WEBVTT

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 Even just hearing this first chapter and a half, we're beginning to understand what makes Nehemiah such a great book.

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 He's a fascinating figure, and we get wonderful personal insights into his life.

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 And in so many ways, we are seeing the glory and the greatness of our God.

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 It's a wonderful book.

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 It's part the memoirs of Nehemiah himself.

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 We get that sense that we're reading the private diary of a man of God as he is tasked with rebuilding the city of Jerusalem.

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 So he's going to do that physically, but also morally and spiritually.

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 The name Nehemiah means God will comfort.

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 And God has comforted his people, offering them hope and restoration in giving them this leader, Nehemiah.

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 So it's part memoirs.

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 It's also part prayer diary.

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 As we spend a few weeks in the book of Nehemiah, many times we will meet this man of God on his knees in prayer,

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 seeking God's glory and the good of his kingdom.

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 It's also, I think, these chapters are part of portrait gallery,

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 because we're going to meet various faces of Nehemiah along the way.

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 This man who's been raised up for the task of spiritual reformation,

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 we will see him in various roles with various responsibilities,

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 and all the time under the rule and guidance of God.

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 Maybe it's helpful to ask, why are we studying it together?

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 So this book, it dates from 445 BC.

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 So it's pretty ancient.

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 And we might find ourselves wondering,

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 why are we studying this ancient book about the rebuilding of an ancient city?

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 Well, at one level, at the local level,

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 the answer is that since, I guess since January,

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 as church elders, leaders here,

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 we've been praying about, we've been thinking through,

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 we've been reflecting on and working towards a development plan.

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 Seeking the ongoing renewal of God here within Becclew,

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 seeking a vision for coming years.

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 And there's so many helpful things for us as leaders,

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 but so many things for all of us that we can learn together in this wonderful book.

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 But more broadly, what will Nehemiah help us to learn together?

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 Let's look out for four things as we go week by week through this book.

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 First of all, I think Nehemiah will teach us to pray.

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 And as the church, we always need this.

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 So we hear him worship.

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 We hear him confess sin.

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 We hear him asking God for help.

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 We hear him pray for the ongoing renewal of the kingdom of God.

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 So the church needs to be a praying people.

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 The book of Nehemiah also teaches us the importance of contending for the gospel.

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 It reminds us, like so many books of the Bible, that opposition is normal.

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 We met some opposition at the end of our reading, chapter 2, verse 10.

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 But as we go through the weeks, we'll come to see that the battles that Nehemiah faces,

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 sometimes they're external, sometimes also they're internal.

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 And the book of Nehemiah reminds us to expect opposition and trouble

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 and to be ready and willing to contend for the cause of the Lord Jesus.

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 And as we do so, to put our trust in God himself.

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 To understand that we have a God who is totally committed to his glory

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 and to his people and to the good of his kingdom.

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 Another thing that becomes apparent as we look at the book of Nehemiah

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 is he teaches us that the preaching of God's word

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 is central to the life of God's people.

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 The high point of this book is literally a high point.

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 In chapter 8, we are going to meet Ezra.

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 And he's going to proclaim God's word.

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 And he's going to explain God's word from a high platform.

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 And that in itself reminds us that as the people of God,

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 we always need to be hearing and to be receiving God's word read and preached.

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 And one other thing I think we can be looking out for in the story of Nehemiah,

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 and we'll see it a lot next week.

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 The book teaches us that renewal,

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 the ongoing renewal of God's kingdom,

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 its shared responsibility.

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 This is very much an all-hands-on-deck kind of a book.

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 We get to see a lot of Nehemiah, this great servant leader,

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 but we're also going to hear about the responsibility of all God's people.

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 This is a book where the church is seen as a body

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 working together, struggling together for the glory of God

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 and the progress of the kingdom.

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 So we can watch out for those highlights as we go through the next few weeks.

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 But here we are, chapter 1, verse 1, to chapter 2, verse 10.

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 Three things for us to see.

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 First of all, the problem facing Nehemiah.

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 Look at the first four verses,

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 and we discover that Nehemiah here in Susa,

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 so he's in Iran at the moment,

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 and he hears a report about the Jewish remnant who've survived the exile.

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 And what's he told?

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 Those who survived the exile are back in the province.

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 They're in great trouble and disgrace.

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 The wall is broken down,

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 and Jerusalem gates have been burned with fire.

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 The British prime minister at the outbreak of World War II

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 was a chap called Neville Chamberlain.

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 And Neville Chamberlain had a small pocket diary,

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 which a few years ago went on display to the public.

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 Look, the day that Britain entered World War II

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 was the 3rd of September, 1939.

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 And on that day, we have a diary entry from Neville Chamberlain.

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 Do you know what he wrote?

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 He wrote, war declared.

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 And that was it.

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 This huge moment for the nation,

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 this huge moment for the world,

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 we get the fact, but we don't get any insight into,

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 what did Chamberlain feel at that moment?

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 What emotions was he going through?

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 Contrast that with verse 4,

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 with Nehemiah's private diary.

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 When I heard these things,

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 I sat down and wept.

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 For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed

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 before the God of heaven.

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 He discovers the trouble facing Jerusalem,

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 facing the people of God,

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 and he is deeply affected.

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 So let's ask ourselves briefly, why?

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 Why is he affected?

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 What's the problem?

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 Well, at a practical level, as we've just heard,

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 the survivors of the exile,

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 who maybe about 15 years or 20 years ago,

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 at the time of Ezra,

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 had been sent back from Persia to Jerusalem,

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 they're living in times of great trouble.

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 There's also the remnant who survived the exile,

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 the weak and the unimportant people,

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 and they are part of this disgrace

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 that's being felt within the city.

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 The city is in ruins.

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 The walls and the gates are broken down,

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 and they're on fire.

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 There's no security.

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 There's no stability.

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 There's no sense of honor.

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 We will recognize that they are being exposed

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 to their enemies,

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 and they're being exposed to mockery.

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 So that's what Nehemiah hears about.

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 But in his thinking, he's going deeper,

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 because he understands that beyond the physical,

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 there's also a spiritual problem here.

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 Nehemiah is someone who has a deep concern

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 for God's people and for God's glory.

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 God's people here are in a low state,

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 a place of weakness.

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 Remember, Jerusalem is the city that represents

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 the rule of God,

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 the presence of God,

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 the glory of God on this earth.

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 So when it's in ruins,

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 God's reputation stands somewhat in ruins.

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 It is significant that God's kingdom

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 is in a weak state.

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 It is a cause of deep distress

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 that while Ezra was sent back

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 with that task of restoring the walls

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 and the temple,

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 that building project has now been halted.

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 It has stalled because of enemies

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 and because of the royal decree from Persia.

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 So we meet in the first instance,

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 Nehemiah,

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 as a true servant leader of God.

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 And he is deeply moved

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 by the state of the church.

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 And remember where he is right now.

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 He's not there in Jerusalem among the ruins.

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 He's in Iran.

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 He's in a palace.

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 He's in a place of honor

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 and comfort and security.

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 And he could easily have said,

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 that's not my problem.

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 But he loves his God

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 and he loves God's church.

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 He knows that God is glorious

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 and he longs for that glory

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 to be on display in the world.

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 He feels it deep within his guts

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 that God is dishonored.

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 And so this sacrificial servant,

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 he weeps

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 and then he works.

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 And as we'll see,

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 the first work he does is to pray.

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 Now right at the outset,

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 I want to ask ourselves

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 a question this morning,

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 perhaps a question to reflect on

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 through the day,

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 through this week.

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 What is it that I am most passionate about?

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 Now if you're a Christian here today,

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 you know as I know instinctively

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 what the answer should be.

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 But what is the evidence of our lives?

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 Or to put it slightly differently,

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 how do we feel

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 about the low state of the church

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 in our nation?

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 As Keith was leading us in prayer.

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 As we think about the situation

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 in our city or in our church,

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 that the progress seems slow,

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 that God's honor is held in low regard.

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 Do we feel it?

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 Sometimes I think it's all too easy,

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 again,

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 to go back to that idea of idolatry.

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 Sometimes we can find it really easy

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 to be most passionate

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 about our own comfort, perhaps.

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 Or our own success,

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 whether that be in our career

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 or in our studies

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 or even thinking for our children.

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 We might even put our sports team

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 ahead of the glory of God

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 and the advance of His kingdom.

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 To look at Nehemiah's posture,

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 weeping, fasting, praying,

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 reveals his passion,

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 the glory of God

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 and the cause of the gospel.

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 He hears the report

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 and it's as if he can sense

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 that the smoking walls

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 and the city in ruins

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 and what that represents

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 about God's honor

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 and that brings him to his knees.

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 Let me ask each one of us individually

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 and for us as a church

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 about our posture

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 and about our passion.

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 So we sit here in Edinburgh

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 and it's very different, isn't it?

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 There's no smoking ruins.

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 In fact, we live in a wonderfully

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 beautiful city,

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 a great city.

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 We came back from holiday

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 and the cherry blossoms are there

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 and the meadows,

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 the sun's shut.

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 It's a wonderful city.

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 Visitors flock

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 and don't want to leave.

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 But let me ask,

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 can we see beneath the surface?

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 To recognize that for the people

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 who live here,

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 that without Jesus,

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 their lives in this city

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 is spiritual ruin and rubble.

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 Do we recognize

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 that there are many people around us

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 and they are hurting

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 and they are confused,

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 they're troubled,

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 they're heading for a lost eternity,

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 many of them without even realizing it?

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 Will we pray?

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 Do we pray?

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 To the God who sees,

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 who knows,

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 who cares.

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 To the God who is powerful

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 and to the God

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 who is passionate

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 about His glory

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 and about salvation.

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 So that's the problem

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 that we see.

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 Second thing we hear

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 is the prayer

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 of Nehemiah.

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 So we said Nehemiah

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 is like a portrait gallery.

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 Nehemiah is a man

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 of many faces.

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 We will see him

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 often as a leader.

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 Sometimes we'll see him

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 inspecting and exploring.

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 Sometimes we'll see him

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 engaged in buildings.

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 Sometimes we'll see him

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 helping the poor.

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 But it's so significant

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 that our first portrait

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 is of Nehemiah,

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 the man of prayer.

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 You search church history

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 and you will discover

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 that those who are most passionate

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 for God's glory,

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 those who are most used

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 in God's kingdom,

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 will be those who are

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 most passionately committed

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 to seeking God's help

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 and seeking God's honor

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 in prayer.

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 And so we have the privilege

00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:40.460
 this morning

00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:42.000
 of taking a page

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.980
 from Nehemiah's

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.500
 personal prayer diary.

00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:45.660
 And what do we discover

00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:46.759
 in this page?

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.660
 We discover here is a man

00:13:48.660 --> 00:13:50.000
 of God who knows his God.

00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.040
 And he knows his Bible.

00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:55.660
 And he knows God's promises.

00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.300
 And he appreciates

00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:58.400
 that he lives under

00:13:58.400 --> 00:13:59.300
 God's providence.

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.400
 And all of that is here

00:14:00.400 --> 00:14:01.420
 in his prayer.

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.360
 And so as we spend

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.100
 just a few minutes

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.820
 looking at this prayer,

00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.540
 my prayer for us would be

00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:08.599
 that Nehemiah

00:14:08.599 --> 00:14:10.459
 would be teaching us

00:14:10.459 --> 00:14:11.819
 in our day

00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:13.519
 how to pray also.

00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.779
 So we begin there

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.719
 at verse 5

00:14:16.719 --> 00:14:18.519
 and we come to see

00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:19.519
 that we pray

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.679
 in part

00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:21.839
 to worship

00:14:21.839 --> 00:14:22.759
 our God.

00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.480
 We don't rush in

00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.559
 with our shopping list.

00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:27.679
 We give God glory.

00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:28.459
 Look at how

00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:29.959
 Nehemiah begins.

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.660
 Lord, the God of heaven,

00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.440
 the great and awesome God

00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:36.620
 who keeps his covenant

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.500
 of love with those

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.100
 who love him

00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:39.060
 and keep his commandments.

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:42.320
 It's good to remember

00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.300
 who we pray to.

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.259
 The God who made

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.440
 everything that we see.

00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:48.019
 The God who is great

00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:49.080
 and awesome

00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:50.700
 but the God who is also

00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:51.340
 loving

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.940
 and keeps his covenant

00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.100
 and enters into

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.960
 personal covenant

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.620
 relationship

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.500
 with his people.

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:58.440
 And so we see

00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:58.940
 that we have

00:14:58.940 --> 00:14:59.779
 this privilege.

00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:00.679
 We're invited

00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:01.799
 into a personal

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.519
 relationship

00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:03.360
 with the powerful

00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:04.460
 God of the universe.

00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.679
 That's a great motivator

00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.500
 for prayer, I think.

00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:09.240
 And what we see

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.179
 from Nehemiah's prayer

00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:11.000
 is this reminder

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.720
 that God is both

00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.259
 awesome

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.659
 and he's approachable.

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.299
 That he is both

00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.940
 a God to be feared

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:18.440
 and honored

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.019
 and a God

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:19.879
 who is faithful.

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:22.159
 And wonderfully

00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:24.379
 we know through Jesus

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.179
 we're invited

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:26.639
 to call this God

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:28.720
 our Father in heaven.

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.679
 To know that as his people

00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.860
 we are never denied access.

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.299
 To know that when we pray

00:15:35.299 --> 00:15:36.480
 we come to the one

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.220
 with all resources

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.720
 for whom nothing

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.700
 is impossible.

00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.399
 So we praise God

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.799
 that we get to pray.

00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.340
 We pray to worship.

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:48.139
 But we also pray

00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:50.800
 to confess our sin.

00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:51.800
 That's there, isn't it?

00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:53.080
 In verses 6 and 7.

00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.780
 I confess the sins

00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:55.680
 we Israelites

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.820
 including myself

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.040
 and my father's family

00:15:58.040 --> 00:16:00.060
 have committed against you.

00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.360
 And again, notice this.

00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.360
 There is no hint

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:05.320
 of those guys over there.

00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:06.259
 They're the problem.

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.300
 There's the people

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.240
 over in Jerusalem.

00:16:09.160 --> 00:16:10.040
 It's we.

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:14.000
 There's that shared sense

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.459
 of guilt over sin.

00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:17.000
 Nehemiah's family

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.000
 because they're part

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.159
 of that society.

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.679
 He recognized

00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.939
 they're part of the problem.

00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:23.839
 And the problem

00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:25.699
 there in verse 7

00:16:25.699 --> 00:16:27.599
 we have acted

00:16:27.599 --> 00:16:28.620
 very wickedly

00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.860
 towards you.

00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:30.740
 We have not obeyed

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.679
 the commands, decrees

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.559
 and laws you gave

00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.480
 your servant Moses.

00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:36.939
 He confesses disobedience.

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.839
 He confesses

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:40.060
 dishonoring God.

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:42.240
 He understands

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.240
 that by breaking

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.000
 God's law

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.840
 the people of God

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.300
 they're causing damage

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:48.480
 to God's honor.

00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.759
 They're causing damage

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.399
 to the work

00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.240
 of God's kingdom.

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.420
 And so he confesses sin.

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.440
 He's just worshipped

00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.100
 and recognized

00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:00.560
 how awesome God is.

00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:02.019
 And when we rightly view

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.900
 God's awesome holiness

00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:06.600
 isn't that so often

00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:07.360
 when we become

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.199
 so aware of our own sin

00:17:09.199 --> 00:17:10.339
 and guilt

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.599
 and awfulness.

00:17:13.419 --> 00:17:14.539
 That the holiness

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.179
 of God

00:17:15.179 --> 00:17:16.319
 rightly seen

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.019
 so often exposes

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.279
 our own hypocrisy.

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.979
 That huge gap

00:17:20.979 --> 00:17:21.959
 that can exist

00:17:21.959 --> 00:17:22.359
 between

00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.519
 here are the truths

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.519
 that I believe

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:27.039
 but here's the life

00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:27.879
 that I'm practicing.

00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:31.099
 That's one of the reasons

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:32.019
 why it's so important

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.939
 for us every week

00:17:32.939 --> 00:17:33.579
 as we worship

00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.879
 to confess our sin

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.500
 together.

00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.120
 To acknowledge

00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:38.220
 that we are all guilty

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:38.940
 before God

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.800
 that we all stand

00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:40.900
 in need of His grace

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.580
 and forgiveness

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:42.440
 and there is grace

00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:42.980
 and forgiveness

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.980
 to be found

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.860
 in the gospel.

00:17:46.040 --> 00:17:47.220
 So we pray to worship

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.500
 we pray to confess sin

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:50.380
 and Nehemiah also shows us

00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:50.940
 that we pray

00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:52.720
 to claim God's promises

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:55.700
 to claim God's promised help.

00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:56.540
 That's there in verses

00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:58.099
 8 to 10.

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.440
 Look at how he begins

00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:02.700
 remember the instruction

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.940
 you gave your servant Moses

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.180
 and then he takes

00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:07.559
 his prayer towards

00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.480
 that key text

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.659
 of Deuteronomy chapter 30

00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.980
 verses 1 to 5

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:14.680
 where God makes the promise

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:15.839
 that when His people

00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.000
 even if they've walked

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:19.379
 so far away from His ways

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:21.659
 if they will return

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:24.660
 then God will restore

00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.680
 God will have compassion

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:28.300
 God will bring His people

00:18:28.300 --> 00:18:29.080
 back to Himself.

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:31.560
 And as Nehemiah prays

00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:32.940
 he remembers Scripture

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.600
 and he knows

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:35.740
 these are God's own words.

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:39.259
 This is God's covenant commitment.

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:42.900
 And so Nehemiah takes God

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:44.140
 at His word

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:45.440
 and he claims

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.500
 the promise of God

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:50.160
 found in the Bible.

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.140
 And it's the same

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.140
 in verse 10.

00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.040
 They are your servants

00:18:56.040 --> 00:18:57.200
 and your people

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.580
 whom you redeemed

00:18:58.580 --> 00:19:00.080
 by your great strength

00:19:00.080 --> 00:19:02.240
 and your mighty hand.

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:05.140
 So part of God's covenant faithfulness

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:06.980
 was in His great act of rescue.

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:08.200
 We might think of the story

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.840
 of the Exodus

00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:09.779
 or we might think of

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:12.080
 the return of the exiles.

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:15.040
 And so Nehemiah puts before God

00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:16.920
 his own covenant commitment

00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:19.080
 and he trusts

00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.759
 that God will be faithful

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.599
 to His character

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.460
 and to His word

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:24.019
 even though

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:26.720
 His people have been unfaithful.

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.059
 He trusts in a God

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.819
 who will be faithful

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.720
 to His promise

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.539
 and to His people

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.539
 through thick and thin.

00:19:34.939 --> 00:19:36.500
 Now a couple of observations

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:40.139
 as we seek with God's help

00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:41.579
 that Nehemiah would encourage us

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.159
 in prayer.

00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:44.519
 First is this.

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.240
 Remember the power

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.640
 of praying

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:49.259
 together.

00:19:50.320 --> 00:19:51.560
 Look at verse 11.

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.920
 We could easily miss this.

00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.540
 Lord, let your ear

00:19:55.540 --> 00:19:56.220
 be attentive

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.980
 to the prayer

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.000
 of this your servant.

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.240
 Okay, we get that.

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:01.220
 And to the prayer

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:03.259
 of your servants

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.259
 who delight

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.400
 in revering your name.

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.420
 What are we being told?

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.420
 Nehemiah is praying

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:11.180
 with other people.

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.700
 There are others

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.460
 who are committed

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.759
 day by day

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.980
 maybe even hour by hour

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.920
 to God's kingdom

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.820
 to God's glory

00:20:19.820 --> 00:20:20.799
 to God's will.

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.840
 And there's a power

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.259
 in that.

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.440
 There's a goodness

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:24.980
 to that.

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.860
 As a local church

00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:29.220
 we must do

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.600
 the Lord's work

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.880
 and we must do it

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.080
 in the Lord's way.

00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:36.539
 And how do we do

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.759
 the work of God

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.439
 together?

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.599
 Fundamentally

00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:43.000
 as we pray.

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:45.419
 We must be

00:20:45.419 --> 00:20:46.539
 praying together.

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.359
 Plans,

00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.259
 strategies

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.339
 absolutely are

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.079
 so important

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.000
 and we'll see it

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.559
 but without prayer

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:56.579
 we're missing

00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.500
 the key component.

00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.439
 Now the great example

00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:00.439
 I think in the Bible

00:21:00.439 --> 00:21:02.159
 of the church of God

00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:02.679
 praying together

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.700
 is the book of Acts.

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.880
 It has been said

00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.080
 that the early church

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.700
 in the chapters

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.779
 of Acts

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:11.060
 it sounds just like

00:21:11.060 --> 00:21:12.940
 an extended prayer meeting.

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.960
 Whatever is going on,

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:17.580
 whatever God is working,

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.420
 whatever need

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.140
 is required,

00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.360
 the people are praying.

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:23.919
 So if we're here today

00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:26.579
 and we feel perhaps

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.479
 sad

00:21:27.479 --> 00:21:29.059
 or dissatisfied

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.219
 or discouraged

00:21:30.219 --> 00:21:32.519
 about what's going on

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.240
 in the world

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:35.399
 or about the state

00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:35.959
 of the church

00:21:35.959 --> 00:21:36.559
 in Scotland

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.740
 or if you're concerned

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:39.199
 for your local church

00:21:39.199 --> 00:21:39.679
 here,

00:21:40.679 --> 00:21:42.259
 if there are people

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.119
 on your heart

00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:43.979
 and you're hungry

00:21:43.979 --> 00:21:45.199
 for them to know

00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:46.599
 life with God,

00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.419
 to know the love

00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:48.059
 of God,

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:50.899
 this is where we start

00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:52.919
 and we never shift

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:53.559
 from this,

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.220
 we must devote

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.879
 ourselves

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:57.759
 to praying together.

00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:58.980
 There is power

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.879
 in that

00:21:59.879 --> 00:22:01.779
 and just as a sidebar,

00:22:01.879 --> 00:22:02.700
 just to remind us,

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.200
 we pray

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.240
 as a church

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.039
 every Sunday

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.039
 at 5pm

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.220
 through there

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.119
 and we pray

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:08.799
 on a Wednesday

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.059
 at lunchtime online

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.799
 and we pray

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.059
 on Wednesdays.

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.859
 Matters.

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.839
 So remember

00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.259
 the power

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.139
 of praying together.

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.819
 Secondly,

00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.219
 to find encouragement

00:22:21.219 --> 00:22:22.039
 from Nehemiah,

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:22.819
 remember

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.579
 who we pray

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.240
 to.

00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.619
 Remember

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.519
 that we pray

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.899
 to a powerful

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.119
 loving father

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:32.339
 who loves

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:33.899
 to hear

00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:34.479
 his children

00:22:34.479 --> 00:22:34.959
 pray.

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:36.619
 This is one

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.179
 father

00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:37.959
 and you will

00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.579
 never find

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.879
 a do not disturb

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.959
 on his office

00:22:40.959 --> 00:22:41.459
 door.

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.419
 Our father

00:22:43.419 --> 00:22:43.899
 in heaven

00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.460
 will never

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.400
 shush us

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:45.920
 because he's

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.660
 busy doing

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.620
 something else.

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.060
 Remember

00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:51.640
 that we are

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.460
 praying to a

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:52.780
 God

00:22:52.780 --> 00:22:53.780
 who is far

00:22:53.780 --> 00:22:54.560
 more committed

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.720
 to his glory

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.900
 and to his

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.320
 kingdom

00:22:57.320 --> 00:22:58.680
 than you and I

00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.440
 will ever be.

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.560
 He has

00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:02.700
 redeemed us

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.540
 by way of

00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:04.540
 sending his son

00:23:04.540 --> 00:23:05.600
 Jesus to die

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.300
 on the cross

00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:06.720
 for us

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.519
 and then he's

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.320
 raised them up

00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:09.100
 on the third day.

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.440
 He will not

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.040
 let that be

00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:11.600
 for nothing.

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:13.179
 He is

00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:13.939
 committed

00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:14.559
 to building

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.319
 his church.

00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:16.799
 And remember

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.379
 that we pray

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.099
 to the great

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.679
 God who has

00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.459
 made great

00:23:19.459 --> 00:23:20.039
 promises.

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.099
 We get so

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.859
 many promises

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.439
 and we know

00:23:23.439 --> 00:23:23.980
 that we hold

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.419
 on to them

00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:24.740
 lightly.

00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:25.539
 We receive

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:25.980
 so many

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.519
 offers,

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.559
 so many

00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.079
 emails and

00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.419
 we wonder

00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:28.899
 is this a

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.219
 scam,

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.740
 this sounds

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.119
 too good

00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.759
 to be true.

00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.599
 That is

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.159
 never the

00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:32.699
 case with

00:23:32.699 --> 00:23:33.500
 God's promises

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.219
 in his word

00:23:34.219 --> 00:23:35.139
 and by faith

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:35.959
 we are

00:23:35.959 --> 00:23:36.759
 invited to

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.819
 claim them.

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:39.519
 So we need

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.179
 to know

00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:41.279
 God's word

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.720
 and to pray

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.980
 God's word

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.000
 as we claim

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.319
 those promises

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:46.859
 and as we

00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.379
 come to

00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:48.899
 know the

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.899
 God of glory

00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:50.599
 who will

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.220
 build his

00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.619
 church,

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.460
 who must

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.119
 be faithful

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.579
 to his

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:53.899
 covenant,

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.599
 for whom

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.279
 nothing is

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.960
 impossible,

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.859
 then we have

00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.799
 the motivation

00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:00.319
 to pray

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:02.079
 and to keep

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.539
 praying.

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.460
 So that's the

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:04.919
 second thing.

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.240
 So we've seen

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.599
 the problem,

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.059
 we've heard

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.500
 the prayer,

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:07.819
 now we

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.519
 recognize in

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.019
 those first

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.880
 verses of

00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:10.559
 chapter 2

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.779
 the planning

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:13.440
 of Nehemiah.

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.720
 It was a

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.279
 president of

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.539
 the United

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:15.859
 States,

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.819
 Benjamin Franklin,

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.200
 who was

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.900
 credited with

00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:18.259
 saying,

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.339
 if you fail

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:20.140
 to plan,

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.180
 you plan

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.000
 to fail.

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.099
 If you spend

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.720
 any time in

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.259
 business or

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.240
 management circles,

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.119
 you will know

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:26.700
 all about,

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.279
 I am sure,

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.279
 planning and

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.099
 development and

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:29.759
 it makes sense,

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.400
 it makes sense

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.079
 at a personal

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.319
 level.

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.799
 We have to

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.880
 plan for

00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.460
 our meals,

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.319
 we have to

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.339
 plan as

00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.279
 pupils,

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.720
 and as

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.299
 students if

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:37.940
 we're revising

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:39.319
 for exams,

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.579
 we have to

00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.619
 plan our

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.220
 time to

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.660
 make room

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.440
 for exercise

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.200
 perhaps or

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.420
 family devotions,

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.240
 and we need

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.660
 to plan for

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.819
 life within a

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.500
 local church.

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:50.839
 Nehemiah is

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.440
 both a great

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.139
 man of prayer

00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:53.359
 and a great

00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.359
 planner too.

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.399
 And one

00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.000
 aspect of

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.720
 planning that

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.460
 I want us

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.759
 to really see

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.779
 from Nehemiah

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:02.220
 is that it's

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.740
 one thing to

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.319
 make a plan,

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:03.759
 maybe that's

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.359
 quite easy.

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:05.980
 What we see

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.599
 from Nehemiah

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.119
 is the

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.700
 courage

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.519
 required to

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.119
 carry out

00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.599
 a plan.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.019
 Think about

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.700
 that at

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.039
 sort of a

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.660
 personal level.

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:14.920
 You know,

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.420
 you want to

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.119
 apply for

00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.920
 a new job,

00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:17.980
 that requires

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.319
 a certain

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.839
 amount of

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.180
 courage,

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.440
 because on

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:20.819
 the one hand

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.339
 you may be

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:21.859
 rejected,

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.039
 but on the

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.359
 other hand

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:23.799
 you may be

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.519
 successful and

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.019
 you have to

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.740
 meet a whole

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.400
 new load of

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:26.599
 people,

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.079
 learn a whole

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.980
 new load of

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.339
 skills.

00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.160
 Maybe you have

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.960
 the good desire

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.340
 to get

00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:31.720
 married,

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.340
 and again

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:32.799
 that's going

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.140
 to take

00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.799
 courage,

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:34.079
 it's going

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.340
 to take

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.860
 courage to

00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.779
 ask someone

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:35.960
 out,

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.460
 because again

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.140
 you may

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.140
 meet with

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.860
 rejection.

00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.120
 Or you

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:40.460
 want a

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.860
 friend to

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.420
 know Jesus,

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:43.980
 there's courage

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.500
 involved in

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:44.940
 that too,

00:25:45.100 --> 00:25:45.720
 to invite

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.200
 them along

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.640
 to church

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:46.920
 or to

00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.340
 open the

00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:47.799
 Bible with

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.079
 them or

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.519
 to talk

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:48.840
 to them

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.240
 about your

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.460
 faith,

00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.160
 because again

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.480
 there is

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.480
 the prospect

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.039
 that that

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.720
 relationship

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.519
 changes and

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.880
 a person

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.600
 might not

00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.400
 show any

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.140
 interest.

00:25:57.140 --> 00:26:00.340
 the Nehemiah

00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:01.120
 we meet in

00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:01.800
 chapter 1 and

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:03.420
 chapter 2 is

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.360
 an example to

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.000
 us both of

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.880
 careful planning

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:07.160
 but also of

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.500
 courageous faith

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.120
 as he puts

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.700
 plans into

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.300
 action.

00:26:11.520 --> 00:26:11.880
 But let's

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.240
 first of all

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.780
 really quickly

00:26:12.780 --> 00:26:13.300
 see the

00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:14.800
 careful planning.

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.620
 Now I'm

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:17.920
 going to

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.640
 presume that

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.180
 most of us

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.480
 are not

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.540
 familiar with

00:26:20.540 --> 00:26:21.400
 the Jewish

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.540
 calendar system,

00:26:23.300 --> 00:26:24.660
 so we might

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.580
 not notice,

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.400
 I wouldn't

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:26.820
 have noticed,

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:27.620
 that the

00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:27.960
 difference

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.360
 between

00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.080
 chapter 1

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:29.460
 verse 1,

00:26:29.540 --> 00:26:29.860
 the date

00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.180
 there,

00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:30.800
 and chapter

00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.560
 2 verse 1

00:26:31.560 --> 00:26:32.360
 is four

00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:32.860
 months.

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.700
 For four

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.220
 months Nehemiah

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.940
 has been

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:38.180
 praying for

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.820
 God's glory

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.259
 and God's

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.520
 kingdom,

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.500
 but Nehemiah

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:40.920
 at the same

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.460
 time has

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.340
 also been

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:43.040
 planning.

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.340
 And so as

00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:45.040
 we open this

00:26:45.040 --> 00:26:45.920
 page of his

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.900
 diary we see

00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:47.940
 the advanced

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.840
 planning that

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.600
 has gone

00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:50.360
 into this.

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.340
 So as he

00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.420
 stands before

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.160
 the king

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.580
 and as the

00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.580
 king asks him

00:26:55.580 --> 00:26:56.200
 the question,

00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:56.740
 Nehemiah,

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.400
 what is it

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.720
 that you

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.120
 want?

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.940
 You clearly

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.640
 have something

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.400
 on your

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.859
 mind.

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.339
 We hear

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:04.680
 again Nehemiah

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.259
 praying to the

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.759
 God of heaven,

00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.200
 that's his

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.799
 instinct,

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.140
 but then we

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:09.579
 see him put

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.339
 his plans

00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.200
 into place.

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.140
 So it

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.960
 begins with

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.440
 Nehemiah

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.420
 requesting that

00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.599
 he be sent to

00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.640
 Jerusalem to

00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.279
 head up this

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.319
 rebuilding project

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.539
 and he already

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.500
 has in mind how

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.220
 long he thinks

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.700
 that's going to

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.039
 take.

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.059
 And so he

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.480
 makes that

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:24.879
 request.

00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.639
 And then if

00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:26.039
 you look at

00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:26.859
 verse 7,

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.599
 he asks for

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.379
 some letters.

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.700
 He wants

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.559
 letters to

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.440
 guarantee him

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.399
 safe conduct

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.740
 as he journeys

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.319
 through the

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.599
 kingdom.

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.940
 He wants to

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.319
 go with

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.200
 official royal

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.659
 permission.

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.059
 And then look

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.799
 at verse 8,

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.220
 he's really

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.019
 pushing things

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.339
 now.

00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.220
 He asks for

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.119
 another letter,

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.019
 this time a

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.740
 letter for the

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.460
 man in charge of

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.519
 the royal forest.

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.440
 He wants a

00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.359
 work order to

00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.559
 be sent so the

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.000
 king will

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.639
 provide the

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.200
 timber and

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.720
 the building

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.759
 materials at

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.419
 the king's

00:27:55.419 --> 00:27:56.440
 own expense.

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.960
 And then in

00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.599
 verse 9 and

00:27:58.599 --> 00:28:00.460
 10, we see

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.039
 the planning

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.679
 involved in

00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:02.359
 that Nehemiah

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.419
 wants to go

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:05.179
 with an army.

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.679
 He wants to

00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:09.399
 make a clear

00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:10.740
 signal to the

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.319
 enemies of

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.679
 God.

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:13.259
 He is coming

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.679
 at the king's

00:28:14.679 --> 00:28:16.720
 command and

00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.399
 that God is

00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.879
 with him in

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:20.379
 all of this.

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.260
 So there is

00:28:21.260 --> 00:28:22.500
 careful planning,

00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.260
 but there is

00:28:24.260 --> 00:28:26.340
 also courageous

00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.480
 faith going on.

00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:29.240
 This week I

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.840
 came across a

00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.540
 definition of

00:28:30.540 --> 00:28:31.760
 courage by a

00:28:31.760 --> 00:28:32.140
 guy called

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.020
 Joseph Piper.

00:28:33.820 --> 00:28:34.580
 A helpful

00:28:34.580 --> 00:28:35.260
 definition.

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.240
 I think courage

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.920
 is the act of

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.120
 risking suffering

00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:41.100
 for the sake of

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.500
 the good.

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.120
 Risking suffering

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.740
 for the sake of

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:44.980
 the good.

00:28:45.300 --> 00:28:45.880
 Again, think

00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.180
 about it.

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:46.740
 If we believe

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.360
 an action will

00:28:47.360 --> 00:28:47.840
 bring God

00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.220
 glory.

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.259
 If we think

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:49.740
 that applying

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.420
 for that job

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.019
 will bring God

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.740
 glory or seeking

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.180
 that new

00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.960
 relationship or

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.059
 talking to a

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.539
 friend about

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.940
 Jesus, then we

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:57.259
 risk suffering,

00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.460
 someone saying

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.920
 no perhaps, for

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.759
 the sake of the

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.640
 greater good, that

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.279
 God would be

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.860
 glorified.

00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:05.140
 Nehemiah shows us

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.980
 the life of faith

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.660
 is a life of

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:08.140
 courage that's

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.860
 committed to the

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.600
 glory of God and

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.200
 is willing to

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.460
 suffer.

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.680
 And it all

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.440
 starts with his

00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.440
 willingness to go.

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.660
 So again, just

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.840
 to remember, he's

00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:18.680
 not in Jerusalem.

00:29:19.080 --> 00:29:19.779
 He's living in a

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.660
 very affluent, very

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.340
 comfortable, very

00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:22.559
 secure city here in

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.759
 Susa in the heart

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.620
 of the Persian

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:25.200
 empire.

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.500
 But he is willing

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.539
 to leave behind the

00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:29.240
 comfort of the

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:31.799
 palace for the sake

00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.559
 of the greater good,

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.120
 God's kingdom.

00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:35.500
 He runs so many

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:37.100
 risks as he

00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:38.279
 presents his plan

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.960
 to the king.

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.320
 To leave his

00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:42.460
 important job behind,

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.160
 to ask for a huge

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.259
 amount of resources

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.240
 from the king,

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.799
 even to look sad

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:49.019
 in the king's

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.099
 presence.

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:53.140
 But he risks it

00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:53.759
 for the sake of

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.099
 the good.

00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.379
 We know

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:58.400
 Nehemiah is a

00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:59.839
 man of faith.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.220
 He understands,

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.079
 for example,

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.819
 chapter 2,

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.339
 verse 8,

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.379
 the gracious hand

00:30:06.379 --> 00:30:07.039
 of his God

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.140
 was with him

00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:09.059
 in granting him

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.519
 success.

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.279
 We hear it in

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.839
 his prayers.

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.179
 prayers.

00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.619
 And he is

00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.539
 willing to pray

00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:19.240
 and to plan

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.339
 and to act,

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.899
 not knowing how

00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:22.459
 things are going

00:30:22.459 --> 00:30:23.119
 to turn out.

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.899
 But he knows

00:30:25.899 --> 00:30:27.319
 God is on the

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.740
 throne,

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.959
 not at the end

00:30:29.959 --> 00:30:30.459
 of the day,

00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.579
 this man,

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.379
 Arctic Xerxes.

00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:34.800
 And so he acts

00:30:34.800 --> 00:30:35.520
 with courageous

00:30:35.520 --> 00:30:36.020
 faith.

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.520
 And I wonder

00:30:38.520 --> 00:30:39.180
 if there is a

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.080
 pattern there

00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:41.240
 for us to

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.700
 follow.

00:30:43.760 --> 00:30:45.180
 To be ready

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.000
 to pray,

00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.960
 to be ready

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:49.040
 to make plans,

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.680
 and then to have

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.640
 the courage to put

00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:53.100
 plans into action

00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:54.220
 for the glory of

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.480
 God,

00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:55.420
 even when we

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:56.480
 don't know how

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.380
 things will turn

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.640
 out.

00:30:57.640 --> 00:31:00.300
 You'll think

00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:00.720
 about that

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:02.160
 in our own

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.300
 context here.

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:05.180
 We never

00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:06.520
 know when

00:31:06.520 --> 00:31:07.120
 we pray.

00:31:07.300 --> 00:31:08.240
 Will God

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.040
 use us

00:31:09.040 --> 00:31:09.520
 to be the

00:31:09.520 --> 00:31:10.200
 answer to

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.860
 those prayers?

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.759
 We don't

00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.040
 know.

00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:13.580
 Will God

00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.160
 be pleased

00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.240
 to use us

00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.220
 individually

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.920
 or collectively

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.640
 to advance

00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.300
 the gospel

00:31:18.300 --> 00:31:19.360
 in some way?

00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:21.840
 We don't

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.800
 know in

00:31:22.800 --> 00:31:23.520
 God's wisdom

00:31:23.520 --> 00:31:24.280
 will Beclood

00:31:24.280 --> 00:31:24.900
 be used

00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.460
 for future

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.140
 generations

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.820
 to reach

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.619
 this city

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.000
 with the

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.439
 good news

00:31:28.439 --> 00:31:28.980
 of Jesus.

00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:31.639
 But we

00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:32.439
 seek to

00:31:32.439 --> 00:31:33.559
 act in

00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.139
 courageous

00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:34.679
 faith.

00:31:35.679 --> 00:31:36.379
 We pray,

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.960
 we plan,

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.139
 and we act

00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:39.759
 on the plan.

00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.519
 So as a

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.779
 church,

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.279
 we've been

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.059
 encouraged to

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.819
 pray for

00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.439
 ten people

00:31:44.439 --> 00:31:45.259
 who don't

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.599
 know and

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.179
 love Jesus.

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:47.980
 Part of

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.579
 that praying

00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.659
 may likely

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.339
 involve us

00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:50.879
 then having

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:51.740
 to act,

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.460
 to be ready

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:52.980
 to love

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.200
 them,

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.740
 to serve

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:53.919
 them,

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:54.659
 to speak

00:31:54.659 --> 00:31:55.139
 to them,

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.019
 to ask

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.639
 their questions

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.140
 and to seek

00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:57.680
 to answer

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.060
 them.

00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:00.700
 Many of

00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:00.840
 us,

00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.480
 we pray

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.480
 for new

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.200
 families

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:04.920
 in this

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.880
 local community

00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:06.680
 to have

00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.200
 the chance

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.680
 to hear

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.320
 about Jesus

00:32:08.320 --> 00:32:08.840
 and to hear

00:32:08.840 --> 00:32:09.420
 about Jesus

00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:09.940
 through us

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:10.259
 and through

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.980
 our church.

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.220
 So we pray

00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.680
 about that,

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.180
 but we also

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.540
 need to ask

00:32:14.540 --> 00:32:15.220
 God to guide

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.720
 us and to

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.400
 plan and to

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:16.980
 think how

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.680
 best can we

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.280
 reach out

00:32:18.280 --> 00:32:18.940
 and welcome

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.860
 people in.

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.360
 We perhaps

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:24.160
 find ourselves

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.920
 praying about

00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.539
 a new

00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.420
 generation of

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.180
 leaders within

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.960
 the church.

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.080
 That's a good

00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:29.519
 prayer.

00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:30.700
 But at the

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.060
 same time,

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.539
 we have to

00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.200
 make plans

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:33.039
 today to

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.620
 train,

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.620
 to mentor,

00:32:35.060 --> 00:32:35.880
 to disciple

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.720
 those God

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.720
 has brought

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.580
 to us and

00:32:38.580 --> 00:32:39.380
 will bring to

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:39.880
 us in the

00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.300
 future.

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.800
 And so the

00:32:42.800 --> 00:32:43.200
 life of

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.060
 planning and

00:32:44.060 --> 00:32:44.920
 praying and

00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.860
 courageous faith

00:32:45.860 --> 00:32:47.259
 involves us

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.680
 praying,

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:48.880
 your kingdom

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.400
 come,

00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:50.980
 your will be

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.300
 done,

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.500
 and it involves

00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:53.480
 us asking and

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.120
 making plans.

00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:55.160
 What can I

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.360
 do?

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.059
 What can we

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:57.059
 do for the

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.759
 sake of God's

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.220
 kingdom, for

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.779
 the sake of

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.579
 Jesus today,

00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.120
 this week,

00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.819
 this year?

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:02.559
 And being

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.319
 ready to act

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.980
 with courage,

00:33:04.120 --> 00:33:04.559
 to risk

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:06.059
 suffering for

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.700
 the sake of

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.400
 God's glory and

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:08.940
 the spiritual

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.900
 good of

00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.440
 others.

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.860
 And so as we

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.839
 begin to look at

00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.599
 the life of

00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.360
 Nehemiah,

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.660
 the servant

00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.039
 leader,

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.180
 there's a lot

00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:19.700
 that we can

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.259
 learn, but

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.799
 especially as

00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.819
 we look beyond

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.359
 to the

00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:25.019
 greatest of

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.779
 all servant

00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:27.539
 leaders, to

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:27.919
 the Lord

00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.859
 Jesus Christ,

00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:31.200
 the sacrificial

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:34.099
 servant, the

00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.500
 one who is

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:35.200
 willing to leave

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.659
 behind the

00:33:35.659 --> 00:33:36.139
 comfort of

00:33:36.139 --> 00:33:37.740
 his palace, to

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.500
 leave behind the

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.019
 glory of

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.319
 heaven, to

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:40.839
 come into

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:43.019
 this world, to

00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:44.200
 carry out God's

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.980
 great plan of

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.539
 salvation.

00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:47.639
 And remember

00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:48.720
 Jesus, the

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.399
 servant leader,

00:33:49.539 --> 00:33:50.339
 he too would

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:51.819
 weep over

00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.460
 Jerusalem.

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:55.059
 spiritually lost

00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:56.519
 and ruined.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.319
 Jesus is the

00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:58.779
 one who would

00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.700
 pray for his

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.819
 father's glory

00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.659
 and his

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.460
 father's glory

00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.639
 in the salvation

00:34:03.639 --> 00:34:04.740
 of sinners and

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.659
 the building up

00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.299
 of God's

00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:06.700
 kingdom.

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:10.059
 Jesus, who in

00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:10.719
 love will

00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:12.279
 suffer and die

00:34:12.279 --> 00:34:13.799
 for our

00:34:13.799 --> 00:34:14.900
 greatest good,

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.759
 that we by

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.519
 faith might be

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.440
 brought into the

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.360
 kingdom of God.

00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:19.500
 God.

00:34:21.620 --> 00:34:22.740
 He is the

00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.440
 leader we look

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:25.360
 to and with

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:27.460
 his help we

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:29.200
 pray, we plan,

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:31.200
 we act for

00:34:31.200 --> 00:34:32.880
 his glory, for

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.579
 the glory of

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.880
 God, for the

00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.740
 renewal and

00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:37.200
 spiritual reformation

00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:38.820
 that we seek here

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:40.480
 and the clux here

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:40.840
 in ourselves.

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:42.860
 Thank you so much

00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.019
 that we have

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.019


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