Sunday Sermon

3rd June 2007

Nehemiah 2: 11 - 20 The Battle For Faith

1.   Nehemiah prepared for action.

I went to Jerusalem. v 11. 800 miles across bandit infested desert. 2 months travel. He had an escort provided and arrived in some style, obviously on oficial business. He rested for 3 days.
Good idea?
v 12. He worked at night while others slept.
God had put something in his heart to do - during the 3 - 4 months of prayer.
He did not tell anyone what was in his heart at this point - He didn't want to reveal half-formed ideas. He didn't want his enemies to catch on and he wanted to make sure he had the best chance to motivate the people.
(What has God put in your heart - a dream, a project, an area of service, a need you want to meet?)

2.   Nehemiah examined the walls. v 13 - 16.

He found out for himself the exact state of the walls. He was thorough, not wanting to miss anything.
He assessed the damage himself so that he would know exactly what he was talking about when it came to selling the idea. What resources would be needed?
This is exactly how he prepared to speak to King Atrexerxes in ch. 1. He gathered facts and made plans.
Why the secrecy?
The people had a defeated spirit. They had lived with broken down walls for 100 years. What a disgrace!
(How can you move in to your dream? What preperation can you make? What resources do you need?)

3.   Nehemiah had infectious faith. v 17 - 18.

Nehemiah's greatest challenge was to get the Jews to rise up and tackle the project.
v 17. See the trouble WE are in. Nehemiah got them to face the facts - they are totally vunerable.
This is very important - to get real and not be super-spiritual.
Romans 4: 19 - 21. Faith is able to face the facts.
Come, let US rebuild --- and no longer be in disgrace. He gives us a call to action.
v 18. He gave testimony about the favour of the King ascribing this favour to God. Testimony is powerful and gives God glory. This news raised the heads of the Jews injecting hope and vigour. Nehemiah believed that this was God's project not his therefore God would be in control.
He communicated what needed to be done very clearly.
This speech mobilized the Jews. They caught the faith bug and replied - Let us start rebuilding.
(What are the reality and faith lessons for us in Romans 4: 19 - 21?)

4.   Nehemiah faced opposition. v 19.

Any faith project and person will face opposition of increasing intensity.

a. Mockery and ridiclue.
b. False accusation\suggestion. Are you rebelling? Sowing seeds of doubt which were developed
    later
c.   Note the alliance of three. Judah was surrounded by enemies. Sanballat was the governor of
      Samaria to the North. Tobiah ruled the mixed race of people of Ammon to the East and Geshem
      ruled the Arabs to the South and West - Moab and Edom. Danger came from every direction.

5.   Nehemiah responded to these attacks with faith. v 20.

The God of heaven will give us success - surely one of the great faith declarations of the Bible!
This is God's work. We are God's servants and you have nothing to do with it.
He rejected their input totally - no compromise. He would not let them cuddle up. 2 Cor 6: 14.
(Nehemiah here is our faith example. What can we do now from ch. 2 to follow in his footsteps?)

Robert Duncan, 03/06/2007