1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. 11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” —Nehemiah 2
Intro: As servants of God, each of us have opportunity to Rebuild and Renew our character. To serve God well we must develop our courage, character and competency. Nehemiah illustrates these qualities throughout chapter 2 in his boldness in facing challenges, his integrity in seeking God’s guidance, and his competency in planning and executing the rebuilding project. Nehemiah serves as a helpful model for effective and faithful service to God.
Big Idea: To Serve God well we must
1. DEVELOP the courage to
and
to needs of God’s people (2:1-3)
- a. Courage: Nehemiah took risk expressing his emotions to the King (v.1-2)
- b. Courage: Nehemiah shares of his burden for God’s people (v.3)
God’s mission will
2. DEVELOP the character to seek God’s
and act with
(2:4-5)
- a. Character: Nehemiah has prayerful dependance (v.4)
- b. Character: Nehemiah communicates his honest intentions (v.5)
If people don’t
3. DEVELOP the competency to
and
with excellence (2:6-8)
- a. Competency: Nehemiah demonstrates he learned strategic planning (v.6-7)
- b. Competency: Nehemiah secured resources (v.8)
Am I a
4. DEVELOP the
to overcome obstacles with faith. (2:9-10)
- a. Courage: Nehemiah encounters opposition and continues on mission (v.9-10)
5. DEVELOP personal
and
(2:11-16)
- a. Character: Nehemiah personally inspects the walls (v.11-12)
- b. Character: Nehemiah keeps his plans confidential (v.12, 16)
Process plans without
6. DEVELOP the ability to communicate
and organize
(2:17-18)
- a. Competency: Nehemiah inspired people with his vision to rebuild (v.17)
- b. Competency: Nehemiah mobilized and motivated his people (v.18)
God’s work requires us to
7. DEVELOP the
to
in the face of opposition (2:19-20)
- a. Courage: Nehemiah is not set off course by the jeering opposition (v.19)
- b. Courage: Nehemiah is confident in God’s support (v.20)
- c. Courage: Nehemiah is steadfast in his work (v.20)
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
Have you ever felt called to take a risk for God’s mission? How did you respond?
Like Nehemiah, we should properly plan. Do you tend to wing it? Or do you tend to excessively plan? What factors do you need to watch out for?
How do you typically respond when faced with opposition in your efforts to serve God? What can you learn from Nehemiah’s response?
What areas of your character do you feel need rebuilding or renewing to serve God more effectively?