WEEK 4: A Man With A Plan January 30, 2014

Transcription

1 WEEK 4: A Man With A Plan January 30, 2014 Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the wall as far as the housing for the Temple servants and merchants, across from the Inspection Gate. Then he continued as far as the upper room at the corner. Nehemiah 3:31 NLT While Nehemiah was God s man for the moment, this was not going to be a oneman job. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a herculean undertaking that was going to require the efforts and energy of everyone if it was going to happen. And while Nehemiah knew that, ultimately, their success was up to God, he also knew that they had a part to play. So he organized, recruited, and delegated the work among the people. It became a community project where everyone pitched in, regardless of their background, income level, gender, or construction experience. Take Notes (Teaching): As you listen to today s lesson, write down anything significant that you hear. Be ready to share them with the men at your table during the discussion time Ken Miller 19 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

2 Take Part (Discussion): Sometimes God has a way of speaking through others as they provide insights or different applications from the lessons. As you discuss around your table, write down anything you hear that makes an impact on you. Or if you hear another man share a struggle or concern, write it down so that you can pray for him during the week. Take Time (Prayer): Be sure and leave a few minutes for the sharing of prayer requests. Remember, keep your requests short and sweet. Don t let the details bog you down. We don t have to understand all that is going on to pray effectively Ken Miller 20 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

3 Take Action (Homework for week 5): To get ready for next week, spend some time preparing. OBSERVATION & INTERPRETATION Read Nehemiah 45 As you read, write down any words, phrases or significant events, actions or people who stand out to you. According to chapter three, things got off to a great start. Work was being done. People were cooperating. Progress was being made. But then something happens. Actually, three things happen. Look at the following sections of chapter four and give a short theme to each one: Vv. 19 Vv Vv What was Sanballat s reaction to all that was going on? What did it cause him to do? Why are verbal threats and accusations sometimes more powerful than physical ones? What was Nehemiah s response in verses 45? Why is this significant? How did Nehemiah NOT respond? Describe what you see happening psychologically in verses 1012: 2014 Ken Miller 21 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

4 What was Nehemiah s solution to their dilemma? Describe what you see happening in chapter 5:15: What was Nehemiah s response to the nobles and officials in chapter 5:611? How did they respond (Vv. 4, 13)? APPLICATION Doing the will and work of God never comes without external opposition and internal dissension. What are some ways in which you see the people of God under external attack today? Can you think of any times you may have ended up complaining about how hard things had gotten as you attempted to do the will and work of God? Nehemiah had made it clear that God was going to make their efforts at rebuilding the walls successful, but they still had to do their part. What can you think of in your own life that might require a joint effort on the part of God and you to bring it about? Read 5:1419. What do these verses reveal about Nehemiah? What was the motivation behind his actions? How might you apply this same attitude to your own life? PRAYER Father, we know we are going to encounter opposition as we do Your work. We also know that we are going to run out of steam and lose heart along the way. Give us the capacity to face our enemies and our work with faith and determination. Don t let us give up. Help us to recall the words of Nehemiah. Don t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes! Amen Ken Miller 22 Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church

5 1 WEEK 4: A Man With A Plan January 30, 2014 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hanahel. Nehemiah 3:1 ESV God s will, but hard work It was going to take Unity Faith Cooperation Sacrifice Humility Selflessness Perseverance A common vision Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision. Nehemiah 2:17b ESV Restored walls and gates Restored honor and purpose For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers Deuteronomy 7:68 ESV You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Isaiah 43:10 ESV You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Amos 3:2 God s glory And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Ezekiel 36:23 ESV This was all about God s holiness

6 2 It was about His name and glory They were living in shame because they had profaned His name A unified effort Everyone had to help o From the influential to the insignificant Everything had to be repaired o From the Sheep Gate to the Dung Gate The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:2126 ESV The importance of gates Gates were intended to let some things in: Sheep, fish, water, horses Gates were intended to take some things out: Refuse and dung They provided access to things: Fountains, water, pastures, valleys They kept other things out: Enemies, wild animals, unwanted visitors Rebuilt walls are useless without restored gates Walls without gates are simply barriers and little more than prisons Gates can provide access or prevent it The Sheep Gate for worship and sacrifice The Fish Gate for sustenance The Gate of Yeshenah (second city) for future blessing The Valley Gate for access to God s presence The Dung Gate for purity and cleansing The Foundation Gate for refreshment The one true gate Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. John 10:7 NIV I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9 NIV God looks down upon His family and He sees homes where the wall of prayer is in ruins, or the wall of protection gone and the home disintegrating; or the wall of purity broken; or the wall of passionate devotion to Himself neglected. Oh the wall of integrity that needs to be rebuilt between church, home and family in so many places! Alan Redpath Is your life a gate through which others find easy access to Christ? Is your home a place where Christ can easily be found? Is your church an open door to the Gospel for those who are lost? 2014 Ken Miller Mighty Men a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church