Chico Alliance Church
"Solving Sticky Situations With steady Supplications"
REVIEW
You are a citizen of a tiny middle eastern nation.
You enjoyed the supernatural protection of God for many years.
You took that protection and relationship for granted and ignored the covenant you had made with Him.
In order to bring about obedience, God removed that supernatural protection and you found yourself at the mercy of selfish, destructive enemies who destroy your capital city and carry away the best of the people into captivity.
Over the years many of your fellow captive countrymen are pressed into service of the captors as servants, technicians, educators.
Even though you were born in a foreign land, your parents have passed on a love and longing for your homeland.
Even though you have never seen it, you long and pray to return someday.
As time goes on, the nation who took you captive is conquered by a much more friendly empire who allows many of your people to return to the ruined homeland to rebuild but your present responsibilities force you to remain.
What I have just described is the circumstance of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah records in his journal the events which evolved when God called him as the one to rebuild the walls and restore the worship in Jerusalem.
While faithfully serving Artaxerxes the Persian King, Nehemiah grills a grim little delegation from Jerusalem concerning the condition of the people and the city.
They report to Nehemiah that the people are in great distress and reproach and the city walls are destroyed and the gates are burned.
They are defenseless and subject to ridicule and pollution.
The whole book of Nehemiah records the steps of restoration directed by God and executed by Nehemiah to not only rebuild the walls and gates but to restore the worship in Jerusalem.
Chapter 1-7 Rebuilding the Walls
Chapter 8-13 Restoring the Worship
As we journey through Nehemiahs journal we hope to milk many nourishing principles that we can apply to the building of God's group of people here at Chico.
We want to concentrate on rebuilding our walls and restoring our worship.
Walls are to protect from predators and prevent pollution.
Spiritual walls are built and maintained by obedience to His word.
God's Word is a weapon against Satan and a watchman against sin.
When we violate the clear principles of Scripture that unveil God's universal spiritual laws of the universe, we hack a hole in the wall.
Breaches in our wall by disobedience admit and allow beachheads in our life on which the enemy establishes strongholds.
We hope to work together in repairing the breaches in our walls so that we can discover and develop a dynamic worship both individually and corporately.
Last week we observed Nehemiah's initial response to the news following his inquiry.
We learned that we must first recognize the need. Ask, inquire, be interested.
"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:2
Nehemiah also responded to the recognized needs.
It is one thing to know about the burdens, it is quite another to act upon it.
First Nehemiah demonstrates a pity for the plight of the people.
He weeps and mourns for the situation.
We observed the initial principle for a wall builder.
Any plan to build the body must begin with a passion to bear the burdens of the body.
No man will ever lighten a burden of which he himself has not felt the weight.
Nehemiah had that kind of passion for others. But his journey doesn't just stop with weeping.
This morning we will continue our observations on Nehemiah's journey from cup bearer to building foreman to governor to spiritual reviver.
INTRODUCTION
What do we do when problems intrude unexpectedly into our life and into the lives of those we love?
What are we to do first?
Scream, cry, complain to others, worry, let your mind race over the possibilities.
If we take our cue from God's Prayer Pilgrim, the next step to solving sticky problems is to engage in steady supplication. PRAY!
I'm grateful that God saw fit to record some examples of prayers that work by some of His choice servants.
I. REBUILDING THE WALLS 1-7
A. Nehemiah Recognizes the need
B. Nehemiah Responds to the Need
1. By demonstrating pity for the plight of the people
2. By depending on prayer for solutions 4-11
a. Preparation to Appeal
1). Posture vs 4
"I sat down"
God is far more interested in the condition of our heart than the position of our body when we pray.
But often, the position of our body reflects the condition of our heart.
A quick survey of prayer in the Scriptures reveals a variety of approved prayer postures; sitting, laying down, standing, fallen on one's face, sitting on the ground with your head between you knees, bowed heads, kneeling, eyes looking down, eyes lifted up toward heaven.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 1Timothy 2:8
Don't be afraid to allow your body to reflect the heart. Don't stifle body language toward God.
It can be as reflective as words.
2). Passion
a). Displaying feeling
Wept and mourned for days.
The record of Scripture is stained through and through with the tears of God's people in prayer.
Our trouble is that we don't come often enough or stay long enough before God for the Spirit of God to melt and move our calloused hearts to enable us to feel the pain of another's hurts.
We need passionate prayer not emotional passivity.
Just how serious are we to alleviate the burden of others.
Moses
The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." So Moses went back to the Lord and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin - but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." Exodus 33:13 The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Exodus 33:17
Paul
I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Rom 9:1-4 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
Jesus
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13
Now we see Nehemiah engaging in heart wrenching intercession on behalf of God's people that lasts for days.
b). Fasting
Nehemiah demonstrates the seriousness of his desire and the earnestness of his petition through fasting. Details on fasting will be the subject of next weeks message.
b. The Appeal to Hear
1). Character
a). His Greatness
Then I said: "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, Nehemiah 1:5
Nehemiah comes to a Heavenly Father God who exists beyond the present difficult circumstances.
He appeals to a God who is above all and has the ability to bring about solutions.
He realizes his own helplessness and need for the help of one who is great and awesome and who has eternal, heavenly perspective on life here on this earth.
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2
Visualizing the God of heaven forces us to focus upward beyond the natural to the supernatural God who stoops to hear the humble cries of His creatures for help.
We must never allow ourselves to let the influences of this world diminish our view of God.
We must ever remember that we serve a God who is beyond our dimension, the Father of lights, our Father in Heaven, the Father of glory from who all families in heaven and earth derive their name.
Our appeal is based on the greatness of God.
He "great" in importance.
He is "awesome" worthy of fear, reverence, respect because of His importance.
b). His Goodness
A healthy dose of God's greatness becomes too potent without an equal amount of God's greatness.
Here Nehemiah appeals to the fact that He is a faithful God who keeps His word and a loving God who rescues His people.
This focus on God's faithfulness and love serves to painfully accentuate the faithlessness and rebellion of the people.
It will be the catalyst for confession shortly.
2). Perseverance
Nehemiah appeals for God to hear based on his persevering prayer.
"Lord listen to this prayer I am praying before You now day and night."
If we take the time mentioned for the answer in 2:1, in the month Nisan (April/March) we have four months of continual prayer.
I feel that Nehemiah had been praying for God to move the heart of the king everyday, fully expecting to see God work.
His request as we will see later is that God would grant compassion before the king.
We are often too impatient.
Satan attempts to arrest our prayers suggesting to us that God doesn't hear or is not going to act.
So we often at that point slip into manipulation through the flesh what God wants to orchestrate through the supernatural.
There are many examples of delayed answers due to many different reasons.
Aside from the effects of sin on answers to prayer, we may experience delays or denial due to five other reasons.
1--Delays answers to bring about greater growth or effect. Lazarus/Zechariah
2--Denies for a higher priority
3--Delays due to demonic interference
4--Delays to build faith and maturity
5--Denies that we may avoid entanglement in the unprofitable things.
We need to keep on praying.
Pray and not lose heart Luke 18:1-8
Devote ourselves to prayer Col 4:2
Pray continually I Thess 5:17
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
Do we wonder why the wiles of the enemy wipe us out? Do we wonder why we are have gaps gashed in our walls.
The early church knew the importance of devotion to prayer and the word in order to make good decisions and maintain a holy life.
James talks about the fervent prayer of a righteous man.
It was the foundation laid by persistent prayer in chapter one that made the way for the instant answer to Nehemiahs quick prayer in chapter two.
WHEN DO WE STOP PRAYING?
1--When we realize that our prayer is not God's best plan.
2--When it is evident that the person for whom we are interceding is under judgment.
"So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you. Jeremiah 7:16
3--When God says,"No!" Moses Deut 3:23-29; Paul 2Cor 12:7-10
4--When we believe that God has heard and promised to act.
3). Relationship
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. Nehemiah 1:6
Prayer other than a prayer of repentance, is for God's children.
Nehemiah reminds God of their special relationship of Master/provider and servant.
We are not to order God around.
He does not exist for our comfort or pleasure.
We were created for His pleasures.
Any appeal must be made on the basis of that understood relationship.
d). Confession
I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. Nehemiah 1:6-7
Nehemiah understood that what he sought from God went deeper than the surface.
Nehemiah was the bigger picture and thus saw the necessity of clearing the decks for himself and the people.
Sin obstructs answers to prayer.
We spent a good deal of time dealing with the ten major prayer blockers.
Our prayer must be from a pure appeal from the heart not polished pomp from the head.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; Isaiah 1:15
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. Proverbs 28:9
Nehemiah confesses sin on two levels.
1--His own
2--Those for whom he is interceding.
Confession is an agreement with God that my present problems are a result of my past pride and rebellion against Him.
It is agreeing with God as to the gravity of my rebellion from His holy perspective.
God wants us to own up to our sin.
Acknowledging that I was wrong is a difficult thing to do. There is not action on God's part without confession on our part.
We can stand in the gap for people of disobedience.
Often we must suffer discipline with them like Moses and Jeremiah.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
We should confess not only our own sins but those of our forefathers.
If we would gain God's hearing, we must restore relationship through repentance and confession.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Psalms 24:4
5). Promises
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, `If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.' "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Nehemiah 1:9-10
Many of the promises of God have certain conditions and responsibilities on our part.
When we claim promises, we must be careful to examine the context surrounding those promises.
If we have failed in our part of the covenant, there must be a confession of that failure and an appeal for mercy and grace.
God has recorded so many wonderful promises if we would take them to heart.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2Peter 1:4
6). Reverence
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Nehemiah 1:11a
Nehemiah is appealed for God to hear on the based of faithfulness and reverence to His powerful name.
This is the beauty of intercession.
Those who are in right relationship with God appeal to God on behalf of those who are not. I John 5
When we revere His name or fear His name we are responding to His character as revealed in His very name. Yahweh--the great "I AM", Adonai--Lord and Master, Elohim--the Almighty and on an on with the various other names used to describe the majesty of our God.
c. The Appeal to Act
1). Make Successful
Nehemiah does not pray with selfish motives.
During that four months he was most likely listening and preparing and dreaming what he could do to help those in Jerusalem.
Here he prays for the fulfillment of his God implanted dreams.
b). Grant Compassion
Specifically, Nehemiah wants to be able to lay aside his palace duties to go to Jerusalem and help rebuild the walls.
He does not push and manipulate, he prays.
He does not even bring up the matter and whine to the king.
He rests in God's ability to move on the heart of the king.
Our petition should be well thought out and specific.
Along with practicing persevering prayer there must be a ready participation.
God is reluctant to answer prayers or give insight when we have a heart that is unwilling to participate in the solution.
FIRST principle
Recognize needs.
SECOND principle
Develop a passion to bear burdens.
THIRD principle
Practice passionate intercessory prayer.
A plan not based on needs is useless
A plan without passion is powerless
Passion without prayer is fruitless.
Passion without persistent prayer leads to premature and fleshly plans.
We need to be in persistent prayer in order to perceive the proper path.
We are a holy, royal priesthood commissioned to intercede on behalf of one another.
It is a sin to neglect that commission.
The people all said to Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king." As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 1Samuel 12:19,23
In order to realize God's growth at Chico in the lives of each other, we need persistent pointed petition not merely periodic pointless prose.
Will you commit to continual prayer for those God puts on your heart?
Will you start with a commitment before Him?
If you don't make a decision today -- you won't follow through.
I will commit to pray for Chico on a daily basis.
I will commit to pray for individuals God lays on my heart.
