The Prayer of Nehemiah, Part 1

Life Touch Community Church - Plainfield

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The Prayer of Nehemiah, Part 1

October 22, 2023 • Augustine Pokoo • Nehemiah 1:2–4

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Nehemiah 1:2 NIV Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile and also about Jerusalem.

During the meeting with his brother, Nehemiah asked his brother about the well-being of Jerusalem. Among the various topics they could have discussed, the focus was on Jerusalem and its impact on the people.

Lesson

When God blesses you, prioritize His Kingdom and the welfare of His people by showing concern for His work.

Nehemiah 1:3-4 NIV 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." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days, I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

After receiving the distressing report, he was overcome with sorrow and grief. He felt a deep sense of responsibility towards his people and their welfare and turned to his faith for solace and guidance. He abstained from food and supplicated to God, earnestly beseeching God for the well-being of Jerusalem and the prosperity and safety of his people.

Lesson

It is crucial to prioritize loving God and His people and advancing His Kingdom over prioritizing yourself. Make God's problem your problem, and focus on loving His people and desiring the advancement of His Kingdom. Avoid making everything about yourself, what you need, want, or feel entitled to receive. Instead, make everything about God and His Kingdom.

Nehemiah Goes To Action, Part 2

November 19, 2023 • Augustine Pokoo • Nehemiah 1

The Book of Nehemiah stands out as a remarkable guide to leadership. Its pages are filled with valuable insights and strategies that anyone seeking to become an effective leader can apply. The Book of Nehemiah offers a step-by-step approach, highlighting the critical elements of leadership and providing practical advice on developing and implementing leadership strategies. The Recap of Chapter One What does Chapter One teach us? The most significant lessons in Nehemiah chapter one are: 1. Nehemiah's approach to prayer Admission of sin, a Request for Forgiveness, and a Commitment to Repentance. You cannot move ahead with God unless your journey begins with full Admittance of sin, full Confession of your sin, and a Commitment to repentance. Nehemiah 1:8-9 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying,' If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name. 2. Nehemiah was persistent in prayer Nehemiah 1:6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned. 3. Nehemiah had a God-centered perspective in continuous prayer. A God-centered perspective in continuous prayer yields results. Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Nehemiah Goes To Action, Part 1

November 12, 2023 • Augustine Pokoo • Nehemiah 1:5–11

Nehemiah 1:4 NKJV So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. In this verse, we have a road map of how Nehemiah turned an impossible task around. The action began with prayer. We know Nehemiah was in solitude for at least four months, weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying. Wept - The weeping was an outward expression of sorrow from a repentant heart. It was not just tears but rather an admission of sin, a request for forgiveness, and a commitment to repentance. You cannot move ahead with God unless you begin with full admittance, confession, and repentance of sin to God. Mourned - The expression of profound grief was for his people turning their back on God's word and instructions. Fasting - We have yet to grasp the spiritual significance of fasting fully. Fasting here was a part of the expression of admittance and repentance of sin. Demonstrating to God, I'm backing my words of repentance with action. Prayer - Nehemiah 1:8-11 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ’If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.

The Prayer of Nehemiah, Part 3

November 5, 2023 • Augustine Pokoo • Nehemiah 1:4–11

Nehemiah's concern for the welfare of Jerusalem and its inhabitants prompts him to take bold action and challenge his countrymen to arise and rebuild the shattered wall of Jerusalem. Studying Nehemiah's prayer sequence, we discover a critical step Nehemiah took in his approach to prayer that yielded results. Nehemiah displayed a God-centered perspective in his continuous prayer for four months. Despite opposition from without and abuse from within, the task is completed in record time. Displaying the importance of preserving in prayer before approaching a task.