01.12.2025
January 8, 2025

RebuildNehemiah.jpg

Sermon: From Burden to Blueprint: Trusting God’s Provision

Nehemiah 2 NLT

Summary: Nehemiah 2 recounts Nehemiah’s heartfelt prayers for Jerusalem’s restoration and his strategic approach to seek the king’s favor, showcasing God’s providence in preparing the way for his mission.

Application: This passage encourages Christians to see that God provides the resources and opportunities to fulfill His visions for our lives. In times of uncertainty, we must trust in God’s guidance while we formulate our plans, knowing that He is in control.

Teaching: The sermon emphasizes the importance of prayer and planning in the mission of God, illustrating how faithful obedience can lead to divine favor and provision in pursuing God-given goals.

How this passage could point to Christ: In Nehemiah’s leadership, we see foreshadowing’s of Christ, whose mission was to restore and rebuild humanity through His sacrifice. Just as Nehemiah sought the king’s permission to rebuild Jerusalem, Jesus came to seek and save the lost, paving the way for our spiritual restoration.

Big Idea: When we align our plans with God’s provision through prayer and action, we can trust that He will enable us to accomplish His purposes.

1. with the King

Nehemiah 2:1–6 NLT
Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.

2. with Precision

Nehemiah 2:7–8 NLT
I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

3. through Opposition

Nehemiah 2:9–10 NLT
When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.

4. in Purposefulness

Nehemiah 2:11–20 NLT
So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.

The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.

They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked.

I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

Application:

Principles for God sized dreams

  1. Pray, pray, pray - A lifestyle of prayer

  2. Be bold - Ask God for big things

  3. Research and plan

  4. Get to work

    A warning

    • Opposition will come

Life Group Questions:

Get to know you question (optional):

  1. Do you have a goal or resolution for this next year?

  2. Read Nehemiah Chapter 1 (prior to life group): When you read through the scripture take note of anything interesting, unique, or questions that come to mind when reading.

    • What does the process of redemption start with in Nehemiah? Is this process true in other parts of scripture or is it unique to here?

    • In what ways to you see the Gospel displayed in the story of Nehemiah?

  3. Why is it so difficult to own our sin and why is it so easy to point out the sin in others? How can we cultivate an environment for confession of sin corporately?

*Expanded notes are available in the foyer.