Text: Nehemiah 1:1-11Text: Nehemiah 1:1-11

= 70 = 70 YYears of ears of EExilexile

Jeremiah 29:10-11 - This is what Jeremiah 29:10-11 - This is what the LORD says: “When the LORD says: “When seventy seventy yearsyears are completed for are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promisefulfill my gracious promise to to bring you back to this place. For bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “declares the LORD, “plansplans to to prosper you and not to harm prosper you and not to harm you, you, plansplans to give you hope and to give you hope and a future.”a future.”

1050 BC1050 BC = King Saul was = King Saul was elected as king. elected as king.

586 BC586 BC = Temple was = Temple was destroyed.destroyed.

516 BC516 BC = 2nd Temple was = 2nd Temple was built. built.

= 3 times of Return from exile= 3 times of Return from exile

(1) Jeshua(1) Jeshua/ / Zerubbabel - Ezra Zerubbabel - Ezra 1-6 1-6 = Temple Building = Temple Building

Ezra 1:2 -Ezra 1:2 - This is what This is what Cyrus Cyrus kingking of Persia says: “The of Persia says: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.for him at Jerusalem in Judah.””

(2) Ezra 7-10(2) Ezra 7-10-- Spiritual Building Spiritual Building Ezra 7:6 - this Ezra came up Ezra 7:6 - this Ezra came up

from Babylon. He was a teacher from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. God of Israel, had given. The The kingking had granted him had granted him everything he asked, for the everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was hand of the LORD his God was on him.on him.

(3) Nehemiah 1-7 = Jerusalem (3) Nehemiah 1-7 = Jerusalem Wall BuildingWall Building

Nehemiah 2:4 - Nehemiah 2:4 - The kingThe king said said to me, “What is it you want?” to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of Then I prayed to the God of heaven,heaven,

Topic: Give Me Your Topic: Give Me Your Servant Success Today Servant Success Today

Ezra 1:1 - In the first year of Ezra 1:1 - In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persiaof Cyrus king of Persia to to make a proclamation make a proclamation throughout his realm and to throughout his realm and to put it in writingput it in writing …… ……

How Can We Participate How Can We Participate in the Building of God’s in the Building of God’s

Kingdom in the Year Kingdom in the Year 2011?2011?

1. 1. Concerns of Your Concerns of Your RelationRelation

Vs. Vs. 33 - - They said to me, They said to me, “Those “Those who survived the exile and are who survived the exile and are back in the provinceback in the province are in great are in great trouble and disgrace. trouble and disgrace. The wall of The wall of JerusalemJerusalem is broken down, and is broken down, and its gates have been burned with its gates have been burned with fire.”fire.”

= What is the Main Reason = What is the Main Reason Nehemiah could not Help Nehemiah could not Help but Pray?but Pray?

Vs. 4 - When I heard these Vs. 4 - When I heard these things, I sat down and things, I sat down and wept.wept. For some days I mourned and For some days I mourned and fasted and fasted and prayedprayed before the before the God of heaven.God of heaven.

= What is the Connection = What is the Connection Between Jerusalem and Between Jerusalem and Nehemiah? Nehemiah?

Neh 1:9 - but if you return to me Neh 1:9 - but if you return to me and obey my commands, then and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them them from there and bring them to to the place I have chosen as the place I have chosen as a dwelling for a dwelling for my Name.’my Name.’

Nehemiah 2:3 - but I said to Nehemiah 2:3 - but I said to the king, “May the king live the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city not look sad when the city where where my fathers are my fathers are buriedburied lies in ruins, and its gates lies in ruins, and its gates have been have been destroyeddestroyed by by fire?”fire?”

(1) Home town of Parents. (1) Home town of Parents. (2) Burial site of Parents.(2) Burial site of Parents. (3) Holy Place of God(3) Holy Place of God

= What is the Connection = What is the Connection between the World and between the World and You?You?

John 3:16 - For God so John 3:16 - For God so loved loved the worldthe world that he that he gave his gave his one and only Sonone and only Son, that , that whoever believes in him shall whoever believes in him shall not perish but not perish but have eternal have eternal life.life.

2. Concerns of Your 2. Concerns of Your PrayerPrayer

vs. 4 - When I heard these vs. 4 - When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. things, I sat down and wept. For some daysFor some days I mourned I mourned and fasted and prayed and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.before the God of heaven.

= What Kind of Prayer does = What Kind of Prayer does Nehemiah Offer to God? Nehemiah Offer to God?

(a) Prayer of Repentance (a) Prayer of Repentance

Vs. 6-7 - I Vs. 6-7 - I confess the sinsconfess the sins we Israelites, including myself we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have and my father’s house, have committed against you. We committed against you. We have have acted very wickedlyacted very wickedly toward you. We have toward you. We have not not obeyed the commandsobeyed the commands, , decrees and laws you gave decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. your servant Moses.

(b) Prayer of (b) Prayer of IntercessionIntercession Vs. 8-10 - “Remember the Vs. 8-10 - “Remember the

instruction you gave your instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my return to me and obey my commands, then even if your commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthestexiled people are at the farthest

horizon, I will gather them from horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ dwelling for my Name.’ “They “They are your servants and your are your servants and your people,people, whom you redeemed whom you redeemed by your great strength and your by your great strength and your mighty hand.”mighty hand.”

(c) Prayer of Supplication(c) Prayer of Supplication Vs 11 - O Lord, let your ear Vs 11 - O Lord, let your ear be be

attentive to the prayer of attentive to the prayer of this your servantthis your servant and to the and to the prayer of your servants who prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.delight in revering your name.

= How Prayer Turn to Action? = How Prayer Turn to Action? Vs. 11 – “O Lord, let your ear Vs. 11 – “O Lord, let your ear

be attentive to the prayer of this be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in of your servants who delight in revering your name. revering your name. Give your Give your servant success todayservant success today by by granting him favor in the granting him favor in the presence of this man.”presence of this man.” I was I was cupbearer to the king. cupbearer to the king.

Matthew 7:7 - “Matthew 7:7 - “AskAsk and it and it will be given to you; will be given to you; seekseek and you will find; and you will find; knockknock and and the door will be opened to the door will be opened to you. you.

= Do You Identify Anyone in = Do You Identify Anyone in Your Life from whom You Your Life from whom You Need to Receive Favour? Need to Receive Favour?

Vs 11bVs 11b - - Give your servant Give your servant success todaysuccess today by granting by granting him him favorfavor in the presence of in the presence of this man.”this man.” I was cupbearer to I was cupbearer to the king.the king.

Acts 2:46-47 - They broke Acts 2:46-47 - They broke bread in their homes and ate bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and hearts, praising God and enjoying the enjoying the favorfavor of all the of all the people.people. And the Lord added to And the Lord added to their number daily those who their number daily those who were being saved.were being saved.

1Corinthians 9:19 - Though I 1Corinthians 9:19 - Though I am free and belong to no am free and belong to no man, man, I make myself a I make myself a slaveslave to to everyone, to everyone, to winwin as many as as many as possible.possible.

3. Concerns of Your 3. Concerns of Your LifeLife

Va. 11b - Give your servant Va. 11b - Give your servant success today by granting him success today by granting him favor in the presence of this favor in the presence of this man.” I was man.” I was cupbearer to the cupbearer to the king.king.

Position of CupbearerPosition of Cupbearer An officer of high rank at An officer of high rank at

ancient oriental courts, whose ancient oriental courts, whose duty was to serve the wine at duty was to serve the wine at the king's table. On account of the king's table. On account of the constant fear of plots and the constant fear of plots and intrigues, intrigues, a person must be a person must be regarded as thoroughly regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position.trustworthy to hold this position.

He must guard against poison He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and was in the king's cup, and was sometimes required to swallow sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before some of the wine before serving it. serving it. His confidential His confidential relations with the king often relations with the king often endeared him to his sovereign endeared him to his sovereign and also gave him a position of and also gave him a position of great influence.great influence.

= How Genuine was = How Genuine was Nehemiah toward the Nehemiah toward the Concerns of his Prayer? Concerns of his Prayer?

2:1-2 - I took the wine and gave 2:1-2 - I took the wine and gave it to the king. it to the king. I had not been I had not been sad in his presence before;sad in his presence before; so so the king asked me, “Why does the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sadyour face look so sad when when you are not ill? This can be you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”nothing but sadness of heart.”

Psalm 6:6 - I am worn out Psalm 6:6 - I am worn out from groaning; all night long I from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with flood my bed with weeping weeping and drench my couch with and drench my couch with tears.tears.

Psalm 42:3 - My Psalm 42:3 - My tearstears have have been my food day and night, been my food day and night, while men say to me all day while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”long, “Where is your God?”

Jeremiah 9:1 - Oh, that my Jeremiah 9:1 - Oh, that my head were a spring of water head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would tears! I would weepweep day and day and night for the slain of my night for the slain of my people.people.

= Why do You Think = Why do You Think Nehemiah did not Cover up Nehemiah did not Cover up his Sadness before the his Sadness before the King?King?

Nehemiah 2:2 - so the king Nehemiah 2:2 - so the king asked me, “Why does asked me, “Why does your your face look so sadface look so sad when you when you are not ill? This can be are not ill? This can be nothing but nothing but sadness of heart.”sadness of heart.”

Nehemiah 2:3 - but I said to Nehemiah 2:3 - but I said to the king, “May the king live the king, “May the king live forever! forever! Why should my face Why should my face not look sadnot look sad when the city when the city where my fathers are buried where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”have been destroyed by fire?”

““The greatest miracle God The greatest miracle God can do today is take an can do today is take an unholy man out of an unholy unholy man out of an unholy world, make that man holy, world, make that man holy, then put him back into that then put him back into that unholy world and keep him unholy world and keep him holy in it.” holy in it.” (Our Daily Bread)(Our Daily Bread)

Neh. 2:4a - The king said to Neh. 2:4a - The king said to me, me, “What is it you want?”“What is it you want?”

= What kind of Spiritual = What kind of Spiritual Sensitivity does Nehemiah Sensitivity does Nehemiah Show in the Presence of Show in the Presence of the King? the King?

2:4-5 - The king said to me, 2:4-5 - The king said to me, “What is it you want?” “What is it you want?” Then I Then I prayed to the Godprayed to the God of of heaven, and I answered the heaven, and I answered the king,king, “If it pleases the king ….. “If it pleases the king …..

= = Can You Serve God Can You Serve God Specifically/ Meaningfully Specifically/ Meaningfully While Remaining in Your While Remaining in Your Professional Life? Professional Life?

Neh. 5:14 - Neh. 5:14 - Moreover, from the Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was when I was appointed to be appointed to be their governor in the land of their governor in the land of JudahJudah, until his thirty-second , until his thirty-second year — year — twelve yearstwelve years…………

(1) God is With (1) God is With YouYou Nehemiah 1:11 - Give your Nehemiah 1:11 - Give your

servant success today by servant success today by granting him favor in the granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king. cupbearer to the king.

(2) God is Over (2) God is Over AllAll Nehemiah 2:7-8 - I also said to Nehemiah 2:7-8 - I also said to

him, “If it pleases the king, may him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? conduct until I arrive in Judah? ….. And ….. And because because the gracious the gracious hand of my Godhand of my God was upon was upon me, the king granted my me, the king granted my requests.requests.

How Can We Participate in the How Can We Participate in the Building of God’s Kingdom in Building of God’s Kingdom in

the Year 2011?the Year 2011?

Concerns of Your Concerns of Your RelationRelation Concerns of Your Concerns of Your PrayerPrayer Concerns of Your Concerns of Your LifeLife