REBUILDING 

NEHEMIAH 1:1-4; 2:1-5

            For each of  us as we progress through life we will have periods where we will feel the need to stop and rebuild.  Some may have physical problems that cause the loss of muscle strength.  This would require a period of physical therapy to strengthen and rebuild the muscles.  Some may suffer emotional damage requiring that trust be rebuilt.  Some may have to rebuild financially or to rebuild a career.  Sometimes relationships suffer set backs and require a time of rebuilding.  Even in our spiritual lives we might suffer set backs that later require spiritual rebuilding.  Whatever the reason, we may all be faced at one time or another with the need to rebuild. 

            Such is the case for Nehemiah and the children of Israel in the portion of scripture we just read.  Nehemiah is broken hearted because the walls of Jerusalem have been torn down, leaving what remained of the city and its inhabitants naked before its enemies.  Having no wall around the city and the city practically in ruin, possibly symbolized that God was no longer among his people.  It saddened Nehemiah to see the condition of  the city of his ancestors and it motivated him to take action.

            As we look at our country today, our hometowns, the communities in which we grew up, many of us are saddened by the continual decay that we see, but our sadness has not moved us to action.  Now I'm not going to suggest to anyone that you must go back home after finishing school.  Where you go is between you and God.  But I will suggest to you that wherever you go you will find cities, communities, churches, schools, families, etc., that need to be rebuilt.  I am not talking about physically needing to be rebuilt.  America needs to be refocused.  Communities, schools and churches need to be revitalized.  Our country is steadily falling apart, city by city, community by community, family by family.  And though we all see it happening the general population is sitting waiting on the government to fix our problems.  Governments institute laws.  They can develop and start new programs.  They can build bigger and better prisons.  But none of these things have deterred the problems facing this country.   The problems in our country are being studied by all kinds of ologist, and yet we seem no closer to any solutions.  Could it be that we are no closer to an answer because the church of Jesus Christ is sitting passively waiting, virtually uninvolved in instituting a solution.  Our communities, our cities and thus our country must undergo a rebuilding process.  And if God is not the foundation on which we build, our communities, our cities and thus our country will eventually come to total ruin.   So whether your involvement in rebuilding is on a personal level, a community level a city level or, etc., we will all be involved in rebuilding.

            From the book of Nehemiah as he begins the process of rebuilding the wall, I believe that we can gain some pointers to assist us in our rebuilding  efforts.

Neh. 4:

Verse 1 - Be assured that as you try to rebuild you will attract enemies and opposition. Sanballat means enemy in secret.  You may not see your enemies and they may not show up right away, but he is there.  Anytime you are trying to do good, or to bring about change, you will have opposition.  It is in the nature of man to resist change.  Unless the nature of the man has been changed by the Spirit of God, then the enemy of all that is good will use that man to oppose anything that is good.  But God told the children of Israel in Ex. 23:22 that if they would obey Him he would be an enemy to their enemies.

Verse 2 - As you attempt to rebuild, there will be those who will look only at the circumstances; they will see nothing but the ruins and worthless rubble.  They will not realize that among the ruins there maybe some good and useful materials,  some brick that only needs to be cleaned; some wood that requires only the removal of rusty nails; some mortar that once it is re-crushed into powder can be reused.  Many discount our African American children, especially our young males, and those that are considered high risk cases.  Sometimes I hear people refer to children from fatherless homes and children who live in housing projects as though by nature they were worthless.  But out of projects and fatherless homes can come more Dr. Ben Carsons, lawyers, engineers, social workers and even college professors.  These children are not worthless rubble to be discarded.  They are precious resources, which with proper nurturing can become highly valuable assets.

Verse 3 - There will be those who see the task as insurmountable and who will put no stock in any effort that is made.  But no matter how hard the task we know that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27), and that we can do all thing through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).

Verse 4-5 - The task of rebuilding can be bearable and successful if we turn to God as our source of strength and support.

Verse 6 - Have a mind and determination to work.  The task may be long and hard, and the opposition may be great, but determination to succeed has kept many in the race and pushed many across the finish line.

Verse 7-8, 10-11  - Expect your enemies to be persistent.  Here Sanballat gathers forces to come and tear down the work.  When your enemies see you succeeding they will try to enlist the aid of others to come against you.   In verse 10, the workers begin to murmur because they are tired and there is much to be done.  Your enemy will use your own weakness against you.  In verse 11, he will secretly devise plans to attack you and bring your work to shambles.  This is the person who goes behind your back planting discord, speaking negatively, trying to tear down your work as fast as you build it.  But Is. 59:19 says that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

Verse 12 - Your enemy will use those closest to you in an attempt to distract you, break your spirit and stop your progress.

Verse 9 - Recognizing that the task is hard and the opposition is great it is imperative that you seek God for a plan.  In Prov. 3:5-6 we are told to trust in the Lord, to lean not to our own understanding, to acknowledge the Lord in all that we do and in doing these things we can be assured that He will direct our paths.  We are told in Ps 37:23 that the way of a good man is ordered by the Lord.  God has the plan. In our lives, in our communities, in our schools, in our cities, and in our country, God knows what needs to be rebuilt first, who each builder is and the gifts and talents needed for the task.  He knows the strategy of the enemy and has the plan and resources to counteract his attack.  If we are to be successful builders we must consult the master builder. 

In instituting God's plan it is important that several things occur.

Verses 13 - 14 - First it is important that you keep your goal or focus in mind.  Remember why you are involved in the task.  If we do not address the problems of  today's society now, then our children will inherit not only our current problems but will be faced with new problems of their own.  Suppose earlier researchers had not found a cure for tuberculoses and polio, and we were now faced with those diseases as well as AIDS.  Imagine the masses of people who would be dying.  Imagine how difficult it would be to interact with others on regular basis and not contract one disease or the other.   We must remember why change is necessary and rebuilding is needed.  If not we might become frustrated and give up believing like others that the problems can not be solved and that the task is to huge.  But there is nothing that is too hard for God.  And as His people, there is nothing that He asks us to do that He does not empower us to do.

Verse 15 - 18 - There are 2 things to be seen in these verses.  Everyone who has a part in the plan must be fully involved.  You may not be involved in every facet of the plan, but where ever you are involved you must be committed to seeing the task through to its end.  Your part in rebuilding the wall may be to sort through the rubble and separate usable bricks and wood from unusable materials.  Or you may be the mortar mixer, or the brick layer.  What ever your task is you must not quit until your task is done.  You maybe an after school tutor, a sports coach at a recreation center, a girl scout leader, a volunteer arts and crafts leader, etc.  How we get involved is between each individual and God.  He has the plan.  But it is imperative that we get involved in the rebuilding process.

            The second thing in these verses is that we must be prepared for battle at all times.  We should not be deceived into slacking up, because things are going well and the enemy has not shown his head.  Do not be deceived.  If a good work is being carried out the enemy is plotting a way to retaliate.  In  I Peter 5:8 we are told to be alert and watchful because our enemy the devil, like a roaring lion was walking about seeking to devour who ever he could.   Here the builders worked with one hand and held their weapons with the other.  They were prepared to answer to the battle cry. 

Verse 19 - 20 - While in the process of building, be prepared to call for help and to help others.  Since we are all fighting for the same goal - a stronger Church, safe and nurturing communities, peaceful cities,  a strong, God fearing country- we must be willing to fortify the weaker members when they are under attack.  Rom. 15:1 says that we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.  So we must be willing to support and assist one another. 

Verses 21 - 23 - Everyone who was involved in rebuilding, moved inside the wall.  This had to make a crowded condition and certainly some of the comfort of living at home had to be left behind.  Oftentimes rebuilding, whether on a personal, local or national level, requires that sacrifices be made.  We must be willing to sacrifice and even to be discomforted in order to meet the goal.  Even in our Christian walk we are told that if we are going to be an heir with Jesus later, we must sacrifice and suffer with Him now.  What sacrifice will be required?  That depends on where and what God sends you to rebuild.

Chapter 5:1-7 - The Jews who were working on the wall had to buy food and provisions from other Jews who were not involved in the rebuilding process.  These mercenary Jews saw an opportunity to increase their wealth.  They increased their prices and added interest to those people who needed to borrow money for food.  They required their fellow Jews to sell all of their possessions and even threatened to take their children as payment.  In their selfishness and greed, they became a hindrance to the work of the Lord.  If we are going to be successful re-builders we must guard against selfishness and greed.

Chapter 6:1-4 - These men sent for Nehemiah to come to them supposedly in an effort to make peace.  But peace was not their motive.  In your rebuilding, be careful with whom you form alliances.  Everyone who says that they are there to help and support you is not there for that purpose.  Jesus told his disciples that in dealing with the world they should be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).  We must be careful and alert because our enemy is deceitful.

Verses 10 - 14 - There will be many who will try to give you advise, a word from the Lord, a prophesy, etc.  Be care what you listen to.  Don't believe every thing you hear.  All that say I speak in the name of the Lord have not heard from the Lord.  As the end of this age approaches there will be more and more false prophets.  It therefore becomes mandatory for you to know the voice of God for yourself, and to be led by the Spirit of God in all that you do, realizing that His Spirit will not contradict His word.

Verse 15 - Finally know that if God has assigned you a rebuilding project, it can be accomplished.  Don't give up.

Phil 1:6 - We can be confident that God will not give up on the work He has begun in us and through us.  Whatever God is asking you to rebuild, He is there in the work with you.  God Himself instituted the greatest restoration known to mankind when He gave His son for the sins of the world.

I Peter 3:18 - Jesus through his death restored mankind back to God.  He made it possible for each of us individually to cross the gulf that had previously separated man and God.  He became the bridge that allows a connection between God and man.  The bridge of restoration has been put in place.  However, it is responsibility of each man to choose to cross the bridge.  God wants to build a relationship with each of us.