NEHEMIAH 4:6 "WILLING WORKERS"
INTRO: Nehemiah was the cupbearer of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. * One of his close kinsman arrived from Judea, and Nehemiah was informed of the pitiful condition of Jerusalem and residents of Judea. * Upon learning of their condition, Nehemiah was much grieved,
* And at once conceived the idea of going to Jerusalem and rebuilding the walls of the city.
* This was a great task which required much hard work, but Nehemiah was willing to work,
* And he found others that were willing to work with him!
* By a united effort and a will to work, the job was finished.
(1) NEHEMIAH’S PREPARATION FOR THE GREAT TASK THAT LAY AHEAD ...
* Luke 14:28-30 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and ..."
* The job was bigger than he could do by himself. * It was necessary for him to find others
who would help him.
* Individuals often conceive ideas of great works that they can’t do alone.
* Then they have the responsibility of getting others interested.
* A church group of willing workers can usually put over most any project they are willing
to undertake.
A) Nehemiah saw the necessity of the job to be done! - 1:2-3!
* His beloved city walls were destroyed and his people were suffering afflictions & reproach.
* There was a job to be done and Nehemiah felt like he was the man for the task.
* He saw the necessity & he felt the responsibility, and that will get the job done!
* Pr. 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
B) He took God into the task with him! * Neh. did not underestimate the job, neither did he do
the great task before prayer. * God’s people too often see the necessity of things to be done,
* and undertake them without taking God into the task with them.
* We must work with God in all our Christian endeavors! * Listen to what the Bible says:
* 1 Cor. 3:9 "For we are laborers together with God ..."
* Paul recognized the importance of working with God! * We too often work independently
of God and try to accomplish the task within ourselves.
* God is a jealous God and will not work with those who ignore Him!
* To work with Him, we have to work His way, not ours!
* God should be taken in every task as a partner! * Don’t do anything without Him!
(2) THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE UNDERTAKING * Nehemiah was a great man!
* Wise, godly and very influential, but he met opposition in his righteous endeavors.
* Something my wife told me about bars, stores and churches.
* Anyone who goes all out for God will meet many difficulties!
A) Nehemiah met the monster of fear - 2:1-2 * The very first enemy he met was fear!
* "I was sore afraid." * He was afraid of the king. * Nehemiah was about to cross the
bridge before he came to it.
* When the king understood Nehemiah’s problem, he encouraged him and helped him to
rebuild the walls! * Did you know that most of the things we fear never happen?
* Fear has defeated people more than any other monster!
* Let us rise, forget ourselves, think of others and become willing workers at the task assigned
to our hands!
B) Nehemiah had enemies - 2:10 * There are always some who oppose the Lord’s work!
* Sanballet, who apparently held some command in Samaria, bitterly opposed the man of God.
* Nehemiah didn’t become discouraged to the point of quitting! * He fought on until the walls
were completely finished!
* There are always some discouraging features in every good work!
* The devil always opposes God’s people and every good work, heaping upon them dis-
couragements, extra burdens and hardships possible!
* The devil is out to stop us! * Don’t let him! 1 Pt. 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant, because ..."
(3) THEY BUILT THE WALLS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK!
* The children of Israel were poor slaves, they had no money!
* Nehemiah went to God in prayer and the Lord touched the man’s heart who had the money
and everything else it took to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem!
* If the people of God can move Him in prayer, He’ll always make a way for them!
A) They put their hope & dependence in God, (2:20). * When people have nothing else to
depend on, they usually turn to God!
* This is exactly what the children of Israel did, and He helped them in time of need!
* He’ll help anyone & everyone who relies upon Him!
B) The people were willing workers - 2:18 * When they heard the words of their leader,
* they said, "let us rise up and build." * A willing mind to work is hard to defeat!
* Over every obstacle, they worked on, keeping in view the finished walls!
C) They were doing a great work and couldn’t come down! * The enemy has several
ways to hinder the work of God.
* After Sanballat had tried laughing, scorning and criticizing, he then invited Nehemiah to
one of the villages in the plain of Ono for a conference - 6:2.
* He, no doubt would have given Neh. a big and honorable feast if he had agreed to leave
the work of God!
* The devil would do many great honors to God’s people, if they would just compromise!
D) It was a big, hard job! 4:19 * God’s people can do big things when fear and discourage-
ment are overcome! * Deciding to do a thing is half the battle!
* After these people made up their mind, they worked from early morning until dark!
CLOSE:
A) Any congregation can build a church home if they decide that they want one!
* Any little group of God’s people can increase their congregation and build their Sunday
school, if they decide to go to work!
B) The walls of Jerusalem were built because the people had a mind to work!
* Let us make up our minds that we are going to work! 4:20-23
C) Parable of 4 men: Their names were ; Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Peter Anybody,
and Joe Nobody.
* All were neighbors, but they were not like you and me. * They were odd people,
* and most difficult to understand. * The way they lived was a shame!
D) All 4 belonged to the same church, but you wouldn’t have enjoyed worshipping with them.
* Everybody went fishing on Sunday or stayed at home to visit some friends.
*Anybody wanted to worship, but was afraid Somebody wouldn’t speak to him.
* So guess who went to church? * Yep; Nobody!
E) Really Nobody was the only decent one of the crowd. * Nobody did the visitation,
* Nobody worked on the church building. * Once they needed a Sun. School teacher.
* Everybody thought Anybody would do it, Anybody thought Everybody would do it.
* And you know who did it? * That’s exactly right, Nobody.
F) It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the area.
* Everybody thought Somebody should win him to Christ.
* Really Anybody could have made an effort.
* You probably know who finally won him ....... Nobody!
G) This little parable brings to focus again the fact that each of us is personally responsible
for God’s work.
* If we leave it for somebody, or everybody, or anybody, nobody will do it.
* Let’s work till Jesus comes!
