An Answer To Prayer

Introduction

Last week began a new series on the book of Nehemiah and his task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

Our goal over the next several weeks is to discover the principles that Nehemiah used to rebuild the walls that we can apply to our church as we move forward during and after the pandemic.

We want to discover how we can “rebuild our church’s walls” or our identity in the community.

How can we rebuild our walls so the community can recognize us as God’s presence in our area?

In chapter 1, we that Nehemiah in the midst of his responsibilities as a royal official - the cupbearer- made time to study the Bible and pray.

He wanted to beseech God to show mercy to His people and rather grumbling about the report of the condition the city was in, he fasted and prayed.

He asked God for success in rebuilding the walls and he reminded God of His covenant with Israel.

He confessed the his and the nation’s sins before God and for forgiveness and restoration.

This morning, I want us to look at the answer to Nehemiah’s prayer.

We see that he has also planned for what he an do and is ready to into action when he gets the opportunity.

In verse 1:4, it says that he wept, fasted and prayed for a number of days.

In fact, it was four months or so from the time of hearing the report and getting a reality check and when he has an opportunity to put his plan into action.

God Uses the King To Answer The Prayer 2:1-8

Read Nehemiah 2:1-8

One thing we notice in these verses is that when one acts according to God’s will, others will take notice.

In this case Nehemiah was risking his life appearing before the king with a sadness of heart.

When we as a church follow God’s will it may involve taking risks to be obedient

We may have to move out of our comfort zone, or take a step of faith, in other words do something that will stretch our faith and trust in God knowing that He is faithful to see through it.

Now remember, Nehemiah has been praying for four months or so, and from the way things play out in chapter 2 we will see that he has also been making preparations.

Look at verses 1 and 2

Nehemiah is afraid because these kings are absolute dictators and he is in a precarious position, so he quickly affirms his loyalty for the king in the first words of verse 3, then goes on to state his reason for sadness in the rest of the verse:

The exclamation “May the king live forever!” is not a throwaway line.

Nehemiah is asserting his desire for the king to live, and then he gives a valid reason for his sadness.

These words assure the king that Nehemiah is not sad because he is hiding some plot against the king, and they give the true reason for his sadness, prompting the king to ask what Nehemiah desires in verse 4: “Then the king asked me, ‘What is your request?’”

Evidently something in Nehemiah’s words or manner has communicated that Nehemiah would like to do something about his city, and the king has apparently picked up on it.

The situation is unfolding quickly, but not too quickly for Nehemiah’s instincts to kick into gear—look at what he does next: “So I prayed to the God of heaven.”

Again we see the importance of prayer to Nehemiah, and for us.

You see that he prayed

Quick prayers are possible and valid if one has prayed sufficiently beforehand.

In this case Nehemiah’s prayer is evidence of a life lived in constant communion with God.

Nehemiah had prayed for months, but he knew he was completely dependent on God’s work in the king’s heart at this moment.

It has been said that Nehemiah “walked with God because he talked with God.”

That gave him courage to state his request to the king.

Nehemiah is not flying by the seat of his pants, making this up as he goes along, look at verse 7-8

Here Nehemiah can give the king an amount of time that the journey and rebuilding will take (v. 6);

He knows exactly what kind of authorization he needs west of the Euphrates (v. 7);

He knows exactly what materials he will need for temple, wall, city, and his own dwelling (v. 8).

From these facts it appears that Nehemiah has been praying and planning.

Nehemiah has been asking the Lord to “have compassion on him in the presence of this man” (1:11), and so when the opportunity arises before Artaxerxes he is prepared to make his requests and unfold his plan.

Planning is a good thing and doesn’t usurp the movement of God in accomplishing His will for us or our church.

“Prayer is where planning starts.”

Nehemiah modeled good leadership; he prayed, planned, and acted in dependence on God and submission to his guidance

. Neither is research contrary to dependence on God.

Nehemiah knew who the officials were with whom he would have to deal, so he requested the credentials he would need as the project progressed.

But note, it was not Nehemiah doing this on his own, it was God working through Nehemiah and his plans.

Nehemiah Arrives On The Scene 2:9-20

After his request is granted by the King, we discover that not everyone is on the Lord’s side.

Look at verses 9-10

Knowing that Zerubabbel had problems with the Samaritans, Nehemiah planned for opposition and asked for letters to those that would oppose him from the king.

He was given an escort, that carried power behind it as well.

We are not told whether Sanballat and Tobiah were the officials to whom the king’s letters were delivered, but after the letters are delivered in verse 9 they hear of it in verse 10.

They are opposed to God’s people, and they do not respond favorably to those who seek God’s will for God’s people.

Nehemiah’s awareness of this reality probably informs his acceptance of the escort provided by the king in verse 9, and it probably also informs his caution in verses 11-16:

Now, once again we see Nehemiah preparing himself for the task at hand.

He goes on this night ride, this secret reconnaissance, and he keeps to himself what God put into his heart to do for Jerusalem.

That phrase in verse 12 about God giving him these ideas sheds light on the relationship between Nehemiah’s prayers and his plans.

Nehemiah understood God’s will, and here he indicates that he is doing what the Lord has led him to do.

Nehemiah’s statement in verse 16 about the people “who would be doing the work” shows that he does not expect to accomplish this great task alone.

Nehemiah knows that he needs the people of God to accomplish the will of God.

So having studied the Bible, prayed, and acted, now Nehemiah will summon others to join him in pursuing God’s kingdom.

Now look at verses 17-20

Nehemiah calls his kinsmen to the task because he knows it’s not a one man job, but many are needed.

He begins with the sorry state of God’s kingdom on earth, this is another reality check for him and the people.

You see God’s name is at stake in Jerusalem!

And Jerusalem was in rubble.

For those who love God’s name, this is intolerable.

He was compelled to act and he calls others to join him.

When was the last time you looked at our church?

Is our church a disgrace to God’s name?

Not talking just about the building, though that is part of our reality.

What needs to be rebuilt here so God will be praised.

To make it more personal, today, God’s name is no longer at stake in a city with walls and gates.

God’s name is now at stake in the lives of His people, who are the new temple of the Holy Spirit.

What walls and gates need work in your life and the life of our church?

Maybe you recognize that just as Jerusalem lay in ruins with gates burned in Nehemiah’s day, so your life is in ruins today.

Your gates are burned down, and you are helpless to put out the flames destroying you.

The message you need to hear is that there is a greater leader than Nehemiah who can deliver you from all the danger facing you.

There is One who is more zealous for God’s name to be hallowed, for God’s kingdom to come, and for God’s will to be done.

That zeal led Jesus to give His life so that all who trust Him will be saved.

Hear the good news that God has worked salvation in Christ, and this day trust in Jesus in order to be saved from God’s wrath over your sin.

Consider the derision God’s enemies heap on the broken-down walls and fire-burned gates of the lives of God’s people today the church

Do they know we’re Christians by our love?

Do they see the gospel in our marriages?

Do they marvel at the behavior of our children?

Do they see in us the love than which there is none greater, our being willing to lay down our lives for our friends?

Do they see our church bringing hope in hopeless situations?

Do they turn to us when they have needs that can’t be met by the government, self-help books and gurus, or Hollywood?

We need to here the words of Nehemiah, “Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace!”

I love there response in verse 18

The people who adore God’s name, who want to see His kingdom come and His will be done, on earth as in heaven, respond to Nehemiah’s call,

“Let us rise up and build” So they strengthened theirs hands for the good work.

What About the Opposition?

When they rise up to build, and we’ll face it too, there will be opposition, on the order of what we see in verse 19:

Look at the opposition’s argument of what they say here.

They insinuate that pursuing the kingdom of God could be perceived as rebellion against the reigning power on earth.

For a long time Christians in the United States have lived in a culture that, at least on the surface, valued Christianity.

More and more, however, we are living in a culture that will interpret faithfulness to God and Christ as rebellion against the governing authorities.

Nehemiah answers boldly in verse 20, I gave them this reply, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

When Nehemiah says that God will “grant us success,” he uses that word from Psalm 1:3 and Joshua 1:8 that speaks of the one who meditates day and night on Torah prospering.

These words also show what Nehemiah fears.

He does not fear the king, and he does not fear these nasty insinuations.

Nehemiah fears God.

Nehemiah’s character has been made strong by the study of the Bible.

He is confident as he calls on God to do what He has promised.

And Nehemiah’s boldness and the blessing of answered prayer he has experienced make him a powerful leader for God’s people.

So You Hear The Call?

Let us study our Bibles, pray for God to do what He has promised to do in the Bible, and ask for guidance as to how we can be used of the Lord in answer to our prayers. Pray and act!

As we hear God’s call to us to move forward as a church, the question is “Are you join Him in the process?”

Don’t be afraid of moving out of your comfort zone.

Or facing opposition from the outside.

Nehemiah faced many problems and much opposition, but his sense of divine direction would give him confidence.

Our church is in the process of rebuilding the temple, renewing the people, and resetting the walls and we need to pray for God’s guidance and using His guidance plan for what we need to do next.

Will you join me in studying your bible, praying to God to guide and bless us with success?

Then we act!

Pray