When Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around his city, he faced an overwhelming task.

At the top of his list was motivating his people to pick up the stones and bricks and

begin the grueling project.

Some were young novices with soft and callous free hands.

Others were much older and perhaps lethargic.

Today on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall describes the technique that Nehemiah employed

to prod these people into action.

Picking up where we left off on the previous program,

our study resumes in Nehemiah Chapter 2.

Chuck titled his message,

Getting Off Dead Center. verse 17 he's done all of his work he's done all of his inspection now he comes

in touch with an open discussion of this need. I said to them, you see he hasn't said anything for three days.

Now he stands in front of them and he says to them, you see the bad situation

we are in that Jerusalem is desolate, its gates burned with fire.

Come, let us rebuild the wall, that we may no longer be a reproach.

I have circled in verse 17 three words that are probably the least important in the mind of the average reader.

We, us, and we. You see in order for him to motivate these in his charge it was necessary

for him to identify with the need.

And then will you notice the reason for the building

that we may no longer be a reproach?

The hand of the king is in this, the hand of God is in this. Let me

back off and give you some information about motivation in case you haven't thought through it for a while.

...