Guarding the
Work of God’s
Hand
Nehemiah 6:15-7:3
By Way of Review:
Nehemiah was commissioned by God to
rebuild Jerusalem’s ruined walls
In the process, he encountered numerous
challenges and difficulties
Through wise prayer, planning and
perseverance, Nehemiah actively trusted God
to overcome each obstacle brought against
the mission
Nehemiah 6:1-14:
Nehemiah trusted God to overcome:
Diversion
Slander
Deceit
Nehemiah 6:15-16
The work of God is accomplished—
again!
He completes and concludes His work—in 52
days!
A Modern-Day
Excavation of
Nehemiah’s
“Broad Wall” (3:8)
Tower of Tower
Hananel of 100
Sheep Gate
Mount
Fish Gate
Jeshanah
Inspection Gate of
(Old Gate?) East Gate
Horse Gate
Olives
Broad Wall
Wall of Ophel
Tower of the
Ovens? Great Projecting Tower
Valley Gate
Water Gate
Dung Gate The Angle
Pool of Shelah Fountain Gate
(Siloam)
Nehemiah 6:15-16
The work of God is accomplished—
again!
He completes and concludes His work—in 52
days!
He dismays and discourages His enemies
Proverbs 26:27
“If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a
man rolls a stone, it will roll back on
him.”
Trusting God
to Get Here
Trusting God
to Stay Here
Nehemiah 6:17-19
The work of God is opposed—again!
Tobiah has powerful political partners (17-18)
Nehemiah 6:17-19
The work of God is opposed—again!
Tobiah has powerful political partners (17-18)
Tobiah has insidious inside informers (19)
Nehemiah 6:17-19
The work of God is opposed—again!
Tobiah has powerful political partners (17-18)
Tobiah has insidious inside informers (19)
Tobiah has sent scary statements (19)
Nehemiah 7:1-3
The work of God is guarded—again!
The gates are put in place (1)
Jerusalem’s
Valley Gate
Nehemiah 7:1-3
The work of God is guarded—again!
The gates are put in place (1)
The leaders are put in place (1-2)
Leaders Put in Place by Nehemiah
Gatekeepers
Singers and Levites
Hanani
Hananiah
Nehemiah 7:2b
Hananiah was chosen for leadership
because, “he was a man of integrity and
feared God more than most men do.”
What about you? Would have been
chosen on the basis of these criteria?
Nehemiah 7:1-3
The work of God is guarded—again!
The gates are put in place (1)
The leaders are put in place (1-2)
The guards are put in place (1, 3)
Guarding the
Gates and
Homes of the
City
Nehemiah 7:1-3
The work of God is guarded—again!
The gates are put in place (1)
The leaders are put in place (1-2)
The guards are put in place (1, 3)
The hours are put in place (3)
2 Timothy 1:12, 14
“I am not ashamed [to suffer for the
gospel], because I know whom I have
believed, and am convinced that he is
able to guard what I have entrusted to
him . . . . Guard the good deposit that
was entrusted to you—guard it with the
help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”
Lord, give
me a word
from You,
any word—
and fast!!!
Conclusion and Application:
Nehemiah saw God use him to achieve the
(humanly) impossible.
Even so, the opposition of the enemy still
did not cease.
Thus, Nehemiah wisely moved forward by
delegating work to godly leaders and by
making sure that the necessary precautions
to protect and guard the work of God’s
hands were taken
Questions to Consider:
What things has God done or entrusted
you with in your life, either lately or
sometime in the past which warrant
guarding and taking great care of?
How can you faithfully guard these as a
precious stewardship from Him?
Concerning Crossroads International
Church in Particular:
What place of ministry has God entrusted you with
here at Crossroads?
What are you trusting Him to do now and in the
future through this ministry?
What challenges and barriers are you facing?
What steps can you take and who can you trust and
recruit to come alongside to help guard and grow
the stewardship God has given you?
Philip’s Story
Born with the umbilical cord wrapped around
his neck.
Permanently brain damaged and mentally
retarded
Later diagnosed with severe schizophrenia
Permanently unable to live on his own without
constant care
Ted and Gwen Martin
Contributions to God’s Kingdom:
Ted conceived of and started the Institute of Biblical Studies (IBS) for all Campus
Crusade staff which now regularly teaches and trains staff in more than 150
countries worldwide
Ted wrote down and organized a short evangelistic tract now more commonly
known as, “The Four Spiritual Laws”
Together they started the first seminary in what would become a worldwide
consortium of seminaries under the ministry umbrella of Campus Crusade
These seminaries are now located in Africa, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia
Gwen first envisioned a unique seminary program called, “Partners in Ministry” for wives of
seminarians that would equip them to serve more effectively alongside their husbands in ministry
Ted served as a mentor for a young and upcoming faculty member who would teach at that first
seminary. His name was James Porter (J. P.) Moreland
Together they have taught and mentored hundreds of Christian leaders still in ministry today
They raised all of their children to be faithful Christ followers, three of which who
still serve in full-time ministry and the fourth is a nurse
Two of these children have been instrumental in helping to plant a church among
one of the largest and most spiritually resistant unreached people groups on the
planet
It was Ted who first believed in me, challenging and encouraging me to pursue
PhD studies