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Nehemiah Learns to Rule
THE POINT
Nehemiah was a king’s servant who became governor of a city. His story is an example of growing into authority and leadership.
WHY I LOVE THIS GUY
· His story is as relevant as tomorrow’s newspaper.
· He was a leader in the government and business realm who serves as an example of integrity and perseverance.
· He had a beautiful balance of faith and hard work.
· He rebuilt a broken and impoverished city, overcame adversity, and became a respected ruler.
BACKGROUND
608 BC - The Babylonians (Iraq) destroyed Jerusalem and carried off the Jewish upper and middle-class to Babylon as slaves.
538 BC - The Persians (Iran) conquered the Babylonians and allowed the Israelites to move about freely. About 50,000 Jews return to Jerusalem at this time.
458 BC – Ezra leads a team of about 1,500 Jewish leaders back to Jerusalem. They begin to rebuild but are stopped by other local tribal officials who had gained power and didn’t want to see Jerusalem rebuilt.
THE OPENING
Nehemiah 1:1
These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah.
In late autumn of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. [NLT]
(November, 444 BC)
NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah means “God Brings Comfort/Consolation”
ROOT: Nahum-Yah(weh)
Nahum the Prophet
The City of Capernaum (K’far Nahum) which was the home of Peter, James, John & Matthew and was Jesus’ base of operations for his preaching ministry
THE BAD NEWS
Nehemiah 1:3
They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been burned." [NLT]
NEHEMIAH’S RESPONSE
Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. [NLT]
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NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER: PRAISE
Nehemiah 1:5
Then I said, "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, [NLT]
NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER: CONFESSION
Nehemiah 1:6-7
…listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. [NLT]
NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER: CLAIMING THE PROMISE
Nehemiah 1:8-9
"Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.' [NLT]
NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER: DECLARING HIS POSITION
Nehemiah 1:10-11
"We are your servants, the people you rescued by your great power and might. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you.
NEHEMIAH’S PRAYER: THE REQUEST
Nehemiah 1:10-11
Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me."
[NLT]
Oh by the way…
Nehemiah 1:10-11
In those days I was the king's cup-bearer.
WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO?
· Begin to read the book of Nehemiah, preferably in a modern translation.
· Identify the “walls” in your life that need to be built or rebuilt.
· Start making notes on how to apply Nehemiah’s example to your personal challenges.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
· What do you do when you get bad news?
· Under stress, do you tend to pray more and work less, or pray less and work more?
· How can you balance that better?
· Can you think of a Bible figure who displayed the opposite character traits of Nehemiah?
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