Nehemiah encouraged the Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem because they were in distress with the city in ruins. He told them that by rebuilding, they would no longer be objects of scorn. When opponents mocked their efforts, Nehemiah reminded the people that God would prosper them in this good work. He urged them to rise up and build, with confidence that God would help them succeed.

1. Let Us Rise Up
and Build
Nehemiah 2:11-20
Maud church of Christ
By Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, January 27, 2013

2. Let Us Rise Up and Build
What Can I Do to Help the Church Grow?

3. Let Us Rise Up and Build
We Must Understand the Urgency to Grow
Neh 2:12 NKJV Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with
me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at
Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on
which I rode.
Matthew 6:31-34; Acts 22:16

4. Let Us Rise Up and Build
We Must Recognize that WE are in Distress
Neh 2:17 NKJV Then I said to them, "You see the distress
that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are
burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of
Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach."
The Lord’s church has not grown in U.S. in nearly 40 years
John 17:20-21

5. Let Us Rise Up and Build
We Bring Ourselves Reproach when we do not bring our best before God
Reproach – Object of contempt, scorn or derision. (Webster’s 1828)
Neh 2:17 NKJV Then I said to them, "You see the distress that
we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with
fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no
longer be a reproach."
Neh 2:19 NKJV But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah
the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it,
they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this
thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?"
We must always give our Best; Col. 3:17; 3:23

6. Let Us Rise Up and Build
We Rob God When We Do not Bring our Best
Look at Abel; Gen. 4:4-5; Heb. 11:4
Mal 3:8-10 NKJV "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed
Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes
and offerings. (9) You are cursed with a curse, For you have
robbed Me, Even this whole nation. (10) Bring all the tithes into
the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me
now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you
the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That
there will not be room enough to receive it.
But How Do We Rob
God; 2 Cor. 5:7

7. Let Us Rise Up and Build
We Need to Know that to Build is a Good Work
Neh 2:18 NKJV And I told them of the hand of my God which
had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had
spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they
set their hands to this good work.
Neh 2:20 NKJV So I answered them, and said to them, "The
God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His
servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or
right or memorial in Jerusalem."
1. God will prosper us; Mark 10:28-30.

8. Let Us Rise Up and Build
We Need to Know that to Build is a Good Work
Neh 2:18 NKJV And I told them of the hand of my God which
had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had
spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they
set their hands to this good work.
Neh 2:20 NKJV So I answered them, and said to them, "The
God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His
servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or
right or memorial in Jerusalem."
1. God will prosper us; Mark 10:28-30.
2. Let Us Rise Up and build the church at Maud; Eph. 2:19-22