Key Scriptures: Nehemiah 2:4-8, 17-18
The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
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Lesson One: Faithfully Seek God.
• Pursue God in prayer. There is nothing too big for God’s power, and there’s nothing too small for God’s heart
Nehemiah 2:4, The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…
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Lesson Two: Clearly Define the Vision.
• If God is calling you to do it—define it clearly. Most people that struggle don’t have a caring problem—they have a clarity problem
Nehemiah 2:5, If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, watch this—let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.
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Lesson Three: Carefully Make a Plan.
• A goal without a plan is just a wish
Nehemiah 2:6-8, Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.
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Lesson Four: Passionately inspire others.
• Stand up—with whatever faith you have—and try to bring people along with you
Nehemiah 2:17-18, Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.