Mar. 30, 2025

Nehemiah 1:5-11

Staying the Course When Things Don’t Change as Much as You Would Like

“The true success of any church is going to be prayer. We can easily deceive ourselves, but our purity and our power and our spirituality and our holiness will parallel our prayer” AW Tozer, Fellowship of the Burning Heart

1. What Usually Brings Prayer On

A. Jerusalem’s condition (v. 3)

B. Nehemiah’s commitment (v. 4)

536 BC- Zerrubabel, Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah- built houses and finally at the direction of the prophets they rebuilt the Temple as was Cyrus’ original direction by 516.

458 BC- 58 years after finishing the Temple, a second wave of Jews, led by Ezra, attempted to move back to Jerusalem to help restore God’s Law.

444 BC- 72 years after finishing the Temple, Nehemiah and a third wave of Jews return to Jerusalem to actually rebuild the walls and the other parts of the city.

C. What are you praying for?

Acts 4:23-31

2. Knowing God and Prayer (vs. 5, 6)

A. Evidence of a Believer’s Heart

Leviticus 26:42

Exodus 19:5-6

B. First Appeal (v. 6a)

1 Thessalonians 5:17

3. Realizing Where We Stand (vs. 6b-11)

A. Confession (vs. 6b-8)

B. Promises to be rebuilt

Leviticus 26:40-45

1 John 1:8-10

C. They did not stop being God's people (v. 10)

Psalm 107:1-3

1 Peter 1:14-19

D. You Are More Powerful than the King (v. 11)

Revelation 4:8, 11

Reflection:

1. What moves you to prayer?

2. Are you willing to pray?

3. When is the last time you had a concentrated time of prayer?

4. How have you applied 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in your life?

Follow UP in the Word through the Week…

Monday:

Read: Acts 4:23-31

What brought on this prayer meeting according to the verses above this passage? What do you notice about how they prayed? How could that help you to pray with others?

Tuesday:

Read: Leviticus 26:42

What does God say He will remember in this verse? In what ways would He remember it?

Wednesday:

Read: Exodus 19:5-6

These words are delivered right before Israel receives the 10 Commandments. Describe in a way you could explain to someone else what God asks of His people in these verses.

Thursday:

Read: Leviticus 26:40-45

What is the promise that the Lord gives in these verses?

Friday:

Read: 1 Peter 1:14-19

What is Peter’s instruction to those who read his letter? How does Peter describe what has been done for Christians in these verses?

Saturday:

Read: Revelation 4:8-11

If you are feeling powerless in a situation, how can this reality and the words spoken in this passage help?