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‘DOING A GREAT WORK’

‘DOING A GREAT WORK’. Joining Nehemiah in Jerusalem. ENQUIRING & PRAYING ABOUT THE WORK. DEATH OF SOLOMON. ISRAEL DIVIDED it cannot last. ISRAEL UNITED Saul, David, Solomon. ‘a kingdom...divided against i tself ...cannot stand’ Mk 3.24. Zedekiah & the Jews were taken captive to

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‘DOING A GREAT WORK’

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  1. ‘DOING A GREAT WORK’ Joining Nehemiah in Jerusalem ENQUIRING & PRAYING ABOUT THE WORK

  2. DEATH OF SOLOMON ISRAEL DIVIDED it cannot last ISRAEL UNITED Saul, David, Solomon ‘a kingdom...divided against itself...cannot stand’ Mk 3.24.

  3. Zedekiah & the Jews were taken captive to Babylon - Jerusalem was destroyed. 70 yrs exile (586-516 BC) defeated by Assyria defeated by Babylon

  4. BUT GOD MOVED BEHIND THE SCENES THE MEDES & PERSIANS UNDER CYRUS DEFEATED THE BABYLONIANS IN 530 BC After 70 years the exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem

  5. First exiles returned with • Zerubbabel & Joshua, • the high priest • worked on the temple • came to a halt for 14 years • Haggai & Zechariah stirred • them up to work again • Under King Artaxerxes • Ezraled a group back in • 458 BC – worked with the • group around the temple • Nehemiah– born during • exile – returned to Jerusalem • to rebuild the wall & gates

  6. IT ALL BEGAN WITH AN ENQUIRY When did you last enquire about the condition of the local assembly and the Lord’s people? If you don’t want to be disturbed, don’t ask! NEHEMIAH DARED TO ASK & ITPROVED TO BE A LIFE- CHANGINGEXPERIENCE ‘I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem’, 1.2.

  7. ‘Like large doors, great life-changing events can swing on very small hinges…you never know what God has in store, even in commonplace conversation with a friend or relative; so keep your heart open to God’s providential leading’. W.Wiersbe his own PRIORITY God’s PRECISION NEHEMIAH’S ENQUIRY REVEALED… the Jews’ & the city’s PLIGHT the value of PRAYER

  8. GOD’S PRECISION ‘And it came to pass…’, v.1 it was not by chance that Nehemiah was… in Shushan (Susa) the palace in the month Chisleu-Nov/Dec in the 20thyr of king Artaxerxes the king’s cupbearer God placed him there ‘for such a time as this’

  9. NEHEMIAH’S PRIORITY ‘And I asked them…’, v.2 • His priority • was not: • Persia • the palace • his position • BUT • the people • the place • God’s glory • His heart was • ‘beyond the • river’ ‘And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not’, Jer 45.5. It’s possible to rise to prominent positions without losing our love for the Lord, His people and the local assembly.

  10. THE JEWS’ & THE CITY’S PLIGHT ‘And they said unto me…’, v.3. • THE PEOPLE • they were in great affliction & • reproach – nothing appealing • or attractive about them • THE WALL • the wall (sing.) was broken • down = separation & safety • THE GATES • they were burned with fire • gates = entry – separation • does not mean isolation – • there were times when they • were open (7.3) Not very attractive!

  11. THE VALUE OF PRAYER ‘When I heard…I…prayed’, v.4. When did you last pray about the condition of the local church/assembly and the Lord’s people? ‘I’m not responsible for present conditions’ ‘I wasn’t born in the city – I’m not part of past failure.’ NEHEMIAH COULD HAVE ARGUED… BUT NO! he identified himself with the people - do we ? ‘Jerusalem is a poor exchange for the palace.’

  12. WHAT DOES EFFECTIVE PRAYER LOOK LIKE? ‘For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears…that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you’. 2 Cor 2.4. • Nehemiah: • sat down • wept/mourned • for several days • fasted • then prayed • It is impossible to • care for the Lord’s • people & not to • mourn/weep there is no set posture for prayer, but our body language should show reverence for the Lord

  13. it sounds like confession ‘and confess the sins of the children of Israel…we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments’,1.6,7. it sounds as if I know to whom I am praying ‘I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant & mercy’, 1.4,5. WHAT DOES EFFECTIVE PRAYER SOUND LIKE? it sounds like intercession ‘wehave sinned against thee: both I and myfather’s house have sinned. Wehave dealt very corruptly against thee’ 1.6,7 it sounds as if I know the Word of God ‘Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandest thy servant Moses’, 1.8.

  14. it sounds as if I am being persistent ‘the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night’, 1.6 it was not a ‘one-off’ prayer it sounds like a personal request - at the end! ‘O Lord, I beseech thee… prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man’, 1.11 WHAT DOES EFFECTIVE PRAYER ‘SOUND’ LIKE? • ‘For I was the king’s cupbearer’, 1.11 • an advantage - close to the king – held his life in his hands • but vulnerable– he could have been viewed as disloyal • only the Lord could ensure a good outcome to his request – he • needed the Lord’s attentive ear (1.11) before he gained the • king’s ear (2.3)

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