4-11. It is important that we Leap into Unity with the Lord for it is then that he reveals unto each of us his Ultimate Plan to restore not just the land but also the people. Therefore in the New International Version Nehemiah 2:17-18 reads: Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. Think about it when you have a project at work, home or even in the Church that needs to be tackled. Yet this particular project that is before you requires a team to complete it; is this not when we begin to unite as one for the common goal of the project. For example, In Genesis 6:13-22 when God spoke unto Noah build an Ark for his family had found favor in God. Think about it Noah did built the Ark yet with the help of his 3 sons and wife they completed the task united together not divided. For we as God’s children allow division to seek and destroy. There is an old saying a House Divided cannot Stand but a United House will be Victorious. Understand that when the children of Israel where taken captive they were divided within the city of Jerusalem because they did not obey the will of God when he warned to surrender unto the Babylonians. Nevertheless God calls unto us to Stand in Unity. In the word of God in the Old testament unity is a sense of togetherness of people, fellowship and praise. For in both Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! For in this scripture it pleases God we are join in unity. Such as in Psalm 34:3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Understand that once we unite together and glorify our God together is when we begin to experience the prosperity and well-being of each other in God. For in the Ephesians 4:11-13 reads And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. To clarify this scripture is simple this question WHY CAN’T WE All JUST GET ALONG? Allow me to expound upon this point of unity; as I look at mankind in history and currently there has always been some form of division amongst each of us. Yet when a terrible situation arises such a terrorist all over the world it at that split moment that we unite for just a short season. If mankind would just allow our hearts to join together for the common good of this world things would change from hatred to Love, jealousy to support, disagreements to understand of differences. And as we join together we allow God love to shine through each of us in the purest form because we see no boundaries. Furthermore by having the key element in Jesus Christ’s prayer in John 17:20 -23 clearly states: My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.