4th Quarter 2014 Junior Powerpoints Lesson 8

8/10/2019 4th Quarter 2014 Junior Powerpoints Lesson 8

1/7

8 Gods FightKey References: Nehemiah 4; 5;Prophets and Kings, chap. 53 pp. 641-645;The Bible Story (1994), vol. 6, pp.115-120; Our Beliefs nos. 8, 11, 10


2/7

63

DO Do thisweeks activpage 61.

S a b b a t

h

power textWhen our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God hadfrustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our ownwork (Nehemiah 4:15).

We can rely onGods strength touse us to serve.

p o w

e r p o i n t

Has anyone ever poked fun at you for doing what wasright or tried to force you to stop doing it? Have you everfelt discouraged and wanted to give up? That is just howsome of the Jews and Nehemiah felt when they were re-building the wall around Jerusalem. Read on to discoverwhat happened.

30th day, Av, Year 20

S anballat is furious. Today he went through the city roaring, Whatare those Jews doing? Will they build their wall back up? Will theyoffer sacrices? Will they nish in a day? Can they bring the stonesback to life from those heaps of rubbleburned as they are? Then Tobiah started saying that even a fox could climb up and break downthe wall.

I couldnt let this pass. I prayed loud enough for them to hear me:Hear us, God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on them-selves. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover

up their guilt or blot out their sins from Your sight, for they havethrown insults in the face of the builders.

As usual, they skulked away, but I know theyll be back. We cantlet them stop us. You would think they wouldnt be so stubborn,especially since I have a commission from the king. The wall is half-way up! The people are willing to work hard, and I will do everything Ican to help them continue.

63


3/7

64

31st day, Av Sanballat and Tobiah came back,

lled with even more venom. The situa-tion is getting dangerous. I had a meet-ing with the company leaders before westarted work this morning. We prayedand decided to post guards to watch dayand night.

Sanballat is not only mean-spirited,but he is lying about us. He taunts usand says we are plotting against KingArtaxerxes. Recently Sanballat was heardboasting about his own plot, saying hewould sneak in and stop the work bykilling us.

If thats not enough, some of the Jewsare complaining about the work. A groupof men told me the workers are get-ting tired, and theres too much rubbleto continue rebuilding the wall. Thatlast comment really hurt. How can theycomplain when were halfway nished? Iknow the workers are tired. Im tired too.Indeed, there is a lot of rubble, but wecant afford to get discouraged. Were too

close to nishing!Another group of Jews who live near

Samaria came with more discouragingwords. They said we would be attackedwherever we went. These menwere talking loudly,and it affected theworkers so muchthat they started toslow down. It wouldbe better for our ownpeople who talk like this to just stay away. They do moreharm than good. Now theworkers are more afraid thanever.


4/7

65


5/7

66

I knew I had to address their con-cerns, so I developed another plan todefend ourselves in case we are attacked.Ill put some of the men behind thelowest places along the wall, and Ill putsome at the open places. Ill make surefamilies work together and are armedwith swords, spears, and bows.

This evening I gathered all the lead-ers and gave them a pep talk. I told themnot to be afraid of Sanballat and Tobiah. Ireminded them how great and awesomeis the Lord. Then I encouraged them toght to protect their sons and daughters,their wives, and their homes.

A few days later The news about our preparingto defend ourselves got backto Sanballat, but we didnt care.We all returned to work on the


6/7

67

wall. Of course now only half the mencan work. The other half guard the work-ers. Still, those who carry materials doit with one hand on their weapons. Thebuilders wear their swords.

I arranged for a trumpeter to be withme at all times. Since we are so far aparton the wall, I told the workers that if theyhear the sound of the trumpet they areto come to me immediately and trustthat God will ght for us!

A workday It is hard to keep track of what day it

is. We are working from sunrise till thestars come out. We stay up nights guard-ing the wall. It seems we never takeoff our clothes or weapons. The wall isgetting higher. God is with us. He ghtsfor us. Only through His strength are weable to continue building until the citywalls are raised completely.


7/7

STRENGTHEN ME

PUZZL

8

61

Instructions: Can you break the code below to reveal where we should get ourstrength from? The rst letters of each group will get you started and offer you thekey to the solution.

ITGT CHIH ARV NOE DUS OGM AHE LHS LIT TMR HWE IHN SOG

Documents

4th Quarter 2014 Junior Powerpoints Lesson 8