It’s time for a worship service! Nehemiah has the prophet Ezra lead the people in a wordhip service to have the people focus on God and all that God has done for them. We see thus in Nehemiah 8:1-8. Not only did the people listen to God’s Word, they also listened to the explanation and application of God’s Word. When we study God’s Word do we look for ways to apply it to our lives? Just reading it does not ensure we will live it out. We must make a conscious choice to follow the teachings we learn there. What will we learn and choose to follow today?

A whole lot of numbers going on! Reading through the rest of Nehemiah chapter 7 can be a bit challenging. Lots of names and numbers as scripture records the listing of people and their gifts. It can be tempting to overlook this chapter. However, a couple of exciting truths can be found here. First, God is concerned about names. We may not know who these people are, but God does and He deemed them worthy to be included in scripture. Names matter to God. He knows our name and He records our names in the Lambs book of Life if we have believed in and followed Him. I can certainly…

The wall has been built! However, Nehemiah’s leadership is not over. In Nehemiah chapter 7, verses 1 through 4, we see Nehemiah continuing to take a strong leadership role. However, he delegates his position to others in order to establish more of a long-term leadership solution. He doesn’t keep the leadership role for himself, instead he seeks to find capable people who he can entrust that role. He delegates his brother and another Godly man who he trusts to be the ones in charge of the wall that they have now built. The people put this together, but now they need to man it and make it strong so that…

Nehemiah and his group finally complete the work that God has given them to do. In Nehemiah chapter 6, verses 15 through 19, we seen the amazing and miraculous completion of this group of people dedicated to doing what God had them to do. In only 52 days they were able to completely rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Now that’s cause for celebration! Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the end of trouble for Nehemiah. Sometimes we think once we’ve actually completed the work that God gives us to do that means we’re free from persecution and strife. No. The enemy still is looking to discredit and to cause the downfall of…

In Nehemiah chapter 6 verses 10 through 14, we see yet another attempt by the enemy. They were threatening Nehemiah’s life. So one of their fake Prophets, comes to Nehemiah and tells him, “Look, go into the temple and hide. You’ll be safe there.” However, Nehemiah kew that what they were asking him to do was wrong. And doing the wrong thing even for a seemingly right reason, is still wrong. The same holds true for us today. We must understand that God’s holiness demands that we be obedient to him in all areas. There will be some things where being obedient to God is not the easy or the…

Distraction. Satan loves to use distraction to switch our focus off of what God has for us to do. In Nehemiah 6:1-9 we see the enemies trying to distract Nehemiah. The work is going well and nearing completion, but now the enemies are trying to get Nehemiah to leave the work and come to a meeting wth them. When he continues to refise, they spread lies about him. All things done to try to distract the Nehemiah from the purpose that God has given him. Nehemiah responded that he didn’t have time to be distracted and kept working. He turned their distractions over to God and got back to work.…

Do we model the Christian Life for others? In Nehemiah chapter 5, starting in verse 14 through 19, we see Nehemiah in a position of leadership setting the example for how a believer should act in a position of leadership. Nehemiah demonstrates and models that idea of servant leadership. He doesn’t use his power and authority to oppress the people or to demand more from them, he uses it as an opportunity to serve the people and to demonstrate what true servant leadership looks like. Today, we can read book after book about the importance and the effectiveness of servant leadership. Nehemiah obviously knew God would have him lead. How…

Do we get angry at the injustices we see around us? Nehemiah did. We continue on and Nehemiah chapter 4, we see in the first 13 verses of the chapter that there was some serious injustice happening among the Jewish people. The people had nothing. They had just been released from captivity and were coming back to their lands and their fields, and yet those people who did have anything we’re subjecting the others to huge loans such that people couldn’t possibly find ways to repay them. They were selling their children into slavery to try to repay these loans and all of these were loans that the Jewish people…

Do we live in readiness for an attack? As a believer in Jesus Christ, we should know that there is always an attack on the horizon. The world hates us, Satan hates us, and both are looking for an opportunity to strike at us. Nehemiah completely understood that feeling. As you read in Nehemiah chapter 4 verses 15 through 23, we see how Nehemiah responds to the threat of attack. He is already been warned that he has opposition to the God-given purpose of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. He knows they are planning an attack. So what does he do? He readies his troops and helps them understand that…

Even though Nehemiah and his group withstand the initial frustration of the enemy, his enemy is by no means done. Continuing in chapter 4, starting with verse 7 and reading through verse 14, we see the enemy regroup and intensify their plan of attack. The Jewish people hear it, and this time instead of just Nehemiah being the one to pray, everyone is praying. The people all take precautions, and Nehemiah sets up some very practical responses to the threats that they face. But, they don’t stop the work! They continue on doing what God has given them to do. As we mentioned before, we are going to face opposition…