Key verses/concepts:

Ezra

  • 5:1-2; 6:14 – Israel needed prophetic influence to build temple.  John 4; Acts 6:4; 13:1-4 – Word and Spirit must go together.  Teachers/teaching needs prophetic influence to be successful.  Ministry of the word is always coupled with prayer (Acts 6:4)

Nehemiah

  • 3:10,23,etc. – Many Israelites focused on repairing the wall that was in front of them, “by his house” – Before we think about ministry/rebuilding on a larger scale, we must minister/rebuild to those things which are directly in front of us (Matt. 7:5; Luke 16:10-11; Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:3-4)
  • 4:6 – “people had a mind to work” – Matt. 6:24; Luke 9:61-62; 1 Tim. 5:17 – If we are to serve God, we must be 100% committed to Him and His cause.  Elders are called to be faithful laborers.  1 Cor. 12:14-16 – all must recognize they have a ministry to fulfill; they are needed for the body to function in full capacity.  Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 1:9 – If you are saved, you are called.
  • 4:7 – Proper building must not have gaps – Too many assumptions make way for gaps.  1 Cor. 3:10; Heb. 5:12-6:3 – we must be responsible builders/ministers, laying foundations before we proceed with the rest of the house
  • 4:10 – Proper building needs to remove rubbish – “a servant of the Lord…in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim. 2:24-25); earthly wisdom/doctrine/teaching must be removed, and replaced with God’s wisdom (Matt. 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:27-29; James 3:15-18)
  • 4:13 – Some were strategically placed where they were most vulnerable to receive attacks – John 10:11; Romans 15:1-3; Phil. 2:3-4; 1 Thes. 2:8; 1 John 3:16-17 – we must consider others’ needs more than our own, bearing with “the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1).  This includes spiritual and physical needs.  We must be willing to stand in places (and do things) where others would not be able to hold that ground.
  • 4:17 – “with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon” – Satan is real.  His forces are real.  They will be the most manifested where there is the most light.  If we are truly building according to God’s design, we will be attacked.  Eph. 6:10-20 – We must know how to stand his attacks and teach others to do the same.
  • 4:20 – The sound of the trumpet was the rallying call, where God fought on their behalf.  Rev. 1:10 – Jesus’ voice came to John like a trumpet.  Wherever and whatever He has spoken, if we rally there, we can be assured that God will fight on our behalf.
  • 8:17 – For centuries, God allowed Israel to persist without fulfilling the Feast of Booths.  His focus during the time of the kings was in other areas, but this didn’t mean He ever desired they neglected the Feast of Booths.  In a similar way, we can’t assume that just because God has blessed our ministry and focused on certain areas, we have pleased Him in all ways.  We may have some light, but we do not have All Light.  Rev. 2-3 – Every church saw a true vision and aspect of Jesus, but this vision was partial and needed to be shared with the other churches.  If any ministry/church is unwilling to receive light from other ministries/churches, they will have a very limited and obscured view of Christ.  Acts 9 – Paul was blinded, and had to wait on Ananias (a disciple without the reputation of other disciples) to receive his light.  In a similar way, God may wait for us to humble ourselves to receive light from another brother or sister, before we can grow more in understanding Him.  Matt. 18:1-5 – receiving a child is directly connected with greatness in God’s sight.