1 Chronicles 15:3 (NIV) David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

f. God’s presence could not be enjoyed until a place was prepared
i. While Nehemiah practiced prayer he was also a performer of faith
ii. The world can only be grasped by action, not contemplation

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

g. Nehemiah carries out a sovereign strategy
i. Strategy = an elaborate and systematic plan of action
ii. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail

II. Nehemiah’s Plan and Preparation Consisted of 4 Primary Parts
a. Appealing to the King
i. After 4 months of prayer, Nehemiah is now ready to present his petition

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

ii. When you wait on the Lord in prayer, you are not wasting your time, you are investing it
iii. God is preparing both you and your circumstances so His purpose will be accomplished
1. Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”
2. Nehemiah 2:1 “and it came to pass”
a. Your moment will come but the question is, are you ready?
i. Ready = completely prepared or in condition for immediate action, use and progress
iv. Nehemiah answers the king with a question
1. Rabbis and Jesus often answer questions with a question. What is the wisdom in this?
a. Makes a person :locate” and find the answer themselves
b. Emotional connect
2. Instead of telling the king what he planned to do, Nehemiah aroused the king’s sympathy and interest, with a question
3. He connected emotionally and evoked empathy

Luke 21:14-15 (NIV) But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

v. The King’s response
1. “What do you want?”

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

vi. As you pray for the problem, you need to prepare for the solution
1. Nehemiah was ready to receive.
a. He said, send me…
b. He said, give me…
c. He asked for…
i. A time (12 years)
ii. Letters of authority
iii. Supplies
iv. Armed troops

Nehemiah 2:18 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

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?

b. His Arriving in the City
i. Prior to his arrival we are introduced to the perpetual enemies to Nehemiah
1. Sanballat = Satan (adversary)
2. Tobiah = carnal mind
3. Geshem = the world system

ii. The “key pint” to his arrival
1. He was discreet
a. Discreet = wise self- restraint, not drawing attention
b. For 3 days he lays low

Proverbs 2:11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 18:13 He who answers before listening that is his folly and his shame.

c. He Appraises the Situation
i. Nehemiah 2:12-16
ii. He imitates God
iii. He is the master strategist

Matthew 10:1-15 God send you as sheep among wolves…

iv. He has thick skin, while maintaining a tender heart
v. He arose in the night and surveys the situation
1. the darker it gets, the greater God will shine His light in the earth through you

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid

vi. He investigates
1. Information is power. Never make a decision with limited information.
2. Do an honest assessment and tell yourself the truth
3. Look at the totality of your life, your destiny
4. Don’t define your ending or yourself by something that you won’t be in 5 years
vii. Identify weaknesses, strengths and vulnerabilities
1. There’s nothing worse then having a goal with no gifting for it
2. Deal with it!!
a. The walls are broken down and the gates are burned, but we can do this with God

III. Nehemiah’s Path
a. The Valley Gate
i. The assurance of our salvation
ii. The sun has set upon this aspect of our lives (if faces west)
b. The Dragon Well
i. Our dominion over the devil
c. The Dung Gate
i. Our confession to cleanse
ii. Realization and confession of our sin is not for guilt and condemnation, but for liberty
d. The Fountain Gate
i. Word of God
ii. This was used as a daily supply of water from the brook, Kidron
e. The Kings Pool
i. The flow of the Holy Spirit
1. Ephesians 5:18
2. John 4:14
3. John 7:37-39

After Nehemiah viewed and surveyed on the night watch, he sent forth a clarion call, “Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more reproach”

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