Confession Without Pretense

GOD'S PRESCRIPTION FOR REVIVAL: Confession Without Pretense

Nehemiah 1:1 – 11

Nehemiah 1:1–11 (NLT)

1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa.

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

5 Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,

6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!

7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.

9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’

10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.

11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

INTRODUCTION:

All great moves of God began with sincere confession by God’s people.

• During the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:1–10)

• During the days of Ezra (Ezra 9:1–10:6)

• During the days of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1, 9)

If we are going to experience real revival, we must involve ourselves in confession that is without pretense.

Note some scriptural principles from our text:

I. BE HONEST: NOT SELF–DECEPTIVE (Nehemiah 1:1–3)

Nehemiah 1:1–3 NLT

1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

A- Do some honest seeking. (Nehemiah 1:1-2)

Nehemiah 1:1–2 (NLT)

1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa.

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.

1- Ask some probing questions.

a. What is our true condition as a people of God?

b. Is everything really as it ought to be?

c. What exactly is the condition of my spiritual life?

B- Do not be afraid to face the facts. (Nehemiah 1:2 – 3)

Nehemiah 1:2–3 (NLT)

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

1- The only way to find healing is to face the problems head–on.

a. We must face the reality of the consequences of our sins.

1) Have I become complacent?

2) Has my love for Jesus grown cold?

3) Has sin affected my testimony for Jesus?

4) Has corporate sin damaged our church’s testimony and weakened its effectiveness?

5) What other negative consequences have resulted from personal or corporate sin?

II. BE HEART – BROKEN OVER THE REALITY (Nehemiah 1:4)

Nehemiah 1:4 (NLT)

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

A- Meditate upon the ramifications of the reality.

1- Who – all is affected?

a. Family

b. Friends

c. Fellowship members

d. Neighbors

2- What will be the results in their lives?

a. Reject Christ?

b. Rebel against God?

c. Refuse to sell-out to God?

Illustration:

The Rich Man’s life affected his brothers (Luke 16:19-31)

3- Where will the reality lead us collectively?

a. As families?

b. As a church?

1) Note Jesus’ warning to the Ephesian Church (Revelation 2:5)

Revelation 2:5 (NLT)

5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

B- Mourn about the reality. (Nehemiah 1:4b)

Nehemiah 1:4b (NLT)

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

1- Allow the reality to create a godly grief about what you have been shown.

a. Do not try to push it out of your mind.

(James 4:8-10)

James 4:8–10 (NLT)

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

C- Move to your knees because of the reality. (Nehemiah 1:4c)

Nehemiah 1:4 (NLT)

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

1- Be deadly serious about this time of prayer.

2- Seek the Lord with your whole heart.

a. Like Daniel (Daniel 9:1-20)

III. BESEECH GOD FOR FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING. (Nehemiah 1:5 – 11)

A- Claim the assurance of God’s mercy and cleansing power way. (Nehemiah 1:5)

Nehemiah 1:5 (NLT)

5 Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,

1- Recognize that God alone can make everything right.

B- Confess the wickedness of sin. (Nehemiah 1:6 – 11)

Nehemiah 1:6–11 (NLT)

6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!

7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.

9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’

10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.

11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

Like King David (Psalm 51:1-4)

Psalm 51:1–4 (NLT)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

1- Confess the collective sins of the body of Christ.

2- Confess the collective sins of your own family.

3- Confess your own personal sins.

4- Confess the corruptness of the sins confessed.

5- Claim God’s promise of forgiveness.

CONCLUSION:

Nehemiah’s prayer resulted in God’s intervention.

· Opened the King’s heart

o To the plight of the Jewish people in Jerusalem

o To Nehemiah’s request to lead an expedition to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

o To the King providing the financial backing for the trip and the building project.

· Protection for the journey

· Success of the building project

· Sending revival among the people in Jerusalem.

God can do great things if you and I follow His prescription for Revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This prescription requires that we involve ourselves in “Confession Without Pretense.”