NEHEMIAH: REBUILDING YOUR BROKEN WALLS

We will discuss Nehemiah, who described his work rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. He was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia.

When they were taken captive, their temple (the one King Solomon built) and the walls were destroyed. Ezra, the scribe, built the temple, and Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, built the walls.

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. Learning that the remnants of Judah were in distress and that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, he wept for Jerusalem. Notice Nehemiah did not just weep; he also asked for forgiveness, took up the challenge and stood in the gap for the Jews. Nehemiah 1:1-11.

The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem, her kings, and the people because of their sins. The prophecy was fulfilled during the reign of King Zedekiah, 2 Chronicles 36.

Sin has a payday; trust me, it is never a good payday!!! Sin opens the door for the enemy to come in. Nehemiah agreed and accepted that the Jews had sinned, and he asked for forgiveness both for himself and his people. He was not playing the blame game.

In chapter two, he asked King Artaxerxes for permission to return and rebuild the city. Artaxerxes sent him to Judah as governor of the province with a mission to rebuild, letters explaining his support for the venture, and provisions for timber from the king’s forest.

Upon his return to Jerusalem at night, he took along with him “ Trusted Few”

(To be successful in life, you can’t have the crowd as your friend. You need an inner circle of people who understand your vision and will encourage you to accomplish it. This group of people will stop at nothing until they see you become the best at what you do.)

These trusted few had the same mind, vision, purpose, and goal with him. They observed and took stock of the damage done to the walls. His inner circle was silent; they didn’t speak about it.

We need to learn how to stay silent; Godly silence is a powerful weapon to success. It is not everything happening around us or every plan we have that we are going to broadcast.

In chapter 2:17-18, Nehemiah encouraged his team to build back the walls. We need people to encourage us to get back up when we fall; we need people with like minds to push us and make us see success as our only option.

There is an excellent door of opposition when we have something great to achieve!

1 Corinthians 16:9. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. (Other translations say, “ Many Oppose Me, Many Enemies.”

There are forces to contend with on the pathway to rebuilding your broken walls. They are problems at the edge of a breakthrough. The door of opportunity was open for Nehemiah and the Jews, but a mighty force of opposition led by Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite was present. Nehemiah 1:10, 2:19-20.

At the peak of your breakthrough, the devil becomes natural to you. When you have made the decision to a new start, a new turnaround, opposition will arise. It is funny and strange to comprehend because you were once down, and the devil was not noticing. But as soon as you make the decision for a new start, there’s a rage of hell against you.

When Nehemiah and the builders decided to build, and the work for rebuilding the walls started in chapter four, they encountered all sorts of opposition. They conquered because they stayed focused and determined.

• Opposition by Ridicule: Nehemiah 4:1-6.

The enemies of the Jews mocked them, saying, “What do these feeble Jews?” people around you who do not understand where you are coming from and where you are heading will mock and ridicule you as soon as you begin to rebuild your broken walls.

You have to stay focused and determined. Your end goal matters most. Focus on the positive things you are doing.

• Opposition by Anger: Nehemiah 4:7-9.

When the enemy mocked Nehemiah and the Jews and didn’t succeed in making them stop the building of the walls. They became very angry with them. Vs 9.

The opposition will arise in every good thing you want to achieve in life. When people can’t stop you from achieving your God-given dream, they start getting angry with you at every given opportunity. You will defeat this opposition with intense prayer in Nehemiah 4:9.

• Opposition by Discouraged Co-Workers: Nehemiah 4:10-23.

When oppositions arise from people close to us, it is sometimes very hard to conquer. Nehemiah understood the power of the inner circle and its effects. He tackled the situation immediately. You are the carrier of your own vision. You need to strengthen your inner circle. Prayer of faith is needed, and encouraging ourselves in the Lord is a weapon to succeed.

• Opposition by Greed and Heartlessness:

People will envy you when you start taking positive steps and having positive results. It is all because of jealousy. The people who you trusted most will disappoint you. It is not because they hate you; perhaps they can’t handle your new self. Jealousy is common these days; focus and determination are the only antidote. Keeping and protecting your vision with silence.

Joseph was talkative; he paid the price dearly for it. David did not announce to Saul and the rest of Israel that he had been anointed a king. Jesus stayed silent for 30 years.

Silence is a great tool for building back our broken walls. It keeps the enemy guessing, and we keep on advancing.

• Opposition by Deceits and Craftiness: Nehemiah 6:1-14.

When the enemies of the Jews had tried every means possible to stop the rebuilding of the walls and did not succeed, they tried deceits and false prophesy. Nehemiah 6:1-14.

Nehemiah is a man filled with the Spirit of God; without the Spirit of God in man, man lives a life without meaning.

The Spirit of God in man gives Life and Inspiration, which leads to a better Understanding. And Wisdom to be able to Discern and learn the strategies of the devil.

Job 32:8

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

The next verse says

“Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.”

The message translations say, “Getting old doesn’t guarantee good sense.”

A false prophet was hired to distract and stop the work. We need to say, guard, using the Gift Of Discernment, this way we’re able to conquer the devil. The Spirit of God in us helps in making and taking decisions, it gives insight also on right and wrong bits of advice.

Nehemiah was focused, watchful and prayerful. His inner circle had the same goal and vision with him. Having people around us with the same mindset and goals are the quickest and easiest way to achieve our great dreams. Because they will stop at nothing until they see us as the top.

“We need to carefully choose our circle.”

Finally

The walls were finally built and completed in 52 days, not because there were many but because they had the manpower. Nah, it was because they were only determined, and like minds were working together. Focus and success were their driving force.

As I said from the beginning, Ezra built the Temple, which signifies the return of True Worship to God. Nehemiah built the Walls, which signifies the Defense of Jerusalem and its inhabitants.

In the era of Ezra, the opposition was not as fierce as Nehemiah’s. Why? The enemy knew that with the walls down and the temple rebuilt, the enemy could still easily at. However, with the building of the walls of Jerusalem, which signifies her defence, the opposition was tremendous and fierce because the enemy knew she was now protected and her people were safe.

The enemy doesn’t care about those that are already down. He cares about those standing and the ones planning to get back up.

“Righteous man falls 7 times and still gets back up because of his Vision.”

You need to get back to your original Vision for your life. Face the opposition and stay focused; you will be victorious if you do. The best is only good enough for you; go for the best and press harder for the utmost goal. You will definitely come out victorious.

After Nehemiah finished building the walls of Jerusalem, he restored order and put everything in place, placing the right people in the right departments.

He read the laws of God to the people. We need to do precisely the same, and we will have positive results.

Making God number 1 in our lives will keep our walls, which signifies our defence safe from attacks.

Sin is not Negligible; we must avoid it.

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