Welcome to Kendra Graham’s online Bible study. This is a place where we can come together and share in our journey towards Scriptural truths and spiritual maturity. We pray this will be a safe, respectful, resourceful place to come and discuss God’s Word…to discover What it says…What it means…and What it means to you!
Kendra Graham NOTES from Nehemiah 4:11-12
WHAT DOES IT SAY? THE FACTS ONLY PLEASE.
In this step you need to list the outstanding facts of the passage. DON’T get caught up in the details, just list the facts. Do not paraphrase. Use the actual words of the passage. This is God’s Word, a lot of times this step seems tedious to some, but I urge you, as we read, and say and write God’s Word, it begins to sink deep into our hearts. If you just pick one fact out of the verse, write it down and meditate on it.
11a: Our enemies said…..
11b: They will not know or see until we come, kill them, and stop the work.
12: The Jews who live near them came and told us 10 times. They will come against us from every place.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? THE LESSONS.
Look for a lesson to learn from each fact. What are the people doing that they should be doing? What are the people doing that they shouldn’t be doing?
Is there a command to follow? A promise to claim? A warning to heed? An example to follow?
11a: The enemies of God will always have a voice it seems…. and a loud voice at that. Notice that it has only been “voices” though. Until this point there has only been mockery trying to get God’s people to stop…. often that is all it takes.
11b: The enemy…. “A roaring lion?”….. a lion only roars after it catches it’s prey, to signal to others, the kill is his, and to signal to the prey, there is no escape now. A lion seeking for prey; however, is very stealth, quiet and patient, waiting for just the right moment to pounce and capture. The lion does not announce how or when it is coming in, it just does, in a moment. The prey must always be on guard, watching. Here in 11b, those seeking to destroy God’s people are making a plan, a “sneak attack”, but as so often with the enemy, they cannot keep their plans to themselves, and in their pride it gets out just what they are planning. The plans are daunting though…. just the plans without proof of implementation again are often enough to stop the work of God’s people. The people of God do not know if it is rhetoric or real, but judging from the past, they believe it to be real. If work continues on the wall, the people could possibly be killed for it. Is the wall something they are willing to lay their lives, and their families’ lives down for? The enemy’s plan is always to stop the work of God’s people no matter what they have to say or do. Again… the enemy has no problem being single-minded vs. all things God’s people. BE ON GUARD!!!!
12: I read this verse and one word comes to mind: FEAR. The positive thing here: hey, they found out the plans of the enemy! God revealed this information to them! Great, now, the lion in wait will not be quite so invisible, they can formulate a plan and make a stand! Often formulating a plan to combat the enemy is not what we do. If you are me, I totally freak out and want to hide. 10 separate times the Jews who overheard the plans of the enemy told Nehemiah…. this shows me that there was some panic brewing in their hearts and minds. If the enemy cannot mock us enough to stop the work, maybe the enemy can scare us to stay in bed and not continue… BUT “If God be for us, who then can be against us?” Romans 8:31
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME NOW? APPLY IT…. TODAY.
Take the lessons you learned and put them into the form of a personal question that you would ask your spouse, or a friend or your son or daughter.
As you write the questions, listen for God to communicate to you through His Word.
*Do not rush. Do not write things down just to have something on paper, this step takes more time that you may think. This is where Scripture meditation becomes real, this is where you begin to hear that still small voice speak to you, and place His finger in your life and begin to direct your paths…. this day, and the next, and the next. Do you trust Him enough to put into place that which He is moving you to?
11a: Do I give more credence to the voice of the enemy than the voice of God in my life?
11b: Do I listen more intently to the plans of the enemy for me instead of the plans God has for me? How has the enemy been able to distract/stop me from the work God has called me to? Am I on guard for similar attacks from the enemy? (Mockery and threats.)
12: Do I believe God and take Him at His Word? Do I believe God will be faithful to me? Is it easier to believe God will be faithful to everyone else but me? Can my life be described as a life of faith or fear? Am I quick to panic or pray? Do I know what God has called me to and believe that He will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6)?
LIVE IT OUT!
LORD, help me to see the plans of the enemy and then not to panic, but to pray, leaving them at Your feet as I continue that which You have set before me to do. Help me to give more credence to Your Word than the word of the world.
Homework: Nehemiah 4:13-15
Get stuck? www.annegrahamlotz.com and Anne will walk through the Three Questions with you and help you along!