Nehemiah 2:1-9 The Mountain Starts to Move ES 16Jan11 2134
It really doesn’t matter how big your mountain is, Jesus says if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, and say to the mountain, “Move from here to there”, it can be moved.
• Jesus challenges us to exercise faith in prayer, and we will see Him opening of doors and moving the hearts of Kings (as in Nehemiah’s case), to accomplish His will and purpose.
• Faith is abstract and remains dormant until we exercise it in prayer. This was what Nehemiah did and he saw the power of prayer.
One person can make a big difference if that person knows God and trust Him.
• “I would rather walk in the dark with God than go alone in the light. I would rather walk with Him by faith than walk alone by sight.” … Mary Gardner Brainard
Last week we saw Nehemiah wept over the ruins of Jerusalem. He was driven by a passion for God’s glory.
• He wanted to set things right so that God’s Name is exalted again in Israel. We pray that we will be often moved by the things that move the heart of God!
• Nehemiah prayed because he knew that no one but God could have accomplished what was needed to be done.
And then Nehemiah offered himself as the answer to the need of the hour. His prayer was, “Lord, here I am, send me!”
• So remember, when you can do something, don’t just pray. You may just be God’s answer to the prayer.
On hindsight, we see that when God wants to accomplish a work, He puts people in the right places at the right time.
• We see that in Scriptures – He did that with Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Esther, Nehemiah, Philip, Paul and you and me.
• So Nehemiah finally made the move. Or to put it more correctly, God opened the way for him to make that move.
Let read about his encounter with the King – Nehemiah 2:1-9.
He finally met the King. And it was in the month of Nisan (Mar-Apr), 5th month in Jewish calendar.
• Verse 1 tells us when he heard the news it was in the month of Kislev (Nov-Dec), the 3rd month.
• He has been praying and waiting for 4-5 months. Not 4 or 5 days, or 4 or 5 weeks, but over 4 months.
He was disturbed by the news. He was passionate, no doubt. Something needs to be done, surely.
• Yet Nehemiah waited for the right moment. He was waiting for the Lord to ‘open the door and prepare the way’, so to speak.
• It would mean nothing is happening. It would feel that way, nothing is really happening actually. Nehemiah was praying and waiting.
• This is one of the distinguishing lines in the Psalms – “wait for the Lord”.
If you want to succeed, (1) you’ve got to TRUST GOD – His ways and His time.
This is a challenge for many today, especially if we have a pressing issue before us.
• We want to get things done quickly. We are brought up in a society that goes for instant coffee, instant noodles, instant messaging, and instant everything (if possible).
• Waiting is a test of our trust in God. It is a test of our faith in God’s ways and God’s timing.
• We are forced to sing the song, “In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time!”
• If it is a need, why not now? Why later? God knows, and we trust Him. He is sovereign, in order words, He does not have to tell you anything or everything He does.
When the moment comes, Nehemiah made his move.
• Faith is one part trust and one part action. James says faith without works is dead. It’s useless if you have faith and do nothing.
• You can believe all you want, but if you’re not going to step through an open door, then you are as good as not having faith.
We learnt last week that man is God’s method (E. M. Bounds says).
• If man is God’s instrument, then man must act. No amount of prayer will do; man is God’s method, man is God’s answer to the problem.
• For God’s will to be done, we must (2) make ourselves available for Him.
When God opens the door, exercise faith and step through.
• It was not easy for Nehemiah. Having faith in God does not mean everything will be fine. He was very afraid.
• Servants are expected to present themselves well before the King and not allow personal matters to affect their work. Countenance must be cheerful. “I had not been sad in His presence before” (v.1), Nehemiah said.
• But today the King saw through him and questioned him. His career, and if the King is not in a good mood, even his life hangs in the balance.
No wonder he was “very much afraid” (v.2). What is he going to say? Will the King understand his plight and entertain such a personal request?
• But the King asked, “What is it you want?” (v.4) God swung the door wide open.
• And Nehemiah made a prayer to God - “Then I prayed to the God of heaven” – and then answered the King.
How long do you think it takes? 2 seconds, maybe. It was a lightning prayer, a “prayer-gram”, a prayer dart.
• It was like the prayer Peter made when he was sinking, “Lord, save me!”
• Nehemiah’s cry might be, “Lord, help me!” You are not going to turn around and say, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name, Thy Kingdom comes…”
At critical moment like this, that’s all we can do.
• Like right before you give an answer to our boss, or before an interview, or answering an examination question, or visiting someone critically ill in the hospital.
• There is little time or chance for lengthy prayers. Yet we desperately need God’s help.
Nehemiah needs God’s help badly. He has no right of any kind. He was at the mercy of the King. He was completely dependent upon his favour.
• But who can move the King’s heart? God moves the King’s heart! Prov 21:1 “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.”
• So Nehemiah made a split-second prayer to God.
God responded, as He always does. God showed up. Everything moved in Nehemiah’s favour.
• He asked for leave of absence and it was granted (that’s taking leave for a trip).
• He asked for letters to the governors of the land between Susa and Jerusalem, so that he would be guaranteed a safe passage and it was granted (that’s buying travel insurance).
• He asked for a letter to the keeper of the King’s forest, so that he would be supplied with the timber he needs for the construction, and it was granted (that’s packing up his suitcase).
Almost everything went his way. And he was given a BONUS – something he did not ask for – the King sent army officers and cavalry with him (v.9).
• Nehemiah was now ready to go. Everything he needs for the trip has been arranged.
• And Nehemiah knew why. He said it in verse 8, just in case readers like us might be misled to think that it was all his persuasive talks or good planning: “Because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”
• Throughout the process, Nehemiah (3) never lost sight of his dependence on God. He is fully aware of his need of God’s grace.
He was fully dependent on God on the one hand and (4) fully dedicated to the task on the other. He had a plan well-thought out.
• Being dependent on God does not mean we are free from responsibility. In fact, a person who is serious about God is a responsible person.
• It was obvious that Nehemiah did his home work. He had a plan. He was able to tell the King how long he needs to be away (v.6 “so I set a time”); it could be an estimate but he did thought through.
• He anticipated a difficult journey and so he asked for protection. He planned his resources and asked for the supply of timber.
• All these were done BEFORE he met the King. Nehemiah was prepared!
He had literally NOTHING when he started this plan – no experience, no manpower, no resource, but he had GOD on his side!
• And he was determined. He was determined, with God’s help, to do it. He was willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
• “The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.” Action may not always bring success, but there is no success without action.
• The person who knows God’s will and do nothing, is no better off than the person who does not know it.
A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring to him. They were far too behind the times, tiresome tunes and meaningless words. He kept talking about it, for many weeks.
One day his father put an end to the discussion by saying, "If you think you can write better hymns, then why don't you?"
The boy went to his room and wrote his first hymn. The year was 1690, the teenager was Isaac Watts. Now we have more than 350 hymns written by him, among them are "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and Joy to the World".
Why don't you do something? And cause the world to remember you for 400 years, like Isaac Watts?
Have faith in God and do what you need to do. If God has placed a burden in your heart, or you know He has spoken to you about something, do it.
• Be as determined as Nehemiah was.
• Nehemiah was right. The gracious hand of God was upon him.
• But he got to experience it only when he takes steps to do what he needs to do. Faith involves taking risks but it is all worth it.
God was behind the scene working in ways Nehemiah could not see.
• God prepares what he needs. In fact, God provided beyond what he asked for. He had extra army officers and cavalry offered by the King.
• God will provide for you, if you trust Him. And it is better than what you ask.
If you step back and look at all that has happened, God is like this master Director, working behind the scene, putting all the props and players into position.
• You see that in history. He put Abraham into the Middle East, Joseph into Egypt, Moses in the wilderness, Daniel into Babylon, Esther in Persia and now Nehemiah.
• Not only was he placed in Persia, he was positioned into the Persian Court, taking a privilege role as cupbearer, placed closest to the King.
• God gave him this influential post so that Nehemiah would be able to request the King’s help for manpower, protection and the resources he would need to do His work.
Over the next few weeks, as the curtain rolled up and scene after scene is played out, we will begin to see a divinely scripted, perfectly-casted play, orchestrated by God.
• God was behind it all. God is behind all history, because that’s His-Story.
• Do you know what God is up to behind the scenes of your life?
• Most of the time, only on hindsight can we tell. But we know there is no accident with God. It is no accident you are where you are, and you are who you are.
• God uses circumstances to prepare you to accomplish His purpose for your life. Your present circumstance is part of that script.
The classic line that Mordecai made to Esther was this: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
• God places you in a specific place at a specific time, so that you can do something for Him.
• Like Nehemiah, it may be difficult for you to make the connection at this point. But in time, it will all come together. It always does.
• So trust Him and be determined to do His work well. You’ll be surprised what God has prepared for you. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU REALLY WISH TO DO FOR THE LORD?
