Experiencing God at Work

Insights for Victorious Christian Living - #3 of 5

From congregational readings in Nehemiah, Aug 24, 08

1 - God works by giving a person a burden

Neh 1:1-5 In the twentieth year [of the King's reign]... I questioned [my brother and some other

men] about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me,

"Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The

wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these

things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

2 - God works by giving a person favor

Neh 2:1-8 I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the

king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness

of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should

my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have

been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of

heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his

sight, let him send me to the city in Judah...so that I can rebuild it." Then the king... asked me,

"How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I

set a time. I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors...And

may I have a letter to. Asaph, keeper of the king's forest...And because the gracious hand of my God

was upon me, the king granted my requests.

3 - God works by giving a person vision

Neh 2:11-16 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with

a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem....By night I

went out...examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had

been destroyed by fire...The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as

yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be

doing the work.

4 - God works by giving a person the ability to mobilize others

Neh 2:17-18 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its

gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer

be in disgrace." I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had

said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.

Neh 3:28-30 The priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. Next to them, Zadok...made

repairs...Next to him, Shemaiah... made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah...repaired another section.

Next to them...

Neh 4:6 The people worked with all their heart.

5 - God works by giving a person the ability to lead others to overcome obstacles

Neh 4:8-15 [Angry neighbors] plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up

trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so

much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."...Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us

ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us." Therefore I stationed some of the people

behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places...After I looked things over, I stood up

and said..."Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your

brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." When our enemies heard that we

were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his

own work.