Lessons From Nehemiah: The Battle to Build

In every generation, God will raise up an army of believers in Jesus Christ that will establish His kingdom on the earth. The establishment of His kingdom requires that you face the battle to build. As we look at Lessons from Nehemiah we will find that there are at least 5 preparations for building and 7 oppositions that will come once you begin the building process.

Nehemiah 2:17-19, “Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.”

In context, there was a report in Nehemiah 1 that those who survived the exile and were back in the province were in great trouble and disgrace. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down and its gates burned. There was a Babylonian captivity taking place. In other words, spiritually it appeared as if hell was winning this battle. As I read Nehemiah I began to think about the state of the American church. Hell wants to destroy the church in the last days but it is powerless to do so when we stand on the Word of God.

In the process of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah receives the report that the Jews returned in unsafe conditions and were humiliated. They had no defensive walls for the temple. Nehemiah gives the charge to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that they will no longer live in disgrace. Nehemiah had the assignment from God to build walls, workmen, and warriors and these 5 preparations to build are nonnegotiable.

Nehemiah 1:4 says, “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

1. NEHEMIAH HEARD THE REPORT

This seems like a simple thing but Nehemiah took the time to hear the report. He did not ignore the report, he was not in denial of the report. This is one of the reasons the church has not been built properly in the last days. Many are hearing of what hell is doing, how many are in sin, and the compromised Gospel but they do not take the report to heart. Once we hear the report of what the hell is doing, we must position ourselves to do something about it in Jesus name.

2. NEHEMIAH SAT DOWN

Nehemiah heard what the enemies had done so he shifted his posture and sat down. I know this seems insignificant but it would be a powerful part of the process. His posture changed as he refused to just keep going along with what hell was doing in making God’s people appear like they were in a healthy situation. He had to pause his life and change postures about this.

3. NEHEMIAH WEPT

When you see what hell has been able to do to so many people in and out of churches across this nation through sin, hurts, wounds, and offense it can cause you to weep. Jesus wept over the city. If you are going to build something for God there has to be a weeping that is coming from the intercessors that care about building a church that honors God.

4. NEHEMIAH MOURNED FOR MANY DAYS

Nehemiah didn’t just weep he went into mourning for days. We will never build the church that God has called us to build in the last days if we are not weeping and mourning over what hell is doing to people’s lives. If someone is bound up and on their way to hell we must mourn that they are dead in their trespasses and sin. We are the carriers of God’s presence that brings freedom.

5. NEHEMIAH FASTED AND PRAYED BEFORE THE GOD HEAVEN

Nehemiah knew that there was no hope for Jerusalem, for the walls to be rebuilt and for God’s people to be in a place of safety unless he fasted and prayed. If you want to impact a region for the glory of God and build a safe haven for God’s people that is defended against the powers of hell then you will have to hear the report, sit down, weep over the lost, mourn for the spiritually dead and fast and pray to build something long-standing for the kingdom of God.

When you are going to build something that honors God there will be spiritual opposition against your life. I want you to see the posture of those that were building. They knew that they had to be workmen and warriors.

Nehemiah 4:16-17 “So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.”

I want to quickly give you the 7 spiritual oppositions that you will deal with when building something for God’s Kingdom.

1. THE ENEMY WILL GET ANGRY WITH YOU

Nehemiah 4:1 “But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.” Know that people around you will get extremely angry when you move forward in what God has called you to do. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and keep building!

2. THE ENEMY WILL MOCK YOU

Nehemiah 4:1 “But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews.” People will make what you are doing seem laughable. Keep building!

3. THE ENEMY WILL CONSPIRE TO FIGHT AGAINST YOU AND BRING CONFUSION

NEHEMIAH 4:7-8 “Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.”

Conspired means that people will be going behind your back secretly to fight you. They will create an atmosphere of confusion in hopes to divide and conquer. You must keep building!

4. THE ENEMY WILL THREATEN YOU

Read Nehemiah 4:10-23

People who cannot stand you building something for the Kingdom of God will threaten to harm you or they will threaten you with their existence or the removal of their tithes and offerings. In this state of building let them go and keep building!

5. THE ENEMY USED CRAFTINESS

Read Nehemiah 6:1-4

This means that people will use clever and deceitful methods to accomplish their aim against your life. Keep building!

6. THE ENEMY ACCUSED THEM

Nehemiah 6:5-9, “Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”

Beware of the spirit of accusation that will attempt to stop you from building. Keep building as the accusations begin to fly. People who are full of jealousy and envy will always attack you with accusations.

7. THE ENEMY USED TREACHERY ( BETRAYAL AND DISLOYALTY)

Nehemiah 6:10-14, “Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this reason, he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.” My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.”

When you are going to build something for the Kingdom of God you must watch for betrayal that will begin to break out. People you never thought would turn on you will turn on you in a heartbeat if it benefits them and the whole time they will spiritualize their decision. Some will even call what their doing the leadership of the Holy Spirit and prophecy even when what they are saying is a clear violation of scripture.

You must prepare to build whatever God has called you to build! You must also be able to discern the spiritual oppositions of the enemy that seeks to stop you from building. There will always be a spiritual battle to build but keep building!