Whatever It Takes

Nehemiah 1-6

To have a vision is not to know victory until the vision is acted on. What does it take to turn vision to victory?  We can learn much from the work of Nehemiah.

  I.     It Takes a Person of Prayer - Nehemiah 1:4-11

A. Prayer that is intense v.4

Man's manipulation cannot equal God's motivation.

B. Prayer that is informed v.5-7

· It Is Informed About Who God Is v.5

· It Is Informed About Who Man Is v.6b-7

· It Is Informed About God’s Promises v.8-11

II.     It Takes a Burden - Nehemiah 2:1-8

·    Received through contact with God 

·    Reflected in the course of his life

III.     It Takes a Vision - Nehemiah 2:11-20

A. A Realistic Vision of the Work v.11-15

B. A Godly Vision of the Accomplishment v.17-18

C. A Confirmed Vision Accepted by Others v.18b

IV.     It Takes a Cooperative Labor - Nehemiah 3:4-6

A. There is Fellowship with One Another in Labor.

B. There is Expectation of One Another in Labor.

V.     It Takes a Commitment to Sacrifice - Nehemiah 5

A. Unequal Sacrifice Created Problems v.1-11

B. A Shared Sacrifice v.12-13

C. Leadership Sets the Example v.14-16

VI.     It Takes a Combat of Opposition - Nehemiah 6:1-14

The Attacks

·   Maintaining Priorities  v.1-4

·   Ignoring Rumors v.5-8

·   Supporting Leaders v. 9-14

VII.     God's Work is Completed - Nehemiah 6:15-16

A. In God's Time v.15

B. To God's Glory v.16