Nehemiah Lessons In Restoration Part 1 Of 4 Series

Lessons in Restoration from the heart of Nehemiah ( Chapter 1)

In recent years a rash of home make over shows have sprung into existence that actually served as a starting point for the series I am going to teach over the next 4 weeks. Following that I will miss a few weeks due to having knee replacement surgery but I really feel the Lord wants us to see the way to restoration, both personally in our lives and nationally.

America as a nation, and quite honestly many of us individually are in serious need of Restoration.

Perhaps in a bit of an unconventional manner I’m going to ask you to begin this 4 week journey to restoration in a unique way with a prayer. If it is your desire for personal or national restoration then pray with me.

Dear Lord without any prior knowledge as to what it is that you desire to do in my life through this series, I commit to you from the start to be open to the voice of your Holy Spirit. Further I ask your help me to submit to that same Holy Spirit so that each and every time you speak to me through the next 4 weeks, should you tarry and continue to give me life. In Jesus Name Amen.

This first message, message 1 – Begins with a very critical premise “ A time of divine favor”

There are special times in all of our lives that consist of God’s special divine favor.

Times in our life where God is prompting us to turn to him for Restoration. Individual / National

Point 1 A TIME FOR RESTORATION - vs. 1-3

There is a small item that takes place in all of our lives called DIVINE PROVINCE ( Gods timing)

History – Israel had been in captivity for nearly 70 years. There was no particular reason for any sudden burst of hope or inspiration. Things were woeful.

Jerusalem their beloved city lay in ruins, the fields fruitless, the people scattered and destitute.

The walls that once protected her like a fortress were now broken down and useless, large holes had been made in the wall by the conquering Babylonian armies nearly 70 years earlier.

Their brightest young people and royalty were servants in Babylon Even Nehemiah the prophet was now no more than a servant to the King.

God’s judgment had befallen Israel for her oft disobedience and she was without hope.

Except for that small thing that I called Divine province.

The story is not so much unlike our own personal lives before we stopped running from God and allowed Him to come and restore our lives.

It’s not so much unlike what many even in the church need today, as we have allowed a more subtle enemy satan break down the walls of our walk with God.

And likewise it is very much like the plight of our nation, suffering record droughts, a crashing economy, staggering unemployment, moral depravity

But as in each of the other cases there are moments of Divine province.

Perhaps the words of II Cor. 6:2 should be jumping off the page at us for he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s warning along those same lines in Romans 13: 11 read like this

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

a) At the start of this series let me preface my remarks to say for someone here this may be the last time God reaches out to you in divine favor in hopes of restoring your life to himself.

• Each of us was or is presently a captive to the sins of this world.

• The degree of captivity may vary, but we were or are a captive none the less.

b) The walls that once kept us safe have now been broken through and systematically destroyed.

• Until that which we once held sacred is now exposed to our enemies and they are able to come in and take us captive.

c) If these walls had not been destroyed they would not be in need of repair.

But as was the case with Jerusalem, years of compromise and willful sin, mixed with neglect of God and His statutes has left many of our individual lives, and for that matter our whole nation exposed to the enemy, no longer a mighty fortress.

a) As a nation we see it in the rise of Islam throughout America, the successes of the atheist to remove God from our everyday life, the advancements of the homosexual agenda in our schools, our govt and our town squares. This Nov election quite honestly a fight to the death for the very constitution that our founders with God’s help crafted for our nation.