“Let Us Rise Up & Build!” (Nehemiah1-6:15)

Examining the Task: Obstacles Unqualified Crew Unqualified Leader Outside Opposition Nehemiah 4:10 Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall."

Examining the Task: Obstacles Unqualified Crew Unqualified Leader Outside Opposition Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

The Task is Completed Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. How did they accomplish this?

Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …it Began With Concern . Nehemiah 1:2-4 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

…it Began With a Focus Upon God (Neh. 1:4-11). Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …it Began With a Focus Upon God (Neh. 1:4-11).

…a Plan Was Devised (Neh. 2:12). Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …a Plan Was Devised (Neh. 2:12).

…They Were Doing the Lord’s Will. Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …They Were Doing the Lord’s Will. Nehemiah 2:12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

…They Understood the Need to Be Obedient to the Lord. Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …They Understood the Need to Be Obedient to the Lord. Nehemiah 1:8-9 "Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 'but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.'

Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …They Understood the Need to Be Obedient to the Lord. Matthew 10:32-39 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

…They Understood the Need to Be Obedient to the Lord. Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …They Understood the Need to Be Obedient to the Lord. Nehemiah 1:5 And I said: "I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,

the People Had a Mind to Work ,United . Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … the People Had a Mind to Work ,United . Nehemiah 4:6 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.

the People Had a Mind to Work ,United . Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … the People Had a Mind to Work ,United . Nehemiah 2:18 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.

the People Had a Mind to Work ,United . Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … the People Had a Mind to Work ,United . Nehemiah 4:14 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."

Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … They Were Willing to Fight to Defend Their Cause. Nehemiah 4:16-20 it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. 20 "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."

They Were Willing to Fight to Defend Their Cause. Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … They Were Willing to Fight to Defend Their Cause. Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

They Were Willing to Fight to Defend Their Cause. Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … They Were Willing to Fight to Defend Their Cause. John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … They Corrected Themselves When Wrong (Neh. 5:1-13).

…Remember me, O my God, for good! Rise Up & Build: Keys to Success Nehemiah & the Jews Were Successful Because … …Nehemiah had the proper motivation. Nehemiah 13:31b …Remember me, O my God, for good!