Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 November 2021 Tuesday Message
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Topic: Watch And Pray
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, expose me to your truth as I read your word in Jesus name.
Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-23
Question(s) for Reflection
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• Is there any warning for me to heed?
Outline: The initial strategy of Israel’s enemies to bring discouragement through ridicule (vs.1-3; cf. 2:19) failed. Notice Nehemiah’s immediate response to their ridicule (v.4). The enemies, dismayed to see the steady progress of the work (v.6), took their opposition to a higher level. They planned a violent intervention.
Note also Nehemiah’s response (v. 9). Our enemy the devil is direly; he does not easily give up, but persistently attacks and employs different strategies to stop God’s work in our hands. See 1 Pet. 5: 8 – 9. As if that was not enough, there were also internal challenges to the work of rebuilding (v.10). Fear did not paralyse Nehemiah into inaction. At the same time, he did not pretend the threats could be ignored.
As a seasoned administrator, he took practical action to counter the enemies’ threat. Go again through vs.13-23 and note any lessons you can learn from the various practical and credible military defences he put in place to deter the aggressors.
Notice the personal sacrifice he made to ensure the safety of his people (v.23). Nehemiah never lost his focus. He never left the work of building in order to take the battle to the enemy using the excuse that the best method of defence is attack!
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
• Give us your wisdom, Lord, to deploy the resources you make available to us in the best way to fight the good fight of faith.
• Pray for an understanding of God’s priorities for these times.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Galatians 3:9; 2 Chron. 7-9; Luke 6:1-26
Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 November 2021. Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.