How to Be an Agent of Change In Our Own Times: Practical Principles From the Book of Nehemiah

By Fred Millan

If you want to make a lasting positive impact on the many social, moral, and spiritual issues confronting our world today, then this book is for you! The implementation of the ancient three-part formula included in these pages will make you the agent of change this world is crying out for.

The Book of Nehemiah provides the perfect bluepri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jul 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637693179

Book preview

Millan_FrontCover_Version1_6.13.21.jpg

How to Be an Agent of Change

In Our Own Times:

Practical Principles

From the Book of

Nehemiah

Fred Millan, Ph.D.

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2021 by Fred Millan

All Scripture quotations are taken from the World English Bible WEB. The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible, based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.

All opening chapter quotations used are taken from BrainyMedia, Inc., which is the parent company of BrainyQuote, or are in the public domain. All use of quotations included herein is done under the fair use copyright principle.

The original illustrations used herein, except for Ezra reading the Law (see below) are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and the digitally adjusted compilations of them the copyright of www.freebibleimages.org. They are made available for free download under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. Downloaded pictures can be used in the retelling of Bible stories and narratives that are faithful to the Biblical account.

The drawing of Ezra reading the Law is from Bible drawings by Otto Semler and others, many based on the engravings by Carolsfeld, all in the public domain.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-63769-316-2

ISBN 978-1-63769-317-9 (ebook)

This book is dedicated to

my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

my wife Naty,

my daughters Suzette and Faye,

my grandchildren Addie, Ian, and Christian,

and my step-grandchildren,

Christian, Sophia, and Amaury.

************************

Special thanks to my sister Alice Acosta

for her labor of love in proofreading

and editing my first manuscripts of this work.

Millan, Fred. How to Be an Agent of Change in Our Own Times:

Practical Principles from the Book of Nehemiah

INTRODUCTION

Why a book about Nehemiah?

Nehemiah, an Old Testament Biblical character who lived about 2500 years ago, faced some of the same challenging circumstances, vicious enemies, and overwhelming odds we do today. The ancient Biblical account, found in the book bearing his name, reveals the God-given principles he employed to becoming a positive agent of change, a turnaround manager, and a comeback mentor that are still applicable today!

A quick glance at our current times reveals a world that is moaning in pain from countless human needs and incalculable social unrest that exists universally today. The many problems afflicting our world that need addressing by those who desire to be positive agents of change include unbelief, poverty, health, hunger, homelessness, addictions, and various abuses (physical, emotional, sexual, and human trafficking).

Opportunities abound to become positive agents of change, turnaround managers, and comeback mentors in addressing these issues. The earth’s population, indeed all of humanity, desperately needs spiritual guidance, marriage and parenting direction, food and shelter, physical and emotional health, and the ability and opportunities to grow wealth. Regarding wealth, people need to develop various plans for managing their finances which include savings, investing, giving, and spending plans.

Some need assistance with building or rebuilding their homes after a natural disaster, such as flooding, hurricanes, tornados, fires, mudslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. Others live in mostly arid places on earth or places without easy access to clean drinking water. Additionally, many have a desperate need for education. Education is critically needed in agriculture, husbandry, mining, various practical vocational disciplines, and (for those living in the remotest areas of our globe) language studies.

Why Nehemiah?

This study of Nehemiah will reveal the principles, practices, and patterns that can be applied and followed to successfully contribute to the turnaround of many of the situations we will encounter that cry out for our attention and response. In this study, we will see that Nehemiah was a man of influence, inspiration, and implementation.

Nehemiah was a man of mission: His mission took the form of a construction program, specifically rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls and fortifications. To accomplish this feat, his secondary mission was a consolidation program that took the form of revitalizing the folks who had remained after Jerusalem’s siege and destruction.

Nehemiah was a model of how a Godly man approaches life’s challenges. He was a prayerful man, a man of supplication calling upon the Lord for His help, favor, assistance, and protection as he approached his project. He was a practical man strategically thinking through his project. He was a prudent man, sagacious in his dealings and approaches with his friends and foes.

Why This Approach?

This is by no means an exhaustive study of the Book of Nehemiah. Nor is this an exegetical work. If anything, it is focused on the practical applications derived from the Biblical account of Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. For those who may be interested, many good books and commentaries are available. For an excellent list of the best commentaries available for deeper study, please visit the following website: https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.com/nehemiah/.

My methodology for this study will employ a three-pronged approach: The Text, The Thrust, and The Takeaways. In the first part, The Text, I will provide the Biblical text for observation. In the second part, The Thrust, I will provide summary comments. In the third part, The Takeaways, I will offer applications, principles, and key points derived from the text which can be implemented in our lives today. This approach, I believe, will also help to establish a system of study and investigation that can be applied to any book of the Bible.

The Biblical text I will be utilizing for this study is from the World English