NEHEMIAH DEVOTIONAL STUDY 7 DAY STUDY GUIDE FROM BURDEN TO STEPPING OUT! By: YEMISI & JOHNSON IYILADE
Table Of Contents Day 1; Day 2; Day 3; Day 4; Day 5; Day 6; Day 7; Day 8; Day 9; Day 10; Day 11; Day 12; Day 13; Day 14; Day 15; Day 16; Day 17; Day 18; Day 19; Day 20; One man can make a difference I asked because I care What is my purpose? Called in a unique way Will your vision pass the litmus test? The King s cupbearer Prayer from a distant land The 5P Strategy Put first things first Good vs God Everything about you speaks Equip and send What do you want? Beyond prayer Do you have a plan? Work It out! Ask and you shall receive Mission & Mockery Persevere Should I go private or public?
Day 22; Day 23; Day 24; Day 25; Moving hearts with words The Roll Call! Leading by example Not everyone will come onboard Day 26; The body model for building healthy teams (1) Day 27; The body model for building healthy teams (11) Day 28; Day 29; Day 30; Bonus Day 1; What are these feeble jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish the work? Bonus Day 2; Will they turn things around? Bonus Day 3; The heart-hand connection BuyThe Complete 30 DAY Study Guide, in a downloadable pdf BUY NOW!
Day 1 I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 The book of Nehemiah is about an ordinary man who was just a cupbearer to the King in Susan (a foreign land) but whose heart was ignited by an extraordinary vision to rebuild the broken walls, the gates and Solomon s temple that were in ruin in Jerusalem, his home country. When Nehemiah became aware of the problem, he was moved to action. He sat down; he wept; he mourned for many days; he prayed; he fasted; he mobilized resources; he inspired others; and he confronted the problem head-on. Nehemiah could have found many reasons why he should not be concerned with the decadence and ruin in Jerusalem. Firstly, he was not at the vicinity of the problem, so he could continue to enjoy himself in the foreign land. Secondly the problem was not new, it s been a 140-year old problem and no one had done anything about it. Thirdly he was just one man - what difference could one person make? But yet, he decided to take the lead and tackle the problem that others seem to ignore. Often times, many people count themselves out of God s purpose and plan because they think they are just one individual with limited money, experience, education, etc to fix the problem. The truth is, God does not start his vision with the multitude, he always begins by planting a vision for what he wants to do in the heart of one man. Nehemiah was such a man and a leader with a heart and vision for something great. He was not deterred by the size of the problem. He confidently carried the burden in His heart and a vision that he believed in.
God planted in Nehemiah s heart a vision for what Jerusalem could be, and what it should be. Nehemiah caught the vision and ran with it. And together as co-labourers with God, he did what others did not do. Beloved, there are various walls that are broken down in our neighborhood, society, and nations today. God is counting on us and looking for someone who would not just talk and analyze those problems but come up with practical solutions and lead other people to implement the plan just like Nehemiah. The broken walls in our nations can only be repaired through people with a leadership mindset and those who think they can make a difference. Are you ready to be God s hand and feet for transforming our world? God bless you! POINTS TO PONDER: God does not start his vision with the multitude, he always begins by planting a vision for what he wants to do in the heart of one man. PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: Thank you Father for the opportunity to be your ambassador and agent of change in this world. Ignite my heart today with a vision and passion to lead the change I want to see in the world. I receive divinely inspired ideas and wisdom to make a difference starting today. (Amen)
Think And Reflect Q: What problem moves you and gives you so much unrest? What s your extraordinary vision? Q: Within the last year what have you done to mobilise or confront this problem or pain? Q: What excuse are you giving to the problems around you? Q: How have you made a difference during your lifetime? Q: How can you make a difference starting today?
Day 2 I ASK BECAUSE I CARE FOR OTHERS Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 When we take a critical look at Nehemiah - His mission, vision, the work of rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem - they all could be traced to one origin - the question he asked his brother, Hannani, and some other men that visited him according to Nehemiah 1 verse 2. He asked his visitors about the state of the people back at home in his country. The answer they gave him in verse 3 was that the people in Jerusalem were in distress and reproach ; and that the walls of the city of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates are burned with fire. These were the words that touched the heart of Nehemiah and set him on a mission to become God Agent of Change. He was motivated to fix the problem. In my personal experience, I have noticed that, often times, when people asked you the question: how are you doing? they don t necessarily care to know the true and honest answer. Hence, many people who are in distress or going through a challenging situation in life have developed a quick way to bluff-off this question. They simply pretend and give you the answer you want to hear: I am fine. And what you may discover is that they are not actually be fine. There are many reasons, I believe, people don t want to open up and share their problem and struggles with leaders any longer. One is the fact that many leaders are very quick at passing judgement and condemning people from a distance without even listening to them. They jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. Another reason is that some so-called leaders have turned their being privy to people s private information and what the person is going through into a sort of celebrity gossip on social media or tabloid news. Some even turned it into a sermon topic. This is not supposed to be. This is a betrayal of people s trust. It defeat the purpose and heart of ministry. In Nehemiah s story, we see a man with a different approach to people s problem. We see a man that care and was genuinely concerned about what PEOPLE are going through. He has a
COMPASSIONATE heart that truly love people. He asked the question not because he wanted to rejoice at the misfortune of other people but because he cared. But, someone may ask: How do you know he care? Look at his response in verse 4: When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven Can you see how he responded? - weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying to God. Leadership is a position of trust and if you are not going to keep what people shared with you safe and do something about it, you don t qualify to lead. God bless you! POINTS TO PONDER: Nehemiah responded to people s problem by praying, fasting and weeping. PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: Father, as your agents of change, help me to see people and their problems through your eyes of compassion. Help me to take practical actions to help to the best of my ability (Amen)
Think And Reflect Q: How compassionate at heart are you? Q: When was the last time you complained about someone or judged someone? Q: How do you see people? Q: What will you do today to show that you really care about the people you meet?
Day 3 I HAVE A GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE THAT I MUST FULFILL Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 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." Everyone of us has been created by God for a purpose. You need to discover your purpose and pursue it, so that you can live a significant life. It s OK if you are not aware or have clarity of your purpose now. Some people are like Joseph in the Bible, he knew what his Life s purpose was very early, while some other people are like Moses who only discovered his Life s purpose later in life. So, some of the most common questions people ask about their life is: How do I know my purpose? How do I know the reason for my existence? Why do I exist? Well, there are various clues to what your purpose or assignment on earth is and I believe it s a combination of various factors including your talents, gifts, background, life experiences, the witness of the Holy Spirit in your heart and many others. But here is one factor that I think is a pointer to what your assignment is: Whatever is happening in the world or around you that causes anger or discontent in your spirit and brings you to tear may be a pointer to your divine assignment/ministry. For some people, these may be when they hear news of a child being trafficked. For others it might be injustice, poverty, disease epidemic, sexual abuse, illiteracy, Lack of good water or good health.. The list is endless of so many walls broken down that God is relying on you as an Agent Of Change to rebuild and fix.
For Nehemiah, it was the distress and anguish of his people that burdened him and made him to cry. He could not hold back tears. I am sure he probably wondered why the problem lingered for such a long time. Why didn t someone do something about it for the past 140 years? The truth of every assignment is that what causes a concern or a burden to one may not necessarily create the same sense of concern or burden to the other person. What makes you feel the need to do something may not trigger the same feeling in someone else. The vision is yours, the assignment is your cross. This is why you should be true to your own heart and don t try to do what someone else is doing. Also, I want you to know that you don t automatically live out your purpose, you need to be intentional and take action on your purpose. You don t need to have everything figured out before you start. But you need to begin where you are and with whatever you have. God bless you! POINTS TO PONDER: Whatever is going on in the world that causes a discontent or burden in your spirit may be a clue to your life s assignment PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: Thank you Lord for your purpose for my life. Help me to discover it, follow and fulfill your call in Jesus name (Amen)
Think And Reflect Q: What gives your life meaning? Q: What causes anger in your spirit so much moree that it rings you to tear? Q: Do you know your purpose? Q: Are you waiting on others to validate your assignment or you re running with it? Q: What will you do differently today on your purpose?
Day 4 I AM CALLED TO BE UNIQUE Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 Every one of us has been called by God to be his change agent in the world. However, the process of coming to the awareness of your specific assignment may not follow conventional pattern. Your call is unique and you may discover it in a unique way too. For example, when God called Abraham, he heard a voice that asked him to leave his father s house. For Joseph, he dreamed twice about his life s purpose and assignment, and the bible records that he shared his dream with his brothers. Moses, discovered his life s assignment through a burden in his heart to fight injustice to his people and it took him 40 years later to clarify it through the burning bush experience. David s calling was confirmed when God sent a prophet named Samuel to anoint him in his father s house. Gideon was called while backstage in the winepress, and PAUL had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Everyone of them had a unique call and experience. Also when we look at the story of Nehemiah his calling was unique and unconventional. It did not sound glamorous or exciting. It is very easy to doubt the genuineness and authenticity of your purpose. Sometimes it might not make sense to us. Nehemiah was not anointed by any pastor or prophet like David to clarify or affirm his calling and purpose. Neither did he hear any audible voice like Abraham. What Nehemiah had was a BURDEN in his heart according to verse your assignment should not diminish its validity and genuineness. The way you are called for Beloved, God has called you for a purpose, go ahead and do what he has called you to do. God bless you!
POINTS TO PONDER: We all come into awareness of our assignment in different ways. PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: I am called for a purpose and an assignment. My calling is unique. I would fulfill the call of God on my Life in Jesus name (Amen) Think And Reflect Q: Have you been comparing your assignment with someone s else? Q: What is your authentic self? Q: Do you know you are different? Q: With a new awareness from today s study what would you start doing differently?
Day 5 I HAVE A VISION, I BELIEVE IN A GREATER TOMORROW Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4 One thing you would notice about Nehemiah is that he is a visionary. Visionaries are people (leaders) who see things not as they are but as they could be. Visionaries are those who fill in the gap between what is today and what could be tomorrow. They paint a potential picture of what the future could and should be. They see possibilities. Visionaries are those who can see what ordinary thinking people cannot see and are willing to invest their time and energy to mobilize others to make it a reality. Many of those who have made impact in our world are people driven by a vision, they often have a personal conviction they can change the world for good. I, however, must warn that not every vision qualifies as a kingdom vision. Many businesses and corporations have visions such as becoming the largest or biggest company or earning a certain amount of profit a year. Many of these visions are driven by quest for money, power, position and titles. These are not what a kingdom vision is all about. A kingdom vision is not about the size of your organization or the amount of money in your bank account. The litmus test of what qualifies for kingdom vision is how it sees and treats PEOPLE. A kingdom vision is rooted in God s love for people and passion to meet their need. It was this same love that motivated God to send his only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. The same love had been poured in our heart and compels us to lay down our life in service to others. Someone, once said said if your vision is driven by love of money, you would use people to get it, but if your vision is driven by love for people, any other thing (including money) become a tool you use to fulfill the mission of serving people.
So, would your vision pass the test? What is your vision about? money, power or position? Success in the kingdom is not measured in material terms but in terms of transformation and impact that you bring to people. Hence, don t let your vision be about you but about others and what you are going to do to make a difference in their life. God bless you! POINTS TO PONDER: Every kingdom vision is driven by love for people PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: Father I thank you for granting me a revelation of your love for the world. I am driven by the same love that took Jesus to the cross and I would impact my world positively in Jesus name (Amen)
Think And Reflect Q: Are you a visionary? Q: What do you see? Q: What difference are you willing to make in the world? Q: Is your purpose about YOU or Is your purpose bigger than you? Q: What impact can you make in the world?
Day 6 I STEP OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND I STEP INTO MY CONVICTION Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4, 11 Nehemiah 1:11 - "I was cupbearer to the king" Nehemiah ended his prayer in chapter 1 with a reference to his job and position - "I was cupbearer to the king", he said. But, why is he telling us about his job prior to going on the assignment of rebuilding the wall? I think he gave us a window of opportunity to know more about him and the significance of the decision he was about to make. First, you will notice that his job function as the king s cupbearer was to taste and serve wine to the king. Hence, the cupbearer must be someone that the king trusts and have absolute confidence in, otherwise he could be used by adversaries to poison the king. Secondly, because he served before the king everyday, he had daily access to the king. So, he occupied a position where he can exert tremendous influence on the king's decision. These first two reasons helped him gain the trust of the king and build a cordial relationship with him. We would see how important this is in chapter 2. The third reason I believe Nehemiah told us his job title was, his job type was highly skilled, a job in the palace meant a well paid job. He had a plum job. The kind of dream job many of us desire, today maybe it could be referred to one of the fortune 100 companies. He was financially comfortable. Obviously, with his enviable pedigree and profile, no one would advise him to risk the good life he has now for the daunting task of helping other people who are in distress. Before now, all he had was a regular job which helped him pay his bills and provide for his needs and family, but now following his passion would mean pursuing a higher kingdom purpose (service to others), with no guarantee to succeed.
Until now, Nehemiah was a cupbearer serving and running errands under an earthly king. He had just discovered he has an heavenly assignment to run for the King of kings. He immediately had to transition from his normal and comfortable life to his conviction. He had to step out of His comfort zone to pursue what God has laid in His heart. It s time for you to step out and stand out! Here are some of the lessons we can glean from this awareness: Firstly, your life is more than your job (that pays your bills), life s fulfillment comes from pursuing your kingdom purpose which is what flows from your heart. Secondly, don t settle down in your comfort zone, nothing great ever happens there. You must be willing to take a risk to pursue your purpose in life. Your purpose in life is your conviction. God bless you! POINTS TO PONDER: Your job may pay your bill, but your fulfilment comes from pursuing purpose. PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: Thank you Father for calling me into a higher purpose which is serving the world with my skills and gifts. I consider it an honour to be a vessel in your hands to bring change to the world.
Journal Your Thoughts Q: What does success mean to me? Q: Which do you prefer? Success or Significance? Q: Would you rather work at a job you don t like or work on your purpose? Q: With this new awareness and thoughts what would you start doing differently today?
Day 7 I HAVE AN ADVOCATE AND HIGH-PRIEST THAT IS PRAYING FOR ME. Text: Nehemiah 1:4-10 Throughout the book of Nehemiah, we are reminded of the importance of prayer and what prayer can do. For me, the amazing thing about Nehemiah was not just that he prayed, but that he was interceding before God on behalf of his people who were in trouble in another land who did not even know that someone in about eight-hundred miles away was praying for them. I believe it is one thing to pray for people when they send you a prayer request and ask you to, but it is a greater level of ministry altogether to bear other people's agonies, pains, and burdens in prayer when they might actually be unaware someone was praying for them. Nehemiah s heartfelt prayer for his people far away from him suddenly reminds us of Jesus (our own Nehemiah) and his present prayer ministry to us. He did not just come down from his throne to die on the cross and redeem us from our sins 2000 years ago, He is our present-day help in times of need. Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is our high priest and advocate. He is not just touched by our struggles and feelings but can identify with our griefs and pains. He intercedes in prayer before the Father on our behalf every day. Hebrews 7:25 says of Jesus: He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. And, Romans 8:34 says: Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. More so, 1 John 2:1 says, He is our advocate - the one who pleads our case before the Father.
Beloved, no matter what you may be going through in life, maybe you feel lonely or you feel no one understands or cares, I want you to know that there is a man up there who knows and cares for you. He is the one who sits at the right-hand of the Father praying, advocating and interceding for you everyday. He is Jesus Christ - the righteous one. God bless you! POINTS TO PONDER: It is good to pray for people when they ask you to, but it is a higher level of ministry to intercede on behalf of people who may not know you are praying for them. PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF FAITH: Lord Jesus, I thank you for being my intercessor, confidant and a present help in times of need. Thank you for praying for me and advocating for me before the throne of grace. To you be honour and glory forever (Amen) Memory verses: "I said, 'God, God-of-Heaven, the great and awesome God, loyal to his covenant and faithful to those who love him and obey his commands: Look at me, listen to me. Pay attention to this prayer of your servant that I m praying day and night in intercession for your servants, the People of Israel, confessing the sins of the People of Israel. (Nehemiah 1:5-6, MSG)" You can BUY a copy of the Entire 30 Day Devotion HERE for only $27! Buy Now
FAITH LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL Faith Life Community is an arm of Faith Life Ministries International. OUR MISSION is to transform lives and raise leaders. As children of God, God wants us to step out and stand out, Whether your goal is to start a business, write a book, find a life partner, choose a career path, or restore your relationship, be a coach or consultant you need to step out and stand out with CLARITY, PURPOSE, and DIRECTION. Romans 8:19 says For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. We are not just any church, we are a church where faith-centered men and women discover their purpose and overcome distractions or obstacles along the path to their destined life applying faith in the word of God. Let us know at the workshop if you are interested in joining us for our Sunday evening service. We partner with Eminent Coaching Academy to provide a supportive and intentional living environment where faith-centered motivated and high achieving christians can learn, experience authentic connection, unconditional love and spiritual empowerment. Just like Nehemiah, everyone of us have a God ordained purpose, until we discover our purpose we would be moving in circles. It s your time to Step Out And Stand Out. Nehemiah was an ordinary just like you and me. If he did it so can we. The time is now because Romans 8:19 says For the children of the world is waiting in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH. Learn More about how I can help you be revealed! Visit my website www.yemisiiyilade.com Like Our Facebook Page. I would love to hear from you. Remain Blessed!