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Nehemiah
Re-built the Walls of Jerusalem
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Nehemiah 2:20 (NIV)
I
answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his
servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in
Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."
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After Nehemiah heard
the news that the wall of Jerusalem, his hometown, had fallen he was so sad
that he couldn't eat anything for several days and he only cried while
praying to God.
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At that time Nehemiah
was a well trusted wine bearer of the king. When God heard Nehemiah`s prayer,
God moved King Artaxerxes' heart to help Nehemiah to rebuild the Jerusalem
wall.
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King Artaxerxes even
wrote a letter for Nehemiah so he would not get harmed on his way.
He also sent some soldiers for Nehemiah until the end of the country.
Nehemiah returned safely to Jerusalem.
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When Nehemiah arrived
at Jerusalem he went for a stroll to inspect around the wall. Jerusalem was
ruined to the point that no one would even think there used to be a wall.
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The next day Nehemiah
gathered the leaders of Judah and announced what he would do. "Everyone,
the Jerusalem` wall is ruined and the gates are burnt. The people of the LORD
should not be humiliated like this anymore. God commanded me to rebuild the wall,
so he moved King Artaxerxes to provide me everything to rebuild the wall.
Now, together with me let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
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When the news spread
that the Jerusalem wall was being rebuilt, some people were trying to disturb
them. These were the men, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem and the rest of the
enemies of God who mocked Nehemiah by saying; " Are you trying to be a
rebel to the king?" " And do you really think your people have the
power to rebuild it?"
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Nehemiah said firmly.
"God will help us to succeed. We are God`s servants. We will start to
rebuild the wall." Nehemiah believed in God that He would help them to
succeed.
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All the people of
Judah who lived in Jerusalem started to work on the wall of the Jerusalem
fortress. Even the high priest Eliashib worked to rebuild the door on the
wall. As time passed, little by little the Jerusalem wall started to look
like its old self.
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The group of people
who opposed on rebuilding the Jerusalem wall started to go against them much
harder. They planned carefully to stop them from rebuilding the wall of the
fortress.
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When Nehemiah heard
this he prayed to God. "God, please hear me. They are looking down on
God. Please, do not let them look down on us and God and let us win through
your power and humiliate them."
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Nehemiah believed in
God and armed the people. Nehemiah made half of the people armed to be
guards. The guards did their best to protect the wall, they even wore their
armor when they went to get water.
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The opposers bid the
prophet called Shemaiah to lure Nehemiah and kill him. But God protected
Nehemiah. God gave wisdom to Nehemiah to go through those dangerous
situations.
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King Artaxerxes made
Nehemiah the governor of Judah. When Nehemiah became the governor of Judah,
he was so sad that the people of Judah were living poorly. So he did not even
keep his salary for himself but he gave it to help the people there. Nehemiah
was the governor who truly loved his people.
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Nehemiah truly
believed in God even in hardship. God accomplished things that seemed
impossible for Nehemiah. The fallen Jerusalem wall was rebuilt only in 52
days.
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God helps someone
like Nehemiah who only trust in God and work with courage. If it is something
God is happy about, He will help you to accomplish it even though it may look
like it is something impossible. We should also plan something that God will
be happy about and carry out that plan with courage.
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(You can change the conclusion of this sermon best suiting
to your listeners of this sermon. We want to make it clear that the provided
conclusion is only a sample conclusion provided by CTM.)
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