“For The People Had a Mind To Work”
Nehemiah 4:6

Introduction. During the period of exile, after the Persians had come to power, the Bible records for us steps that were involved in restoring the Jews to their own land. In the book of Nehemiah we learn of the process by which the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by the leadership of Nehemiah. Tonight we are going to study the first four chapters of this book, considering some spiritual lessons that we can take from this event. 

I. Nehemiah Hears About The Broken Wall. (Nehemiah 1:1-11).

  • The New Testament Describes Christians as “living stones.” (I Peter 2:4-5).
  • Do We Care about the Strength or Wellbeing of this Spiritual House? (Note: - When we hear about people falling away; - When we see people missing services.)
    • II. Nehemiah is Sad in the Presence of Artaxerxes. (Nehemiah 2:1-10). (Note: It was a dangerous thing to be sad in the presence of the King; Nehemiah risked his status, his livelihood, and perhaps even his life.)
  • Do we care so little about the Lord’s Spiritual House that we... 
    - Are afraid to tell our friends what we believe? 
    - Are afraid to make attendance a priority? 
    - Are afraid to tell our employer we will not work during a time of services? (Matthew 10:32-33).
  • Nehemiah, by his courage, conviction, commitment, and vision was able to convince a pagan king to assist him in matters that meant nothing to him! Can’t we do the same in matters much less dangerous? 
    • III. Nehemiah Views the Walls and Reveals His Plan. (Nehemiah 2:11-20) Note: vs. 20 - “The God of Heaven Will Prosper Us”
  • It is easy to imagine that spiritual growth comes through monumental efforts. (Programs; Huge Plans; Cooperative Efforts - Origin of unauthorized Liberal moves.) 
  • In Scripture spiritual growth is a very personal, simple thing that comes from individuals choosing to submit themselves to Christ. Our confidence must not be in human talent, or creativity but God and His word. (I Corinthians 3:5-11; Isaiah 55:11).
    • IV. All The People Work to Rebuild the Wall. (Nehemiah 3:1-32).
  • I love this chapter, but I’m not certain I have ever heard it read in a lesson about this account. We see in it a list of people we don’t know and think to ourselves - what is the point?
  • What we must see is the fact that these people are (for the most part) unknown (I believe) is exactly the point. These were not all political leaders, military leaders, religious leaders, wealthy people, popular people, or people trained in masonry, architecture, or carpentry. But they were useful and effective because they were God’s people! (I Corinthians 12:12-18).
    • V. The Enemies Mock the Work. (Nehemiah 4:1-3). 
    A. They did the same to Jesus. (Matthew 27:29-31).
    VI. All The People Worked to Defend the Wall.
    A. They Prayed to God. (Nehemiah 4:4-5).
    B. They Had a Mind to Work. (Nehemiah 4:6).
    C. They Worked in the Midst of Opposition and Rubbish. (Nehemiah
       4:7-12). (Note: To build a solid structure you sometimes have to clear
       away rubble. 
  • Exposing false doctrine is necessary to clear away the rubble of past collapses. (I John 4:1). 


    • D. They Armed Themselves. (Nehemiah 4:13-18).

  • The Word is our Sword. (Hebrews 4:12-13).
  • Doing Right is our Armor. (Ephesians 6:10-17).


    • E. They Stayed Close to the Wall. (Nehemiah 4:19-23).

  • We must stay close the spiritual walls of God’s spiritual house. 
    - Not by looking for excuses to miss services. 
    - Not by failing to study God’s word. 
    - But by refusing to allow anyone or anything to keep us from our God-given task of defending the wall! (Hebrews 10:23-25).
    • VII. The Wall Was Completed. (Nehemiah 6:15,16).
     
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