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This Is Amazing Grace
Thank You Jesus For The Blood
Great Are You Lord
how great thou art
Intro
Thank you for your patience last week, there was so much material in chapter 2 I could of preached for another hour.
Chapter 3 begins with a very important verse for us to meditate on.
vs 1 Eliashib the High Priest Rose Up … and started building - How significant is this?
The rest of the chapter involves a whole bunch of people rising up and repairing the walls. Some of them just repaired the wall next to where they lived. Scripture says “opposite his own house.”
This has some very significant meanings for us.
If the leader stands up the rest will stand up.
If you don’t stand up you will be seen as weak. The risk is yours to take.
Illustration - the universityies in NY. The leaders were afraid to stand up they now lookk foolish and weak. In Texas the leader said not at my school. He is now seen as strong and decisive,
In order to Rebuild the wall nearest you, leaders are going to have to be the example of leadership.
LAST TWO CHAPTERS I USED THE SUB HEADER - IS IT WORTH THE RISK?
Now we changed it to - IS IT WORTH FIGHTING FOR NEHEMIAH 04.1-23

Q. What creates a renewal of commitment ? What makes it worth fighting for?
A refocus of purpose inspires a renewal of commitment.
Nehemiah did this in ch 2:17 and 18 (READ)
Now no one said it was going to be easy, Lets read Neh 4
Nehemiah 4 ESV
1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. 10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” 15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” 21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.
OVERVIEW
As the challenges of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem continued to mount, Nehemiah found it necessary to remind the people of why they were rebuilding in the first place.
The reaffirmation of purpose was critical if the workers were to fulfill their mission. With renewed focus and energy the people went back to their labor and eventually completed their task in 52 days.
Nehemiah
Proverbs 28:28 “28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.”
Righteousness wants to increase, wickedness is constantly being judged.
Proverbs 29:18
Proverbs 29:18 ESV
18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

1. THE COMMON CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONTED GOD’S PEOPLE (4.1-12)
Thes challenges can be expected, so don’t get upset when they come.
A. Insults from Governor Sanballat (4.1, 2)
Proverbs 12:16 says,”Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.”
Insults will come- in fact you pretty much can expect them.
B. Enemy attacks (4.6-8)
a. James says trials will come – and that how you handle it will reflect your character
Gods people must remain true to God Despite opposition
C. Discouragement (4.10)
You will be tempted to say, God could you just cut me a break here. Just because you get discouraged doesn’t mean its all you, it can be spiritual.
Let me give you three scriptures that can help you.
a. Hebrews 12:3
Hebrews 12:3 NASB95
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
b. Is 42:3-4
Isaiah 42:3–4 NASB95
3 “A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 “He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
c. Phil 4:6-7
Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
D. Fear
Fear can bring paralyses. It can stop you in your tracks. It robs you of your joy and peace. Evil people use fear as a motivator and a controller.
Isaiah 41:10 NASB95
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
These challenges were met with Corporate Prayer which we see in vs 4-6

2. THE COMMON PURPOSE THAT COMPELLED GOD’S PEOPLE (4.13, 14)
A. God’s greatness.
The more you understand Gods greatness the more your purpose is able to come forth.
B. Family and home
You are apart of a much larger family. This is your home, The challenge is to stop thinking as a single unit and start thinking as a family. In church sometimes this is hard. We don’t have grace for each other. We want it our way or no way. The disintegration of the family is straight from hell. We must stand against it.

3. THE COMMON COMMITMENT THAT BROUGHT COHESION AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE (4.15-23)
A. Half of the people worked
It would be a miracle but if we could get half the people in church to work for the Lord, everything would change.
Work creates unity, camaraderie, purpose.
God’s people must engage in the renewal of their city
B. Half of the people stood guard
eyes open, spiritually aware, not allowing the enemy in the camp

CHALLENGE
I broke this down into 5 summary points
Is to understand you have a Purpose
Get a Vision
Be encouraged
Pray
WORK
Ending with the Theme which is, Don’t be afraid , Remember the Lord, He will fight for you.
- - Nehemiah 4NLT
- - Proverbs 29:18NLT
- - Hebrews 12:3NLT
- - Isaiah 42:3–4NLT
- - Philippians 4:6–7NLT
- - Isaiah 41:10NLT

Nehemiah 4NLT

Proverbs 29:18NLT

Hebrews 12:3NLT

Isaiah 42:3–4NLT

Philippians 4:6–7NLT

Isaiah 41:10NLT