1. FAITHFULNESS May 29 th, 2016

2. NEHEMIAH Chapter 1 A divine vision for a building project Chapter 2 Miraculous provision of resources to accomplish it Chapter 3 The sheer size of the people involved in the effort

3. Nehemiah Building a wall Behind the gate All had their part Physical labour and stones

4. Nehemiah Building a wall Behind the gate All had their part Physical labour and stones Today build His church Beyond the gate matthew 16:18 For the gates of hell shall not prevail We are all connected Body dynamic 1 Cor. 12 Living stones, spiritual house 1 Pt 2:5

5. FRUSTRATION - MOCKING “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”… “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”

6. RESPONSE – HONEST PRAYER 4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

7. ATTACK – ACTUAL WARFARE 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.

8. RESPONSE – REINFORCEMENTS 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

9. THREAT -EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT “REALITY” v. 10 -The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

10. THREAT -EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT “REALITY” v.11 …enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

11. THREAT -EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT “REALITY” v. 12 the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

12. TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE sometimes the truth… lies!

13. TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE sometimes the truth… lies! (or at least a misconception)

14. TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE sometimes the truth… lies! (or at least a misconception) Only God's Word is Truth

15. RESPONSE – DETERMINE WHAT YOU LIVE FOR 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

16. THE PUSH- CONSTANT STRESS 15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

17. RESPONSE – BUILD AND BATTLE 16-17 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall.

18. RESPONSE – BUILD AND BATTLE 17-18 Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.

19. RESPONSE – …AND LISTEN FOR THE TRUMPET 18. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

20. FEAR, DISTRACTION, LIES Chapter 6 summary People are saying… You’re threatening You are building your own kingdom You are asking for trouble

21. RESPONSE – CALL A LIE A LIE 6:8-9 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

22. NEHEMIAH chapter 5 Helping the poor

23. NEHEMIAH chapter 5 Helping the poor chapter 7 Exiles returned - the new Exodus

24. NEHEMIAH chapter 5 Helping the poor chapter 7 Exiles returned - the new Exodus chapter 8 Celebration and worship

25. NEHEMIAH chapter 5 Helping the poor chapter 7 Exiles returned - the new Exodus chapter 8 Celebration and worship chapter 9 Recommitment

26. NEHEMIAH chapter 5 Helping the poor chapter 7 Exiles returned - the new Exodus chapter 8 Celebration and worship chapter 9 Recommitment chapter 10 New Life

27. NEHEMIAH chapter 5 Helping the poor chapter 7 Exiles returned - the new Exodus chapter 8 Celebration and worship chapter 9 Recommitment chapter 10 New Life chapters 11/12Restoration and growth

28. FAITH FULL A God Given Vision Something worth living for Something beyond yourself