Rise and Build Nehemiah 2: Go and Ask

Pray and Commit

Where I am? Is there a purpose for that position I have?

Review God wants to do More in this Valley Than is being done right now

Review God wants to do More in us and through us Than is being done right now

Review God wants to do More in me and through me Than is being done right now

Nehemiah: Person - Jewish Servant to a Persian King - Honored Job - Not a paid, trained religious guy - Never acts without praying. Never prays without acting on it

Review - Hears a report from his homeland - God breaks his heart - Sits down, mourns and prays

4 Months in Prayer

Seeking God: -Healing doesn't come quickly

4 Months in Prayer Seeking God: -Healing doesn't come quickly -Direction is found over a period of time spent daily with God -

4 Months in Prayer Seeking God: -Healing doesn't come quickly -Direction is found over a period of time spent daily with God - God uses the time to prepare us for the task

"Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king - Nehemiah 1:11

Nehemiah finally understand the Purpose for his Position

God always has a Purpose for the Position he's given us

God always has a Purpose for the Position he's given us Esther- Save her people Nehemiah- Rebuild the walls, revive the people David- Face down Goliath Paul- Become a trophy of God's grace

God always has a Purpose for the Position he's given us Key= faithfulness No whining/moaning/complaining Connection with God daily- purpose is found in seeking God

God always has a Purpose for the Position he's given us It's only Good News When it's shared What is the Good News?

In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king.

I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

Now's the Moment!

I was very much afraid, What can a King do? I was very much afraid, What can a King do?

I was very much afraid, If I wait until I feel comfortable I'll never do anything of value for the Kingdom of my God I was very much afraid, If I wait until I feel comfortable I'll never do anything of value for the Kingdom of my God

I was very much afraid, Either this opportunity Comes from God Or it doesn't I was very much afraid, Either this opportunity Comes from God Or it doesn't

I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

My people are not a people And are in danger of losing Their identity My people are not a people And are in danger of losing Their identity

142 Years Ago…

Death? In Chains for Life? Live but Stay? Freedom to Follow God?

The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king… What does that look like?

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king… How do we push past fear? How do we take steps of faith In spite of the fear?

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king… How do we push past fear? How do we take steps of faith In spite of the fear? Nascar prayers

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Gulp!

Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?”

HUGE …Sigh of Relief…

It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

Enough for one day?

When God is clearly Showing his favor And is moving in the situation Don't settle… Don't quit until the task is finished

I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

That boy has some guts…

And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?”

Big Brass Set of Guts…

And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.

How did he know God's "Gracious hand" of favor Would be with him?

So I went to the governors of Trans- Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

So all is well?

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

God's Promise is always followed by Problems Faithfulness brings God's Provision

God wants more… Does what breaks Christ's heart Break mine?

The Change: Seeing with fresh eyes What we've always known "Open my eyes once again, God…"

Our Position has been Purposed by God

Your Position has been Purposed by God

Where am I? Is there a purpose for the position I have?

Where we are? Is there a purpose for the position we have?

It's hopeless and overwhelming…

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

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective - James 5:16

God, help us to see as you see Break our hearts For what breaks yours Help us to get a vision Of your purpose for us to Change this Valley for Your Name

200 in 3 years 20 People Saved Next Year Rescue Mission, Missionaries Sent Disciples who put Christ first -No BS excuses- And quit waiting until it's comfortable To start living the truth

Quit making BS excuses Follow of Jesus