Youth Pastor Joao Pires
Devotional Plan for: Week of May 31 - June 6
Monday - Read Nehemiah 1: 1-11
Nehemiah 1: 1-11 NIV: "The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: "Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.' "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king."
This week, we focus on the book of Nehemiah, which recounts an incredible story of a Jewish man attempting to restore Israel to its intended glory before God. This book is autobiographical, considered historically accurate by secular and believing scholars, and was written about 500 years before Christ.
Nehemiah was a cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes, was a high-ranking official position where one would, essentially, pour the drinks of the king. Now, this may not seem very high-ranking. But, as you've likely seen in some medieval movie, drinks were somehow prone to be poisoned in the ancient times. Someone like Nehemiah would ensure the safety of the drink, sometimes by way of tasting the drink before it reached the King.
Though Nehemiah was doing quite well in his job away from Israel, he heard of Israel's tragic failures, as they were not following God and the requisite destruction of the city and its walls made news, eventually reaching Nehemiah. Nehemiah felt inspired to return to Jerusalem as a way to be a part of its renewal, which took a long time and much hard work. We can learn from Nehemiah and Israel's story of how we can return from "destruction", or perhaps return from times where we feel we've gone astray from God (be that a year, a month, a day, an hour). Here are a few tips:
Acknowledge the Grandeur of God When we come to God in our own brokenness, sometimes we can come to him immediately "asking" for things. That's fine. God wants us to ask him for things. But periodically we can think of ourselves as being "too big", meaning we overestimate our self-importance. In order to be humble before the great God, we need to stop and think about how Great he truly is. By entering prayer and first saying, "great and awesome God", we position ourselves as important but small creatures in this world, humbling ourselves, and asking from that place of humility.
Repent It's hard to acknowledge when you've done something wrong. And if you think you easily acknowledge when you do wrong things, it probably means it's hard for you to acknowledge that you don't acknowledge when you've done something wrong. We often come to God with self-pity, excuses, frustrations, other people's issues, and so on. But, to stop and actually confess your sins and then turn the other way from them takes great courage. We don't only come to God and ask him to help, but we acknowledge we're the ones that made the mistakes (if, in fact, we did).
Remember the Promise We can happily (hopefully) repent because we know of the promise that God has given us. As verse 8 says, if we're unfaithful, we'll be scattered among the nations. Now, that was the consequence for the Jewish people; you can contextualize that for your life to essentially mean, "If you're unfaithful to God, you won't reach the destiny that he has prepared for you." You don't reach the destiny not because God is smiting or punishing you, but because only with God can you reach your God-given dreams. But, remember you will be unfaithful at times. The promise is not void because of your unfaithfulness, because you are able to return. Verse 9 holds out the hope that you are able to return and obey God, and be brought back into the destiny. This leads us to our last tip and reminder:
Jesus as the Faithful One Nehemiah is from the Old Testament, but to get the fullness of the truth it holds out to us, we need to complete it with the New Testament. See, Israel was never able to be faithful, as the Scripture asks them to be. Jesus, however, came as "the faithful Israelite". Meaning, Jesus came and completed the faithfulness that Israel was never able to complete. Only by putting our faithfulness into "the faithful one" can we re-enter the promise. See, you will make mistakes, you will turn your back on the covenant promise. But Jesus is still sitting there as the faithful one, sitting at the right hand of the Father and bringing us back into the covenant as "faithful" people, even when we've had times of unfaithfulness.
Reflection Question(s): If you're in a period of feeling "unfaithful" to what God has for you, pray what Nehemiah prays in this passage and relativize it for your own life.
Tuesday - Read Nehemiah 2:1-10
Nehemiah 2:1-10 NIV: "In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it." Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites."
Several years ago, I went through a very difficult period in my life. I was mistreated and misrepresented by some people who I had previously held in high regard. The choices that they made about me had a drastic effect on me personally and also on my family. As I walked through that experience, an experience that broke me, I made a very intentional decision: I decided that I was going to try to make sure the choices I made reflected the character and light of Jesus. It was not always easy, as there were times I wanted to defend myself or respond in kind to untruths that were being said about me, but I was resolute that I wanted to honor Christ the way I, as their pastor, had encouraged so many others to do when they went through difficult times. The choice I made to honor God instead of getting involved in a war of words allowed me to surrender everything to God. And long story (somewhat) short, God honored me through that. He guided me through that difficult situation into a better one and into a place he used to prepare me for what He wanted to do through me.
One of the pivotal lessons I have learned in the last several years is that there are things I can control and there are things I cannot. I can control my mindset. I can make sure that my character reflects the character of Christ. I cannot control the way people feel about me or respond to me. I have little control over my circumstances (although certainly my choices affect my circumstances at some level).
In today's passage, we read about how Nehemiah becomes favored by God and by his king. Persian monarchs were known for their self-indulgence and so it was perfectly in character that they would prohibit their subjects from being sad in their presence. But instead of doing what Nehemiah clearly expected him to do, the king responded kindly to him and when he heard his request, he gave Nehemiah the permissions he needed to return to Jerusalem. Nehemiah's faithfulness in service and character inevitably led to this exchange. He had earned the respect of the king and positioned himself in a way to be found favorably.
His first action when asked by the king what he wanted was to pray to the God of heaven. Artaxerxes was not a God-fearing individual. He viewed himself as a god who should be feared and yet, in the presence of the man who wanted to be a god, Nehemiah turned to the one true God. Nehemiah showed himself faithful to God and when he did so, he found favor with God.
As Christians, when we make choices to honor God with our character, we position ourselves, just as Nehemiah did, to find favor with God. We see this repeatedly in scripture and in our testimonies, that God honors those who reflect Him to the world. When we make these decisions, there may be times that in the moment, all may seem lost. Nehemiah was scared that the king would kill him. I did not know how or where I would be able to continue to do what God had called me to do. Eventually, God reveals things and opportunities we did not see coming. Nehemiah, so many Biblical characters, countless brothers and sisters in Christ, and I have experienced how God's favor helps us overcome the things we don't think we can.
Reflective Question(s): What is your story of experiencing God's favor? Have you heard other people's stories? How do these stories encourage you as you face future obstacles?
Wednesday - Read Nehemiah 2:11-15
Nehemiah 2:11-15 NIV: "I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate."
No matter what our position in life may be, we all at times encounter disappointment—and that can quickly lead to discouragement. Disappointment is simply an emotional response to a failed expectation or hope, whether because plans went awry or someone didn't measure up. But discouragement is a state of mind in which we become faint-hearted and lose confidence in God, ourselves, or others.
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, its inhabitants were discouraged—the city wall had been destroyed, leaving them vulnerable to their enemies, and there were significant hindrances to rebuilding. But he encouraged them to start, explaining that the Lord had shown him favor by moving the Persian king's heart to approve the project.
Nehemiah's confidence in God replaced the people's despair and lethargy with the hope of success and motivation to work diligently. One Lesson that will equip us for our own journey in faith today is the reason for rebuilding.
I would name this truth point -Construction...for the glory of God
Our passage today describes a building survey. But a survey done at night, rather than in the morning. A survey done in secret rather than in daylight. Because before Nehemiah went public with his plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he wanted to survey the site first. He wanted to see for himself the work that needed doing, and formulate a plan for reconstructing the wall. And so, he went on a discreet, night-time tour of the city.
Nehemiah's words give us an insight into his motives for rebuilding the wall. They help us to understand why constructing the city wall was so important to him.
•Nehemiah was obviously concerned for the city's security. Without a wall, Jerusalem was vulnerable to attack. There was nothing to stop another nation invading Judah's capital city. Simple self-defense required a wall.
•But a deeper motive lay behind Nehemiah's construction plans. A dismantled wall brought dishonor to God. You can imagine the jeers of Israel's enemies, can't you? "What kind of God would allow his chosen people to live in a ruined city?" "The Jewish God can't be that good if he lets his own capital remain in ruins!"
You see, behind Nehemiah's ambition lay a desire for the glory of God and the honor of his name. A derelict city not only brought disgrace to God's people, it brought dishonor to God himself – something Nehemiah simply could not stand.
I hope we share Nehemiah's passion for God glory! I hope our heart's desire is to honor the God who has made us and saved us! Glorifying God should come before every other ambition. It more important than being wealthy, being successful, being popular – or anything else we might be tempted to set out heart on.
So let me suggest one fundamental way we can bring honor to God today:
Firstly, by simply living a godly life. If we are Christians, God's Spirit now lives within us. It is now our bodies that are his temple, not a building in Jerusalem. We honor God today by using our bodies for his glory, not for sinful self-indulgence. We are to live self-sacrificial lives that imitate Christ and glorify God.
Reflection Question(s): Why is time alone with the Lord in preparation for the work He has called you to is so vitally important?
Thursday - Read Nehemiah 2:16-18
Nehemiah 2:16-18 NIV: "The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work."
Proverbs states, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Bill Hybels, in his book Courageous Leadership, tells us, "When a leader is casting a vision publicly the goal is to help people know, understand, and remember the 'main thing'. (1) Purpose is all about keeping the "main thing" the "main thing."
Our passage picks up where Nehemiah completes the investigation phase, he now takes action by beginning to share his vision. The lesson here is how to communicate vision to the right people at the right time.
Every vision is a solution to a problem. In Nehemiah's case, the problem was the broken walls of the city. The time had come for Nehemiah to communicate the vision to the people. He had no idea how they would respond. They had been content with those broken-down walls for generations. They could have run him out of town. They could have laughed. They could have ignored him. Nehemiah needed their cooperation if he was going to succeed. How do you communicate the vision when you want to get other people on board?
Nehemiah 2:17-18 inform us of 4 steps to communicating a vision well.
THE PROBLEM – "You know full well the tragedy of our city. It lies in ruins, and its gates are burned" (Nehemiah 2:17) What problem does your vision address? Your vision could address a current problem. It could address a potential problem – "If we don't do something, this may happen." It will help people see the world in a new light. What's the problem? As long as your answer to that question lacks focus, don't say a word. Define the problem that your vision addresses. Then include the second component of a compelling vision:
THE SOLUTION: Solutions always inspire imagination. I can see the people who heard Nehemiah speak look around and think, "I can see it. These walls can be rebuilt. When you speak of a solution, people around you will begin to think, "Things could be different."
THE REASON – Problems don't always require solutions. There are more problems in this world than we can solve. Just because somebody presents a problem doesn't necessarily mean that there should be a solution. Why should anyone act on the problem and the solution? Nehemiah gave them a compelling reason to rebuild the walls: for their own good, but mostly for God's glory.
THE TIMING – The walls had been in ruins for years. Why rebuild now? Nehemiah told them why. Nehemiah 2:18 says, "Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king." Did you catch that? Nehemiah argued that now is the time to rebuild because of God's sovereign engineering of circumstances. Why rebuild then? Because God had paved the way. God himself was on the move to rebuild those walls. It's an exciting thing to realize that God is on the move.
Reflection Question(s): Have you ever shared a plan or started work on something before the timing was right?
Friday - Read Nehemiah 2:19-20
Nehemiah 2:19-20 NIV: "But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king? I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."
The three men mentioned in verse 19, (Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab) signify several types of opposition: political, religious, economic, and geographic. At this point, Nehemiah and his men are surrounded by threats which puts Jerusalem in a weakened, desperate state before the work of rebuilding the walls can begin. Notice that the opposition begins their assaults by asking if Israel is "rebelling against the king?" The strategy of the opposition is a common one, in fact is one that many of us still fight against today. They were targeting a fear of man. But Nehemiah immediately points to "the God of heaven." Fear of God drives out fear of man.
Notice the order of Nehemiah's response. First, God "will make us prosper." Then, "we his servants will arise and build." This is a wonderful example of a truth we need to be continually reminded of. God partners with his people. In his sovereignty, God has chosen to do his work in this world through us. He has given us the gift of his Holy Spirit which Jesus said empowers us. God wills and we build. That was Nehemiah's response and it serves as a great model for how we can know we can live out the dreams God has for us.
There are very few guarantees I can make in life. I would love to be able to promise everyone that when we serve God, our lives are always happy and harmonious. That is not truth. The fact is that we will face trials. Repeatedly in the New Testament, the apostles reminded their audience that difficult times will come. Those difficult times often expose our hearts and our motives behind the work. God's glory and fulfilling the mission he has for us needs to be the motive; the opposition will not destroy us. Understanding the power that lives in us will galvanize us, increase our resolve, and propel us into the accomplishment of that which God has put in front of us!
Reflective Question(s): When are you most tempted to succumb to fear of man? Nehemiah rebuked the men who mocked the Israelites. Is there any part of your life which needs to be told, "You have no right or claim here!"?