IN ORDER FOR BIG DREAMS TO BE REALIZED, I MUST BE DILIGENT IN

“After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days, I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the one I was riding” —Nehemiah 2:11-12

Nehemiah traveled with a military escort and a caravan of lumber from the Kings own forest. He arrives in Jerusalem full of heart, faith, and

– but for three days, he did nothing and he kept the vision God had given him to himself.

“I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate and returned.” —Nehemiah 2:13-15

What’s happening here?

Nehemiah is counting the cost. He’s

.

“I

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the walls” —Nehemiah 2:13

Nehemiah Recognized That God Is

By Wise Planning

“The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor” —Proverbs 21:5

Nehemiah Understood That God

Plans That Bring Him Glory

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” —Proverbs 16:3

IN ORDER FOR BIG DREAMS TO BE REALIZED, I MUST DEVELOP

Accomplishing great Kingdom

requires a great Kingdom

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How’d Nehemiah convince a Pagan King to not only allow him to lead the effort in rebuilding, but also finance it?

Through the power of

, proven

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, and carrying himself with

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.

He’s in Jerusalem now, and there’s another group that he’ll have to develop a partnership with if this wall is going to be built and the gates are going to be restored.

“…Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work” —Nehemiah 2:16

These men and women were living in Jerusalem. They’d been there for some time. Any

they would have had in seeing their city restored to its former glory would have been dashed by now. They’d come to accept that this was just something that they’d have to live with.

Rebuilding efforts had come and gone. They weren’t getting their

up anymore. They’d grown complacent.

Yet, Nehemiah recognizes that he had to get them

in order for this task to be completed.

How’d he do it?

Nehemiah Believed That

is Greater Than

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“I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned…” —Nehemiah 2:17

Nehemiah Extended An Invitation For

“Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall…” —Nehemiah 2:17

We can either spend our time searching for

why we can’t work together for the mission of God or for

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in which we can.

Nehemiah Gives The People A__ Why__

“Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a

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.” —Nehemiah 2:17

Nehemiah Assures The People That They Can Be

In The Lord

“I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened to do this good work.” —Nehemiah 2:18

DINNER TIME DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Obviously, Nehemiah was a great planner. How do you typically view spiritual plans? Positively or negatively?

2. As you make plans for the future, do you invite the Holy Spirit into the process?

3. In what ways can you, and your family, be more diligent in planning?

4. In today’s sermon we were reminded of how Nehemiah dealt with a Pagan King. We’ll always have to work with difficult people in life, so what do we learn from Nehemiah that helps us to better do that?

5. Today, we were reminded of the fact that accomplishing great task requires coming together in partnership. Do you typically try to “go it alone” or are you more willing to collaborate? Explain your answer.

6. In what ways is the Lord calling you to apply today’s message and how will you respond?