GROUP FELLOWSHIP

SUMMER 2001

NEHEMIAH: ‘A PURPOSE-DRIVEN PEOPLE’ - stirred up to serve!

NEHEMIAH 1 : VISION RECEIVED

INTRODUCTION – BACKGROUND TO NEHEMIAH!

(

Ensure that everyone understands the general background to the book of Nehemiah – and the overall outline of the events the story records)

DATE: Nov – Dec 446BC LOCATION: Susa, in Persia (Iran)

SITUATION: Many Jews remain in exile though some have returned and, amidst the total devastation of Jerusalem, have rebuilt the Temple. For years nothing further is done: the Holy City remains a ruin, a dishonour to God.

ACTION: A man, still in exile, is concerned; a burden is felt; a vision is born; prayer is offered and action conceived. Opportunity opens – and a great work is undertaken and, in the face of many difficulties, accomplished. God’s people stirred to service, focused on a purpose, achieve something great for God! APPLICATION: What about us in our day? What is ‘in ruins’ and needs rebuilding? How concerned are we? What are we going to do it?

NEHEMIAH CONCEIVES A VISION:

God uses Nehemiah to imitate a great work for him. It is often God’s way to so stir up an individual that they arouse his people as a whole to renewal and restoration: BUT WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE NEHEMIAH THE MAN THE LORD COULD SO USE? It was something in his outward life-situation and something in his inner spiritual condition.

• NEHEMIAH’S KEY POSITION (1.11)
• How significant for the purposes of God was Nehemiah’s position and occupation? (What do you know about the position he held?)
• What does this say to us? Could God have a significant purpose for us in our life-situation?

• NEHEMIAH’S REAL CONCERN: (1.1-3)
• What indication do you find of the nature and degree of Nehemiah’s concern for the things of God?
• What sort of things should concern us? What ‘ruins’ should distress us? Do they?

• NEHEMIAH’S ENDURING BURDEN: (1.3-4)
• What shows us that Nehemiah’s concern was not just short-lived and shallow?
• How does this apply to us?

• NEHEMIAH’S SUSTAINED PRAYER: (1.5-11)
• (What indications do we have that Nehemiah engaged in sustained prayer?)
• In what ways in his prayer does Nehemiah evidence:….
• a sense of PENITENCE?
• an awareness of GOD’S PURPOSES?
• an appreciation of GOD’S POWER?
• How important to God’s people is prayer? What does its presence or absence among his people indicate?

What is the relationship between ‘prayer’ and ‘vision’?

• NEHEMIAH’S PERSONAL COMMITMENT: (1.11)
• What indications are there towards the end of Nehemiah’s prayer that he himself is ready and willing for personal involvement and commitment?
• Is it enough just to pray for things? Does the Lord look for more?

CONCLUDING QUESTION:

What has most spoken to you out of today’s passage?

• What has personally encouraged you? What has personally challenged you?

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