The Rebuilt Life

Notes: The Rebuilt Life
Greg Laurie
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Nehemiah 1
Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/watch/the-rebuilt-life

Nehemiah is a book of leadership.

Before Nehemiah, the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were falling apart.

The Jews were forced out of the area, but they were now returning to Israel. 

God is not against interracial marriage, he is against interfaith marriages.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV
[14] Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

The walls were being rebuilt, but they had not been finished ands the Jews were settling with that. Jerusalem was still vulnerable.

Nehemiah was now there. 

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king. 

The cupbearer was like being the Chief of Staff for the president. It was a very powerful and comfortable position to have.

Nehemiah had a heart for God’s people and cared about them.

When you are living a Godly life, you will want to be with God’s people.

1 John 4:20 NKJV
[20] If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

If you love God, you will love God’s people.

Nehemiah 1:1-3 NLT
[1] These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. [2] Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. [3] They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."

Nehemiah is deeply moved by this.

Did it ever occur to you that you are where you are right now for a reason?

Maybe God has work for you to do!

Esther 4:14 NLT
[14] If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?"

Nehemiah 1:4-7 NLT
[4] When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. [5] Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, [6] listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! [7] We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

God answered Nehemiah’s prayer.

Have you ever wept over your spiritual state? 

How to pray:
1. He acknowledged the greatness of God.

Nehemiah 1:5 NLT
[5] Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,

When we see God in His greatness we will see our problems in their relative smallness.

2. Nehemiah reminded God of His promises.

God doesn’t lose things or needed reminded. When He says He forgets, He is choosing not to remember.

Reminding God, is like letting the teacher know you understand what they taught.

John 14:15 NLT
[15] "If you love me, obey my commandments.

We don’t just read through it; we pray through it.

4 fast promises:
Promise 1. You will never be alone in life.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
[10] Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Promise 2. God will get you through whatever you are facing.
Isaiah 43:2 NLT
[2] When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Promise 3. God will provide all of your needs.
Matthew 6:33 NLT
[33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Malachi 3:10 NLT
[10] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Promise 4. God will forgive you of all your sin.
1 John 1:9 NLT
[9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

3. He confessed his personal sin.
Nehemiah 1:7 NLT
[7] We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

Sometimes we pray to change others, when really we need to be praying for ourselves to change.

It is true that prayer changes things, but it’s also true that prayer changes you. Then you change things.

James 5:16 NLT
[16] Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

See the problem, then take action. It starts with you.