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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
NEHEMIAH 9-10
GOD, PRAYER, AND COMMITMENT
LESSON #16
MEMORY VERSE: JAMES 5:16b
“THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE.”
IN CHAPTER 9, WE SEE THE RESULTS OF READING THE WORD IN CHAPTER 8.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO REBUILD THE WALLS OF OUR HUMAN PERSONALITY, THERE MUST BE A CHANGEDLIFE.
A CHANGED LIFE IS ACHIEVED THROUGH PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO THE WORD OF GOD.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THE COBWEBS IN THE HIDDEN CHAMBERS OF OUR LIVES, WE MUSTKILL THE SPIDER. THE SPIDER IS KILLED BY MAKING FAITH CHOICES BASED ON A PRAYERFULCOMMITMENT.
THIS IS THE LONGEST RECORDED PRAYER IN THE BIBLE.
IT POINTS IN 4 DIRECTIONS:
1. UP AT GOD PRAYER SHOULD LOOK AT WHO GOD IS.
2. BACK AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST. PRAYER SHOULD REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONEIN THE PAST.
3. AT THE PROBLEM AT HAND. AFTER CONSIDERING #1 AND #2, THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS PUTINTO PROPER PERSPECTIVE.
4. AHEAD TO THE FUTURE WITH GOALS AND COMMITMENT. PRAYER MUST ALWAYS CONSIDERA PERSON’S OWN COMMITMENT AND ROLE IN GOD’S SCHEME OF THINGS.
**WHAT DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF PRAYER CAN YOU FIND?
CONFESSION: 3
PRAISE: 5-6, 32
THANKSGIVING: 7-31 NOTICE THANKSGIVING EVEN FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN 26-27
PETITION: 32-37
ASPECTS OF PRAYER
EPH 6:18 PHI 4:6
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ADORATION = PRAISE AND WORSHIP FOR WHO GOD IS.
CONFESSION = REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION OF SIN IN YOUR LIFE.
THANKSGIVING = GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST.
PETITION = REQUESTS THAT DEAL WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE SITUATION OR CONCERN.
SUPPLICATION = A PLEA FOR GOD’S ORDAINED ORDER TO APPEAR.
A VIEW OF WHAT THINGS OUGHT TO BE BUT AREN’T.
In the Old Testament, it’s like a tribalborder that isn’t where it ought to be but has been encroached upon by the enemy.
THIS IS AN ON-GOING KIND OF PRAYER WHERE YOU KEEP PUSHING AT THE BORDER TO MOVE IT BACK TOWHERE IT SHOULD BE.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
**WHAT DOES THIS PRAYER IN NEHEMIAH TELL US ABOUT GOD?
1. WE SEE THE GREATNESS OF GOD IN NEH 9:1-6
2. WE SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN NEH 9:7-30
3. WE SEE THE GRACE OF GOD IN NEH 9:31-38
READ NEH 9:1-6 THE GREATNESS OF GOD
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES HAD ENDED, BUT PEOPLE STAYED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT GOD.
FEASTING ENDED AND FASTING LED TO CONVICTION OF SIN, FORGIVENESS, AND RENEWAL.
THE PEOPLE DISCOVERED HOW TO WORSHIP GOD:
1. GOD IS WORTHY TO RECEIVE WORSHIP. (1-5)
2. WORSHIP MUST INCLUDE THE WORD OF GOD BECAUSE THE WORD TEACHES US ABOUT THE GOD WE MUSTWORSHIP.
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS WORD.
WE SPEAK TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER.
3. WORSHIP MUST INCLUDE REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS.
WE CANNOT FACE GOD HONESTLY IN WORSHIP WITHOUT BEING FORGIVEN.
4. WORSHIP MUST INCLUDE A COMMITMENT TO SEPARATE FROM WORLDLINESS.
SEPARATION WITHOUT DEVOTION TO GOD BECOMES ISOLATION.
DEVOTION WITHOUT SEPARATION BECOMES HYPOCRISY. (2CO 6:14-7:1)
THE PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT GOD IS THE CREATOR. (NEH 9:6)
HE IS A CREATOR WHO IS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN HIS CREATION.
THE PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN WORSHIP HIM. (NEH 9:6)
READ NEH 9:7-30 THE GOODNESS OF GOD
DESPITE ISRAEL’S REPEATED FAILURES TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD, HE CONTINUED TO”GIVE” BLESSINGS TO THEM.
THE WORD “GIVE” IS USED IN VARIOUS WAYS 16 TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER.
GOD GAVE THEM A LAND (NEH 9:8,15,35)
GOD GAVE THEM THE LAW (NEH 9:13)
GOD GAVE THEM THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (NEH 9:20)
GOD SUPPLIED THEM WITH FOOD AND WATER (NEH 9:15,20)
GOD DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR ENEMIES (NEH 9:27)
GOD GAVE THEM VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES (NEH 9:22,24)
READ NEH 9:31-38 THE GRACE OF GOD
GOD’S GRACE WAS ON THE PEOPLE EVEN WHEN THEY DISOBEYED HIM, WHEN THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN,AND WHEN THEY CRIED OUT TO HIM IN THEIR MISERABLE BONDAGE.
WE SEE GOD’S LONG-SUFFERING MERCY IN THE NUMEROUS TIMES THE PEOPLE MADE A COVENANT WITHHIM AND THEN BROKE IT.
1. THE NATION MADE A COVENANT WITH GOD AT MT. SINAI UNDER MOSES AND THEN BROKE IT. (EXO24:3-8)
2. THE NATION HAD RENEWED THE COVENANT WITH GOD WHEN THEY ENTERED THE PROMISE LAND. (JOS8:30-35)
3. THEY RENEWED THE COVENANT AFTER THEY CONQUERED ALL THE LAND (JOS 24:14-28), BUT THENTHEY BROKE IT. (JUD 2:6-15)
4. SAMUEL LED THE PEOPLE TO RENEW THEIR COVENANT (1SAM 11:14-12:25), BUT KING SAUL LED THEPEOPLE BACK INTO SIN.
5. DAVID WANTED TO BRING THE PEOPLE BACK TO THE LORD (2SAM 6).
6. HOWEVER, KING SOLOMON LED THE PEOPLE FURTHER INTO SIN AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THEKINGDOM.
GOD’S GRACE IS JUST AS MERCIFUL TO US TODAY. LET US DETERMINE NOT TO TAKE HIS MERCYLIGHTLY AND ABUSE HIS GRACE.
(ROM 6:1-2)
NEHEMIAH 10
IN NEHEMIAH 10:1-27 WE FIND A LIST OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR SEAL ON THE COVENANT TOBIND THEMSELVES TO GOD.
PUTTING YOUR SEAL ON A DOCUMENT WAS A SERIOUS MATTER. IT WAS AN OATH MADE BEFORE GOD OFWHICH THE BREAKING OF IT MEANT GOD WOULD BRING JUDGMENT. FEAR OF GOD WAS TO KEEP THEMOBEDIENT.
TODAY, WE DO NOT TAKE A FORMAL OATH TO OBEY GOD. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, OUR OBEDIENCESHOULD BE BASED ON A JOYFUL RESPONSE TO HIS LOVE AND MERCY. OUR SUCCESS IN THE CHRISTIANLIFE IS NOT BECAUSE WE MAKE PROMISES TO GOD, BUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THEPROMISES OF GOD.
SUCCESS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS BASED ON:
1. SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD (NEH 10:1-27)
2. SEPARATION AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD (NEH 10:28,30-31)
3. GIVING SUPPORT (FINANCIAL) FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD (THE CHURCH) AND THE MINISTRY OF GOD(NEH 10:32-39)
READ NEH 10:28-39
SEPARATION AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD FROM SECULAR SOCIETY AND COMMITMENTS. SEPARATION MEANSTOTAL DEVOTION TO GOD NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.
UNEQUAL MARRIAGES BETWEEN JEWS AND GENTILES (BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS) WHILE THENEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER IS NOT BOUND BY LEGALISTIC LAW REGARDING MARRIAGE BETWEEN BELIEVERSAND NON-BELIEVERS, THERE IS A NEW TESTAMENT PRINCIPLE THAT ENCOURAGES US TO BE FREE FROMUNEQUAL MARRIAGES. (2CO 6:14)
KEEPING THE SABBATH:
THEY PROMISED NOT ONLY TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY, BUT THE SABBATH YEAR, AND THE YEAR OFJUBILEE. (EVERY 7TH YEAR THE LAND WAS TO REMAIN IDLE; EVERY 50TH YEAR ALL SLAVES WERE TOBE FREE AND DEBTS CANCELED)
THE SABBATH LAW WAS GIVEN ONLY TO THE JEWS. NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS ARE NOTCOMMANDED TO KEEP IT.
FOR THE JEWS, KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES WAS AN INDICATION TO THE GENTILES THAT THEY LIVEDDIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER PEOPLE. NEW TESTAMENT PEOPLE OF GOD ARE TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY FROMOTHER PEOPLE.
SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD (THE NEWLY REBUILT TEMPLE):
1. THEY PROMISED TO PAY THE TEMPLE TAX. (NEH 10:32-33)
THEY PROMISED TO PAY THEIR TITHES. (NEH 10:37-39) THE TITHE WAS A TENTH OF THEIRINCOME. THEY ALSO PAID A TITHE OF THEIR TITHE TO SUPPORT THE PRIESTS (NUM 18:25-32), ATITHE ON THE 90% LEFT FOR THE ANNUAL FEAST DAYS (DEU 26:1-11), AND A TITHE PAID EVERY 3YEARS TO SUPPORT THE POOR (DEU 26:12-15).
WE SHOULD REMEMBER TO GIVE GOD OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH AND ITSMINISTRIES.
2. THEY PROMISED TO SUPPLY WOOD TO KEEP THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE BURNING. (NEH10:34) OUR OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION WHERE WE REMEMBER CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSSIS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE BURNING IN OUR HEARTS.
3. THEY PROMISED TO GIVE THEIR FIRST FRUITS TO GOD (NEH 10:35-37) WE SHOULD REMEMBER TOGIVE TO GOD FIRST AND TO GIVE HIM THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN.
HOMEWORK FOR NEHEMIAH 11 & 12
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF NEHEMIAH 9 AND 10
EXAMINE YOUR PRAYER LIFE. DO YOUR PRAYERS CONTAIN ALL THE ASPECTS OF PRAYER?
WRITE YOUR OWN CONTRACT OF COMMITMENT AS IN 9:38 AND THEN SIGN YOUR NAME TO IT.
PREPARATION FOR NEH 11 & 12
READ NEH 11:1-2
HOW CAN WE APPLY NEH 11:1 TO OUR SPIRITUAL WALK?
READ NEHEMIAH 12:27-47
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN WORSHIP SERVICE?
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 29:2
