REBOOT: Dream Reboot
Introduction:
Today I’d like you to take a journey with me through the book of Nehemiah. If you don’t know who he is, you will by the end of my message. He was given an assignment from God, one man, to reboot the dream of a nation. Today, as the church, we are called to be a Nehemiah.
Title: Dream Reboot
Chapter 1
The book opens after a remnant of Jews had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra. They went back to rebuild the temple of God.
Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King Artaxerxes. It was a highly trusted position, during a time of war and treason. He poured the king drinks.
One day his brother and his friends came to visit Nehemiah. He asked how things were going with the Jews that had returned.
His brother reported that things were not going well. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire.
Nehemiah begins to pray. “God remember what you told Moses? If you disobey me, I’ll scatter you, but if you come back to me no matter where my people are I’ll put them back in place, those I choose to mark with my name.” Let the king be kind to me today.”
Chapter 2
He went in to serve wine to the king. He asked Nehemiah, “Why are you sad?” This was his opportunity, though he was terrified. He proceeds The city of my family is in ruins and the city gates are down.
“What do you want?”
Send me to Judah where my family is buried so I can rebuild its wall and gates. He went as far as to ask the king for letters to validate this quest. The letters represented the king’s orders for safe journey and provision of materials for the rebuild. On top of that, the king sent an army escort for safe travel.
The enemies Sanballat and Tobiah heard what was going on, they became angry that anyone would come to help the people. They began to mock their efforts.
Nehemiah arrived and had been there for three days before doing anything. He finally went out at night, assessed the damage and came up with a plan.
Nehemiah’s Dream Reboot
2:17-18 He went back to the people and said “Jerusalem is a wreck. Let’s rebuild the wall and set the city gates. Let’s not live in this disgrace any longer.” The people were eager to get started. They agreed and said, “Let’s get started!”
v. 19 The enemy showed up. “Ha, what do you think you are doing?”
v.20 Nehemiah responded “God will help us. He will make sure we succeed! You have no say in this!”
Chapter 3
The rebuilding of the wall and gates begin. People jumped in and worked together.
Why was the rebuilding of the wall so important?
With no wall, the city was vulnerable to attack. They appeared weak and open for an enemy to get in. The thought was to build the wall only to half it’s height, to begin, and enclose it. This way if an enemy was going to try to get in, they would have to first scale the wall. They would have to work to get in. As they completed a portion of the wall, they then restructured the gates. The plan was to work till they were completely closed in.
God had a dream for the Jews. To set them up in land flowing with milk and honey. He would bless them and provide all they needed. This is what they were fighting for. It was worth protecting. Nehemiah and the people were working to keep the dream alive!
Chapter 4
1-2 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger, vilifying the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he let loose: “What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of make-believe?” 3 At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, “That’s right! What do they think they’re building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.” (MSG)
V 4-5 How did Nehemiah handle it? He did not engage with the enemy but prayed instead.
v. 6 The people kept on working, they were almost done, things were coming together, they had a heart to work.
Nehemiah 4:7-9 “When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well—that the breaks in the wall were being fixed—they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could.” (MSG)
v. 9 The people countered with prayer and set a round-the-clock guard against them.
They were working hard, it was a big job. The people were getting tired. Their spirit was weakening. Fear and Discouragement saw their opportunity to set in.
Nehemiah 4:10 “But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We’re in over our heads, we can’t build this wall. 11-12 And all this time our enemies were saying, “They won’t know what hit them. Before they know it we’ll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!” The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, “They have us surrounded; they’re going to attack!” If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.” (MSG)
v. 13 So I stationed guards at the most vulnerable places with swords, lances and bows.
Nehemiah 4:14 “After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: “Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” (MSG)
v. 15-18 The enemies plans were frustrated. The people went back to the wall and went to work.
½ young men worked while ½ stood guard.
Military officers served as back up for everyone working
Common laborers were to hold a tool in one hand and a spear in the other
Each builder had a sword strapped to his side as he worked
Nehemiah kept a trumpeter with him to sound an alarm; if heard, the people were to all gather together in that place
“Our God will fight for us!”
The people worked by day and guarded by night.
They slept in their clothes and kept a spear in their hand, even when getting water.
Nehemiah had to reboot the dream God had given to His people!
You have one enemy, the devil. He has one goal in mind and will stop at no means to accomplish that task. He wants to kill your dream!
John 10: 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)
1 Peter 5: 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT)
3 Take Aways from Nehemiah 4:14:
1. Fear/discouragement – will intimidate, lie, stop your momentum and try to kill your dream.
Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT)
2. Mind – Your mind will need to stay focused on your dream.
Isaiah 26:3“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)
3. Fight – be prepared to fight for your dream.
Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (NLT)
Closing:
Nehemiah 4:27-29 When it came time for the dedication of the wall, they tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs, cymbals, harps, and lutes. 31-36 I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large choirs. One proceeded on the wall to the right…38-39 The other choir proceeded to the left. I and half of the people followed them on the wall.” (MSG)
What did the enemy say early on? “Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.”
The enemy does not have the final say in anything concerning you and the things of God!
Do you need a dream reboot? If you are child of God, your dream is God given. Like Nehemiah, you need to fight for it. If you feel like your life is not worth a dream, God has one for you!