Towers, Walls, and Prayers

Nehemiah 1:1–11 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. 3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Prayer

Introduction

Where were you when the world stopped turnin' That September day? Were you in the yard with your wife and children Or workin' on some stage in L.A.? Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke Risin' against that blue sky? Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones Pray for the ones who don't know? Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble And sob for the ones left below? Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue And the heroes who died just doin' what they do? Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer And look at yourself and what really matters?

Where were you when the world stopped turnin' That September day? Teachin' a class full of innocent children Or drivin' down some cold interstate? Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor? In a crowded room did you feel alone? Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her? Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened Close your eyes and not go to sleep? Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages And speak to some stranger on the street? Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow Go out and buy you a gun? Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin' And turn on I Love Lucy reruns? Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers Stand in line to give your own blood? Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family Thank God you had somebody to love?

Nehemiah was in that same headspace at the news of the Jerusalem wall being in shambles.

History Lesson

King David

King Solomon

Northern Kingdom

Southern Kingdom

Assyrians

Babylonians

Medo-Persians

Cyrus - Decree to rebuild temple

Ezra

Wall still in ruins

What does Nehemiah do?

Four Things:

Wept

Mourned

Fasted

Prayed

When was the last time you wept, mourned, fasted and earnestly prayed for your country?

Four Important Things to Notice About Nehemiah’s prayer.

I. Nehemiah’s prayer was GOD CENTERED!

Nehemiah 1:5 (NKJV)

5 … “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God,

Matthew 6:9 NKJV

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

32 times Nehemiah refers to God and His commands, desires, covenants, servants, nation, and desires!!!

Only 6 times does Nehemiah use the word “I”.

How many times do you pray with a 5:1 ratio of God:self?

II. Nehemiah prayed with a REPENTANT HEART.

Nehemiah 1:6 NKJV

6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.

Matthew 6:12 NKJV

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Proverbs 28:13 NKJV

13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 4:17 NKJV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 5:32 NKJV

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 17:3–4 NKJV

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Revelation 3:19 NKJV

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

On 9/11, did you fall to your knees and repent for the sins of this country?

Your family?

Yourself?

Do you now, on a regular basis repent for this sins of our nation?

III. Nehemiah teaches is to be PERSISTENT IN PRAYER!

Nehemiah 1:4 (NKJV)

4 … sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Actually 4 months

Nehemiah 2:1 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.

Didn’t just pray for days, he prayed for MONTHS!!!

Throughout the Bible

Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham boldly pleaded with God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if even a small number of righteous people could be found within them (Genesis 18:22-33). He negotiated with God, demonstrating the power of intercessory prayer and the importance of standing up for what is just.

Jacob’s wrestling with God

In a desperate struggle, Jacob wrestled with God throughout the night, refusing to let go until he received a blessing (Genesis 32:22-32).

Hannah’s prayer for a child

Hannah endured years of barrenness but persisted in prayer, pouring out her heart’s desire for a child before the Lord (1 Samuel 1:9-20). Her unwavering faith led to the birth of Samuel, who became a great prophet and leader in Israel.

Elijah’s prayer for rain

During a severe drought, Elijah fervently prayed for rain, persisting in his supplication even when there was no immediate sign of relief (1 Kings 18:41-46).

Hezekiah’s prayer for healing

When faced with a terminal illness, King Hezekiah turned to God in prayer, pleading for healing and deliverance from death (2 Kings 20:1-11). His earnest supplication moved the heart of God, who granted him an additional fifteen years of life as a sign of His mercy and faithfulness to those who trust in Him.

Daniel’s prayer for Israel’s restoration

Amidst the exile of the Israelites, Daniel prayed earnestly for the restoration of his people and their return to their homeland (Daniel 9:1-19). He confessed the sins of his nation and sought God’s forgiveness and favor, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the well-being of his people and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

The parable of the persistent widow

Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who continually sought justice from an unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). Despite facing repeated rejection, she persisted in her plea until the judge finally granted her request.

The church’s prayer for Peter

When Peter was imprisoned by King Herod, the early church gathered together in fervent prayer for his release (Acts 12:5-17). Despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds, they persisted in their supplications, and God miraculously intervened, freeing Peter from captivity.

PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER IS POWERFUL!!!

How often have you prayed for hours, days, weeks, months or even years?

Luke 18:1 (NKJV)

1 … men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

James 5:16 NKJV

16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

17 pray without ceasing,

IV. Nehemiah reminded us that GOD HONORS HIS COVENANT PROMISES!!!

Nehemiah 1:8–9 NKJV

8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’

3000 promises of God in Holy Scripture.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Deuteronomy 30:1–6 NKJV

1 “Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, 2 and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. 5 Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Referring to the New Covenant in Jesus Christ!

Jeremiah 31:31–34 NKJV

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Jesus confirms the New Covenant in his blood.

Matthew 26:27–28 NKJV

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS ALL GOD’S PROMISES ARE FULFILLED.

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS ALL SINS ARE FORGIVEN.

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WE ARE WASHED AS CLEAN AS SNOW WITH THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WE ARE RECONCILED TO A HOLY AND MIGHTY AND AWESOME GOD.

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WE HAVE NEW LIFE.

Invitation

Prayer