Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work! Rebuilding: Lessons from Nehemiah

Introduction Successful rebuilding takes place when responsible and faithful people join together—with a mind to work. – What would God like to see this church accomplish? – What is God hoping to see in you and from you? – How would God like to see you grow and develop? – How far would he like your influence to be felt?

Successful rebuilding takes place when responsible and faithful people join together—with a mind to work. – How many people are disillusioned in the darkness of sin, wondering and hoping for something better? – How many people are waiting for someone to show them Christ, or out of religious error and into truth? Introduction

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…” (Ephesians 3:20).

Do your plans, prayers, and actions show the abiding faith in God described in this passage? –The inspiring book of Nehemiah helps us see what can happen when God’s people allow Him to fight for and direct them, and when they have a “mind to work!” Introduction

Lessons to Be Learned Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a huge task. There was opposition from vicious enemies. Amazingly, they completed the work in 52 days! “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” {Nehemiah 4:6}

What Can Happen When People Have a Mind to Work?

They were responsible people – “Then I said to them, ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.’ And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work.” {Nehemiah 2:17,18} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

They were responsible people. –Responsibility—the quality of a person who responds. –Did not pass the buck. –Did not dodge hard work. –Everyone had a part. Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

These amazing folks did not dodge hard work. –Enthusiastic people sometimes work themselves into early graves if we let them do the work they should be doing. –Not in Nehemiah’s day! –They rose and put “their hands” to the work. Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

These amazing folks did not dodge hard work. – They didn’t say they were too busy with jobs and children. – Too old, didn’t know enough, or suggested someone better. – Success comes when all of God’s people see the work set before them as work for everyone, and they do it with deep, personal responsibility. Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

These were faithful people. – “ But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?’ So I answered them, and said to them, ‘The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem. ’” {Nehemiah 2:19,20} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

These were faithful people. –While they knew there was work to do, they were confident that God was close, He cared, and He would intervene. Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

These were faithful people. – “And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses…Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.’” {Nehemiah 4:14,20} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

Unimpressive Galileans went, not confident of who they were, but of who Jesus was, and spread the gospel throughout the known world in less than 30 years! – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” {Matthew 28:19,20} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

Paul traveled and preached, but he told about what God had done. –“Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” {Acts 14:27} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

Congregations rise again; marriages are strengthened; lives shattered by unspeakable sins are restructured. – When God’s people rise to work and have absolute confidence in Him: He is near; His power prevails; His teachings are right—FAITH. There’s no victory without it; no enemy is successful when it’s present. Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

They were unknown people. – Chapter 3 should inspire each of us. – Get the picture-- groups working together, shoulder to shoulder, around the wall. – People from all walks of life-- priests, nobles, politicians, goldsmiths, perfumers, gate keepers; several towns; all ages. {3:12} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

They were unknown people. –Some traveled many miles. –Most worked on the walls near where they lived. –Each did his part to make the whole project come together. Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

For most, history tells us only their names; for many, not even that. – “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel.” {Nehemiah 3:1} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

For most, history tells us only their names; for many, not even that. – “Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord…And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and his daughters made repairs.” {Nehemiah 3:5,12} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

Their world was turned upside down by people whose names we do not even know. – “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.” {Acts 11:19,20} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

Their world was turned upside down by people whose names we do not even know. –“Which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth... which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” {Colossians 1:6,23} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

They were people with a mind to work. –“So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” {Nehemiah 4:6} Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

When some people get their minds on a thing, you might as well forget trying to change them. There was unity of the people and their purpose; they had a mind to work. Some overcame indifference on the part of their leaders, and some ended up doing more than their share. – Nehemiah 4:8 Rebuilding Requires People With a Mind to Work

R EBUILDING R EQUIRES P EOPLE W ITH A M IND TO W ORK The value of people who can do different things ( some more desirable than others ). – Those differences are needed (Matthew 25) – Each just do their part! Simply—have a mind to work! – 1 Corinthians 12:12-21

Are there things in your life that show signs of neglect, abandonment, or destruction? Marriage Family Spiritual life Congregation Nehemiah can help you!