586 BC586 BC

BabylonBabylon

539 BC539 BC

PersiaPersia

458 BC458 BC 445 BC445 BC

EZRAEZRA NEHEMIAHNEHEMIAH

Temple DestroyedTemple DestroyedJerusalem DestroyedJerusalem DestroyedPeople DeportedPeople Deported

Temple RebuiltTemple Rebuilt

People ReturnPeople Return

Jerusalem Jerusalem RebuiltRebuilt

I.I. Nehemiah’s Concern for the Things of God Nehemiah’s Concern for the Things of God (1:1-3)(1:1-3)

II.II. Nehemiah’s Compassion for the Things of God Nehemiah’s Compassion for the Things of God (1:4)(1:4)

III.III. Nehemiah’s Constant Nehemiah’s Constant Conversation with Conversation with God (1:5-God (1:5-11)11)

1.1. The Vision is Born The Vision is Born (Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-11)1:1-11)

2.2. The Vision Grows The Vision Grows (Nehemiah 2:1-(Nehemiah 2:1-10)10)

3.3. The Vision Matures The Vision Matures (Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:11-6:19)2:11-6:19)

4.4. The Vision becomes Reality The Vision becomes Reality (Nehemiah 7-13)(Nehemiah 7-13)

>>Are concerned for the things of Are concerned for the things of God God >>Are passionate Are passionate for the things of God for the things of God >>Are Are constantly communicating with constantly communicating with God God >>Anticipate God’s leading to a Anticipate God’s leading to a visionvision>>Dream big but prepare for Dream big but prepare for anything anything

True Leaders . . .True Leaders . . .

 11 In the month of Nisan in the In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; not been sad in his presence before; 22 so the king asked me, "Why does your so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of This can be nothing but sadness of heart." heart."       I was very much afraid,       I was very much afraid, 3 3 but I said but I said to the king, "May the king live to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" have been destroyed by fire?"

~Nehemiah 2:1-3~Nehemiah 2:1-3

   44 The king said to me, "What is it The king said to me, "What is it you want?" you want?"             

Then I prayed to the God of Then I prayed to the God of heaven,heaven, ~Nehemiah 2:4~Nehemiah 2:4

55 and I answered the king, "If it and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." buried so that I can rebuild it."   66 Then the king, with the queen Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.so I set a time.

~Nehemiah 2:5-6~Nehemiah 2:5-6

77 I also said to him, "If it pleases the I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? until I arrive in Judah? 88 And may I And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. me, the king granted my requests. 99 So I went to the governors of Trans-So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. officers and cavalry with me.

~Nehemiah 2:7-9~Nehemiah 2:7-9

 1010 When Sanballat the Horonite When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.of the Israelites.

~Nehemiah 2:10~Nehemiah 2:10

Prayer and Prayer and Planning . . .Planning . . .

Time off to go helpTime off to go helpLetters of safe passageLetters of safe passageProvision of timber for the Provision of timber for the rebuildingrebuildingAn Army to accompany himAn Army to accompany himAppointed GovernorAppointed Governor

Don’t forget the Don’t forget the VisionVision

Rebuilding Jerusalem – yes, Rebuilding Jerusalem – yes, but . . . but . . . Rebuilding the People – YES!Rebuilding the People – YES!

>>DetermineDetermine: If I could achieve a : If I could achieve a huge dream, what huge dream, what would it be? would it be?

>>Find outFind out: What does this dream : What does this dream say about me?say about me?

>>DecideDecide: I am not going to limit : I am not going to limit God as I pray and God as I pray and plan. plan.

Principles for Principles for Leadership and ServiceLeadership and Service