Orientating Your Life to Faithfulness in Christ, not Success or Failure Nehemiah 13:14,22,29,31 2 Timothy 4:7-8,18

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Key Truth: Don’t orientate life to success/failure but to Christ in prayer.

A. Don’t Pray Add-on Prayers, but ‘whole-life’ prayers

John 15:4 ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

John 15:4–5 ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

B. Don’t Pray to a fairy-tale God, but to our Intimate & Personal God

Nehemiah 13:14b ESV

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

Nehemiah 13:22 ESV

Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

Nehemiah 13:29 ESV

Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

C. Pray about Your Faithful Service to God

Nehemiah 13:14 ESV

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

D. Pray about our service because a day of accountability is coming!

Nehemiah 13:29 ESV

Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Nehemiah 13:22b ESV

Daniel 7:10 ESV

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Malachi 3:16 ESV

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.

Malachi 3:11 ESV

I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

Revelation 20:12 ESV

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

E. Our Lives & Prayers must be undergirded with Sovereign Grace!

Nehemiah 13:22b ESV

HESED

Nehemiah 13:31 ESV

and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.