1. Nehemiah God’s Plan for Renewal Nehemiah God’s Plan for Renewal Nehemiah God’s Plan for Renewal Nehemiah God’s Plan for Renewal Prayer ה Compassion ו Sacrifice ה Leadership י Purity Nehemiah ( וה יה ) God’s ( וה יה ) Plan for RenewalNehemiah Chapter 7 & 8: Guarding the Walls – Guarding the Heart

2. Where is your treasure ? When I say “treasure” what comes to mind? What do you “treasure” in life? What does the world “treasure” or consider “treasure”? What are you passionate about? What do you devote yourself to? “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:21 (NIV) “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” Matt 6:19-21 (The Message)

3. What do you consider worth “guarding”? “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) Where do the Israelites now find themselves? What’s been accomplished? Was it worth the effort? Is it worth preserving, guarding, protecting? What would be the costs if it was destroyed again? How hard might it be to rebuild the wall “one more time”?

4. Finished the wall! What’s next? “After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.” Neh 7:1-3 The works done! We’re tired. Let’s go play & party! What did Nehemiah and the people consider the PRIMARY goal? How much work did it take to rebuild the walls? Would the walls and gates alone protect the people?

5. Worship’s Over…See ya next week! Was the work really finished? “Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return.” Neh 7:4-5 What was left to be done? Respond to the question: What’s more important “Brick & Mortar” or “Body & Soul”? Has anyone conducted any genealogical research? Is it easy? What’s required? Why do you do it?

6. Does God Know the Hairs on Your Head? Nehemiah goes back to the records of the families that came from Persia to Judah in 536 B.C. and makes an exhaustive list of names and numbers. Included in his list are leaders, people by families, people by cities, priests, Levites, temple servants, Solomon’s servants, and returnees without a genealogy, the total number of people, their animals, and the gifts given for the support of the work. “This is what I found written there: These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah): The list of the men of Israel:” Neh 7:6-7 “The whole company numbered 42,360”

7. God Had a Plan for Each & Everyone! What was special about these people? (1) The walls weren't all that important; what was important was the benefit the walls could have in the lives of God's people (enabling them to live in peace and security). This list flows beautifully after the completion of the work, because it reminds us that the work was really all about these people. (2) The building work wasn't all that important; what was important was the benefit the building work had in the lives of God's people (teaching them to work hard, work together, work through adversity and attack, and work till the job is done).  Faithfull  Courageous  Committed  Engaged  Accountable  Trusting  Responsible  Prayerful

8. Has God Transformed Willing & Obedient Hearts? “So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.” Neh 8:2-3 Did Nehemiah initiate the reading of the “Law of Moses”? What do you think is going on here? Then who did?Did Ezra? “Now all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.” Neh 8:1 The first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

9. The Pastor will preach & teach for 6 hours today! Are you excited? Do WE hunger and thirst for God’s Word? Who stood beside Ezra? How did Ezra respond? How did the people respond? Would you say the people were HUNGRY & THIRSTY for God’s Words? “Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.” “Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” Neh 8: 4-6

10. A Revival Of the Hearts: Promise Keepers Ever heard of Promise Keepers?

11. And all the people said… …all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Neh 8:6  The people thanked God (by saying Amen when Ezra blessed the Lord) “The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.” Neh 8:7-8 Thanksgiving, prayer, and praise are all good measures of how the Spirit of God and Word of God are working in us.  They prayed (by lifting up their hands)  They worshipped (by bowing down before Him)

12. Understanding God’s Word… “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jer. 33:3

13. Weeping Before the Lord “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." So the Levites quieted all the” people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” Neh. 8:9-11 Why might the people be weeping? Why might they be grieving?

14. The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength! The sorrow for our sins should never be bigger than the joy of our salvation when Jesus is our Savior. We are great sinners, but He is a greater Savior.

15. Be Glad In The Lord BE GLAD IN THE LORD Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, All ye that are upright in heart; And ye that have made Him your choice, Bid sadness and sorrow depart. Refrain Rejoice, rejoice, Be glad in the Lord and rejoice; Rejoice, rejoice, Be glad in the Lord and rejoice Be joyful, for He is the Lord, On earth and in Heaven supreme; He fashions and rules by His word— The ‘Mighty’ and ‘Strong’ to redeem. Refrain What though in the conflict for right Your enemies almost prevail? God’s armies, just hid from your sight, Are more than the foes which assail. Refrain Though darkness surround you by day, Your sky by the night be o’ercast, Let nothing your spirit dismay, But trust till the danger is past. Refrain Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, His praises proclaiming in song; With harp and with organ and voice The loud hallelujahs prolong! Refrain Words: Mary E. Servoss (1849-1906). Music: James McGranahan (1840-1907)

16. Gladiolus Gladiolus is a perennial in the Iris Family favored for its beautiful, showy flowers. Its flowers grow on tall spikes. 1. Plant gladiolus bulbs in the spring once danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. 2. Ready your garden by using a garden fork or tiller and loosen the soil to about 12 to 15 inches deep. After loosening the soil, mix in a 2– to 4–inch layer of compost. 3. Plant your bulbs 4 to 8 inches deep with the pointed end facing up. Space the corms 3 to 6 inches apart. Water the corms thoroughly. 4. Gladioli like well-drained, light soil and full sun. 5. It takes about 90 days from the time gladioli are planted to root, grow, bloom, and store enough energy for the next season. “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven” Lam. 3:40-41

17. More Hunger for God’s Word Hungry, Thirsty…and Obedient! “On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law.” Neh. 8:13 “They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem” Neh. 8:14-15

18. Obedience…and Joy Abounded! “The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.” Neh. 8:17-18