Joy of Living Bible study on the book of Nehemiah

2. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and
sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer
your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God—this is your true
and proper worship. Do not conform to
the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2

4. Personal attacks hurt, and when the
criticism is unjustified, it is easy to
despair. When you are doing God’s
work, you may receive attacks on your
character. Follow Nehemiah’s example
by trusting God to accomplish the task
and by overlooking unjustified insults.
LIFE Application

7. When opposition builds up against you
or God’s work, it is tempting to pray,
“God, get me out of this situation.” But
Nehemiah prayed for strength. He
showed tremendous determination and
character to remain steadfast in his
responsibility. When we pray for
strength, God always answers.
LIFE Application

8. Divination, the practice of
determining the hidden significance
or cause of events, sometimes
foretelling the future, by various
natural, psychological, and other
techniques.

9. Divinely or supremely favored;
fortunate: to be blessed with a
strong, healthy body; blessed
with an ability to find friends.
blissfully happy or contented.

10. A favor or gift bestowed by God,
thereby bringing happiness.
The invoking of God's favor
upon a person: The son was
denied his father's blessing.

11. If you say you've been blessed,
you feel lucky to have something:
health, love, fame, fortune, talent,
etc. I'm very happy for you; the
only time I feel blessed is when I
sneeze. You can pronounce
blessed as one syllable (“blest”)
or as two (“bless-id”).

12. But whoever catches a glimpse of
the revealed counsel of God—the
free life!—even out of the corner of
his eye, and sticks with it, is no
distracted scatterbrain but a man or
woman of action. That person will
find delight and affirmation in the
action.
The Message

13. He knows us far better than we know
ourselves, knows our pregnant condition,
and keeps us present before God. That’s why
we can be so sure that every detail in our
lives of love for God is worked into something
good. God knew what he was doing from the
very beginning. He decided from the outset to
shape the lives of those who love him along
the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son
stands first in the line of humanity he
restored.
Romans 8:25-31, The Message

14. We see the original and intended shape of
our lives there in him. After God made that
decision of what his children should be like,
he followed it up by calling people by name.
After he called them by name, he set them on
a solid basis with himself. And then, after
getting them established, he stayed with
them to the end, gloriously completing what
he had begun. So, what do you think? With
God on our side like this, how can we lose?
Romans 8:25-31, The Message

15. They said it couldn’t be done. The job was too
big and the problems were too great. But
God’s men and women, joined together for
special tasks, can solve huge problems and
accomplish great goals. The vision that
Nehemiah saw through humble tears in
Persia became a reality with God’s help every
step of the way. Don’t let the size of a task or
the length of time needed to accomplish it
keep you from doing it. With God’s help, it
can be done.
LIFE Application

16. In those days the aristocrats of Judah
repeatedly sent letters to Tobiah, and
responses from Tobiah were repeatedly
coming to them. For many in Judah had sworn
allegiance to him, because he was the son-in-
law of Shecaniah son of Arah. His son
Jonathan had married the daughter of
Meshullam son of Berechiah. They were
telling me about his good deeds and then
taking back to him the things I said. Tobiah,
on the other hand, sent letters in order to
scare me.
Nehemiah 7:17-19

17. Now on the topic of times and seasons,
brothers and sisters, you have no need
for anything to be written to you. For
you know quite well that the day of the
Lord will come in the same way as a
thief in the night. Now when they are
saying, “There is peace and security,”
then sudden destruction comes on
them, like labor pains on a pregnant
woman, and they will surely not escape.
1Thessalonians 5:1-11

18. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in
the darkness for the day to overtake you
like a thief would. For you all are sons of
the light and sons of the day. We are not
of the night nor of the darkness. So then
we must not sleep as the rest, but must
stay alert and sober. For those who
sleep, sleep at night and those who get
drunk are drunk at night.
1Thessalonians 5:1-11

19. But since we are of the day, we must stay
sober by putting on the breastplate of
faith and love and as a helmet our hope
for salvation. For God did not destine us
for wrath but for gaining salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died
for us so that whether we are alert or
asleep we will come to life together with
him. Therefore encourage one another
and build up each other, just as you are
in fact doing. 1Thessalonians 5:1-11