October 20^th, 2024

SERMON: Chapter ONE – INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH

INTRODUCTION:

(1:11b) WHEN GOD PREPARES TO DO A WORK IN THE WORLD, HE RAISES UP A LEADER TO LEAD IT!

“Now I was cupbearer to the king.”

When GOD chose to create the world, HE raised up Adam to care for it!

When GOD chose to destroy the world, HE raised up Noah to save it!

When GOD chose to call a people to HIMSELF, HE raised up Abraham to be the father of Israel!

When GOD chose to chasten HIS people, HE raised up Pharoah to enslave them!

When GOD chose to deliver HIS people, HE raised up Moses to lead them!

When GOD chose to build a Kingdom, HE raised up King David to lead it!

When GOD chose to build HIS HOUSE, HE raised up King Solomon to build it!

When GOD chose to chasten HIS people again, HE raised up Nebuchadnezzar to enslave them!

When GOD chose to deliver HIS people, HE raised up King Cyrus to free them!

When GOD chose to rebuild HIS TEMPLE and HIS CITY, HE raised up Ezra and Nehemiah to build them!

EXPOSITION:

WHEN GOD PREPARES TO DO A WORK IN THE WORLD, HE BREAKS THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE HE WILL USE!

(1:1 – 3) “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, (2) that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.

(3) And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”                  

(1:4 – 7) WHEN GOD CALLS A PERSON TO LEAD HIS WORK, HIS PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT WORTHY OF DOING GOD’S WORK!

(4) As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (5 ) “And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, (6) let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you.” Even I and my father’s house have sinned.           (7) We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.”

(1:8 – 11) WHEN GOD CALLS A PERSON TO LEAD HIS WORK, HIS PEOPLE REMEMBER HIS PROMISES!

(8) “Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,

(9) but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’

(10) They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.  (11) O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. “Now I was cupbearer to the king.”