Lessons for Life from the book of Nehemiah
Pastor Billy Strauss; Harvester Cape Town, September 2015

Truths that Nehemiah teaches that will open up God’s heavenly provision and guidance for living.

Nehemiah 2:20
19But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Guidelines for Growing in Godliness Living God’s way means making God’s priorities our priorities, realizing that they often are different from ours. God still accomplishes all things through His Word. Therefore, the Scriptures are a guide for ordering our lives according to God’s will. Understanding and obeying them brings joy. They also teach us to acknowledge God’s hand in all of our success.
1:4–11 Make the welfare of God’s people a higher priority than your own welfare. Understand that a general sin of God’s people is yours to confess, too.
8:1–6 Give place to the public reading of Scripture as a source of understanding and encouragement.
8:10 Cultivate and promote the joy of the Lord among God’s people as a powerful source of spiritual strength.
12:27–43 Observe the regular celebration of holy success and spiritual progress. Dedicate your works to the Lord, knowing it is He who gives all success and progress.
Steps to Holiness
True holiness is active and dynamic, not passive and static. We must actively remove the ways of the world from our lives.
13:4–9 Be willing to root out worldly ways where they have become established in the life of the church. Reject carnal compromises.
13:23–27 Refuse evil alliances. Do not marry an unbeliever.
Keys to Wise Living
Wisdom knows that the Lord is the source of any spiritual advancement. It is also aware that no such progress will go unopposed, but will incur spiritual opposition, sometimes expressed through human agency. Therefore, act with discernment. The wise will discern the true origin of many verbal attacks as an assault motivated by our spiritual adversary.
1:11 Understand and believe that success and favor with men comes from the Lord.
2:12–16 Understand that wisdom involves searching out a matter before making any decisions or decrees. Postpone informing others until you have ascertained the mind of the Lord.
2:19 Expect and do not be surprised or dismayed at hostility when you undertake to do the will of God.
2:10 Be aware that any favor shown to God’s people will anger our spiritual adversary. Discern that much human enmity is spiritually motivated.
6:12 Discern and reject negative prophecy from malignant sources.
Key Lessons in Faith
Faith takes God at His word. Do not question His promises. Through faith, we can speak confidently, praising Him for promises that will bring success.
2:4–6 Pray that your responses in demanding situations will be from the Lord. Do not answer impetuously or presumptuously.
2:8 Express gratitude for all success and favor.
Steps to Dealing with Sin
Much sin is corporate. We must deal with such sin together and believe that God is faithful to forgive corporate sins.
9:1–38 Allow for the public, corporate confession of sin when necessary.
9:17 Teach and believe that God is gracious and forgiving when confessing and repenting of sin.
Keys to Generous Living
We must be generous toward God’s work first, making the care of His servants a high priority.
13:10–13 Insure that God’s servants are adequately cared for. Avoid any tendency to neglect the work of God in favor of personal concerns or selfish ambitions.
Guidelines to Gaining Victory
Spiritual victory comes through faith that God fights for us. We can ignore the insults of those opposed to us and trust God for victory.
4:1–6 Ignore the reproaches and insults of those who oppose your pursuit of God’s will. Trust God’s justice and faithfulness.
4:17–23 Realize that all spiritual ministry involves spiritual warfare. Be prepared for battle, quick to aid those who are under spiritual attack.