Arise and Build!Lessons from the

Life of Nehemiah

Let us Arise!Nehemiah 2:11-3:32

The Spiritual Battle in Nehemiah:• Language of the Text: xr (“evil”)• The Spiritual Condition of the Jews: Oppression• Nehemiah as a “type” of Christ: A Redeemer

Sanballat Tob

iah

Geshem

City of David

1,000 B.C.

King Solomon950 B.C.

King Hezekiah700 B.C.

Nehemiah’s Re-Construction445 B.C.

The Ten Gates of Second Temple Jerusalem

Dung

Fountain

Water

Horse

East

Valley

Old

Fish

Sheep

Inspection

King HerodA.D. 30

Today …

Suleiman IA.D. 1538

Muslim

Quarter

Jewish

Quarter

Christian QuarterArmenian

QuarterZion

Damascus

Herod’s

Dung

Jaffa

New

Lion

Dung Gate

Zion Gate

Jaffa Gate

New Gate

Damascus Gate

Herod’s Gate

Lion’s Gate

East (Golden) Gate

Nehemiah’s Language before the Jews:• The “evil” situation• The “desolation” of Jerusalem• The “reproach” of the people

Nehemiah’s Motivational Strategy:• Appeals to their national identity• Identifies with his audience - “we” and “us”• Points to God as the Master Conductor

Nehemiah’s Construction Plan:• Delegate and organize into manageable sections• Motivate every sector of the population• Give God the glory!

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ …

- Ephesians 4:11-12 An “Every Member

Ministry”Soloists / Orchestra =

Leaders / Congregation