Rebuilding the Place of
Prayer
What Prayer Should Look Like
Nehemiah 1:5-11
January 14, 2018 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
Rebuilding the Place of
Prayer
What Prayer Should Look Like
Nehemiah 1:5-11
January 14, 2018 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland |
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I.
Introduction (1Kings 18:30,31,36,37,38)
A.
Most of a person’s life, if we would be very honest, is broken – in
rubble, in pieces
B.
Especially most every person’s prayer life
C.
Nehemiah’s homeland was in such a condition – ruined, covered with
rubble
D.
When he had the burden to get on a horse, and quickly ride to Jerusalem
and start rebuilding the ruined walls and streets and buildings, he knew
he needed first to pray
E.
And he needed to pray like everything depended upon it!
1.
Prayer not complicated (don’t need prayer beads, yamaka hats, candles,
or special rugs…
2.
But it IS serious business
F.
False, empty, aimless, repetitious praying does nothing
G.
But righteous, fervent, passionate, promise-based praying, accomplishes
much!
II.
Review from Last Week
A.
The book of Nehemiah begins with
“great affliction” (Neh. 1:3) in the lives of the people in a far
away city called Jerusalem, and the great affliction in the heart of
Nehemiah at such news
B.
But before this Book finishes,
there is great joy (8:12, 17). Our tears, and burdens and sorrows
are often for a greater purpose that we could evert imagine.
C.
I hope you start to see that…
1.
These are not just books that record the rebuilding
of ruined walls…
2.
But are God’s
instructions on how to rebuild and restore ruined lives!
D.
We are getting a small
glimpse into how God was preparing a man named Nehemiah for an
impossibly large task!
1.
God prepared Nehemiah by tapping into his heart and pulling him to do
something great
2.
By waking him up to the straight-up reality of what was going on back in
Jerusalem – SOME VERY BAD NEWS!
a.
The Remnant - Instead of a land inhabited by a thriving nation, only a
remnant of people lived there
b.
In Affliction - they were in great affliction (were being hurt by
outside enemies) and struggling just to survive in the midst of all the
rubble and ruins of the city
c.
And Reproach - Instead of a magnificent city, Jerusalem was STILL in
ruins, and where there had once been great glory, there was now nothing
but great embarrassment and shame.
E.
What’s The Right Response to Bad News? (1:4)
1.
Stop everything
a.
He STOPPED everything and just collapsed onto the ground
b.
It was like a kick in the stomach. Tried to take it all in. Didn’t just
brush it off, or change the channel or just try and ignore what was
happening over in Jerusalem. He let it sink in deep (Cf Luke 9:44)
2.
And then WEPT
– not just cried, but wept (bewail, moan, lament, be completely broken
in defeat).
3.
He MOURNED!
Was expressing his deep feelings
of sorrow for the people in Jerusalem. It is a good attitude to have
sometimes. Jesus said, “blessed
are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted”
4.
Nehemiah spent several days
FASTING, weeping, and praying.
5.
And Then turned to God and prayed
– sought God’s help
(1:5-11)
a.
Most of a person’s life is lived with very little need for God –
which is why there is so little stability at the grass roots anymore.
Everything is taken cared-of by the government. And people are addicted
to entertainment, and not prayer!
b.
Nehemiah had nothing better or more pressing or more important to do,
than pray
c.
Here is a great truth…
1)
Nehemiah was destined to succeed not because of his position as Cup
Bearer, or because of his money that he probably had amassed, or the
authority he held as the king’s counsellor, or his popularity amongst
all the court…
2)
But only because he totally depended upon God in prayer!
III.
What Does Prayer Look Like? (1:5-11)
A.
It Looks Like What a Beggar Looks Like
1.
How Christians normally pray…
a.
Way too posh!
There is way too much formality in our praying – trying to work out all
the right words, said the right way. No words straight from the heart!
b.
Way too timid
1)
We talk almost non-stop with just about anyone we meet
2)
But completely claim up when we think of praying!!! “…
uh, I don’t know what to say…”
c.
Way too little
– very rarely – probably fewer than once or twice a week
d.
And way too brief
– less than 5 minutes a day! Shame on all of us!
e.
People today don’t really HAVE to pray – not really desperate
2.
Nehemiah here, looked and sounded just like a beggar
a.
Do you know what happens when you are desperate? You do just about
anything, and you do not care what you look like
b.
No longer looked like an important king’s counsellor
c.
But like a desperate beggar, on his knees
d.
He was weeping, mourning
e.
He had stopped eating
f.
Because he was ready to beg God for His help – not just ask, but
pull God to His need! “I
beseech thee O LORD…” = “I beg of you O LORD…”
g.
Nehemiah looked like quite a desperate beggar – because he was desperate
3.
Nehemiah was used to praying this way
a.
As a matter of fact, this was not a once off event. He prays throughout
the Book – records 12 times he prays (2:4; 4:4, 9; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 9:5ff;
13:14, 22, 29, 31)
b.
Evidently, PRAYING was quite normal for him
c.
In the midst of his incredibly busy life, and against all obstacles, he
made time to pray – just as did Daniel, every day, and in the face of
every disaster and trouble!
d.
There never was anything great accomplished in History without prayer
1)
No great revivals
2)
No bringing wayward sons and daughters home
3)
No freeing of slaves
4)
No protection of the vulnerable, weak, or even the unborn
5)
Prayer has brought down wicked empires, and raised up the freest of
nations!
6)
That is what real, fervent, righteous, begging prayer has done!
4.
Are you willing and ready to start BEGGING the God of heaven to help you
do the impossible, and see the impossible done? THAT is what real
praying will look like!
B.
Prayer Sounds Like Worship
1.
Just listen to what Nehemiah is saying when he prayed!
2.
Not constant complaining! Whinging about all our troubles… But worship
a.
Worship has GOT to be part of our prayers!
b.
Yes, there may be many tears, and weeping while praying, but there is
ALWAYS worship going on when you are really praying!
3.
What kind of a God are WE
talking to when we close our eyes and pray?
4.
Nehemiah knows who he is addressing –
a.
Not directed “to whoever is out there” like on a radio - Not to an
unknown “force”
b.
To the ONLY God of heaven – the God who created all that
there is – and that is a LOT! (Ps 73:25; Isa 45:5,6)
1)
Psa 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but thee [O Lord]? and there is none upon earth
that I desire beside thee.
2)
Isa 45:5,6 I am the LORD, and
there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though
thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun,
and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and
there is none else.
c.
The great God – means ‘immense, boundless, unlimited,
wonderful, amazing’ Not a tiny god, or a man-made kind of god, but the
GREAT God of HEAVEN!
1)
Think about it
2)
Nehemiah would look up at all the stars, the sun and the moon, and see
comets and plants race across the sky
3)
And he would think, I am talking to the God who made all that up there!
4)
Wow!
5)
If you are experiencing great affliction (v. 3) and are about to begin
an impossible task (4:19; 6:3), then you will need the great power,
great goodness, and great mercy of our great God!
d.
The terrifying God
(1:5)
1)
Modern versions of the Bible just call God ‘the awesome God’, but shy
away from the next word, terrible…
2)
But ‘terrible’ is the old word for ‘terrifying’ – fearful, scary. He is
not some “old Man upstairs” that you can just ignore and brush off as a
nobody!
3)
And if He really is the only God, and the infinite, almighty, all
powerful, all righteous God that He is, then He is terrifying to come
before!
e.
The promise keeping God (1:5; Deut 7:9)
1)
Deut 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD thy
God, he is God, the faithful God, which
keepeth covenant and mercy
with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand
generations.
2)
That is who God is
a)
Is anyone glad God keeps ALL His promises that He makes – covenants?
b)
He cannot break any of them – hallelujah!
3)
The city of Jerusalem was in ruins, and the nation was broken all
because the people had sinned against God for hundreds of years.
4)
Yet, the Lord had made a covenant with His people Israel…
a)
WARNING that He WOULD chasten and even destroy their homes them if they
disobeyed His laws and His commands (Lev. 26; Deut. 27—30).
b)
But also PROMISING to bless and protect them if they obeyed His Word
5)
We will look at His promises in a moment
f.
The merciful God - The best part
1)
It means, God has kindness, forgiveness, grace for people who don’t
deserve it
2)
Don’t take God’s
mercy for granted – it is available to everyone, but it is not
unconditional
3)
God’s mercy is available to three kinds of people
a)
To those who seek His mercy – who need MERCY instead of only needing
money, or a job, or a girlfriend, or happiness
b)
To those that love Him – not use Him, but love God!
c)
And to anyone who decides to do whatever HE says do – His commandments –
mercy is so available to anyone who wants to obey Him
4)
Those kind of people are NOT perfect people, but SINNERS! God’s mercy is
available to SINNERS who WANT to be forgiven, and WANT to live right –
not for people who think they do not need forgiveness! (Mt 9:10-13)
5)
Hey! There is NO
mercy for anyone who does not care about God’s holiness, or His
righteousness or His commandments
6)
But there is
INFINITE mercy, and forgiveness and second chances for anyone and ANY
NATION who will just repent and depend totally on the Lord Jesus
C.
Prayer is a Lot of Confessing to God (1:6-9)
1.
Nehemiah desperately needs God to hear his request for help
a.
He has humbled himself to the place of a BEGGAR
b.
He has focused his heart and mind on worshipping God
c.
But he knows he is not finished!
2.
MOST of the rest of Nehemiah’s prayer was devoted to confession of sin.
Why?
a.
Because something BIG was between the people and their God!
b.
And it has caused God to go very quiet for a long time
c.
Our sin interrupts and blocks God’s work in our lives
1)
Isa 59:1,2
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that
he will not hear.
2)
Mic 3:4
Then shall they cry unto the LORD,
but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that
time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
d.
The way we live, and the way we treat God affects His closeness to us
1)
Hey! Do people’s rudeness towards you turn YOU off? I bet it does! Well,
OUR sins and thoughts and attitudes turn GOD off too!
2)
Our unbelief / independence from God, quiets God’s voice and stops Him
for doing much in our lives and homes (Mt 13:58)
3)
Our attitudes, words, actions push God away (Psalm 78:41)
a)
Having ANYTHING in our lives more important than God – idols
b)
Sexual perversions everywhere – on almost every street corner
c)
Actually worshipped sex itself – sounds like TODAY
d)
Worshipped the goddesses of sex – dozens of them
e)
Abandoned God’s culture and rules for life
4)
They provoked God, pushed God to the point where He had to chasten them
(Ps 78:19-22) – SAME IS TRUE WITH US!
e.
Don’t get all upset at God for not answering your prayers. There is
always a very good reason why He has gone quiet and is not answering you
3.
So before Nehemiah can head off to clear away all the rubble in
Jerusalem, he clears away all the sin in his heart – he attempts to
clear away anything that might hinder rebuilding their closeness to
their Lord!
4.
How do we clear away sin in us?
a.
By including YOURSELF as part of the problem
1)
Nehemiah said over and over "we” and not "they,” identifying himself
with the sins of a generation he didn’t even know.
2)
It would have been easy to look back and blame his ancestors for the
reproach of Jerusalem, but Nehemiah looked within and blamed himself!
3)
"We have sinned! We have dealt very corruptly!”
4)
What is happening TODAY here in Ireland, our forefathers have had their
part in, but we too carry
much of the blame…
5)
And BOY do we need to own up to the sins that are rampant today!
b.
By humbling yourself, and being “a servant of God”
1)
Nehemiah was NOT just a servant of king Artaxerxes
2)
He was God’s servant most of all!
3)
So don’t ever be a slave of your friends, your teacher, or employer, or
wife or husband, or banker, or tax collector – or of the internet, or
any other sinner!
4)
Do all that you do for JESUS alone! Serve Him and Him alone! (Col 3:23,
“And whatsoever ye do, do it
heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”)
c.
By AGREEING with God’s judgments against you and your nation
1)
There was no argument with God, no excuses made
2)
Just surrendered to God being in the right
3)
Far too much arguing with the God of heaven folks!
4)
It’s just plain simple – HE IS RIGHT in all He does!
d.
By ACCEPTING your troubles as right
1)
Nehemiah did not think what had happened to them was wrong
a)
That their homeland and their nation and their people were living
defeated and ruined was THEIR fault, not God’s
b)
He saw all their time in captivity and slavery as just and right - from
the very hand of God - God was right to chasten them
2)
What are you STILL arguing with God about in your life that you think is
very unfair and wrong and that He should not be allowing to happen to
you?
3)
Step down and say, YOU ARE MY GOD! And you know best! I trust YOU!
4)
It is called OWNING UP, taking responsibility for your actions, for your
stubbornness, your pride, your hard heart, your arrogance! And even your
NEGLECT of doing RIGHT THINGS
a)
They didn’t seek God’s will
b)
They neglected widows and orphans and the poor
c)
Were not honest to one another
d)
Did not love their neighbours
e)
Didn’t care about praying and depending on God – looked to idols
e.
And then by believing God can
forgive and save and rebuild every broken thing!
5.
How do we know that God forgives our sins when we repent and confess to
Him?
a.
Because He has so promised in His Word (1John 1:9)
b.
Remember Deut 7:9? “Know therefore
that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God…”
D.
Remembering
(1:8) – THIS is the Believing Part!
1.
He tells God to “Try and Remember
Lord what you have promised us!”
2.
That’s funny!
a.
Nehemiah says this over and over (Neh. 1:8; 4:14; 5:19; 6:14; 13:14, 22,
29, 31).
b.
It’s as if Nehemiah feels like he needs to remind God about the other
half of the Scriptures that invite those who have sinned, to repent and
return!
c.
God does not need
to be reminded
d.
But He doesn’t mind
being reminded if it shows that WE are remembering!!!
3.
In reality, it is US who need to be constantly reminded of the open door
back to God, of the goodness of God, of the promises of God!
a.
I am so thankful that we still have Christmas, and Easter in our
calendars
b.
I am glad Sunday is still CHURCH day
c.
I am glad for RAINBOWS – the real ones, not the queer ones!
d.
They force people to remember
that there is a GOD who intervenes in our lives
4.
Nehemiah is reminding himself of God’s great invitation to sinful people
a.
That the God who promised chastening… also promised forgiveness if His
people would repent and turn back to Him (Deut. 30; 1 Kings 8:31-53).
b.
If ye set out to do things like God wants you to – by His commandments
c.
Then, no matter how far away you have gotten, God will bring you all the
way back to where you should be!
d.
THESE are the promises that Nehemiah was claiming as he prayed for
himself and the entire nation.
e.
God’s eyes are upon His people and His ears are open to their prayers
when they seek to clear away all the prideful sin in their hearts! (1
Kings 8:29; 2 Chron. 7:14).
5.
Nehemiah is clinging to God’s promise that he would restore Jerusalem
a.
Even though in rubble and ruin
b.
Even though almost no one lived there
c.
God had redeemed / FREED His people from Egypt so long ago by His great
power (Ex. 14:13-31)
d.
Nehemiah decided to trust that God would help him rebuild Jerusalem NOW!
e.
Nehemiah felt like he needed to remind God to keep His promise (Dt
30:1-5) – which ended up reminding Nehemiah that God ALWAYS keeps His
promises!
E.
Applying that kind of Prayer to
YOUR Situation
(1:10,11)
1.
Brief and to the point – usually, this is where we spend the most time –
not Nehemiah
2.
He had the authority now, to JUST ASK! John 15:7 “If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
and it shall be done unto you.”
3.
What was Nehemiah’s Impossible Prayer List?
a.
Please hear me - hear our request; see our need – in spite of all our
sin!
b.
We need YOU to do the impossible for us – we have no one else to turn to
c.
“I” need you to “Prosper me”
1)
Not make me prosperous, or RICH – what a wicked, selfish, carnal
generation who only think prosperity means HEALTH and WEALTH!
2)
But make me successful in my effort to do something for Jerusalem
3)
Strengthen me – enable me as I attempt this great task!
d.
I need you to help me convince the king to:
1)
Let me go from my job. Nehemiah couldn’t simply quit his job and move to
Jerusalem. He was an appointee of the king, and he needed the king’s
permission for everything he did.
2)
Give me authority in Judah – he could not go just on his own – needed
AUTHORITY from his authority!
3)
Provide all that we will need to rebuild our city – it will cost a lot!
a)
Nehemiah needed the king’s provision and protection so he could travel
to Jerusalem and remain away from his post until the work was completed.
Without official authority to govern, an official guard for the journey,
and the right to use materials from the king’s forest, the entire
project was destined to fail.
b)
Emperors have usually been absolute despots, and it is not easy to
approach them or convince them to do what YOU may want. But Proverbs
21:1 says, “The king's heart is in
the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it
whithersoever he will.”
e.
Nehemiah didn’t need to beat himself, or cut himself, or repeat himself
over and over saying the Lord’s Prayer… All he needed to do was just ask
in prayer!
4.
I will give you ONE guess whether God is going to answer that prayer!
5.
That is what chapter 2 is all about
IV.Conclusion
A.
The book of Nehemiah opens and closes with… PRAYER.
1.
Nehemiah was a man who depended completely on the Lord to help him
accomplish the work He had called him to do. No matter how small or
great!
2.
Nehemiah knew that he was too weak to rebuild Jerusalem, but he had
faith that God would work on his behalf.
3.
He knew Philippians 4:13 “I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
B.
Nehemiah believed in the power of prayer. He truly believed that God
does “exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”
(Eph. 3:20).
1.
His prayer begins with brokenness – sadness, weeping, defeat
2.
Drives Nehemiah to approach God AS A BEGGAR who reaches out to a
passer-by
3.
Then begins to praise and worship of God
out of great love and respect for
God
4.
And then to self examination and confessing of any known sins
5.
And then remembering all the good promises of God
6.
And THEN went boldly before God’s throne and asked the impossible!
C.
Hey, that still works
1.
If you and I will…
a.
Come to God like a Beggar – any other way and you will fail
b.
Worship God as Good
c.
Spend a lot of time doing inventory and Confessing to God where YOU are
wrong
d.
And then Remember ALL the promises of God
2.
THEN we can start making our requests of God for the impossible!
D.
Nehemiah sat down and wept, knelt down and prayed, and then he stood up
and worked – why? Because he knew he had come to God the right way.
V.
Questions For Personal Reflection
A.
What do you feel passionately about?
B.
What troubles are you blaming GOD for that you need to own up to
yourself?
C.
What needs to be repaired in your home, heart, life, family, nation?
D.
Do you believe GOD could step in and use someone like YOU to make a
difference?
E.
Will you believe it?
F.
What sins WON’T you deal with? Those will be your undoing! Get them
under the blood of Jesus Christ! |