1. The purpose of the work
Nehemiah was concerned about only one thing, the glory of God. “Let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach” (2:17). The Gentiles delighted in mocking their Jewish neighbors by pointing out the dilapidated condition of Jerusalem. If God loved Jerusalem so much, why were the walls in ruin and the gates burned? Why didn’t the Jews do something?
For the most part, the world today ignores the church. If it does pay any attention to the church, it is usually to condemn or mock. Whether Christians like it or not, we are living in a day of reproach when “the glory has departed” (1 Sam. 4:21).
The purpose of all ministry is the glory of God. The words of Jesus in His priestly prayer ought to be the motivating force in all Christian ministry: “I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). God has a special task for each of His children (Eph. 2:10); and in the humble, faithful doing of that task, we glorify His name.
Of course, the rebuilding of the walls also meant protection for the people. Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies. We need to accept the size of the mission God has set before us. We need to build the church as a city within the city.

2. The pattern of the work 38 individual workers are named in this chapter, and 42 different groups are identified, each worker was assigned a place and a task.
1. Work needs to be distributed amongst all. Nehemiah constructs teams to work together, “you work on this neighborhood, this gate, this part of the wall.
2. These teams are built around pre existing relationships. Family, friends, co-workers
3. These teams are unified, Theologically, all love the same God
4. These teams have missiological unity; all want to accomplish the same task
5. These teams have relational unity; all know and love each other
6. The bigger the organization, the more trust that is needed. Trust is gained slowly, and lost quickly. We need trustworthy people to lead the mission. Unity is important. Jesus prayed for it. It’s a big deal. WORK on your aspect of the mission. Focus on your gate.
7. Nehemiah Connects air war to the ground war
a. Air War: Preaching , Worship, Website, info to the masses
b. Ground War: Leadership classes, Community groups, Accountably groups
c. Without a ground war we will no transformation. Nehemiah builds teams, deputizes leaders, assigns them to projects, give them a specialization, then connected his air war and ground war.
d. Some of us are just part of the air war, we come to church, we listen to the sermon but were not plugged in. Not a member, partner, or community member.
e. We want to build our ground war. Air war is OK, ground war is hurting.
f. We need to be doing the “one another’s” of the New Testament.
8. Nehemiah works on the organization
a. Leadership development, management, systems,
b. If you take someone to a ship, who is the most important? Boat builder.
c. With bad budget, vision, mission, facilities, systems, the boat will sink.
9. Nehemiah looks for old stones
a. Used the ruined stones, 141 yrs, to rebuild the walls.
b. Old buildings, land, and we can turn them into churches
c. Mature Christians, who have been there, done that. Need examples or Christian parents.
10. All work is Holy
a. These people are picking up rocks, what are they doing? Ministry.
b. Anyone who knows God is in full time ministry.
c. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.
d. Jesus carpenter 30 yrs, holy. Last 3 yrs was Holy. It was all pleasing the father.

3. The people in the work
God uses all kinds of people. The chapter mentions rulers and priests (vv. 1, 12–19), men and women (v. 12), professional craftsmen (vv. 8, 32), and even people from outside the city (vv. 2, 5, 7). There was a place for everyone, and a job for everyone to do.
1. God works thru people
a. Is he using them?, no he loves them. He wants us to share in his joy.
b. God is our father, and when we labor with our dad it’s a joy.
c. God loves to take his kids to work, so that we can share in his joy.
Leaders must set the example (Neh. 3:1). That the high priest used his consecrated hands to do manual labor shows that he considered the work on the wall to be a ministry to the Lord. “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Eliashib enlisted the other priests to work at the sheep gate. Since the sacrifices came into the city that way, the priests would be especially interested in that part of the project.
Sad to say, Eliashib did not remain true to his calling (Neh. 13:4–9). Some people who enthusiastically begin their work may drop out or turn against it for one reason or another.
Leaders must lead
a. Pastors are the ones who go 1st. No lazy pastors
b. Don’t ask your people to do what you are unwilling to do yourself.
c. Where is your humility? Jesus came to serve, became a slave, got on his hands and knees even for his betrayer Judas.
d. God opposes the proud. God economy = humility, not pride.
Some people will not work (Neh. 3:5). The nobles refused to work. Were these “aristocrats” so important that they couldn’t do manual labor? Yet Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), and Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Some people do the dirty job. Dung gate, hauling the poop out. A ruler, someone important volunteered, he understood humility.
Some people do more work than others (Neh. 3:11, 19, 21, 24, 27, 30). Most workers are glad to lay down their tools when their job is finished, but these people asked for additional assignments. It isn’t enough for us to say that we have done as much as others; we must do as much as we can as long as the Lord enables us. Jesus asked, “What do you do more than others?

Some do their work at home (Neh. 3:10, 23, 28–30). People repaired portions of the wall nearest to their own houses. If we followed this example, our neighborhoods would be in much better shape! Christian service begins at home “Let them learn first to show piety at home”.
1. Some people work from home
a. Your home is an auxiliary church
b. Church is the big gate, your home is a little gate
c. Do you have a heart for your street?
d. We would train you to be missionaries to work from home, not a contrived outreach ministry at the church building, but living in Missional Communities
e. Serve together as a family. Watch your kids spiritual gifts develop.
Some people work harder than others (Neh. 3:20). Baruch is the only worker whose work was done “earnestly”. The Hebrew means “to burn or glow”. Baruch burned a lot of energy! “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecc. 9:10). Paul admonished the slaves to work hard for their masters because they were really working for Christ (Eph. 6:5–8). Lazy workers not only rob themselves and the Lord, but they also rob their fellow workers.

4. The places of the work Nehemiah began his list of the “work stations” with the Sheep Gate (Neh. 3:1). Then he moved counterclockwise around the walls. In his record, he describes the work on the north wall (vv. 1–7), then the western wall (vv. 8–13), then the southern point (v. 14), and finally the eastern wall (vv. 15–32).
The Sheep Gate (Neh. 3:1, 32). This was the gate animals were brought into the city, including the temple sacrifices. It was logical that the priests make this their special project by the temple.
This gate reminds us of Jesus, the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29; 5:2). Nehemiah chose to begin and end the report with the Sheep Gate. Jesus is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:8). Apart from Him and His sacrifice, we would have nothing eternally satisfying. Nothing is said about the gate’s “locks and bars,” for the way is never closed to the lost sinner who wants to come to the Savior.
The Fish Gate (Neh. 3:3) used when they brought fish from the Mediterranean Sea.
The Old Gate (Neh. 3:6) the Hebrew word means “new quarter” (Zeph. 1:10). In Nehemiah’s day, the northwest section of the city was the “new quarter”. What a paradox: the old gate leads into the new quarter! But it is from the old that we derive the new; and if we abandon the foundation, there can be nothing new built (Jer. 6:16 / Matt. 13:52).
The Valley Gate (Neh. 3:13) is where Nehemiah began his investigation. Every Christian needs a “valley gate,” for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5–6). Only as we yield to Christ can we truly enter into the fullness of the life He has for us (Phil. 2:1–11).
The Dung Gate (Neh. 3:14) was located at the south side. It was the exit to where the city disposed of its garbage. Jesus used this area as a picture of hell, “where their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44). The sanitary disposal of waste materials is essential to the health of a city. It reminds us that, like the city, each of us individually must get rid of whatever defiles us, or it may destroy us (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 1:9).
The Fountain Gate (Neh. 3:15) was where the source of water entered the city. In the Bible, water for drinking is a picture of the Holy Spirit of God (John 7:37–39), while water for washing is a picture of the Word of God (Eph. 5:26; John 15:3). Spiritually speaking, we have moved from the Valley (humility) to the Dung (cleansing) to the Fountain (fullness of the Spirit).
The Water Gate (Neh. 3:26) If the Fountain Gate reminds us of the Spirit of God, the Water Gate reminds us of the Word of God. In fact, it was here that Ezra explained the Scriptures to the people (8:1). This gate is not said to have been repaired. The Bible does not need to be repaired or improved. The Word of God stands forever and will not fail (Ps. 119:89; Matt. 24:35).
The Horse Gate (Neh. 3:28) reminds us that there is warfare in the Christian life (2 Tim. 2:1–4) and that we must always be ready to do battle (Eph. 6:10–18).
The East Gate (Neh. 3:29) led directly to the temple, know today as the Golden Gate. Tradition says that Jesus entered the temple here on Palm Sunday. Jewish and Christian tradition both connect the Golden Gate with the coming of the Messiah, Muslims associate it with judgment.
Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord depart from the temple at the East Gate (Ezek. 10; 11), and the Lord will return to the city the same way (43:1–5). So, we have every reason to associate this gate with the coming of the Lord and to remind ourselves to “abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28).
The Gate Hammiphkad (Neh. 3:31) “the Inspection Gate.” This is where the army was reviewed and registered. When our Lord returns, He will gather His people and review their works in preparation for giving out rewards for faithful service (1 Cor. 3; 2 Cor. 5; Rom. 14).

No one could have done all this work. It took leadership and cooperation. Each had a place and a job. So it is today: We must work together if we are to finish the work to the glory of God.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

God works thru us. Our work is not in vain. The Lord Jesus is working ON us, IN us, and thru us. Let’s thank him.