1. Reconnaissance

3 “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. 13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. Nehemiah 2:11-16

2. Vision

18b They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” Nehemiah 2:18b

2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. Habakkuk 2:2

18a Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; Proverbs 29:18a

3. Favor

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:5

8 “The king granted my requests, for the gracious hand of my God was on me.” Nehemiah 2:8

19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people. Nehemiah 5:19

5b His favor lasts a lifetime Psalm 30:5b

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12

4. Cooperation

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47

5. Critics

25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:25

6. Effort

6 “So we rebuilt the wall... for the people worked with all their heart.” Nehemiah 4:6

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23

7. Discouragement

10 The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall. Nehemiah 4:10

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16, 18

8. Completion

15 o the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 6:15