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Laying the Foundation

Laying the Foundation. Prayer. Historical Background. 721 B.C. Assyrian Captivity Northern Kingdom (Israel) Ten Tribes 586 B.C. Babylonian Captivity Southern Kingdom (Judah) Fall of Jerusalem 605 B.C. Daniel Babylonian Exile. 539 B.C. King Cyrus conquers Babylon (Persian Empire)

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Laying the Foundation

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  1. Laying the Foundation Prayer

  2. Historical Background • 721 B.C. Assyrian Captivity • Northern Kingdom (Israel) • Ten Tribes • 586 B.C. Babylonian Captivity • Southern Kingdom (Judah) • Fall of Jerusalem • 605 B.C. Daniel Babylonian Exile

  3. 539 B.C. King Cyrus conquers Babylon (Persian Empire) • 536 B.C. 50,000 Jews return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple • 478 B.C. Esther becomes Queen • 458 B.C. Ezra returns • 445 B.C. Nehemiah returns

  4. Why was Jerusalem Destroyed and Judah taken into Captivity?

  5. II Chronicles 36:14-16 “Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.”

  6. “And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.”

  7. “But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”

  8. Ezra (458 B.C.) led the people to rebuild the Temple • Nehemiah (445 B.C.) led the people to rebuild the Walls

  9. Nehemiah • Born in Exile • Name: The Lord has Comforted • Cupbearer to the King • Leadership

  10. Nehemiah 1:3 “…the survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

  11. Condition of Jerusalem • Great distress and reproach • Wall is broken down • Gates are burned with fire

  12. Who Cares? “For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who will bemoan you? Or who will turn aside to ask how you are doing?” Jeremiah 15:5

  13. Condition of Our Land • Hiding in Darkness • Hopeless • Helpless • Hurting • Headed for Hell

  14. Who Cares?

  15. “The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that’s the essence of inhumanity.” Rev. Anthony Anderson in The Devil’s Disciple

  16. Nehemiah Cared Enough to Ask “…and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 1:2

  17. What you don’t know can’t hurt you! Everyone and everything is okay

  18. Will you care enough to ask?

  19. Nehemiah Cared Enough to Weep “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days…” Nehemiah 1:4

  20. “Our tears water the seeds of providence that God has planted in our path and without our tears those seeds could never grow and produce fruit.” Warren W. Wiersbe

  21. How long has it been since you wept over someone who was lost? Where is our brokenness?

  22. Nehemiah Cared Enough to Pray “…I was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4

  23. Nehemiah’s Prayer • Confidence in Who God is • Confession of their sins • Cry for God’s help

  24. Nehemiah 1:5 “And I said: ‘I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments.”

  25. Who God Is • Position • “…Lord God of heaven” • Power • “…O great and awesome God”

  26. Who God Is • Promise • “…You who keep Your covenant” • Patience • “…mercy with those who love You”

  27. Who God Is If you are attempting a great task like rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem then you need a great God!

  28. Nehemiah 1:6 “please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night,

  29. Nehemiah 1:6 “and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.”

  30. Nehemiah 1:7 “We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances, which You commanded Your servant Moses.”

  31. Confession of Their Sins • Humble • “…we have sinned” • Honest • “…we have sinned against You.”

  32. Nehemiah 1:11 “O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name;”

  33. Nehemiah 1:11 “and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man, for I was the king’s cupbearer.”

  34. Cry for God’s Help • “…desire to fear Your name” • “…let Your servant prosper” • “…grant him mercy”

  35. When Nehemiah Prayed His burden for Jerusalem became greater and His vision became clearer

  36. Nehemiah sat down and wept • Nehemiah knelt down and prayed • Nehemiah stood up and worked

  37. Do you care enough to Ask? Do you care enough to Weep? Do you care enough to Pray? Do you care enough to Go?

  38. The world is asking Do You Care?

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