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Neh 04 – The Work Begins – Neh 2:11-20

 

When we first met Nehemiah in Ch 1

he was the cupbearer to the King – his confidant, advisor

 

But remember we said - Nehemiah goes

from Cupbearer,

to Engineer & Builder

& finally, to Governor

 

& today – we see Nehemiah begin his work

as Engineer & Builder

 

We’re going to see the massive project

of Re-Building the Wall of testimony around Jerusalem -
BEGIN

 

Remember – it’s been 90 years,

since God’s people had returned to Jerusalem

 

& the Wall of Testimony was still in RUINS

 

& today – Nehemiah is going to BEGIN the work

of Rebuilding the Wall

 

Let’s Pray - & we’ll dig in

 

here’s our 1st important point

 

This critical period of Nehemiah’s life - begins very simply
-

with no fanfare or excitement

 

The most important part – of the work God

is always done - Alone with God

 

It is THERE – that God Prepares you, & Equips you

for the task he’s calling you to

 

For Moses – his 40 yrs of leadership - was PRECEEDED

by 40 yrs in the wilderness, leading (real) sheep

 

& in those 40 yrs of silence, God Prepared Moses

for 40 yrs of leading the flock of God

 

King David also began his service to God – ALONE,

with just the sheep of his father

 

& then Alone & running for his life

from King Saul - in the wilderness

 

Paul – the greatest Apostle – didn’t begin his Apostleship

with a great missionary journey & church planting

 

He began his Apostleship ALONE – in Arabia  for 3 years

 

Even Jesus was prepared this same way

 

Immediately after His baptism

He fasted ALONE for 40 days

 

& then faced Satan – ALONE

in preparation for the Great Work He had come to accomplish

 

God most often - prepares us ALONE (in the desert)

for the work he has for us - in our Jerusalem

 

After months of fervent prayer in Ch 1

After God opening the Door of Opportunity in Ch 2 . . .

 

Now - Nehemiah spends over 3 months

traveling the 800 mi from Susa to Jerusalem

 

& we can be sure every day he spent time alone with God

being preparing for the task that lay before him

 

& so we come – to Neh 2:11-12 – NLT

11 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later,

12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others
with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for
Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.

 

After 3 months traveling

& after 3 days in Jerusalem (probably resting)

 

Nehemiah - FINALLY

was about to begin investigating the wall

 

& he slipped out at night

taking only a few others with him

 

& he had told no one

about the plans God had put in his heart

 

WHY ? – Because he was allowing God to CONFIRM the plan

& to SPELL OUT the DETAILS

 

before he spoke to even one person about it

 

& so he carried the burden

that God had given him, around the wall

 

& he carried the shame

of this testimony of God - that had been torn down

 

& He was LOOKING closely, & carefully – at the task

to try to grasp the magnitude of what God had called him to

 

Last week – I mentioned - when We came here to Nuevo,

 

I drove up & down every street of this community – Alone

Praying for every house, more than once

 

& we tried our best to come to grips with the reality,

& the magnitude, of the spiritual condition, of this
community

 

A great deal, of the wall of testimony of this community

had been torn down by the enemy

 

there was only one church in town, & praise God for them

& there was the Grejada family’s food bank &
ministry building

 

but every new church that had been started in this community

for many years had been torn down by the enemy - & run
out of town

 

During that same time - there were thousands of new homes

being built 20 miles south of here - in French Valley

 

& thousands of new homes usually means

INSTANT church growth

 

& I have to be honest with you . . . I drove around down
there also,

& I dealt with God – ALONE - there

 

& I knew – that God hadn’t called us

to the place with thousands of new homes

 

God called us to Nuevo

to help build the wall of testimony – HERE, In this
community

 

& most of our ministry team – had also carefully &
solemnly

counted the cost - & measured the magnitude of the task

 

one member had a dream in which

the enemy told them

 

that he would do them great harm

if they DARED come to Nuevo to begin this work

 

We surveyed the Wall of Testimony

we acknowledged the damage the enemy had done

we counted the cost . . .

 

& we set out to REBUILD the wall of testimony to God

in this community

 

& if you consider yourself

a permanent part of this body

 

Then God has also called 
YOU

to help REBUILD the wall of Testimony HERE – Amen ?

 

Let’s rejoin Nehemiah – as he carefully investigates

the condition of the Wall

 

In Vs’s 13-15 – Nehemiah takes his Nighttime TOUR

to closely INSPECT the ruins of the wall

 

Neh 2:13-15 – NLT

13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the
Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned
gates.

14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool,
but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble.

15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley
instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the
Valley Gate.

 

Nehemiah INSPECTED the wall

 

The word “inspect” is a medical term

 

It means to examine something very carefully

to determine the details of it

 

Nehemiah was thinking thru every detail of the work

 

He’s planning  - he’s
thinking

who will he need to build with him

& what would they need to be gifted at

 

& that’s exactly what is required

for ANY Wall of testimony to be built by the people of God

 

EACH person comes with different giftings

& different weaknesses

 

& we Must EACH work, within our Gifting

allowing others to support us – in our weaknesses

does that make sense?

 

The only GIFT that God has NOT given ANYONE

is the GIFT of TEARING down the wall that others are
building

 

God creates us to build a WALL of Testimony

The enemy inspires us

to TEAR down the wall that others are building

 

So here’s how it’s gone for Nehemiah so far:

1) He received the burden from God

2) He prayed & fasted, even mourned, carrying that
burden

3) He watched for the Door of Opportunity

4) HE was ready with a plan when God opened the door

5) HE carefully inspected the work & counted the cost

 

THIS is the process that will PREPARE us - to not look back

once we have put our hand to the plow

 

This is the process where God will INSTILL strength in us

To see us all the way thru

 

right up to that day - when we stand before Him,

& He says “Well done My good & faithful servant”

 

& guys - this applies to EVERY work of God

whether raising children,

working to earn a living,

or serving in the ministry  
- - -  THESE same truths APPLY

 

& notice again – Nehemiah did this ALL Alone with God

before he ever spoke to One person about his plans

 

Look at Neh 2:16 - NLT

16 The city officials did not know I had been out there or
what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I
had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the
officials, or anyone else in the administration.

 

 

He had NOT YET spoken to anyone . . .

 

But Nehemiah also knew

he could NOT build this wall alone

 

He KNEW - he would need EACH of God’s people

to build THEIR OWN wall of testimony

around their own lives

 

in order for the entire wall to be built – to the Glory of
God

& we’ll see that SPECIFICALLY next week

 

But for today – let’s look closely at how God used Nehemiah

to call the people - to the task that was before them

 

Neh 2:17 – NLT

17 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble
we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.
Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and (that we may-esv) end this disgrace!”

 

When Nehemiah finally spoke to the city officials

Look very carefully at the words - WE - US - WE

 

Nehemiah never said “Man, you guys have really blown it,

your testimony is a mess”

 

“You guys have done so many things wrong I can’t believe it

In fact – let me LIST ALL the things you’ve done wrong”

 

We have people in the church

that really believe – THAT is their job

 

But see, that is not building the wall of testimony,

that’s tearing down whatever testimony may have existed

 

& there will always people – in every church

who specialize in tearing down whatever good may exist

 

But Nehemiah does none of that – He says

look at the trouble WE are in

Let US rebuild together

that WE may end this disgrace

 

The language of a BUILDER – Has No finger pointing,

No criticism, No dissention

 

Nehemiah is there – not only to ReBuild the Wall

he’s there to ReBuild the People

 

& so after months of agony in prayer

after sharing his burden with the King

after traveling to Jerusalem

after inspecting the details of the work

 

After ALL THIS – the first thing he says

to the LEADERS of Jerusalem 
is

 

“Hey guys, I am IN THIS WITH YOU,

this is a OUR wall of testimony - that must be rebuilt”

 

WE together - are in TROUBLE

WE together - can REBUILD

& WE together - can END - OUR disgrace

 

Nehemiah came - to BUILD UP, not TEAR DOWN

& EVERY SINGLE one of us must make this choice

 

Have we been CALLED by God to BUILD UP

or have we been CAPTURED by the Enemy to TEAR DOWN

 

& to know which BOAT you’re in – all you have to do

is LOOK at your actions

 

Are you Building up the people & the work of God

Or are you Tearing down the people & the work of God

 

Please – if you are part of ANY ministry of God – PLEASE

 

be One who BUILDS UP God’s People & God’s Work

 

DO NOT be one – that the Enemy uses

to TEAR DOWN God’s People - & God’s Work

 

Nehemiah says – WE – We’re in this together

for OUR GOOD - & for God’s GLORY

 

Now - There’s something else here that is SO COOL

 

Nehemiah DOES NOT use External MOTIVATION

to call the people to the work of God

 

External Motivation in what we use on small children –

if you be good I’ll give you a piece of candy –

 

We never see Nehemiah use - that type of Motivation

 

HE NEVER says – Hey, the first one done

gets an all expense paid trip to Disneyland (or Babylon)

 

He doesn’t promise a prize or a material reward

he uses something much more powerful than that

 

He makes his case at a much deeper level

 

he says guys, Our testimony for God is in ruins

& We CAN - REBUILD our Testimony for God

& We CAN - NO LONGER be a Disgrace

 

But we MUST JOIN TOGETHER – to rebuild the Wall of Testimony

to the GLORY of GOD – AMEN ?

 

& next week we will see – that this work of God

was divided among 42 groups

 

FORTY TWO separate groups of people - ALL joined together

to rebuild the Wall around the City of God

 

42 groups – Each one determined to DO the work

that God had PUT before THEM

 

Knowing that they were working in HARMONY

with 41 other groups

 

All working together for a CAUSE

larger than ANY single group individually

 

& they each one - worried ONLY about doing the job

that THEY - had been given

 

& they each knew

that if they would focus on their own job

 

that God would ORCHESTRATE all the groups together

into One Giant SYMPHONY

 

GOD is the Conductor, and each group plays it’s part

trusting the Conductor – to put it all together

 

DO YOU SEE IT ?

 

Alan Redpath quotes S.D. Gordon,

who was a Preacher & wrote 25 books in the early 1900’s

 

S.D. Gordon;

“Cooperation increases efficiency in amazing proportions.
Two working together in perfect agreement have five-fold the efficiency of the
same two working separately . . . A united church, would be an unconquerable
church.”

 

Let me just ask you – Why do you think the enemy inspires
people

to start division in the church?

 

BECAUSE - A united church, would be an unconquerable church

 

THAT’S  why the enemy
constantly stirs up division

& that is why he’s stirring it up in this church, right
now

 

BECAUSE - A united church, would be an unconquerable church

 

Alan Repath follows up S.D. Gordon’s quote

with one of his own on this same subject

 

Alan Redpath:

“The greatest menace to revival is the Christian who refuses
to work with other people because his views differ on certain matters of
Biblical interpretation which are nonessential in relation to evangelism.”

 

A united church, would be an unconquerable church

A divided church, is already in the process of being
conquered

 

& THAT is why – the enemy will ALWAYS be inspiring
someone

to bring division into the church

 

So – Nehemiah calls the people to a Higher Calling

to a GOD-SIZED purpose

 

& THEN – HE gives them his personal testimony

of the HAND of GOD upon his life

 

& then we’ll see them IMMEDIATELY Stand

to JOIN the work of God

 

Neh 2:18 – NLT

18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had
been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once,
“Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

 

they replied at once “YES! let’s rebuild the wall”

& So they began the good work.

 

& next week we’ll see

the AMAZING BEGINNING of the work

 

an incredible LAUNCH of the work of God

with God’s supernatural force - driving it the entire way

 

But . . . that’s for next week

 

For today – we close with Vs’s 19-20 of Ch 2

& notice please . . .

 

As soon as Nehemiah calls the people to Rebuild

Right Away strong opposition comes against them

 

Last Week our text ended with OPPOSITION

from Sanballat & Tobiah - back in V.10

 

Neh 2:10 – NLT

10 . . .  they were
very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

 

Opposition LAST week – Opposition THIS week

 

& we’ll continue to see Opposition

thru-out the rebuilding of the Wall of Testimony

 

For when the people of God say “Let us arise and BUILD” the
enemies of God say “Let us arise and OPPOSE”

 

Same THEN – Same NOW

 

Now – for V.19 I need to go back to the ESV

 

because I need to point out 2 specific words

NLT = thought-for-thought - - ESV (NKJ) = word-for-word

 

Neh 2:19 - ESV

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?” they asked.

 

He says the “OPPOSERS” were

“Jeering” at them - & “Despising” them

 

JEERED = To Mock, to repeatedly speak words of ridicule
& scorn

DESPISED = To raise the head loftily, and look down the nose

 

& so the trouble makers

held their heads high in false superiority – with noses in the
air

 

& they mocked the people of God with ridicule &
scorn . . .

 

MAN – I have BEEN to that church - & it is ugly

 

But there’s something else very CRITICAL in V.19

Look at the list of those opposing God’s work

 

Back up in V.10 – there were only Two Names

now how many trouble makers do we count in V.19 (3) . . .

 

The opposition has grown, hasn’t it?

 

& here’s what we’re going to see as we continue:

 

Sanballat – was the Governor of Samaria – to the NORTH

Tobiah – was an Ammonite Official – to the EAST

Geshem – (now they’ve added) – was a Ruler to the SOUTH

 

So now – the Two original trouble-makers

have drawn in a 3rd member - a member to the SOUTH (Geshem)

 

& we’ll see in Neh CH 4 – that these 3

will add a FOURTH member to their opposition force

 

The Ashdodites (AKA the Philistines)

who controlled the land WEST of Jerusalem

 

& so – the people of God

WILL BE surrounded – by Opposition

 

& guys – those who oppose the work of God

will always work very hard

 

to convince others to join them

until they think they have the people of God surrounded

 

But here’s what REALLY Blows my mind

 

God continually ALLOWS His people – to be SURROUNDED

by those who Oppose the work of God

 

Isn’t it interesting – that APPARENTLY God KNOWS . . .

 

that the Strongest Wall of Testimony

is Built under CONSTANT OPPOSITION

 

Let me repeat that . . .

in a way that we cannot understand - God knows

 

that the Strongest Wall of Testimony,

is the one built under CONSTANT OPPOSITION

 

& so – those who OPPOSE the work of God

are actually a part of what God is USING

to make the Wall of Testimony EVEN STRONGER?

 

HOWEVER - there is still a VERY HIGH RISK

 

that the Trouble-Makers will deceive the people of God

into joining their RANKS

 

PLEASE BE CAREFUL

 

Just one more thing

 

Look at  their First
THREAT to Nehemiah (end of V.19)

 

Neh 2: 19 - NLT

19 . . . “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you
rebelling against the king? . . ”

 

They’re already setting Nehemiah up

to try to get him in trouble with the King

 

& it’s funny – but that’s the same thing people do
around here

when they OPPOSE the work of God here

 

They always say something like;

I’m going to tell Pastor Chuck on you,

then you’re really going to get it  ! ! !

 

I actually had a guy recently CALL Chuck Smith live on the
radio

to try to damage me & damage this church LIVE – on the
air

 

Alright – let’s wrap up here

 

Nehemiah had travelled

from Susa (Babylon) to Jerusalem (800 Mi)

 

he had carefully inspected the situation,

& the ruins of the wall

 

he had carefully planned out what would be needed

for the Wall of testimony to be rebuilt

 

he has now CALLED the people to the task

of Rebuilding the wall of Testimony for GOD . . .

 

& he is certainly NOT going to be intimidated

by these three trouble makers

 

& so he addresses them – directly & sternly

 

He draws a Line in the Sand

& he makes it clear which side – each of them were on

 

Neh 2:20 – from the ESV

20 Then I replied to them (the trouble makers), “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.”

 

Guys – God is calling His people to re-build a Wall of
Testimony

 

& yes - there will be those - who oppose the work

 

But even their opposition will be used by God

to strengthen the Wall of Testimony

 

My Sincere Concern – is that those who OPPOSE the work of
God

want very badly, to enlist some of you, into their plan

 

Please, don’t be deceived into joining someone

who is opposed to the work of God

 

God WILL win, and those who oppose His work,

will be left, with only their victims

 

Please don’t be one

 

Join the work of God in YOUR Life

Throw your hat in the ring - Be ALL IN

 

Be PART of building something ETERNAL

 

Everything about this life – is going to Fade Away

Don’t live for THIS LIFE

 

Live for Eternity – Be PART of BUILDING

a GOD-SIZED Testimony in your life

 

Join the work of God– You’ll be glad you DID

 

Let’s Pray