Session 1-- Wallbuilders: Lessons from Nehemiah on Building our Spiritual Walls "Introduction"
Welcome to session 1! This is a six-part video based Bible Study on the book of Nehemiah, focusing on the narrative of rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. Using personal stories and bible teaching, Patti gleans lessons from the book of Nehemiah for building our Spiritual Walls in our lives today. So what is a "wallbuilder?" Notice it is spelled with one word instead of two! I believe you will see by the end of the study how this type of Biblical "wallbuilder" is different than the average construction worker! This term is a new creation!
You may wish to start with the video, and then reread the scriptures. Then, journal the questions and choose to do an optional activity if one is included for that particular lesson if you would like to dig deeper. If you would like to print out the study questions and lesson plans, click on the link.
Scriptures: Nehemiah 1, 2:1-10
Video Time: (12:41)
Study Questions:
1. What part of this lesson stood out to you the most and why?
2. Do you also have a constant nagging problem that never goes away? Might this have to do with a broken "gate" or "wall" in your life? Why or why not?
3. What "holes" might you have in your breastplate of righteousness?
4. Why is it difficult to see the holes in our own spiritual wall?
This 12 minute video tells the story of Nehemiah.
When we choose to follow Christ Jesus, and give our lives to him, we are “born again.” This means God puts HIS spirit within us (Holy Spirit) as a seal, and as a promise of eternity with Him. This new position in Christ frees us from the penalty of sin, but it does more. It also gives us freedom in the here and now over the power of sin. We are invited to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the devil and his evil schemes. This powerful protection is analogous to our spiritual walls. But we must build the walls with God’s help, just like we have to put on the spiritual armor with God’s help. Jesus is our stronghold, our fortress, but we must choose to get into the stronghold, or the fortress! Let’s work with God to fortify our spiritual walls, so that in the day of battle we will be able to stand!
Scriptures Supporting the Concept of Spiritual Walls
In Isaiah 49:16, the Bible says:
” See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
Jeremiah 15:20
And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord.
A city signifies doctrinal things , and its wall the truths of faith which defend it, and in the opposite sense the falsities which are being destroyed. That a wall signifies the truths of faith which defend, is plain in Isaiah...
We have a strong city; salvation will He appoint for walls and bulwark. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth faithfulnesses may enter in (Isa 26:1).
Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise (Isa. 60:18).
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall not be silent all the day and the night, keeping Jehovah in mind (Isa. 62:6);
Proverbs 18:10-11
0 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
As Individuals, We Need Walls (taken from this link) https://www.bridgesforpeace.com/letter/gods-walls-of-protection1/
As you may recall, I began this search of Scripture in order to learn how a wall might help me attain the spiritual fruit of self-control. That we live in a world which is opposed to God should be clearly evident. Just like the ancient city that needed protection from its enemies, individuals today need protection from the daily onslaught of temptations that are a part of life in a fallen world.
Four things come to mind when I consider my individual “wall” of protection. I would like to propose that God has provided them as components of a whole and not individual “walls.” Each is important and to leave one out would weaken the entire structure.
The first component is God’s Word. There are many reasons for reading Scripture, but since we are looking at the concept of walls and protection, our focus narrows a bit. For many of us, the following verse is a comfort even though it promises to discipline us should we need correction. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17). God’s Word is able to set clear “walls” or boundaries for believers, establishing how we ought to live our lives.
The Hebraic roots of our faith also demonstrate how Scripture is able to keep and protect us. In the book Judaism, we read, “It [the Torah] is no impossible set of demands meant for angels or a very few men of superior piety. Its wisdom and ordinances are the way of holiness for all men, even the most ordinary among them. Through obedience we resist the temptations that come to us on each and every day—so Rashi, Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (1040–1105), the classic commentator on the Bible and Talmud explained.”
The second component is prayer or our communication with God during which we acknowledge that He is almighty and we are but frail humans. It could mean crying out to the Lord to save us as Nehemiah did when he and the workmen were being taunted by Sanballat, “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!” (Neh. 4:4). Perhaps we’ve become aware of a sin and tell God about it as David did when he prayed, “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Ps. 32:5). Or maybe we just cry out, “Abba, Father” when we feel alone and need to be reminded of the protection our relationship with our heavenly Father brings.
The fellowship of believers, and within that fellowship our personal accountability to one or two mature believers, is the third component. Just as prayer cultivates our relationship with God, we must also be in healthy relationships with other believers—to encourage and strengthen them and allow them to do the same for us. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24–25).
Finally, praise and worship are powerful weapons that can be used to build, rebuild or sustain our “wall” of protection. Through praise we acknowledge who God is and our dependence on Him. The book of Psalms is rich with examples of the songs of praise written by King David and others. It is a wonderful place to begin, and from there move into praising God for His acts of mercy and grace toward us today.
This group of four components is not meant to be an exhaustive list. As you wait on the Lord, may He reveal other ways in which you can build your “wall” of protection, your fence or boundary from the incursions of the outside world.