NEHEMIAH – INTERNATIONAL MAN OF ACTION

Nehemiah 2: 1 to 10

Introduction

Nehemiah – international man of action – why the title?

International because:

• A Jew in exile
• A steward of the Persian empire
• But he crossed international borders to complete his mission

Man of Action because:

When I look at Nehemiah in our text for today, 3 things stand out for me.

Three little nuggets that shine out, they are not even whole verses, part verses or phrases stuck away in the middle of the whole verse.

• 4b – Then I prayed to the God of heaven
• 8b – the gracious hand of my God was on me
• 10b – very much disturbed

 

I want to make these 3 phrases the focus of the message today and have summed them as follows:

• Talking to God
• Walking with God
• Relying on God

 

Talking To God

When we look at Nehemiah we see that he had a deep dependence on God and was constantly talking to God, he was constantly in prayer. It came naturally to him.

Last week Ross covered chapter 1 and we saw in verse 4 that when Nehemiah heard these things, he sat down and wept. For some days he mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Verse 6 says he prayed “day and night”.

That was in the month Kislev, which corresponds to our month of Nov/Dec.

In our text today, chapter 2 we are in the month of Nisan, or March/April.

SO – Nehemiah has been praying for more than four months, day and night.

So what are “these things” that when he heard them caused him to sit down and weep, to mourn and fast, and pray before the God of heaven.  

For Nehemiah it was the disgrace of a broken wall of Jerusalem, the burned down gates and the shame and disgrace that had befallen those who had returned from exile.

You will recall Ross challenged us and asked us what are our “these things”?

How is that going for you? 

For 4 months and more, Nehemiah has been praying, and weeping and fasting. The burden and pain he felt for the needs of his people in their beloved city was weighing him down – To such an extent the king noticed!

Verse 2: I had not been sad in his presence before, ² so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid.

Why had Nehemiah never been sad before the king before and why was he so afraid? 

WELL – Nehemiah was potentially in a lot of trouble when the king asked him why he was sad.

You see in those days it was highly dangerous to mourn or show sadness before the king – punishable by death. In fact, we read in Esther that anyone wearing mourning clothes was barred from the palace.

So this is why Nehemiah had never been sad before the king before.

SO WHAT HAD CHANGED? WHY WAS NEHEMIAH SAD BEFORE THE KING?

The burden and pain he felt for the needs of his people in their beloved city was weighing him down – To such an extent he could not hide it from the king. 

That’s what had changed!

Then in this dangerous situation the king asks, “what is it you want?”

And with little time to think, Nehemiah prays!

He could confidently approach God even while the king was talking to him because he had established an intimate relationship with God through times of extended prayer.

The constant connection with God through prayer has set the groundwork for this little popcorn prayer he fires off to God when trouble comes. In times of trouble, God is the first person Nehemiah turns to.

What about you? Do you have that constant prayer life that sets the basis, the foundation, that allows you to turn immediately to God when trouble comes?

Are you cultivating a strong relationship with God through times of sustained and deep prayer.

WHAT ARE YOUR “THESE THINGS”?

What things, what needs, do you see around you that cause you to pray for months?

BECAUSE for Nehemiah after four months God opened the door!

I want to point out that realizing the need is not enough! Realizing the need is just the first step!

Nehemiah could have heard about the need to rebuild the walls and said, “I’m going to pray that the Lord will raise somebody to rebuild those walls!”

The realization of a need must be followed by prayer and supplication.

By waiting on the Lord until that need becomes such a burden on our heart that it motivates us to do something!

You see, it is usually after we are willing to accept the challenge personally that the Lord opens the door for change!

Have you noticed that in your own life? When you want change in your life, whatever it may be, exercise more, stop smoking, attend prayer meetings more regularly, or even start attending, it’s only once we make that commitment and actually step out in faith that God helps us.

Only after we are willing to accept the challenge personally does the Lord open doors for change! Then we walk through, with Him. 

Walking With God

Secondly, we see Nehemiah was constantly walking with God.

“And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests”

Nehemiah was a great leader with exceptional organisational and social skills, but he acknowledged that God’s gracious hand was upon him. He knew that without God’s strength, his efforts would be in vain.

The sustained prayer life that Nehemiah cultivated, this constant being in communication with God, overflowed into his everyday walk with God. One could say that not only did he talk the talk but he walked the walk!

Jesus models both these truths for us as well. Jesus too was constantly in prayer and everything He did He did in the strength of God the Father.

In John 5:19 Jesus declared His dependence on His father as well.

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing.”

During His days on earth Jesus demonstrated continual dependence on His Father.

Jesus being God in human body would have the best of all reasons to be self-sufficient, but His reliance on the Father sets the ultimate example of what it means to live in relationship with God.

What Jesus demonstrates has been a very hard lesson for many to learn, including me. For a range of reasons, we grow up cherishing the ambition for self-sufficiency. We want to be independent, self-reliant. But the fact of the matter is we are not. Can’t be – not in any eternal sense.

You see every breath we take is a gift from God, and He wants our lives to be filled with His strength. When we live to love and serve Him through our moment-by-moment prayer and reliance on His Word, we are declaring our dependence on Him.

Yet He chooses to use us in partnership. He chooses to place us, his servants in surprising positions within the world. Nehemiah’s day job was as cupbearer, yet inwardly he was a servant of God.

He was faithful in prayer and praise, he studied God’s Word and held a deep love and passion for God’s people.

This dual identity of Nehemiah illustrates how we who are in the world in our day to day jobs play a legitimate and necessary role in accomplishing God’s purposes.

Each one of us has a unique role to play in building and maintaining the kingdom of God. We must encourage each other since we all do have a ministry in the things we do daily, wherever God has placed us.

We learn from Nehemiah the Power of obedience: when we are obedient to the will of God it unleashes the power of God.

Not only did God work in the heart of the king to approve Nehemiah’s mission, his long sabbatical from his day job but God also provided:

1. letters to the governors ensuring safe conduct to Judah;
2. a letter to the keeper of the royal park to provide timber for the rebuild;
3. the king’s own army officers and cavalry for protection during the trip.

When we are walking with God we can be sure that He will keep us safe and provide for our needs!

Notice that I didn’t say, “secure.”  In fact, often our security is the first thing to go because the Lord wants our security to be in Him!

I have found it to be true that when we decide to step out in faith to do something for God, trials get upgraded!

Have you noticed that? Step out to serve God in something and you can be sure there will be trials and challenges.

THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO………………………RELY ON GOD

Relying On God

When Nehemiah arrived in Judah, he was met with immediate opposition.

Love the way the KJV puts it:

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. 

THERE WAS COME A MAN! Or THERE WAS COME A WOMEN!

Talking to and walking with God sets us up to rely on the power of God.

And when we do this, we are better equipped to do his will, in his strength and not our own.

Notice how in verses 2 and 3 we saw how Nehemiah wasn’t ashamed to admit his fear

BUT

he refused to allow fear to stop him from doing what God had called him to do.

He acknowledged the king’s position and clearly stated the reason for his sorrow.  What might you have done in the same situation – faced with the same danger, potential for serious punishment?

Aw no King I’m all good sir, maybe it just a headache?! No really, I’m fine!

You see when we allow fear to rule us, we make fear more powerful than God.

Is there a task or action God wants you to do but fear is holding you back?

God is greater than all your fears. Recognising why you are afraid is the first step in in committing your fear to God. Realise that if God has called you to a task He will empower you to accomplish it.

Notice also another source of fear that did not deter Nehemiah in the least. Opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem had been going on for 90 years by those who settled in the area after Judah was exiled.

They had vested interests!

A rebuilt Jerusalem was a threat to their authority.

They would not want returning exiles taking control of the land and threatening their secure positions, and Nehemiah would have known this.

Of course, that opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem and the restoration of the temple and reinstating the sacrificial system continues even today.

But God says “I will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth”. Isaiah 11: 12.

So they can think again because God has plans for them!

In every generation there have been those who hate God’s people and try to block God’s purpose.

This is particularly important because it demonstrates that we can expect opposition in this sinful world, God’s people can expect opposition to God’s work.

When we attempt to do God’s work there will be those who oppose it.

So expect it!  If you expect opposition you will be prepared rather than surprised.

1 John 3: 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

Knowing that God is with you is the best incentive to move ahead in the face of opposition.

THERE WAS COME A MAN!

Let that fill you with confidence!

As we have seen – Nehemiah was such a man.

Just as God was faithful to Nehemiah, He will be faithful to you.

THERE WAS COME A WOMEN!

Let God embolden and equip you

Every one of us can be sure that when a great need is placed as a burden in our heart that it causes us to step out to do something – God will equip and supply us.

Ephe 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Closing

So how do we respond to Nehemiah? We ask ourselves – What is our “wall”? What is it that God wants us to do that if we are obedient to His will, will see him unleash his power in this place?

How does God want us to respond when we hear of broken lives, and needs in our world today?

Remember that there is no battle until we get involved.

Like lotto says – if you aren’t in it you aren’t gonna win it!

Know that as soon as we say, “Let us arise and build,” Satan says, “Let me arise and stop them!” 

And when that happens we know we’ve got Satan worried because we are

• Talking to God
• Walking With God, and
• Relying on God.

 

In closing – sing the hymn He Walks with Me and He Talks with me – make this your prayer today.

Bless you as you go out into the world this week talking to, walking with and relying on ……God.