2. Nehemiah 486-464 BCE Ahasuerus was King of Persia Greek name was Xerxes, husband of Esther Esther would be stepmother to Artaxerxes I Perhaps influential in helping Nehemiah become cupbearer to the King Nehemiah is named as a book, was a cupbearer, Governor, and leader What kind of man would he have been?

3. Nehemiah Part 1, The Man

4. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah 1.He was a trustworthy worker

5. 1 Timothy 3:8 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double- tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain

6. What makes a trustworthy worker? 1.Not double tongued

7. Psalms 15:1, 4 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? …4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised, But who honors those who hear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

8. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

9. What makes a trustworthy worker? 1.Not double tongued 2.Does his work heartily

10. Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

11. What makes a trustworthy worker? 1.Not double tongued 2.Does his work heartily 3.Works without grumbling

12. Nehemiah 2:1-2 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

13. What makes a trustworthy worker? 1.Not double tongued 2.Does his work heartily 3.Works without grumbling 4.Presents a good attitude

14. Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

15. What makes a trustworthy worker? 1.Not double tongued 2.Does his work heartily 3.Works without grumbling 4.Presents a good attitude 5.Treats others well

16. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah 1.He was a trustworthy worker 2.He was prayerful

17. Nehemiah 1:4-11 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. … I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, …. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” 1st response

18. Nehemiah 2:4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. Immediate response

19. Nehemiah 2:19-20 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” Response to mocking

20. Nehemiah 4:4-5 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. Response to dispute

21. Nehemiah 4:8-9 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. In need of protection

22. Nehemiah 5:18-19 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people. For mercy

23. Nehemiah 6:14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid. Even for vengence

24. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, Pray

25. 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” God Hears

26. Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. God Answers

27. What Kind of Man was Nehemiah 1.He was a trustworthy worker 2.He was prayerful 3.He was loyal to his brethren 70 years after the captivity, Nehemiah had neither seen Judah nor Jerusalem, yet wept for them.

28. Nehemiah 2:4-5 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” Left security for danger, a good job for trouble

29. Nehemiah 5:10 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Assisted brethren without usery

30. Nehemiah 5:14-15, 18 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration…for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. Refused his own pay, to ease the burden

31. Nehemiah 5:16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Put himself and his servants into helping the work

32. 1 Peter 4:9 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. Sharing with one another

33. Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Doing good, especially to the household of faith

34. 1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, We came to love, now carry it out

35. Traits of Great Leadership 1.He was a trustworthy worker 2.He was prayerful 3.He was loyal to his brethren More to consider but where are YOU?