Check Yourself

The book of Nehemiah is the 16th book of the Old Testament and is one that is commonly looked past. If you’ve never taken time to read this book, the story that fills its pages is worth your time.
 
The book of Nehemiah is about a man that is deeply saddened over the destruction of the wall Jerusalem, but more so about the people living inside the fallen walls and the condition of their hearts. Nehemiah was so sad that he "sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven."[1]
 
It is said Nehemiah prayed and fasted four months over the condition of the wall and the hearts of the people.
 
In ancient times, a city that didn’t have walls was viewed as a dying city. The people that lived in the city were always scared about their enemies coming into their city, stealing from them, and in some cases killing them.

Nehemiah is sent back to Jerusalem to lead the charge of Jews to rebuild this wall, which symbolizes the rebuilding of their hearts towards the Lord. In chapter six the wall is completely rebuilt in 52 days, and the city is viewed as a safe city. The other nations were "Afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they received that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God."[2]

I believe there are two things we need to learn from Nehemiah.

(1) Rebuild The Walls Of Our Heart
Nehemiah spent four months praying and fasting for the wall of Jerusalem and the people who lived there. However, during this time he also confessed the sins of his father and his own sins.

Our individual hearts have been destroyed. There is no anguish. There is no joy in the Lord. There is no love for God and others. There is no hatred of sin. There is no desire for God's Word. There is no desperation in prayer. There is no scripture memory. There is no fasting. There is no expectation. There is no mourning for what hurts God's heart. There is no conviction of sin.
 
Nehemiah wasn’t trying to take people to do a work that he hadn’t done himself first. Nehemiah wasn’t trying to lead the people back to a God he was distant from.  

The walls of our heart need to be restored!
 
When we have deep anguish over the walls of our hearts as individuals, then and only then, will we see the walls of someone else’s heart restored.

(2) Restore The Walls Of Others
Nehemiah was able to help lead the building of the wall in 52 days because he was leading out of the overflow of heart. Nehemiah was able to lead the people back to God (chapter 8-12) because he was leading out of the overflow of his heart.
 
Nehemiah saw a need and he went and met that need, only after being ready himself. Every day I see this generation coming up living a life displeasing to God. I see them being led by the wrong influences. I see them being taught how to survive in this world, not being taught how to thrive.
 
I’m telling you, this generation has a desperate need for people, whose walls of their heart are being rebuilt daily, to come alongside them and rebuild the walls of their heart.
 

 
So will you, rebuild the walls of your heart, so that you can rebuild the walls of someone else’s heart?


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[1] Nehemiah 1:4 ESV
[2] Nehemiah 6:16 ESV

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