- New years is always a great time to establish goals and disciplines for a new year
- I’ve been at this life thing going into my 50th year. Every year people make goals
- Every year people start strong and often don’t make their goals.
- I want to teach you how to become a person of biblical discipline, not just set goals
- Goals are great. have them and make them, but biblical habits of discipline will take you farther
- Pr 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
- If you lack discipline in your life, the Bible says you’re like a city broken without walls.
- City walls 3,000 years ago served as vital structures for protection and security.
- physical barrier against invading armies, raiders, and wild animals, safety of residents.
- Walls showed a city’s strength, stability, and independence, deterring potential attackers.
- help regulate trade and entry, control who came and went, often had fortified gates.
- Beyond defense, walls gave inhabitants identity and pride, a well-fortified city reflected its leadership and organization. It told everyone else- we are a strong city, to attack is futile.
- In times of war or unrest, city walls were a critical factor for survival and prosperity.
- If you don’t have rule over your own spirit, the bible says you’re like a city without walls
- No protection and security, no barrier against enemies, no safety, there’s no regulation of who is coming in and out of your city, you have no identity and pride bc you have no leadership
- You will have no survival or prosperity until you build your walls and become disciplined.
- I’m helping you this am. If you’re disciplined, be encouraged, but if not, lets go. Write it down.
- Book of Nehemiah: learns of Jerusalem’s broken walls, prays, and receives the king’s approval to rebuild. He surveys the city, organizes workers, and overcomes external opposition. Despite threats, the wall is completed in 52 days. The people repent, renew their covenant, and reform their practices as Nehemiah restores order and enforces godly living. A picture of strong walls
- Nehemiah cared deeply about Jerusalem because it was the spiritual and cultural heart of the Jewish people, it symbolized their identity, covenant with God, and His presence among them.
- The city’s broken walls represented vulnerability, shame, and a failure to honor God.
- As a devout Jew, Nehemiah saw the restoration of Jerusalem as essential for God’s glory and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. Neh. wanted to rebuild the walls so Jer. Would be strong
- His love for God and his people drove his commitment to rebuild the city, renew their covenant, and restore their faith and proper worship under God’s guidance.
- I hope you love God enough to fortify your city. Build some walls for his glory. Be strong.
- When you lack discipline, you lose effectiveness for ministry. Your family suffers. If you’re married, or friendships. You have lackluster careers and a life that lacks tangible successes
- Most of all that is worth living for requires discipline. You don’t accidentally get a good marriage, job, physique, finances, ministry or strong sense of self. It takes discipline.
The Story of Nehemiah’s Discipline
- Discipline in Prayer and Fasting (Nehemiah 1:4-11)
- When Nehemiah heard about the broken walls of Jerusalem, he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed to God. He had discipline in seeking God before taking any action. Foundational
- Whatever you think that you need to have discipline in your life, or you need it, start w prayer and fasting. What you may want, may not be what God wants. You need a foundation.
- Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
- There are great things that you can do in your life that if they aren’t connected to the Lord and his purposes are useless. Seemingly powerful and important things, disconnected and worthless
- READ Neh 1:3-4 great distress, walls broken, burned w fire. Neh? Fast and pray
- It was very clear what the problems were and that something needed to be done. Clear
- But Nehemiah didn’t just jump into it. He knew that if God wasn’t in the equation it would fail
- He went to fasting and prayer- it slows you down and lets God speak. It keeps you from making bad quick decisions, it lets you hear from God better plans. It establishes who its for.
- Your faith, finances, family, health, career, future, things you don’t like about yourself etc
- Start with prayer and fasting! Go to GOD FIRST. Not last. Set a good foundation.
- A good foundation is paramount in building- no one sees initially, but long term it shows.
- If you looked back at some of the worst decisions of your life, you’d notice you missed this step
- Years ago- wanting to go back into the army- wife- ‘did you pray about it’
- Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
- If you need to build some walls, start w prayer and fasting. 24hrs, on your face
- Don’t go to another person, don’t ask google, don’t make a phone call. GO to GOD
- Strategic Planning (Nehemiah 2:11-18)
- After arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah inspected the walls at night to assess the situation quietly before sharing his plans with everyone.
- Neh 2:12 I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.
- You have to have plan on how you are going to accomplish what you are going to do, but after you’ve heard from God, you have no requirement to tell everyone what you’re doing
- Notice this– Nehemiah included with others what the plan was ‘a few men with me’ but the spiritual inspiration from God ‘ I told no one what my God had put in my heart’
- You need to have a plan to build your walls, and you will probably need help from others to do it
- But they don’t have to understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, but you do
- Pr 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
- Have a plan- but you don’t need to tell everyone. ‘a few men’ is ok. Just tell your team
- Pr 27:9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
- I’m not telling everyone what I’m doing. Only the ones who have faith, discipline, and heart
- There’s some people that their only contribution is why your plan will fail. Not helpful
- I already think its going to fail. I don’t need you to tell me that. Tell me I’m gonna win!
- But if you’re going to build a wall, you need to have a plan. No plan, not gonna happen
- If you’re going to change your finances- you need a budget! STRATEGIC PLANNING
- You also might need a new job, and if you need a new job, you need plan on how to grow
- If you don’t know how to progress in your career, or get more money, you might need help
- But if you have a plan- you can get there, If you have a plan. No plan no victory
- ‘write the vision on the wall, make it plain’ you get much more. Don’t wander.
- Ask these questions- what do I need to change about myself? Change about my situation? What skills and abilities will I need? How can I learn and who will teach me?
- Physical and health discipline needs the same questions answered. Whats the plan?
- You cant have just a number goal, you need a discipline goal- what will you do
- Any thing you want will come through a plan of discipline- daily repeatable activities.
- Luke 14:28-30 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to
3. Focus Amid Opposition (Nehemiah 4:1-23)
- He faced mockery and threats from his enemies, but he kept people focused by organizing them to build while staying ready to defend themselves. He also prayed continually for strength.
- Whenever you decide to rebuild your walls, inevitably the attacks will come.
- Change your eating and the devil brings donuts to work. Get a raise and the water heater breaks
- I don’t know why its that way, but it often seems to be that way. Devil don’t stop.
- READ Neh 4:1-3 opposition always comes. It just does. You’re mocked and jeered for it
- ‘you think you’re better than us’ ‘oooh look whos starting something new’
- Usually, its the condemnation they feel because they are the do-nothings. Pay them no mind
- Winners never do this to other winners. Only losers. Restrict your budget around spenders
- Restrict eating around eaters. Restraint about what you’ll watch.
- Start making changes- expect those who refuse to change anything to have something to say
- Hear me- pay them no mind- stay focused. You have prayed. You were called. Stick to it.
- Neh 4:6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
- You are building your own wall and those who refuse to build theirs will be convicted
- Build your wall! God spoke to you, you know what needs to be done. Stay focused
- If you have Gone to God, and heard from God, you have your why. Stay focused
- They don’t understand because they do not care. Lackluster do nothings complacent in pain.
- My walls are broken! I’ve got No protection and security, no barrier against enemies, no safety, I’m not regulating who is coming in and out of my city, I NEED TO BUILD MY WALLS
- I need to lead myself in the building of these walls- I need to survive and prosper.
- I am going to be disciplined no matter what it takes to get it done. Shut up. Leave me alone
- Refusal to Be Distracted (Nehemiah 6:1-14)
- Nehemiah’s enemies repeatedly tried to distract him from the work by inviting him to meet with them, but he firmly refused, knowing it was a trap.
- Neh 6:2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm.
- His disciplined focus kept the project on track. He wouldn’t let him pull him off his plan
- Neh 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
- Start a bible plan and someone wants to talk. Workout and you get sick. Try to save money and people want to go out and spend. Walk with God and your old life comes knocking.
- And let me say this- watch that you’re not being the distraction in someone’s wall building
- Don’t be the reason that someone cant build their wall. Be an encourager to other people
- But even if there are people trying to distract you, or things to distract you, don’t let it
- 2 Tim 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
- God spoke, you’ve been given a mission and you can’t let anything distract you from the mission
- ‘why should the work cease’? – this is the answer to the inevitable distractions that may come
- If what you are to accomplish is the most important thing in your life, nothing should stop it
- It takes sacrifice, because you cant do everything and some things have to go by the wayside
- As an example- when we started this church, family, friends, for me workouts, debt, didn’t care
- All I wanted was to grow our church and whatever cost. Sleep, time with kids, etc don’t care
- You can do it. You can decide that getting closer to God, getting out of debt, losing weight etc.
- you must be different (Nehemiah 5:14-19)
- As governor, Nehemiah refused to burden the people with heavy taxes and did not take advantage of his position. He disciplined himself to act with integrity and generosity.
- He chose to be different than his predecessor.
- ‘former governors’ ‘but I did not do so, because of fear of God’ he was different.
- Read Neh 5:15 Nehemiah was able to accomplish what his predecessors were not (complete the wall) bc he didn’t take advantage of the people. Why? Because he had a fear of God.
- Nehemiah built the wall because he wanted to please God, not fill his own pockets
- This truth motivated him to have integrity and the correct heart. DO IT FOR GLORY OF GOD
- If whatever you are trying to do is not connected to a God glorifying connection, you may lose passion for it, or worse, just draw glory to yourself and your own benefit. DO IT FOR HIM
- The previous governors walls fell, nehemiahs stood strong. Build with God and it’ll be strong.
- You realize- when you get closer to God it brings glory to HIM. You get out of debt so you can pay tithe and be generous, you get in shape so you can minister easier, you change your personality because a mean person brings no one to Jesus, you fix your marriage because you don’t want your kids to go to Hell, you improve yourself in your career bc you can have Christian influence. You build a business to bless God and others. Your improvement is for HIS GLORY
- Results of Nehemiah’s Discipline:
- Completion of the Wall: Despite opposition, the wall was rebuilt in just 52 days (Ne 6:15).
- Spiritual Renewal: The people repented and recommitted to God under Nehemiah and Ezra’s leadership (Nehemiah 8:1-12).
- Protection and Identity: The walls restored Jerusalem’s security and sense of purpose.
- BUILD YOUR WALL. Have some discipline about it. It can happen fast 52 days
- You can grow spiritually- discipline translates. If theres area that’s broken, not good
Don’t be the city without walls. Don’t be the person that doesn’t have rule over your spirit
For more sermons please visit our SERMON PAGE
Please subscribe to our YOUTUBE PAGE
