Living Life Recovery is a Process of Rebuilding Lives

 Nehemiah 2:11-20 I arrived in Jerusalem. After I had been there three days, I got up in the middle of the night, I and a few men who were with me. I hadn’t told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal with us was the one I was riding. Under cover of night I went past the Valley Gate toward the Dragon’s Fountain to the Dung Gate looking over the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken through and whose gates had been burned up. I then crossed to the Fountain Gate and headed for the King’s Pool but there wasn’t enough room for the donkey I was riding to get through. So I went up the valley in the dark continuing my inspection of the wall. I came back in through the Valley Gate. The local officials had no idea where I’d gone or what I was doing–I hadn’t breathed a word to the Jews, priests, nobles, local officials, or anyone else who would be working on the job. Then I gave them my report: “Face it: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its gates are burned up. Come–let’s build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with this disgrace any longer.” I told them how God was supporting me and how the king was backing me up. They said, “We’re with you. Let’s get started.” They rolled up their sleeves, ready for the good work. When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they laughed at us, mocking, “Ha! What do you think you’re doing? Do you think you can cross the king?” I shot back, “The God-of-Heaven will make sure we succeed. We’re his servants and we’re going to work, rebuilding. You can keep your nose out of it. You get no say in this–Jerusalem’s none of your business!” 

•  Nehemiah started out as a government worker (a cupbearer – guardian of the Kings cup – taste the Kings wine to make sure it wasn’t poisoned) Then became a building contractor called in to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem

  (You never know what God has in store for you)

  Step One: I admit that my life is a mess and I am out of control.

• His co-worker Ezra was a scholar and teacher of the Scriptures
  (Nehemiah knew what his strengths were and weren’t)
  (Nehemiah was a man of prayer, faith, vision, and perseverance)

• Through 52 days of rebuilding the wall together, the Jews rebuilt relationships
  
  (When we work together we change)

• After the rebuilding Nehemiah called on Ezra to teach the people from the Scriptures showing them how to rebuild their lives
  
  (Recovery apart from God doesn’t last)

Focus Verse: Nehemiah 2:17 Then I gave them my report: “Face it: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its gates are burned up. Come–let’s build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with this disgrace any longer.”

1Timothy 1:19 (CEV) Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn’t listen to their consciences.

Deuteronomy 31:29 (MSG) I know that after I die you’re going to make a mess of things, abandoning the way I commanded, inviting all kinds of evil consequences in the days ahead. You’re determined to do evil in defiance of GOD–I know you are–deliberately provoking his anger by what you do.”

 Judges 10:14 (MSG) “Go ahead! Cry out for help to the gods you’ve chosen–let them get you out of the mess you’re in!”

Job 8:3 (MSG) Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backward?

Job 30:19 (MSG) Thrown facedown in the muck, I’m a muddy mess, inside and out.

 Psalm 9:7 (MSG) God holds the high center, he sees and sets the world’s mess right.

Psalm 14:6 (MSG) Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor? You can’t, for
God makes their dreams come true.

Psalm 30:1 (MSG) I give you all the credit, GOD– you got me out of that mess.

Psalm 40:17 (MSG) I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me. You can do it; you’ve got what it takes– but God, don’t put it off.

Psalm 71:2 (MSG) Do what you do so well: get me out of this mess and up on my feet. Put your ear to the ground and listen, give me space for salvation.

Psalm 79:9 (MSG) You’re famous for helping; God, give us a break. Your reputation is on the line. Pull us out of this mess, forgive us our sins– do what you’re famous for doing!

Proverbs 6:3 (MSG) Friend, don’t waste a minute, get yourself out of that mess. You’re in that man’s clutches! Go, put on a long face; act desperate.

Proverbs 13:17 (MSG) Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things, but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.

 Ecclesiastes 7:29 (MSG) God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.

Isaiah 3:6 (MSG) One brother will grab another and say, ‘You look like you’ve got a head on your shoulders. Do something! Get us out of this mess.’

Jeremiah 16:18 (MSG) “They won’t get by with a thing. They’ll pay double for everything they did wrong. They’ve made a complete mess of things, littering their lives with their obscene no-gods, leaving piles of stinking god-junk all over the place.”

 Jeremiah 22:20 (MSG) “People of Jerusalem, climb a Lebanon peak and weep, climb a Bashan mountain and wail, Climb the Abarim ridge and cry– you’ve made a total mess of your life.”

Ezekiel 36:32 (MSG) “‘I’m not doing this for you. Get this through your thick heads! Shame on you. What a mess you made of things, Israel!

 Romans 3:24 (MSG) God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity, he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

1Timothy 1:19 (MSG) Keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in. There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith.

Isaiah 19:14 (NIrV) The LORD has given them a spirit that makes them feel dizzy. They make Egypt unsteady in everything it does. Egypt is like a person who drinks too much. He throws up and then walks around in the mess he’s made.

Isaiah 28:8 (NIrV) They throw up. All of the tables are covered with the mess they’ve made. There isn’t one spot on the tables that isn’t smelly and dirty.

 James 3:16 (NIrV) Are you jealous? Are you concerned only about getting ahead? Then your life will be a mess. You will be doing all kinds of evil things.