liff and Saltillo UM Churches
February 2, 2003
“Believe that with God All Things Are Possible”
How to: Begin Dreaming Again”
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Introduction: Although the Jews completed the temple in 516 B. C., the city walls remained in a shambles for the next 70 years. These walls represented power and protection to the city of Jerusalem. They were needed to protect the temple from attack and to ensure the continuity of worship. Nehemiah found out that the exile survivors who had returned home were in bad shape and living in deplorable conditions. The people were disorganized and didn’t have the leadership needed to begin rebuilding the shattered walls. They probably didn’t even know where to start first of all. And maybe they didn’t even think that it could be done seeing their situation.
1. The problems had existed for a long time: Over 70 years had gone by with the walls in ruins. The people didn’t know what to do about rebuilding them. They were not in the best position to do anything. There were hindrances and barriers to starting such an enormous project. There could have been a lack of finances, but probably more than anything else there were psychological barriers. Maybe they didn’t think they COULD do it, maybe they felt inadequate for the enormous task, maybe they had been so beat down from living in exile all those years that they didn’t even know where to begin. At any rate they didn’t seem to have a VISION or the resources for accomplishing this project which was vital to their homeland security. They were “stuck” in a life of mere existence not one of dreaming about a better life for themselves and their children. They were just barely making it through the weeks.
Could God do anything about such longstanding problems? Probably a lot of the people didn’t feel that He could. Many probably had learned to “live with” or “cope with” the way things were. Many probably said, “I wish I could do something about it, but what can one person do?” Year after year they went on merely surviving but not seeing any positive changes take place.
We might say, “Why didn’t they call in a work crew and get this project started?” Why didn’t they apply for a federal grant? Why didn’t they start dreaming again now that they were safely back home again? Why didn’t they believe that the God who brought them back home again had a plan for their future?
It is easy for us to look back and say, “they should have seen that there was a solution to their problems,” but how many of us today have difficulty seeing a way out of our problems--especially those of long standing. We wonder, “Can God do anything about this? It has existed for such a long time.”
We, too, learn to just cope, to barely survive, and we give up on our dreams. We learn to live among the shattered ruins of our broken down walls. The walls that Nehemiah was concerned about were made of brick or stone or mud, but the walls could represent things of importance in our life that have become shattered--family relationships, finances that have crumbled, health concerns, jobs that have deteriorated, self-destructive habits that have left people unprotected from the ravages of the enemy. They had given up on their dreams of a better future. What dreams have you given up on? You might say, I prayed a long time ago and it didn’t happen. I’m too old now. I can’t do anything about these problems. I just have to “learn to live with it.”
STORY: GRASSHOPPERS DEFEATED
In one of the northern states, for several years everything had been devoured by grasshoppers. The farmers were distressed. Some devout people insisted that if they would meet conditions and pray God could and would deliver. A day of fasting and prayer was called. Some scoffed, saying, "Can God deal with grasshoppers?" The people prayed. The grasshoppers had not yet hatched out but it was almost time and folks knew they would soon appear. After the day of prayer it turned very warm; unusually so. Soon the ground was covered with grasshoppers. They literally covered the earth. Then it turned suddenly cold; very cold. The ground froze hard and every grasshopper died. That year grasshoppers did not trouble them, nor have they done so since that time. Yes, God can manage grasshoppers. By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."
Can God do anything about problems of long standing like these people faced? Can he do anything about your concerns of long standing? Can he help us to believe that with God all things are possible. Can He help ME to dream again?
Scripture tells us:
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
“Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23).
“With man this is impossible, but not with God; All things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).
Look at your problems today and apply these verses. Write your name by the scripture. Can you believe what the scriptures say as you apply it to your specific needs?
2. What Do You Do First: What do you do when your walls have fallen down and you are at ground zero? Nehemiah shows us in this scripture.
Seek the Lord first. Don’t jump in with both feet and come up with your own solution to the problem. Sometimes we jump into situations and try to “fix it” without finding out how God sees the situation. We give advice to others and say, ‘This is what I think you should do. This is the way it should be handled.”
Nehemiah did not pray an “emergency prayer” here. Verse 4 says, “[he] sat down and wept. For some days [he] mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. He confessed the sins of the people including himself. He acknowledged their wickedness and disobedience. He then reminded God of His covenant promises.”
Verse 8 “Remember the instruction you gave 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 and bring them to a place I have chosen...”
In verse 11 he asks, “O, Lord, let your ear be attentive...give your servant success today...”
What does this prayer say about Nehemiah’s relationship with God? It shows that prayer was a vital part of his life. He knew HOW TO PRAY and seek the Lord. It was not a superficial prayer.
What do you do when your life is in a mess? When your walls have fallen down, what do you do next? Many people
become discouraged
quit going to church
become isolated from others
jump from one bad decision to another grabbing at straws
mask their problems with alcohol or drugs
confess negativity, say “It won’t get any better.”
Nehemiah prayed FIRST. He worked through things so he COULD start dreaming again. He acknowledged the sin that had brought on the consequences, but he also reminded the Lord of His promises. Nehemiah had a genuine belief in God and he was ready to start Dreaming again and working again.
Story: Manager: "I’m sorry I can’t hire you, but there isn’t enough work to keep you busy."
Applicant: "You’d be surprised how little it takes." - Unknown - PULPIT HELPS, Sept., 1990
Nehemiah knew that it would take both prayer and work to get the walls rebuilt.
3. Reclaiming the Vision: Nehemiah arrived quietly in Jerusalem and spent several days carefully observing and assessing the damage. He demonstrated an excellent approach to problem solving. Before jumping into the project he determined what building materials and permits he needed and the skilled people he needed. Through prayer God guided his preparation and helped him to reclaim the vision for rebuilding the walls. He eventually shared the vision with others who could help accomplish the project.
Does God have a vision for us today? Are there walls that need to be rebuilt? Ask, “If I were to carry out this project, what would I need to do it?” God can give each of us the vision just as he did Nehemiah. Through prayer He will not only give us the ideas but guide us in our plans and preparation for carrying out the project. Trusting God does not mean that we do nothing. Prayer and Action went hand in hand for Nehemiah.
STORY:A man prayed fervently every morning at family worship for the poor in the community, but he was never known to give anything to the poor. One morning at the conclusion of the family worship, after the usual prayer had been offered for the poor and destitute, his little son said, "Father, I wish I had your corn-crib." "Why, my son?" asked the father. "Why, because then I would answer your prayer myself." -- Selected. William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations."
Before jumping into a project we can follow his example to pray, plan ahead and check all the information to make sure the ideas will work--be realistic. Then you will be able to proceed with confidence.
When we reclaim the vision we not only pray about it but we begin to formulate a plan. As you reclaim the vision, God will begin to give you some new interests and thoughts. You will say things like, “I’d like to...I wish I could...I’m excited about doing--going--I wonder if I could...”
STORY: The year was 1962... David Glass, who headed up a successful retail drug chain in Missouri, decided that he would go to the opening of Sam Walton’s second store in Harrison, Arkansas. When he got there he found that Sam Walton had dumped a couple of truckloads of watermelons out front. He had donkeys in the parking lot for the children to ride. The temperature was 115. . . So many of the watermelons had popped from the heat... and the donkeys had done what donkeys do. "The parking lot was a mess," David Glass recalls. "And inside the new store, it was just more of the same mess." "I concluded that Sam Walton was a nice fellow," David Glass said, "but I wrote him off. It was the worst store operation I had ever seen." David Glass remembers one thing: that even though Sam Walton was a nice fellow and he had written him off... he said there was something about Sam Walton, something inside him that made him improve every day. Walton is not based on setting up ideals... but having a vision for a preferred future.
Nehemiah began to see the plan emerge; and when he did, he began to share the vision with others who could help build the walls. He asked for help and didn’t try to do the enormous project by himself. In reclaiming the vision, we can surround ourselves with others who can encourage us, pray for us, and work together with us. When the groundwork has been laid carefully, we don’t need to fear. When we allow fear to rule, we make fear more powerful than God. Nehemiah proceeded with confidence. He had already asked God to give him success. He realized that if God had called him to this task that he would help him to accomplish it. We can expect God to do this for us too. Begin to reclaim the vision through prayer and action.
Let us Pray:
