Hello Everyone,

Nehemiah heard the sad news of Jerusalem and her walls lying in ruins, and he was heartbroken, asking God to use him to fix the situation.

Many of us pray to God to fix things and what we mean is, I'd like to see change God, and I'm hoping you will send someone else or just magically make it happen.

In Nehemiah 2 we find some principles of success in one of the most successful building projects ever undertaken. How did it go from vision to completion in 52 days?

And how will these same principles help us build a church, or a good home, or a business or a life?

Christians should not be afraid of the word success ["prosper" in KJV].

Psalm 1 tells us if we turn away from the world and sin we will be like a tree, fruitful, and whatsoever we do shall prosper.

In Joshua 1, Joshua is about to take over for Moses in leading God's people. God tells him, if you'll build your life on my Word, then you will be prosperous and then you will have good success!

Prosperity gospel is not what we're all about, but God does want us to be successful...not for our glory, but for His, and not by the world's standards, but by His!

Nehemiah didn't want to build his personal kingdom, but something for God!

Last week we saw how -

Nehemiah Verbalized his Goal...

...at the proper time, right when God opened the door to discuss it with the king.

Many times we rush ahead of God, impatiently wanting our way, and wanting it now, and we make a big mess of things.

Then there's the danger of waiting too long to launch out with what God has told us to do.

Nehemiah verbalized his Goal…

...with a prayerful spirit. Even as he talked with the king he was silently talking to the King of kings, and he had bathed it all in prayer for 4 months already!

And Nehemiah verbalized his Goal…

...with a powerful statement. It came down to those 5 words, "That I may build it." v. 5b You need clearly spelled out goals...a mission statement, and put it on paper.

And now through Nehemiah God has made the impossible happen, for the king had decreed that the walls would not be rebuilt, and yet his heart is taken in and changed because Nehemiah prayed for the impossible and put it in such a powerful way at the proper time ... and God holds the heart of the king in His hand!

Greater Things Are Still To Come

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Nehemiah verbalized his goal at the proper time, in the proper spirit and

...in a powerful statement. V. 5 - 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.”

· last 5 words... "that I can build it." Here's a key to success: verbalize your goals clearly and concisely.

People who transfer their thoughts and dreams into actual words are far more likely to reach them than those who don't. Motivational speakers agree with the Bible...we should write down our goals...it crystallizes it in your heart!

Ex-Beatle George Harrison wrote a song that says, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there."

Alice in Wonderland - when Alice came to a fork in the road she said I don't know which way to go. The Cheshire cat said, well, where are you going? She said, I don't really know. He replied, then it doesn't matter which road you take!

You ought to have some clearly spelled out goals.

We should also announce our goals. This helps transfer the burden to others who will help us reach our goals. I must confess that I often hold such things inside for fear of failure.

As long as we keep our goals to ourselves there's no one to know if we hit it or not, and no one to hold us accountable. I appreciate some of you who announce how long you've been smoke free. 3 months, 2 weeks ... one time a guy said, 20 minutes!

Sometimes it takes the help of others to reach certain goals. Nehemiah needed the permission, provision, and protection of the king and the backing of his fellow Hebrews. When the moment came he gave his precise mission statement/purpose statement: "That I can build it!"

Nehemiah knew it would be tough, and there would be many challenges. But his clear cut mission statement got him thru it. When people tried to discourage him he went back to it and said, “I'm gonna build the wall”. [They tried to dissuade, distract, divert, depress him]

What goals should you let God drop into your heart for your spiritual life, family, home, business, ministry?

Aim at nothing, and you'll hit that too.

Let's get excited, let's get focused, and let's get together, let's get busy, let's get on board, let's get faithful ... let's get to it!

Some of you need to set some goals: to read your Bible every day, to witness to someone every week, to bring someone to church, to lead a soul to Christ, to increase your missions giving, to disciple someone yourself, to start having a real prayer time every day, to build your Life Learning class, to grow your own ministry, to improve your marriage, to start saving money, to defeat that habit, to bring a carload to one of our outreaches, etc.

First we need to pray and then wait for it ... and go!

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Nehemiah verbalized his goal...

...with a prayerful spirit. V. 4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, - This is a quick, arrow style prayer shot up to heaven, silently.

Now, this kind of prayer is only effective if it is backed up by a lot of private prayer. Nehemiah prayed constantly for 4 months, and that's why this arrow prayer was effective. If all your prayer life ever consists of is quickie prayers you may wonder why you never really get a hold of God!

If you are driving thru an intersection and look over and see a semi running the light and barreling toward your window and you pray a quickie prayer, "Oh God, help me!" you'd better be prayed up in private, because there will be no time to confess your sins and make things right and make sure you are right with family members and that you have your life in order.

Here's Nehemiah with the perfect opportunity laid right in his lap. He says quickly, "Lord, this is it, don't let me blow this!" Nehemiah is talking to the most powerful man in the world, but he pauses to consult His real boss!

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Greater Things Are Yet To Come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Nehemiah verbalized his goal.

· ...at the proper time. In Bible times it was common for kings to be assassinated. One way it happened was thru poisoning. It was the cupbearer's job to taste everything before the king did. Nehemiah would eat and drink and if he didn't keel over then the king could have it.

· History shows that cupbearer's became unofficial advisors to the king because they were always present when business was discussed.

On this particular day it must've been obvious he was very burdened. He has been fasting so long, his eyes are red, his cheeks are sunken, he has no energy. In verse 2 the king notices. The end of the verse says Nehemiah was afraid, because this was a capital offense. Eastern Monarchs were to be shielded from all negativity.

He could be executed just for having a sad face. I'm not sure I blame the king. He does government work, all day hearing about problems, and when he sits down to eat the last thing he wants is to be waited on by someone sad or depressed.

You're the same way and you know it! Some of you as soon as your spouse walks thru the room it’s just something negative.

On this day Nehemiah couldn't hide it any longer. Why not? Because it was God's perfect timing. Had God not orchestrated this perfectly, Nehemiah would have been killed or banished.

Every day for 120 days Nehemiah would pray for God to open the door and work a miracle for the walls, and talk about an open door...God uses the king to open it, and the king himself asks what's going on, and how can I help!

v. 3 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?”

Nehemiah verbalizes his goal. Even though he is scared, when God opens the door, he walks thru it, boldly, and doesn't mince words. He speaks up and takes the stand as a faithful witness.

Greater Things Are Yet To Come!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

As we pray for the IMPOSSIBLE it must also be A prayer of Commitment.

Nehemiah 1:10-11 ¹⁰ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. ¹¹ O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

"Servant" is the key word. Nehemiah is making himself available to God. He is willing to be the answer to his own prayer.

He says Lord, something needs to be done in Jerusalem, and if you want to use me to fix it, I'm available!

It does no good to be contrite, concerned, confessed, and confident, if you aren't personally committed. We must be willing to put feet to our prayers, not just praying for God to do it thru someone else.

If you want to pray for someone to be saved, great, but remember you are at the top of God's list as a potential witness to help make it happen!

"Here am I Lord, send someone else?" No!

Getting on our knees is wonderful, but what do we do when we get up and our feet hit the floor?

We can do nothing until we pray, but there is much we should do AFTER we pray!

But be careful, to many times we are guilty of trying to make things happen in our strength, and not first looking to God to help us!

We serve the God of the impossible, and we should pray impossible prayers.

Principles:

• Prayer teaches us patience. Nehemiah didn't rush out to do the work until He sought the Lord about it.

Isaiah 28:16
...he that believeth shall not make haste.

• Prayer gives us perspective. A clearer vision results when we pray.

Napoleon would watch his battles from a high perspective. From there he could see the way to win on the ground. God will help us in the same way.

• Prayer brings us peace. There's no burden like trying to get under a load and carry it when you know that God isn't in it.

But when we pray and know it's God's will, God carries us thru it!

• Prayer makes us more productive.

1:1 It all began in the month Chisleu.

2:1 All Nehemiah did in chapter 1 was pray. Now in chapter 2 it's the month Nisan. It's 4 months later. How long did Nehemiah pray? 120 days!

It goes on to tell how Nehemiah then asked the king for permission to go rebuild the walls. How long did it take to rebuild the walls? Just 52 days!

He prayed longer than he worked.

He prayed for 4 months and had it done in less than 2!

Challenge lets gather around the altars when we come together Sunday before anything else and pray for the Impossible.

When WE Pray for the IMPOSSIBLE I believe that Greater Things Are Still to Come.

Pastor Phil