Rise and BuildRise and Build

Nehemiah 1: Stop and PrayNehemiah 1: Stop and Pray

Is God doingIs God doingeverything he desires to doeverything he desires to do

in the Valley right now? in the Valley right now?

Is all that God wantsIs all that God wantsbeing doing in our area?being doing in our area?

"He did not do many miracles there"He did not do many miracles therebecause of their lack of faith"because of their lack of faith"

- Matt. 13, Mark 6- Matt. 13, Mark 6

Permissive WillPermissive Will- what God allows- what God allows

What God desires- What God desires- Perfect WillPerfect Will

The Lord is not slow The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise to fulfill his promise

as some count slowness, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, but is patient toward you,

not wishing that any should perish, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should but that all should

reach repentancereach repentance

- 2 Peter 3:9- 2 Peter 3:9

God's stated desire:God's stated desire:

All would reach repentanceAll would reach repentance (salvation) (salvation)

Permissive WillPermissive Will- - not slow…but patient not slow…but patient toward youtoward you

Perfect WillPerfect Will- - not wishing not wishing that any should perishthat any should perish

Is all that God wantsIs all that God wantsbeing done in our area?being done in our area?

God wants moreGod wants more

forfor his people his people

God wants moreGod wants more

forfor his people his peoplefromfrom his people his people

God wants moreGod wants more

forfor his people his peoplefromfrom his people his people

throughthrough his people his people

God's blessings are God's blessings are

never never

just about usjust about us

2 Things:2 Things:

God wants more for meGod wants more for methan I want for methan I want for me

2 Things:2 Things:

God wants more for meGod wants more for methan I want for methan I want for me

When God begins to do a workWhen God begins to do a workHe starts with peopleHe starts with people

flawedflawedsinfulsinful

jacked-upjacked-upHe starts with peopleHe starts with people

unsureunsureill-equippedill-equipped

ordinaryordinary

Nehemiah: TimesNehemiah: Times

- 445 BC- 445 BC

- 2 waves have returned to - 2 waves have returned to Jerusalem (586 BC Exile)Jerusalem (586 BC Exile)

- Temple rebuilt, people repented- Temple rebuilt, people repented

Nehemiah: PersonNehemiah: Person

- Jewish Servant to a Persian King- Jewish Servant to a Persian King

- Honored Job- Honored Job

- Not a paid, trained religious guy- Not a paid, trained religious guy

- Never acts without praying. - Never acts without praying. Never prays without acting on it Never prays without acting on it

The words of Nehemiah son of The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:Hacaliah:

In the month of In the month of KislevKislev in the twentieth in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of year, while I was in the citadel of

Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other menfrom Judah with some other men

and I questioned them about and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant the Jewish remnant

that survived the exile,that survived the exile,and also about Jerusalem.and also about Jerusalem.

They said to me,They said to me,

“Those who survived the exile and are “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province back in the province

are in great trouble and disgrace. are in great trouble and disgrace.

The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates and its gates

have been burned with fire”have been burned with fire”

Wall and gates representWall and gates represent

IdentityIdentitySecuritySecurityPure ReligionPure ReligionGod's FavorGod's Favor

When I heard these things, When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.I sat down and wept.

For some days I mourned and fasted For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heavenand prayed before the God of heaven

146 Years Ago…146 Years Ago…

146 Years Ago…146 Years Ago…Lincoln was shot!Lincoln was shot!

God opened Nehemiah's HeartGod opened Nehemiah's Heart

Nehemiah's heart is suddenly broken Nehemiah's heart is suddenly broken

about something he's known for about something he's known for a very long timea very long time

When God begins to do a work:When God begins to do a work:

- He starts with ordinary people- He starts with ordinary people

- He wants more for them than they want - He wants more for them than they want for themselvesfor themselves

- It always involves change and sacrifice - It always involves change and sacrifice on the part of those peopleon the part of those people

Is all that God wants to doIs all that God wants to doBeing done in our Valley right now?Being done in our Valley right now?

Predestined to be conformed to the Predestined to be conformed to the image of Christimage of Christ

- Romans 8:29- Romans 8:29

Does what Does what breaks Christ's heartbreaks Christ's heart

Break mine?Break mine?

The Change:The Change:

Seeing with fresh eyesSeeing with fresh eyesWhat we've always knownWhat we've always known

Why we may not:Why we may not:

- Involves being - Involves being God-focusedGod-focused

Why we may not:Why we may not:

- Involves being - Involves being God-focusedGod-focused- Involves - Involves change in our own liveschange in our own lives

Why we may not:Why we may not:

- Involves being - Involves being God-focusedGod-focused- Involves - Involves change in our own liveschange in our own lives

- Involves - Involves action on our partaction on our part

80%80%- Plateaued and in Decline- Plateaued and in Decline3,5003,500 Churches die every year Churches die every year

De-ChurchedDe-ChurchedUnchurchedUnchurched

It's hopeless…It's hopeless…

It's hopeless…It's hopeless…

Unless we look to Unless we look to The God of All HopeThe God of All Hope

Then I said:Then I said:

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, and awesome God,

who keeps his covenant of love with who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his those who love him and obey his

commands…commands…

Adoration (Worship)Adoration (Worship)

let your ear be attentive let your ear be attentive and your eyes open and your eyes open

to hear the prayer your servant is to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you praying before you day and night day and night for for

your servants, the people of Israel. your servants, the people of Israel.

I confess the sins we Israelites, I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, including myself and my father’s house,

have committed against you. have committed against you.

We have acted very wickedly toward We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.you gave your servant Moses.

ConfessionConfession

Very different from radical Very different from radical individualismindividualism

All have sinned and fallen shortAll have sinned and fallen shortof God's gloryof God's glory

I start with:I start with: me me

"Lord, your church has failed you."Lord, your church has failed you.WeWe have failed you" have failed you"

““Remember the instruction you gave Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying… your servant Moses, saying…

Prayer based on God's naturePrayer based on God's natureAnd God's promisesAnd God's promises

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

I will gather them from there and bring I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a them to the place I have chosen as a

dwelling for my Name’dwelling for my Name’

God's PromisesGod's Promises

They are your servants They are your servants and your people, and your people,

whom you redeemed whom you redeemed by your great strength by your great strength and your mighty handand your mighty hand

God's StrengthGod's Strength

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant prayer of this your servant

and to the prayer of your servants and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. who delight in revering your name.

Give your servant success today by Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of granting him favor in the presence of

this man”this man”

God, I need your help!God, I need your help!

I was cupbearer to the king.I was cupbearer to the king.

A great looking carA great looking car

A great looking carA great looking carWithout a motorWithout a motor

The prayer of a righteous manThe prayer of a righteous manis powerful and effectiveis powerful and effective

- James 5:16- James 5:16

The prayer of a righteous manThe prayer of a righteous manis powerful and effectiveis powerful and effective

- James 5:16- James 5:16

Righteous= lives what he saysRighteous= lives what he sayshe believeshe believes

Powerful prayer precedes actionPowerful prayer precedes action

But willingness to act But willingness to act must follow the prayermust follow the prayer

For it to have For it to have powerpower

Permissive WillPermissive Will- what God allows- what God allows

What God desires- What God desires- Perfect WillPerfect Will

God, help us to see as you seeGod, help us to see as you seeBreak our hearts Break our hearts

For what breaks yoursFor what breaks yours

Help us to repent for our own sinsHelp us to repent for our own sinsBefore we seek to Before we seek to

Change this Valley for Your NameChange this Valley for Your Name