Asking For Favor When Facing Obstacles Lesson 3 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Nehemiah served tables (waiter) yet he faced:

a. Great burden. “I sat down and wept … for days I mourned, fasted and prayed.

b. Great destruction. “Walls … torn down … gates destroyed by fire” (1:3).

c. God’s people discouraged.

d. Great opposition. “Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab … scoffed contemptuously” (2:19, NLT).

e. Sanballat was very angry … rage … mocked … in front of people” (4:1-2).

f. God’s people criticized. “The Jews who lived near the enemy ... told us again and again” (4:12).

g. Fellow Jews profiteering with high interest (5:1-13).

B. NEHEMIAH WAS NOT A PRIEST OR LEVITE, BUT HE PRAYED FOR FAVOR

1. When given terrible news. “I sat down, cried, fasted and prayed to God for His favor” (1:4, ELT).

2. When he wanted to leave waiting tables. “I prayed for God to grant me His favor to be released from my position” (1:11, ELT).

3. Nehemiah told king his burden. “The king granted me permission because God’s good hand of favor was on me” (2:8, ELT).

4. Nehemiah shared his burden and vison with Jewish leaders. “I told them God’s favor is with me and the king has promised to back the project” (2:18, ELT).

5. When the enemy verbally attacked the project. “Nehemiah prayed, ‘Hear O God, they despise us’” (4:4).

6. Both prayer and planning. “We made our prayer to God and set a watch against them day and night” (4:9).

7. Nehemiah faced greed in leaders. “Think upon me O God and favor me as I do good to Your people” (5:19, ELT).

8. Enemy spread rumors they would attack. “O God, strengthen my hand with Your favor” (6:9).

9. The wall was rebuilt in record time. “Remember, O God, all the evil that Tobiah and Sanballat have done” (6:14). “So the wall was finished – just fifty-two days after we began” (6:15, NLT).

10. Trouble is small when viewed by God. “The hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you” (9:32, NLT).

11. Keeping order after the walls were finished. “Remember me O God, and wipe not out my good deeds” (13:14).

12. Nehemiah prayed for his testimony. “Remember me O God and show me favor” (13:22, ELT).

13. Closing remarks, “Remember me O God for Your favor” (13:31, ELT).

C. LESSONS ON GOD’S FAVOR

1. God does not withhold His favor from those who live with integrity. “The Lord God is a sun and a shield … He will not withhold His good favor from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, ELT).

2. Shows favor to those who serve Him. “Let the favor of the Lord be upon us, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17, ELT).

3. God helps in tough times. “The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor” (Genesis 39:21).

4. God protects when attacked. “Thou Lord will bless the righteous with Your favor … with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).

5. God honors intercessory prayer. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Thou has found favor in My sight’” (Exodus 33:17, ELT).

6. Answered prayers are God’s favor. “Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who put such an answer in the heart of the king to rebuild the house of God and to extend His favor to us” (Ezra 7:27, ELT).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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