What was your first reaction to the opposition and how did you respond?

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Ira Carroll
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Women in the Word Nehemiah 6 and 7 March 28, 2013 1. Obedience to God s will is frequently met with opposition. Can you recall a time when your obedience to God s will was met with opposition?

1 Women in the Word Nehemiah 6 and 7 March 28, Obedience to God s will is frequently met with opposition. Can you recall a time when your obedience to God s will was met with opposition? If yes, please explain. What was your first reaction to the opposition and how did you respond? 2. Opposition seems to be a running theme throughout Ezra and Nehemiah and chapters 6 and 7 of Nehemiah are no exception. Read Nehemiah 6:1-4. What are the names of the men who are opposing Nehemiah s rebuilding efforts recorded in verse 1? This is not the first time we ve seen these three men opposing the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. What are these three men doing in Nehemiah 2:19? How does Nehemiah describe these three men in Nehemiah 6:1? What words or phrases do you see in Nehemiah 2:19 and 4:7-8 that reveal the reaction of these three men to the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem? 3. According to Nehemiah 6:1, the wall around Jerusalem had been rebuilt, but the project had not yet been completed. What important element of the wall had not been finished? 4. Nehemiah s enemies tried to deceive him and disrupt the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. According to Nehemiah 6:2-4, how did they attempt to do this? How many attempts did they make to lure Nehemiah out of the city? How did Nehemiah respond to each request made by his enemies?

2 Women In the Word Nehemiah 6 and 7 March 28, 2013 Page 2 5. Read Nehemiah 6:5-9. Nehemiah s enemies continue to scheme against him. This time they use intimidation. In your own words, describe his enemies latest scheme to disrupt the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. In verses 8-9, how does Nehemiah respond to this latest opposition? 6. Nehemiah s enemies failed at deception and intimidation, so they devised yet another plan to disrupt the rebuilding of the wall. Read Nehemiah 6: What is the name of the man they used to carry out their plan? What does he attempt to do to Nehemiah? 7. If this plan had succeeded, how would Nehemiah have been discredited? Read Numbers 3:10 and 18:7 for further insight. 8. Read Nehemiah 6: Under Nehemiah s leadership, the Jews had finished the wall around Jerusalem. How many days did it take to complete this task? What does this tell us about Nehemiah? About the Israelites? About God? How did the swift completion of the wall affect Nehemiah s opponents? Why did Nehemiah s opponents react the way they did? (Refer to verse 16b.) 9. As vigilant as Nehemiah was at rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, he was equally as vigilant in protecting and restoring the Jews who would eventually live within those walls. Read Nehemiah 7:1-3. List the ways Nehemiah planned to protect the Jews living in Jerusalem.

3 Women In the Word Nehemiah 6 and 7 March 28, 2013 Page Read Nehemiah 7:4-73. The genealogy listed in these verses is a list of the returning Jews who had been held captive in Babylon. It represents God s bridge from the defeats of the past to the hopes of the future. Why do you think it was important to Nehemiah that he be so vigilant with the task of verifying the lineage of each returning Jew? Read Genesis 12:1-3 and Matthew 1:1, 17 for further insight. From this list, we see God used ordinary people to carry out His plan to rebuild Jerusalem. How does this encourage you? 11. Nehemiah faced extreme opposition throughout the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, but he seemed to carry out his mission with discernment and vigilance. Read the following verses to find out what Nehemiah s greatest weapon was against opposition: Nehemiah 1:4; 4:4-5; 4:9; 6:9 and 6:14. What descriptive words would you use to illustrate Nehemiah s prayer life? 12. Read the following Scriptures and record what they say about prayer. Matthew 26:41 Luke 21:36 Romans 12:12 Ephesians 6:18 1 Thessalonians 5: Nehemiah seemed to be in constant communication with his Heavenly Father, and because of that, he was able to carry out his mission from God with discernment and vigilance. On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your prayer life? How does your prayer life affect your ability to carry out your mission from God? What specific things will you do over the next week to draw you closer to God in prayer? 14. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

4 Women in the Word-March 28, 2013 Coming Home The Promises and Providence of God-Nehemiah 6 & 7 Nehemiah s Equation For Success D³ + V³ = MA P Nehemiah demonstrated a life dedicated to serving and honoring God. His completion of the wall around Jerusalem in record time revealed God s perfect formula for success. D³ = Nehemiah 6:1-14 *Discernment with deception vs. 1-4 *Discernment with intimidation vs. 5-9 *Discernment with vs Are your decisions made with discernment or out of fear and desperation? V³ = Nehemiah 7:1-64 *Vigilance with the things of God. vs. 1-2 *Vigilance when protecting others. vs. 3 *Vigilance with restoring the of Judah. vs Are you being vigilant as you care for the things God has entrusted to you? P = *Nehemiah made his decisions based on a of prayer. Nehemiah 1:4 *Nehemiah was able to lead with confidence, because he was in communication with God. Nehemiah 4:9, 6:9 Are your decisions based on a foundation of prayer? MA = Nehemiah 6:15-16; 7:73 *Because Nehemiah s decisions were based on a foundation of prayer, he was not distracted by deceptive motives or intimidation. His discernment and vigilance allowed him to accomplish great things for God. Prayer gives ordinary people the ability to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. KEY: Discernment, compromise, Vigilance, people, Prayer, foundation, constant, Mission Accomplished

5 Nehemiah 6 and 7 March 28, 2013 Numbers 3:10 Appoint Aaron and his sons as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death. Numbers 3:18 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain, I am giving you the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death. Malachi 3:18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. (King James) Matthew 6:33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Genesis 12:1 3 The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Matthew 1:1&17 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints.

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