Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls

    When two teams go out to face each other the test is the final result; - this is the most important result; who will win, not who wins the most battles on the way. The team that wins will be the team that follows its own plan of attack, respect its own leadership, each member will fulfil their own role and not try to do others roles, the team will know why they are playing, and most importantly they will not respond to or be discouraged by their opponents. The team that wins will plan but will not in their mind play the game before they are on the field. They want to be in the game, live it, experience it and win it. As we look at Nehemiah we see this in him.

    Spiritual growth is about much more than just studying the Bible. It's about growing deeper in each of God's purposes: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. Genuine spiritual maturity includes having a heart that worships and praises God, building and enjoying loving relationships, using your gifts and talents in service to others, and sharing your faith with lost people.

    James had to warn the first Christians “Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead put it into practice!” James 1:22

    The old illustration of the pond that becomes stagnant because it takes in water but doesn’t give any out is appropriate here. When any Christian’s schedule consists completely of receiving input all the time but has no outflow of ministry or evangelism, then spiritual growth will stagnate. When we want to rely on someone else to provide the schedule for us we are in trouble.

 Let me put it this way: - Impression without expression leads to depression

    When I look at someone and see my own sin, my need, my frustration, because I have identified my need in theirs, then I have no stones to throw (and yet you should see my rock collection!)  Yet when I see my own sin in someone else, my hands are free and I can help. What is true fellowship if it isn't this? We stand inside each other's shoes. We look at the world through someone else's eyes. We see them and we see ourselves in the same situation. Players in the same team. Look at Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. He got inside her shoes and saw someone well aware of her own guilt. She didn't need to hear she was a sinner -- she already knew that -- she needed to be forgiven. In contrast, the blokes standing around ready to stone her never had a clue about her because they never got out of their own holy shoes to even give her a second thought. They were glad they had caught a sinner red-handed; they knew they were right on this one. And yet they were on the same team. And of course you know Christ's response to them. Since they could not see their own sin when they looked at her, they had His permission to stone her to death. You too can have this right if you do not sin or see your sin in someone else. Jesus gave that right to these people, yet look what Jesus did; He forgave. And isn't this the kind of help we all want: Help from someone who understands and passes no judgment but builds us up? Someone who knows where they are going.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls; let us read from Nehemiah;

Nehemiah 2:9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen. 10 And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. 13 And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the dragons well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned. 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 17 Then said I unto them, ye see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also of the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, what is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king? 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem. 

    As soon as Nehemiah arrived, he began to face opposition. When Sanballat the Horonite and his associate Tobiah, from Ammon heard that Nehemiah had arrived on the scene to help Israel, they were displeased. Immediately they began to plan how to stop Nehemiah from achieving his goal. But Nehemiah's motivation remained undaunted. He knew that God had brought him to this moment in Israel's history and he was about to tackle a project that others, for almost 100 years before him, had been unable to complete.

    Nehemiah knew there was no way he could share with the people in Jerusalem what God led him to accomplish without first doing some research planning. After taking time (three days), presumably to think, pray, and get acquainted with some people there, he took a few men into his confidence, men he could trust. Then he made a careful survey of the walls to analyse the problem he faced. After Nehemiah had completed his survey and was satisfied that he had developed a workable plan, the time had come to reveal to the Jews why he was in Jerusalem. First he challenged them to notice their deplorable circumstances, which had brought them trouble and disgrace (cf. 1:3). Then he challenged them to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and followed his challenge with a personal testimony as to how God's gracious hand (cf. 2:8) had granted him favour before King Artaxerxes. When Nehemiah gave his challenge, the people's negative feelings became positive. Despair turned to hope. They responded and began the rebuilding process. Word spread quickly regarding the Jews' response to Nehemiah's challenge. As soon as their enemies heard the news they stepped up their efforts to hinder the process. They used every demoralizing technique they knew, beginning with ridicule and the suggestion that they were rebels. Joining Sanballat and Tobiah (cf. v. 10) was Geshem (cf. 6:1-2, 6) the Arab.

    But Nehemiah was ready for their attacks. He affirmed that the God of heaven (cf. 1:4-5; 2:4) would enable them to succeed. The Jews, God's servants, would rebuild, but the three opponents had no share or claim (even to the present day) or historic right (to the past) to the city.

    Once again Nehemiah brought the task-both in the eyes of Judah and his enemies into clear focus. Their dependence was not to be on their abilities, or even the human resources available, or personal genius. Their hope was in the God of heaven!

Nehemiah exhibited many characteristics necessary as an effective leader.

1. He established a reasonable and attainable goal.

2. He had a sense of mission.

3. He was willing to get involved.

4. He rearranged his priorities in order to accomplish his goal.

5. He patiently waited for God's timing.

6. He showed respect to his superior.

7. He prayed at crucial times.

8. He made his request with tact and graciousness.

9. He was well prepared and thought of his needs in advance.

10. He went through proper channels.

11. He took time (three days) to rest, pray, and plan.

12. He investigated the situation first hand.

13. He informed others only after he knew the size of the problem.

14. He identified himself as one with the people.

15. He assured them God was in the project.

16. He displayed self-confidence in facing obstacles.

17. He displayed God's confidence in facing obstacles.

18. He did not argue with opponents. Big time no.1

20. He was not discouraged by opposition.

21. He used the authority of his position with courage.

    Nehemiah knew that a task as enormous as rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, especially under ad-verse conditions, called for unusual organizational effort. The uniqueness of Nehemiah's plan is evident in chapter 3. He assigned everyone a specific place to work. This coordination stands out in the phrases "next to him," "next to them," "next to that," "the next section," "beside him," and "beyond them.

Nehemiah was a team builder. Let us pray for God to reveal the teambuilders in the church.