Sunday, July 24th, 2011: Nehemiah 4:1-9....

I try hard to make sure this blog is as accurate to our Sunday morning class as possible for those of you who either are away or absent on Sunday morning. However, this past Sunday God went so far off my notes that I am not sure how well of a representation this blog will be for the class that was held. Yet, I am still sharing my notes with you for this is what I have promised to do. So here we go:

Read Nehemiah Chapter 4:1-9.

Notice that Sanballat's reaction has escalated. In Ch 2 v 10, he was described as disturbed. Then further in Ch 2, he is recruiting others to be against Nehemiah. He has the group mocking and ridiculing Nehemiah and the impending work. NOW in Ch 4 verse 1, Sanballat is described as indignant.

**The thing we need to realize and walk away with is the more God moves in us the more of a target we become for the enemy***

Then in verse 2 & 3, we see Sanballat is instigating & bringing even more again Nehemiah & the rebuilding of the wall.

Verse 4 & 5 shows Nehemiah doing what each of us knows is the best method....but so often do not do....He goes to the Father in prayer. Yet, his prayer has changed over the course of these chapters. Go back and read it again.

Our enemies & those against God's work can provoke God to anger, as seen at the end of verse 5.

As we read this, we can learn a few things about an effective worker in Chapter 4:

1. An effective worker has a mind to work.
2. An effective worker has a heart to pray.
3. An effective worker has an eye to watch.

We will cover more of the effective worker as we journey on.

Note: Effective worker portion comes from blog of "Jesus Plus Nothing".

Sunday, July 17th, 2011: Nehemiah 3....

First things first, Read all of Chapter 3. It will be worth it in the long run...Promise!

Let's start this week with a question: What is the main focus of Chapter 3?

Answer: Many people of different walks of life were a part of God's work rebuilding the wall.

Refresher Question: Who called Nehemiah to rebuild the wall?
Answer is found in Chapter 2 verse 12: GOD

There are a few things we can see in Chapter 3:

• God brought unity to the workers for the team effort needed to rebuild the wall.
• Everyone always has something to offer. When God calls us to a work, He will work through everyone He calls.
• Rebuilding many times started at home. It is important to not be so focused on others and forget that their ministry starts at home. 
• All the work was done by volunteers. It is almost unimaginable in today's "Me, Me" Society, but none of these volunteers got paid. All this rebuilding work was done for the Glory of God.

Question: What is the motive for doing God's work?

Answer: God remembers & records names. 

Our loving Father sees every action at all times. He knows the number of hairs on our head and keeps our tears in a bottle according to Scripture. 

Many would look at Chapter 3 and just see a bunch of hard to pronounce names....YET, there is so much more there and we must trust God to reveal these things to us. 

We will be heading to Chapter 4 on July 24th. Be blessed!  

Sunday, July 10th, 2011: Nehemiah 2:10-20....

We looked last at Nehemiah being sad before the King. Nehemiah praying and then making his request to the King. King giving above & beyond what Nehemiah requested.

Now, we pick up with verse 10...

Question: What happens in verse 10?

Answer: We must not be surprised by the resistance that is nearly immediate against Nehemiah.

Vv 11-15: Surveying the Land

Nehemiah has arrived in Jerusalem, He knew it was a necessity to see the reported damage w/his own eyes.

***We can hear of great damage, but only when we see it with our own eyes can we fully comprehend...Nehemiah knew this.

Nehemiah slipped out at night taking just a few with him.

Question: Why do you think he only took a few with him to survey the land?

Vv16-18: Nehemiah tells people what they already knew about damage but doesn't stop there... Nehemiah shares with people what God has already done for them.

Question: Are we sharing with people what God is doing our lives?

The people are prepared to join Nehemiah in the work...then we get to verse 19.

In verse 19, the scoffers show back up...but they bring Geshem the Arab with them now. We must realize that those against God's work will bring back-up if the work continues to move forward.

Verse 20: Nehemiah's response is just as much an encouragement to the people of Jerusalem as a rebuke to the scoffers. The scoffers tried to bring up rebelling against the King. They knew full well this was NOT TRUE yet, they were hoping the people didn't. Remember Nehemiah came with letters from King for all the governors.

***It is important to realize as we move forward in our walk & devotion to Jesus; we will have scoffers. They may even try to twist the truth or give false information to those around us.

HOWEVER, OUR SUCCESS WILL BE BROUGH BY GOD & AS V20 STATES "THEY WILL HAVE NOT RIGHT OR HERITAGE OR MEMORIAL"

Last thought...when responding to our scoffers may our speech be like Nehemiah's.

We head to Chapter 3 on July 17th.

Have a blessed one!

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011: Nehemiah 2:1-10....

QUESTION: What is the significance of Nehemiah being sad in front of the King?

ANSWER: As we learned in Ch 1 verse 11, Nehemiah was cupbearer to the King. There were numerous complications to him being "sad" before the King; including the fact that he could have been "sad" because the King's wine was poisoned.

QUESTION: In verse w, why does Nehemiah become "dreadfully afraid?"

ANSWER: Nehemiah being sad in front of the King could have easily resulted in His death. A good reason to become "dreadfully afraid."

***Notice in verse 4 that Nehemiah prays before responding to the King***

QUESTION: When we have to answer for our emotions or behavior do we pray first then answer?

Vv 5 & 6: Nehemiah ask the King to be relieved of his duties to go back & rebuild his homeland.

***The amazing thing is in verse 6...Nehemiah gives the King a time frame for how long he will be gone***

We shall see, as we journey on that God completes the rebuilding of the wall in record time. This amazes  me because it shows that Nehemiah must of known what God was planning to do...How else could he have "set a time" for the King?

In Vv 7-9, Nehemiah is bold and ask the King for letters & provisions to let everyone know he is journeying with the King's blessings.

God grants Nehemiah favor and the King gives Nehemiah all he request. However, the King gives Nehemiah even more than he originally requested. We see in verse 9 that the King sends "captains of the army & horsemen with them (meaning Nehemiah)"

We must realize that God desires to give us more than we could possibly imagine. Yet, we act like paupers.

We will continue Nehemiah 2 on July 10th. :-)

Sunday, June 26th, 2011: SUBSTITUTE....

Our class went to be with the Young Adult class while I was out of town. We will start Nehemiah 2 on July 3rd.