The Old Testament of what God did is also a foreshadowing of what He wants to do in our lives.

The Old Testament of what God did is also a foreshadowing of what He wants to do in our lives. Seeing what God does allows us to apply it to our lives today.

Nehemiah established 3 areas of protection for Jerusalem
1. Gate guards
2. Singers (offered praises to the Lord)
3. The Levites (priests responsible for the Word).

Psalm 137 describes the Israelites while in exile and their desire to sing the songs of Zion without a place. The singers were often appointed as gate guards. The praises offered protection, too. Our lives need the same protection, or they will become a place of destruction. 

The enemy's weapons are sneaky.

The Israelites had been released from exile in Babylon as God impressed upon His people to reestablish a place to worship Him in Jerusalem. Ezra led the rebuilding of the temple and then Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the walls. Today we are in Nehemiah 6 with the rehanging of the gates. 

Here are 3 ways that the enemy attacks.

1. Compromise
2. Slander
3. Threats

Where have you experienced compromise that got you off track from God's will?

How have you faced or dealt with slander or threats?

What do you want to change in behavior after applying one of Nehemiah's responses?

Allow the truth of God's Word to change our lives.

Kingdom success means unity - a unity that is rooted in the simplicity of the gospel and empowered by Spirit-filled living. The church is not about building buildings, better programs, or better entertainment. The church of Jesus Christ is about changing lives, restoring souls, healing minds, and redeeming sinners. From that model of ministry comes abundant living, free-flowing grace, and the fruit of the Spirit that this world needs. So, we need the church. Our children need the church. As we stand "next to" others in unity, abundant living is released.

Boundaries are important in our lives.

This series, Out of Exile from Ezra and Nehemiah, continues as we see Israel freed from captivity in Babylon. Jeshua and Zerubbabel led the first and partial group back to Jerusalem to restore the Temple. The Temple for the Jews was very important to worship God. After the Temple was rebuilt, Ezra came to restore the worship in the Temple. He prayed and sought God's direction. Then Nehemiah had a burden and was sent to rebuild the walls of his hometown, Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.” These people had been living in this destruction for a long time, without a wall and boundaries. 

Boundaries are important in our lives as they create security, give structure and identity. Boundaries help to keep us safe and are important to help us occupy all that is given to us. In rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah was helping to rebuild Israel's identity.

5 Keys to rebuilding community:

1. Acknowledge the problem

2. Be a part of the solution

3. Work together

4. Don't confuse gifting with calling  

5. Finish what you start

Desire Restoration.

Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

The five stages of persecution. Each one happening in progression.

Stage 1: Stereotyping
Stereotyping is to oversimplify a group of people with ridicule, deriding language, and hatred.

Stage 2 is accusations of crime and misconduct.

Stage 3 is minimizing the role and effect of a group in society. 

Stage 4 is the criminalization of Christianity, when activists set out to ruin those with whom they disagree then it's persecution. 

Stage 5 is the active persecution of a targeted group. 

These stages are happening in our society now. Now, there is a landslide of cultural animosity toward the church that cannot be abated by voting in the right politician. We need an awakened church that is willing to stand firm against the demonic wokeness of our day. In 2015, we seemed to be in stage 3. Today we are seeing the beginning of stage 5. 

This is a call to the church to be biblical and mature in the days ahead.

The Spirit of God comes to restore.

How can we make a difference with problems around us?

God's people have returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple after exile in Babylon. The temple is rebuilt; worship is rebuilt, and now Nehemiah gets a burden from the Lord to rebuild the community in Israel and rebuild the wall.

It has been 160 years since Babylon destroyed Jerusalem; 92 years since the end of the exile; 72 years since the completion of the temple; 14 years since Ezra arrived in Jerusalem; 13 years between the end of Ezra and Nehemiah Chapter 1. 

In Nehemiah 1, we learn six keys to rebuilding the walls of community for us today.

Ezra's prayer has significance for his people and for us today.

Coming out of Babylonian captivity, the Israelites start rebuilding of God's temple as it was a very significant part of their lives. It was the place they offered worship, sacrificed, and encountered God. Ezra 9 finds a significant prayer of confession. 

Ezra 9:1-2 When these things had been done, the Jewish leaders came to me and said, “Many of the people of Israel, and even some of the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.”

Israel was living under a different covenant than we have today. Israel was bound to the law that gave direction for the covering of their sin and how to engage their God. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice and established a new covenant for us today. This grace of Jesus made salvation available to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

Ezra takes to heart God's Word and steps out in faith.

Israel went through 70 years of captivity and exile in Babylon and the Book of Ezra begins with their release to go back to Israel - out of exile. Leader Zerubbabel and Priest Jeshua returned with a small remnant of people to Jerusalem and began to rebuild the temple of the Lord. They finished it and then temple sacrifices were restored. Between Ezra 6 and 7 are 58 years. The Book of Esther fits in this time. Ezra 7:1 Now after these things... The lineage of Ezra needed to be traced and was significant because it determined Israel's possessions and their birthright. It shows continuity in God's Word; it is one story; God has not stopped the work in His people. There is continuity for us too - our lives are in this place that God might speak to us today.

As Israel starts to rebuild their temple, adversity comes! Their adversaries came from the inside, from logistical frustration, and from outsiders. Three words to remember when it comes to adversity: position, condition, and completion.

Don't step away from the place that God has called us. When the Israelites were faced with adversity, they stayed in place and held their ground. They knew what God had told them and stood firm.

If God put you in a place then adversity will come. Sometimes we take adversity as a sign to leave or retreat. One way to fight the temptation to leave is to decide ahead of time that you are not going to walk away. Simply commit to not walking away from what God has called you to. We do this in marriage. We decide and commit ahead of time that we will stay together and face adversity together.