Name: Pastor Joel Isaiah
Venue: Grace Awakening Ministries
Date:27 December 2009
Father God let your Holy Spirit dwell and come richly in this place
Introduction: God’s Holy Spirit will make you build this temple.
Nehemiah Ch 1 VS 1-4
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.
It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year as I was in Shusan the citadel,
Vs 2 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men form Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped who had survived the captivity and concerning Jerusalem.
VS3 And they said to me, “ The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The walls of Jerusalem is also broken down and its gate are burned with fire.”
Meaning of Nehemiah..The Hebrew word for Nehemiah is Nehemyah.
“Comfort of Yahweh.”
HANANI means gracious.
Hanani came and saw Nehemiah and conveyed the bad news .
1. Bad news is The people are in great distress. They are in big problem.
2. The walls of Jerusalem is also broken down and its gate are burned with fire
When the people are in problem the only way is to look up to God or the comfort of Yahweh.
When the news was conveyed what did Nehemiah do.
Vs 4
He prayed. He fasted. He wept and also mourned.
Vs 7 acknowledged their sinful act against God.
This is what we should do when things don’t work well for us do what Nehemiah do. Although we in a better covenant but God wants us to humble ourselves before Him as we approach His Throne of Grace.
James 4-6
But He gives more grace . Therefore He says:
God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.
Nehemiah was well prepared in things of God. When you are prepared than things will work well for you.
All things work well for those who love God.(Roman 8:28)
He was the cup bearer for King Artaxerxes (Great King). And the king saw Nehemiah face was sad and full of worries.
Nehemiah has a heart for the Jewish people. He told the king about how the temple is destroyed.
This great King permitted Nehemiah and gave him letters so that he could pass through and also letters to the governors to get the timber to rebuilt the temple.
Nehemiah found favour with God and men the king even gave captains of the army and horse man to follow Nehemiah. When God’s favour is upon our life no enemy can come near us.
If God is with us no one can be against us.
The first thing that Nehemiah did was to inspect the broken walls.
This morning God wants us to check our broken walls. Which area we have gone wrong in the year 2006.
1. what are our broken walls that need God to deal with?
2. Is it our financial situation?
3. Is it our business?
4. Is it our marriage not working? Everyday have wrestling match in our houses.
5. Is it our job.
6. Is it your spiritual life? So dry.
When you want to rebuild the temple you will face problems. Nehemiah faced problems.As I told you earlier, he prayed,fasted, cried out to God. And time to execute God’s plan to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah Ch 4 1-6
Opposition through redicule.
When you want to walk right with God the outside world will be very fearful. The same way Nehemiah face problems with the Geshem the Arab.The Amorites,and many others were laughing. The same way people will laugh at us. When we start attending church doing things that God wants us to do.
What ever anyone say,you don’t bother just keep quiet and you start seeking God.
Matthew 6-33But seek first the King dom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added toyou.
When the enemies sees that you are strong they will use other tactics.
This is called opposition through compromise.
Nehemiah 6 1-4
Okay friend you can go to church. But join our gang once a month for enjoyment. Go to bible study, but come let us go for enjoyment. He one bottle of beer will not harm you. Nehemiah was faithful no compromise. When God wants me to build the temple there is no way I can join you.
Because I know the way. The way is Jesus. John 14-6
Jesus said to him, I am the way the truth and I am the life. No one comes to the father except through Him.
I have decide to follow Jesus no turning back no turning back. Our decision is final.
Opposition through slander
Nehemiah 6 5-9
Let us read
The same way to will be put into various test and trials. If the enemies of Nehemiah can do it to him, Our spiritual enemies will also do it to us.
Church just believe this rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say rejoice.
Turn to your neighbours and tell them that you are serious in building God’s temple. Today Christ is in You.
1 Col 26 & 27
Christ in you the hope of Glory.
Conclusion: When the temple was completed the Glory of God returns. When your temple is rebuild through God’s Grace and mercy the Sakinah Glory of God will come upon you.
When the temple was completed the Glory of God returns. When your temple is rebuild through God’s Grace and mercy the Sakinah Glory of God will come upon you.
You can say Nehemiah 6-5 Stand up and bless the Lord your God Forever and ever.
Blessed be your glorious name .
Which is exalted above all blessings and praise!
No more curses but all blessings will come upon you. The blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will come and over flow in your life.Amen
