1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Let us pray think upon me, my God, for good 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: according to all that I have done for this people 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: Niemiah five nineteen. My Lord, as I look around and 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: observe all of the blessings that you have bestowed upon me, 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: quicken my heart to be mindful of your children who 6 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,479 Speaker 1: have yet to lay hold of all the promises that 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: you have in store for them. With this quickening of 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: my heart, I pray that you will give me the 9 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: vision and resources needed for me to carry out the 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: rebuilding of your children. Like the wall in the book 11 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: of Nehemiah, I now understand that I am called to 12 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: help build the walls of hope in the hearts of 13 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: your children who are lost. I thank you for uncommon 14 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: favor with powerful kings like Arctic Cirxes. I thank you 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: that the deed has all already been written for me 16 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: to receive all of the provisions and protection needed for 17 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: me to act out the next assignment for my life. 18 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: I decree and declare that I will not allow the 19 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: voices of those who are jealous of your favor to 20 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: stop me from building and completing my mission. I decree 21 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: and declare that, like Nehemiah, you quicken and multiply the 22 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,559 Speaker 1: works of my hands, so that I will be able 23 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: to accomplish more in less time. I command every limiting 24 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: thought that would hinder my momentum to be removed and 25 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: cast away. I can, and I will rebuild the lives 26 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,559 Speaker 1: of those around me, because you have anointed and appointed 27 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: me to do so. Lord, in Jesus name, Amen. Listening 28 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue 29 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: hearing from the Lord by listening to Today's Bible in 30 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: a Year brought to you by Bible in a Year 31 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: dot com. 32 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 2: Niemiah builds the wall. In our last story, the invisible 33 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: and silent hand of God was used mightily in the 34 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 2: life of Esther. In the presence of a great threat 35 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 2: to the Jews in the Persian Empire, an unlikely hero 36 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: was raised up to save them. Now we learn of 37 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 2: another hero sent by God, Nhemiah. Niemiyah oversees the rebuilding 38 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 2: of Jerusalem's Temple. He gives them hope and encourages them 39 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: to trust in the protection of God. Yet no wall 40 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: could truly protect them from their real enemy. Inspired by 41 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: the Book of Nhemiah. 42 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 3: In our previous episode, we heard how God used Esther 43 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: a young Jewish woman to save his people from the 44 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 3: evil plan of Hayman, which was to wipe out the 45 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 3: Jews in Persia. We see her courage to speak up 46 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 3: for her people at great personal risk, and we see 47 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: it demonstrated again that God doesn't need the strong and 48 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: powerful to accomplish his purposes. He can do amazing things 49 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 3: through people who are available to him. There are really 50 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 3: two abilities that are needed, availability and expendability. And today 51 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 3: we're going to hear of another who was willing to 52 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: step up and do what God put upon his heart 53 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 3: to do for him. A man by the name of 54 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 3: Nehemiah will see the sorry state of Jerusalem and mourn 55 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: for his homeland and his people. But then he will 56 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 3: hear the call to boldly act to rebuild and restore 57 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: what had been lost. Let's listen now to God's word. 58 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: The sun was shining on the empire of King art Dexerxes, 59 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: the mighty nation of Persia shone in the light of day, 60 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 2: gleaming with prosperity and power. Serving in the great halls 61 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: of the king was Nehemiah. He was a Jew by birth, 62 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 2: a descendant of the exiles, and loyal to the God 63 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 2: of Israel. He served as the king's cup bearer and 64 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: had his undying trust. Nehemiah served the king diligently and 65 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: with joy. The two became very close. However, Neemiah's heart 66 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 2: always longed for the promised land. The exiles had returned 67 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 2: home to the great city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah had caught 68 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: word that the temple had been rebuilt and the exiles 69 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: were creating new lives for themselves. Niemiah asked his brother 70 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: how the new settlement in Jerusalem was faring. When asked 71 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: the question, his brother's face turned bleak. I am afraid. 72 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 2: The remnant is in great shame. The walls were broken 73 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: to begin with, but now they are completely destroyed. They 74 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: are vulnerable and live in constant fear. As soon as 75 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: Niemiah heard these words, his knees buckled. He wept on 76 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 2: the floor for his kin in Jerusalem. He beat his 77 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: fist against the floor, imagining the women and children of 78 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 2: the city lying awake in fear every night. A city 79 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: without walls was a city without hope. Niemiah mourned over them. 80 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: He knew what must be done. His forehead pressed against 81 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: the stone floor, his prayers echoed in his palace chambers. O, Lord, 82 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: he whispered, grant me favor for what I am about 83 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: to do. The next morning, Ne'emiah was serving food to 84 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: King Ardaxerxes. N'emiah's usually jovial demeanor was replaced with deep contemplation. 85 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: The king took notice of this. What troubles you, he asked, 86 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: as he was finishing his breakfast. You are usually filled 87 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 2: with the joy of your God. Something must have changed. 88 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 2: Nehemiah froze with fear. For a moment, he and the 89 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: king were close. However, he was still considered a god 90 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 2: in the land. To be on his bad side was 91 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 2: ill advised. Live forever, my king. Nehemiah feigned a smile 92 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 2: forgive me, but my face reveals a sorrow for my people. 93 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 2: Their city is in ruins and the gates are destroyed. 94 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: The king looked closely at Nehemiah. Artaxerxes has heard many 95 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: stories of the Hebrews from his grandfather Darius. He had 96 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: heard of Daniel, David, and Moses. Like his grandfather, he 97 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: held a soft spot for the Hebrews. His stepmother, Esther, 98 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: was also a Hebrew. He had learned much from her. 99 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: What are your true desires? Nehemiah, Arta Xerxes asked plainly. 100 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: The cupbearer bowed and said, if it pleases you, I'd 101 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 2: like to see my people and help them rebuild the wall. 102 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: As you know, I am a skilled architect. Neemiah's words 103 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: resonated with the king. Artaxerxes looked at his wife, who 104 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 2: was beside him. She seemed to agree that the cause 105 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 2: was noble, so Artaxerxes allowed for Nehemiah to go. Not 106 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: only did he allow for his departure, but he funded 107 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: the project himself. He sent money, resources, laborers, and architects 108 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: to aid in the building. Nehemiah and his team traveled 109 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: for days and finally returned to the once great city 110 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 2: of Jerusalem. Its high towers and low valleys filled Nehemiah's 111 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: heart with joy. He had always imagined visiting the great city. 112 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: Now his dreams had finally come true. Nehemiah could smell 113 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: the faint odor of burning mortar from a distance. As 114 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 2: he drew closer, he could see that parts of the 115 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: walls were still smoldering from their previous attacks. He walked 116 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 2: the whole distance of the wall, holding his hands against 117 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 2: the broken stone. The walls represented the fortitude of God's people. 118 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 2: As long as these walls were broken, so would their spirits. 119 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: Nehemiah gathered the tribes and elders together. They planned through 120 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: the night, taking note of which repairs needed to be 121 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 2: addressed first. Each tribe and family was responsible for overseeing 122 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 2: their own portion of the wall. With the funds of 123 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: the King, Nehemiah's guidance and the favor of God, the 124 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: wall began to find its strength once again. Men, women, 125 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 2: and children all did their part to see the wall 126 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 2: reach its highest potential. As the walls rose, so did 127 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 2: the spirits of the people. However, the project was not 128 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 2: without opposition. The tribes that lived on the outskirts of 129 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 2: Jerusalem hated the exiles. Since their return, resources had been 130 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: more scarce and land was disputed over. They jeered and 131 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: snickered at the builders, seeking to demoralize them. Look at 132 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 2: these feeble little Jews trying to rebuild what's broken, they scoffed. 133 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 2: Be careful that a fox does not brush its tail 134 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: against your wall, lest it fall again. The men laughed. 135 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 2: The Jews already lacked confidence since they lived most of 136 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: their lives as exiles. Now they had to listen to 137 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: the ridicule of their oppressive neighbors. Yet they kept working 138 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 2: and the wall continued to grow. The borderland armies could 139 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: not bear the thought of Judah reclaiming its power, so 140 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,479 Speaker 2: they joined forces to rise up against them. The exiles 141 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 2: stirred in fear. They were vulnerable and had very little 142 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 2: to defend themselves with. Nehemiah did not waver. He put 143 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: a sword in each man's hand and set up watchmen 144 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 2: to take guard over the workers. The men continued to work, 145 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: but their confidence was Nehemiah saw this and stood before them. 146 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 2: Listen to me, He shouted, our God will fight for us. 147 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 2: Keep building. If you hear the trumpet, rally to us, 148 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 2: and we will watch the Lord defend us. So each 149 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 2: man worked with a hammer in one hand and a 150 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 2: sword in the other. Weeks had passed and the Lord 151 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 2: had thwarted many plans to assassinate Nehemiah. Each time the 152 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 2: border lands would try and lure him out into a meeting, 153 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 2: Neemiah was spared by warnings of their true plans. The 154 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: wall grew day by day, as did the confidence of 155 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 2: the people. It was as if building the wall itself 156 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: was what the nation really needed. They needed to come 157 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: together for a common cause and purpose that served as 158 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 2: a greater protection than the wall itself. Neemiah began to 159 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: plan for life after building. He gathered the leaders of 160 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 2: Israel together and instituted a day where all debts were 161 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 2: forgiven in the land. Nehemiah knew that a land could 162 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 2: not thrive if the people were continually indebted to one another. 163 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: This would prove as a powerful image of things to come, 164 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 2: a day when the Lord would forgive the debts of humanity. 165 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 2: After fifty two days of labor in the hot eastern sun, 166 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 2: the walls stood as a monument of hope for the 167 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 2: entire nation. For the first time since exile, God's people 168 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 2: were able to sigh a breath of relief. They no 169 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 2: longer had to live in constant fear of ambush and violence. 170 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 2: They could live in peace. They could worship in peace. 171 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 2: Nehemiah called for Ezra to come before the people and 172 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 2: read the word of God. There they bowed before the 173 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 2: Lord and confessed their sin. They bassed in his forgiveness 174 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 2: and responded to the call to be better. Feasts and 175 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: festivals were held to celebrate it. Yet all of it 176 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 2: fell like no wall could truly protect them from the 177 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: real threat. No brick could shield the people from their 178 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 2: true enemy. The enemy of sin still existed, It still 179 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: bore its teeth like a hungry lion. No wall would 180 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 2: ever be large enough to protect them from their own hearts. 181 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 2: That would take an act of God, that would take 182 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:31,599 Speaker 2: an act of the Messiah. 183 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 3: In today's scripture, we meet Nehemiah, a Jew who liked 184 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 3: other Israelites before him, had worked diligently even as a 185 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 3: captive at an exile, and had gained therefore favor with 186 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 3: people in power. In Niemiah's case, it was King Artaxerxes, 187 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 3: the Persian ruler. Nehemiah was one of the most trusted 188 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 3: servants of this man. He served as the cup bearer 189 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 3: to the king and therefore served him food and drink, 190 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 3: protecting the king from poisoning by his adversaries. He was 191 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 3: close to the key. Neemiah knew of the work of 192 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 3: Ezra to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and this brought 193 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 3: him great joy to know that his homeland was being restored, 194 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 3: But he wasn't there, so he wanted to know what 195 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 3: was actually going on in Jerusalem, and when he asked, 196 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 3: the news disturbed him greatly. The city wall, their first 197 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 3: and best defense against invaders was on the ground in shambles. 198 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 3: The remnant was living in constant fear in this rubble. 199 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 3: They were living in shame for the sad state of 200 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 3: their homeland. Neemiah was broken, He was distraught. He knew 201 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 3: that the walls of Jerusalem represented hope and peace and 202 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 3: the glory of God, and he couldn't imagine his brothers 203 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 3: and sisters living without God's glory, without God's hope in 204 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 3: their lives. So Neemiah weeps, he mourns. And then Neamiah 205 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 3: went to action. And his first action, the first thing 206 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 3: he did, was to get on his knees. He knew 207 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 3: that unless he had God's favor and blessing upon his life, 208 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 3: none of his efforts would be fruitful. We can learn 209 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 3: here so much from Nehemiah. Prayer is not our last chance, 210 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 3: it is always our first choice. Too often we are 211 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 3: quick to act and react, to reach out to those who, 212 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: from a human perspective, had power and resources to help. 213 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 3: And while there's a proper course of action, we must 214 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 3: never forget to go first to God, who is our 215 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 3: source of strength, who is our source and our resource. 216 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 3: Always we are to submit to His will and ask 217 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 3: for his blessing and favor and for his provision. Neamiah 218 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 3: understood this, and it made all the difference in what 219 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 3: he was going to do next. Before Niamiah even spoke 220 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 3: to the king, God prepared the king's heart. And so 221 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 3: when Niamiah went before this powerful man the following day, 222 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 3: and the Xerxes took note of the change in the 223 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 3: countenance of his trusted servant, he noticed that he was 224 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 3: full of faith and courage. This opened the door for 225 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 3: Nehemiah to tell the king that Jerusalem was in ruins, 226 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 3: and amazingly, the king not only allowed Neemiah to return 227 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 3: home with his protection and blessing, but he sent resources 228 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 3: and workers for the enormous work that needed to be done, 229 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 3: the rebuilding of the walls. Once again we see how 230 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 3: God uses people just like you and me to accomplish 231 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 3: his purposes. Everyone has a place on the wall, everyone 232 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 3: has a place of service to rebuild and restore what 233 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 3: God is doing. Nehemiah arrived to Jerusalem with great anticipation 234 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 3: but also an understanding of the massive responsibility. He gathered 235 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 3: the elders and the people to survey the work that 236 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 3: needed to be done. Here again we learn a valuable 237 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 3: lesson from Nehemiah. He knew he had God's favor, but 238 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 3: that did not mean it would be smooth sailing or 239 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 3: that he could just mail it in without a plan. 240 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 3: God had granted Neemiah wisdom and skill at developing and 241 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 3: planning and leading, and so he did not just dive 242 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 3: into the work. He developed his plan and his strategy 243 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 3: with the people. As we have heard, Neemiah's campaign to 244 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 3: rebuild the wall was not universally embraced or accepted. As 245 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 3: is the case with any work that God has ordained 246 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 3: for his glory, there was fierce opposition to the work. 247 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: It didn't stop with derision and doubt and danger. There 248 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 3: were actually people who tried to stop the plan and 249 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 3: undermine the work that Nehemiah was set to accomplish. But 250 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 3: Neemiah reassured the people that God was on their side, 251 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 3: saying to the leaders and to the people in Neemiah 252 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 3: four fourteen, do not be afraid of them. Remember the 253 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 3: Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, 254 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 3: your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. What 255 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 3: a great challenge for us in the twenty first century 256 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 3: that we would fight for our families, for our husbands 257 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 3: and our wives, our children and our grandchildren. His words, 258 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 3: the words of Neemiah, sound like the words of Paul, 259 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 3: who would later write, if God before us, who can 260 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 3: be against us? We are more than conquerors through Christ. 261 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 3: The people were emboldened by his words and pushed on 262 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 3: even against hardship and opposition. Step by step, brick by brick, 263 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 3: the walls came up and the city was protected by 264 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 3: outside threats, but there were still threats internally, and Neemiah 265 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 3: set out to bring the people together. And when he did, 266 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 3: debts were forgiven, the poor were ministered to and cared for, 267 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 3: and the nation continued to heal. Then Neemiah called Ezra 268 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 3: to read God's word in the presence of the people. 269 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 3: Their forgetfulness of God's ways had brought them to their 270 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 3: lowest point, and only in turning back to God's word 271 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:08,479 Speaker 3: could he preserve this newfound peace and prosperity among the people. 272 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 3: As the people listened, revival came to his people. Through 273 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 3: this podcast, we have seen time and time again of 274 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 3: the cycle of sin and judgment and restoration revival among 275 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: God's people. I pray that it has been apparent to 276 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 3: you that this tragic cycle can happen again and again, 277 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 3: and it is happening in the world today, It is 278 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 3: happening in America today, and the only solution for the 279 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 3: problems we face is spiritual awakening, that God would rescue 280 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 3: his people and revive us again in the midst of 281 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 3: the years. Dear God, we thank you for your word. 282 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 3: We thank you for the Old Testament with so many 283 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 3: exciting stories, sobering stories, stories that remind us that you 284 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 3: and you only are God. We find our strength and 285 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 3: our favor and our valor in You. Help us to 286 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 3: do always what you have called us to do, to 287 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 3: build and rebuild the things that you desire. And we pray, 288 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:14,360 Speaker 3: o God, that your church, call by your name, would 289 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 3: faithfully advance your kingdom until you come again in Jesus' name. Amen. 290 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 3: Once again, thank you for listening to today's Bible in 291 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 3: a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 292 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 3: Let me encourage you to download the pray dot Com 293 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:35,959 Speaker 3: app and make Bible study and prayer a real priority 294 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,679 Speaker 3: in your life. And if you are enjoying this podcast, 295 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 3: share it with someone you know, someone you care about, 296 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 3: because sharing God's word has a powerful impact upon people's lives. 297 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 3: And if you want more resources as to how you 298 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 3: can find faith, grow in your faith, develop as a 299 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 3: disciple and follower of Jesus, be sure to visit me 300 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 3: at Jack Graham dot org. We have plenty of resources 301 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 3: that will encourage you and equip you for life. God 302 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 3: bless you.