PrintSTUDY No. 3 PERSEVERANCE IN SERVICE
Nehemiah 4/1-23
INTRODUCTION.
Prayer and organisation are not opposed to each other. Faith AND works are quite compatible. In fact, Nehemiah chapter 3 is all about organisation. However, the focus of our study in this session is very much on the opposition that inevitably will come as we give ourselves to do God’s Will. We saw the beginning of it in study No. 2 but now it becomes much more evident and threatening.
1. Read chapter 4 of Nehemiah. Maybe three people could read it in these sections - vs.1-6; 7-15; 16-23
2. There are three ‘villains’ in this plot and their names crop up in other chapters as well. Note down what you think was their motivation in opposing Nehemiah.
a. Sanballat
b. Tobiah
c. Geshem (2/19)
3. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, it is evident that opposition is guaranteed for those who are committed to doing the Will of God. Read the following verses and write down the kind of resistance that Nehemiah and his people faced as they obeyed the Lord.
v 1, 2
v.3
v.8
v.10
v.11
v.12
4. “Our response to opposition reveals the true source of our strength and perseverance - God or us” Read the following verses and write down the ways in which Nehemiah and the people responded to the opposition launched against them.
vs.4,5
v.6
v.9
v.13
v.14
v.23
PERSONAL CONSIDERATION AND APPLICATION
1. Think again about the question we asked last week, “Are you aware of opposition in your Christian life?...in your family?...in your church?” Is there any particular insight in this chapter that provides you with a “weapon” to resist that opposition?
2. Consider the following statements. Which is true of you (or how would you re-word it to make it accurate)?
“My tendency is to pray too much and not to address the problem of opposition.”
“My tendency is to attack the problem but not pray enough about it first.”
3. As a result of the insights gained in this study, I recognise that I now need to take the following action:
