Nehemiah Part 1/Priority of Prayer
Penned Truth #1: We, as the Church, have the seeds of renewal in us; it’s called Truth.
Ronald Reagan- The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America – our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal.
Penned Truth #2: Unless we water-care for, and cultivate, the seeds through the big 3, we will not rebuild our crumbling walls.
Nehemiah 1:1–4 (ESV) 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” 4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Andy Stanley- When Nehemiah’s heart was broken, he paid attention to his broken heart.
Question One- What does your heart break for today?
Question Two- When was the last time you were stopped in your tracks-about America’s condition?
Penned Truth #3: Change happens when people are authentically broken and dive into the Big 3.
Nehemiah 1:5–11 (ESV) 5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the Prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the Prayer of your servant, and to the Prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Repentance | Dictionary of Bible Themes: A change of mind leading to a change of action. It involves a sincere turning from sin to serve God. At points, Scripture refers to God changing his plan or intention, in response to human repentance.
Luke 5:31–32 (ESV) 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Mark 1:14–15 (ESV) 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
Jeremiah 25:4–6 (ESV) 4 You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, 5 saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. 6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them,
Luke 24:45–47 (ESV) 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 18:30–31 (ESV) 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
Penned Truth #4: Genuine repentance produces a change in the way we live, even in the way we think.
Final Statement: Nehemiah prayed for himself and his nation and even confessed the sins of the forefathers who had brought destruction to Jerusalem. He said he prayed night and day. The burden for his city was obvious. He was a desperate man seeking the Lord. How desperate must the situation become before we get serious about praying for our nation?
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