The inscription recalls the life of a man who made the laying of that church's enduring stones possible long ago, and it reads as follows: The down-turn in the economy has affected everyone, every industry, every organization, every church. read more, Scripture: In this sermon, we see how Nehemiah helped the exiles begin rebuilding the walls, and we learn how to begin rebuilding out lives. Marshall Segal is a writer and managing editor at desiringGod.org. read more. Same is true today. This new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Disobey Me and youll be carried off into captivity. Thats what happened. Rest assured, sooner or later, we all know tough times. 1. And were thankful for that. This sermon was preached when I was asked to take over the youth ministry of the church which was in shambles. Through human history governments, militaries have constructed defensive walls to keep enemies at bay. 3) God wants to build up your weak areas. read more, Scripture: The day came when the small merchant found himself hemmed in with a new department store stretching out on both sides of and above his little retail shop. read more, Scripture: This process allows you to re-build your character, acknowledging that you have worth in God's eyes. He was not just aware that Its time to put action to all of the planning and praying. . We don't know exactly how big the walls of the city were at that time. The Lord Jesus Christ live the life we have failed to live, died the atoning death we need, and rose victoriously so that we can be truly . Here, says the Bible, is an opportunity to grow your faith. A year of Since the terrorism of Sept. 11th, we need to rebuild for the future of America and the church. You will find that some of the challenges you face are like what Gods people face in building the second temple. Remember those piercing words God spoke to Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7) But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. It is what God knows to be true deep down on the inside. Gods people had lived in Israel for centuries before. Hearing that there are refunds available isnt enough. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. You need As we look at this passage, I want us to focus on what God would have us do as we prepare to rebuild the walls of our spiritual lives. Its the lessons learned in the Classroom of Suffering. So here we are, a group of committed followers of Christ, all taken, against our will, back into the Classroom of Suffering. read more, Scripture: I. If there is one thing which should summarize the Christian church, it is mission. Again he says, I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. They were the men who decided to thrive in very difficult circumstances, and lead the reconstruction of Jerusalem, of the Temple, and of Gods people. 3) You will never rebuild an area of your life until you clearly see the need as God sees it. As we look at this passage, I want us to focus on what God would have us do as we prepare to rebuild the walls of our spiritual lives. Your Bible study. Rom. read more, Scripture: A brief outline is: 1. When Ezra returned to Jerusalem, he knew that some exiles had already made the trip home. The story is told of a company who felt like it was time for a shake-up, so they hired a new CEO. It is important for us to realize that Nehemiah was, in the words of J. I. Packer, "a church builder." 1 Without the restoration of the walls of the city of Jerusalem, there could have been no normal or healthy city life. Christian Church. What will it look like for God to build and to plant? The Greeks conquered their world, including Israel, and their swords dripped with blood. 2020 took a lot from us. Proverbs 3:5-6. Nehemiah 1:1-7:3. b. For them, finding enough food, and finding good shelter, took all their work, all their time, and all their emotional energy. The only thing that doesnt go up in lean times is the income we have to spend on things that suddenly cost more. Workers cleared the Temple Mount, quarried new stones, cleaned old stones, and finally, they laid the foundation for the Temple. King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. Rebuilding Your Temple Only obedience will take us to a point of thriving during lean times. Or dead. One day, he would not pluck them up, not tear them down anymore. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived Nehemiah 2:11-20, Denomination: The blood of those sacrificed animals was the symbolic moment when God was forgiving the sins of His people. Have you stopped praying? In the heart of lean times, they succeeded. Its time to put action to all of the planning and praying. There are times when we have to start over and when we do, we need to get started right. What about the environment? Abraham, too, when he comes to a new place, would build an altar (Genesis 12:7-8; 13:4, 18; 22:9), as did Isaac and Jacob after him (Genesis 26:25; 33:20; 35:1, 3, 7). No matter how powerful, world leaders are as puppets in the hands of God. And it's easy to lose sight of our mission in Christ amongst all the chaos. And yet Atlanta would rise from the ashes, bigger and more fantastic than could have ever been imagined in just 14 decades ago. to build and to plant.. But Ezra was shocked to see the ruins and the shocking lack of progress. 1. I appreciated John Stonestreets insight: It can be difficult to 3) The devil does not want you to build up the broken walls in your life either. Millions of Americans find themselves facing the greatest struggles of their lives today, squeezed financially by rising energy costs, rising unemployment rates, fears of a national recession or even a depression. read more, Scripture: A wife discovers that her husband is using pornography. He often praises God as his rock, his high tower, his fortress, his wall. GETTING STARTED RIGHT Here, says the Bible, is an opportunity to thrive. Politically they were looking for NEHEMIAH 4-6 REBUILDING THE WALLS Outline adapted from a sermon By Adrian Rogers July 5, 2015 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. I heard an old preacher say, The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and to love our enemies, probably because they are generally the same people. In the case of the Jews rebuilding the This strengthened the people for the work. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Under Construction: How To Rebuild The Walls In Your Life Part 1, Mapping 'fault Lines' In America - Micah 3, 5 Ways To Grow Your Church's Congregation, My Sermon With A Little Bit Of Bible Thrown In. Disobey Me and youll be carried off into captivity. Thats what happened. Introduction: Jesus told us to be watching, be ready, and be praying. read more, Scripture: 18 For the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. At two key moments, two key leaders built altars in Jerusalem, and offered burnt sacrifices there. Frankly, todays a great day to deal with that problem. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Christian/Church Of Christ. Your children get hurt, you experience divorce, you lose your job, you have an illness, etc There are times when it seems that we have lost Inspired by Ezra and Nehemiah, there were other leaders rising from the ashes. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. This sermon encourages believers that rebuilding our lives is not impossible when it is covered with believing prayer. But there was also this: Ezra 3:12-13 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this house, but many [others] shouted joyfully. Introduction: If you ask him, and trust him, [You will be] like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:78). . read more, Denomination: One knew the law, and the other one knew people. REBUILDING SUCCESSFULLY Others from Judah had been there the entire time. There's no doubtwe've been frazzled. If they die, its unbelievably tough. read more, Scripture: 1) Building was not the occupation of many of the workers. Introduction: The Bible has told us that we are to be cheerful givers, and to not give under compulsion. Nehemiah is the account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalms 118:6) The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psalms 55:22) Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (1 John 4:4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. The setting is about 500 years before the time of Christ. INTRO.- ILL.- A doctor said to his patient, I have some good news and some bad news. The most obvious application point deals with our offerings at church. Patient: Give me the bad news first. The setting is about 500 years before the time of Christ. Get right with God. They secured roadways, built super highways, improved shipping and transportation, and even volunteered to transport missionaries from the Middle East to Europe (via persecution) spreading that message faster than could have ever been done, if the first followers of Jesus hadnt had the unintentional help of the Romans. God had told them: Obey Me and youll live in the land for a long time. They saw the need (2:9-16) So Haggai and Zechariah were sent by God to assist in the rebuilding of the temple. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Go back for Most definitely. And Jerusalem is a symbol of the city of God, God's dwelling place and the center of life for the world. They worked in an environment that was overwhelmingly negative, with each days news reports explaining why they couldnt do exactly what they were doing. But there was also this: Ezra 3:12-13 They ignored the opposition They thrived. That would be a vitally important reality when God decided it was time to share news of the Messiah with the whole world. Haggai 1:1-8. 1) The wall was joined together because the people had a mind to work (4:6). Have you lost a loved one in the last year? The story is told of a company who felt like it was time for a shake-up, so they hired a new CEO. They saw rituals that would be very strange and very repulsive to us, but in their minds, in their hearts, they knew exactly what was happening. Your flesh will oppose you. Or, maybe you are a Nehemiah who can help and intercede for others and encourage those in need. Nehemiah 1:1-4, Nehemiah 2:17-19, Denomination: The southern kingdom was known as Judah, and its best claim to power was Jerusalem, its capitol and the spiritual center of the people. 1) Nehemiah inspected the condition of the wall (2:12-15). No, the heady days of the 21st century were far beyond the imagination of those living in the lean times of Civil War Reconstruction. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Mapping 'fault Lines' In America - Micah 3, 5 Ways To Grow Your Church's Congregation, My Sermon With A Little Bit Of Bible Thrown In. In our lean times? Transition: The Jews under Nehemiahs leadership rebuilt their faith in God while they rebuilt the city wall. Priests built (3:1), apothecaries built (3:8), some women built (3:12), rulers built (3:14), Levites built (3:17), gate-keepers built (3:29), goldsmiths and merchants built (3:32). Which do you want first? read more, Scripture: The setting is about 500 years before the time of Christ. Patient: Whats the good news? Men like Zerubbabel came to be household names in Israel, because they followed in the courageous footsteps of Ezra and Nehemiah. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. It takes work. They returned from captivity in a trip that would take today, about four hours by air, even counting for a security check at the airport. read more, Scripture: How Nehemiah begins to re-build the walls of Jerusalem. The people focused on the Lords goodness And this is Ezra and Nehemiahs story, for they were the men who inspired those who had returned to re-build. God had told them: Obey Me and youll live in the land for a long time. Lean times? read more, Scripture: read more, Scripture: REBUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Baptist. It has felt at times like every new day has brought its own dark wave of reasons to be discouraged or to despair. 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