Chico Alliance Church
"Prepared for Answered Prayer"
REVIEW
We have been reading the diary of a devout Jew employed in exile as cupbearer to the Persian King Artexerxes.
Even though Nehemiah had probably never seen Jerusalem or knew many people in the city, they were on his heart because they were on God's heart.
Upon hearing the news that the people were in a state of paralyzing depression and the walls broken and the gates burned, Nehemiah went directly to intense intercessory prayer concerning the situation.
For days he prayed and fasted and kept up his prayer for four months.
With feeling and fasting, Nehemiah delivered his appeal to the God of Heaven.
Appeal to Hear
God's greatness and Goodness
Nehemiah's perseverance
Relationship
Confession of sin personal and corporat
God's promises
Reverence for His name
Appeal to Heed
Make Your servant successful
Grant Your Servant compassion before the King.
Three steps in the building process so far.
1--Learn to recognized needs
2--Develop a passion to bear burdens
3--Engage in intense intercession.
Intercession on behalf of others is a wonderful privilege.
Ephesians 6 makes our commission clear.
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
Jesus is not in heaven interceding on our behalf.
but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25
For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Hebrews 9:24
If you want to study the characteristics of a good intercessor, study Luke 11:5-10.
1--They have and established relationship "friend"
2--Awareness of need "had come from a long journey"
3--Committed to help others "come to me"
4--Involved in solutions "shall go to the neighbor at midnight"
5--Humble "I have nothing to offer"
6--Perisitent
Nehemiah was a great intercessor.
But what else did Nehemiah do during these four months beside intercession?
Often times we use prayer for an excuse not to act.
"I'll pray about it."
Where is that delicate balance between the sovereign hand of God and the faithful hand of man?
Where do we find the union between intensive intercession and aggressive activity?
Why are answers to prayer delayed?
Once again, Nehemiah proves to be a superb model for us to examine and gain insight into these questions.
I. REBUILDING OF THE WALLS 1-7
A. Nehemiah researches the need 1:1-4
B. Nehemiah responds to the need 1:1-2:8
1. By demonstrating pity 1:1-4
2. By depending on prayer for solutions 1:4-11
3. By developing sensitivity to God's direction 2:1-8
a) Consistency in Prayer and performance 2:1
(1) The Time 2:1
Nehemiah has been faithful to continue to pray as well as continue to carry out his assigned duties as cupbearer all through this time.
God is always working behind the scenes to bring about desired ends.
In this case He is softening the heart of the king and allowing time for the preparation of the heart of Nehemiah.
Chapter 2:1-8 records the circumstances surrounding the answer to Nehemiah's prayer.
God can move the heart of kings to His ways.
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1
Such is the case here.
For four months, Nehemiah waited for God to move the heart of Nehemiah, each day expecting to receive the answer for success in the venture and compassion before the king.
It was a delicate matter because Artaxerxes was the one who suspended work on the walls in the first place.
Nehemiah has confidence in the greatness and goodness of God and was willing to watch and pray.
Waiting is not an exercise we are willing to cultivate.
We live in an society that demands instant gratification. Instant oatmeal, fast food, instant credit, 1 hour photo processing, drive in dairies, drive in churches, instant on TV.
Because of it we have developed little waiting room skill.
If it doesn't happen now, I will make it happen.
I don't have time to wait on the Lord.
A quicker end justifies accelerated means.
In the process we lose quality.
Haste does make waste.
God is never in a hurry. He takes the time necessary to bring about the right means, the right process as well as the right ends. We must rest in His infinite wisdom. There are many levels on which God is bringing about His plan of which we are totally ignorant until after the fact. When will we learn that He sees the whole picture and is much better qualified to bring about the desired ends.
Principle:
God's delays are not necessarily God's denials.
So must learn to continually wait on the Lord with persistent passionate prayer.
(2) The TASK
"I took up the wine and gave it to the king."
Not only has Nehemiah been persistent in his prayer before the God of Heaven but in his performance before the king on the earth. Nehemiah proved himself faithful wherever he found himself. He had not fallen victim to the greener grass disease or the bigger and better blight. He has been four months not doing anything but prayer.
He should have gone to the king right away and delivered the real scoop. "Look king. I appreciate the work these past years but God has called me to do better things than test your food for strychnine. Look Arty, compared to God you are nothing. There is no significance or eternal value in this job. I have been called to a greater task to lead God's people to glory." There are a great many lessons to be considered here that have been expressed through the ages.
"Bloom where you are planted."
"If you are not content where you are, you will not be content where you aren't."
Meaningful ministry materializes right were you are. We must be faithful where we are before we can become successful. The constant grasp for the greater is the greatest enemy of the best. God honors faithfulness. God is concerned with contentment and faithfulness NOT greatness.
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21
For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 1Corinthians 4:17
Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. Ephesians 6:21
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, Col 1:7
Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. Ephesians 6:21
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 1Timothy 1:12
Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you - although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. 1Corinthians 7:24
In a discussion on how to be great, Jesus delivered the principle of servanthood. The point here is to learn God's contentment where you are. Remain faithful in the present while waiting on God to move in the future. If we change our situation to find happiness or fulfillment or significance it is for the wrong reason. Nehemiah was willing to continue cupbearing until God answered prayer. Even though he has a passion for the situation in Jerusalem he remains faithful to his responsibilities in Susa to a PAGAN king.
b) Nehemiah's Countenance
"Now I had not been sad in his (kings) presence."
Nehemiah had not developed the practice of manipulations by mood. Many of us seek attention though our mood. Rather than express what is going on or trusting in God's grace, we display our feelings so that someone will give attention to us.
Billboard bitterness
Signal sorrow
Illuminate irritation
What we are saying is I'm hurting look at me. Pay attention to me. In Nehemiah's case such a display of depression could have proved fatal not only to the cause but to him personally. One was never to register sadness in the presence of the king. This day Nehemiah was not able to conceal the concern on his countenance.
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13
c) The King's Conclusion
So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart."
It is interesting to note the kings ability to discern Nehemiah's mood. Was it divine insight?
d) Nehemiah's Consternation
When the king acknowledged Nehemiah's countenance, he wasn't elated that finally his manipulative mood was going to bring results.
The text indicates that Nehemiah was "very much afraid." Nehemiah's fear It was perhaps a fear of not doing the right thing, and to be sure to say the right thing now that an opportunity to express his concern had been provided.
Paul experienced this sort of fear at the responsibility of properly presenting the message of the risen Christ.
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 1Corinthians 2:3-5
Often times we cannot prevent certain emotions. It is what we do with them that counts. Paul turned to Christ. He encouraged Timothy,
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 2Timothy 1:6-8
e) Nehemiah's Candor
Nehemiah turns in the same direction and speaks the truth in love and with respect.
but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Nehemiah 2:3
There are no threats, no pressure, no pleading, not visions of grandeur, no manipulation. Nehemiah simply responds honestly to the king's question. He could have backed down in face of his fear and denied that anything was wrong. Those tactics too are manipulative.
APPLICATION
How often are we so pushy to get our way that we rely on our persuasiveness rather than God's Spirit to move the hearts of others. Or we are so into ourselves that when an opportunity does come, we back down or don't tell the whole truth. Here Nehemiah simply expresses his feelings as an answer to the kings inquiry.
f) The King's Concern 4a
Nehemiah will give God the credit for the king's response later but I believe that at least part of the process was the faithfulness of Nehemiah as a good servant.
Why else should the king have any concern for this servant? Out of his concern for Nehemiah fostered by the faithfulness and prayer of Nehemiah, the king opens the door for Nehemiah by asking him what he wanted.
What an opportunity! No manipulation, no coercion, pure and simple answer to Nehemiah's request for "compassion before this man."
Jesus on one occasion asked, "What would you have me do for you?" Would you be ready for a question like that?
What if Christ would appear before us this morning and ask, "What would you have me do for Chico Alliance Church?
Let us observe how Nehemiah was prepared for answered prayer. Remember, he had been praying with fasting for some four months now.
g) Nehemiah's Course
1-- PRAYER
A rocket prayer to the God of Heaven. Even after four months of intensive prayer, Nehemiah refused to rely on his own expertise and personal prompting.
He checked it out quickly with God to see if the course that had been ingrained in his heart for the past four months was still the course God wanted. He didn't try to wing it.
Instant prayer must be built on a foundation of intense prayer.
2-- APPEALED FOR PERMISSION
Nehemiah knew the principle of earthly and heavenly authority. His appeal is based on four things.
1. The kings authority. "If it please the king."
2. Nehemiah's faithfulness. "If your servant has found favor."
3. A clear purpose. "that I may rebuild Jerusalem."
4. A definite time
"It pleased the king to send me."
3-- APPEALED FOR PROTECTION
Nehemiah knew what was needed. He prepared for this for four months as well as is under the God's direction. He knew that there would be opposition and thought ahead. What would have happened if Nehemiah and his crew would have gone all that way and did not have a "hall pass"?
4-- APPEALED FOR PROVISIONS
Nehemiah had in his mind already what might be needed for repairs. Nehemiah even knew the name of the supervisor to the lumber yard so that he could request provisions from the king. Nehemiah is bold and confident.
Nehemiah is specific. Nehemiah is successful because God is with him.
h) The King's Concession
"And the king granted them.."
i) Nehemiah's Credit
"because the good hand of my God was on me."
Nehemiah realized the part of his responsibility but also the part of God's sovereignty in answer to prayer. His ultimate success pure and simple was the goodness of God not only on Nehemiah but also on the people of Jerusalem based on confession and intercession. It was not Nehemiah's greatness but God's goodness in response to the fervent prayer of a righteous man.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CHICO ALLIANCE WITH A VISION TO BUILD
1-We must first become aware of the needs around us.
WE Cannot focus on building numbers without building people.
2--We must develop a passion to bear one another's burdens.
3--We must continue intense intercessory prayer.
4--We must prepare ourselves for answered prayer.
We pray for growth. What would happen if God would suddenly consistently fill our auditorium with people. What if God granted new Christians every week? Are we ready to do what is necessary to meet the needs of an influx of new people rather than just entertain them? Are we ready to nurture new converts so that they have a good foundation? Are we acquiring the skills and tools necessary to reach and teach followers of Christ who love God fervently, touch people effectively, and live life responsibly?
Our concentration must be on maturation not on multiplication. If we concentrate on the depth of ministry, God will take care of the breadth.
What are the needed provisions?
Facilities--provided
Prayer--in process
Teaching of the Word -- in process
Fellowship -- getting better
Committed Team members and laborers -- desperately needed
Commitment
Pray the Lord of the harvest to bring forth those laborers.
IMPLICATIONS FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS
Focus on faithfulness not on greatness.
Don't be afraid to care even though it hurts.
Persevere in prayer.
Wait on the Lord don't run on ahead.
Prepare for answers
When we wait on Him we can mount up with wings as eagles and He will provide every need.
God is a good God who longs to place his good hand upon our life.
Have you lost your hope of seeing god work in a wonderful way in your life, in the life of your family, in the life of your church? Keep faithful in the present while continuing to pray for God to move in the future. That faithfulness and prayer will prepare the ground for a harvest in due season. Our trouble is that we give up too soon. We let the walls fall and the weeds grow simply because we don't see instant results.
We have two choices.
We can be like the Jews in Jerusalem tolerating the broken walls and burned out gates in a state of mourning and reproach or we can be like Nehemiah with a passion to ARISE AND BUILD.
