Here is a Sermon On Nehemiah entitled ” Building People”
“Building People”
Nehemiah 1:1-4
Nehemiah was one of the greatest leaders of all time.
He took a task that seemed impossible, mobilized a team of people, and accomplished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
Today you and I have a task and that is to rebuild the lives of people.
Our task is specifically to rebuild the lives of hurting and devastated people of the inner cities.
How many here desire to see hurting people reached for the honor and Glory of Jesus?
Well let’s take a look at how Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and then maybe you and I can get some pointers on how we can rebuild the lives of hurting people.
1. Nehemiah had a burden –
Nehemiah 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
The way you and I are going to see God use us to rebuild hurting lives is to have a burden. A burden to reach hurting people for the Honor and Glory of Jesus.
Many times, in the bible we see before Jesus healed someone or met a need the Bible says He was moved with compassion:
Matthew 9:36 – When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 14:14 – When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
When He fed the four thousand –
Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
The Healing of the Two Blind Men
Matthew 20:34- Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
Mark 6:34 – When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Are we filled with compassion that makes us want to step out and help someone?
Do we have a heart of compassion that makes us want to use our lives to make a difference in this world for the honor and Glory of Jesus Christ?
Do we feel the pain of the hurting Mommy?
Do we feel the pain of the drug addict?
Do we feel the pain of the lonely?
Do we feel the pain of the person or family that feels they have no hope?
Compassion will help us to feel the burden of our city and we willing to make a difference.
Feeling sorry for someone is agh shame man, but compassion helps us to move and make a difference.
Maya Angelou said “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
What an opportunity that we have as a ministry to allow God to use us to make an impact in this world.
There are so many needs in our world today and we have the answer.
2. Nehemiah prayed about the need –
Nehemiah 1:4 – and prayed before the God of heaven.
Not only did Nehemiah hear about the need. He then began to pray to the God of heaven to do something about the need.
He didn't just pray for God to raise someone up, but he was willing to be used by God to make a difference in the need.
He was like Isaiah – In Isaiah Chapter 6:8 God said whom shall we send and who will go for us and Isaiah said, “Here I am Lord send me.”
Isaiah wanted to be the answer to God’s question.
Not only should our prayers consist of supplication, in other words praying for God to meet our needs, but we should also be willing to be used of God to help meet needs.
Jesus even told His disciples – to pray to The Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers into His harvest field. He said the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
Someone once said Loiterers are many, but the laborers are few.
Have you ever seen a sign that said “No Loitering”?
What does it mean to loiter?
- to linger aimlessly or as if aimless in or about a place:
to loiter around the bus terminal.
2. to move in a slow, idle manner, making purposeless stops in the course of a trip, journey, errand, etc.:
to loiter on the way to work.
3. to waste time or dawdle over work:
He loiters over his homework until one in the morning.
verb (used with object)
4. to pass (time) in an idle or aimless manner (usually followed by away):
to loiter away the afternoon in daydreaming.
We don’t need loiterers, we need laborers.
Nehemiah was willing to stand in the gap for the need and allow God to use him to make a difference in his generation.
Is there anybody here willing to be used by God to help me the needs of this generation?
Nehemiah not only felt the need, but he was willing to do something to help meet the need.
That leads me to my next point.
3. It took a team to get the job done:
In chapter Nehemiah chapter 3 we see all the people that helped Nehemiah get the job done.
1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.
2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.
3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
It is going to take everybody working together to accomplish the task that God has given us and that is to impact Africa and the entire world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Nehemiah knew he couldn't do it alone. So, he had a team and everybody contributed what they were good at.
Did you know that you have a part in helping us impact this world for the honor and Glory of Jesus Christ?
You have something to offer to help us reach the continent of Africa and the world.
You have a power spot.
There is something that God has gifted you to do.
Imagine the impact we will make when we all do our part in reaching hurting people for the Honor and Glory of Jesus Christ and we do it with a passion.
4. Nehemiah endured opposition –
Nehemiah 4:7 – But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
Nehmiah 4:8 – And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
If you and I are going to step out in touching lives and get the job done, then we need to know that we are going to face opposition.
We need to learn how to keep pushing and serving even during opposition.
Are there any servants in the house that say even in the hard times I want to stay faithful to Jesus and what God has called me to do?
Nehemiah faced opposition.
Some people began to mock Nehemiah and his team, saying things like “What are those feeble Jews doing?” “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”
Have you ever faced opposition?
Have you ever felt like you didn’t have what it takes to do what God has called you to do?
Have you ever felt like you didn’t have what it takes to get the job done?
Have you ever been told you don’t have what it takes to get the job done?
Well welcome to the club, but Nehemiah reminded the people why they were doing what they were doing.
He said in Nehemiah 4:14 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.”
Tell your neighbor I don’t only want to start, but I want to finish.
I got what it takes.
There are a few things that Nehemiah did to rebuild the walls and I believe if we put these things into practice God can use us to rebuild lives and restore families.
We have a vision. We are called to reach treasures out of darkness.
It was so beautiful yesterday at our Victory Home fellowship to see all the families that have been restored by the power of God.
There are more families out there and God wants to use us to rebuild their lives.
I don't want to be a quitter, but I want to be a finisher…
5. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls
Nehemiah 6:15 – So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty and two days.