“There’s Trouble in the Rubble!” Nehemiah 4:7-23

The people prayed and the problems didn’t go away, in fact they increased…

The enemies… are resorting to intimidation…

Nehemiah had to re-motivate the work force Nehemiah had to re-motivate the work force. That meant understanding the cause of their discouragement….

to show how we are to motivate each other in the work of the Lord Purpose: to show how we are to motivate each other in the work of the Lord

I There Were External Reasons (4:7-12) A. Close to Exhaustion

“Elijah, eat and take rest “Elijah, eat and take rest. I can’t talk with you until you get your rest…”

I There Were External Reasons (4:7-12) A. Close to Exhaustion B. Nowhere Near Completion

Remember family vacations? “Are we there yet?...”

“You know Sam, this business of bumming one’s way through life isn’t all that great. We spend nights on park benches or cold barns. We travel by freight trains always dodging police…”

II There Were Internal Reasons A. Had an Inappropriate Fear

Anytime you have an inappropriate fear… this leads to the second cause.

II There Were Internal Reasons A. Had an Inappropriate Fear B. Had an Inadequate Faith

Pray that you see and recognize the difference between good fear and ungodly fear?...

III Deal With Discouragement (4:13-23) A. Changed Peoples’ Focus

We either have a great problem or we have a great God We either have a great problem or we have a great God. You can’t have both! Let’s get our eyes off the rubble…

III Deal With Discouragement (4:13-23) A. Changed Peoples’ Focus B. Charged Their Fortifications

Nehemiah beefed up defenses at vulnerable points in the wall… Was this a lack of faith on Nehemiah’s part? No, it’s showing a faith THAT works!

Matthew 26:41 Colossians 4:2 1 Peter 5:7-8

III Deal With Discouragement (4:13-23) A. Changed Peoples’ Focus B. Charged Their Fortifications C. Challenged Their Future

“We’re not just building a wall, we’re building for the future…”

III Deal With Discouragement (4:13-23) A. Changed Peoples’ Focus B. Charged Their Fortifications C. Challenged Their Future D. Consolidated Their Fellowship

Nehemiah had a man with a trumpet stand by… “When the trumpet is blown, everyone is to come and stand beside the one in trouble…”

Hebrews 10:24-25

Lombardi said three things: Fundamentals… Discipline… Care for…

Summary and Conclusion: Ministry is Messy – if God were afraid about getting dirty/messy, we wouldn’t have had a manger… Faithfulness Means Finishing – Satan’s aim is not to make us atheists. His aim is to make us agnostics – quitters…

“What’s the use,” he wrote. “I’ll never get it done “What’s the use,” he wrote. “I’ll never get it done.” John Wesley, sick and on his deathbed heard that Wilberforce was quitting the fight. He asked for a pen and paper and with a shaky hand wrote the following:… William Wilberforce

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Summary and Conclusion: There is a rubble free city, brethren. God is building it. He is building it for you and me. He’s simply asking us to stay at the wall until that time comes.