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NEHEMIAH 5
DEALING WITH A LACK OF UNITY: GOALS AND PRIORITIES
LESSON #12
MEMORY VERSE: 1CO 15:58
READ NEHEMIAH 5:1-5
**WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM THAT WAS DESTROYING UNITY?
THREE COMPLAINTS:
1. SOME PEOPLE WERE WORKING HARDER THAN OTHERS (2)
2. SOME PEOPLE HAD MORTGAGED THEIR LANDS BECAUSE OF FAMINE (3)
3. SOME PEOPLE WERE DEEP IN DEBT BECAUSE OF HEAVY TAXES (4)
THE PRIESTS WERE EXEMPT FROM PAYING TAXES TO THE PERSIAN KING EZR 7:24 NEH 9:37
THE FOUR GROUPS OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROBLEM:
1. THOSE PEOPLE WHO OWNED NO LAND BUT NEEDED FOOD BECAUSE OF FAMINE.
2. THOSE PEOPLE WHO OWNED LAND BUT HAD MORTGAGED IT TO BUY FOOD BECAUSE OF ECONOMICINFLATION.
3. THOSE WHO OWED TAXES TO A WEALTHY KING AND HAD TO BORROW MONEY TO PAY THEIR DEBTPUTTING THEIR LAND IN JEOPARDY.
4. WEALTHY JEWS WHO WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE OTHERS BY CONFISCATING LAND ANDCHILDREN FOR SERVITUDE. THEY WERE CHARGING 12% INTEREST (NEH 5:11 “HUNDREDTHPART”)
NOTICE THAT BUILDING THE WALL DID NOT CREATE THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY REVEALED IT.
WHEN YOU BEGIN TO BUILD AREAS OF YOUR PERSONALITY, OTHER PROBLEMS WILL BE REVEALED. GODWILL GRADUALLY UNCOVER THINGS YOU STUFFED IN THE HIDDEN CHAMBERS. THE PROBLEM WAS ANATTITUDE OF GREED AND SELFISHNESS WHERE SOME OF THE JEWS WERE PUTTING OTHERS INTO BONDAGEAND USING OTHERS FOR THEIR OWN GAIN RESULTING IN SLAVERY WHICH WAS PROHIBITED IN EXO21:2-7 DEU 15:12 DEU 23:19-20
IT WAS NOT UNLAWFUL FOR JEWS TO LEND MONEY TO EACH OTHER, BUT IT WAS UNLAWFUL TO CHARGEHIGH INTEREST. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP EACH OTHER IN LOVE.
THE OLD TESTAMENT PRINCIPLE:
BOTH THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND BELONGED TO GOD. THEREFORE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLEAND THE LAND WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOD.
N.T. PRINCIPLE LUK 6:35
READ NEHEMIAH 5:6-13
**AS A LEADER WHAT WAS NEHEMIAH’S RESPONSE TO THIS NEW PROBLEM?
1. HE RESPONDED IN GODLY ANGER AT THE WRONG COMMITTED (6) BUT HE CONTROLLED HISPERSONAL EMOTIONS. (PRO 16:32)
2. HE THOUGHT THROUGH THE PROBLEM BEFORE HE REACTED (7)
3. FACE TO FACE CONFRONTATION OF THE NOBLES (7)
4. HE HELD A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING (7)
NEHEMIAH’SAPPEAL:
A. HE APPEALED TO THEIRLOVE OF OTHER JEWS
B. HE BASED HIS APPEALON THE WORD OF GOD
C. HE REMINDED THEM OFGOD’S REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE FOR ISRAEL (NEH 5:8).
D. HE APPEALED TO THEJEWISH WITNESS TO THE GENTILES. (ISA 42:6)
E. HE APPEALED TO THEMTO FOLLOW HIS OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS PRACTICE. HE WAS LENDING MONEY BUT NOT TAKINGADVANTAGE OF THEM.
F. HE APPEALED TO THEIRFEAR OF THE LORD’S JUDGMENT.
5. HE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WHY IT WAS WRONG (8-9)
6. HE CALLED FOR RESTITUTION (11)
7. HE REQUIRED AN OATH BEFORE GOD (12)
8. HE LEFT THE JUDGMENT TO GOD (13)
SYMBOLIC ACT OF SHAKING OUT THE ROBE.
SYMBOLIC ACT OF EMPTYING HIS POCKET.
APPLICATION:
**WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE PUT OTHERS INTO BONDAGE AND CAUSE A LACK OF UNITY WITHIN OURFAMILIES AND CHURCHES?
WE RETALIATE IN RELATIONSHIPS
WE PLAY PSYCHOLOGICAL POWER GAMES TO KEEP PEOPLE IN BONDAGE
WE FAIL TO FORGIVE OTHERS
WE HOLD BITTERNESS & RESENTMENT
WE LACK A FORBEARING ATTITUDE
**WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE PUT OURSELVES INTO BONDAGE AND CAUSE A LACK OF UNITY WITHINOURSELVES?
GIVING IN TO OLD SIN PATTERNS
GIVING IN TO WORLDLY DISTRACTIONS
WE DO NOT HAVE LIFE GOALS
WE HAVE WRONG PRIORITIES
GOAL SETTING
PHI 2:12-18 1CO 9:24 JAM 2:14-20 NEH 6:15
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WHY DOES ONE NEED GOALS?
WITHOUT GOALS LIFE IS HAPHAZARD AND UNSTABLE JAM 1:6-8
REWARDS OF GOALS ARE SECURITY, PEACE, STABILITY, REAPED BLESSINGS, JOY, MATURITY, GOODWITNESS
HOW DO YOU ARRIVE AT MAKING A GOAL?
1. THROUGH PRAYER & THE WORD, GOD REVEALS HIS PLAN
2. THUS WE SEE OUR NEEDS AND SHORT-COMINGS
3. THESE NEEDS DRIVE US TO THE WORD WHERE WE FIND GOD’S PROMISES
4. PROMISES HAVE CONDITIONS
5. CONDITIONS SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR PLAN TO REACH THE GOAL
6. THE PLAN IS THE MEANS BY WHICH THE GOAL IS REACHED–THE ACTION STEPS
MAKING THE PLAN TO REACH YOUR GOAL
1. ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN MUST BE SPECIFIC
2. ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN MUST BE WORKABLE
-ESTABLISH SOME WAY TO SHOW PROGRESS
-DON’T MAKE THE PLAN TOO DIFFICULT
-MAKE THE PLAN FIT IN WITH OVERALL SCHEME OF YOUR LIFE
3. ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN MUST INCLUDE THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR SCRIPTURE PROMISES
AFTER GOAL SETTING, THEN WHAT?
1. BE COMMITTED TO THE GOAL
2. BE DETERMINED TO WORK THE PLAN
3. UNITY OF SPIRIT IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE JAM 1:6-8
4. BY FAITH, SEE THE GOAL ACHIEVED BEFORE YOU START
WHY DO WE FAIL TO ACHIEVE GOALS?
1. LACK OF COMMITMENT/REBELLIOUSNESS
2. GOALS ARE TOO LOW SO WE PETER OUT BEFORE WE HIT THE RISE IN THE EXPONENTIAL CURVE
3. GOALS ARE TOO HIGH SO WE STALL OUT ON THE RISE
4. WE EITHER HAVE NO PLAN OR AN INADEQUATE PLAN TO REACH THE
GOAL – NEHEMIAH AS AN EXAMPLE OF A GOAL SETTER
1. HE FASTED AND PRAYED NEH 1:4
2. HE WAS COMMISSIONED TO A SPECIFIC TASK NEH 2:5
3. HE HAS THE MIND OF GOD AS HIS AUTHORITY NEH 2:7
4. HE EVALUATED THE SPECIFICS NEH 2:13
5. HE KNEW THE NEEDS NEH 2:17
6. HE GOT HELP NEH 2:18
7. HE HAD FAITH IN THE FACE OF RIDICULE NEH 2:20
8. HE KEPT HIS EYE ONLY ON THE GOAL NEH 5:16
9. HE PERSEVERED WITHOUT DISTRACTION NEH 6:3
10. HE USED (SPIRITUAL) WARFARE WITH GODLY DISCERNMENT NEH 6:12
11. HE HAD A GOOD MAINTENANCE PLAN NEH 7:23
12. HE KEPT A RECORD NEH 7:5
13. HE MADE THE WORD WORK FOR HIM NEH 8
14. HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD REACH THE GOAL (FAITH) NEH 6:15
MAKE YOUR GOALS DEMANDING ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU OCCUPIED BUT NOT OVERTAXING–WORK THEPLAN DILIGENTLY
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ESTABLISHING RIGHT PRIORITIES–PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE
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FIRST PRIORITY:
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST MAT 6:33
PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, PERSONAL GROWTH
SECOND PRIORITY:
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPOUSE EPH 5:22-33
MARRIAGE IS THE PATTERN FOR THE CHURCH NOT VICE VERSA
COMMUNICATION
MEETING PERSONAL NEEDS
PERFORMING YOUR RIGHTFUL ROLE
THIRD PRIORITY:
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHILDREN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD EPH 6:1-4
COMMUNICATION
MEETING PERSONAL NEEDS
FOURTH PRIORITY:
HOUSEHOLD PRO 31:27
ATMOSPHERE OF THE HOME
PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF HOUSEKEEPING
FIFTH PRIORITY:
EXTENDED FAMILY MAR 7:6-13
MEETING NEEDS
SIXTH PRIORITY
CHURCH FAMILY 1JO 3:16-18
MEETING NEEDS
BEING IN FELLOWSHIP
SEVENTH PRIORITY
UNSAVED COMMUNITY MAR 16:15-18
MEETING NEEDS (SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL)
EIGHTH PRIORITY
YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS
NEVER SPOKEN OF IN SCRIPTURE
HOW DOES WORK/JOB FIT INTO PRIORITIES?
ALONG SIDE, INVOLVING ITSELF IN THE LIST AT VARIOUS LEVELS DEPENDING ON ONE’S STATIONIN LIFE, ONE’S JOB, AND ONE’S MOTIVE FOR WORKING
FOR EXAMPLE: AS A HELP TO YOUR SPOUSE, TO PROVIDE FOR CHILDREN, OR TO SATISFY YOUR OWNNEEDS
HOW DOES PERSONAL MINISTRY FIT INTO THE LIST?
ALONG SIDE, INVOLVING ITSELF AT VARIOUS LEVELS BUT NEVER #1
PRIORITIES MEAN YOU DEAL HONESTLY WITH YOUR SELF AND GOD WITHOUT RATIONALIZING
“TRADE OFF” DECISIONS WILL ALWAYS NEED TO BE MADE TO BRING A BALANCE TO LIFE
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READ NEHEMIAH 5:14-19
NEHEMIAH PROMOTED TO GOVERNOR
HIS INITIAL JOB WAS SIMPLY TO ORGANIZE THE BUILDING OF THE WALL. BECAUSE THE ECONOMICPROBLEMS WERE HINDERING THE BUILDING OF THE WALL, HE GOT INVOLVED IN THEIR SOLUTION.
GOD IS BEHIND EVERY CHRISTIAN PROMOTION
**HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE NEHEMIAH’S LEADERSHIP?
HUMBLE, WARM HEARTED, GENEROUS (NEH 5:17-18), CONCERN FOR THE WEAK, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE,FIRM
PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP
IN EVERY LEADERSHIP PROBLEM, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD TO WORK.
[18] A GOOD LEADER WILL HAVE GODLY ANGER AT WRONG COMMITTED (5:6)
[19] A GOOD LEADER WILL USE FACE TO FACE EXHORTATION, NOT GOSSIP (5:7)
[20] A GOOD LEADER WILL DELEGATE TO OTHERS TO HELP ADMINISTER (5:12)
[21] A GOOD LEADER WILL RESTRAIN HIMSELF IN LIBERTIES AND BENEFITS OF HIS POSITION(5:14,18)
[22] A GOOD LEADER WILL WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE GROUP (5:15)
[23] A GOOD LEADER WILL KEEP HIS EYE ON THE GOAL (5:16)
HOMEWORK FOR NEHEMIAH 6
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF NEHEMIAH 5
LIST SOME SPECIFIC WAYS YOU PUT YOURSELF INTO BONDAGE THAT CAUSES YOU TO STOP WORKING ONTHOSE AREAS OF YOUR PERSONALITY THAT GOD HAS LED YOU TO WORK ON
IN PRAYER, MAKE A WRITTEN PLEDGE TO GOD TO ESTABLISH RIGHT PRIORITIES FREEING YOU OF THISBONDAGe
PREPARATION FOR NEHEMIAH 6
READ NEHEMIAH 6
WHAT NEW TACTICS DO YOU SEE SANBALLAT USE TO STOP THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS?
WHAT ARE SOME SIMILAR TACTICS THAT SATAN USES TO STOP OUR MATURING PROCESS?
MEMORY VERSE: MAT 16:19
