Rebuilding The Walls
The Plan
Nehemiah’s background
We can learn about revival from Nehemiah’s rebuilding the walls
1. Nehemiah was aware of the PROBLEM.
1:3 “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
He was not just aware that “something was wrong, He knew exactly what it was...THE WALLS ARE DOWN
We have problems today... war; drugs, aids, homosexuality, divorce, child abuse, pre/extra marital sex, corrupt politicians, corrupt spiritual leaders, famine, hunger, homeless, terrorists, deficits, abortion, rape, murder, and more.
We look at it and say, something is wrong
what is wrong with people today
people don’t care anymore
people are so selfish
it can’t get much worse
Not enough to know that something is wrong… we must know WHAT IS WRONG
Like Nehemiah, we need to see the real problem... the WALLS ARE TORN DOWN
What walls ?????
the walls of purity, holiness, godliness.
“Most of us have gotten so familiarized with the evils that stare us in the face every time we go out upon the pavement, read a newspaper, watch the news, talk to friends, “that we have come to think of them as being inseparable from our modern life” just natural parts of life, the bad that we must accept with the good, “like the noise of a carriage wheel on the pavement.”
Alexander MacLaren
All of our problems today come from the destruction of the Walls... of obedience
of purity,
of godliness,
of holiness
of discipleship,
of service,
of sacrifice
The walls are torn down and trampled under the feet of modern man.
They laugh at the walls,
those who built them,
those who try to rebuild them.
They say, “We are well rid of the walls” “We are better off”
They see the walls as restricting personal growth freedom and happiness
Glass walls around WTT observation deck
The walls of godliness, holiness, and purity are what made us great and protected us
Now they are broken down!!!
2. Nehemiah was concerned.
1:4 When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I continued in fasting and prayer.
Look how he reacted to the knowledge
Wept… mourned… fasted…prayed
Nehemiah not only knew; He cared.
Most don’t know; so can’t care
Some do know; but don’t care
FEW KNOW AND CARE
Do you care that divorce, affairs, and desertion are killing the family?
Do you care that drugs and alcohol are ruining lives that children and wives are abused?
Do you care that babies are being murdered in the millions?
DO YOU CARE THAT ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENENING BECAUSE WE HAVE FORSAKEN THE WALLS?????
Do you care enough to do anything about it??
Nehemiah cared enough to give up ease for work and a peaceful life for constant danger
He cared enough to give up a brilliant future for reproach
He was willing to forsake clean cloths daily for same cloths
IF we really care about the state of the world, America, our state, our home WE MUST ACT
Occupy Boston supporters cared enough about the financial situation of our country that they were willing to put themselves out… be arrested
They care enough… but about the wrong thing.
Do they see the suffering of abortion and addiction and are they willing to protest those things?
If we REALLY care...
WE MUST START TO REBUILD THE WALLS WHERE WE LIVE
3:28-30 28 Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house. 29 After [a]them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own [b]quarters.
in our personal life
in our family in our job
Nehemiah knew the problem
He was concerned enough to act AND
3. He knew the CAUSE.
1:6b-7 I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
When he looked for the causes of the walls demise... HE
DIDN’T LOOK OUTSIDE
He looked inside-
sins of the people
personal sin
father’s house Predecessors (owe apology)
IT is sin of EACH and ALL
SPECIFICALLY… We have not kept commandments, statutes, and ordinances
4. Nehemiah knew the CURE.
a. INTROSPECTION—
2:11-16 11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my [a]mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the [b]Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. 14 Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for [c]my mount to pass. 15 So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.
Survey YOUR walls
see where YOUR walls are down
b. Prayer of confession.
1:6b-9 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’
This is starting point on road to return
in plan for rebuilding
c. Ask for God’s help.
1:11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [a]revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”
You cannot do it in your own strength
God is able to give you victory
d. Start building—put feet to prayers
1:5 I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”
Not enough to pray
God is waiting for you to act
lO lepers
He wants to see if you care enough to work
He will guage your concern by your effort
He will help accordingly
e. Build where the foundation is
2:15 15 So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned.
The old ways-- have grown up from disuse
Are forgotten through time...
have become obscure
“Much is lost but.. .there is a remnant left.
The foundations of the first building are yet traceable.”
Don’t try to build them in a way that makes more sense to you
Don’t try to build them in a way that is easier
Don’t try to build them in a way that blends with modern way
UNLESS YOU BUILD...
where He has laid the foundations
with the materials he prescribed
according to His specifications
YOU BUILD IN VAIN!!
It will not last...
will not bring protection
will not bring happiness
IT WILL LEAD TO RUIN!!
AND YOUR BUILDING WILL BE A REPROACH TO GOD
