PRAYER - "Nehemiah Overcomes Sanballat By Prayer" Sanballat and Tobiah were vicious enemies of Nehemiah's restoration of Jerusalem, mocking and reproaching the workers. But the people had a mind to work, so continued building. Then the enemies conspired war against Jerusalem. "Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night." Through great determination, the Jews carried their weapons as they worked, and finished the wall. Live for God and work for God, but always stay prepared for battle. Nehemiah 4:17 - "Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon." PRINCIPALS - "Rebuilding The Gates Of Jerusalem" Almighty God sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and the gates of the city. The ten gates Nehemiah repaired were the sheep gate, fish gate, old gate, valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, east gate, and the gate Miphkad. Has God put it in your heart to rebuild the walls of truth, righteousness and holiness in our generation? Nehemiah 2:12 - "And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem." PRINCIPLES - "The Sheep Gate" If you take a close look at each of the gates of Jerusalem, you might see some typology. For instance, the first broken-down gate that Nehemiah repaired was the sheep gate, through which the people brought sheep to sacrifice in the temple. This foreshadows the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. The plan of salvation is completely void without the Lamb for sinners slain. We restore the sheep gate when we preach Christ! Nehemiah 3:1 - "Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate." PROPHECIES - "Will God Shake You Out Of His Lap?" Jews who returned to rebuild Jerusalem reclaimed the lands of their forefathers, but mortgaged them because they were poor and needed cash to survive. Some of their own brethren loaned them money, but took their sons and daughters as servants in foreclosure. Nehemiah was very angry, and persuaded the lenders to promise to release the people's collateral so they could survive. Nehemiah prophesied divine punishment if they reneged. Nehemiah 5:13 - "I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, ...that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied."              PLEASE PRAY FOR US!