ARISE AND COMPLETE THE WORK (Part 1)

 Key Scripture: Nehemiah 2:17-18

“Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of 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.

Supporting Scriptures: Zechariah 4:6–9; Ezra 8:31; Philippians 1:6

Introduction

There are seasons in life when God calls us not merely to begin something, but to finish what He has placed in our hands. Many people are good at starting. We start with excitement, vision, prayer, and determination. But somewhere along the way, opposition comes, discouragement sets in, resources become limited, people disappoint us, and the work begins to slow down. Yet God is still saying: “Arise and complete the work.”

Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and saw a city whose walls had been broken down and whose gates had been burned with fire. The situation looked hopeless, but Nehemiah did not allow the condition of the walls to determine the conclusion of the story. He gathered the people and declared:

“Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach..” - Nehemiah 2:17

And in verse 18, the people responded: “Let us rise up and build.” The work began because somebody was willing to arise. Today, God is calling us to arise—not merely to dream, not merely to talk, not merely to plan, but to complete the work.

1. ARISE WHEN YOU SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Nehemiah could have looked at Jerusalem and walked away. The walls were broken. The gates were burned. The people were discouraged. The opposition was real. But Nehemiah saw something beyond the ruins. He saw what Jerusalem could become. Sometimes God will allow you to see a broken situation because He wants to use you as part of the restoration. There are things in our lives, families, churches, communities, and ministries that need rebuilding. Some dreams have been abandoned. Some assignments have been delayed. Some prayers have not yet received their answers. Some people have stopped because the process became difficult. But the condition of something today does not determine what God can do with it tomorrow.

I challenge you today! Don't let broken walls produce a broken spirit. Nehemiah did not deny the problem. He simply refused to believe that the problem was greater than God's purpose. There is a difference between recognizing a problem and surrendering to a problem. You may see the broken wall, but God sees the completed building. You may see the unfinished assignment, but God sees the finished work. You may see where you are, but God sees where He is taking you.

 Arise!