“ the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; i have come that they may have life, and...

““The thief comes only to steal and The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to they may have life, and have it to

the full.” (John 10:10)the full.” (John 10:10)

““So the wall was completed…in fifty-So the wall was completed…in fifty-two days. When all our enemies two days. When all our enemies

heard about this, all the surrounding heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-nations were afraid and lost their self-

confidence, because they realized confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the that this work had been done with the

help of our God.” (Neh. 6:15-16)help of our God.” (Neh. 6:15-16)

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS1.1.Remain HumbleRemain Humble

““For by the grace given me For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself Do not think of yourself more highly than you more highly than you

ought, but rather think of ought, but rather think of yourself with sober yourself with sober

judgment, in accordance judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith with the measure of faith

God has given you.” God has given you.” (Rom. 12:3)(Rom. 12:3)


““The Lord is not slow in The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as keeping his promise, as

some understand some understand slowness. He is patient slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but anyone to perish, but everyone to come to everyone to come to

repentance.” (2 Peter repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)3:9)


““The one who sows to The one who sows to please his sinful nature, please his sinful nature,

from that naturefrom that nature will reap will reap destruction; the one who destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians eternal life.” (Galatians

6:8)6:8)


““If you fully obey the LORD If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God today, the LORD your God will set you high above all will set you high above all the nations on earth. All the nations on earth. All these blessings will come these blessings will come

upon you and accompany you upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your if you obey the LORD your

God:” (Deut. 28:1-2)God:” (Deut. 28:1-2)


IMPORTANT IMPORTANT TRUTH:TRUTH:

Obedience to God invites Obedience to God invites the blessing of God. the blessing of God.


“‘“‘For I know the plans For I know the plans I have for you,’ I have for you,’

declares the LORD, declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope plans to give you hope and a future.’and a future.’” ” (Jer. (Jer.

29:11)29:11)


““The one who sows to The one who sows to please his sinful please his sinful nature, from that nature, from that naturenature will reap will reap

destruction; the one destruction; the one who sows to please who sows to please the Spirit, from the the Spirit, from the

Spirit will reap eternal Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8)life.” (Galatians 6:8)


2.2.Give Glory to GodGive Glory to God

“…“…this work had this work had been done with been done with the help of our the help of our

God.”God.”(Neh. 6:16)(Neh. 6:16)

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS"Is not this the great "Is not this the great

Babylon I have built as the Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my royal residence, by my

mighty power and for the mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"glory of my majesty?"

““The words were still on The words were still on his lips when a voice came his lips when a voice came from heaven, ‘This is what from heaven, ‘This is what

is decreed for you, King is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your Nebuchadnezzar: Your

royal authority has been royal authority has been taken from you. taken from you.

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPSYou will be driven away You will be driven away from people and will live from people and will live

with the wild animals; with the wild animals; you will eat grass like you will eat grass like

cattle. Seven times will cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you pass by for you until you

acknowledge that the acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign Most High is sovereign

over the kingdoms of men over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone and gives them to anyone

he wishes.’” he wishes.’” (Daniel 4:30-32)(Daniel 4:30-32)

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS““Two men went up to the Two men went up to the

temple to pray, one a temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a Pharisee and the other a

tax collector. The Pharisee tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other that I am not like other

men—robbers, evildoers, men—robbers, evildoers, Adulterers—or even like Adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a twice a week and give a

tenth of all I get.' tenth of all I get.'

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPSBut the tax collector stood at But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even a distance. He would not even

look up to heaven, but beat look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, his breast and said, 'God,

have mercy on me, a sinner.' I have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home than the other, went home justified before God. For justified before God. For

everyone who exalts himself everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who will be humbled, and he who

humbles himself will be humbles himself will be exalted.” (LK 18:10-14)exalted.” (LK 18:10-14)



3.3.Remain AlertRemain Alert““Be self-controlled and Be self-controlled and

alert. Your enemy the devil alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a prowls around like a

roaring lion looking for roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 someone to devour.” (1

Peter 5:8)Peter 5:8)

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS““Also, in those days the Also, in those days the

nobles of Judah were nobles of Judah were sending many letters to sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to Tobiah kept coming to

them. For many in Judah them. For many in Judah were under oath to him…were under oath to him…

Moreover, they kept Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good reporting to me his good

deeds and then telling him deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah what I said. And Tobiah

sent letters to intimidate sent letters to intimidate me.”(Neh.6:17-19)me.”(Neh.6:17-19)



3.3.Remain AlertRemain Alert

4.4.Remain Cautious in Remain Cautious in Your FriendshipsYour Friendships

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS

““A righteous man is A righteous man is cautious in cautious in

friendship, but the friendship, but the way of the wicked way of the wicked

leads them astray.”leads them astray.”(Proverbs 12:26)(Proverbs 12:26)

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS

““He who walks with He who walks with the wise grows the wise grows

wise, but a wise, but a companion of fools companion of fools

suffers harm.”suffers harm.”(Proverbs 13:20)(Proverbs 13:20)

““After the wall had been After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the rebuilt and I had set the

doors in place, the doors in place, the gatekeepers and the gatekeepers and the

singers and the Levites singers and the Levites were appointed. were appointed.

I put in charge of Jerusalem I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along my brother Hanani, along

with Hananiah the with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, commander of the citadel, because he was a man of because he was a man of integrity and feared God integrity and feared God

more than most men do.” more than most men do.” (Nehemiah 7:1-2)(Nehemiah 7:1-2)

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN CLOSE FRIENDSCLOSE FRIENDS1.1.Christian CharacterChristian Character

““My dear friends, you My dear friends, you have been warned have been warned

ahead of time! So don't ahead of time! So don't let the errors of evil let the errors of evil

people lead you down people lead you down the wrong path and the wrong path and make you lose your make you lose your balance.” (2 Peter balance.” (2 Peter

3:17)3:17)

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN CLOSE FRIENDSCLOSE FRIENDS2. Compassion2. Compassion

““The Lord is The Lord is compassionate compassionate

and gracious, slow and gracious, slow to anger to anger

abounding in abounding in love.” love.”

(Psalm 103:8)(Psalm 103:8)

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN CLOSE FRIENDSCLOSE FRIENDS3. Honesty3. Honesty

““Kings take Kings take pleasure in pleasure in

honest lips; they honest lips; they value a man who value a man who

speaks the speaks the truth.” truth.”

(Proverbs 16:13)(Proverbs 16:13)

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN CLOSE FRIENDSCLOSE FRIENDS3. Honesty3. Honesty

““Do not be misled: Do not be misled: ‘Bad company ‘Bad company corrupts good corrupts good character.’”character.’”

(1 Cor. 15:33)(1 Cor. 15:33)

FIVE STEPSFIVE STEPS1.1.Remain HumbleRemain Humble2.2.Give Glory to GodGive Glory to God3.3.Remain AlertRemain Alert4.4.Remain Cautious in Remain Cautious in

Your FriendshipsYour Friendships5.5.PreparePrepare

5. Prepare: For the Future5. Prepare: For the Future““You should take good care You should take good care

of your sheep and goats, of your sheep and goats, because wealth and honor because wealth and honor

don't last forever. After the don't last forever. After the hay is cut and the new hay is cut and the new

growth appears and the growth appears and the harvest is over, you can sell harvest is over, you can sell

lambs and goats to buy lambs and goats to buy clothes and land. From the clothes and land. From the milk of the goats, you can milk of the goats, you can make enough cheese to make enough cheese to feed your family and all feed your family and all

your servants.” your servants.” ((Proverbs Proverbs 27:23-27)27:23-27)

5. Prepare: For Problems5. Prepare: For Problems

““I said to them, ‘The gates I said to them, ‘The gates of Jerusalem are not to be of Jerusalem are not to be

opened until the sun is hot. opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are While the gatekeepers are

still on duty, have them still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar shut the doors and bar

them. Also appoint them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as residents of Jerusalem as

guards, some at their posts guards, some at their posts and some near their own and some near their own

houses.’” houses.’” (Nehemiah 7:3)(Nehemiah 7:3)

5. Prepare: For Problems5. Prepare: For Problems

““A prudent man sees A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going but the simple keep going

and suffer for it.”and suffer for it.” ((Proverbs 22:3)Proverbs 22:3)

“ the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; i have come that they may have life, and...

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