Introduction

Have you ever met someone who makes a great first impression? They’re stylish, friendly, and fun. You want this person to be your friend. So, you get them in your house, or you plan a beach day.

But then the warts begin to show. You begin to see that this person has deep character flaws. Just as quickly as you latched on, you begin to move on. These disappointments hurt. You begin to think everyone is a hypocrite. They all chase their own glory. I can’t trust or depend on anyone.

So, I have relished getting to know Nehemiah. That’s because, the more I get to know him, the more I am impressed. He’s godly, he’s kind, he’s holy, and he’s incredibly gifted. He had a rare combination of genuine godliness and great leadership capacity. I wish Nehemiah were running for President! That would be awesome.

Nehemiah should inspire you. I hope you will pay attention to this man and by God’s grace aspire to be like him. Everything that made Nehemiah great shines in today’s text. We’re going to cover a long section because chapter 3 is filled with details we can cover quickly. But it tells an amazing story. Nehemiah had a grand vision of what God had called him to do. Despite overwhelming odds, he inspired a nation to join him in that calling.

Of course, the church is not a nation. We don’t have the same political, military calling. But has also given us a great mission. He has called Life Point to impact this town with gospel power, to see souls saved and lives transformed. He’s called you individually to do the same in your sphere of influence. So, my challenge today is, rally together for the cause of the gospel. We can make a mighty impact for Christ as we see God’s call and embrace it. Our text offers 3 steps to making a mighty impact. The 1^st is…

I.  Discern God’s call (2:11–16).

We could take this step for granted, but it is really important. If we as a church and you as a Christian are going to make an impact for Christ, we must know exactly what God has called us to do, and we must believe it matters. That’s exactly what we see from Nehemiah.

Nehemiah believed in God’s call. When our story begins, Nehemiah has just arrived in Jerusalem with the king’s authority and with the king’s checkbook. I’m sure that when he showed up with Persian officers and horsemen, it got everyone’s attention. All the Jewish coffee shops and hangouts were buzzing with conversation about who this Nehemiah guy is and why is he here.

But for 3 days, he says, “I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem.” Why? Remember that just a few years prior, these people had tried to rebuild Jerusalem and the king shut them down. So, the Jews surely felt defeated. And Sanballat and Tobiah were on their toes ready to wreak havoc if they tried to rebuild again.

So, Nehemiah knew he was going to make some waves, and that he must proceed carefully. But again, 12 says it was something “God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem.” I love that. He knew his cause was right and that it mattered. He believed God had prepared him to lead and that God had put this passion in his heart. But why was he so confident in God’s call?

It’s because his mission was about far more than walls, national defense, and politics. Rather, you can’t understand Nehemiah without appreciating the fact that God’s glory and his purpose for the world were vitally linked to the glory of Jerusalem. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion inthe far north, the city of the great King. God, in her palaces, has made Himself known as a stronghold” (Ps 48:1–3). Jerusalem mattered.

So, Nehemiah was ultimately fighting for God’s glory and the spread of God’s fame to all the earth by rebuilding the place from which God had determined to sound out his salvation.

So, this is a good time to say that next Sunday night we are going to discuss spending a lot of money on a building project. Why would we do that? Is it because we want a more comfortable building, better spaces to hang out and shoot the breeze?

No, it’s because this town must know the glory of God. We want to tell boys and girls that Jesus saves. We want to grow healthy disciples and strong families who live in the power of the gospel and can help others do the same. Life Point exists for the glory of God through the spread of the gospel. We know what God has called us to do, it matters, and we believe God has called us to do more.

I hope you believe in that calling. You aren’t just here to hang out, do your religious duty, and then go about your life. You want God to build his church. You want the gospel to change lives and transform this town.

God has done remarkable things through this church for the past 19 years. Praise God for that. But if that’s going to continue and increase, we must stay focused on what God has called us to do and why. We must believe he will give us success. And we must rally together for the sake of the gospel.

Beyond that, you must discern what God may be putting on your heart to do for his glory. How has God prepared you to serve him? What responsibilities has he given you toward your family, classmates, and coworkers? What unique doors has he opened with people in the church or outside the church? Don’t float aimlessly through your days. Like Nehemiah, see what’s happening around you, listen for God’s call, and put some conviction behind it when God puts something on your heart. From there…

Nehemiah carefully planned to fulfill God’s call. Nehemiah really was an amazing leader. He knew that Sanballat and Tobiah sabotaged the last rebuild, and they had friends in Jerusalem eager to tattle on Nehemiah. So, Nehemiah knew he must take a Blitzkrieg Everything must happen very fast before his enemies can respond.

So, he needs a clear and specific plan, but he must plan in secret. So, after 3 days of rest, he embarks on a stealth mission to assess the walls. He goes at night, with a small party and only one donkey or mule. In the 1960s, archaeologists uncovered portions of the wall Nehemiah built. They couldn’t find everything because Jerusalem is a busy city, but we have a pretty good idea of the where Nehemiah built as reflected in this image (slide).

Nehemiah says he snuck out the Valley Gate on the western side of Jerusalem and travelled around the southern tip of the city. He traveled north until he got to a place where he couldn’t pass. Interestingly, archaeologists found a massive rubble pile from Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction along the eastern wall. It probably blocked Nehemiah and forced him to turn around.

All night, he had to be thinking, “What have I gotten myself into? This is a mess and a massive project.” But he refused to be swayed. He came back around to the Valley gate, probably, very close to where he was staying because he didn’t want anyone to notice he was out.

God provided an incredible leader. He didn’t call a meeting and tell everyone to love Jesus and see what happens. Yes, strong faith will often seem crazy to unbelievers, but it is not foolish. No, Nehemiah translated his broad passion for God’s call to a detailed wise plan to get there.

He discerned God’s call. You must do the same. Don’t be content aimlessly wondering through life doing whatever feels good. Study his Word, pray for wisdom, get counsel, and discern how God wants to use you for his eternal glory. The 2^nd step to making a mighty impact is…

II.  Boldly pursue God’s call (2:17–20).

Again, v. 16 says that Nehemiah was careful not to tell anyone what he was planning lest his plans get leaked to his enemies. So, he did his inspection. Then he probably spent a little time building a strategy. Finally, he called everyone together for an all-important speech.

The Speech (vv. 17–18): Of course, Nehemiah nails it. Every leader could learn something from Nehemiah. First, he’s honest about the situation. He doesn’t pretend everything is awesome. Instead, he says, it’s a “bad situation…Jerusalem is desolate (a wasteland), and its gates are burned with fire.” That honesty is important to your own spiritual life, your family, and our church. You can’t solve problems you refuse to acknowledge. Honesty hurts, but it is essential.

I also love the fact that even though he had only been there a few days and had generous provisions from the king, he doesn’t speak as an outsider, and he’s not aloof. He says look at the “bad situation we are in.” We says that we are in this together. We’re going to sink or swim together.

If you want people to trust you and follow you, you can’t be aloof and judgmental. Don’t be the person who tells people what’s wrong with them but won’t sacrifice to see change. Join the cause, feel the hurt, and do the dirty work. Great leaders always lead from the front, not the back.

Notice also that Nehemiah cast a glorious vision. I love the invitation in 17b. It’s very important that you hear the word reproach considering the theology we saw earlier in Psalm 48. Jerusalem’s condition was not just a matter of personal and national embarrassment. Israel’s glory was God’s glory, and Israel’s glory was to bring salvation to the nations.

So, Nehemiah hits the central nerve of every godly Israelite—a zeal for God’s glory in the nation of Israel. In our day, that highest passion is the glory of God in the Great Commission. We want people to see the glory and beauty of Jesus in us, and we want them to share our joy in him.

That’s why Life Point exists. Our constitution states, “Life Point Baptist Church exists to glorify God by pointing unbelievers to new life in Christ and also by leading believers into a fuller life through Christ. If you love the Lord, your heart will yearn to see that mission expand in our town. You want everyone to know the Lord. So, like Nehemiah, be ready to invest your money, your time, and your gifts sacrificially to see it happen.

As well, if you want to impact others, follow Nehemiah’s example by rallying people to a positive vision of God’s great purposes. It’s really sad that political strategists have learned that fear wins more votes than vision. All the negative campaigning may win an election, but it doesn’t unite a nation or make it great. The church must be better. Call people to a high vision and deep passion for God’s glory in the spread of the gospel.

Finally, I love Nehemiah’s confidence (v. 18). He tells the people how God had already answered his prayers. God was moving, and the king had reversed his earlier decree. Nehemiah believed God, so he declared, “Let us arise and build.”

Yes, it’s important that we are honest about the challenges, whether it’s in your family, a counseling situation, growing a church, or doing missions. But people who make an impact for Christ don’t spend their days griping about the challenges; they cast a vision of faith.

I could stand here and gripe about America every Sunday, and a lot of people would pay attention. We like complaining. But it just makes us angry; it doesn’t create zeal for ministry. If you want to lead others toward godly joy and great impact, be like Nehemiah. Cast a confident, beautiful vision of what God can do among your children, your SS class, a disciple, and everyone else. Well, Nehemiah gives his speech. Then notice…

The Response: Verse 18 gets right to the point. “They put their hands to the good work.” It’s incredible. For 70 years Israel had been sitting on their hands. But they bolted into action after Nehemiah spoke. God moved the king, he gave them the leader they needed, and he stirred their hearts.

Don’t doubt the power of God. Sure, every gospel conversation will not end in a conversion, and every disciple will not become a Timothy. Sometimes, God has a different purpose. But he is always able. So, approach every ministry opportunity with absolute confidence in God.

God can provide in marvelous ways for our church. Look at this building. God has done it in the past, and he can do it again. And God will build his church. The fields are white for harvest. God has many people in this town. I hope you believe in God’s power to work and that you will respond like Nehemiah’s audience. Believe in the power of God. Well, God is moving, but that doesn’t mean everything was easy. Rather, vv. 19–20 describe…

The Opposition (vv. 19–20): We talked last week about Sanballat and Tobiah. Now they are joined by another enemy named Geshem. He’s also well-attested in archaeological records. He ruled a large region south of Judah. So, Israel has major enemies to the North, the East, and the South.

They’re angry, and Nehemiah can’t call in an air strike from Susa. These guys will get more aggressive, but they start with intimidation. They mocked the Jews, and they tried to sow seeds of fear and doubt.

But Nehemiah won’t take it. I love his response. Even though he had royal papers and a good plan, his confidence is in God. “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore…” You can have that same confidence when you are leaning on God’s promises. God will do what he said.

Notice also that there was no compromise. He says, “But you…” We know that Sanballat and Tobiah professed faith in God and were involved in Judaistic worship, but they were also pagans. So, it would have been very easy for Nehemiah to make peace by giving them a role in the project. But Nehemiah needed God’s favor more than man’s. He refused to compromise one inch.

It’s not enough that we do God’s work our way. We must do God’s work God’s way. We face so many temptations to bend a little here or there based on the hope of quick success. But anytime you compromise God’s method, you are saying that you know better than God and that human strength matters more than God’s strength. We don’t have to be big, but we must be obedient. Never compromise your convictions. Stand on God’s Word and trust him to be faithful. In sum, Nehemiah did an incredible job rallying the troops. Chapter 3 describes their incredible response. It challenges us to…

III.  Labor in community (3:1–32).

Nehemiah’s administrative skill is obvious in this chapter. He organizes 45 groups to build various sections of the wall (slide). Based on archaeological findings we know the list begins on the northern wall and moves counterclockwise.

It’s also plain that all the sections were not the same size. For example, v. 13 says that Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the entire section from the Valley Gate to the Dung Gate but lots of people worked on the north wall. That’s because most attacks came from the north, so apparently some parts of the wall were in worst shape than others. Regardless, this list speaks to the historicity of Nehemiah. You wouldn’t include this kind of detail in a fable, and the details fit the archaeological evidence. Beyond that, this chapter speaks to the fact that…

God moved. The participation level is truly remarkable. This list highlights the fact that everyone participated. Notice in v. 1 begins the list with the most important person in the nation, Eliashib the high priest. Verse 8 mentions guilds of goldsmiths and perfume makers, and vv. 9, 12 mention city officials. In fact, v. 12 says that Shallum, a major leader in the city had his daughters out working with him. It really was a team effort. There are families, towns, trades, and other groups. Everyone got involved.

In fact, the participation was so strong that v. 5 makes a note of the fact that that the nobles from Tekoa did not participate. Apparently, no one else skipped out. God moved in overwhelming fashion. There’s a good leadership lesson there. If God wants something to happen, he’ll move his people to do it. But if they have no desire, that’s probably God saying no. God cares about his work more than we ever will. You can trust God to accomplish his purpose. But this doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing.

Nehemiah organized. Again, he organized around 45 smaller projects. That required assessing each one and strategically employing each group. Think about the infrastructure involved to have supplies and to have that many teams work toward a single goal. It was a lot of work. Again, Nehemiah really was an incredible leader. But especially notice that…

The people worked together. It’s easy for us to get bored with a list like this, but we really shouldn’t. Nehemiah lists every name to drive home the fact that his was a team effort. This project would not have been possible any other way. So, as you read about each work crew, don’t get bored. Instead, believe more and more in the importance of teamwork.

Now, teamwork is often frustrating. You don’t always agree with how things are being managed, and it bothers you. Your teammates will also frustrate you, or maybe they don’t always carry their weight. But a good teammate doesn’t get angry; he picks up the slack. Verse 27 says that the Tekoites finished their section and then moved on and did another. Meremoth and his family did the same. Who cares about what’s fair. The mission matters. So, get over your irritations and do the job.

I know that every role in fulfilling that mission isn’t always pleasant. You have other pressures. People are annoying. Sometimes it could be done better a different way. You could do a lot of fun things with a 10% offering check. Nehemiah’s team understood. This was hard, dangerous work, and most were poor, subsistence farmers. But God’s glory in the health of Israel overwhelmed all of that, and they went to work.

God has given the church the most important, wonderful mission in all the world. We are here to declare the glory of God. We get to tell people that Jesus saves. And we get to do it in a community with a rare combination of neediness and receptivity.

Conclusion

 So, rally together for the cause of the gospel. Maybe you need to begin by receiving Christ. Christ binds the church together, not activities or hobbies. You must be born again. You need to receive Christ, and let him transform your heart. Maybe you’re saved, but you need to get baptized and become a member. We’d love to talk with you about how you can take a very important step in your discipleship.

Or maybe you are involved but you’ve grown weary or disillusioned. The cause matters. There’s nothing better you can do with your time, your talents, or your resources than to invest in the work of the gospel. Refocus, renew, and let’s rally for the cause of the gospel.