♪ theme music ♪

(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

an in-depth, interactive study

of the Word of God.

We are just getting started

with a series on <i>Ezra and Nehemiah.</i>

If you missed part one, you can go

to our website, hopetv.org/hopess,

and you can watch the first part

because there are lessons from a priest

400 years before the time of Jesus

and a government official, Nehemiah,

we'll study about today,

that have powerful implications

for our lives today.

And, by the way, if you haven't yet

downloaded our Hope Channel app,

let me just pull it up here.

There is Hope Sabbath School;

you can watch all of the past programs
in the series.

You can go and find

other great programs from Hope Channel.

I'll turn some on, probably,

if I push the button too carelessly,

but go to the App Store,

go to Google Play,

download the Hope Channel app,

and you'll be blessed.

If you've got a parent or grandparent,

they don't know how to do it,

you help them so that they

can be fully engaged
with the Word of God.

But this series on <i>Ezra and Nehemiah,</i>

just getting started,

what's the most important lesson

you've learned so far?

Anybody, most important lesson? Stephanie.

(Stephanie) Stay connected with God.

(Derek) Stay connected with God,
and, someone else?

(Team) Learn, do it, and teach.

(Derek) Learn, do it, and share it.

That's right, that's what we learned
in part one.

And I hope you've learned
some lessons, too.

Write to us at sshope@hopetv.org,

and we are always happy to hear from you

because we're growing together

in a study of the Word of God.

Here's a note from Greg.

Greg lives in Tennessee,

and he's got a powerful testimony

of how God has led in his life.

He said, "I was raised in the church,

but from my 20s until about 40,

I drifted away from the Lord
and from church,

but praise God He never gave up on me."

(Team) Amen!

(Derek) Well, what he didn't know

was there was a beautiful lady in Poland

watching Hope Sabbath School,

which they have in Polish;

they put a voice-over in Polish,

who was watching - they connected.

And on August 18 (I think
we've got a picture),

they were married.

Now, this isn't a wedding picture.

This is when they were visiting

Krakow in Poland; she's Polish.

And they have been watching

Hope Sabbath School every week

since they got married.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) They're active in church,

and he says, "Maybe some day

I'll share our story;

it's a wonderful story

of God's love and guidance.

Thank you for continuing

to spread the Word of God to the world.

Blessings from Greg

and his wife Wiola." Amen?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) The Bible says

when you seek first the Kingdom,

the other things you need

will be added to you, right?

Thanks for sharing.

Here's a note from Abigail in Jamaica;
we've got a lot

of Hope Sabbath School members
in Jamaica.

"Thank God for some helpful people
like you.

I didn't understand my Bible studies,

and three weeks ago,

my Sabbath School teacher

introduced me to..."?

(Derek, Team) "Hope Sabbath School."

(Derek) "I started watching your program,

and I'm learning to understand

the Bible little by little,

and my teacher is very proud of me."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) "I never stop watching

Hope Sabbath School

because if it wasn't for your program,

I wouldn't understand my Bible studies.

I hope and trust that our Lord

and Savior Jesus will bless you all,

and I hope to see you all
in Heaven. Amen."

(Team) Amen!

(Derek) Well, Abigail,

I don't know how old you are,

but your teacher gave you wise counsel,

and that is that we can learn together

because this is not just in-depth,
but it's what?

(Derek, Team) Interactive.

(Derek) And so, thanks for being part

of our Hope Sabbath School family.

Here's a touching testimony

from a donor in Anguilla

in the British West Indies.

No name, I won't give you the name,

but here's what it says,

"I wrote to you, Hope Sabbath School,
a while back.

I was sad and dejected at the time

because of my dire financial straits,

and I could very well lose my home.

Thank you for personally answering
my email

and for your kind and encouraging words;

it really helped a lot."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) "You read a letter

from a lovely older donor, like me,

who gave a gift to help support

Hope Sabbath School

and the ministry of Hope Channel.

I felt guilty that I didn't spend

my money more wisely than I should have,

and now I didn't have the money to give.

I cried and prayed about it for a while.

And then God gave me the answer:

Give a recurring donation

of 10 dollars a month."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) You say, "That's not a fortune."

Well, maybe it is a fortune

for an elderly person.

"So, I did; I went to the website,

set up to give 10 dollars a month,

and I feel better.

I've even come closer

to really trusting God to provide."

(Team) Amen!

(Derek) "I've had to,

as certainly I cannot provide

very well for myself anymore.

But I'm not terrified anymore.

I have hope in Christ

and His soon return.

I always watch Hope Sabbath School 
each Friday

to bring in the Sabbath; I love the team,

the interactive teaching style.

Thank you for being so diligent

in studying the Word of God."

I'd like to meet this lady, wouldn't you?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) If any of you are interested,

I'll confidentially give you an email;

you can write to her.

But she says, "God bless you all."

She's giving 10 dollars a month

to be a partner in the mission. Amen?

(Team) Amen!

(Derek) You know, that's beautiful!

We're all partnering together
in the mission.

This is a donor-supported ministry.

All of our programs,

Bible programs on Hope Channel,

are blessed by your support.

Heather writes from Australia,

and she says,

"Dear Hope Sabbath School team,

your lesson study and share time
this week

was the very best I have ever watched.

I am a Sabbath School team leader

and teacher Down Under,"

that's a way of talking about Australia,

"and every week you inspire me

to encourage my church family." Amen?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) "Please be encouraged

that you're touching souls,"

I'd put it in different language,

that God is touching souls through you,

"in Australia, New Zealand,

and the Pacific Islands." Amen?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) One last note

from the country of Namibia -
where's Namibia?

(Joshua) Right below Angola.

(Derek) You're exactly right,

right below Angola.

It used to be German West Africa,

kind of embedded into South Africa.

And Inonge writes and says,

"Saints of the living God, you are

really amazing and inspiring," and we say?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) And praise God.

"I have been watching

Hope Sabbath School for a long time,

and I'm seeing myself learning more

about a God who loves me unconditionally

and is interceding for me.

I even discovered your Hope Sabbath School
study guide."

Well, I've got mine right here,

and that's what we're

going to be using today.

You can download that

from our website: hopetv.org/hopess.

Don't forget the app that you can find.

You can even download it from the app,

if you print from your phone,
amazing technology.

And Inonge says, "I've discovered

the Hope Sabbath School guide,

and it's so helpful that I'm sharing it

with a lot of people,

and it's making our Bible study

more lively and fruitful."

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) That's so encouraging, isn't it?

You see, we're not just looking

for admirers who go,

"Oh, what a wonderful program," no.

We're looking for tens of thousands

of disciples who will teach

an in-depth, interactive study

of the Word of God,

just like Inonge in Namibia.

Thanks for writing to us.

Thanks for partnering with us.

Right now we're going to sing

a 3,000-year-old Scripture song
from Psalm 25.

And if you listen carefully to the words,

it's got a lot to do

with this series of honoring God,

even when there is adversity, opposition,

choosing to be the woman of God/

the man of God He's called us to be.

I'm excited that my wife, Bodil,

who composes our Scripture songs

is going to sing with us today,

and we invite you to sing, too.

"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul,"

let's sing together.

♪ music ♪

(Derek) Amen. Thank you, Bodil.

And thank You to the Word of God

because we just sang Scripture.

A 3,000-year-old-Scripture song
with a new tune,

but I kind of like that tune, don't you?

It's kind of, da-do-do-do,

it's kind of a happy tune.

But do you notice there,

you think of Ezra and Nehemiah,

they would have known

that Scripture, right,

because they were in around 400 B.C.,

and the psalm was written 1,000 B.C.,

so maybe a different tune,

but, "Let me not be ashamed;

let not my enemies triumph over me."

There were lessons

in that Scripture for <i>them.</i>

We're going to study

about a great man of God named Nehemiah.

He wasn't a priest; he wasn't a preacher.

Oh, maybe he kind of was a preacher,

but actually his main profession was...?

A government official.

Lessons for our lives today.

Let's pray; Father in Heaven,

we're excited because
the Word of God is alive,

because Your Holy Spirit

guided the prophets to write,

and Your Holy Spirit

guides us as we study.

So, please, may the lessons

that You want us to learn from the life

of this government official, Nehemiah,

be so clear that we may not only hear

but <i>do</i> what we learn,

and, yes, share with others, too,

to bless their lives.

We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) I'm excited; Nehemiah

is actually someone I have

great admiration for and respect for.

Another one for me is John the Baptist,

just have great respect.

Daniel...well, we could list a whole lot

of men and women of God, couldn't we?

But let's go to Nehemiah, chapter 1,

and we'll begin with some news.

Ninety years have passed

since Zerubbabel led the first wave

of captives back home,

and more than a decade

since Ezra took that second wave,

and only about 1500 men
plus families went.

And now Nehemiah gets some news.

And, Joshua, would you begin our study

with Nehemiah, chapter 1, verses 1 to 3.

(Joshua) Sure, and I'll be reading

from the New King James Version;
the Bible says:

(Derek) Now, Shushan,

I'm looking in my Bible,

and it's got another...or "Susa."

Now, there was a prophet

in a previous generation

who lived in Susa; what was his name?

With the wheels and the wheels

within the wheels, and...

(Team Members) Ezekiel.

(Derek) Ezekiel - Daniel was

in the city of Babylon;

Ezekiel was down the river

at Susa or Shushan.

Now, we've got Nehemiah living there

because that was the...?

That was the capital, right?

That's the headquarters,

and he's a government official.

But news comes to him

that, well, it's bad news.

What is the bad news, Stephanie?

(Stephanie) That there is persecution

for those who have left

and gone back to Jerusalem,
and discouragement.

(Derek) Persecution and...?

How's the work going?

(Team Member) It stopped.

(Derek) It stopped.

So, you've probably given us
a clue already,

but what are some reasons

why the work is going so slowly

or not going at all? Brittany?

(Brittany) They had opposition

from the neighboring peoples around them

that were discouraging them

from completing the work

God gave them to do.

(Derek) All right. Any other thing
besides opposition

from surrounding people, Jason?

(Jason) Well, they didn't have a lot

to go back to begin with,

and so they only had a small group there.

(Derek) Right, I mean, if we do the math,

a few went back with Zerubbabel,

a few more go back with Ezra,

and most of the people

are still living in Babylon or in Shushan.

And we talked about that

in part one of our series.

What were some of the reasons

they might have stayed

when God moved in a supernatural way

through decrees of several kings

to say, "You can go home,"

Cyrus and then Artaxerxes

100-and-some years later, right?

Well, not quite that,

about 80 years later,

get that right so I don't

get 1,000 emails, right?

But, you know, it's from 538, now 457.

And what were some of the reasons

people might have stayed

when they could have gone home?

(Pedro) They were discouraged,

or they were not willing to leave

the blessings of the land.

(Derek) So they were comfortable;

we talked about that, or...?

(Stephanie) Maybe God had them there
for a reason.

(Derek) Maybe God had them there

for a reason, for a few,

but we talked about one other reason,

and that is that they were

disconnected from God, you know,

which was part of being comfortable

with this life, right?

And so, there are challenges.

Well, let's see, Brittany,

if you could read verse 4

of Nehemiah, chapter 1,

how Nehemiah responds

to the news that he receives.

(Brittany) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,

[Nehemiah], chapter 1, verse 4:

(Derek) That's kind of an unusual
reaction.

I mean, you hear sad news from back home,

and you go, "Oh," you know,

"back home in Kenya

some things...that's challenging,"

or, "Back home in Myanmar," or Mizoram,

or, "Back home in..."

(Joshua) Ghana, Antigua, Baltimore.

(Derek) You know, sometimes we go,

"That's really sad," right?

But what does that tell us,

that he wept for many days, fasted

and prayed before the God of Heaven?

What does that tell us

about Nehemiah? Yes, Harold?

(Harold) He's a man

that takes God's word seriously

because, actually, God worked a miracle

with the previous kings,

so, it's like, "People," like, "Why?"

Like, "Why are we not

even taking to heart God's word?"

So he's a man of God,

we can see, very godly.

(Derek) Okay. Travis?

(Travis) He's unselfish,
totally unselfish,

just thinking about others...

(Derek) I mean, he's got

the cupbearer's condo, right?

It's probably toward

the top of the building.

I mean, he was a high-ranking
government official,

and he hears bad news from the homeland.

And he is...? Devastated, yes.

(Liza) Even though he was in Susa,

his heart was in a different place,

and I think that kind of dichotomy

with these two things

was troubling to him.

He probably felt lonely.

I mean, even though he was high-ranking,

and he had all these perks,

he wanted to be with his people.

And I think that drew him

into this emotional situation
that he was in.

(Derek) Now, some people get bad news...

There's a lesson we can learn,

because in life we'll all

get some bad news, right?

Maybe you're watching today,

and you just got some really bad news.

What are some negative things

a person could do when they 
get bad news? Anybody?

(Stephanie) Revert to substance abuse.

(Derek) Right, they can say,

"I'm going to go and get drunk,"

or high or whatever, do some bad thing

to try to self-medicate.

(Liza) Keep it to yourself.

I mean, he just cried.

I think we have to just allow ourselves
to mourn,

and he gave himself permission
to do that.

(Derek) So some people try

(we have an expression in English)
to stuff it.

I don't know how you translate that

into Polish or Swahili,

but we kind of keep it inside,

don't deal with it;

what's the problem with that?

(Liza) It's unhealthy.

(Derek) It's unhealthy.

(Joshua) It has an effect on you.

(Derek) It has an effect on you,

and, whether we like it or not,

it will have an effect

on the people around us.

It will seep out some way, right?

So he says, "This is sad.

I'm going to deal with this
by weeping and..."?

(Derek, Team) Praying.

(Derek) Crying out to God. Stephanie?

(Stephanie) I think it's interesting

that that's Who he went to.

He went to God, knowing that

this is the God who can fix the problem.

He knew where to go.

(Derek) So let's listen to his prayer.

Travis, if you could read for us

verses 5 through 11

of Nehemiah, chapter 1.

And what impresses you

the most as you listen?

Now, it's amazing to us.

I mean, this is really...

Scripture is so precious.

We are overhearing his prayer.

Now, he wrote it down as a witness,

guided by the Holy Spirit.

But just...we're overhearing a prayer

that was prayed 400 years

before the time of Jesus.

That's amazing, isn't it?

Listen, and what impresses you

the most about his prayer?

(Travis) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) What do you notice

about the prayer? Alex.

(Alex) He identifies himself

amongst the sinners.

(Derek) So, it's humble.

Now, he may have said,

"Well, I am a sinner,"

and we say, "Well, that's good,"

he's obviously humble.

He's not saying,

"They're a bunch of sinners,"

but, "We have all sinned."

What do you notice, Puia?

(Puia) At the center of his prayer

he is claiming God's promise.

I think that's really very powerful.

(Derek) How does he know God's promise?

(Gladys) He spent time studying it,
so he knew them.

(Derek) He is quoting Scripture.

(Gladys) Yes.

(Derek) He is quoting recent Scripture,

100 years old, who's that?

(Team Member) Moses.

(Derek) No, Daniel.

He's quoting recent Scripture,

but he's also quoting

what we would call ancient Scripture;

he's quoting from the Torah, right,

from the books of Moses,

particularly from Deuteronomy.

So, what does that tell you
about this man?

(Team) He knows the Word.

He's a student of Scripture.

(Derek) He's <i>filled</i> with the Word,

and he doesn't know how to pray.

Isn't there somewhere that says

that the Holy Spirit will help us

when we don't know how to pray?

And the Holy Spirit

is helping him to do what?

(Harold) Claim the promises.

(Derek) claim the promises of God. Pedro?

(Pedro) Yes, that's one of the things
I looked at here,

that his prayer resonated

very well with the prayer of Daniel

when he was asking for the 70 weeks,

for the promise of the 70 weeks.

And as we looked into the Bible,

I connected with it

because, when I pray, before I pray,

I like to read the Psalms,

I like to read some promises of the Bible

so I can know how to talk to God

because He talks to us first,

then I can talk to Him back.

And I think definitely he spent

some time mourning, on the Word of God.

(Derek) Yes. Liza, I'm going

to ask you a question,

and then I'm going to give

a chance for some others.

We all go through hard times.

Think of a hard time that you went through

and a Scripture that God brought to you

to give you courage

in that difficult time.

Is there something that comes to mind?

(Liza) I think previously in another show

I talked about going through my ordeal
with cancer.

And I remember, when I was

going through treatment, and I was

going through all the side effects,

the pain and everything.

And I remembered the Scripture verse

that said, "I will never leave you
nor forsake you,"

and, "Yea, though I walk
through the valley

of the shadow of death...
[You are with me],"

and just saying, "Lord, You said that;
I didn't say that.

You said that You would be with me."

And I just echoed back His words to me

and said, "Lord, You have to fulfill this

because it's Your Word in my life."

And just there in that presence, I felt

that He was with me in that journey.

(Derek) Powerful. Hebrews 13,

I think verse 5, quotes
the Old Testament,

"I will never leave you or forsake you."

And then you quoted from Psalm 23,

"Even though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death,"

and it was kind of the valley

of the shadow of death, "I will fear..."

(Liza) No evil.

(Derek) No evil, why?

(Derek, Team) "For You are with me."

(Derek) Someone else,

you went through a difficult time,

a hard time, and give me a Scripture,

a promise, that God brought to you

because Puia's exactly right.

It is the promises of God's Word

that gives Nehemiah...

He doesn't just go

and slit his throat and die

or jump off a bridge at Susa, right?

In his pain, in his anguish,

he quotes the promises of God. Gladys?

(Gladys) Yes, my favorite is Psalm 46.

Just like, Liza, I went

through brain surgery;

I had a brain tumor,

and it's just, this Scripture

really brought a lot of comfort.

"God is our refuge and strength,

an <i>ever</i>-present help

in" time of "trouble."

It's ever present.

There's not a moment

when you're going through trouble

that He is not there with you.

(Derek) "Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth be removed

and the mountains be cast

into the depths of the sea," Psalm 46:1,2.

Now, I'm so thankful

that we learn Scripture songs,

and some of us maybe make

little Scripture memory cards

because there are times

we will need that Word,

and the Holy Spirit

will bring it to us. Joshua?

(Joshua) I didn't know

if you needed another example.

(Derek) I will let you take part in it

before we move on, yes.

(Joshua) So, years ago, I was involved

with someone that I shouldn't

have been involved with,

and we fell in temptation.

And I remember that afterwards

I was, like, sick to my stomach

remorseful about it.

And I just got on my knees

and prayed to God.

And after I prayed, I studied Psalm 51,

where David was repenting

for, you know, going in to Bathsheba.

And when I studied it out,

it said that the Lord, the Lord

appreciates a broken spirit,

"A broken and a contrite heart--

these, O God, you will not despise."

And after that I said, "Wow,

Lord, You know me, like, I'm sorry."

(Derek) It became the Word of God to you.

(Joshua) Yes.

(Derek) Right? It became God's Word...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit."

So, you say, "Well, if there's time,"

but there was someone.

Maybe you're watching, and you needed

to hear that testimony today

because the Word of God

gives us hope, right? Why?

Because God loves us

with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) So, Nehemiah's like,

"Lord, what do I do?"

He cries out to God.

And, moving to chapter 2...

Stephanie, you have a comment
before we move on?

(Stephanie) I do. I think there's

a little, at the end of verse 11,

he asks, "And grant him mercy

in the sight of this man."

Somehow he had an inkling or an idea

that God was going to use the king

to answer the prayer.

(Derek) All right, so read on
for us now, if you would,

chapter 2, verses 1 to 3,

because four months pass

before he sees any kind of answer

to this request to grant him mercy

in the sight of this man.

We could take some time with that

because our prayers

are not always answered

at the time we would like,

but we can trust His promise, right?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) Let's see what happens.

We're now in chapter 2, verse 1,

as his prayer is about to be answered.

(Stephanie) I'll be reading

from the King James Version:

(Derek) Four months have passed,
he's before the king,

the king notices he looks sad;

that is very dangerous. Why? Harold?

(Harold) Back in those days,

it would be an insult

to be sad in front of a king

because, actually, it was

thought that, since the king was

such a wonderful person,

all their problems should have been
gone away.

That was a belief back then.

(Derek) All right, that's part of it,

but that's not the main reason

why he's terrified, okay?

He should have been happy

to be before the king,

but there's something else
going on. Travis?

(Travis) The king, you know, back then,

the king is always looking out
for his well-being,

and so he's watching

the people around him.

And when he sees something different
about them,

he's wondering, "What is their agenda?

What are they up to?"

because he's worried for his life.

(Derek) What's his job as cupbearer?

What does that mean, "cupbearer"?

It's not like a cup holder, right?

What's the cupbearer, Pedro?

(Pedro) He was the man

who would drink out of the cup

before it was served to the king

to make sure there was no poison in it.

(Derek) So, give me a little more

than just a person who sips the drink.

He's the security man.

He's the bodyguard.

I mean, there are soldiers out there,

but he's protecting him,

and all of sudden

his body language is like...right?

So he was afraid,

and the king notices.

And your Old English version

said "sore," right, sore.

What does our New King James say?

"Dreadfully," that's a strong word,
isn't it?

"Dreadfully afraid."

But what does he do?

We're learning something about Nehemiah.

What does he do? He...?

What does he do? He tells..? The Truth.

He tells the truth.

"Ah, well, my stomach

is hurting today, king," no, no.

He tells the truth

because God is going to answer his prayer.

Are you with me? This make sense?

He tells the truth, and what does

the king say to him, verse 4, Liza?

Again, supernatural intervention

is about to happen.

(Liza) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) What's startling

about the king's comment?

What's startling about it?
Come on, now.

(Stephanie) He's getting ready

to give him whatever he asks.

(Derek) It's like, "Would you like

a small cup of juice, an apple," no, no.

It's wide open, right?

Just make your request.

So here's another key question for us:

Why does Nehemiah pause and pray

before he answers the king? Stephanie.

(Stephanie) He was needing God's guidance.

(Derek) What would we do

if we didn't pray?

(Travis) We might be selfish.

(Derek) We could be selfish.

(Gladys) We speak foolishness.

(Derek) We could speak foolishness.

(Jason) We may not share

all of God's blessings

that He would want to give us.

(Derek) So we might think too small

when God's saying, "Big!

He just asked you, 'What would you like.'"

That's like almost saying,

"Anything up to half my kingdom,"

except he's not drunk

like the guy that said that, right?

This fellow's not drunk,

moved by the Spirit of God,

he asks his cupbearer,

"What is your request,"

and you're saying...?

What's the take-away, Alex?

You reminded us in a previous study

there are lessons for us today.

This great window of opportunity is open;

what's the lesson for us

when a great window

of opportunity opens for us?

(Team) Pray. Seek God.

(Derek) Pray. Pray, "Lord,..."

Well, let's keep reading

and see what happens next.

Laurel, could you read on.

We've looked at verse 4,

and let's look at verses 5 through 11

and see what one might consider

to be an audacious response.

What's another word for audacious?

(Derek, Team) Bold!

(Derek) Over the top, courageous,

God-directed response.

Let's see what happens,

verses 5 through 11.

(Laurel) I'll be reading

from the New American Standard Bible:

(Derek) Let's hold it right there
for a moment.

(We're going to look at verses
9 and following.)

What do you get from the response
of Nehemiah?

(Alex) Details.

(Derek) Details, for sure. Yes?

If someone said, "What would

you like today, Harold?"

"Oh, well, I think I would like

a massive amount of things, please."

Detailed, right?

(Liza) In fact, it's like he came

to the king with a solution

to other people's problems.

It wasn't, "This is the problem we have;

we don't know what to do."

It's, no, "Here's the situation,

and here's how you can help.

If you allow me to go,

and provide materials,

then this will be resolved."

(Derek) So, think of some
other Bible characters;

I mean, this is nothing short

of bold, courageous...

of other Bible characters.

We've said, when God opens

a door of opportunity,

maybe it's to go back

to Mizoram and hold meetings.

You know, I know you were
back in Mizoram.

Or God may say, "I want you to go

and do something in Malawi, Travis."

He may ask you to go there;

He may ask you to go to California

as a missionary or whatever, right?

We've learned, first, what should we do?

(Derek, Team) Pray.

(Derek) Yeah, earnestly pray, right?

"God, because I don't want to act..."?

(Liza) Foolishly.

(Derek) Foolishly, selfishly,
or think too...?

(Team) Too small.

(Derek) Too small, right?

And then he comes with this

really bold response.

Can you think of other women

or men of the Bible

who just had a holy boldness

when God opened a window

of opportunity? Puia?

(Puia) I remember Esther.

I think we can see the parallel story here

of being in the position of influence
and opportunity,

and the words "for such a time as this."

So I think God intentionally places us

in positions and places

where He can use us

if we're willing to be used.

(Derek) And, of course,

she's a contemporary.

This is happening about the same time.

Another Bible character

that, when God opened the window
of opportunity,

it was just really bold.

(Joshua) Daniel, literally

the window was open, and he prayed.

(Derek) You're thinking literally

the window in Daniel 6.

That was an opportunity to honor God,

even if it meant being executed, though.

But there's still, yeah, it was

a window of opportunity to say,

"You honor Me, and I will show you

what a great and awesome God I am," right?

And, of course, the story is

being delivered from those lions, right?

That's a great story, too.

Someone else, Jason?

Someone just - can we use the expression

"Holy Spirit boldness," right?

You're not talking about selfish
or human boldness,

but like, "Really?!" Holy Spirit boldness.

(Jason) I think of a story in the Gospels

of blind Bartimaeus,

when he's there by the side of the road,

and he's asking Jesus

to have mercy on him.

He wants to be able to see.

And even when people are shutting him down

and telling him to be quiet,

he calls out even louder.

So there's clearly boldness

and courageousness there,

even against others who were telling him
to be silent.

(Derek) And, actually,
when he's calling out,

and I think that's in Luke 18,

he's crying, "Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me."

But then Jesus stops

and asks him a question,

"What do you want Me to do for you?"

It's almost like the king
400 years earlier,

"What is your request?"

And what are some things

Bartimaeus could have said?

"Could I have some figs?"

"Could I have a drachma?" or a shekel.

What does he say?

"Lord, I want to see!"

(Joshua) Also Stephen.

(Derek) Holy Spirit boldness.

When the window of opportunity

or door of opportunity opens,

pray, "God, give me holy boldness.

What do You want me to do here?"

Yeah, one last here. Stephanie.

(Stephanie) I was thinking of Elijah.

(Derek) Okay.

(Stephanie) He was very bold

when he went and said,

"There will not be rain..."

(Derek) "...Except by my word."

(Stephanie) That's right.

God had to be clearly...,

and we see in that narrative

that God was leading him.

But again, it's, "Lord,

what do You want me to do?

What's my next step? Show me."

(Derek) Is it possible

that there could be women
of God or men of God like that

in this generation?

(Team) Yes. Amen.

(Derek) You say it has to be, right?

Well, we're going to go on to verse 9.

Harold, if you could read Nehemiah 2:9-10

as Nehemiah embarks on his mission.

You've got to say he's got

Holy Spirit boldness, for sure.

The window of opportunity

or door of opportunity is opened,

and prayerfully he walked through.

Verses 9 and 10 of Nehemiah, chapter 2.

(Harold) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) And we're going to hear more

about opposition in our further studies.

And these are two key characters

who are, to use a colloquial expression,

a thorn in his side.

He's clearly followed God,

and opposition comes.

Why should that not surprise us?

Anybody. Yes, Brittany.

(Brittany) Jesus Himself said,

"They persecuted the prophets
who were before you,

and they persecuted Me; they're
going to persecute you."

(Derek) And doesn't He say in John 15,

"They hated Me, and they will hate you."

And in chapter 16, He said,

"They'll even think, killing you,

they're doing service for God."

So he's going out to do a work

clearly guided by God,

and he faces opposition.

Think of some other Bible characters;

they weren't just being foolish.

We could do something foolish, right,

and get opposition or harm.

Jonah, case in point, right?

But think of women or men of God who were

clearly following God courageously

who also experienced opposition. Liza?

(Liza) I think of the New Testament,

the woman with the issue of blood.

It's a miraculous story where she was

trying to get closer to Jesus,

but He was surrounded by a lot of men

and was in a crowd.

And to think of all the barriers

she had to overcome to get close to Him,

being a woman, being sickly, being impure

because she had the issue of blood,

but she was still willing

to go beyond all the societal opposition,

these barriers that were in her way
(they're not visible)

to get close to Jesus and to touch
the hem of His garment.

(Derek) Was that clearly the will of God
for her life?

(Liza) It was.

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) Jason, you mentioned earlier,

Bartimaeus had opposition, too, right?

They told him, "Be quiet, be quiet,"

and he shouted louder.

Somebody else. Yes, Gladys.

(Gladys) I think of Peter, you know.

He will be flogged, he will be in prison,

and the Bible says that the next day

he will be preaching.

So I think it was just like this courage

that could not be quenched.

(Derek) So the opposition

doesn't mean God is not with me, right?

All right, Harold?

(Harold) Also Joshua and Caleb.

Opposition can come from within

because ten of the leaders

of the tribes of Israel opposed.

Yet, Joshua and Caleb,

who represented the other two

from the twelve tribes...

(Derek) You're talking about the story,

remember, where 12 spies

were sent in by Moses.

Ten came back and said,

"Forget it; it won't work."

But Caleb and Joshua said,

"God is with us," right?

(Harold) They were faithful to the end,

and yet God promised, like, "Both of you

will enter the land of Canaan,

but the rest of your generation will not."

(Derek) Puia?

(Puia) I am reminded

of all these great men and women of God

throughout the ages of history
of Christianity itself

after the Bible times.

Like, I remember the Reformers,

John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, John Huss,

these men of God,

whenever they were convinced
to move for God,

they always faced opposition.

So it's almost like a given

that, if you are doing the Lord's work,

you are to be facing opposition

because behind the scene,

we know that Satan is working

to attack God's movement.

(Derek) Let's look at some words of Jesus,

which I think illustrate that

in John, chapter 16.

We'll just pause because Nehemiah's

experiencing opposition,

and Puia is saying it's happened

even after the end of the writing
of Scripture,

that faithful women of God, men of God,

have experienced opposition,

not for doing foolish things

but for doing precisely

what God wanted them to do.

John, chapter 16, verses 1 through 3,

Pedro, could you read that for us?

(Pedro) Yes, John, chapter 16,

verses 1 through 3, I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,
and Jesus is speaking:

(Derek) This is a spiritual battle,
right?

It's what we describe

as the Great Controversy

between good and evil.

So, behind Sanballat and Tobiah,

or whoever the other people will show up,

are forces beyond them, right,
forces of darkness.

That's why Ephesians 6 says,

"Put on the whole armor of God," right,

because conflict's going to come.

Well, let's go to Nehemiah again.

He's experiencing it;

he doesn't turn back.

Let's see how he proceeds.

Brittany, could you read

verse 11 of chapter 2

when Nehemiah arrives at Jerusalem.

(Brittany) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,

Nehemiah, chapter 2, verse 11:

(Derek) And you might say, "So what?"

Is there some kind of cryptic clue there?

Can you think of anyone else

who said, "Three days"?

(Stephanie) Esther.

(Derek) Esther, tell me the story,

Stephanie, about Esther.

She said, "Three days."
Three days what?

(Stephanie) "And let me fast
with my servants,

and you go back and fast";
they were praying.

(Derek) Fast and pray, three days.

And now, it doesn't say what Nehemiah did,

but he said he went there,

and he was there for...?

(Team) Three days.

(Derek) Is that reading too much
into the text?

When Saul lost his sight,

he went, in Damascus,

and for three days he said

he fasted and prayed. Yes?

(Stephanie) Based on his relationship
with God

and his immediate response

when the king asked him,

you know, "What do you want?"

his immediate response was to pray.

So I don't think we're

reading too much into it

to say that that would be

a response that he would have
in this conflict.

(Derek) By the way,

it's a life and death issue with Esther,

and I think it's a life and death issue

with Saul of Tarsus.

So there's something really significant;

otherwise, why mention

the three days? Pedro?

(Pedro) We see in this story, you know,

I see Nehemiah, he's constantly praying
for God's guidance.

And I see, and I look at myself,

my walk with God, I try to understand

that every step of the way

I have to seek God constantly,

but sometimes if I don't do it,

God will not be able to act.

I see the work of the Holy Spirit

as a work for guiding us through His work,

and we need to be submissive,

and the best way to be submissive
is by praying.

And the story of Paul gives that clarity.

Paul was blind, and he fasted
for three days.

And the very next day, God goes

to Ananias and tells, "Go and heal..."

(Derek) "Lay hands on him,

and he'll receive his sight."

And, back to a previous study,

<i>and</i> be filled with the Holy Spirit

and go out as an unstoppable force

for the Kingdom of Heaven, right?

So I don't think it's reading

too much into the story to say,

"Okay, before we rush in, I can do this,

I'm a cupbearer, I'm well trained...,"

"Okay, God, we fast, we pray,

because something important

needs to happen for Your Kingdom. Gladys?

(Gladys) That's exactly what I was
going to say.

Our human nature is just like,

"This is what I know;

I'm going to go and do it fast."

But he took the time to be still

and wait for God to lead him

on what to do next.

(Derek) Let's see what he does, Puia,

in verses 12 through 16 of chapter 2.

Interesting that he doesn't

go out with a big fanfare and parade,

but he leaves under the cover of darkness.

Let's try to figure out,

it must be somewhat related

to the three days of fasting
and praying, right?

So let's hear, as Puia reads

chapter 2 of Nehemiah, verses 12 to 16.

(Puia) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) What's going on?

Stephanie, he goes at night,

takes a few people with him,

I'm assuming for safety.

He doesn't take a whole entourage

of horses and whatever;

it's just what he's riding on.

What's happening here?

(Stephanie) To me, I'm very impressed

by the fact that every time he prays,

God gives him very clear instruction.

To me, he was given clear instruction,

"Go by yourself," well,

"with a few other folks,

and do it at night," because it says,

"What God had put on my heart."

(Derek) So, the next question -

I think you're absolutely right -

is: Why do you think God

told him to do it that way?

I mean, because, "If anyone lacks wisdom,

let her ask God," "let him
ask God," right,

"who gives to all generously,"
or liberally

"and without reproach,"
or complaining, right?

God is like, "I'm happy
to give you wisdom.

You want to know what to do?"

Why do you think God gave him

what Stephanie described

as very specific instructions, Travis?

(Travis) I think it could be
for two reasons:

One, we know that Sanballat and Tobiah

were upset that he was even there,

so it could be for their protection,

if they were out there alone.

And also he was going to meet

with the children of Israel afterwards,

and then he could speak intelligently

about what was going to be happening

or what the problems

that they were facing,

that he could speak intelligently,

and they would wonder,

"How does he know this?"

(Derek) Well, let's read on

in verses 17 and 18.

And, Gladys, if you

could read that for us.

He does go back, having done

an assessment, can we say,

a divinely guided assessment.

Let's see what it says in verses 17 and 18

when he does come back

and speak to the officials.

(Gladys) I'll be reading

from the New International Version,

[Nehemiah], chapter 2, verses 17 and 18:

(Derek) So, what do you notice

in the words that he spoke?

What were some important components

or ingredients, Brittany?

(Brittany) He shared how God

had worked miracles with the king

and how he had granted them
what they needed.

So he's giving them encouragement,

"Look, God is with us."

(Derek) "God is with us," okay.

What else is important, Jason?

(Jason) He identified the reality
of the situation.

He didn't sugar-coat (a colloquial phrase)
the problem.

He was real about what the issue was.

(Derek) "We've got a big problem here,

but God's opened the door
of opportunity."

And what else did you hear

in there that was important?

Did you hear something else, Travis?

(Travis) He said, "Let <i>us.</i>" Let us.

(Derek) What does that tell you?

(Travis) That tells me that he was

willing to lead by example,

"I am here to be with you.

I am here to help you.

The Lord's hand is upon me."

(Derek) We call that servant leadership.

Jesus, when He went

and washed the disciples' feet, you know.

Nehemiah is saying,

"We're serving the Lord together," right?

You know the opposition is going to come.

In fact, let's read

the last two verses, Liza,

verses 19 and 20 of chapter 2,

and notice how Nehemiah

responds to this opposition.

(Liza) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) Did you notice that his opposition

increased by 50 percent?

Another fellow showed up now,

an Arab named "GHEH-shem"
or "JEH-shem."

Someone who watches

from an Arabic-speaking country

will tell us how to say his name.

So it's increased 50 percent, right?

And what doesn't Nehemiah do, reacting?

He doesn't say, "Oh, 50 percent more,
that's too much."

What does he say?

(Gladys) He claims the power of God;
he claims God.

(Joshua) "God will take care of it."

(Derek) It reminds us

of a wonderful promise

written 400 years later,

"What shall we say to these things,"
Romans,

(Gladys) "If God is for us..."

(Derek) Yeah, "If God is for us..."?

(Team) "Who can be against us."

(Derek) Romans 8, verse 31, I think.

"He who did not spare His own Son."

He didn't know all of that yet, did he,

but he had seen God's leading in his past,

and he said, "The hand

of the Lord is upon us."

And, "You folks who are

trying to hinder God's work,

you will have no share

in what God is going to do,"
that's fairly bold.

So, wrap up, a couple of minutes left,

lessons from Nehemiah,

a government official from around 450 B.C.

Puia, what do you take

from the study today?

(Puia) My biggest takeaway

from the story of Nehemiah

is that God <i>intentionally</i> places

each and every one of us

in positions or places

where He wants to use us in that area.

In my personal story, my family

came here to this country in 2012.

And after I went through school,

I learned that, I believed that God

brought my family here for a reason,

and me here for a reason.

And the more I thought about it,

I realized that I needed
to do something

for my fellow Mizoram young people
here in the United States.

(Derek) And Mizoram

is in the northeast part of India.

(Puia) And western Myanmar.

(Derek) and western Myanmar, okay.

You needed to do something
for your own people

right here in the U.S.?

(Puia) Right here, so, with God's help,
we organized now

a Mizo-Adventist Youth Federation

for the whole North American Division.

(Derek) For the whole country?

(Puia) The whole country,
and we're moving forward.

(Derek) These are young Christian
men and women

with some kind of family connection
to Mizoram.

(Puia) Yes.

(Derek) So you're saying that God puts us

in a specific place at a specific time,

and if we'll have the courage to pray

and say, "God, You've opened a door;

help me to be bold for You,"

He will do something amazing.

But we will receive opposition.

And you say it's not come yet,
but it will.

(Puia) It has.

(Derek) It has already!

But, "If God is for us,

who can be against us?"

We are just saying, "God, if You've asked

me to do something important for You,

I just want to humble myself before You

and say, 'Lord, show me

what You want me to do,
and I'll do that.'"

We've heard a testimony from Puia today

for the Mizo people,

but maybe there's a circle

of influence you have.

You say, "God, open

the door of opportunity,

and by Your grace, I'll
be faithful to You."

Let's pray together; Father in Heaven,

we've learned from a government official,
Nehemiah,

who didn't just stay

in a comfortable position

and not care about anyone else.

You put something on his heart

to be Your servant in his generation.

God, do that for us, too,

and help us not to be afraid

but to trust in Your strength
and Your wisdom.

And we thank You.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) I'm going to be excited

to get an email from you,

sshope@hopetv.org,

what God's put on your heart

because the world is waiting

to hear about a God who loves us

with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

Go out, share the good news

with those around you.

♪ theme music ♪