WEBVTT

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 Take out your copy of God's Word and turn to the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.

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 Last week we began our new study as we've concluded our study of the book of Romans.

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!

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 A lot of history you presented last week and I don't know that everyone's going to remember all those details throughout our study together.

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 And I'll do my best to kind of pull back in the necessary parts of it as we go along.

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 But I saw the benefit of that and as I sat down to write it, you must know that I'm not a fantastic writer.

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 And so I copied and pasted this.

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 Gave credit where credit is due.

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 This is an introduction by John MacArthur as well as his outline.

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 And then I included in it the four objectives, the things that I want to see accomplished in our time together in Nehemiah.

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 So that's just there for you, for your resource.

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 If you didn't get one, we'll have them out in the hallway on your way out.

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 You can certainly pick one of those up.

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 Let's begin this morning by reading, starting in verse 1 of chapter 1 of Nehemiah.

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 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hakaliah.

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 Now it happened in the month of Kislev in the twentieth year as I was in Susa, the capital.

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 That Hananiah, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah.

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 And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.

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 And they said to me,

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 The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame.

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 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are destroyed by fire.

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 As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days.

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 And I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

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 And I said,

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 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.

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 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.

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 Confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you, even I and my father's house have sinned.

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 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

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 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying,

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 If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.

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 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.

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 They are your servants and your people whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

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 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.

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 Now I was cupbearer to the king.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father God, we thank you for the great blessing of your word.

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 It is a tremendous grace to us.

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 And I pray that today, by your spirit, you will apply it to our hearts.

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 That we won't just hear words, give some mental recognition to them, but that they will in fact change us.

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 That we will become more like your son as a result of hearing the preached word this day.

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 And we pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 And Nehemiah, you'll notice here at the beginning, the circumstance is being set up.

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 He's cupbearer for the king Artaxerxes, the king of Persia.

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 He's quite a ways.

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 He's in the city of Susa, which is where the king was wintering at the time.

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 Many, many days journey from Judah.

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 And his brother comes to visit him to say that the city is in calamity.

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 It's shameful because the exiles have returned from captivity.

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 Babylonia has flipped over to be a Persian rule.

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 Persian king has allowed them to go back.

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 And they've yet to build the wall.

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 It's in shambles.

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 They're a weak people.

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 And therefore, the name of God has been made weak.

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 And this is why he's distraught.

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 Verse 4, this is why he sits down and he weeps and he mourns for days.

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 It's very, very heavy on his heart, the circumstance here.

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 And Nehemiah wants to see something reconciled in this way.

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 He wants to see the wall built.

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 He wants the glory of God to be proclaimed amongst his people.

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 Remember that the visible outworking of God's glory at this time are his people, the state,

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 the well-being of his people.

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 And the fact that they've been returned from exile for so long and they're still in shambles

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 is a great affront to God's glory.

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 And this so presses on Nehemiah as he has such a zeal for God's glory that he mourns the condition of Israel.

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 Now, we get to clues later on.

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 We don't know at this point as we begin to read about his prayer.

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 But we do find out later that the ambition that's laid upon him is to actually go back to Judah

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 and to begin to build the wall, to lead the reconstruction.

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 But you need to understand the task that was ahead of him before we move on.

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 He's serving as the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes.

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 Artaxerxes, you can read in Ezra chapter 4, has put out an edict to stop the building of the wall.

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 The wall was being built some 20 years earlier.

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 There was an effort being put forward to do it, but some people of the land, as they're called in Ezra,

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 some people who were not Israelites,

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 seeing that the glory of the Almighty God could supplant the glory of King Artaxerxes,

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 write a letter to him.

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 And in response, he issues an edict, forcing the building of the wall to stop.

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 So here is Nehemiah serving under a king who has already made a command that the wall should not be built.

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 And in this day, for a king to reverse an edict would be to say that he's powerless,

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 that he was unwise to begin with.

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 And it did not happen often that this would take place.

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 Know also that the wall itself, we'll talk more about this in some of the coming weeks,

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 was four and a half miles in circumference, 15 feet tall and 15 feet thick.

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 It was a huge, huge project that was ahead of him.

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 And so what do we find Nehemiah doing?

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 He prays.

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 And I have to tell you honestly, as I searched out what we ought to do next,

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 moving beyond Romans,

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 the impression on my mind for Nehemiah was that it was about a group of people

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 building something to the glory of God.

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 That's one of my desires, that we will see as a church,

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 that that's what we're here to do together.

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 That it's going to be a hard work, that we're going to have to press into it.

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 I did not realize, having read Nehemiah numerous times,

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 what an incredible book of prayer that it is.

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 Nehemiah begins with prayer.

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 Charles Spurgeon once said,

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 if any of you should ask me for an epitome, a perfect example of the Christian religion,

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 I should say that it is one word, prayer.

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 I learned a new Latin phrase today.

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 And I don't use Latin to just sound really intelligent.

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 I think I know maybe ten Latin phrases now at this point.

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 But I want to kind of plant this one in your mind.

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 And it is sine qua non.

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 S-I-N-E-Q-U-A-N-O-N, if you're taking notes.

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 Sine qua non.

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 Which means, without which, nothing.

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 Prayer is not just a part of our Christian living.

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 It's not a little thing we attach alongside our efforts.

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 But it is the thing without which we can accomplish nothing.

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 Sine qua non.

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 Without which, nothing.

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 Prayer is vital to any effort for the kingdom.

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 Now, we all, I'm sure, grew up and have heard phrases like,

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 Prayer is just talking to God.

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 Trying to make it approachable.

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 Something that even I could do.

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 Prayer is just talking to God.

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 And many of us have grown up with kind of a buddy Jesus mentality.

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 You've seen the t-shirts, Jesus is my homeboy.

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 He's my pal.

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 I come alongside and I just chit-chat with him.

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 About my life and what's going on.

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 And don't be mistaken, certainly Jesus instructed us to pray for our daily bread.

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 He's concerned about the details of our life.

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 He cares about even the smallest of things.

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 But we as Christians too often pray paltry prayers.

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 Trite.

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 Meaningless at times.

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 Prayers.

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 Think about many of the prayer meetings you've probably attended.

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 And the vast majority of the requests have nothing to do with the kingdom of God or the souls of men.

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 But are typically about health.

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 Again, not that that's a bad thing.

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 Don't catch the wrong end of the stick, so to speak here.

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 God cares about those things.

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 But how we speak to him matters.

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 And praise God that there's room for maturation in our prayer.

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 That we can grow up in our prayer process.

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 And it would be wise of us to take an example.

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 Take a look at how it is we are instructed to pray.

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 Recognize that the apostles, men who were Jews, who had spent their life praying,

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 asked Jesus,

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 Lord, teach us to pray.

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 Did Jesus respond to them?

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 Prayer's just talking to God.

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 Guys, do it.

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 No, he gave them a very clear example of what prayer should look like in their lives.

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 The men have been getting together on Friday morning and spending some time praying together.

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 And I told them this last Friday that I'm so thankful to lead a group of men that pray God-honoring,

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 biblically founded prayers.

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 What an absolute blessing that is.

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 We should be maturing in the way that we pray.

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 And here is a great example of this.

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 I, since a very early age with Cademan, who's three now.

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 You guys, if you know me, I have another son named Judah.

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 He's downstairs asleep right now.

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 He's one.

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 But I tell them that I love him with my hand.

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 A little sign language.

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 And I say, I love you with my hand.

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 I love you.

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 And it lets me do that when I can't speak to him.

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 Quiet times, I can do that.

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 And Cade gets it.

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 He absolutely knows what I'm trying to tell him.

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 But he has a really difficult time forming that shape with his hand.

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 I've tried to show him how to do it.

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 I've tried to show him how to hold his fingers down, hold his fingers up.

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 He just can't quite pull it off.

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 And so Cade's version of I love you is this.

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 Right?

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 Which I've just taken to mean I love you too.

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 Right?

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 He just gives it back.

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 Recently, he's altered it to I love you with three fingers like this.

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 Let's see what you can.

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 Cade, man.

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 I love you.

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 There we go.

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 There we go.

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 Three fingers.

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 Right?

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 That's great, buddy.

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 Thanks.

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 Right?

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 Is God satisfied simply with the intention of our prayers?

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 And I would say to you, no.

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 Right?

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 If Cade, man, the rest of his life tells me that he loves me with words insufficient for that

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 or a hand symbol that just doesn't quite mean that.

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 Cade continues to do this.

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 At some point, I'm going to go, Cade, man.

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 That means peace, pal.

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 It doesn't mean I love you.

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 Right?

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 Like, it's time.

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 It's time for you to shift the way you tell me that you love me.

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 Right?

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 We should be maturing in the same way.

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 I want to show you four observations concerning Nehemiah's prayer.

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 And I have to tell you that probably the most important thing we can learn today,

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 the most important thing we can learn today,

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 is that Nehemiah had a holy ambition.

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 He had a task ahead of him,

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 which all of us have ahead of us as Christians.

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 As ministers of the gospel,

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 we all have tasks laid out before us.

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 God has prepared good works for us in advance.

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 The most important thing that we should learn today

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 is that it should be preceded by prayer.

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 Right?

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 Sine qua non.

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 Without which nothing.

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 Right?

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 Prayer should precede all of that.

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 So I want you to keep that in mind

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 as we're moving quickly past that point

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 to talk about Nehemiah's prayer itself.

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 Right?

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 If I had to say one thing to you this morning,

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 I have already said it.

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 Right?

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 Prayer must precede our work.

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 Right?

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 But I want to bring you four observations this morning.

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 Firstly,

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 Nehemiah prayed persistently.

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 Nehemiah prayed persistently.

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 So notice in verse 4,

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 he sits down,

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 he weeps and he mourns for days,

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 and he says,

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 and I continued fasting and praying

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 before the God of heaven.

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 We see also later on

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 that he prayed down in verse 6,

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 day and night.

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 So we see an example of his prayer here.

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 Right?

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 We see maybe a noted time,

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 but this was the thrust of his praying

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 and it happened consistently.

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 It's important to know

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 that this report of what was going on in Judah

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 was brought to him in the month of Kislev,

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 which is approximately November, December.

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 When does he actually get to speak

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 to our exerxes in chapter 2?

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 In the month of Nisan,

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 which is approximately March or April.

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 So catch that,

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 roughly four months has passed in this time.

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 He recognizes this great task

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 that's ahead of him

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 and he sets himself to prayer.

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 He says here,

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 he continues,

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 and he does it day and night.

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 There's a fervency here in prayer

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 because Nehemiah recognizes

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 that the task ahead of him

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 is not something he can accomplish on his own.

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 So he is persistent in his prayer.

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 Believe that he understood

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.340
 what John 15, 5 says

00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:20.899
 when Jesus says,

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.620
 apart from me,

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:23.639
 you can do nothing.

00:14:25.160 --> 00:14:27.240
 This is a lesson for us.

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:30.320
 So often we rush into things.

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.299
 We don't ask God

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:34.120
 to move and to act,

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.220
 to come along at all

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.180
 for the ride.

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:38.740
 I do this all the time.

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.419
 I use my business savvy

00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.720
 to try to get things accomplished.

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.580
 And apart from prayer,

00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:45.980
 I can accomplish nothing.

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.000
 I try in my sermon preparation

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.299
 to be incredibly prayerful

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.560
 before I ever even come

00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:51.759
 to the text for the week,

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.620
 try to pray God's blessing on it

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.120
 that he'll open up my mind,

00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:56.019
 help me to see,

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:56.879
 help me to study,

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.980
 find the right resources

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.059
 to pull it all together.

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.159
 And I'll tell you this week,

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.120
 I did that well.

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.159
 I let this text run through me.

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.899
 And then yesterday morning

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:06.620
 when I sat down

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.659
 to take all those things

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.259
 that were running around

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.159
 in my head and in my heart

00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.179
 and put them on a piece of paper

00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:11.439
 so that I could make

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:12.740
 an organized presentation

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:14.139
 of what was going on

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.039
 here in this text,

00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.620
 I just rushed right into it.

00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:17.960
 And I struggled.

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:20.179
 This is like the fourth outline

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.480
 I wrote of this.

00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:23.639
 If you noticed that I double checked

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.539
 when I said I had four points,

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.139
 I wanted to make sure

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.299
 that I actually did have four points

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:27.079
 and I didn't change that

00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:28.579
 at some point along the way.

00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.479
 And I recognized yesterday

00:15:31.479 --> 00:15:32.399
 that just the conviction

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:35.240
 that I had prayerfully prepared

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.759
 my mind and my heart,

00:15:36.859 --> 00:15:37.759
 but I didn't prayerfully prepare

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.539
 to even put the notes down.

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.299
 I had to stop

00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:41.979
 and I had to repent

00:15:41.979 --> 00:15:43.419
 and ask God's blessing

00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:46.039
 on even just typing it out

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.139
 on a piece of paper.

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:51.539
 We can do nothing apart from God.

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.799
 And there's a patience here.

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.639
 We've got Nehemiah.

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:58.439
 He's weeping and he's mourning for days.

00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:00.699
 He is heartbroken over this.

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:04.319
 And yet for months he prays.

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.279
 He persists in prayer.

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:05.980
 Young people,

00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.740
 I know your life just feels

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.919
 like it's passing by,

00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:10.519
 that you've got to get in the mix

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.399
 so quick.

00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.860
 You have such a desire

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.279
 to do mighty things for God

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:16.639
 and I pat you on the back for that.

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.159
 But be patient in prayer.

00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.899
 Seek to know God's will

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.519
 for your life in prayer.

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:24.939
 So firstly,

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:27.679
 Nehemiah prayed persistently.

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.699
 Secondly,

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.699
 Nehemiah begins his prayer

00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:34.419
 by proclaiming God's character.

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.699
 He roots his very prayer

00:16:37.699 --> 00:16:39.919
 in who God is.

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.179
 Look at verse 5.

00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:41.519
 He says,

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.139
 And I said,

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.720
 O Lord, God of heaven,

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.060
 the great and awesome God

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.300
 who keeps covenant

00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:47.879
 and steadfast love

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:49.519
 with those who love him

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:51.720
 and keep his commandments.

00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.920
 He ties it all in

00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:54.980
 to who God is.

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:57.100
 His plea with God to act

00:16:57.100 --> 00:17:00.680
 is requisite on God's character.

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.600
 He says,

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.840
 O Lord, God of heaven,

00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:04.259
 in the Hebrew,

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.200
 this was an expression

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.220
 of God's sovereignty.

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:09.240
 That if God is the God of heaven,

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.100
 he is therefore the God

00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:10.980
 of all kingdoms,

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:12.420
 the whole universe,

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.700
 God reigns over.

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.039
 This was a phrase

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.299
 that became especially precious

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.299
 to the Jews

00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:19.519
 as they went off into exile.

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.740
 As they began to understand

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:23.599
 that God was not just

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.740
 the God of Israel

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:26.039
 reigning over them,

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.960
 providential in their lives,

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.559
 but also of the entire world.

00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.819
 They saw the predicted judgment

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:34.059
 come to pass

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.259
 through the Babylonians.

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.759
 They saw that God

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.779
 used even wicked men

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.700
 to bring judgment upon them.

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.019
 They came to know

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.299
 this O Lord,

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.160
 God of heaven,

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:46.039
 that he is in fact

00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:47.900
 sovereign over all things.

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:48.859
 Isn't it interesting

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:50.420
 in Matthew chapter 6,

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.379
 when the disciples

00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.859
 asked Jesus how to pray,

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.839
 he begins,

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.940
 Our Father in heaven.

00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.180
 This is the Greek version

00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:00.640
 of this Hebrew phrase.

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.819
 Our Father in heaven.

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.980
 Him who reigns over all.

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:07.259
 Certainly,

00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.140
 Nehemiah,

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.379
 as he's versed in his scriptures,

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.140
 would have been familiar

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:12.099
 with Proverbs 21.1.

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.879
 As he's thinking about

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:15.359
 approaching King Artaxerxes,

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.059
 the king,

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:16.859
 and asking him

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.400
 to go back on an edict.

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.599
 Asking him to not be him

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.039
 is essentially

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.119
 what he's asking him to do.

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.759
 Proverbs 21.1 says,

00:18:23.879 --> 00:18:24.559
 The king's heart

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.819
 is a stream of water

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.680
 in the hand of the Lord.

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.000
 He turns it

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.059
 wherever he will.

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.700
 He begins his prayer

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.900
 proclaiming that God

00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:33.799
 is the great sovereign

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:35.039
 of all things.

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.759
 And he calls him

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.440
 the great

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.700
 and the awesome God.

00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:40.680
 Great speaking of his power.

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:42.539
 His ability to do anything

00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.940
 that he wishes to do.

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:45.059
 To set his mind

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.740
 to do it

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.319
 and he will,

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:46.900
 in fact,

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.180
 accomplish it.

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.980
 And he calls him

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.359
 the awesome God.

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.720
 Here's a misused phrase

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.759
 in our language,

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.359
 is it not?

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:54.879
 It's kind of entered

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.680
 into our vernacular

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.819
 as something maybe

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.200
 just a bit cooler

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.759
 than cool.

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.680
 I misuse awesome

00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.519
 all the time.

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.859
 The word awesome

00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:04.619
 simply means

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.920
 to inspire awe,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.960
 but it also carries with it

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.460
 the idea of dread.

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.059
 A fear of something.

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:11.920
 Something that's

00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.200
 so mighty

00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.420
 and so big.

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.220
 In the case of God,

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.200
 because of his majesty

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.180
 and his glory,

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:19.019
 that you shrivel at it.

00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.259
 That you shrink

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.920
 at the awesomeness

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.160
 of God.

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.460
 I was trying to think

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.599
 of a practical example

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.940
 of a day-to-day thing,

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.820
 and I don't experience

00:19:28.820 --> 00:19:29.559
 things that really

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.779
 could properly be called

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.500
 awesome,

00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.039
 although I think

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.940
 I call things awesome

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.740
 all the time.

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.660
 But I thought about

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.480
 when I was a child,

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.680
 I grew up in Arizona

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.019
 and my dad took me

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:42.039
 to fish below Hoover Dam

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.860
 at a place called

00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.360
 Lee's Ferry.

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:43.940
 Hoover Dam,

00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:46.259
 700 plus feet tall.

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.140
 And we got to take

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.820
 a motorboat,

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.559
 I got to drive it,

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.559
 I was like eight,

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.400
 which is the coolest thing

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.039
 I've ever done,

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.480
 probably,

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:53.299
 in this cliff face,

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.640
 avoiding the sandbar.

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.120
 It was really fun.

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.380
 But we went up

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.880
 to the bottom

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.580
 of Hoover Dam

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.139
 and we began

00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:59.139
 to fish down the river

00:19:59.139 --> 00:20:00.079
 from that point.

00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:02.319
 And I would say

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:03.559
 in human terms

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.359
 that was pretty awesome,

00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:05.240
 being at the base

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:07.819
 of that 700 foot dam

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.919
 and the cliffs around it

00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:09.559
 are the same.

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.039
 Awesome.

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:11.299
 But a better picture

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:11.579
 of that is

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.199
 what if that dam

00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.019
 was beginning

00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:14.199
 to crumble before me,

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.019
 right,

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.819
 and we're in the speedboat

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.319
 at the bottom

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.079
 and I know that

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:17.659
 at any moment

00:20:17.659 --> 00:20:18.419
 the water's gonna

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.199
 burst forth

00:20:19.199 --> 00:20:19.759
 and come rushing

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.519
 down that canyon.

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.899
 That maybe is the feeling

00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:23.039
 that you might have,

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.699
 right,

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.519
 of the word awesome,

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.299
 the way in which

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.119
 we should think

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:27.079
 of our God.

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:27.679
 Right?

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.019
 That he inspires

00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:31.159
 that kind of awe.

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:33.059
 This is how Nehemiah

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.980
 begins his prayer.

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:38.159
 Recognize that in verse 11,

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.359
 as you think about that,

00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:39.619
 you think,

00:20:39.699 --> 00:20:39.980
 wait a minute,

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.319
 are we supposed to dread God?

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:41.960
 Is that the way

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.139
 we're supposed to react

00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:43.579
 to him?

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.539
 In verse 11,

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.559
 Nehemiah says,

00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:46.539
 talks of his servants

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:48.659
 who delight to fear

00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:50.179
 his name.

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:52.600
 They delight in the fear

00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.440
 of God's name.

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.920
 He is this awesome God,

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.779
 sovereign,

00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.900
 all-powerful,

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.920
 able to accomplish

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.700
 whatever it is

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.700
 that he sets himself to.

00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:01.480
 Right?

00:21:01.580 --> 00:21:03.299
 That's the type of dread

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.820
 that we're talking about here.

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.620
 And then he goes on

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:08.980
 to talk about his covenant

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:11.100
 and his steadfast love.

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:14.180
 He proclaims that God

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.060
 is immutable,

00:21:15.320 --> 00:21:16.320
 meaning unchanging.

00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:16.900
 Right?

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.980
 That if God has said

00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.820
 he will do something,

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.640
 he keeps a covenant

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.440
 with his people,

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.500
 he makes a promise to them,

00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:22.200
 that he will,

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:22.720
 in fact,

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:23.759
 carry it out.

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.620
 There's no changing our God.

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:27.820
 He is immutable.

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.300
 So Nehemiah begins his prayer

00:21:30.300 --> 00:21:32.200
 by proclaiming God's character.

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.519
 And Nehemiah's prayer,

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.019
 thirdly,

00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:35.780
 is motivated

00:21:35.780 --> 00:21:37.480
 by God's promises.

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.960
 It's a nice connection there,

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.160
 right?

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:42.400
 We see that he praises God

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.000
 for his covenant

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.019
 and steadfast love,

00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:45.120
 proclaims that,

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.219
 and then reminds him

00:21:48.219 --> 00:21:49.099
 of his promises.

00:21:49.739 --> 00:21:51.959
 We're doing a bit of a skip down here,

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:53.659
 but verses 8 through 10,

00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:54.559
 and we'll come back up

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.659
 to verses 6 and 7.

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:56.659
 Right?

00:21:56.979 --> 00:21:57.859
 Let's read that together.

00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:00.059
 Remember the word

00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.799
 that you commanded

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.439
 your servant Moses,

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:01.799
 saying,

00:22:01.959 --> 00:22:03.619
 If you are unfaithful,

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.899
 I will scatter you

00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.599
 among the peoples.

00:22:05.919 --> 00:22:07.079
 But if you return to me

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.799
 and keep my commandments

00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:08.419
 and do them,

00:22:08.739 --> 00:22:09.839
 though your outcasts

00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.379
 are in the uttermost

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.000
 parts of heaven,

00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.339
 from there I will gather them

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.479
 and bring them to the place

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.519
 that I have chosen

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.900
 to make my name dwell there.

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.319
 They are your servants

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.539
 and your people

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.839
 whom you have redeemed

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.819
 by your great power

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:22.819
 and by your strong hand.

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.460
 Nehemiah's prayer

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.259
 is motivated

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.299
 by God's promises.

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.240
 Why would Nehemiah

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.360
 have any reason

00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:28.900
 to think

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.799
 that God would

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.799
 bring him before

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.480
 King Artaxerxes

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.880
 and change the heart

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.779
 of this king

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.700
 to send him back

00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:37.860
 to build an encampment,

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:39.000
 a fortress,

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.360
 against himself

00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.919
 and write the bill

00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:42.419
 for it?

00:22:43.719 --> 00:22:44.659
 Why would Nehemiah

00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.259
 ever think

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.819
 that could ever

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:47.419
 even be possible?

00:22:48.179 --> 00:22:49.359
 It's because he knew

00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:51.339
 God's promises.

00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:52.959
 Verse 8 starts out,

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.419
 Remember.

00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.919
 Now, he is praying.

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.459
 This is a record

00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:56.000
 of a prayer,

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.519
 but don't think

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.659
 that he's being irreverent

00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.659
 at this point.

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:01.240
 This language is a plea

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.899
 with God

00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:03.439
 to enact his word.

00:23:03.699 --> 00:23:03.799
 Right?

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.519
 Please do the things

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.599
 you said you would do.

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:08.479
 Right?

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.279
 And we see there

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.860
 this promise

00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:11.660
 that was made.

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.900
 He's loosely quoting

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:14.299
 from Leviticus 26

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:16.200
 and Deuteronomy 4.

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.599
 He makes a covenant

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.140
 with his people

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.779
 that is conditional

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.700
 on their obedience.

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.259
 When they're disobedient,

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.299
 he judges them,

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.480
 sends them off

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.920
 at the hands

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.779
 of the Babylonians.

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.360
 But at that time,

00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:26.860
 he says,

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.039
 if they will repent

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.279
 and turn back to me,

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.900
 I will restore them

00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.960
 in their land.

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.620
 And this is the promise

00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.799
 that Nehemiah

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.720
 is calling on God

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.819
 to fulfill.

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:39.500
 Arturo Zerdia,

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.700
 a pastor that I

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:42.220
 particularly appreciate,

00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:43.439
 said,

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.200
 our Heavenly Father

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.899
 takes delight

00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:45.599
 when we stake

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.299
 our confidence

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.460
 in Him.

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:49.319
 When we are so confident

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.379
 in His eternal character

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:51.319
 that we claim

00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:51.839
 the promises

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.759
 He has made to us,

00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:54.779
 God is pleased.

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.599
 Certainly,

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.759
 Nehemiah was familiar

00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.579
 with Isaiah,

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.179
 the prophet.

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:02.019
 Chapter 43,

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.240
 verses 6 and 7,

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.019
 God says,

00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.119
 I will say to the north,

00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.779
 give up.

00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.819
 And to the south,

00:24:07.959 --> 00:24:08.679
 do not withhold.

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:10.079
 Bring my sons from afar

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.039
 and my daughters

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.899
 from the end of the earth,

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.500
 everyone who is called

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.259
 by my name.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.879
 Now, this is pre-return,

00:24:15.979 --> 00:24:16.139
 right?

00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:17.639
 So we're quite a few years,

00:24:17.699 --> 00:24:19.579
 some 90 years beyond that.

00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.759
 But then certainly,

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:23.319
 Nehemiah understood

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.679
 that it goes on to say,

00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.619
 whom I created

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.979
 for my glory,

00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:28.199
 whom I formed

00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:29.479
 and who I made.

00:24:29.959 --> 00:24:30.759
 You see that

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.739
 as he begins to call

00:24:31.739 --> 00:24:32.619
 on God in verse 10,

00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:34.039
 they are your servants

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.559
 and your people

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.759
 whom you have redeemed

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.839
 by your great power

00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:40.039
 and by your strong hand.

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.859
 They are a picture

00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:43.159
 of your glory

00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:43.979
 here on this earth.

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.039
 Act,

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.859
 restore,

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.019
 help us

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.939
 build

00:24:47.939 --> 00:24:48.959
 the wall.

00:24:49.959 --> 00:24:50.859
 Now, just out of curiosity,

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.639
 I got on the internet

00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.119
 this week

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.439
 and I typed in

00:24:53.439 --> 00:24:54.479
 how many promises

00:24:54.479 --> 00:24:55.219
 does God make

00:24:55.219 --> 00:24:55.659
 in the Bible?

00:24:56.239 --> 00:24:57.699
 I found a lot of answers.

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.600
 My favorite one

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.420
 was from like a

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.640
 wiki answers

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:03.039
 or answers.com

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.860
 or something like that.

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.620
 And a person simply said,

00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:06.920
 I have no idea

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.720
 but my father

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.740
 once counted them

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:11.779
 and said 7,487.

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.860
 I don't know.

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:14.460
 I don't know

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.160
 if that's a real number

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.740
 or not.

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.340
 I would presume

00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:18.860
 it's probably getting close.

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.420
 I have no idea

00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:21.480
 who this father is

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.000
 that counted

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.680
 these promises.

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.039
 But the scripture

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:25.559
 is riddled with them.

00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.960
 They saturate

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.079
 this book.

00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:30.100
 How many promises

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.799
 of God

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.579
 do you know?

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.860
 Fifty?

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.460
 Ten maybe?

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.620
 Can you think of a few?

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:40.920
 Five?

00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.319
 One?

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.900
 Could it be

00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:47.039
 that our prayers

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.620
 are paltry

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.700
 because we don't know

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.480
 what God has promised

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.940
 He will do?

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.960
 So we are not

00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.600
 saturated

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:53.299
 in the scriptures

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.799
 the way we ought to be?

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.360
 The word of God

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.899
 and prayer

00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:58.379
 are mutually dependent

00:25:58.379 --> 00:25:59.439
 on one another.

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.099
 You cannot rightly

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.919
 understand the word of God

00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:03.819
 apart from prayer

00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:05.740
 and you cannot pray

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.279
 as you should

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.500
 without the promises

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.439
 of God's word.

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.379
 The two walk together

00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:12.000
 hand in hand.

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.459
 So Nehemiah's prayer

00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:15.119
 is motivated

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:17.099
 by God's promises.

00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:19.859
 Fourthly,

00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:21.500
 Nehemiah's prayer

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.399
 is humble

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.940
 and intercessory

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.900
 in nature.

00:26:26.820 --> 00:26:27.840
 We're looking back up

00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.720
 at verses 6

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.000
 and 7.

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:30.940
 He says,

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.780
 Let your ear

00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:32.300
 be attentive

00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:33.320
 and your eyes open

00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.380
 to hear the prayer

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:34.940
 of your servant

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.560
 that I now pray

00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:36.000
 before you

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.540
 day and night

00:26:36.540 --> 00:26:37.880
 for the people

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.680
 of Israel,

00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:39.320
 your servants,

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.440
 confessing the sins

00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.220
 of the people of Israel

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.440
 which we have sinned

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.060
 against you.

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.840
 Even I

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.860
 and my father's house

00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.940
 have sinned.

00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:46.940
 We have acted

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.759
 very corruptly

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.080
 against you

00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.720
 and have not kept

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.240
 the commandments,

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.040
 the statutes,

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.579
 and the rules

00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.240
 that you commanded

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.460
 your servant,

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.299
 Moses.

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.099
 Notice that

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:58.159
 following Nehemiah's

00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:59.659
 vision of God's character,

00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.559
 immediately following it,

00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.559
 he becomes very humble

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.379
 in his prayer.

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:07.599
 A vision of God's character

00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:08.799
 will always

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.680
 make us painfully aware

00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:12.440
 of our own shortcomings.

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.500
 When God shows up

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.379
 in all of His majesty,

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.619
 we become very,

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.720
 very aware

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.659
 of who we are.

00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:20.160
 This is why

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.300
 all good praying

00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:23.040
 begins with God's character.

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.920
 When we go to God,

00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.040
 we need to recognize

00:27:26.040 --> 00:27:27.160
 who He is

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.460
 and who we are.

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.060
 We're not going

00:27:30.060 --> 00:27:31.240
 to talk to buddy Jesus.

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.960
 We're not chumming up

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.380
 next to Him

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:34.960
 to see what He may

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.140
 pull off on our behalf.

00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:39.259
 He is God

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:41.400
 and we are not.

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.620
 But Isaiah,

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:44.220
 when he sees Jesus

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.259
 in all His glory,

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.340
 what does he say?

00:27:46.800 --> 00:27:48.220
 Woe is me.

00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:49.920
 Peter,

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.740
 when he finally,

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.040
 fully realizes

00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:53.460
 that Jesus is the Messiah,

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:53.759
 says,

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.700
 depart from me, Lord,

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:57.279
 for I am a sinful man.

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:58.920
 John,

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.400
 when he has this vision

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.740
 of the resurrected Christ

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.480
 in chapter 1 of Revelation,

00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:05.420
 he falls down on the ground

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.820
 like a dead man.

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:10.500
 This is the natural response

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.960
 to a proper view

00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:13.180
 of God's character

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.380
 and it ought to be

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:15.580
 the way our prayers

00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:17.660
 proceed along.

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.380
 Notice here

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.380
 Nehemiah's

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:22.820
 first person language.

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.299
 He says,

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.420
 I confess.

00:28:26.060 --> 00:28:27.320
 We have sinned.

00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:29.240
 I and my Father's house

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.799
 have sinned.

00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:31.279
 We have acted

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.500
 very corruptly.

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.700
 It would have been easy,

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.240
 I think,

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.860
 at this point

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.720
 for Nehemiah

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:37.560
 to pray that

00:28:37.560 --> 00:28:39.460
 those other Jews

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:41.079
 for the sins

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.799
 that they committed

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.519
 in the years past

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.120
 that caused them

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.819
 to come into

00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.840
 Babylonian exile

00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.840
 would be really easy

00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:48.079
 to push off,

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:50.200
 to press it onto

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.759
 the others.

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.819
 But yet,

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.779
 here he takes it

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.340
 upon himself.

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.019
 You remember

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.640
 at the fall

00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.840
 after Adam and Eve

00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.640
 ate of the fruit

00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.940
 and God comes to them

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.600
 and asks them

00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:02.539
 what they've done.

00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.579
 He asks this of Adam

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.440
 and we see the very first

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.000
 communication

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.100
 of fallen man

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.779
 and what does he do?

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:09.019
 He blames it on Eve.

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.240
 He says,

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.119
 the woman

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.719
 who you gave me.

00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.079
 Not only does he blame it

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.259
 on Eve,

00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.559
 but he blames it on God,

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.799
 his own sin.

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.500
 And then Eve turns

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.679
 and blames it

00:29:19.679 --> 00:29:20.759
 on the serpent.

00:29:20.959 --> 00:29:22.079
 It is part of our

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:23.079
 fallen nature

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.419
 to press blame

00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:25.740
 on others.

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.679
 But here we see

00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:27.559
 Nehemiah takes

00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.759
 credit for it.

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:29.679
 He says,

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.859
 I and my Father's house

00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.319
 have sinned.

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.980
 We are in the

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.000
 continual process

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.899
 of sinning against you

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:35.099
 and not keeping your law.

00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.799
 This has been

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.719
 going on

00:29:37.719 --> 00:29:39.039
 for all of these

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.759
 generations

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.879
 since the exile.

00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:41.959
 You sent us into exile

00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.519
 because of it

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.480
 and yet here we are

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.199
 still.

00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:46.939
 But he's repenting now

00:29:46.939 --> 00:29:47.939
 on behalf

00:29:47.939 --> 00:29:49.179
 of the people.

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.559
 So he's humble

00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.579
 as he approaches God.

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.379
 And his prayer is also

00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:54.480
 intercessory in nature.

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.299
 He's also praying

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.199
 on the behalf

00:29:56.199 --> 00:29:57.319
 of the nation

00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.119
 of Israel.

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.539
 Is it possible here

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.299
 for him to speak

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.019
 and repent

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.740
 to change the hearts

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.359
 of the Israelites?

00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:05.000
 No.

00:30:05.699 --> 00:30:06.359
 But he prays

00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.039
 on their behalf

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.459
 anyway.

00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:07.980
 God,

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.539
 for your name's sake,

00:30:09.719 --> 00:30:11.019
 for your glory,

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.779
 we have been evil

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.519
 in your sight.

00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:14.779
 Restore us.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.159
 Send us back.

00:30:17.219 --> 00:30:17.919
 Roots it back

00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:18.679
 in his character

00:30:18.679 --> 00:30:19.740
 in this way.

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.779
 And Nehemiah

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.579
 in this way

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.599
 is a type

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:25.139
 of Jesus Christ.

00:30:26.939 --> 00:30:27.459
 Now,

00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:28.099
 I want to introduce

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.179
 you to typology

00:30:29.179 --> 00:30:30.099
 if you're not familiar

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.139
 with this.

00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.119
 So,

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.779
 I've said

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.399
 I recognize

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:33.960
 through the past

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.320
 years,

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.560
 various people

00:30:35.560 --> 00:30:36.460
 throughout the scriptures

00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.580
 are types

00:30:37.580 --> 00:30:38.340
 of Christ.

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:38.880
 And I don't mean

00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.780
 that in the way

00:30:39.780 --> 00:30:40.620
 that a Granny Smith

00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:41.480
 apple is a type

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.220
 of apple.

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:42.960
 Right?

00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:43.940
 I don't really like

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.360
 Granny Smiths.

00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:44.740
 I think they should

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.259
 be excluded

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.800
 from the apple

00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.220
 category.

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.380
 but I don't mean

00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.460
 it in that way.

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:48.900
 Right?

00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.740
 We're not saying

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:49.940
 that,

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.539
 I'm not saying

00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.400
 that Nehemiah

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:53.500
 is a type

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.180
 of Jesus Christ

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.620
 and that he's

00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.360
 a different version

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:55.819
 of him.

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:56.620
 Right?

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.720
 But typology

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:59.240
 references a person

00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.600
 who supersedes

00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.700
 the antitype

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:03.220
 or the fulfillment

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.200
 of it.

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.339
 It's a shadow,

00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:08.259
 a presupposition

00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.339
 of something

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:10.579
 that's later to come.

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.079
 For example,

00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.660
 in that way,

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.559
 David is a type

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.240
 of Christ

00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.220
 when he takes

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.000
 on Goliath.

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:17.700
 Right?

00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.419
 And the picture

00:31:18.419 --> 00:31:19.220
 being shown here

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.940
 is that one day

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:21.019
 a greater king

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.859
 will come

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.819
 and defeat

00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:24.279
 death on our behalf.

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.139
 Right?

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.659
 That we're not

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.079
 going to have to

00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.639
 fight that war

00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.099
 but he's going to

00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.879
 come and fight

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:28.639
 it for us.

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.559
 The one man,

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.519
 that man being

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.579
 Jesus Christ.

00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:32.240
 And the Old Testament

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.519
 is just full

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.099
 of typology

00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:36.539
 pointing us to

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.980
 Jesus Christ.

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:38.839
 We're meant to

00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:40.119
 look at a Nehemiah

00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:41.259
 and expect

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.119
 something greater.

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.399
 Pressing us

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.780
 too.

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.640
 And as Nehemiah

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.440
 intercedes

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.460
 for the people

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:48.880
 of God

00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.160
 in the same way

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.840
 Jesus intercedes

00:31:51.840 --> 00:31:52.420
 for us.

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.080
 He is the

00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:55.100
 greater Nehemiah,

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:56.080
 the antitype

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:57.019
 to the type

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.920
 that is

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.940
 Nehemiah.

00:31:59.540 --> 00:32:00.240
 Romans 8

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.440
 33 and 34

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.860
 reads,

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.160
 Who shall bring

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:03.700
 any charge

00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:04.580
 against God's elect?

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.320
 It is God

00:32:05.320 --> 00:32:06.100
 who justifies.

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.300
 Who is to condemn?

00:32:07.840 --> 00:32:08.500
 Christ Jesus

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:08.960
 is the one

00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.400
 who died.

00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.240
 More than that,

00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.060
 who was raised.

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:11.880
 Who is at the

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.700
 right hand of God

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.519
 who is indeed

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.559
 interceding

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.380
 for us.

00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.000
 Notice here

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.100
 that the tie-in

00:32:18.100 --> 00:32:18.880
 here is that

00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:20.000
 no one can bring

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.580
 a charge against

00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.080
 God's elect.

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.740
 No one can

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.539
 convict us

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:22.940
 of anything

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.559
 because it is

00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.539
 Jesus Christ

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.440
 himself who

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.299
 intercedes for us.

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:27.340
 Who leans over

00:32:27.340 --> 00:32:28.140
 to God and says,

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:29.380
 Not that one.

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.799
 Pass over him.

00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:32.559
 My sacrifice

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.640
 was enough for him.

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.980
 I took on

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:36.080
 his punishment

00:32:36.080 --> 00:32:37.720
 and her punishment.

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.240
 He intercedes

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.599
 on our behalf.

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:41.980
 So he is the

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.019
 greater

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.660
 Nehemiah.

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.660
 Turn with me

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.559
 from Nehemiah.

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.720
 In closing,

00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:48.259
 we're going to look

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.200
 at John

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.099
 chapter 13.

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:50.920
 I just want to

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.599
 show you something

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.019
 here.

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:54.000
 This is Jesus

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.039
 the great

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.680
 interceder.

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.940
 I miss this

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.740
 until this week.

00:33:04.099 --> 00:33:04.819
 We see the

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.839
 Last Supper

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.519
 beginning in

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.559
 chapter 13.

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:08.440
 See Jesus

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.079
 washing the

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.720
 disciples' feet.

00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:10.519
 And throughout

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.579
 this process,

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.519
 he's teaching

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.220
 them things

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.119
 along the way.

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.299
 And at the

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.879
 end of chapter

00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.539
 14,

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.720
 I just totally

00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.399
 read over this

00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:19.259
 so many times,

00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.019
 he says,

00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:20.759
 Rise.

00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:21.839
 Let us go

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.259
 from here.

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:23.960
 So in my mind,

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.859
 I always pictured

00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.339
 Jesus talking

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:26.879
 through chapter

00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:28.099
 15 and 16

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.740
 and even 17

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.279
 with the high

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:30.819
 priestly prayer

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.599
 of him sitting

00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.879
 in this upper

00:33:32.879 --> 00:33:33.779
 room around a

00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.059
 table.

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.759
 But they

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:34.919
 weren't.

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.359
 They were actually

00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:36.919
 walking along.

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.319
 At the

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:38.700
 beginning of

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.579
 chapter 17,

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.159
 this is kind

00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:41.240
 of where this

00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.240
 caught my

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.659
 attention.

00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:44.319
 The record is

00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:45.079
 when Jesus had

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:45.740
 spoken these

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.159
 words, he

00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:46.859
 lifted up his

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:47.700
 eyes to heaven

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.319
 and said,

00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:48.700
 and here's

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.279
 where we have

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.000
 the high

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.700
 priestly prayer.

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.659
 Him pouring

00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:53.079
 out his

00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:54.139
 desire for

00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:54.720
 the apostles

00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.720
 and those

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.259
 who would

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.639
 precede them.

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:58.980
 But notice

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.379
 at the beginning

00:33:59.379 --> 00:34:00.019
 of chapter

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.480
 18,

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:01.960
 when Jesus

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.419
 had spoken

00:34:02.419 --> 00:34:02.859
 these words,

00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:03.240
 when he had

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.460
 completed this

00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:04.819
 prayer,

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:05.899
 he went out

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.259
 with his

00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:07.300
 disciples across

00:34:07.300 --> 00:34:08.280
 the Kidron

00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:09.340
 Valley where

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.079
 there was a

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.599
 garden which

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.079
 he and his

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.920
 disciples entered.

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.160
 This is the

00:34:13.160 --> 00:34:13.599
 garden of

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.160
 Gethsemane.

00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.480
 He pauses

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.019
 somewhere before

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.720
 they go through

00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:18.980
 this.

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:19.579
 Now this is

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.680
 pure conjecture

00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:21.539
 on my part,

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:23.019
 but I just

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.460
 want to paint a

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:23.900
 little bit of a

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.500
 picture for you.

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.099
 And this Kidron

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.920
 Valley was the

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.059
 brook of

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.440
 Kidron,

00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.740
 and it was

00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:29.760
 used as a

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.940
 drain from

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.380
 the temple.

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.700
 Recall that

00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:33.280
 we're in the

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.139
 Passover week.

00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:34.879
 There was an

00:34:34.879 --> 00:34:35.819
 estimated six

00:34:35.819 --> 00:34:36.879
 million Jews

00:34:36.879 --> 00:34:38.059
 in Jerusalem

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.759
 at this time.

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.639
 And there's

00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.579
 sacrifice happening

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:42.039
 that week on

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:43.019
 and on and

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.980
 on and on,

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.819
 non-stop.

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.619
 You could even

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.159
 think of it,

00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:46.879
 the priest must

00:34:46.879 --> 00:34:47.460
 have been knee

00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.339
 deep in blood.

00:34:48.379 --> 00:34:48.739
 And where did

00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.279
 it all go?

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.619
 It drained

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.299
 through the

00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:51.679
 Valley of

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.099
 Kidron,

00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:52.639
 down the

00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.639
 brook of

00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:53.960
 Kidron.

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.400
 And this is

00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:54.759
 the brook

00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.119
 that they

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:56.859
 pass over as

00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:57.179
 they're going

00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:58.139
 in to the

00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.460
 Garden of

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.960
 Gethsemane.

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.199
 And I just

00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:00.799
 imagine,

00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.619
 we don't know,

00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:02.000
 I mean,

00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:02.759
 please hear me

00:35:02.759 --> 00:35:02.960
 say,

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.500
 I do not

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.960
 know that

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.340
 this is the

00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:04.559
 case,

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:04.820
 but I

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.820
 imagine that

00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:06.260
 this may

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:06.639
 have been

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.500
 what caused

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.059
 Jesus to

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:08.659
 pause,

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.300
 to lift

00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:09.639
 his eyes

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.179
 to heaven,

00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.059
 and to

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.280
 pray.

00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:13.559
 Why?

00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.760
 He knew that

00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:15.320
 his blood was

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:15.699
 about to be

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.019
 spilt,

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:16.500
 right?

00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.059
 He knew that

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:17.500
 he was about

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:17.940
 to make the

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.739
 full and

00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:20.159
 final atonement.

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.400
 All this

00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.019
 blood that was

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.480
 pouring through

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.760
 there,

00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.480
 that was

00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.039
 necessary for

00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.360
 the remission

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:24.659
 of sins,

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.000
 was just

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.460
 meant to

00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.219
 show our

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:26.800
 need of a

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.019
 Savior.

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.440
 And he

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.159
 was that

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.460
 Savior,

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:28.880
 about to

00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.400
 make the

00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:30.300
 ultimate and

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.539
 final sacrifice.

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.820
 If you read

00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:33.079
 through the

00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.440
 high priestly

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:33.679
 prayer,

00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.420
 I think also

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.119
 he has in

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.519
 mind the

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.079
 suffering that's

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:36.239
 going to

00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.599
 come to

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.759
 his disciples

00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:39.420
 as a result.

00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:40.000
 The blood that

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.759
 they will spill,

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:41.699
 that they will

00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.320
 share in his

00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.239
 suffering in

00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.840
 that way.

00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:44.800
 And I believe

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.539
 that he's moved

00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:47.000
 to pray at

00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.480
 that point.

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:48.500
 So look back

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.559
 at chapter 17,

00:35:49.779 --> 00:35:50.779
 just a portion.

00:35:51.980 --> 00:35:52.579
 It's really hard

00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:53.340
 for me to decide

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:54.179
 what part of this

00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:54.599
 we would read

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:54.960
 together.

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.679
 But look at

00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:57.119
 verse 13.

00:35:57.119 --> 00:36:00.639
 Jesus here

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.139
 praying to

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.359
 God,

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:01.799
 but now I

00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:02.440
 am coming to

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:02.859
 you and

00:36:02.859 --> 00:36:03.480
 these things

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.219
 I speak in

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:04.559
 the world

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:04.839
 that they

00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:05.279
 may have

00:36:05.279 --> 00:36:06.000
 my joy

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.039
 fulfilled in

00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:07.440
 themselves.

00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.339
 I have

00:36:08.339 --> 00:36:08.900
 given them

00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.599
 your word

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:10.339
 and the

00:36:10.339 --> 00:36:10.659
 world has

00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.079
 hated them

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:11.420
 because they

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:11.759
 are not

00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.079
 of the

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.259
 world,

00:36:12.339 --> 00:36:12.819
 just as I

00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.079
 am not

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.279
 of the

00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:13.500
 world.

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.239
 I do

00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:14.719
 not ask

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:14.980
 that you

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.380
 take them

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:15.719
 out of

00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:15.819
 the

00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.099
 world,

00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.119
 but that

00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:17.480
 you keep

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:17.839
 them from

00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:18.179
 the evil

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:18.460
 one.

00:36:18.759 --> 00:36:19.000
 They are

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.480
 not of

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:19.599
 the

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:19.799
 world,

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.339
 just as I

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:20.619
 am not

00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:20.819
 of the

00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:21.559
 world.

00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:24.679
 Sanctify

00:36:24.679 --> 00:36:25.079
 them in

00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:25.579
 your truth.

00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:26.339
 Your word

00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:27.000
 is truth.

00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:27.920
 As you

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:28.460
 sent me

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:28.859
 into the

00:36:28.859 --> 00:36:29.059
 world,

00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:29.500
 so I

00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:29.859
 have sent

00:36:29.859 --> 00:36:30.199
 them into

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:30.539
 the world,

00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:30.859
 and for

00:36:30.859 --> 00:36:31.480
 their sake

00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:32.219
 I consecrate

00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:32.659
 myself,

00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:33.440
 that they

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.319
 also may

00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:35.079
 be sanctified

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:35.599
 in truth.

00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:35.880
 He's

00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.440
 praying for

00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:36.880
 the apostles

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.259
 here.

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:37.859
 Then verse

00:36:37.859 --> 00:36:38.219
 30 he

00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:38.380
 says,

00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:38.960
 I do not

00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.599
 ask for

00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.359
 these only,

00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:41.359
 but also

00:36:41.359 --> 00:36:41.960
 for those

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.219
 who will

00:36:42.219 --> 00:36:42.599
 believe in

00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.539
 me through

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.039
 their word.

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.159
 All of

00:36:45.159 --> 00:36:45.559
 us.

00:36:45.880 --> 00:36:46.519
 He expands

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.019
 this prayer

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.679
 to all of

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:48.319
 us who

00:36:48.319 --> 00:36:48.659
 have placed

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.319
 our faith

00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:50.159
 in Jesus

00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.679
 Christ,

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.980
 the word

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:53.579
 of God.

00:36:54.319 --> 00:36:54.960
 You see

00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.480
 here this

00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:56.199
 picture to

00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:56.559
 draw you

00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.340
 a connection.

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.039
 We have

00:36:58.039 --> 00:36:59.420
 been sanctified.

00:36:59.579 --> 00:36:59.820
 We have

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.599
 been set

00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:01.900
 aside from

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.420
 the world

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.480
 for the glory

00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:03.920
 of God.

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:04.880
 The way the

00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:05.539
 Old Testament

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.039
 Israelites

00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:06.619
 had been.

00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:08.679
 To be built

00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.480
 up into a

00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:10.599
 spiritual house,

00:37:11.239 --> 00:37:11.559
 not a

00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.199
 physical one.

00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:12.679
 We're not

00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.539
 set to the

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:14.019
 task of

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.299
 building

00:37:14.299 --> 00:37:14.940
 grandiose

00:37:14.940 --> 00:37:15.480
 buildings to

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:15.739
 the glory

00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.179
 of God.

00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:16.980
 We're building

00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.340
 up a

00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:18.299
 spiritual house,

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:19.380
 the church.

00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:19.460
 church.

00:37:20.119 --> 00:37:20.720
 This is

00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:20.940
 what has

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.440
 been set

00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.420
 before us

00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:22.900
 and it

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.820
 is an

00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.500
 immense

00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:25.720
 task.

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:26.700
 It's not

00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:27.140
 something we

00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:27.460
 ought to

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.980
 think we

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.800
 can accomplish

00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:29.680
 on our

00:37:29.680 --> 00:37:29.980
 own.

00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:30.740
 And as

00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:31.160
 such,

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.400
 we ought to

00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.079
 set ourselves

00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:34.039
 to prayer.

00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.480
 We have

00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.099
 Jesus as

00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:35.680
 our great

00:37:35.680 --> 00:37:36.500
 example,

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:37.940
 teaching us

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.680
 to pray in

00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:39.400
 Matthew 6.

00:37:39.660 --> 00:37:39.960
 And we'll

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:40.460
 address that

00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:40.980
 some more

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.200
 in the coming

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:42.640
 weeks.

00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:43.900
 Let me close

00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:44.380
 with a quote

00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:44.820
 from Hudson

00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:45.160
 Taylor,

00:37:45.640 --> 00:37:47.680
 an English

00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:48.240
 Protestant

00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:49.280
 missionary to

00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:49.599
 China.

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.680
 He says,

00:37:51.800 --> 00:37:52.519
 All God's

00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:53.240
 giants have

00:37:53.240 --> 00:37:53.740
 been weak

00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.660
 men who

00:37:54.660 --> 00:37:55.300
 did great

00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:55.800
 things for

00:37:55.800 --> 00:37:56.320
 God because

00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:57.140
 they believed

00:37:57.140 --> 00:37:57.860
 that God

00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:58.460
 would be with

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:58.640
 them.

00:37:59.260 --> 00:37:59.640
 Let's pray

00:37:59.640 --> 00:37:59.940
 together.