445 BC Nehemiah leads third wave back to Jerusalem and rebuilds walls in 52 days

Temple already built but unprotected

Areas within our local community have broken areas - we are. called to rebuild and restore

Prayer first and actions after

Through prayer that God gives us the burden and ability to act

Nehemiah prayer

Returning back to God's presence

What areas of brokenness has called you to work to restore

We are are called to rebuild

What is my part in God's master plan for Carrickfergus

Need to be honest and authentic in our relationships with people who you trust

Nehemiah was honest with the King and because God was with him he got the correct response

Continually pray, nothing wrong with the the quick under the breath prayers

Nehemiah asked for the exact things that he needed and thanks to God the king granted his request

He had a sprit led plan and exactly what he needed

Asking God for our needs and being able to answer when God asks what we need

Nehemiah wasn't scared to get his hands dirty and actually did it - action is harder than words

God is in the doing not the talking

Returning back to God's presence

Tough times will come regardless of what we do. God will get us through as we step out

Returning back to God's presence

When Nehemiah reaches Jerusalem he doesn't act right away but waits for the right time

Subtopic 29

Sometimes it's not about rushing in but pondering them with God

No point in looking at the bad things and talking about it if we aren't going to do anything about it

Don't give up on the things on your heart

You need to keep your heart soft - its hurts but that's when God can use us

How can we help if we don't see. We need to see the brokenness to help rebuild it

Comes alongside the people who are already there and works in partnership

The hard work would be worth it - emotional reasons more than just building a wall

Shame and fear broken and strength come in

The people built the walls themselves. Nehemiah provided the plans and got them started

Sometimes just as we get started the opposition comes. Can lead to discouragement. Keep going you have been given the plan by God.

Even harder when the critical voices come from people who you expected to be encouraging

Nehemiah tells them they have no claim over what you are building

Have the boldness and confidence to be who God called you to be

Where is the brokenness around you and what do you see

Everyone gets to play

10 gates in total

Nehemiah feels the burden and implements the plan to realise the vision

Nearly all the people took part to help rebuild the walls

Priests led by example

People from the surrounding areas came to help

Huge range of people and backgrounds helped out

Because they worked together as a team and therefore it only took 52 days

TEAM - together everyone achieves more

People did what they could, where they were with what they had

Many made repairs outside their very homes

God has placed us strategically where we are. To be salt and light

They did what was required - regardless of their skill level

They started and they finished the task. Determined to get the job done

The gates of Jerusalem

Nehemiah shared the burden that God gave him with the people. People begin to act

When we step into the purposes of God - opposition will come

Need to be prepared to stand firm

Enemy will seek to disrupt our work

Sometimes when live gets tough we get discouraged and run away

Resist the devil and he will flee from you

Hamites and Amorites owned the promised land and where driven out by the Jews

First line of attack was through words of ridicule

Enemy to rib, kill and destroy

Words and thoughts enter into our minds to discourage us

Little putdowns that come without realising them

If we start listening to the words then we start believing them. Don't listen

Be careful of the words we say - speak words of life to people

Make sure you don't discourage yourselves

When change is coming we need to go through the period of self doubt to come out the other side

Change is possible

Second line of discouragement - physical threats

Nehemiah prayed to God and does something physically about it

We must stand our ground

Don't shrink back into ourselves or give up

When the going gets tough the tough get going

Remember that the Lord is with us

Listens to the negative voices but counteracts them rather than giving into them

Posts guards outside each own house - more likely to protect your own family

Fear is the greatest weapon of the devil

God has a purpose for each of us and the enemy knows it

Enemy will create fear early in our lives so it prevents us from our purpose later on in our lives. Takes us away from our purposes

Perfect love drives out all fear

Knowing God gives us the courage to face our fears

Working and guarding together to guard against the threat

Put on the full armour of God - knowing that we are right with God

Stands ground and fights with the word of God

Opposition will come but fear not, stand with each other, pray to God and do not be intimated. The Lord will fight with you, be still

Everyday Jews complaining to the nobles - people being exploited by thread wealthy

Money being lent but interest being charged - children sold to slavery to other Jews

Nehemiah gets an oath from the wealthy to stop these practices

Huge unrest within the community or else walls would never have been built

Moses law forbade the charging of interest - nobles were charging 1% a month

Most people in exile - yet God had allowed them to return

The enemy will use whatever power is possible to cause division within a community or a church

Resolution is always the best thing to come from a conflict - rather than splitting

Wrong things need taken to the right person

Nehemiah upset and annoyed of what happened

He ponders the best way to react - self control

Human nature to want to sort things out

Sometimes need to let the heat go out first before reacting

Opposite is doing nothing - doesn't solve underlying

Called a group meeting

Moses law forbade the charging of interest - nobles were charging 1% a month

As a leader Nehemiah was generous with what God gave him

To resolve biblically we need to submit to God and his will

Sometimes finding resolution doesn't work and people move on

Nobles accepted Nehemiah's rebuke and changed behaviour

Obey your leaders and submit to them as they watch over you and account for you

Church quarrel - Satan remains neutral and supplies ammunition to both sides

The enemy is real and is aware of who we are. Normally he is really subtle. Will use half truths to attack us

If we believe then we will make an agreement with the enemy

Important to focus on Jesus - he is the only truth

52 days to rebuild the wall

Huge walls around an ancient city - this was not a small undertaking

We are on Jesus's team. He is for us and on our side

Chapter 7-13 God rebuilding the nation and restoring the people

Appoints gatekeepers, worship leaders, teachers. To keep the people of God on track

Next the leaders are appointed

Uses people of integrity and who fear God

God put the mandate into Nehemiah's heart

What has God called you to do?

Seeing what you are made for and to equip you to do

Every single person matters to God

Ch8 people come together to hear the word of God

This is the defining moment. People have returned, rebuilt and now continue the story on in the reading of the law

It was abandoning the law that led them to being exiled in the first place

As the law is read to them they are restored

Restored and redeemed

This is still our story where Jesus comes rescues and redeems us

We have the good news that we get to give away

Nehemiah tells them to feast and be glad not grieve

The joy of the Lord is our strength

Often comes in our weakest moments

Gives us what we need for our time

Israel is rediscovering

Israel is repenting

Reading the book of the law

Israel sees that God has been faithful throughout all the failures that their ancestors has made

God's steadfast love. God has always been a god of grace

Leviticus 26 - God's covenant

Israel realises that their problems have been their lack of faithfulness

God gives them a purpose and a plan

Numbers 23:19 God says it he will do it

Nehemiah - God keeps his promise because of who he is

Israel recognises their own sins

Sin = to wander away or lose oneself. Miss the goal or path, go off centre

Sin is a mathematical term - going off the planned path

God sent his son to keep us on track - if we keep our eyes on him

We sin when we go our own way. Jesus is the way

Repentance = recognising that you are off course and make adjustments to get back on track

Repentance takes us to the place of freedom where we can be who we are meant to be in God's kindness and grace

This is not worldly repentance full of grief and shame but in letting go and trusting God

Confession =declare the truth in the presence of God.

You aren't going to God for forgiveness - you are a child of God. You are ALREADY forgiven through his son

Confession is acknowledging that you have gone off the path

Confession is for our benefit not something for God's

God wants to remove that from us so we can be closer to him

God sets the standard for us.

Repentance and confession are our course corrections to get us back onto God's path

Israel takes ownership of their sins and those that has gone before and puts steps in place not to let the same things happen

Israel acknowledges that the building work has been paid for by a foreign King and the are taking responsibility to pay for it themselves in the future

Decision to bring their best to God

People wanted the city to be fully restored so they repopulated to keep growing

They had a heart for total regeneration

People moved to Jerusalem had to develop a new way of life from the rural towns they knew before. Massive risk takers

Do we willingly offer ourselves to God for his work even if it's a step into the unknown

Every single person has their own part to play in developing a thriving community

Allow God to break our hearts for his purpose

Rededicated the city and worship was a key part of the process

Worship at the centre of the church - key value in our lives to worship God

Be intentional in our worship. It changes us. God deserves our adoration and it's where we encounter Him

It's often where our passion and vision comes

What is overflowing from our lives - what sound do people hear from us

When we hear God's word it challenges us of things that need to be changed

Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem sees things that have gone wrong and he takes action to correct it

Do we honour God with our giving so the work of God can continue

Do we honour God with our relationships

At the end he asks God to remember him according to God's love

Of you are going to ask God to remember you what do you want him to remember you for?