Text: Nehemiah 2:11-13, 17-20

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

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.

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.

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.

18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

1.      Introduction:

a.       Question: What have you accomplished for God this year? Probable a good indicator of what you will accomplish for God next year.

b.      Tell story of Nehemiah coming to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 2:1-10

c.       The first thing that Nehemiah did was pray.

Nehemiah 2:4

Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

2.      A burden from God

a.       What God put in my heart

Nehemiah 2:12

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.

b.      What has God put in your heart?

Romans 9:1-3; 10:1

3.      Observing The Current State of Thing

a.       Broken down and burned up

Nehemiah 2:13

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.

b.      What is the current state of your affairs?

c.       Three institutions started by God that are in a mess

1. Family

2. State (Government)

3. Church

d.      When our life is a mess, it is a reproach upon Christ

Nehemiah 2:17

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.

e.       Just because the world is in a mess, does not mean that we should not stand for God

Examples: Daniel, - Shadrack, Meshach and abedago, - Saul and Silus

4.      Share Your Testimony With Others

a.       I told them God was good to me

Nehemiah 2:18a

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

b.      Our testimony will encourage others

Nehemiah 2:18b

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

5.      Some Will Stand Against You

a.       The world despises the work of God

Nehemiah 2:19b

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

b.      The world will try to descript your work for God

Nehemiah 2:19b

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

6.      If You Build It, He Will Come (from “Field of Dreams”)

a.       God will Bless our efforts

Nehemiah 2:20

Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.