“This is the victory that overcomes the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:4-5)

1. Create a climate of faith in God all around you ( 2:17) “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and it’s gates are burned with fire. Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” Call to remembrance all the good things God has said to you and done for you and start to declare positive actions. Nehemiah spoke words of faith in the midst of a discouraging situation: “Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem.” This builds faith and confidence in your own heart and creates a climate of faith all around you.
2. Help others to be successful (Neh 2:18) “And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work” First Nehemiah said, “Let us build!” Then the people said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they started to build. Courageous faith is contagious faith!
3. Expect to face some opposition (Neh 2:19) “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it they laughed at us and despised us and said, ‘What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?’”

• Every city has a Sanballat and a Tobiah
• We are, and always will be, in an intense spiritual battle
• False expectations set a person up for offence
• Spiritual battle always surrounds the birthing of a miracle or a major step of advancement

Nehemiah knew if he had the right attitude, the right actions, and the right associations he could overcome everything.

1. Right attitude “So I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven Himself will prosper us, therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.” (Neh 2:20)
2. Right actions “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” (Neh 6: 3) Nehemiah was not afraid of hard work and big challenges. He did what was right, not what was easy. He consistently made God’s direction his priority. God will not bless you anywhere just doing anything - He will bless you when you are where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing!
3. Right associations (Neh 2:12) “Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me…” God can do much more with a few of the right people than He can with a whole lot of the wrong ones. Nehemiah chose his closest associates carefully and prayerfully. He wanted men around him who could dream, and believe, and achieve like him.

“So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Yours for Courageous faith that will Rebuild and Restore all that is Required!

Dr George Hill
President and founder of Victory Churches International