Mar. 09, 2025

The sermon begins at 19:00 min into the video. The music is licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

REBUILDING WITH PURPOSE: Nehemiah's Leadership Journey

 Have you ever looked at something completely destroyed and wondered how it could possibly be restored? Perhaps it's a relationship, a community, or even areas of your own life that seem beyond repair. In Nehemiah's story, we discover powerful principles for approaching seemingly impossible rebuilding projects with God's perspective. Nehemiah chapters 2-3 show us a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The temple had been rebuilt, but Jerusalem's walls remained in ruins - leaving the city vulnerable and its people living in shame. God placed a burden on Nehemiah's heart, despite him having no construction experience as the king's cupbearer. This reminds us that spiritual restoration often begins with God burdening someone's heart about what's broken.

God Uses Ordinary People in Extraordinary Ways

Nehemiah was not a builder by trade or training. Scripture gives no indication he had ever constructed anything - not even "a birdhouse." He was simply a cupbearer to the king, yet God called him to organize and lead a massive construction project. This continues God's pattern throughout Scripture of using unlikely people: Moses (a shepherd and fugitive) to lead a nation, David (the overlooked youngest son) to become king, Paul (a church persecutor) to become an apostle, and ordinary fishermen to change the world. If God could use them, He can certainly use you - regardless of your background or training. Truly, Pastor Dave shared his own journey of being assigned to rebuild and restore various churches despite being "a welder" by trade. This pattern reinforces that when God accomplishes something significant through ordinary people, He receives the glory. Or as he illuminated, 

"God delights in taking people out of their element, out of their expertise, out of their comfort zone, and doing something significant with them."

Servant Leadership Identifies With Those Being Served

When Nehemiah surveyed Jerusalem's destruction, he didn't stand apart and criticize those who had failed to take action. Instead, he demonstrated true servant leadership by identifying completely with the people:

"You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies in 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." (Nehemiah 2:17)

This approach stands in stark contrast to pointing fingers and saying "you people need to fix this." Compassion moves beyond feeling sorry for others to identifying with their situation and taking action alongside them. When we stand on our soapboxes pointing fingers, we have little influence. When we say "we're in this together," restoration becomes possible.

Unity in Diversity Accomplishes God's Purpose

Nehemiah chapter 3 lists person after person doing their part in the rebuilding project. The repetition of phrases like "next to them" and "after him" creates a beautiful picture of people working side by side despite their differences. The rebuilding team included priests, perfumers, goldsmiths, merchants, and even women. Some traveled from distant cities like Jericho, while others simply worked on the section of wall directly in front of their homes. Their vocations, backgrounds, and assignments differed, but they were unified in pursuing God's purpose. This diversity mirrors our church today - people with different backgrounds, education levels, talents, and interests coming together to accomplish God's work. Some contribute through formal ministry roles, while others serve right where they are in their everyday lives.

Putting It Into Practice

1. Do your part - identify the unique contribution you can make to God's rebuilding work
2. Use your gifts - your vocation may not be "ministry," but God can use your specific skills and talents
3. Focus on what's close to you - what broken area directly in front of you needs attention?

The Call: Take time this week to prayerfully consider: 

• What broken area do you see that needs rebuilding? 
• What is God placing on your heart? 
• Remember, if He has given you eyes to see a need, He may be calling you to be part of the solution - even if you don't feel qualified.

Remember, just as Christ came to seek our good and rebuild our broken lives (Ephesians 2:1-10), we're called to participate in His ongoing work of restoration in our world.