NEHEMIAH – ENDING GENERATIONAL REPROACH

Nehemiah 2:17 (KJV)

Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the
gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be
no more a reproach.

 ANYTHING THAT HAS A BEGINNING ALSO HAS AN ENDING - Including family reproaches and
shame

UNLEASHING THE LEADER IN YOU

- Message Objectives: How to turn your burden into your ministry

- Recap; Wall of Jerusalem for 140 years, Nehemiah, ordinary man with uncommon burden, not a
priest nor a prophet.

The Principles of How God uses ordinary men to change their world
a. Nehemiah Sat down to weep (burden)
b. Nehemiah knelt down to Pray
c. Nehemiah stood up to act

Note: HIS ABILITY TO FULFILL HIS MISSION DIDN’T COME FROM HIS POSITION, BUT HIS PASSION

 TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE THE BEST. YOU JUST HAVE TO
CARE THE MOST

- Many of us are feeling; not capable, not influential to handle such project, God specialize in
using ordinary men.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (BSB)

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of
the world to shame the strong.

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He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify
the things that are,

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so that no one may boast in His presence.

Three Facts of “A WORLD CHANGER LEADER”

 1. DEFINE THE MISSION CLEARLY

Nehemiah 2:4-5 (BSB)

“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven

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and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I
ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, SO THAT I MAY REBUILD
IT.”

- Be specific to a mission and stick to it

- WHAT IS GOD LEADING YOU TO DO?
- Take it from somewhere broad to something specific.
- To rebuilt the walls of the city in Jerusalem, not just everywhere.

Note: IF YOU CANNOT DEFINE IT, YOU CANNNOT DO IT

2. MAKE PLANS CAREFULLY

Nehemiah 2:6-8 (BSB)

Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “HOW LONG WILL YOUR JOURNEY
TAKE, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I SET A TIME.

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I also said to him, “IF IT PLEASES THE KING, MAY LETTERS BE GIVEN TO ME FOR THE GOVERNORS
WEST OF THE EUPHRATES, SO THAT THEY WILL GRANT ME SAFE PASSAGE until I reach Judah.

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And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, SO THAT HE WILL GIVE ME TIMBER
TO MAKE BEAMS for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I
will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my
requests.

- To make plans is identifying THE WHAT and THE HOW

- Planning is like working behind the scene
- If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail
- God works a much through your preparation as your presentation

Many at time we have the right burden, but the mission is a huge and challenging task. Don’t get
discourage.

Practical steps towards achieving big burden is to “TAKE THE NEXT STEP”
- Define the very next step, the smallest possible move
 - it could be praying about it first, It could be research and cost enquiring, identifying the
strategies to follow

YOU DON’T CHANGE THE WORLD ALL AT ONCE, BUT YOU DO IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

- Nehemiah travelled 1000 miles, He rested. After 3 days he set out to investigate the city all
night, while everyone is still asleep, we was up working out the next step.

3. INSPIRE PEOPLE PASSIONATELY

Nehemiah 2:17-18 (BSB)

Then I said to them, “YOU SEE THE TROUBLE WE ARE IN. JERUSALEM LIES IN RUINS, AND ITS
GATES HAVE BEEN BURNED DOWN. COME, LET US REBUILD THE WALL OF JERUSALEM, SO
THAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE A DISGRACE.”

I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE GRACIOUS HAND OF MY GOD UPON ME, AND WHAT THE KING
HAD SAID TO ME. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good
work.

- If you want to change the world, you need people to buy into the vision
- You need to inspire people, but pointing clearly what the stand to gain at end
- Pointing out the lasting impact their contribution would make
- Stating the mission clearly and explaining the plan and strategies, also predict the possible
outcome.

Note: WHEN YOU FEEL EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING, PEOPLE WILL THEN JOIN IN THE MISSION

John Wesley said “light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.

Note: TESTIMONY IS A POWERFUL TOOLS FOR INSPIRATION

Nehemiah 2:18 (BSB)

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to
me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

Remember; A WORLD CHANGER LEADER;

a. Defines mission clearly

b. Makes plans carefully
c. Inspires people passionately
Prayers

1. FATHER TURN MY MISERIES IN A GREAT TESTIMONY, MY SHAME INTO GLORY

2. FATHER GIVE ME FAVOUR BEFORE KINGS AND QUEENS

Nehemiah 2:6 (BSB)

Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take,
and when will you return?” SO IT PLEASED THE KING TO SEND ME, and I set a time.

3. FATHER, LET YOUR GRACIOUS HAND REST UPON ME FROM NOW ONWARD

Nehemiah 2:8 (BSB)

And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to
make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I
will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my
requests.