Nehemiah 2:17-18

Praise the Lord! I am so happy to see you in the house of the Lord today.

Nehemiah 2:17-18.

The word of God says:

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

The kingdom of God needs defense, both spiritually and physically. When Jesus Christ spoke of the kingdom of heaven, He used illustrations like a mustard seed, showing how the kingdom starts small but expands both spiritually and physically. The great commission in Matthew 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples of all nations” is a spiritual command, yet it requires physical spaces, resources, and infrastructure to be fulfilled effectively.

In the Old Testament, whenever God’s people wanted to establish His worship, they first secured a place.

• The Tabernacle: In Exodus 25-40, God commanded Moses to collect an offering from every willing heart. People willingly gave their resources—gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones—to construct the tabernacle. They turned a vision into reality without strain.
• The Temple: King David prepared for the construction of the temple, and the people of Israel gave so much so willingly that the work was completed in a very short time (1 Chronicles 29).

Today, we are in a similar moment in our church’s history. This is a year of tremendous grace, and we are embarking on two major projects: the construction of a cathedral to seat 3,000 people and the purchase of land for the expansion of the kingdom. This work isn’t just about acquiring property; it’s about laying a physical altar for God’s glory and securing His territory for generational impact. As Psalm 78 says, “we will not hide from our children… We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

Just as Abraham built an altar wherever he went, our work today is an exchange of altars—demolishing a space dedicated to things that do not honor God and raising an altar where He will be glorified.

Let’s return to Nehemiah 2:17-18 and learn some key principles.

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1. Vision Is Spiritual Before It Is Physical

 

Nehemiah’s vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was not his own idea; it was initiated by God Himself, who placed it in his heart. God is always the initiator of kingdom-building visions.

• In Exodus 25:9, God told Moses to build the tabernacle “exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
• Hebrews 8:5 confirms that Moses was warned to “make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Every vision aligned with God’s will is initiated by Him. This project we are undertaking today did not begin with the church leadership; it was initiated by God.

Nehemiah’s project was not just about bricks; it was about restoring the spiritual dignity of God’s people. This project is not just about purchasing land; it is about restoring the dignity of God’s kingdom in this place, turning a location with many liquor shops into an altar where God is glorified.

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2. God Provides for His Vision

 

If God gives the vision, He will also release the provision to fulfill it. God will not give you a vision and then deny you the means to achieve it. He uses His people to make provision for the vision. In the wilderness, the Israelites provided everything needed for the tabernacle because God had commanded the Egyptians to release their wealth to them (Exodus 12:35-36).

This vision that God has given us today will be resourced through you, His people. God is empowering you with resources, and what is required is your willingness to release them. The more you release, the more you receive.

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3. Unity Is the Key to Achieving the Vision

 

Unity is the key to achieving any vision, whether in a family or a church. The devil will always try to plant discord and division to derail God’s work, because God commands His blessings where there is unity (Psalm 133:1-3).

• Nehemiah 3 shows that people from all walks of life—priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, and farmers—all participated in the work. You cannot do everything, but you can do something. Everyone has a part to play.
• Psalm 133 teaches that unity invites the anointing and blessings of God. Anointing accelerates our work and our victory, breaking the yokes of bondage and fear of failure.

When the church is united in purpose, supernatural acceleration of God’s work becomes possible. What may seem impossible in terms of resources or time becomes achievable when we are united and focused on the same goal. As it is said in scripture, “Nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6).

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4. Sacrificial Giving Is God’s Chosen Method

 

Finally, we must understand that sacrificial giving is God’s chosen method of resourcing His work. As we saw with the tabernacle and the temple, people gave willingly and sacrificially. Your contribution, no matter how small, is vital. Don’t think your five or one hundred shillings can’t make a difference—every single one is important.

We are better together. Nothing we plan to do, whether it’s buying the land or constructing the cathedral, will be impossible. It is all possible when we are united.