1. Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 1:1-11 Page 404 in Pew Bibles

2. Nehemiah 1:1-11 1.The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, 2. Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile.

3. 3.They said to me, “The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.” 4.When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

4. 5.I said, Lord God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, 6.let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.

5. 7.We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses. 8.Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9.But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends

6. of the earth, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.” 10.They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and strong hand. 11. Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name.

7. Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man. At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer..

8. Rebuilding Broken Lives Nehemiah 1:1-11

9. Vs. 3 “They said to me, ‘The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.’” Sometimes Our Lives Can Become Broken Down HL >

10. in great troubleVs. 3 “They said to me, ‘The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.’” Sometimes Our Lives Can Become Broken Down HL >

11. . wall has been broken downVs. 3 “They said to me, ‘The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.’” Sometimes Our Lives Can Become Broken Down Q >

12. Ray Stedman A picture of a life that lost its defenses against attack and lies open to repeated hurt and misery. There is no longer any ability left to resist destructive attacks. You have fallen victim to sinful habits, that you now find difficult, if not impossible, to break. HL >

13. Sometimes Our Lives Can Become Broken Down. gates have been burned downVs. 3 “They said to me, ‘The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.’” >

14. Gates Gates and doors are used to control who comes inside. –Friends are permitted through the gate; foes are kept out by the gate. Your gates aren’t work properly when: –The wrong people keep getting into your life. –The devil has free access into your life –You feel the need to shut friends out of your life. HL >

15. are indisgraceVs. 3 “They said to me, ‘The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.’” Sometimes Our Lives Can Become Broken Down. >

16. Nehemiah Was the key agent for rebuilding walls of Jerusalem Was one of the key leaders in rebuilding the spiritual life of the people. Gives us a pattern for rebuilding our personal lives and for helping others rebuild theirs’.. >

17. Seven Steps to Restoration

18. 1. React with Prayer for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heavenVs. 4 “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”. >

19. 2. Start with God Not your problem Not yourself Nehemiah’s prayer starts with God… >

20. Nehemiah’s prayer starts with God Verse 5 1.Lord God of heaven 2.The great and awe-inspiring God 3.Who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands. >

21. 3. Get Serious About It mourned fasting and prayingVs. 4 “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” day and nightVs. 6 “Let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites.”. >

22. 4. Get Honest About Sin Vs. 6-7 “I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.” HL >

23. 4. Get Honest About Sin sinned corruptly not keptVs. 6-7 “I confess the sins we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.”. >

24. 5. Claim God’s Promises Vs. 8-9 “Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.’”. >

25. 6. Unite with God’s People andsVs. 11 “Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name.” WeVs. 7 “We have acted corruptly toward You…” Vs. 2 “Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile.”. >

26. 7. Recognize: You are Strategically Placed Vs. 11 “…Give Your servant success today, and have compassion on him in the presence of this man. At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.” You are perfectly positioned to make a difference in the lives of others..

27. Rebuilding Broken Lives