Will You Be The One?
Nehemiah 1:1-11
When D.L. Moody was just starting in the ministry he heard a preacher say, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully surrendered to Him." That night Moody said, "By God’s grace I’ll be that man!" Moody had little formal education, and he was not a polished speaker. But God used Dwight L. Moody to reach two continents with the Gospel. He presented the plan of Salvation, by voice or pen, to at least one hundred million people. He often spoke to audiences of ten to twenty thousand people. It is estimated that over a million souls came to Christ as a result of his ministry.
Throughout the Bible we have many examples where God used a single surrendered individual to accomplish great things for Him. God used Noah to build an Ark and preach repentance to a corrupt generation. God used Moses to deliver His people from the strong hand of Pharaoh. God used Elijah to oppose the evilness of Ahab and Jezebel. (He prayed fire down from Heaven and slew 450 prophets of Baal.) God used a reluctant preacher named Jonah to bring revival to Nineveh. God used a little shepherd boy named David to slay the Giant of the Philistines named Goliath. God took a handful of fishermen, a publican and a few other common men and used them to turn the world upside down in the name of Jesus Christ! God took a man named Saul of Tarsus who had been the greatest persecutor of the church and transformed him into the greatest Christian who ever lived.
God did not stop with the men we read about on the pages of the New Testament. He has continued to use men and women throughout Church history to bring glory to His name. People like: Martin Luther, John Calvin, John & Charles Wesley, George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, C.H Spurgeon, Dietrich Bonhoffer, Corrie Ten Boom, R.A Torrey, A.W Tozer, D. L Moody, Billy Sunday, Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, Billy Graham and many others.
These individuals were successful in the Kingdom work because they were fully surrendered to the will of God in their lives.
God does not seek out those with the greatest ability or the most education. He chooses to use those faithful and fervent servants. He uses those men and women who possess a great burden and a desire to move forward.
It is abundantly clear that the church needs restoration and revival. There is no shortage of people who claim that they want to see revival. But there is a shortage of those who are willing to do something about it! The problem is that the majority are waiting on "someone else" to do something. However, nearly every great move of God began with one or two people who developed an immense burden. That was the case in Nehemiah's day. Jerusalem had been ruins for many years. Many of the Israelites noticed the problem, but no one did anything about it. In Nehemiah, God found a man with a burden. And that burden led to action and that action led to revival!
Here in chapter one, we get a glimpse of the immense burden of this man named Nehemiah. As a young man, Nehemiah had been appointed to the office of "Royal Cupbearer". A cup-bearer was one who would serve drinks to the King. The cupbearer would guard the cup in order to prevent the King from being poisoned. At times he would be required to test the wine personally before serving it to the King. The position of cup-bearer was greatly valued and not given to just anyone. One who held this position would often gain great influence with the King.
At this time in history, Artaxerxes was the King. Artaxerxes and Nehemiah had developed a close relationship. So much so that one day Nehemiah was heavily burdened and the King could tell by his demeanor that something wasn't right. Nehemiah began to explain to his master the reason for his sorrowful demeanor. One day his brother arrived and Nehemiah asked about the people of God and the city of Jerusalem. Hanani informed him that the people of Judah and the city of Jerusalem were in a terrible condition. - v3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
Over 150 years earlier, Nebuchadnezzar and the armies of Babylon invaded Israel and carried many of the people away as slaves. At this point, Cyrus has released the Israelites and allowed them to return to Jerusalem. But not all of the Jews returned to Jerusalem, Nehemiah was still residing at the palace in Shushan. Notice how Nehemiah responded to what he learned from Hanani. v4 it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Nehemiah was greatly burdened for his city and his people. He didn't know it at the time but God was preparing him for a great work. God was moving in his life and would soon use him to restore Jerusalem. God had found a man with a vision, God had found a man with a burden, God had found a man of prayer, and God had found a man of action! God was going to use him to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Furthermore, God was going to use this humble servant to bring about the restoration of the nation of Israel.
There are many similarities between Jerusalem in Nehemiah's day and the church in our day. The church in America in many ways) is a mere shell of its former self. The walls of separation between the church and the world have been broken down. There is little difference between the world and the church today. But let me remind you that the Lord says "come out from among them and be ye separate!" (II Corinthians 6:17)
I don't think many (if any) people here would disagree that the Church needs revival. The question is who is willing to get up and do something about it? Will you be the one? Let's walk through Nehemiah chapter 1 and ask that question..."Will You Be The One?"
Many people have the idea that they are only one person and alone they cannot have an impact. That pessimistic mindset has been proven false time and again. President John F. Kennedy famously said "One person can make a difference and everyone should try". Are you willing to try to make a difference? Will you be that willing vessel that God can use to accomplish a great work in this day and age? If you are that one, then you will possess the same attributes as Nehemiah.
1. You will have a concern for the things of God.
2. You will have a burden for the people of God.
3. You will have a passion for the work of God.
- Let's look to verses 1-2 and ask the question:
I. WILL YOU BE THE ONE WITH A CONCERN FOR THE THINGS OF GOD?
v1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu , in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
Though Nehemiah was serving the King in Shushan, his mind was focused on his homeland. He asked Hanani about Jerusalem. Jerusalem is often called "the Holy City".... it is the "city of God". Nehemiah would learn that God's city lay in ruins. The walls were broken down, the gates had been consumed with fire. In the following verses, we can see where Nehemiah's heart was. He was a man who was focused on the things of God.
Oh how we need people like this in our day. There is a great shortage of men and women who are focused on the things of God. One of the most devastating issues plaguing the Church today is the misplaced priorities of its members. There are many men and women who claim to be born again, many who profess their un- dying love for Jesus, yet they put everyone and everything else in front of Him.
Where is the church on your list of priorities? Where is worship on your list of priorities? Where is prayer on your list of priorities? Where is bible study on your list of priorities? Where is evangelism on your list of priorities? Where is Christian service on your list of priorities? Do the things of God come before your career? Do they come before your family? Do they come before your recreational activities? Do they come before your leisure time? Do the things of God come before your hobbies? What is the focus of your life? What is most important to you? Where is God in your life?
Let me remind you what Jesus had to say about priorities - Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
He also said - Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
He also said - John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
He also said - Matthew 22:37 ....Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Do the priorities in your life reveal an immense love for the Lord? Nehemiah's priorities certainly revealed that he was concerned about the things of God! Will you be the one who is concerned about the things of God? Will you be the one who is concerned about the condition of the local church? Many would quickly answer that question with a hearty... YES! But as the old cliché goes "Actions speak louder than words"! If you are really one with a concern for the things of God, it will be evident not by what you say, but by what you do!
- Let's move on to question number 2:
II. WILL YOU BE THE ONE WITH A BURDEN FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD?
v2b and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. v3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Even worse than the news concerning Jerusalem was the report concerning the Jews that survived the exile. They were enduring "great affliction and reproach". The Jews were despised and oppressed by the neighboring nations. Anyone can say that they have a burden for others, but a true burden will prompt action.
Nehemiah had such a burden that it caused him to grieve for his brethren - v4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
There was a 4 step response by Nehemiah.... He Wept, He Mourned, He Fasted and He Prayed Nehemiah says that he "sat down and wept". He was brought to tears by the condition of the people and the city of God. Oh that we would be brought to tears by the condition of the church. When we see how far the church has drifted from its original intent we should be moved to tears. When we see the blasphemy that is prevalent in our society it should move us to tears. When we see the apathy among professing Christians in our day it should break our hearts! When we consider that many of our brethren are bringing shame and reproach on the name of Christ we should weep and mourn! When we consider that those same brethren will soon face the chastising hand of God we should weep on their behalf. When we think of the multitudes of lost people who are not being reached with the Gospel, and the fact that those souls are headed for Hell we should fall down and weep and mourn.
One of the greatest pictures of Jesus in the Bible, is when He approached Jerusalem and wept over the city. Jesus saw the people as "sheep having no shepherd". He had so much love for those people... (the very people who would crucify Him) that He was brought to tears over the condition of their souls. As His followers we should have that same compassion. How long has it been since you wept over a soul? How long has it been since you cried out to God on behalf of your lost loved ones? We say that we have a burden, if so WHERE ARE THE TEARS????
Nehemiah did not just weep and mourn, he also fasted and prayed. Fasting had become a frequent practice among the Jews during the captivity. Daniel fasted (Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:3), Esther fasted (Esther 4:16), Ezra fasted (Ezra 10:6) and now Nehemiah was fasting before God.
Though he was a close friend of the King, Nehemiah went way over his head with this issue. Nehemiah humbly bowed and cried out to God almighty on behalf of his people! In great anguish and great faith Nehemiah prayed one of the most beautiful and powerful prayers recorded in the Bible. This was not a selfish prayer, this was the prayer of an intercessor. Nehemiah went to God on behalf of his brethren. Take a moment and listen to his cry:
v5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
As he cried out to God on behalf of his people, Nehemiah claimed the promises of God. God would soon honor His request, but God would require a commitment from Nehemiah.
Do you have a burden for the people of God? How long has it been since you prayed for the people of God? You cannot profess to have a burden if you are not moved to tears and prompted to intercede on their behalf! If you will go to the Lord in prayer... if you will be an intercessor on behalf of others, then you (like Nehemiah) can claim the promises of God.
What promises you ask? Here are just a few:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." (John 16:23)
These are promises that we can cling to! But I want you to notice that when Nehemiah began to claim the promises of God, God enlisted Nehemiah to go to work for Him. The prayers concerning the people of God would be answered, but Nehemiah would have to roll up his sleeves and go to work. This is the part of the sermon where you lose people. You start talking about work and people will tune you out and turn you off in a heartbeat. You may not like it, but it is necessary for the people of God to do more than pray to God, we must labor for Him!
- Look with me to verse 11 as we consider question number 3:
III. WILL YOU BE THE ONE WITH A PASSION FOR THE WORK OF GOD?
v11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
Notice that last phrase "for I was the king's cupbearer". This speaks to the selflessness and the sacrifice of Nehemiah. He was a man who lived a great life. It was a life of peace, prosperity and power. He spent his days tasting the kings food and wine before it reached the king. His duty was to protect the king. King Artaxerxes literally trusted Nehemiah with his life.
Nehemiah was a man who lacked nothing. He didn't live with the others in the ruins of Jerusalem. He spent his days in the king's palace. He ate the best food and drank the best wine. He was protected and provided for. But God was doing a great work in his life. God had placed an immense burden in his heart for Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Nehemiah was about to step out of his comfortable lifestyle, he would leave his important job with the king in order to do a great work for God almighty.
i. He had a concern for the things of God.
ii. He had a burden for the people of God
iii. He had a passion for the work of God.
His burden to accomplish this God given task was so great that Artaxerxes could see it all over his face. Look with me to - Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.
Nehemiah told the king that the reason for his distressed appearance was due to the condition of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes asked what he could do to help. Nehemiah "said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time."
The king supported Nehemiah and allowed him to return to Jerusalem for a time in order to rebuild the walls and replace the gates of the city. And immediately, Nehemiah went to work doing what God had called him to do. I believe that it was a direct result of Nehemiah's prayers that God worked in the heart of Artaxerxes to allow his servant to go to Jerusalem and do this work. If you continue to read this great book of the bible you will see how God used this one man to have a tremendous impact on Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. Jerusalem needed to be restored and Israel needed revival.
Today, many of the things of God need to be restored. There is no question that the church needs a revival. Where are the people who are willing to do whatever it takes to see revival? We need some people in this very church, who (like Nehemiah) are willing to step out of their comfort zone and get to work. We need some people who look around and realize that the walls are broken down and the gates lay in ruin and it is time to rebuild.
Will you be the one?
a) Can you say that you have a concern for the things of God?
b) Can you say that you have a burden for the people of God?
c) Can you say that you have a passion for the work of God?
If you will be the one that God can use to spark that fire that is needed: It will begin with you being concerned about the current situation of the church. God will reveal what is broken and in need of repair. He will show you those people that hurting and in danger. He will give you such a burden that it will cause you to weep, mourn and pray. Following that period of grieving and prayer, God will show you the proper steps to begin the process of restoration.
God is the only One who can bring revival and accomplish the restoration of His people. But in His infinite wisdom He has chosen to use His people to do a great work in this world. It is vital that we become willing vessels that God can use to bring revival and restoration. Will you be the one?
