Nehemiah gets a firsthand view of Jerusalem. Pray, plan and work. Part 3 of Nehemiah

1. Boots on t1he Ground
Nehemiah 2:11–20 1

2. Once upon a time
Sister Kim and I built a house
Walked the property
Staked out the location
Kept an eye on the contractors
Worked along side labors
Became homeless
Finally finished
2

3. Nehemiah 2:11–20
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 mind to do
for Jerusalem and there was
no animal with me except the
animal on which I was riding.

4. Notice
God’s plan
A trusted few
A plan for the plan
4

5. Recon
13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the
direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the 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 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. 5

6. Survey the scene and assess the situation
Tried to make a circle
Took note
See the task with faith
6

7. Home Sweet Home
Clovis statistics
44% unchurched 80
22% feel bad about
themselves 40
24% poverty rate 41
33% lonely 60
Over half our kids are on
food stamps 44
Homes facing our church
32 single family
10 four family
2 Twelve family
184 people within 1 block
7

8. Planning phase not promotion phase
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.
8

9. Timing is everything
Vision casting is ok
Not everything starts
with an
announcement
List of who would do
the work
9

10. The Workforce
The Jews
The priests The nobles The officials
The rest who did the work
10

11. Four parts solution
(1) He identified with the people.
(2) He stressed the seriousness of the situation.
(3) He was committed to taking definite action.
(4) He used his personal testimony.
11

12. Nehemiah gathers the people together
17 “You see the bad situation we are
in, that Jerusalem is desolate, and its
gates burned by fire. Come, let us
rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that
we will no longer be a reproach.”
12

13. 18 I told them how the hand of
my God had been favorable to
me and also about the king’s
words which he had spoken to
me. Then they said, “Let us arise
and build.” So they put their
hands to the good work.
13

14. He identified with the people
You see the bad situation we are in…
Not a hired hand or
efficiency expert
14

15. He stressed the seriousness
of the situation
…Jerusalem is desolate, and its
gates burned by fire… 15

16. He was
committed to
taking definite
action
…let us rebuild
the wall of
Jerusalem so
that we will no
longer be a
reproach 16

17. He used his personal testimony
I told them how the hand of my
God had been favorable to me
and also about the king’s words
which he had spoken to me.
17

18. He didn’t overwhelm
General statement
Refine the problem
Get specific
Offer a situation
18

19. When Nehemiah was in Susa and heard of the situation in Jerusalem, his
anguish over the deplorable condition of God’s people and his desire for God’s
glory resulted in a spiritual experience that gave him a new vision of what God
desired for his people in Judah. He set about to transform his vision into reality.
Part of that task was sharing his vision with the community and motivating the
people to work together to change the situation.
This part of Nehemiah’s account underscores the need for creative planners to
communicate effectively in solving community problems. Societies begin to change
when individuals become concerned enough to probe the problems, seek
solutions, and become catalysts for change. To involve the members of the
community, such solutions must then be explained in terms of their immediate
interests
As another sign of God’s “gracious hand” at work, the leaders and people
responded to Nehemiah. He came to them with compassion, realism,
conviction, and faith;
19

20. Share the experience
Narrative
Point out God’s hand
Build excitement
People get on board
Work begins
20

21. Remember these guys?
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah
the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab
heard it, they mocked us and despised us and
said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you
rebelling against the king?”
21

22. Expect opposition
Lies
Half truths
22

23. Nehemiah’s answer
20 ….“The God of heaven will give us success;
therefore we His servants will arise and build, but
you have no portion, right or memorial in
Jerusalem.”
23

24. Answer with wisdom
Didn’t answer their question
Stayed on point
Expected results (FAITH)
Excluded them
24

25. Think about it
 He did not speak of his authority or the king’s
but in “the God of heaven.”
 He tells his people to ignore them and simply
work.
 He refused to compromise. He denied his
opponents a share in the work, the land, or
the worship of the Jewish community
25

26. Boots on the Ground
Nehemiah 2:11–20 26