Problems into Possibilities. Part 2 of 3.
Scripture: Nehemiah 1-2
Intro:
Last time, we talked about problems. Problems not only in our lives, but problems facing all of us as believers and as a nation. Today we are going to look at the second step we need to take to maximize God’s plan in our lives. If you remember, we talked about the need to visualize. That is being able to see, or visualize our problems before we can consider turning them into possibilities. You see, in the life of Nehemiah, his friends came to him and told him of the condition of Jerusalem and it’s people, or his people. He had to visualize the problems being faced in order to realize God’s plan, and then make the plan a reality. Friends, that is what we need to do today.
1. The Need to Agonize.
Not only must we visualize the problem, but then we must agonize over the problem. Consider Nehemiah 1:4
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
A. A Prayer of Contrition.
What kind of prayer did Nehemiah offer? First, it was a prayer of contrition. Nehemiah wept salty tears over the condition of Jerusalem. Do you know what is wrong with our society and our churches? Our society has forgotten how to blush and our churches have forgotten how to weep. Let me ask you, when was the last time you spent a night in prayer? When was the last time you fasted and prayed? When was the last time you shed a tear over some soul that was mortgaged to the devil? Friends, we pray without crying, give without sacrificing, and live without fasting. Is it any wonder that we sow without reaping? I am afraid that weeping and fasting and praying and seeking the face of God have become a lost art in America. But there is no way that America will come back to God until God’s people learn again to pray the prayer of brokenness. Nehemiah wept and agonized over the broken down condition of God’s city and the plight of God’s people.
B. A Prayer of Confession.
Not only was Nehemiah’s prayer one of contrition, but it was also a prayer of confession.
“Let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night for Your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against You.” Nehemiah 1:6
I want you to notice the confession in this prayer. It was both national and personal. Nehemiah said, “Israel has sinned, and I have sinned.” If we don’t repent, we are part of the problem. National repentance will do no good unless we individually repent as the people of God. And unless we are ready to repent, it does no good to weep and mourn. It’s not enough to weep tears. Nehemiah prayed a prayer of genuine confession.
C. A Prayer of Confidence.
Here’s a third characteristic of Nehemiah’s prayer. His was also a prayer of confidence.
“Remember the instruction You gave Your servant Moses saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to Me and obey My commandments, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ They are Your servants and Your people, whom You redeemed by Your great strength and Your mighty hand.” Nehemiah 1:8-10.
Nehemiah is reminding God of what He said in His Word. He’s saying, “God, remember the promises You made. God, I am holding You to Your Word.” Isn’t that awesome? Now that’s what real prayer is!! Prayer is not thinking of some things you want and going to God with a shopping list. Real prayer is rooted in the rock solid promises of the Word of God. It is finding a promise in the Word of God and then standing on it. God loves to hear us pray His Word back to Him. Nehemiah came to his heavenly Father audaciously. He said, “Father, I am praying in confidence. I believe You because You promised. And because You promised, Lord, I am holding You to Your Word. Friends, we serve a Great God!! Someone has said that prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness. Find a promise in the Bible, which means it is something God wants to do, and then stand on it. Pray big prayers!! Big prayers can turn your big problems into big possibilities.
D. A Prayer of Commitment.
Nehemiah also prayed a prayer of commitment. He was ready to put feet to his petitions.
“O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. I was cupbearer to the king.” Nehemiah 1:11
Nehemiah had a very important job. He was cupbearer, as well as trusted confidant and counselor, to a lavishly wealthy king named Artaxerxes. He lived in the splendor of the king’s palace. Nehemiah had the king’s ear and was a wonderful advisor. We could be safe to say that the king probably took good care of Nehemiah. We are talking about a man in a high paying position. Not bad for a captive and slave. As the cupbearer to the king, he probably lived in luxury, away from the poverty and degradation and humiliation of the Israelites in Jerusalem. He was in a place of security. He could have said, “Let those people make their own way, I did.” But he couldn’t turn his back on his people. God had burdened him for the people and the city. When he visualized the condition of the fallen walls, he said, “By the grace of God, I’m going to do something about it. I’ve got to use my position of influence with the king to help my people.” As he prayed, he felt God calling him to get involved. Nehemiah asked God to bless him as he prepared to leave the safety and security of his position and put himself on the line for God’s people and God’s city. He was committed to do whatever it took to accomplish the task. Now, on the subject of prayer, it is not a substitute for commitment. It is not enough for you to pray the prayer of contrition, the prayer of confession, and the prayer of confidence unless you are also willing to pray the prayer of commitment.
Conclusion: Friends, prayer is not a smokescreen behind which we can hide our lack of commitment. Someone once said that you can’t do more than pray until you’ve prayed. But I think we should do more than pray after we’ve prayed. Mark my words, it will take all the commitment you and I can muster to visualize the problems and turn them into possibilities. Too many of us don’t want to leave our secure, warm little comfort zones. Instead, we want God to turn our problems into possibilities while we sit by and watch Him work. A comedian once said, “Somebody asked me what my religion was. I told him I was a Jehovah’s bystander. They wanted me to be a Jehovah’s Witness, but I didn’t want to get involved.” Does that remind you of anybody you know?
Pastor Harold Trent.
Scripture: Nehemiah 1-2
Intro:
Last time, we talked about problems. Problems not only in our lives, but problems facing all of us as believers and as a nation. Today we are going to look at the second step we need to take to maximize God’s plan in our lives. If you remember, we talked about the need to visualize. That is being able to see, or visualize our problems before we can consider turning them into possibilities. You see, in the life of Nehemiah, his friends came to him and told him of the condition of Jerusalem and it’s people, or his people. He had to visualize the problems being faced in order to realize God’s plan, and then make the plan a reality. Friends, that is what we need to do today.
1. The Need to Agonize.
Not only must we visualize the problem, but then we must agonize over the problem. Consider Nehemiah 1:4
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
A. A Prayer of Contrition.
What kind of prayer did Nehemiah offer? First, it was a prayer of contrition. Nehemiah wept salty tears over the condition of Jerusalem. Do you know what is wrong with our society and our churches? Our society has forgotten how to blush and our churches have forgotten how to weep. Let me ask you, when was the last time you spent a night in prayer? When was the last time you fasted and prayed? When was the last time you shed a tear over some soul that was mortgaged to the devil? Friends, we pray without crying, give without sacrificing, and live without fasting. Is it any wonder that we sow without reaping? I am afraid that weeping and fasting and praying and seeking the face of God have become a lost art in America. But there is no way that America will come back to God until God’s people learn again to pray the prayer of brokenness. Nehemiah wept and agonized over the broken down condition of God’s city and the plight of God’s people.
B. A Prayer of Confession.
Not only was Nehemiah’s prayer one of contrition, but it was also a prayer of confession.
“Let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer Your servant is praying before You day and night for Your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against You.” Nehemiah 1:6
I want you to notice the confession in this prayer. It was both national and personal. Nehemiah said, “Israel has sinned, and I have sinned.” If we don’t repent, we are part of the problem. National repentance will do no good unless we individually repent as the people of God. And unless we are ready to repent, it does no good to weep and mourn. It’s not enough to weep tears. Nehemiah prayed a prayer of genuine confession.
C. A Prayer of Confidence.
Here’s a third characteristic of Nehemiah’s prayer. His was also a prayer of confidence.
“Remember the instruction You gave Your servant Moses saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to Me and obey My commandments, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ They are Your servants and Your people, whom You redeemed by Your great strength and Your mighty hand.” Nehemiah 1:8-10.
Nehemiah is reminding God of what He said in His Word. He’s saying, “God, remember the promises You made. God, I am holding You to Your Word.” Isn’t that awesome? Now that’s what real prayer is!! Prayer is not thinking of some things you want and going to God with a shopping list. Real prayer is rooted in the rock solid promises of the Word of God. It is finding a promise in the Word of God and then standing on it. God loves to hear us pray His Word back to Him. Nehemiah came to his heavenly Father audaciously. He said, “Father, I am praying in confidence. I believe You because You promised. And because You promised, Lord, I am holding You to Your Word. Friends, we serve a Great God!! Someone has said that prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness. Find a promise in the Bible, which means it is something God wants to do, and then stand on it. Pray big prayers!! Big prayers can turn your big problems into big possibilities.
D. A Prayer of Commitment.
Nehemiah also prayed a prayer of commitment. He was ready to put feet to his petitions.
“O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. I was cupbearer to the king.” Nehemiah 1:11
Nehemiah had a very important job. He was cupbearer, as well as trusted confidant and counselor, to a lavishly wealthy king named Artaxerxes. He lived in the splendor of the king’s palace. Nehemiah had the king’s ear and was a wonderful advisor. We could be safe to say that the king probably took good care of Nehemiah. We are talking about a man in a high paying position. Not bad for a captive and slave. As the cupbearer to the king, he probably lived in luxury, away from the poverty and degradation and humiliation of the Israelites in Jerusalem. He was in a place of security. He could have said, “Let those people make their own way, I did.” But he couldn’t turn his back on his people. God had burdened him for the people and the city. When he visualized the condition of the fallen walls, he said, “By the grace of God, I’m going to do something about it. I’ve got to use my position of influence with the king to help my people.” As he prayed, he felt God calling him to get involved. Nehemiah asked God to bless him as he prepared to leave the safety and security of his position and put himself on the line for God’s people and God’s city. He was committed to do whatever it took to accomplish the task. Now, on the subject of prayer, it is not a substitute for commitment. It is not enough for you to pray the prayer of contrition, the prayer of confession, and the prayer of confidence unless you are also willing to pray the prayer of commitment.
Conclusion: Friends, prayer is not a smokescreen behind which we can hide our lack of commitment. Someone once said that you can’t do more than pray until you’ve prayed. But I think we should do more than pray after we’ve prayed. Mark my words, it will take all the commitment you and I can muster to visualize the problems and turn them into possibilities. Too many of us don’t want to leave our secure, warm little comfort zones. Instead, we want God to turn our problems into possibilities while we sit by and watch Him work. A comedian once said, “Somebody asked me what my religion was. I told him I was a Jehovah’s bystander. They wanted me to be a Jehovah’s Witness, but I didn’t want to get involved.” Does that remind you of anybody you know?
Pastor Harold Trent.
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