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Living IN PRAYER

Explore the story of Nehemiah in the book of Nehemiah, as he returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and reform the people. Discover the power of prayer, the importance of empathy, and the wisdom found in seeking God's guidance. This study will inspire and encourage you to live a life of prayer and make a difference in your community.

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Living IN PRAYER

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  1. NEHEMIAH Living IN PRAYER Nehemiah 1

  2. Ezra & Nehemiah - Timing Smerdis 522 Xerxes I (Ahaseurus) Xerxes II 424 Artaxerxes Darius Cyrus Cambyses Darius II 559 522 424 530 486 465 404 575 BC 375 BC 475 BC Ezra Returns to Jerusalem BC 457 Ezra 7:7 Neh. Returns To Reform People BC 433 Neh.13:6 Decree of Cyrus BC 536 Ezra 1:1 Completion Of Temple BC 516 Ezra 6:15 Death of Seraiah? 586 BC II Kings 25:18-21 Neh. Returns to Jerusalem to Build Wall BC 445 Neh.2:1, 1:1 AD70 AD27 AD33 BC 606-536 + 62 Weeks unto Messiah 7 weeks 70 Years Captivity Jer.25:12,29:10,Dan.9:2 Daniel’s 70 Week Prophecy AD27 AD33 AD 30-31 Stephen – Gospel To Gentiles Ministry Begins Crucifixion

  3. Who was Seraiah? Ezra 7:1 Nehemiah 10:2,11:11

  4. Nehemiah Chapter 1 v.1 Shushan the Palace - 200mi E of Babylon - winter residence of Persian monarchs Exhort - Neh. - Living in the lap of luxury - mind was elsewhere “Looking beyond the temporal to the eternal” v.2 “Hanani” - ‘gracious’ - Neh. bro. in the flesh - faithful - 7:2 Jerusalem to Shushan 800-1,000 miles! WHY ? Exhort - Recognize strength of others!

  5. Nehemiah’s Concern (v.2) 1. The Escaped Jews - the remnant - Ezra 9:8,9,14, Is.37:31-32, 4:2 A love for the people of God! I Pet. 1:22 2. Jerusalem Ps.122:6-9 Ps.137:5-6 Jer.51:50 - ‘Let Jerusalem come into your mind’

  6. v. 3 “The Remnant” Heb. ‘to remain, be left over, be left behind’ (perhaps old, infirmed, wives, children) “affliction” - Heb. ‘misery, to suffer hurt or wrong’ “reproach” - Heb. ‘scorn, taunt’ - Ps.44:10-14, 79:4 broken down “The Wall of Jerusalem is Jer.39:8 Jer 52:14 II Kings 25:10 Walls and Gates Remained as the Chaldeans had left them 100 yrs. ago!!!!!

  7. v. 4 SAT DOWN WEPT MOURNED FASTED PRAYED Empathy “weep with them that weep” Rom.12:15 “ I will gather them that are sorrowful” Zeph.3:18 Ecc.7:3, II Cor.7:10, Prov.15:13, Ps.126:4-6 ….. certain days 3-4 months! v. 5 " Effectual Fervent Prayer " James 5:16

  8. Life Changing Events Hanani Journeys to get Nehemiah Good Result Good Decision Good Choice Significant Emotional Event Emotional Rx Take Right Action Worked Together Building Wall The Remnant in Jerusalem Invent Possibilities Nehemiah – Creates Opportunity Prayer Fellowship Godly Wisdom

  9. JAMES - Effectual Fervent Prayer ‘If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God’ (1:5) Gr. , RV – add conjunction ‘but’ Gr. ‘sophia’ – ‘insight into the true nature of things’ (Vine) Gr. ‘wanting, destitute’ – 2:15 Ex.31:1-6, 36:1-4 – ‘in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted have I put wisdom’ Job 28:12-28 – Where shall wisdom be found? Prov. 9:1-6,9-10 – Calling of Miss Wisdom ASK Mt.7:7-11

  10. JAMES - Effectual Fervent Prayer How do we ASK so God will hear? Searching/Yearning – Prov.2:3-6, Jer. 29:11-13 Willing to Spread it Out Before Him – Is. 37:14 Attitude Don’t Stop Praying – Luke 22:44 In my name – Jn.14:13, 16:23-24 We abide in Christ…his words abide in us – Jn.15:7 Conditions Keep his commandments – I Jn.3:22 According to His will – I Jn.5:14-15

  11. JAMES - Effectual Fervent Prayer ‘let him ask in faith nothing wavering’ (1:6) Gr. ‘conviction, constancy’ Gr. ‘not even one’ Gr. ‘doubting’ Thayers – ‘be at variance with oneself, hesitate,doubt’ Same Gr. wd. Rom.4:20 – ‘staggered not’ Mk.11:23 – ‘doubt in his heart’ Mt.21:21 – ‘doubt not’ Ja.2:4 – ‘partial’

  12. JAMES - Effectual Fervent Prayer ‘Is any sick among you.’ (5:14) Gr. ‘astheneo’ – ‘to be feeble (in any sense)’ Thayer – ‘to be weak, to be without strength, powerless’ 1. Physically weak. 2. Morally/spiritually sick. Mt.10:8 – ‘heal the sick’ Mk.6:56 – ‘laid the sick in the streets’ Lu.4:40 – ‘sick with divers diseases’ Jn.5:3,7 – ‘multitude of impotent folk’ Jn.6:32 – ‘diseased’ Jn.11:1,2,3,6 – ‘Lazarus was sick’ Phil.2:26 – ‘Epaph. … had been sick’ Acts 20:35 – ‘support the weak’ Rom.4:19 – ‘being not weak in faith’ Rom.14:1-2 – ‘him that is weak in faith’ Rom.14:21 – ‘is made weak’ I Cor.8:9 – ‘them that are weak’ I Cor.8:11 – ‘the weak brother perish’ I Cor.8:12 – ‘weak conscience’ PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL ??

  13. JAMES - Effectual Fervent Prayer ‘the prayer of faith shall save the sick’ (5:15) Gr. ‘kamno’ – ‘to toil, tire (fig. faint,sicken)’ ‘to grow weary, be weary’ (Thayers) ‘weariness of mind’ (Vines) • Used 3X • Heb.12:3 – ‘wearied’ • Rev.2:3 – ‘fainted’ • Ja.5:15 • LXX – Job 10:1 – ‘my soul is weary of my life’

  14. JAMES - Effectual Fervent Prayer ‘effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (5:16) Gr. ‘to have (exercise) force’ – Phil.4:13 ‘I can do all things through Christ’ one Gr. wd. ‘energeo’ – ‘to be active, efficient’ ‘to be operative, be at work, put forth power’ (Thayer) RV – ‘the supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working’ Philips – ‘tremendous power is made available through a good man’s earnest prayer’ Wey. – ‘the heartfelt supplication of a righteous man exerts a mighty influence’

  15. NEHEMIAH EFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN…. FOR THOSE WHO ARE WEAK AND FATIGUED HOW DO WE PRAY?

  16. PRAYER SURVEY • November 2011 • Conducted On-Line • Global Christadelphian Community • ~ 400 respondents • Bro.Steve Davis for Bro.Wkd.

  17. In the past 6 months, how often have you prayed? 94.9%

  18. When do you usually pray? (Select all that apply)

  19. In the past 6 months, my prayers generally relate to… (Select all that apply)

  20. If married, do you regularly pray with your spouse?

  21. If you have children, do you: (select all that apply)

  22. Does God Answer Your Prayers?

  23. Overall are you Satisfied with your Prayer Life? 47.2%

  24. Feeling the need to pray Falling asleep in mid-prayer Making time for God in my day Apathy Concentration Too busy Distractions of Life Hard to focus Mind wanders Lack of Faith If you have struggled praying, what are your biggest obstacles?? Depression Repetitions – Repeating myself Knowing what to say Finding the right words Anger Fatigue-Lethargy-Laziness-Lack of energy Prioritizing prayer Lack self-discipline

  25. Pray Brethren Pray • WHERE SHOULD I PRAY? • Fishes Belly - Jonah2:1 • Ship’s Deck - Acts 27:35 • In the King’s Presence - Neh. 2:4 • Facing Toward the Wall - Is. 38:2 (Hezekiah) • Face Toward Jerusalem - Dan.6:10 • In Public Silently - I Sam.1:13 (Hannah) • PRAYER POSTURE • Hands Uplifted - Ps.28:2, I Tim. 2:8 • Standing - Mark 11:25 • Kneeling - Eph. 3:14, Ps. 95:6 • Prostrate - overwhelming emotion - Ezek. 11:13, Mt.26:39 • Bowing Head - Gen.24:48, Ex.34:8, I Chron.29:20 It’s not the position of the body…. It’s the disposition of the MIND ! • PRAYER TIME • Morning and Night - Ps.141:1-2, 88:1 • Three Times per Day - Dan. 6:10 • Seven Times per Day - Ps. 119:164 • Daily - Ps.86:3 • Morning - Ps. 5:3, 11:13 • Midnight - Acts 16:25 KEY = Make the time!

  26. The Language of Prayer “ Godly men make requests framed in biblical thoughts, and even in Biblical Language.” v.5 “great and terrible God” Deut. 7:21 “keepeth covenant” Deut. 7:9 “observe his commandments” Ex.20:6 v.6 “let thine ear now be attentive” II Chron.6:40 v.7 “have not kept the commandments..” Deut.5:28-31 Deut.6:1,8:11-14 v.8 “if ye transgress…I will scatter” Lev.26:39-45 Deut. 28:64, 30:1-4 v.9 “but if ye turn unto me” Deut.30:1-2 v.10 “thy people” Deut.9:26 Familiarity with the Law in a Foreign Land!!!!

  27. The Attitude of Prayer “The self-sufficient do not pray; they merely talk to themselves. The self-satisfied do not pray; they have no knowledge of their need. The self-righteous cannot pray; they have no basis on which to approach God.” (Nehemiah - Learning to Lead pg.22-23) Structured Prayer Adoration v.5 Confession v.6,7 - note: “we” ACTS Thanksgiving v.8-10 Supplication v.11

  28. The Prayers of Nehemiah • 1:5 “I beseech thee” • 2:4 “So I prayed” • 4:4 “Hear O our God” • 4:9 “…we made our prayer” • 5:19 “Think upon me, my God” • 6:9 “strengthen my hands” • 6:14 “My God, think upon….” • 13:14 “Remember me, O my God” • 13:22 “Remember me, O my God” • 13:29 “Remember them…” • 13:31 “Remember me, O my God”

  29. We need God’s help and guidance every moment: in everything we do, in every step we take -- however simple or trivial. This is the whole secret of life. Without this, we do not have a chance. Without this, we are just blind, perishing animals, bumbling out our sad, brief, faceless existence to death and oblivion. Train yourself to keep God in the very forefront of your mind at ALL times. Let Him totally dominate your thoughts. Make pleasing Him your only motive and desire. Keep pulling your mind back to this, over and over. It will wander, for we are all, and will always be, very much children -- but never give up forcing it back. Don’t worry over the failures: we can’t change anything that’s past. Just keep concentrating on the effort. This is reality. This is living. This alone is joy and peace. G. V. Growcott

  30. v. 6 “Let thine ear now be attentive” Ps. 34:15 - ‘eyes and ears of Lord open to cry of the righteous’ “day and night” Lu. 18:7-14 - prayer of wicked - prayed with himself!!!! - prayer of righteous - God be merciful to me!!! “confess” Proverbs 28:13 - Exhort - necessary step for forgiveness!!! v. 8 “Remember ….the word” Ps.119:49-50 - ‘….upon which thou hast caused me to hope’ Lev.26:39-42 - ‘if they confess…remember cov’t & land’

  31. v. 9 “keep my commandments” ‘guard, observe, give heed’ - Not a passive act - an active principle! THEN GOD WILL HEAR OUR PRAYER!! “though you were cast out…yet I will gather” ‘thrust out, banished’ Jer. 29:11-14 “the thoughts I think toward you saith the Lord,…… thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end”

  32. v. 11 Thy Servant Def’n - one who ‘desires to fear thy name’ All about an attitude... ‘delight, have pleasure in’ ‘inspire reverence, be held in awe’ Exhort Service in the family of Christ will be a natural by-product of such a state of mind!

  33. The Prayer of a Servant “prosper” ‘to push forward’ Exhort Asking God to give him a push! Asking God to push him beyond his comfort zone! • here we’re dependent upon God • requires us to live by faith “grant him mercy in the sight of this man” Nehemiah’s confidence ... ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord’ Proverbs21:1

  34. EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER Prayer…must pervade every aspect of our life…must be part of every event in our life…our life must be an enacted prayer…including the Lord in every aspect of our being. Prov.3:6 – ‘In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths’ Phil.4:6 – ‘Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer & supplication’

  35. Live by the Power of Prayer Good Result Good Decision Good Choice Significant Emotional Event Emotional Rx Take Right Action Invent Possibilities Godly Wisdom Prayer Fellowship

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