Prayer & Action

Nehemiah 1:5 CSB

I said, Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands,

INTRO—

Sooo…comebacks…Jaguars—down 27-0; 27-7; win 31-30!

Before the Comeback is the Setback. God’s people in Nehemiah experienced a setback—the Exile. We recognize that we have experienced (are experiencing) a setback.

Sat down…wept…mourned…fasted…& PRAYED (1.4)—

AND praying must be accompanied by action (response; living faithfully…obedient to God’s word).

Today—let’s look at the need and importance of prayer & action relating to the Comeback of the people of God & Nehemiah…as we find encouragement (as God’s) people for our situation now.

PRAYER [Nehemiah 1.5b-11a]

When did Nehemiah pray this prayer? [How often?]

Prior to this prayer = getting the news (Chislev [Nov-Dec] Artaxerxes 20th yr)… after this prayer = conversation with the king (Nisan [Mar-Apr] Artaxerxes 20th yr)

Certainly not a ‘one-and-done.’ (Certainly not the only ‘way,’ or emphasis, to Nehemiah’s prayers in this story.]

To Whom? [God, duh.]

Nehemiah 1.5b-6a “Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands, let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites.”

Confession/Repentance of Sin(s)

Nehemiah 1.6b-7 “I confess the sins we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses.”

Repenting for others?? (I do good to take care of myself.)

“We have acted corruptly...” [so…it’s a good idea to pray that God would be merciful and draw others to repentance, etc.]

Praying in Line with God’s Word

Nehemiah 1.8 “Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.””

[God had said this…and it happened.]

Nehemiah 1.9 “”But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.””

[God had said this and Nehemiah was desiring for this to happen.]

Nehemiah 1.10 “They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and strong hand.”

Praying for Success

Nehemiah 1.11a “Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.”

[Please hear my prayer and the prayer of others praying this way (which he assumed…& rightly so).

ACTION [Nehemiah 2.1-6]

Readiness

Nehemiah 2.1-2a “During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.””

[FOUR MONTHS!! How easy would it have been to become complacent, return to ‘normal,’ or give up altogether?]

[Also…it was generally not a good idea to be ‘sad’ in the king’s presence, especially as one of his employees.]

Honesty

Nehemiah 2.2b-3 “I was overwhelmed with fear and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?””

[Fear…Nehemiah likely knew that Artaxerxes had commanded the stop of any repair in Jerusalem.]

[Honesty…being real.]

Courage

Nehemiah 2.4-5 “Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of the heavens and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.””

[Nehemiah PRAYS…again.]

[He has on his heart and mind to renew, revitalize his home…his people.]

Plan

Nehemiah 2.6 “The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.”

[A process…A time-frame…A plan.]

[Dr. Mathes will be leading us through a plan over the next several months…a ReFocus Team (let me know if you’d like to be a part of that team).

CONCL—

The time frame for the instigation of the rebuilding the wall plan = FOUR MONTHS…our preparation will take a few months, too (surveys of ourselves and of our community, etc.).

The work will take time as well…and the renewed life of our church, will be an amazing, joy-filled continual work of eternal vigilance...

Nehemiah 2:6 CSB

The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.