Rebuilding the Walls (Removing the Rubbish)
Teacher’s Guide Page
A. Brief Review of Nehemiah Chapter 2 Surveying the wall (Nehemiah 2:11-16)
1. Nehemiah knew that if they were going to rebuild the wall, they would first have to survey the damage to see just how much work needed to be done and the condition of the wall that had been there before. Nehemiah was very wise. He did not shout out his plans to everyone around him in hopes to gain a name for himself. Instead he kept it in his heart what God was calling him to do for Jerusalem until the time was right for him to tell of his plan. He went by night and began to survey the damage so that he would know what steps he would need to take and come up with a wise strategy before he talked with the people that lived in Jerusalem about the task at hand. He knew that God was with him and that God was calling him for this purpose and that God would show him what to do next. He knew that he must first survey the wall and then God would help him come up with a plan of action in order to complete the work.
B. Removing the Rubbish
Nehemiah 4:10 “10And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”
We learn in 2 Kings chapter 25 that Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon had invaded Jerusalem and had completely destroyed in the invasion. So of course the walls were in ruins.
Explain that The job of re-building was a great task, however, no work could begin until all the rubbish was cleared and the original foundations had been exposed. If an attempt to build the walls without clearing first, they would be unstable and ultimately fall again. It had to be done correctly. The foundation was already there, it had been built many years before, so the rubbish had to be removed in order to start anew on the solid foundation so that it would remain strong for years to come! If we are to build up our spiritual walls against attacks from the enemy, we must do it correctly, we must clear away the rubbish first and build on a solid foundation which is Christ Jesus! Our foundation is and will always be. If we build upon Him, no matter what the enemy throws at us…we will not be moved!
1. Explain that Christ is the only firm foundation and He is what we must build our lives and spiritual walls upon. (1 Corinthians 3:8-17)
A wall is only as solid as its foundation. The foundation of our life is Jesus Christ to those who are born again by the precious blood that He shed for our sins. Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern that has been provided by Him. We have all the tools we need to build a wall solid and firm. What are you and I building on? I want to build on Christ. (Ephesians 2:20; Psalm 127:1)
2. Explain that the rubbish in Nehemiah’s day was the ruins from the former wall, but in our spiritual lives it is sin. Our works will one day be tried by fire, and the things we do for Christ, when we build upon Him we will stand! (Ephesians 2:12-17)
Think about that for a moment. If the good things we do for God will be tried by HIS fire and will stand, then no fires of hell or Satan that come against us will be able to burn it down! Praise YOU LORD! (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Peter 4:12)
End by asking the question, what are you building on? Are you building on Christ the firm foundation, or are you building on rubbish? (Luke 6:45-49)
God Bless You!