POTENT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES – Part 2 of 3

Nehemiah 2:11-20 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.  (12) And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.  (13) And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.  (14) Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.  (15) Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.  (16) And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.  (17) Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.  (18) Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.  (19) But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?  (20) Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

In part one, we studied the first great quality of a leader, he PRIVATELY INSPECTS THE CONDITION. Today, we look at the second quality:

PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT – 2:17-18

The first quality of a leader is to Identify with the Brokenness – 2:17a. The word “reproach” here means, “a disgrace, to look down upon.” Nehemiah did not want God to be looked down upon by the heathen around them. Notice once again that Nehemiah used the words, “we” & “us.” Whether on the jobsite or in the home, when all you do is cast blame and criticism, you squelch motivation. But when you identify with the problem, you encourage motivation (Swindoll, pg 56). What Nehemiah prayed in private (1:6-7) is what he said in public. Mark it down - our private words eventually make it to the public. When God places you in a position of leadership (church, job, family, etc.), it is good to remember that you cannot do it all alone.

The second quality of a good leader is to Identify the Burden – 2:17b. Nehemiah made an honest assessment about the situation, not sugar-coating their condition or viewing it through rose-colored glasses. Nehemiah did not threaten or offer incentives, but appealed to their inner desire to please God and do right. What great advice for parents today!

He did not care that they had lived there in that condition for so long that they may have grown used to it and not want to put in the hard word to change. Nehemiah knew that his burden came from God, and he was not going to compromise it for anything or anyone. Every believer needs a burden & a ministry from God for God. It would be good to remember the words penned by Matthew Henry, who once wrote, “Many are weak in our duty because we are cold, indifferent, and unresolved to it.” Nehemiah was moved by God because of the great need, and he shared that burden with those around him.

The third step a good leader will take is to Identify the Blessings – 2:18. When God leads, God provides – and we should let those around us know! When the people see the credentials that the king has given him (remember, this is the same king who stopped the work during Ezra’s day), and they hear his stirring speech on the blessings of God, the people are moved to do something.

“And they said…” – they did not try to tell Nehemiah about the times under Ezra that they tried to rebuild the walls and failed. Too many Christians today are content with the disrepair around them and or they are discouraged because of past mistakes and failed attempts.

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Nehemiah knew that God could do it because He had already did it in the heart of the king, and in sharing this it convinced the Jews that the time was now to begin to rebuild. This is when Nehemiah became a leader. You are not a leader if no one is following – you’re just on a long, lonely walk! The people needed Nehemiah, and Nehemiah needed the people. You can get a lot more done for the Lord when there is one head and many hands!

Notice the word Work – this is a word that will continue to come up as we study this great book. The Bible never separates spiritual and secular work as if they are different. The Bible teaches that to the child of God nothing is secular, and everything is sacred and spiritual.

• Paul was a tent maker to help fund his ministry of starting churches that could not afford to take care of him.
• Moses was a shepherd for 40 years before God called him to lead Israel out of the bondage of Egypt.
• Nehemiah was a cupbearer, which put him into position to be used of God to get the funding needed for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

We should remember what Paul said to the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Our problem today is that we often compartmentalize everything when we shouldn’t. No matter what you are doing, and where you are doing it, do it all for the glory of God.This was a good work because it was what God wanted, and it was being done to glorify God.

In our third post, we will look at the final quality of a good leader - PERSISTENT IN SPITE OF THE CRITICS.

POTENT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES – Part 1 of 3

Nehemiah 2:11-20 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.  (12) And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.  (13) And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.  (14) Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.  (15) Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.  (16) And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.  (17) Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.  (18) Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.  (19) But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?  (20) Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

As we continue our study of Nehemiah, we see that the battle leaves the throne room and is now out in the open for all to see. We see that Nehemiah has a certain pattern to his life – pray, work, and then pray again. It could be said that prayer was the bookends of his life. It was this pattern that established Nehemiah and one of the greatest leaders known to man. Leadership has been defined as, “The art of getting people to do what they ought to do because they want to do it.”

Everyone reading this today serves a two-fold purpose as not only a follower, but a leader. You may be a leader in the church, the job site, your circle of friends, or in your family. The question we must ask ourselves today is this: How do we rate ourselves, or how effective are we, as leaders? Let’s notice together today Three Potent Leadership Qualities Nehemiah exhibited that should be evident in all of our lives today:

PRIVATELY INSPECTS THE CONDITION – 2:11-16

It has been said that a wise leader knows when to plan, when to speak, and when to work (Be Commentary, Wiersbe). This is evident in the life of Nehemiah. The first thing we notice is that he was Separated unto the Lord – 2:11. As Nehemiah enters the city with the king’s army, no one in Jerusalem seems to take much notice. But though they took little notice of him, he took great notice of them and their state.

As we will notice in 2:12, it was during these three days that Nehemiah got alone with God and God gave him the burden for the true condition of the city and the walls. I am sure Nehemiah was ready to get started, and the temptation was to jump right in to the work – but he waited 3 days for the Lord lead.

As a leader, whether it is in the workforce, in the church, or in our family, we must be willing to get alone with the Lord and wait on His timing. Often times today, we desire so much to be in the forefront of everything that we never take the time to get alone with God in obscurity. Think about the Apostle Paul. Soon after his miraculous conversion he spent three years in the desert alone with the Lord before he began his ministry.

The key is to be what you ought to be when no one is looking. Be faithful behind the scenes (Swindoll, pg. 54). It is easy to do what is right when others are around and you will be held accountable to them – but what about when no one will notice?

The second truth we notices is the Solitude of the Responsibility – 2:12,16. This is the work and responsibility of leadership that most people never see; and it is here that you will gain the respect of others. One characteristic all successful leaders share is the ability to know how to handle themselves in solitude.

God had placed a burden in Nehemiah’s heart, but he waited to tell everyone about it – they must not of had Facebook or Twitter back then! As a leader, you must be careful to not publicize your plans too soon before the people they will benefit are able to appreciate them.

It was not a mistake that Nehemiah chose to go at night. He saw more at night than the residents saw in the daylight, for he saw the potential as well as the problems. This is the mark of a great leader (Wiersbe). As a leader, there will be many sleepless nights as you are burdened with conditions as others slumber to the need around them.

Another reason, which we will cover in a later post, why he went at night was because there were some within the city who were aligned with Jerusalem’s enemy – you can read about it in Nehemiah 6:17-19.

The third observation we make is that Nehemiah Saw the Need Firsthand – 2:13-15. Chuck Swindoll has said that, “The secret of successful leadership is doing your homework.” It was the responsibility of Nehemiah to be fully aware of the details and to develop a plan of action.

The first step is always to understand fully the task at hand. That is why he inspected the walls for himself instead of just going off the report he was given in chapter 1. As he inspected the circumference of the walls, history says it was over a mile around. The new walls needed to be 3-4 feet thick, and 15-20 feet high.

The individual who is able to stand back, being fully aware of the facts, and yet not list in them, is the one best equipped to lead. Nehemiah did not overlook the problems, nor did he allow them to overwhelm him. We cannot ignore the needs around us, but must honestly asses them if we are going to be a part of the solution.

PLANNING FOR THE PURPOSE–Part 2 of 2

Nehemiah 2:1-10  And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.  (2)  Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,  (3)  And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?  (4)  Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.  (5)  And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.  (6)  And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.  (7)  Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;  (8)  And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.  (9)  Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.  (10)  When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

In Part 1, we read about the Encounter. Next we see…

THE EDICT – 2:6-8

There are three points I want to bring out in relation to the King’s edict, or response. First, we notice The Secret Companion – 2:6. It is no accident that when Nehemiah recounts the day, he makes a mention of the queen getting involved in the discussion. There is good reason to believe that this queen was none other than Esther. This may be why now that the king is more favorable to what is going on now. Remember, the book of Esther covers the time between ch. 6-7 of Ezra. And it was in chapter 4 of Ezra that this king stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Now that Esther is queen, she may have softened the king’s heart to the plight of Israel, which is why he now is helping them instead of hindering them.

Secondly, we notice The Solicitation for Contributions – 2:7-8a. While Nehemiah was praying, he was also doing some planning. Too many people today have no plan for their life, and they call it, “living by faith.” Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “The presence of faith does not mean an absence of organization (Hand me another brick, pg 37).” Nehemiah planned because he had faith that God was going to answer his prayers. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:1, “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.” Proverbs 16:9, “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

A lack of a plan shows a lack of faith in God answering your prayer. If you are praying to God and have faith that God will answer it – then have a plan and be prepared for when He does answer. The enormity of Nehemiah’s plan reveals to us the enormity of Nehemiah’s faith. In asking for all that he did, it would be the same as if the mayor of your city not only agreeing that you should build a new church building, but the city offering to finance the entire build for free. We serve a big God, so let’s pray some big prayer, and formulate some big plans!

Finally, we see The Sovereign Compassion – 2:8b. Even though Nehemiah was the one who made the request, and he had a plan in place for when the time was right – he still recognized that it was the hand of the Lord and gave God the glory. “It was not because Nehemiah was smart, but because God was sovereign. It was not because Nehemiah was great, but because God was gracious (Steven Davey , Memoirs).” This proves that delays to prayer are not necessarily denials. God was working in not only Nehemiah’s heart, but the king’s, as well. Continue on in prayer and allow God to fully work through the situation.

THE ENEMY – 2:9-10

One of the interesting aspects that I noticed in comparing and contrasting Nehemiah and Ezra was The Different Method – 2:9. When Ezra made his return to Jerusalem in Ezra 8:22-23, he did not want any help from the king or his army. Yet, we see that Nehemiah did not refuse the help. What this reveals to is that God does not always lead the same way. We don’t always have to imitate everything that those before us have done.

Whether it is breaking the cycle of sin that has plagued the previous generations of our families, or serving the Lord here at the church today – just because something was done a certain way in the past does not automatically mean that it has to be done that same way today. If you grew up in a family that did not serve God – you can change. If you are resistant to change, you need not be. The seven last words of the dying church are, “We’ve never done it that way before.”

When it comes to serving the Lord, we have it ingrained in our minds that new is always bad, or a compromise – but that is not true. Everything old, whether it is music, or a program, etc was new at one point. We reject new things because they are not biblical, not because they are different. As a church, we must embrace new things as God sends them our way and use them for the glory of God if we want to reach the next generation for Christ.

As much as is concerned with the critics, we notice The Differing Men – 2:10. Mark it down, whenever you step out by faith and try to make a difference for God – there will be critics. When you experience criticism and opposition, it does not necessarily mean you are outside the will of God. Sometimes, it reveals that you are right in the center of God’s will for your life. Don’t allow the “negative nellies” to get you off the path of your faith.

As we close this portion of Nehemiah, let me ask you: Are you planning for God to answer your prayer? Do you have a plan in place for God to use you to rebuild your family/church? If God is leading you, don’t be afraid to take a new path in serving Him.

PLANNING FOR THE PURPOSE–Part 1 of 2

Nehemiah 2:1-10  And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.  (2)  Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,  (3)  And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?  (4)  Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.  (5)  And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.  (6)  And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.  (7)  Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;  (8)  And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.  (9)  Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.  (10)  When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

In chapter 1 we learned a lot about prayer from Nehemiah. Now, we are going to learn about the importance of planning. It is good to have a plan in place, just as we will see Nehemiah did. Reminds me of a story are read recently. A certain man remembered visiting a nursery, looking for a certain type of tree for the front yard. While there he saw a sign that said, “The best time to plant a tree was 15 years ago.” The next line stated, “The second best time is today.” (1001 More Humorous Illustrations, pg 247). Many Christians are like Nehemiah in that they are praying; but they don’t continue on to chapter two and plan and prepare like Nehemiah did. Are you planning and preparing for the day God answers your prayer? That may seem like a contradiction, but as we will see in the first part of chapter two, every Christian should be PLANNING FOR THE PURPOSE.

THE ENCOUNTER – 2:1-5

There are three steps we notice in this encounter. First, Nehemiah in the Presence of the King – 2:1-4a. A servant’s appearance and countenance was very important in the presence of the king. The king wanted those whom he employed to have a happy countenance to portray and reflect the well-being brought about by his reign. Any change in Nehemiah’s behavior would arouse suspicion from the king. We see this play out in the story of Joseph, the baker and the butler (cup bearer) all in prison. Genesis 40:1-3 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. (2) And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. (3) And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

The word sad here is similar to bad/evil – “Why is your face troubled with evil?” Nehemiah’s admission of fear shows that he was totally depending upon God and had no confidence in his self. He realized what authority the king had over him, and it would be nothing short of a great work of God to change the situation. This was the same King, who in Ezra chapter 4, sent a letter at the request of Israel’s enemies and forced the rebuilding of Jerusalem to be stopped.

“Let the king live forever” – this was Nehemiah’s way of not only paying his respect to his boss, but letting him know that his change in countenance had nothing to do with some poison he ingested that was supposed to be for the king. He then begins to unload the burdens of his heart – a burden that was bottled up for over 3 months, fed continually by daily prayer and fasting. By mentioning the sepulchers, Nehemiah was appealing to an ancient tradition which held the burying place of one’s ancestors in great importance. The king is moved, and asks Nehemiah what his request is, which leads to…

Nehemiah’s Prayer to the King of Kings – 2:4b. This is the shortest, yet one of the most powerful, prayers recorded in God’s Word. In recalling the situation, Nehemiah used the transitional word “so.” This 2 letter word will appear over 32 times in this book. Nehemiah uses this word to get right to the point and respond to the situation at hand. There is no reason to deny a situation that is right in front of you – procrastination is the enemy of success – have a plan.

The first step, and most important part of Nehemiah’s plan was to pray. Even though he was in the presence of the king, he never forgot that he was always in the presence of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lord’s. In my Bible I have this note written down by this verse – Short prayers work when you stay close to the throne. Nehemiah was able to send up a short, quick prayer because he had already spent much time in dedicated, sincere prayer. The key is not the length of your prayer, but the loyalty to the one you pray to. God was just a prayer away from Nehemiah, and the same is true for us today.

Nehemiah’s Petition to the King – 2:5. He did not force the issue, but humbly told the king the situation and allowed God to move in his heart. We cannot try to manipulate people into doing what we want, but wait and be patient for the Lord to do His work in His timing. When you manipulate people, you may get what you want – but it will not last. We must exercise patience and allow God to work in people’s heart.

In part 2, we will see Edict and the Enemy.

Book Review: Daddy Dates by Greg Wright

PUBLISHER’S OVERVIEW: Daddy Dates gives the average Joe easy steps to actively and successfully engage with his daughter and raise a confident woman-to-be. When faced with the reality of raising four (4!) teen daughters, Greg Wright went on a soul quest. He came back with a mission: Don’t Screw Up. This funny, insightful, and relatable book poses the wildly original concept that should be a “duh” for most dads—but isn’t: In order to raise a confident woman-to-be, show your daughter what it feels like to be treated with love, respect, and true interest by a man who loves her. Daddy Dates shows the average father how to actually do that. It is written in an original voice and will appeal to both men and women. It is the kind of action-oriented “how to” material that guys enjoy, and so many others will recommend to other dads.

MY THOUGHTS: This was a book that I was really looking forward to reading and reviewing. Not because I knew the author – I did not. It was because of the subject matter of this book: a dad and his daughters. As a father of four girls all under the age of 7, I realize I have my hands full – as many people “kindly” like to point out after they realize all our girls are in fact girls. There “helpful” reminders usually come after a version of the phrase, “No boys, huh?…..are you going to keep trying?….etc.” as if it is a bad thing to have only girls and we need a boy to be complete. Who knows what are future holds in store, but this one thing I know: I have A LOT to learn about when it comes to raising daughters.

The author, Greg Wright, does a great job relating what he has, and is, doing with his daughters, which is what makes this book unique. It is not written “after the fact,” but by someone who is currently, “going through it.” Sometimes, after we have experienced something, we forget all the details of the everyday battles and struggles, and he does a good job covering it and you can relate in many ways to what he is going through. Though, I must admit that it makes me want to read a “10-years later” chapter to see how it all worked out.

His ideas on how to deal individually with each daughter, and how he goes about it, are very helpful and something that I will be implementing in my relationship with my girls. I especially enjoyed the chapter on dealing with your daughter as she turns thirteen, and the fact that, like me, he does not allow his daughters to date while they are in high school (not that we are there yet, but I have made that determination. In my mind, there in NOTHING good that can come from High School dating. As I once read somewhere else, it is nothing more than showing kids how to divorce when they get older.). Not too many people that I have come across share this idea, and so it was refreshing to see that I was not the only one.’

MY RECOMMENDATION: Now, if you are looking for a book that is heavy on Bible verses and characters, this is not the book for you. While there are some underlying biblical principles in the book, and the occasional church/youth group mention, that is not his focus. And while I do not agree with the author on areas of children and music/movies/etc., overall this is a really good book and anyone who is a dad to daughters would benefit greatly by reading it.

BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review.

Fountain Pen Review: Lamy Safari Fine Tip

{This my first foray into Fountain Pen Reviews}

Today, I am reviewing the Lamy Safari Fountain Pen with a fine nib that I purchased from http://www.jetpens.com. Up front let me tell you that I am some what of a “rookie” when it comes to using Fountain Pens. I already had a couple of other brands that were Med nib (I will review those in the coming weeks), and so I was looking for something that was a fine nib that I could use everyday, and did not cost too much. Here are my thoughts:

• The Fine Nib – I wasn’t quit sure how I felt about writing with it when I first got it. It seemed “scratchy” when I first started writing with it, but after a  couple of times that issue no longer exist. Some of that may be to the fact that I just put the ink cartridge in and began to write without doing any prep work to the nib.
• It has a viewing window for the ink, but serves no purpose for me as I am using the blue ink cartridge that came with it. I am looking forward to getting a convertor for it and filling my own ink. The ink that comes with it seems to have a little bit of fading issue, but that may be do more to the paper I am writing on with it.
• The clip – this was the biggest obstacle I had in purchasing this pen. I just could not decide if I liked this style of clip, or not. It is definitely unique, and while it may not be the most elegantly designed, it is very practical in use and I am liking more and more as I use this pen every day.
• It also has a flat edge grip, or what they call a comfortable grip. Usually I am not a fan of non-rounded pens and extra grips, but this one works for me.

Overall, this has been a great, every day fountain pen and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants one but does not want to spend a lot of money.

The Path To A Powerful Prayer Life – Part 2 of 2

Nehemiah 1:5-11  And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:  (6)  Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.  (7)  We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.  (8)  Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:  (9)  But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.  (10)  Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.  (11)  O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

In the previous post, we covered the Priority of Sovereignty, now we see:

A - ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SIN – 1:6-7

Once we recognize God as being sovereign, our next step down the path of powerful prayer will be to acknowledge our sin. We should respond as Isaiah did once he saw the Lord high and lifted up - Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

A child of God cannot have a proper view of God and still condone and be unrepentive of their sin. Many paths of prayer come to an abrupt stop because we are unwilling to recognize and acknowledge our sin. I like what Stephen Davey says on this subject – God does not forgive excuses, He forgives sin. (pg 28). The acknowledgement we read of in 1:7 is no blanket confession, but he named sin one by one. He did not live in some made-up dream world were everything was perfect all around him, but became personally responsible and concerned with the need. Alan Redpath once wrote, “Let us learn this lesson from Nehemiah: you never lighten the load unless you have first felt the pressure in your own soul. You are never used of God to bring blessing until God has opened your eyes and made you see things as they are (Hand Me.., pg 21).”

Nehemiah did not respond like the typical Christian does today to problems and bad reports. Our first response today usually is, “Who’s fault is this…who do I have to get on to?” Instead, Nehemiah demonstrated compassion and wept to God for his own sin and the sins of the people. Acknowledging our sin before God is of the utmost importance because our sin separates us from God in prayer. There are two types of people who are separated from God by sin

• Lost - John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Many people claim to believe in God but not in Jesus and think that God hears them when they pray and they are wrong. The 1^st prayer of the unbeliever that God hears is the prayer asking Jesus Christ to be their saviour.
• Disobedient Christians - Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: The word regard does not mean to be sinless, it means to approve, enjoy. When we refuse to repent and turn away from known sin, or when we choose to do something knowing, “I can just ask for forgiveness afterwards…” it separates us from God and He will not hear our prayer

T - TRUST IN THE SCRIPTURES – 1:8-10

The Bible has been called given many names by many Christians. One is “The Answer Book,” or “The Instruction Manual For Life.” But a better, more accurate description is, “The Promise Book.” Why? Because it does not matter what it says if you do not trust it. In Nehemiah’s prayer, he quotes and paraphrases from Ex. 20:6, Lev. 26:33, Deut. 30:2,4, and Ex. 32:11.

Nehemiah recognized the first part was true and fulfilled; now he was pleading to God to fulfill the second part of the promise. Same for us today. Jesus has already came the first time and died for our sins and rose again from the grave the third day. Now, we are praying for God to fulfill the second part of His promise and return to take the saints to heaven with Him.

Nehemiah was able to pray this way because he hid God’s Word in his heart and his mind. In great time of need and despair, he recited and paraphrased it back to God. Stephen Davey shares this thought on this subject – Nehemiah had a grasp of the Word, and the Word had a grip on him (pg 33). I think that one of the main reasons that many Christians don’t know what to say in prayer is because they don’t know what God has already said to them in His Word.

H – HUMILITY IN SUPPLICATION – 1:11

The last thing that Nehemiah prayed for was his request. The first thing we usually pray for was the last thing he prayed for. Being humble means laying aside your own pride, and your own ideas, and fully submitting yourself to God. Nehemiah personally signed up to be the solution. He was willing to put “feet to his prayer.”  “The greatest thrill in praying is not necessarily in receiving an answer, but in becoming the answer. (Nehemiah: Memoirs of an Ordinary Man, pg. 34)” Is it our prayer that God that He might use us to fulfill His will?

Remember our boy who was asked to pray for the meal but just started eating instead? His parents asked him why he didn’t pray, and the boy answered, “I already prayed for this food; these are leftovers!” (1001 More Humorous Illustrations For Public Speaking, pg 256). This boy has already traveled down that path for that meal.  Are you on the path to a powerful prayer life?

Priority…Acknowledge…Trust…Humility.

The Path To A Powerful Prayer Life - Part 1 of 2

Nehemiah 1:5-11 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:  (6) Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.  (7) We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.  (8) Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:  (9) But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.  (10) Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.  (11) O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

A little boy was asked to pray before the meal. The boy looked over the meal set on the table before bowing his head. He picked up his fork instead and began to eat. His parents asked him why he didn’t pray before his meal. We will find out why the boy did not pray in just a moment, but it reminds me that a lot of people are puzzled and confused when it comes to prayer.

There are few places better in God’s Word to learn about prayer than the book of Nehemiah. A study in the life of Nehemiah is a study in the life of prayer. There are few prayers that you will ever read that are greater than this one before us today.

Notice with me the Focus of Nehemiah’s prayer. If you read Nehemiah 1:1, then 2:1 and study the different names of the months they used during Nehemiah’s day, you would notice that it covers a span of approximately 100 days. And as we see in 1:11, he prayed everyday that that day would be the day.

Nehemiah was consistent and persistent in his prayer for God’s intervention. Reminds me of that great prophet Isaiah and what he says in Isaiah 62:6-7, “ …ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, (7) And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” There is a single subject that that this grouping of books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) share. Remember when Mordecai was encouraging Esther to do something about Haman’s plan to have all the Jews killed in the book of Esther? He tells her in Esther 4:14, “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” I believe Nehemiah realized that God had placed him in a position of prominence for such a time as this, and his prayer reflected this great desire and burden. It was Chuck Swindoll who wrote this about Nehemiah – It is a tough combination to find a person who holds a high position in the eyes of the world and yet who is tender before God (Hand Me Another Brick, pg 19).

You understand that what Nehemiah was asking for was something that would be considered humanly impossible. While being the one who made sure the king’s food and beverages were not poisoned may not seem like a desirable job for us today, you have to remember that these were different times. Kings would often pick the best and brightest of those in their captivity for this sacrificial job. It had to be someone who he trusted, and with this great trust came great benefits. History shows that these cupbearers were often respected and honored more than even the king’s own family. So to be released from his position of king’s cupbearer and allowed to go back to Jerusalem for a rebuilding project would be unprecedented. Would the king be willing to give up the one person he has grown to trust in making sure that his meals and drinks were not poisoned? Nehemiah’s prayer needed to be very focused.

Also, we notice the Friend’s of Nehemiah’s Prayer. Something I have overlooked until I was studying for this series was a small phrase tucked away in 1:11, “…and the prayer of thy servants…” What an encouragement to Nehemiah to know that he was not alone in praying for God’s help. There are times in your life when you can literally feel the prayers of God’s people moving and motivating you. You will never be closer to a friend than when you pray together.

Prayer is one of the greatest weapons the Christian has at their disposal; yet it is often the tool that is most neglected and under used. One of the reasons is that there are a lot of questions surrounding how to pray. A preacher once shared this thought and said, “I am often asked this question, “How does prayer work?” My answer usually begins with the admission, “I don’t know how prayer works, I just know that prayer is work, and those who work at prayer discover prayer works!” (Nehemiah: Memoirs of an Ordinary Man, pg. 21)

Let me ask you this question today - How powerful is your prayer life today? Stephen Davey, in his book Nehemiah: Memoirs of an Ordinary Man, gives us a path to follow that leads to a powerful prayer life that I want to share with you.

P - PRIORITY OF THE SOVEREIGN – 1:5

The word Sovereign is one you often hear in description of God, which means supreme ruler, above all others. Dr. Harry Carr, in his book This I Believe, defines it this way - The sovereignty of God is not a divine attribute. It is the exercising of the divine will of God (This I Believe, pg. 44). We must always remember when we begin to pray that we are praying to the Sovereign, and we are His servants.

The first step down the path of powerful prayer is at the feet of the sovereign God’s throne. When we pray, we are not trying to manipulate and pressure God into doing what we want Him to. God is not some genie in a bottle who grants us three wishes. We must always pray as Jesus prayed in the Garden just before His trial and death by crucifixion – Not my will, but thine will be done. This is the start to the Lord’s model prayer – Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Our prayers should be a balance of boldness and reverence. Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we can enter into the holy of holies and approach the throne of grace. So, we can approach God with confidence because we have been invited. Yet, we do so with trembling because we are aware Who it is that has invited us.

Part two