A Case Study of Successful Ministry

Introduction

Overview

Key Verse 299 “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this and all the surrounding nations saw it, our enemies lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16)

Title 300 §Ezra & Nehemiah originally formed a single book according to Josephus, Jerome, & the Talmud. §The Hebrew Bible also has the 2 books together under the title Ezra Nehemiah §However, the repetition of Ezra 2 in Nehemiah 7 may indicate that the two were originally separate works. §Nehemiah means "Yahweh comforts." Once again the names are significant in that Nehemiah functioned as God's comfort through building Jerusalem's protective wall.

Authorship External Evidence §The Book of Nehemiah has long been considered as being named after its author and chief character, Nehemiah himself. Internal Evidence §The inspired title of the book reads, "The Words of Nehemiah, Son of Hacaliah" (1:1) & much of the content appears in the 1st person, making it clear that Nehemiah recorded this book. §Some believe the 3rd person sections (7:6–12:26; 12:44– 13:2a) were written by Ezra since Nehemiah was absent for these events as he was in Babylon during this time (13:6).

Circumstances 300 Date Nehemiah left Persia in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (445 BC) & returned to the king in his 32th year (433 BC). "Some time later" he came again to Jerusalem (13:6b), but the specific time is not designated. Perhaps it was ca. 425 BC or even 420 BC. This chronology places the writing after 425 BC, perhaps even as late as 400 BC. This dating of approximately 425 BC makes Nehemiah a contemporary of Malachi, which finds support in their common descriptions of post-exilic Judaism. Recipients Those who 1st read Nehemiah comprised Jews who had returned from Persia with Ezra 3 or 4 decades before, as well as the grandchildren & great-grandchildren of the returnees with Zerubbabel about 125 years earlier.

Occasion This story continues from Ezra about 11 years after Ezra's spiritual reforms among the remnant in Jerusalem. However, whereas Ezra helped the spiritual establishment of the new community, Nehemiah gave it physical, geographical, and political stability. Nehemiah's faith in God saw Him accomplish in 52 days what had not been done in the 93 years since the return under Zerubbabel. This account undoubtedly helped his original readers to see that obedient faith can accomplish God's will despite what appears impossible.

Characteristics A.Although Esther follows Nehemiah in our Christian Bibles, Nehemiah actually is later chronologically. Thus it concludes the account of the historical books of the Christian Old Testament. B.Perhaps no other book of Scripture provides a better depiction of the balance between dependence and discipline, as well as prayer and planning. C.One difficulty in reconciling Nehemiah with Ezra concerns the walls themselves. At the beginning of the account, Nehemiah seems surprised that the walls were broken down. One clue is perhaps that the walls had begun to be rebuilt under Ezra during the reign of Artaxerxes, but the work had stopped. D. Nehemiah is the only biblical book written mostly in the 1st person

Jerusalem of the Returning Exiles Bible Visual Resource Book, 99; Gene Getz, Nehemiah,” in Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1:679

Nehemiah 1-7 Jerusalem of the Returning Exiles

PART #1 Nehemiah 1-7

1. What was the condition of the wall of Jerusalem and its gates? (3) Nehemiah Chapter 1 The wall was broken down, and the gates burned with fire.

2. What did Nehemiah do when he heard about the remnant that survived the exile and about the condition of Jerusalem? (4) Nehemiah Chapter 1 He wept, mourned certain days, fasted, and prayed

3. What did Nehemiah confess in his prayer? (5-7) Nehemiah Chapter 1 The sins of the children of Israel, which they had sinned against God

4. What did Nehemiah ask God to remember? (8-9) Nehemiah Chapter 1 The words God had spoken to Moses “If you turn to me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out to the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to set my name”

5. What was Nehemiah’s position? (11) Nehemiah Chapter 1 The king's cupbearer

The Godly Art of Burden-Catching (1)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

I. Catch A Burden from God (1:1-4) A. Catch a Burden by Investigating the Needs of Others (1:1-3) B. Catch a Burden by Empathizing with the Needs of Others (1:4)

II. Share Your Burden with God (1:5-11) A. Give Your Burden to God (1:5-11) 1.Base Your Prayer on God's Character 2.Base Your Prayer on God's Promises 3.Base Your Prayer on God's Power B. Give Yourself to God (1:11)

1. What did King Artaxerxes perceive about Nehemiah? (1-3) Nehemiah Chapter 2 His countenance was sad

2. For what did Nehemiah request permission? (4-5) Nehemiah Chapter 2 To be sent to rebuild Jerusalem

3. What letters did Nehemiah ask the king to write? (6-9) Nehemiah Chapter 2 One to the governors beyond the river, that they would convey him over till he came into Judah; and another to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he would give him timber to make beams

4. Why were Sanballat and Tobiah disturbed? (10) Nehemiah Chapter 2 That there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel

5. What did Nehemiah do at night? (11-16) Nehemiah Chapter 2 Surveyed the walls and the gates

Launching Your Project (1:11-2:10)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

I. God Prepares the Way as You Pray (1:11-2:4) A. Pray Dependently (1:11) B. Pray Patiently (2:1) C. Pray Spontaneously (2:4)

II. God Prepares the Way as You Plan (2:5-9) A. Your Plans Should Include the Approvals Needed (2:5) B. Your Plans Should Include the Time Needed (2:5-6) C. Your Plans Should Include the Resources Needed (2:7-9)

The Courageous Heartache (2:11-20)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

How to Recruit and Motivate Ministry Partners I. Help People Grasp the Problem that Exists. II. Display a Plan that Will Solve the Problem. III. Describe the Provisions that God has Supplied. IV. Point out the Power that is Available in God.

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION. You wrap your attention, heart and prayers around a need and allow God to turn it into a personal “burden.” Out of this grows a vision of what can be done.

The Success Process Phase #2 – PREPARATION. You prepare for your mission with prayer and planning. Then you wait for God to provide the resources to deal with any obstacles that might be in your path.

The Success Process Phase #3 – MOTIVATION. For your ministry to really take off you will need ministry partners. You can motivate them through a godly, contagious style of motivation.

The Success Process Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION. Now it is time to organize and mobilize people for maximum productivity. Motivation without mobilization leads to frustration.

1. What was repaired and rebuilt in this chapter? (1-32) Nehemiah Chapter 3 Gates, doors, locks, bars, and towers of the wall

2. We read of at least twelve gates in the book of Nehemiah, all having a specified name. Name three. Nehemiah Chapter 3 The East Gate (3:29), Water Gate (3:26), Valley Gate (3:13), Refuse (Dung) Gate (3:14), Miphkad Gate (3:31), Fountain Gate (3:15), Sheep Gate (3:1), Fish Gate (3:3), Old Gate (3:6), Prison Gate (12:39), Horse Gate (3:28), and the Gate of Ephraim (8:16).

3. Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests rebuilt which gate? (1) Nehemiah Chapter 3 The Sheep Gate

4. Which group of men would not participate in the work? (5) Nehemiah Chapter 3 The nobles of Tekoa

5. What is the importance of the often-repeated phrase "next to him/them" or "after him/them"? Nehemiah Chapter 3 The people worked side by side, in unity, each accomplishing his/her own area of service.

6. Many types of people worked on the wall, side by side. Name at least three kinds: Nehemiah Chapter 3 Priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, district leaders, Levites, temple servants, merchants, men, women and whole families.

Shoulder to Shoulder (3)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

I. Organize the Project into Achievable Tasks A. The Tasks should be Divided B. The Tasks should be Defined C. The Tasks should be Distributed D. The Tasks should be Desirable E. The Tasks should be Dedicated

Mount of Olives Walls Outlined (Neh 2–3; 12) Sheep Gate Tower of 100 Tower of Hananel Fish Gate Jeshanah (Old Gate?) Broad Wall Tower of the Ovens? Valley Gate Dung Gate Pool of Shelah (Siloam) Fountain Gate The Angle Water Gate Great Projecting Tower Wall of Ophel Horse Gate East Gate Inspection Gate Inspection (Neh 2) Walls Built (Neh 3) Procession (Neh 12:27-43)

II. Mobilize the People into Manageable Task Forces A. The Task Forces should be Organized B. The Task Forces should be Supervised C. The Task Forces should be Recognized

1. What did Tobiah say would break down their stone wall? (1-3) Nehemiah Chapter 4 A fox

2. With what attitude did the builders of the wall work? (6) Nehemiah Chapter 4 The people had a mind to work

3. What did Sanballat and Tobiah plot to do? (7-8) Nehemiah Chapter 4 To attack Jerusalem, and hinder the building project.

4. What did Nehemiah do to meet this threat? (9-14) Nehemiah Chapter 4 He prayed, set a watch and told the people to remember the Lord and to fight for their families and houses.

5. What did those who carried materials hold in one hand? (16-17) Nehemiah Chapter 4 A weapon

6. What did the builders have girded to their sides? (18) Nehemiah Chapter 4 A sword

7. How would the rest know if an attack took place at another section? (19-20) Nehemiah Chapter 4 They would hear the sound of a trumpet

8. How often did the men change their clothes? (23) Nehemiah Chapter 4 It appears that they did not change clothes but only took them off while washing

Under Attack! (4)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

I. The First Attack Phase A. The Attack: Spirit-Breaking Remarks B. The Defense: 1.Prayer 2.Action

II. The Second Attack Phase A. The Attack: Fear-Producing Threats B. The Defense: 1.Prayer 2.Action

1. What did Nehemiah cause to stop after hearing the cry of the poor? (10) Nehemiah Chapter 5 Usury

2. What did Nehemiah command to be given to the poor? (11-12) Nehemiah Chapter 5 Their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil

3. What object lesson did Nehemiah give regarding those who kept not their promise? (13) Nehemiah Chapter 5 He shook the cloak by his lap indicating that God would shake out every man from his house that did not perform this promise

4. How did Nehemiah differ from the previous governors? (14-19) Nehemiah Chapter 5 He did not take from them bread, wine, and silver

Takers, Changers and Givers (5)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

I. TAKERS THE OUTCRY FROM THE POOR IN JERUSALEM BROUGHT NEHEMIAH’S ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE WALL TO THE PEOPLE AND HOW THEY WERE TREATING EACH OTHER…

I. TAKERS Those Who Take Advantage of Others (5:1-5)

During reconstruction, a famine occurred. The poor mortgaged their property to get money for food and taxes. They borrowed money and sold themselves into slavery. Nehemiah rebuked the nobles for charging high interest rates. Returned the land and released the poor from their indebtedness

II. CHANGERS Those Who Bring Transformation to Others (5:6-13) A. Taking on Takers (5:6-9) B. Transforming Takers (5:10-13)

III. GIVERS: Those Who Provide for Others (5:14-19 ) A.Give Up Your Rights for Others (14-15) B.Give Up Your Time for Others (16) C.Give Up Your Finances for Others (17-18) D.Give Up Your Self for Others (19)

1. After hearing that the wall was being built, what did Sanballat request Nehemiah to do? (1-2) Nehemiah Chapter 6 To meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono

2. How did Nehemiah reply to Sanballat’s request? (3-4) Nehemiah Chapter 6 I am carrying out a “great project” and won’t come. Why should the work cease while I come meet with you?

3. How did Nehemiah reply to Sanballat’s accusations? (5-8) Nehemiah Chapter 6 No such things are happening. You are just inventing them in your own mind.

4. For what did Nehemiah pray? (9) Nehemiah Chapter 6 O God, strengthen my hands

5. Who did Tobiah and Sanballat hire to prophesy against Nehemiah? (10-14) Nehemiah Chapter 6 Shemaiah

6. How long did it take to complete the walls? (15) Nehemiah Chapter 6 Fifty two days

7. For what purpose did Tobiah send letters? (19) Nehemiah Chapter 6 To put Nehemiah in fear

The Harassed Leader (6:1-14)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

I. The Strategy of the Enemy is to Attack the Leader (6:1-4 ) A. The Appeal (2) B. The Response (3-4)

II. The Strategy of the Enemy is to Attack the Leader's Courage (6:5-9) A. The Appeal (5-7) B. The Response (8-9)

III. The Strategy of the Enemy is to Attack the Leader's Credibility (6:10-14) A. The Appeal (10) B. The Response (11-14)

1. Who did Nehemiah put in charge of Jerusalem? (1-2) Nehemiah Chapter 7 His brother Hanani (along with Hananiah, the commander of the citadel)

2. When were the gates to be opened and shut? (3) Nehemiah Chapter 7 When the sun was hot, thus a little later in the day.

3. How many people returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel? (6- 7,66-67) Nehemiah Chapter 7 About 40,000 (42,360 plus 7,337 man and mid servants, and 245 singing men and women)

Mission Accomplished (6:15-7:73)

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION

The Walls Are Completed! “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.” {Nehemiah 6:15,16}

How to Gain and Guard the Victory I. Success -- Achieving the Victory with God's Help II. Security -- Guarding the Victory through Godly Leaders III. Significance – Capitalizing the Victory for God's People

The Success Process Phase #1 – OBSESSION Phase #2 – PREPARATION Phase #3 – MOTIVATION Phase #4 – MOBILIZATION Phase #5 – FORTIFICATION Phase #6 – CORRECTION Phase #7 – PROTECTION Phase #8 -- COMPLETION