Nehemiah a Servant Of The Lord

NEHEMUAH, A SERVANT OF THE LORD

Text: Nehemiah 1:3-~1

Intro: Nehemiah had been carried away in the 70 year captivity of the Jewish people.

In captivity the Lord honored him and he served the king.

When his brethren came and told him of the condition of Jerusalem,

it moved him to do something about it.

He wanted to go back to the city and help restore it for the honor and glory of God.

God used him in a mighty way to get this job done.

Lets notice what kind of man Nehemiah was.

Lets notice five things about him.

I. NEHEMIAH WAS A LOVING MAN.

A. He loved his place - Jerusalem.

1. Nehemiah was told about the condition of the city of Jerusalem.

2. The walls of this beloved city were broken down and the burned with fire.

3. This man sat down, wept, and mourned certain days and fasted or did without food.

B. He loved his people - the Jews.

1. The Jewish people left in Jerusalem or around it were in great affliction and reproach.

2. These were the ones who were not taken into captivity.

3. Nehemiah was in captivity, but he was doing better than those who were not carried away.

C. He loved his potentate - Jesus.

1. The condition of Jerusalem often reflected the condition of the People before God.

2. Nehemiah loved God. He loved God's people. He loved God's city.

3. A deep love for the people of God and the place of God is an evidence that a person loves God.

4. Nehemiah prayed to the Lord for forgiveness for the Lord's people.

He confessed his and their sins.

II. NEHEMIAH WAS A LEAVING MAN.

A. He left his comfort.

1. Nehemiah was the cup bearer for the king.

He would taste the wine to make sure no one was trying to poison the king.

2. The Lord had blessed him even in captivity.

The king noticed his sad condition.

3. This man was willing to leave the palace to go to a burned down, and destroyed city.

B. He left his career.

1. He had respect and honor in the palace. He had a career.

2. He could have made it fine through the captivity.

He had been exa~ted.

3. He was willing to leave the king and his career and go and do what the Lord had burdened him to do.

C. He left his companions.

1. He enjoyed the presence of the king and his friends and servants.

2. He was part of the in crowd in captivity.

What an honor to be a servant of the king during captivity.

3. He was willing to leave these companions to serve the Lord with the people of the Lord

who lived in a city whose walls were broken down and gates burned.

III. NEHEMIAH WAS A LEADING MAN.

A. The viewing it.

1. Nehemiah went out by night and viewed the condition of the gates in the blessed city.

2. Nehemiah wanted to see with his own eyes the condition of the city so he could determine what needed to be done.

3. If people do not view the condition that exists, they will not be moved in a cause.

B. The vision

1. What Nehemiah saw was a broken down burned city.

This was the present condition of the city.

2. This man saw more than that. He saw what that city could be and he wanted to have part in it.

3. We need people in our church that can see the condition, but also see what we could become.

4. We need people who want to make it happen and be a part of it.

C. The vexing

1. In captivity, Nehemiah mourned the condition of his people and Jerusalem.

2. It troubled him to see the city of God existing in such a condition

3. Our trouble today is people are not moved and troubled by what they see.

4. People are more concerned about their own lives than the work of the Lord.

IV. NEHEMIAH WAS A LABORING MAN.

A. The condition of the city

1. Nehemiah, did not look at the city and say there is no use.

2. He was not willing to let it continue in that condition.

3. He was a man of action and work. He knew what needed to be done and he was willing to do it.

B. The challenge to the people

1. He challenged them to build for the Lord. There always must be someone who challenges others.

2. We need more builders. We need more people who are willing to labor and work for the Lord.

3. He was not willing for the people to live in and under this kind of reproach.

C. The consol .on from the king

1. The king gave letters to Nehemiah to give to the keeper

2. ~~:h~i~0~t~~u~~8permit Nehemiah to use timber from his forests to build the gates and walls.

3. The Lord always provides the needs for His work. We must be willing to do the work and take the challenge.

D. The conviction of the people

1. The people said, Let us rise up and build.

2. They strengthened their hands to do this work. The Lord gives the grace and strength to do the work.

3. This was a gclod work. The people were convicted the work needed to be done and they did it.

E. The companionship of God

1. Nehemiah told them of the good hand of God upon him.

2. Long ago Moses said, If thy presence goes not with me, carry me not hence.

3. The Lord has told His churches that He is with them always as the do His work. Matthew 28: 19,20

V. NEHEMIAH WAS A LOYAL MAN.

A. The obedience to God

1. The Lord burdened his heart to do this work.

2. He left all to do what the Lord moved on him to do.

B. The opposition from man

1. The Lord's work will always face opposition from mankind.

2. Sometimes the opposition comes from within and sometimes it comes from without.

3. The Devil assaults the messenger, attacks the message, and agitates the membership.

C. The obligation to God

1. Loyal people! feel a great obligation to the Lord and His service.

2. We have a job to do and may we not allow family, friends, finances, or foes to take us away from our obligation.

D. The opportunity for the servant

1. God can use anyone and everyone in His holy service.

2. We are to be laborers together with God. I Cor. 3:9

3. We are to seek His kingdom and righteousness first. Matthew 6: 3

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