Nehemiah - Part 1 Member

Nehemiah – Part 1

A MAN I.

OF

YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 2

VISION, PASSION

AND

PETITION

Member’s Notes Learning Outcomes: Understanding, Attitude

Introduction

To think that just a little over a hundred years ago, the world was still lighted by candles and oil lamps; to today’s global economy of supersonic jets and internet access is truly amazing. We owe all this advances to inventors and engineers who dare to dream. For example, Thomas Edison invented the incandescent bulb and together with it a power grid system that lighted up the world. Henry Ford invented the automobile at a time were horse-pulled carriages were the norm. And the Wright brothers dreamed for man to fly at a time when angels were the only beings thought to be capable of flying.

Objective: At the end of this lesson, you will be able to: • Learn 3 qualities of a great builder. • Desire to pray and seek God for a personal vision. • Evaluate if your passions are God-centred.

Discussion: 1) What do you think were some of the qualities that characterize these inventors?

Like these inventors, we all want to be successful in life and the things that God has called us to do. But we will also need some of those qualities mentioned. Today, we will look at three qualities in Nehemiah’s life that made him such an outstanding character in the Bible and a great builder for God. Who was Nehemiah and what was the story-line in the book of Nehemiah?

Time Period Character Book Return Rebuilding of

538-515 B.C. Zerubbabel Erza 1-6 First Return Temple

483-473 B.C. Esther Book of Esther ---

457 B.C. Ezra Ezra 7-10 Second Return People

444-425 B.C. Nehemiah Book of Nehemiah Third Return Wall

Background to the Book of Nehemiah

Member’s Notes page 1 of 5

Nehemiah – Part 1

YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 2

ii. A M a n o f V i s i o n

….but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.' Neh 1:9 …… send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it. Neh 2:5

Read Neh 1:1-11, 2:1-5 Describe in your own words, the feelings and thoughts that were going through Nehemiah’s mind when he heard about the report of Jerusalem?

From Neh 1:9 and 2:5, what is the one thing that gripped Nehemiah’s heart as he pondered and prayed about Jerusalem? We see that Nehemiah had a vision of him returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the city. The vision grips him to the point that it totally consumes him. What is a vision? It is a ___________________ of what you will become in the future. (Usually an improvement of the present.) It is a _____________________ of what the future could be like. Discussion: Do you have a personal vision for your life? Share with the group if there is something that you dream about doing or becoming in the future.

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Nehemiah – Part 1

YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 2

iii. A M a n o f P a s s i o n Read Neh 2:11-18. Having a vision is not enough. It can be just daydreaming. After a long journey, Nehemiah rested 3 days and immediately set out to do what God has called him to do. He rallied the people together and they all agreed to start rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. Neh 2:12 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work. Neh 2:18

What do you think were some of the reasons that the people agreed to rebuild the walls with Nehemiah?

What is passion? While vision is something that __________ you, passion is something that ___________ you. Passion is what _____________ you. It is an area of interest that will keep you talking night and day. Discussion: What are some of the things that you are naturally excited about? Share with the group some of these passions in your life. Notice that Nehemiah’s passion is God-centred (see Neh 2:12, 18). Are our passions self-centred or does it adds value to the Kingdom of God?

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Nehemiah – Part 1

YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 2

iv. A M a n

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Neh 1:4

o f P e t i t i o n Read Neh 1:4, 2:4, 4:9 and 6:9. There is yet another important quality in Nehemiah that undergirds all that he is and does. And that he is a man of prayer. There are some 12 passages of prayers in the book of Nehemiah. From the verses above, what does it tell us about the prayer life of Nehemiah?

As with Nehemiah, great missionaries like David Livingstone in Africa, William Carey in India and Hudson Taylor in China were all men characterized by prayers. Why do you think prayer is such an important component in the life of a Christian?

Discussion: Prayer is an subject that is always talked about but seldom practiced. What are some ways we can improve our prayer life?

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Nehemiah – Part 1

YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 2

v. C Some Helping Questions: o 1. Do I have a clear direction n for my life? What are God’s for me? c 2. purposes Am I passionate for the l things of God? is my prayer life doing? u 3. How Does it need a wake-up s call? i o n Nehemiah was a great builder of God because he is a man of vision, passion and petition. Reflect on your own life and write down any spiritual lessons you can learn from him in the space below:

Assignment for next week: Read about Lula Baird from Grace Website and give a report of what you have learnt from her life. Come ready to share!!

Member’s Notes page 5 of 5