Nehemiah 1-2
Lesson 1
"Survivor or Thriver?"
What do you do when the walls of life come crashing down? Do you just try to hold on; are you just getting by? You survived and that's it? There is a big difference in surviving something and thriving despite that something! The remnant of Israel had returned home and they were survivors, but they had not done anything about the rubble around them. Yes, they had rebuilt the temple and had tried once to rebuild the walls, but when opposition came, they stopped doing the work. So, they resided to just live in it. The walls were their defenses, and certainly, though physically destroyed, they were also representative of their destruction spiritually. Many of us simply accept mediocrity and step over and under the rubble of our lives each day. We have become use to it, though it is difficult, it is all we know. What does it take to restore ruins?
Today's lesson is the beginning of the answer to that question. As we look at Nehemiah, the man, and our great and awesome God, let's make a list and see what we can conclude.
Nehemiah
Lived in a pagan society - in Susa
High official, trustworthy
A man of prayer
Knew God
Knew His Word, promises
Had a plan based on prayer and God’s Word
Prayed when fearful
Inspected the problem
Called the people to build
Refuted the mockers
Depended on God for success
The Lord
God of heaven
Great and awesome
Preserves covenant, keeps His promises
Lovingkindness
Longsuffering
Hears and answers prayers
Scattered and gathers His people
Redeemed them
Great power
Strong hand
Gives success and compassion
As you look at the chart, let your eyes glean from left to right, as you think through the events of Nehemiah 1-2. We know it says in Pr. 21:1, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes." We know God stirs the hearts of kings, even the pagan ones, to do His will; BUT we also see in this narrative how Nehemiah was responsible to pray, request, and arise to challenge the people to do the work. Once again, our lesson narrows down to these two truths. Last week, Louie Gigleo also explained these seemingly opposite truths. He placed his fist in the air and said this is you in the world, and Jesus says you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. John 16:33. Louie went on to explain the hugeness of our God and His ultimate purposes for us, and that all works together to bring Him glory, and that He is painting on a canvas that is bigger and better than anything we can see or imagine. Both truths absolutely true running side by side. The book of Nehemiah depicts this so beautifully as you walk through the pages and see how you must respond to "distressing news," and on the other hand, trust that God is at all times sovereign and in control of the situation.
Now, for the added "W" to the 5 W's and the H - So what? How does knowing how Nehemiah responded to the news help you? Because we live in a fallen world where there is trouble and conflict (remember, expect it), you can follow the example of Nehemiah as you too get a bad report.
Here is Kay's nine truths you need to know in order to become a "Nehemiah."
1. Be aware of and have knowledge of the conditions of the people.
2. Have a heart that is touched from the situation. Ministries come from mourning (weeping, trials, etc)
3. Confess the transgressions that brought on the situation
4. Believe that God will ever remain to be God during the situation. He is a covenant keeping God.
5. Assess the situation on your knees and face before God.
6. Be a woman or man of God that knows how to handle fear. Take it to your knees and stand on who God is!
7. Be a woman or man of God that knows when to share God's will to others. Nehemiah had already made a plan through prayer, and when given the right time and place, he made his requests known to the king. He did the same thing when he returned to Jerusalem; he waited until he had surveyed the ruins and then he challenged the people.
8. Learn to discern the wiles of others. Listen to the leaning of the Holy Spirit regarding your enemies.(remember to expect them)
9. Know that ONLY God can give success! Nehemiah constantly gave God the credit; he specifically prayed for success before the king, he refuted the enemies with the statement that God would bring them success. He at two different times stated that the good hand of God was upon him.
The power of one is far greater than we stop to consider. Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther, Haggai, and on and on. One person making a difference, leaving a legacy of FAITH! Will you? Have you just survived? What will your children or your grand children remember about you? Do you think they will look up and admire the fact that you survived struggles or that you thrived despite the struggles? Look around your life today? Can you even pass through your gates? Don't settle - arise and re-build, for the good hand of God is upon you!
Laboring with you and through Him,
Phil 1:6
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Day 6 of 52! What do you need to finish the task of rebuilding your gates? Time? Money? Discipline? Accountability? Permission? Whatever it may be, have you actually stopped and asked God specifically for that need? We tend to pray so generally, fearing that God will not prove to be God in our circumstance. Nehemiah asked for exactly what he needed to begin the journey -and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man. Because he had prayed that specifically, when the situation occurred before the king, he knew it was God providing favor before a pagan king. When we earnestly pray and then request what we need, we can be sure to see God's hand upon us. General prayers rob us from seeing God's will within our lives. Stop today and pray for exactly what you need, and then watch to see if God comes through, all the while balancing it with His sovereign rule over your life
ReplyDeleteDay 8 - One week down and six and a half to go! Nehemiah - concerned, called on God's character and covenant, confessed sin (personal and national), committed (asked God specifically for success and compassion) and then waited patiently with a good attitude for the right moment before the king. He had prayed, planned and prepared to do the job. Many times we go hurriedly and unprepared into what we think God has called us to do, and hence fall flat on our face in failure. The calling was not the problem; it was the preparation or lack there of. Today, honestly ask yourself, have I really prayed, planned, and prepared for what I believe God is calling me to do? Without proper preparation, when conflict comes (and it will) we will NOT be able to stand with COURAGE before authority and ask for what we need, as Nehemiah was able to do.
ReplyDeleteDay 9 of 52! We need to understand that Nehemiah did more that restore a wall and some gates; he helped to restore a people from ruin. As New Testament believers, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore, should we not build protective walls and gates around our lives from the ensuing enemies of this present world? This takes lots of prayer and planning along with great courage as we stand before opposition that certainly will come. Your enemy does not want you to rebuild; he wants you held captive to the same old mindset of defeat and has you paralyzed with fear as you struggle to step over and around all of the rubble of your life. Today, declare war and fight alongside the rest of us as we gain courage "next to him/her" and "in front of our own quarters." Prayer warriors - stand on the tower as watchmen on the wall for your prayer partner!
ReplyDeleteDay 10 of 52! Have you ever heard the expression, You are so heavenly minded, you are no earthly good? If you would have been there and watched Jesus ascend into heaven, would you still be there looking up? If you want to be a Nehemiah, you will not only know who your God is, BUT you also act on who your God is! Yes, you pray, but you also ARISE and do the work. God is sovereign, and you are responsible to act in accordance to His Sovereignty. So, arise and build!
ReplyDeleteDay 11 of 52: What have we learned about our God thus far in Nehemiah 1-2? HE is: the great and awesome God of heaven, preserves covenant, keeps His promises, lovingkindness toward us, hears and answers prayers, redeems by His great power and hand, gives success and compassion. Nehemiah knew these truths, and he prayed and acted upon the what he knew about God. And what do we call this acting on what we know to be true? ....FAITH!
ReplyDeleteDay 13: I did not tell anyone what my God was putting in my mind to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the one I on which I was riding. Neh 2:12 There's a time to tell and a time to be quiet; there's a time to work and a time to wait. Nehemiah cautiously began the task that God had stirred his heart to do; he did not run off unprepared or bragging to everyone. Our God is a God of order, and we must survey the damages and test the waters before we pick up one stone or tell even one person what God has put in our mind to do. What has He put in your mind to do and how are you approaching the task?
ReplyDelete