Sermon Tone Analysis

Nehemiah

Nehemiah

Prepare for the Vision

Intro: Picture of acorn, Tree, cotton field, empty pews.

Black Creek Baptist, family life center.

I. Prepare through prayer.

1:1-11

Nehemiah 1:1–2 (NKJV)

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.

It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, 2 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

1. Nehemiah, (cup bearer) while he was captive had great concern for his home land.

He gets word that things are pretty bad.

VS 3 have gave their answer.

VS 3

KJV Remnant: (91 times in the Bible, most in the O.T) (Hebrew) means what is leftover.

God works with leftovers.

a.

Great distress (affliction:) What they once had they had lost.

Their city, their worship, many were captive, it had bought great sadness to them, and they were troubled.

b.

Reproach: Disgrace

b.

They had brought this on themselves because as a nation they had turned their back on God.

Now they were in great affliction, and were a disgrace in the sight of God.

c.

Does that sound filmier?

As a nation today we are in great affliction, I believe we are disgrace in the sight of God.

d.

Nehemiah is heartbroken over this.

God will use him to restore that which had been broken down.

God would give him a vision.

e.

It may be that we need to be broken hearted to get to the place God wants us to be.

(elab what we should be brokenhearted over)

f.

Nehemiah doesn’t make a rash decision, if he would have, his plan may have failed.

This was too important.

He spends time in prayer.

g.

Any work we do for the Lord it important.

h.

It all needs to start with prayer, seeking God’s will, seeking God’s guidance.

i. Nehemiah gave a great example of this.

VS 4

1.

This is not just some simple help us Lord Prayer.

Nehemiah is seeking direction from the Lord.

a. “I sat down” Why did he sit down?

You call someone on the phone with some bad news.

“Are you sitting down?

b. sat down and wept: Sometimes we look at weeping as a sign of weakness; but with Nehemiah it was a sign of strength.

He had a burden for the city of Jerusalem, and his people.

c.

We should have a great burden for the lost (Elab on who the lost are) (We should have a great burden for the needy,Elab) Elab what we should pray.

d.

He prayed and he fasted.

VS 5

Awesome God: ( KJV terrible) To fear, to have reverence.

To stand in awe.

Elab

e. Nehemiah feared God.

Elab And he knew that God kept His promises.

READ LAST PART OF VS

g.

God wants us to reach the lost.

He wants us to share his love with those that are in need of his love.

h.

But are churches today really doing that?

Are we doing what God has called us to do?

i. Israel, God’s chosen people, but they had not done what God had called them to do.

Worship, sacrifices

Their city, the city of Jerusalem was in ruins.

So Nehemiah calls out to God.

j.

As we prepare to reach our friends, our loves ones, our community we have to prepare through prayer.

VS 6-11

II.

Prepare by planning.

2:2-9

(Go over the list below before reading veres)

1. Plan your work, than work your plan.

Easter, SR Adult VBS

a. Nehemiah had spent time in prayer.

He knew what needed to be done; he had a vision from God.

Now he would bring his request to the King.

1.

He didn’t rush God’s plan, he waited for the right opportunity.

“Weep and pray, pray and wait”

a. Rebuilding the wall would not be an easy task.

It would be a cheep job.

But God had a way, what an opportunity for Nehemiah.

b.

All of his needs would be met with one question from the king.

VS 2 READ AND ELAB

c.

When God opens the door of opportunity, walk through it.

VS 3

1.

Nehemiah doesn’t demand anything of the King.

Instead he shows respect to the King, and shares his heart and his desires.

READ LAST PART OF VS

a. Now we see that he had an answer for the King, he has a step by step plan.

VS 4-9 READ VERSE AND ELAB AS I READ.

b.

We are going to have a plan to reach the lost.