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Nehemiah: Obstacles to Rebuilding (Part 1)
How do we deal with people who seem to be obstacles to rebuilding our personal lives, marriages, families, friendships, and church? This week in Nehemiah 2:1-8 we’ll look at how God works in the hearts of people as we pray.
Locations & Times
Central Church
2005 E Winchester Blvd, Collierville, TN 38017, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Thanks for joining us today as we study in the book of Nehemiah. Dan Werthman, our interim pastor, will be leading us in a multi-week journey through the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem's wall. In our lives and in our church we often feel as if there can be no recovery from a destructive past. However, Nehemiah shows us that there is nothing that cannot be rebuilt - as long as we seek God's will in our lives. a
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http://centralchurch.com/givingHow do we deal with people who seem to be obstacles to rebuilding?
Nehemiah’s Vision To Rebuild:
Nehemiah 2:17: Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.
Nehemiah’s Obstacle:
Nehemiah 1:11: Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Ezra 4:21: Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
Daniel 6:12: The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
How do we deal with people who seem to be obstacles to rebuilding?
1. WAIT AND PRAY
Nehemiah 1:4: I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Psalm 4:4-5: In your anger do not sin; meditate in your hearts upon your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
2. PRAY AND PLAN
Nehemiah 2:6: I gave him a definite time.
Nehemiah 2:7: Let letters be given me to the governors…
Nehemiah 2:8: give me timber to make beams
James Hamilton: “Study the Bible. Pray for God to do what He has promised to do in the Bible. And give thought to how and what you can do to be used of the Lord to bring His promises to pass.”
3. PRAY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
Nehemiah 1:11: …give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.
Nehemiah 2:1-2: In the month of Nisan, …I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid.
4. PRAY FOR WHAT TO SAY
Nehemiah 2:4: So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…
Nehemiah 2:3: I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
Proverbs 12:18: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
5. PRAY AND TRUST IN THE LORD
Nehemiah 2:8: And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Proverbs 21:1: The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.
Proverbs 19:21: Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
GOD WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE AS WE PRAY!
1. PRAY AND WAIT
2. PRAY AND PLAN
3. PRAY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
4. PRAY FOR WHAT TO SAY
5. PRAY AND TRUST IN THE LORD
Nehemiah’s Vision To Rebuild:
Nehemiah 2:17: Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.
Nehemiah’s Obstacle:
Nehemiah 1:11: Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Ezra 4:21: Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.
Daniel 6:12: The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
How do we deal with people who seem to be obstacles to rebuilding?
1. WAIT AND PRAY
Nehemiah 1:4: I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Psalm 4:4-5: In your anger do not sin; meditate in your hearts upon your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
2. PRAY AND PLAN
Nehemiah 2:6: I gave him a definite time.
Nehemiah 2:7: Let letters be given me to the governors…
Nehemiah 2:8: give me timber to make beams
James Hamilton: “Study the Bible. Pray for God to do what He has promised to do in the Bible. And give thought to how and what you can do to be used of the Lord to bring His promises to pass.”
3. PRAY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
Nehemiah 1:11: …give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.
Nehemiah 2:1-2: In the month of Nisan, …I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid.
4. PRAY FOR WHAT TO SAY
Nehemiah 2:4: So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…
Nehemiah 2:3: I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
Proverbs 12:18: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
5. PRAY AND TRUST IN THE LORD
Nehemiah 2:8: And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Proverbs 21:1: The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.
Proverbs 19:21: Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
GOD WORKS IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE AS WE PRAY!
1. PRAY AND WAIT
2. PRAY AND PLAN
3. PRAY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
4. PRAY FOR WHAT TO SAY
5. PRAY AND TRUST IN THE LORD