The Cost of Following the Call

The Cost of Following the Call
Nehemiah 2
Part 5 of a study of Nehemiah
Winter 2008

What did God’s call require of Nehemiah?
1. He had to wait on God
• REFLECTION  Are you in a waiting period? What things is God putting His finger on as you struggle to wait?

2. He had to face his fears
• I was overwhelmed with fear and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”
-Nehemiah 2:1-5
• Fear of rejection/death
• Fear of commitment
• Fear of failure

REFLECTION  What do you fear (as it relates to living as a committed disciple)? Who can you talk to about this?

What did God’s call require of Nehemiah?
The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me. I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress, the city wall, and the home where I will live.” The king granted my requests , for I was graciously strengthened by my God.
-Nehemiah 2:6-8

3. He had to think, reflect, & plan

REFLECTION  What is God stirring you to learn about? What action step do you need to take with this?

4. He had to endure difficulties
I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.
-Nehemiah 2:9-10

REFLECTION  Are you experiencing opposition? How do you plan to endure through it?

Reflection
• What things is God putting His finger on as you struggle to wait?
• What do you fear? Who can you talk to about this?
• What is God stirring you to learn about?
• Are you experiencing opposition?