Pt. I - The Work of God Requires Rest (Vs. 11) Nehemiah’s journey would have taken him approximately two months and the first thing he does is rest. Before assessing the project, looking at the walls, introductions etc… Nehemiah finds time to rest and recuperate before beginning God’s work. Jesus alone can save, not good works, not penance, not your mommy or daddy but Christ alone. He is the fulfillment of the law that you and I broke. But that does not excuse us from giving dedicated rest to the Lord so that we can accomplish all that He has for us. Nehemiah set out first to build the walls of Jerusalem. But his real aim was the spiritual condition of the people. Having a good solid and secure building is great but if the people are not building their life in God it won’t really matter. Pt. II - The Work of God Requires Discretion (Vs. 12) Remember that Nehemiah was coming with a purpose. He had set out to accomplish a great feat in Jerusalem, one which he received from God. He knows it has been stopped before and he already has opponents that seek to derail him. But he knows that he must begin well or the project could face failure. Pt. III - The Work of God Requires Inspection (Vs. 13-15) Nehemiah fasted, wept, and prayed for months, took a long journey, rested, and now goes out to see for himself just how bad the situation is. We need to spend more time evaluating the need, taking notes, checking for cracks in the walls (spiritually speaking), assessing the situation and then executing a plan. Nothing should be overlooked. If we were willing to set aside pride, self-exaltation and examine ourselves as the church, we could measure all of it against God’s word making corrections where necessary and seeking His Glory! Pt. IV - The People of God Are Not Above the Work of God (Vs. 16) Notice that Nehemiah says, “I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.” He includes everyone. Basically, showing that no one is above the work of God. Also notice that Nehemiah did not say, those who would do the work, or who I pleaded with to do the work, or who I begged to do the work, but he said, “who did the work.” Plenty of us say, “well pastor that’s not my job.” I have heard some variation of “I have done my time” as if they were in prison and waiting for sweet release from their service to God. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Pt. V - The Glory of God (Vs. 17-18) Here is what it is all about. Nestled in Nehemiah’s explanation here about how bad things are and how they had gone for him was for one purpose: to show the glory of God. COME LET US ARISE AND BUILD! Pt. VI - Despite the Enemies of God Opposition doesn’t just come when there is disunity, frustration, backbiting, or gossip in the church. Opposition from the enemies of God come when the people of God set out to do the work of God for the glory of God after rest, discretion, and inspection. The people of God will have success because it will come from the God of heaven if we rest in Christ stop chasing the world, exercise discretion, inspect continually to ensure we are aligning with God’s word, seek to do the work to God’s glory without assuming we are above it, and despite the enemies of God. Conclusion Nehemiah understood the task was great but exercised his leadership abilities by focusing his mind and mission on the work of God, the people of God, and the glory of God. He had no fear of the enemies of God for he knew that the God of heaven would give them success if they stayed the course and that God’s enemies would no longer eventually be neutralized. Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7C66QudDzbTDtA-DaSQBw/ https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc