Called by God to Deal with What’s Happening Around You

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

Date:   Wednesday, February 24, 2015

Series: Moving Forward

Reference Scripture:  Nehemiah 1:1-4

Focus Verses: Nehemiah 2:3  

 

Today’s Discussion:    “Called by God to Deal with What’s Happening Around You”

The lesson aim is to prove that believers are called to the work of the ministry. More importantly, there are a very few believers that have been chosen to go and rescue God’s people from the disparities of their surroundings.  (Reference: Matthew 22:14)

Interestingly, the church (ekklesia) is under a prophetic mandate to reclaim the backslider and rescue the lost.  The church was established by God to “go and teach the gospel of Jesus, and to make disciples for the kingdom of God.  However, we cannot accomplish this great task without first understanding “what’s required of me as a believer”. (Reference: Mark 8:34)   The church (ekklesia) must have a concern for all of God’s people that live and work in and around the “temple”.  Conversely, the church must be willing to show love and compassion for the lost and broken-hearted.

(References: Matthew 9:35 – Matthew 10:1)

Nehemiah’s claim to fame is centered on his willingness to answer the clarion call (an urgent call to action) to go and reclaim those that had been redeemed by God and rebuild the city that been claimed for God’s people.  Subsequently, Nehemiah dedicated and committed a season of his life to restoring the city and the inhabitants (a remnant) of Jerusalem for God.  What an awesome responsibility! (Reference: Ephesians 4:11-12) Nehemiah answered the clarion call to reclaim, rebuild and restore the things of God that had become broken.

So often we hear of the plight of God’s people, but are not moved to action.  For one to have a heart for God’s people, he/she must have a heart for God and a desire to walk in the will of God for their lives by living out their God-given purpose.

• Nehemiah’s Response: Nehemiah 1:4; 2:3 – “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven; (3) why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?”

• Nehemiah’s Request: Nehemiah 2:4-5 – “Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.”

Nehemiah’s call to duty is a blue print for the modern day church.  We are called to be disciples for Christ and then commissioned to go and make disciples of others.