The Plan of Grace
This lesson looks into the book of Nehemiah where we discover two significant truths about the planning nature of grace.
1) Grace-plans are God’s plans not man’s. Nehemiah, after learning of the dilapidated condition of Jerusalem, begins to seek God’s plan for His city. He prays for four months. After which time the King asks him what is wrong with his attitude, he prays again! Then he shares with the King, his concerns about Jerusalem. The King grants permission and arranges for materials for the reconstruction. Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, takes a night time donkey ride with a few leaders, then urges those leaders to get on board God’s grace-plan. Their response, “Let us arise and build!” We witness in Nehemiah the importance of finding and following the plan of God! This grace-planning is uniquely different than the norm. Usually, believers will work out every detail and then petition God to bless their plans. Nehemiah didn’t have a plan. He just allowed God to use him in His divine plan.
2) The success of God’s grace-planning lies within willing workers. Every plan God has ever made for humanity is dependent upon human response and willingness. The perfect plan of the garden depended upon Adam and Eve’s willingness to work God’s plan. Even the salvation God planned to offer through the sacrificial gift of His own Son, depended upon His Son’s willingness to work the plan! So, Jesus learned obedience by the things that He suffered. Today is no different. The plans that God has for His people, His church, this world are tied to the willing service of humanity. The wall around the city of Jerusalem was obviously God’s plan for Israel. However, Nehemiah chapter three outlines how the fruition of God’s plan required willing hearts, focused minds, and calloused hands. Not just from the spiritual leaders of the day but from every dweller in Jersalem.
The believer’s challenge within the plan of grace is: first, to make God’s plans for their lives priority! Secondly, to possess a willingness to submit and give service to the plans of God.
Click on the play button below to begin this study.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________