The Yearning of Nehemiah
Notes
Transcript
NEHEMIAH 1:3–11
“My prayers,” says Trench, “are the one grace which my foe cannot refuse.”
“I can get at him through the God of Heaven,” said a fond mother, in speaking of her wayward, wandering boy.
Yes, prayer is one of the greatest privileges and one of the mightiest forces with which the soul of man can have to do.
Six Characteristics of Nehemiah’s Yearning Prayer
Six Characteristics of Nehemiah’s Yearning Prayer
Four things to pray for …
P – Perseverance of Paul
R - Reliance of Moses
A - Audacity of “the neighbor”
Y - Yearning of Nehemiah
I. Earnestness Verse 4
I. Earnestness Verse 4
“He wept, mourned, fasted” (v. 4).
This was no formal prayer.
It was the outcome of a soul stirred to its utmost depths.
Those who draw nigh with the lip while the heart is afar off may themselves be satisfied with a prayer which is nothing but a solemn mockery in the sight of God.
As God loveth the cheerful giver, so does He regard the whole-hearted petitioner.
Through prayer Elias shut up the rain of Heaven for three and a half years (Jas. 5:17);
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
Peter was delivered from the prison in answer to prayer (Acts 12:5).
5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
Having been made unto our God a kingdom of priests (Rev. 5:10, R.V.),
10 “And You made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
it is part of our heavenly calling to make intercession for others.
16 ...The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
The Sinking Man’s Cry: Contrast a formal "grace before meals" with the cry of a person who has just fallen overboard into a stormy sea. The person in the water doesn't worry about eloquent vocabulary or proper posture; they cry out with every fiber of their being because their life depends on it. Nehemiah’s prayer wasn't a ritual; it was a rescue signal.
II. Knowledge Verse 5
II. Knowledge Verse 5
It was because Nehemiah knew God that he could pray thus: “I beseech Thee, O Lord God of Heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him” (v. 5).
He believed in God’s greatness, His terribleness, His faithfulness, and His mercifulness.
He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
To know such a God and in such a fashion is to ask much and expect much.
They that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits through the prayer of faith (Dan. 11:32; see 1 Sam. 12:18).
32 “And by smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
18 So Samuel called to Yahweh, and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
“Elders are men mighty in prayer – and men whose prayers are saturated with the truth of Scripture. Prayer is often undervalued in our fast-paced, media- addicted, simplistic culture. And for that reason, it’s perhaps the most vital spiritual discipline for mature leaders to develop.” Robert Thune
The Key and the Lock: Imagine standing before a massive, high-security vault. You can pull on the handle all day, but it won't budge. However, if you have the specific combination, the door swings open effortlessly. Knowing God’s character (His covenant, mercy, and greatness) is like having the "combination" to the throne room. We don't pray in the dark; we pray according to who He has revealed Himself to be.
III. Audacious Verse 6
III. Audacious Verse 6
Again we have the idea of a Shameless Prayer
“Hear the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee now, day and night” (v. 6).
Shamelessness is a vital element in Yearning prayer.
It was because of the widow’s “continual coming” that she gained her request.
5 yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice, lest by continually coming she wears me out.’”
This is the lesson our Lord Himself teaches us and I preached on Last Week from that parable of the man begging loaves from his friend at midnight:
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
Remember, It was while Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed.
We are callled to
17 pray without ceasing;
We are told not to lose heart! (Day and Night)
9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
The Siege of a City: In ancient warfare, a city wasn't usually taken in an hour. It required a siege—a persistent, day-and-night presence that refused to leave until the gates opened. Audacious prayer is a "holy siege" where we refuse to abandon the throne of grace until God answers.
IV. Confession Verses 6-7
IV. Confession Verses 6-7
“Both I and my father’s house have sinned, we have dealt very corruptly against Thee” (vv. 6, 7).
The sin of dealing falsely with God is a very common one, and very grievous.
We pretend to believe His Word, and yet live in fear and doubt; we ask Him for things that we don’t expect, and make a profession of loyalty to His cause, while, in heart, we are more concerned about our own personal interests than His.
How can we expect to prevail with God in prayer if there is no confession made of that deceitfulness which has made our lives so barren in the past.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Spiritual bondage and failure in the Christian life imply that there is sin in the camp, and need for self-scrutiny and confession.
The ultimate confession
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
The Clogged Pipe: A house may be connected to a massive reservoir of pure water, but if the pipes are clogged with debris and rust, only a trickle comes out of the faucet. Sin is the debris in the spiritual pipe. Confession isn't just about feeling guilty; it’s about "clearing the line" so the full flow of God’s power can reach our lives.
V. Faith Verses 8-10
V. Faith Verses 8-10
“Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou commandest, saying, … If ye turn unto Me, and keep My commandments … I will bring them into the place that I have chosen to set My Name there” (vv. 8, 9).
Faith lays hold upon the spoken Word of God.
The prayer that is built up by faith on the promise of God cannot be overthrown.
He is the ultimate and supreme Judge of Humankind
12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you who judge your neighbor?
5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
In turning to the Lord himself, Nehemiah fulfilled the condition of blessing, then he takes the place of the Lord’s remembrancer, saying, “Remember … the Word.”
This is that beautiful child-like confidence which honours God, and is infinitely well pleasing in His sight.
3 “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
God cannot deny Himself when He finds so much of Himself involved in such pleading.
But he goes a step farther, and reminds God of His great work in redeeming His people by His “great power and strong hand” (v. 10).
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The audacity of faith is astounding.
It looks up into the face of God, saying: There is Your word of promise, and there, in redemption, is the evidence of Your mighty love and the strong hand of Your saving grace. Now, therefore, do this thing for me.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
He that cometh to God must believe, and, in so believing, he must be rewarded.
VI. Consecration Verse 11
VI. Consecration Verse 11
“O Lord, be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, who desires to fear Thy Name” (v. 11).
In our prayers we shall often ask amiss, if we are not prepared to yield ourselves unto God, and to live for the glory of His Name (Jas. 4:3).
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
There are three classes of servants:
the slave, who serves through fear;
the hireling, who serves for wages;
the son, who serves for love.
It is the obedient and devoted son who expects and gets the favour and the fullness of the father.
It is those who present themselves a living sacrifice unto God that are able to prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1, 2).
1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Those who would prevail with God to give them the servant’s portion must, first of all, take the servant’s place.
The Signed Blank Check: Many people want to give God a check for a specific amount of their time or money. Consecration is handing God a blank check with your name signed at the bottom and saying, "You fill in the amount and the purpose." Nehemiah didn't just want the walls built; he offered himself to be the one to go and build them.
The Overarching Illustration: "The King’s Architect"
The Overarching Illustration: "The King’s Architect"
Think of Nehemiah as an architect standing before the ruins of a collapsed building.
The Ruin: The walls of Jerusalem represent our lives or communities when they are exposed to the elements of sin and apathy.
The Blueprint: Nehemiah’s prayer wasn't a wish; it was a return to the "Original Blueprint." He looked at the wreckage and refused to accept it as the final design. He brought the problem to the One who drew the plans.
The Work: When Nehemiah prays, he doesn't just ask God to "fix it"; he asks, "What is my role in this?" He recognizes that the prayer is the foundation, but his life is the labor.
Call to Action: From Burden to Brick
Call to Action: From Burden to Brick
You have been led through the anatomy of a yearning prayer. Now, we must move from the posture of petition to the position of service.
"The Nehemiah Challenge"
I challenge you to identify one "broken wall" in your life or community this week.
Perhaps it is a broken relationship, a lack of integrity in your workplace, a spiritual apathy that has settled in your home or the audacious prayer you have for Our Church.
The Wait: Spend time this week, like Nehemiah, in "day and night" earnestness. Don’t rush to fix the wall until you have first knelt before the Builder.
The Confession: Pinpoint the "sin in the camp"—the specific area where you have allowed your own interests to supersede God’s interests. Be honest; He already knows what is hidden.
The "Here Am I": Close your prayer by handing the Architect your life. Don't just say, "Fix it, Lord." Say, "Lord, show me which stone You want me to pick up today." You aren't just praying for a miracle; you are praying for the courage to become the answer to your own prayer.
Adapted from a sermon outline by James Smith and Robert Lee, Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII, five-volume edition, vol. 6 (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), 117–120.
