BUILDING FROM THE KNEES UP
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Remember that old childhood game: "Follow the Leader?"
All kinds of strange antics—imitating whatever the leader does.
One of those antics was crawling on your knees-NOT the best position to get ahead fast
We don't usually think of leading from our knees!
People don't normally get ahead in leadership on their knees.
You usually lead on your feet!
You can fight better on your feet.
You usually get more done while standing!
Among God's people, kneeling is the best position to lead from.
A godly leader doesn't make a move—even to do what he knows is God's will—without spending time talking to God—on his knees!
Next few weeks we’re going to look into NEHEMIAH—for the kids who went to VBS this summer, this will be a good review of what they learned
Usually churches study Nehemiah when starting a building program—that’s because the book deals with building.
However, God has some things to say about what HE’S building that aren’t related to a physical building like this one.
God refers to His church as a building; but not a building of bricks and mortar. WE are His building!
Our church’s theme: “BUILDING a loving foundation to share God’s love with the world!”
Our children’s ministries theme: “BUILDING kids God’s way!”
God has placed His people in the world to BUILD His church!
Therefore, when Nehemiah talks about God’s way of building, we ought to pay attention to HOW HE wants us to build!
That’s what wewant to focus on as we look into Nehemiah.
BACKGROUND
Nehemiah's story begins 13 years after Ezra's return to Jerusalem (458).
People had been back in Jerusalem for 92 years.
The temple had been rebuilt.
The people had experienced revival under Ezra
BUT, The walls had never been rebuilt.
They were defenseless. The people were living outside the city.
The walls of Jerusalem were severely damaged
1:3 [The delegation that came to him] said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
They were discouraged—defeated.
They thought God was through with them! They would never again get back to what they used to be!
Then God brought Nehemiah—a man who trusted God to do things people didn’t think could ever happen.
He trusted the awesome, powerful, faithful God.
So He began to trust Him to do something awesome—to rebuild what the enemy had destroyed!
Report of the condition of the walls motivated Nehemiah to action.
Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king—trusted confidant of the king.
Since they shared the same fate, they shared everything.
When confidant was sad and contemplative, king might wonder why, and suspect something’s going on.
He could have had his head—but he trusted him, because he was a trustworthy servant and friend.
Artaxerxes, who previously authorized Ezra's mission, was willing to permit reconstruction of walls, knowing Nehemiah would be in charge.
The king named him governor and gave him authority to lead physical, as well as political and moral, reconstruction.
PURPOSE AND THEME
Nehemiah’s historical purpose is to describe circumstances related to 3rd return from captivity to Jerusalem in 444 B.C.
• reconstruction of walls which provide security to God’s people
• political and moral reconstruction of God’s people.
Neh. demonstrates God's involvement in restoration of His people.
• God controls history and even uses pagan kings to accomplish His purposes.
• God brought His people back to the land to reestablish them.
Before God's plan can be realized, they must recognize His holiness and live holy lives, distinct from their pagan neighbors.
• Blessing will come on the basis of faith and obedience.
• If they are disobedient, they will again be judged.
Nehemiah describes kind of leader God uses to accomplish His purposes.
In summary, Nehemiah displays balance of THREE KEY TRAITS:
1) Nehemiah was committed to God
He models what genuine commitment to God looks like.
Although in high position, he never lost his heart for god.
2) Nehemiah had a vision for what God wanted to accomplish
3) Nehemiah was skilled in administration
TWO MAJOR DIVISIONS:
PHYSICAL reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem (1-7).
SPIRITUAL reconstruction of the people to serve God (8-13).
PREPARATION FOR RECONSTRUCTION of the City Walls 1-2
Nehemiah’s province with its trouble 1:1-3
Visit by commission 1:1-2 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev
in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
Delegation from Jerusalem visited Susa, the capital of Persia.
This encounter teaches us several things about this man of God:
1)His heart was in the right place.
2)He asked the right questions.
He wanted to know condition of God's land.
3) He had a listening ear. He heard what they said.
He cared about their pain and discouragement.
Condition of the walls 1:3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in
the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
Delegation reported the condition of the walls—It wasn't good!
=> Nehemiah’s prayer 1:4-11a
1. Nehemiah was personally concerned about the need 4a When
I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.He withdrew for extended period of prayer—continuously "for days!"
If we want to accomplish God's purposes, we need to spend more time "in the closet."
At first he just sat quietly expressing his grief.
He cared about that which affected God's glory.
His WEEPING led to SEEKING.
2. Nehemiah went to GOD first with his concern 4b-5 For some days I
mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, . . . “
He poured out his heart before the Lord.
Fasting—Some think fasting is way to manipulate God and get Him to do what you want.
In Scripture fasting demonstrates total commitment to discover and do God’s will.
You’re so committed to seeing God’s will done “on earth as it is in heaven” that you’d lay everything else aside. Nothing else matters but God’s will —even eating!
He presents his concern to God.
He got involved. —He prayed for restoration of God’s people.
His Worship 1:5 Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who
keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
God is an AWESOME God
God is a FAITHFUL God—He keeps His covenant
God is a LOVING God—His covenant is based on His love.
He takes his appeal to the AWESOME, FAITHFUL, LOVING One.
3. Nehemiah recognizes God's greatness and faithfulness toward them
His Confession 1:6-7 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your
servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Considering God's faithfulness reminded Nehemiah of the unfaithfulness and failures of God's people.
He identifies with his people and their disobedience.
He doesn’t pass the buck and blame it on everybody else.
"I . . . have sinned against You"
4. Nehemiah recognizes their failure and unfaithfulness toward God.
His Appeal to the Covenant 1:8-10 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant
Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.
5. Nehemiah relates their need and his desire to God's plan.
Child’s refrain: I PROMISE! — "CROSS MY HEART; HOPE TO DIE!"
Nehemiah goes back to God’s promise and holds Him to it.
Based on Deut. 28-30 v. 8 = Dt. 28 v. 9 = Dt. 30
Their condition was result of disobedience; it conformed to what God promised, if they rebelled against Him.
But, He also promised to restore them if they repent.
Presence of remnant is evidence God was restoring them.
Nehemiah calls on God, as representative of His people.
He desires that God accept this confession to restore His people. Daniel prayed the same way!
He wants to see them get on with what God promised.
Notice focus in v. 10-”YOUR” “They are YOUR servants and YOUR people, whom YOU redeemed by YOUR great strength and YOUR mighty hand.
When we desire to see God do something great, we’d better be sure we understand God's plan!
He gets self in line with what God wants, and prays that God will do it.
Essence of genuine praying!-it's getting us in line with God's plan.
His Petition 1:11a O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the
prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
He makes himself available to God and His people to meet need.
Nehemiah's delight (his excitement) was to revere God's name,
"Delight"-take delight in, desire This is basis of his request—He delights to revere God's name.
= An emotional involvement in doing it.
= used of a man's "delight" in an attractive woman-there's an excitement about it
i.e., to glorify Him. "Revere"-fear, reverence, awe, respect
=> v. 5-"God, you are an AWESOME God"
To respect or fear God's name is to respect or fear Him.
One who "fears" the Lord walks in His ways. (Ps. 128:1)
Nehemiah's vision is the vision of all who delight in respecting the AWESOME God. => that God will be glorified by His people
On basis of God's promise, Nehemiah prays God will intervene and cause pagan king to grant his request.
6. Nehemiah acknowledges that the only way he’ll be able to pull this off is if God does it.
Restoration of wall wasn't the end-it was the means to the end.
This was God's city-it was His people!
The city was in ruins materiallyThe people were in ruins spiritually.
7. Nehemiah wanted to see God's glory revealed through them.
He had a selfish motive = the restoration of his people
That brought him into agreement with God about His plan.
How about us? Do we really care about the people around us?
Nehemiah wanted the city restored because he had a vision to see his people restored.
What's our vision? A nice place for us? OUR comfort? Meeting OUR needs?
His vision—based on reverence for God—to see Him glorified —to see people turn to Him.
That's our vision—to see people turn to God—to see Him glorified
LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER:
Re. Nehemiah and prayer:
1. Nehemiah acknowledged that the only way to accomplish the task was by God's intervention.
Therefore,-he took it to God in prayer.
Re. Nehemiah and God's plan
2. Nehemiah acknowledged that the only way to accomplish the task was in conformity to God's plan.
Therefore, he made sure he knew and lined up with God's plan.
Re. Nehemiah and God's promise
3. Nehemiah acknowledged that the only way to accomplish the task was as a result of God’s promise.
Therefore, -he claimed the promises of God.
He took his petition in prayer to God.
He subjected his petition to the plan of God.
He based his petition on the promises of God.
APPLICATION TO OUR LIFE TODAY:
Are we spending time with God in prayer? Pouring out our heart's desires before Him?
Are we making sure our plans are lined up with God's plans for us?
Have we investigated to discover His plan for His people today?
Are our priorities in line with His priorities?
"Fulfilling our Vision"-NOT a building plan.
It's a vision to BUILD a loving foundation, to SHARE HIS LOVE with the world
Is that God’s desire for us?
Part Prayer plays in this: IT ALL BEGINS WITH PRAYER!
Prayer that seeks to know HIS will!
Prayer that claims HIS promises!
We set aside a day for prayer to acknowledge that WE need HIM!
(Just as Nehemiah did!)