Holy Burden Leads to Prayer (Part 1)

***Series Title Slide***

Today we kick off a new sermon series from the book of Nehemiah. I’ve titled this series Pray, Plan and Persevere. While the overall theme of the book deals with the return of the nation of Israel to the city of Jerusalem, there is a pattern that follows throughout that required Nehemiah and others to meet the challenge by first praying, then planning while praying through the plan and then persevering through the plan with prayer.

Before we get to the book, I want to give you some historical perspective and overview of the book.

The nation of Israel was exiled due to their disobedience of several of God’s commands to them. As a result of the exile, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.

The primary place of exile was Babylon. The Babylonian empire fell around 539 BC and in 538, the first of the exiles returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple. The temple was completed in 516 BC…it would take 20 years to construct.

Another wave of the exiled returned to Jerusalem in 458 BC and settled in the city. This group’s return was mention in the last 4 chapters of Ezra.

In November/December of 445 BC, 13 years later, we pick up the story of Jerusalem here in the book of Nehemiah with a report on the condition of the city.

This book has two major sections, the first 7 chapters tell about the physical rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem and chapters 8-13 talk about the spiritual rebuilding of the city.

All but the final chapter outlines a period of no more than a year. Chapter 13 is set 8 years later when Nehemiah returns to the city and sets them straight on a few areas they were beginning to be disobedient about.

***Sermon Title Slide***

Today’s title is “A Holy Burden Leads to Prayer”. This will be a two part message…today we’ll focus on the Holy Burden and next week, we’ll discuss the prayer that follows.

Turn with me to Nehemiah chapter 1 and we’ll read the entire chapter this morning.

Nehemiah 1 NIV

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

As a cupbearer, Nehemiah was a man who worked very close to the king. This king was Artaxerxes, king of Persia. It’s November/December 445 BC and the remnant who returned to Jerusalem had rebuilt the temple, but had not yet rebuilt the wall.

In fact, a king by the same name, King Artaxerxes, had halted the wall rebuilding in a letter written back to a inquiry about the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem. Let’s read that real quick.

Ezra 4:17–23 NIV

17 The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings. 18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests? 23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.

While this letter definitely preceded the report to Nehemiah, historians argue about which king Artaxerxes (I or II) Nehemiah was the cupbearer for. Regardless, at some point, the king of Persia halted the work on the wall and the people in Jerusalem found themselves in a vulnerable situation without the protection of a wall.

I want to read again the first part of Nehemiah to lay a foundation of what a Holy Burden looks like.

Nehemiah 1:1–4 NIV

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

It is clear to me in what is written here that Nehemiah sensed a deep burden for something that God was clearly in the midst of. I can think of so many conversations I’ve had with people who are searching for that one that they can be certain that God is leading them to do.

I read these words and see that Nehemiah knew without a shadow of doubt that God was leading him in this direction. How can we know? Let me give you a few guidelines to discerning whether God is leading you in a certain direction. We’ll see some of these played out in Nehemiah’s journey as we go through this book, but these guidelines are biblical and can be applied to any leading you have.

1. God does not lead us to sinful action

Is the thing you’re feeling led to doing have a questionable moral outcome? I don’t think God is leading you in that. God’s desire for us is to pursue holiness in our actions, out thoughts and decisions. Hear this from 1 Peter:

1 Peter 1:14–16 NIV

14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

A holy God will never lead you to do an unholy thing. His desire for us to be a holy people, choosing holiness over sin. In Nehemiah’s prayer, Nehemiah recognizes the unholy acts he and the nation of Israel was guilty of. He confesses and repents of that action. This attitude makes way for Nehemiah to truly sense God’s direction and calling.

Again, if the thing you are looking to pursue has a questionable moral, ethical or lawful aspect, you are probably not pursuing the right thing. God does not lead his people on an unholy path.

2. Our heart connected to God will reflect the heart of God

Our emotions can sometime betray us. We feel a certain thing, but our feeling may come from an incomplete picture. With that said, emotions are part of how God created us. Our emotions are part of us. When our emotions are from a picture God provides, we should lean into those.

Last week we read through John 15. Jesus talked about us being connected to him like being connected to a vine. Being connected to the vine causes us to bear fruit. Here is that passage again...

John 15:5–7 NIV

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

What we don’t hear about Nehemiah is the place where his faith was before chapter 1. I think I can infer from the prayer that follows is that Nehemiah was a man whose desire was to honor God in all things.

When we are in right relationship with the Lord, our heart will break for the things that breaks the Lord’s heart. He will bring to our attention things that would otherwise be ignored or overlooked. Nehemiah says that he wept, mourned and fasted for days after hearing the news.

I believe that if God is leading you in something, as you pursue God and ask him, he will direct your heart toward his desires. Not just in a fleeting moment, but persistently and again and again. He will be faithful in leading you. Your job is to stay connected to the Lord with all your heart, mind and strength.

3. Sometimes the path God leads us on will include a no

If you’ve ever followed God’s leading, sometimes he’ll say no along the way, but it is only a slight course correction and not meant as a big no. Listen to this about Paul in his journey:

Acts 16:6–10 NIV

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is giving up when reaching a difficulty in the path. That is the time to double up on prayer and seek the Lord’s answer. Paul never doubted his call to preach the Gospel when he was kept from going to a certain area. He kept going and trusted that the Lord would lead them in the right direction

We’ll see this same thing happen to Nehemiah. In leading the people to rebuild will take changing the plan at times, but opposition doesn’t mean God’s not leading. He may be trying to get you to make a course correction.

4. God will lead us in areas according to our giftedness

Let me read a passage in Romans

Romans 12:3–8 NIV

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

A good question to ask is whether the way in which God is leading is something he has gifted you in. It could even be that God has planted a seed of gifting in you, but you may need some time for that gifting to mature. If you question whether a gifting is there or not, ask people who know you well. Ask them to be honest with you.

Nehemiah, in his role as a cupbearer, didn’t just pour the wine, he was a person of high rank and trust within the royal court. He would have been at the kings side at every meal, likely commanding some of those who would serve the king.

This burden of the city of Jerusalem was something Nehemiah would have heard about in his role as cupbearer. He would have heard the king discussing various strategic decisions while serving. Nehemiah probable even thought of some solutions to the problem, but didn’t really know how HE would even do anything about it.

Lastly...

5. God will often lead in ways bigger than us

If the thing you think God is leading you in is beyond anything you’ve done before, lean into it a little. Nehemiah’s response to this burden was to pray. That is the best way to do something God sized…pray.

Next week, we’ll walk through Nehemiah’s prayer and look at the effective things Nehemiah asked for and spoke to the Lord.

How will you know the heart of God unless you ask? How can you ask unless you have a relationship with him.

***Title Slide***

That’s where I want to end today. Clearly Nehemiah knew God enough to know his promises and his ways. Do you know God today? Do you have a relationship with God through Jesus?

We are all sinners, and our sin is deserving of God’s wrath and punishment. Fortunately for us, God sent Jesus to receive that wrath and punishment on our behalf. We need only to trust in Jesus as Lord.

**Invitation***