Nehemiah #1: Chapter 1, Rebuilding the wall
Brother Stephen recounted how Nehemiah, upon hearing of the affliction of the Jews in Jerusalem, mourned and prayed for days, confessing the sins of Israel. Nehemiah's heart was burdened for his people, leading him to seek permission from King Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and its walls. Stephen emphasized that the history of Israel serves as a lesson for Christians today, who are likened to being in Babylonian captivity, caught in the confusion of the world and religious systems. He urged believers to return to the simplicity found in Christ and to rebuild their lives with God and with one another. The rebuilding of the temple symbolizes restoring the relationship with God, while the rebuilding of the wall represents unity among believers. Stephen concluded by highlighting the importance of being separated from the world to foster unity in Christ, encouraging the congregation to respond to God's call to rebuild and restore their lives and community.
Outline of Main Points
Introduction to Nehemiah's story and context.
Nehemiah's mourning and prayer for Israel.
God's call to return and rebuild Jerusalem.
Comparison of Israel's history to the current state of Christianity.
Call to return to the simplicity in Christ.
Importance of rebuilding the temple (relationship with God).
Significance of rebuilding the wall (unity among believers).
Encouragement to separate from the world for unity in Christ.
Conclusion and prayer for Nehemiah-like leaders.
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
