In Jesus' Name, Amen! - Nehemiah 1:8-11

Pray like this man.

You start with the sovereign majesty of God somewhere in that prayer you lay open your heart before God and asked him to break your own hardware owns the newly leaned heavily at entirely upon the revealed word of God through Scripture somewhere in there you let God know, whatever you want me to do. I will do. I haven't come to tell you what to do I become so you can tell me what I have a question for you to reflect because your prayer life.

For some Christians that's an easy question to answer because they rarely even pray at all for other Christians.

It's a hard question because the reality is, no matter how good your prayer life is you wish it was better and you wish you prayed more today on wisdom for the heart. Stephen Davey takes us back to the book of Nehemiah Nehemiah's prayer is recorded there working to listen in on that prayer. Nehemiah prayed and Stevens going to show you four characteristics that should be part of your prayer life. This is wisdom for the heart and here Stephen Davey with today's lesson.

There was once a man who prayed to the God of heaven on behalf of his divided hurting nation. It is recorded for us in Nehemiah chapter 1 and we have been studying through his prayer, and if you were to read his prayer at conversational speed, you could pray it in less than two minutes. Yet, in just two minutes. Nehemiah would gain the maximum attention of God.

How, what is the prayer that God listens to and how do you gain the attention of God. We have already discovered in our study that his prayer grasped the greatness of God in any prayer that grasps the greatness of God grasps the attention of God.

We have looked at his prayer as if it were four steps along the path of prayer in the first of those steps involve the clear priority of God's sovereignty. Nehemiah prayed in verse five of chapter 1, I beg the I plead with the Ibis each the only Lord God of heaven. The great and awesome God is you reign over all there is.

You are ruler you are majestic you are sovereign in any prayer that places him on that throne and said his feet as prayer that James is easier.

Overall, there is there is boldness in coming here and in your prayers. But there's also a mixture is in therapy urine and all should be. I can still remember my fifth grade teacher asking me to stay after school I had been asked that before and always accepted the invitation. Detention could involve a number of things I remember this particular time I was relegated to washing the windows of the school building. I don't number what I did but I guarantee didn't deserve the kind of punishment, but it interacts to remember being up there and I thought it very convenient on the afternoon I was this after school. My team was practicing soccer so my parents would never know they didn't need to be trouble. By that, and so the work I just well but I can still remember being on the ladder washing one of the windows, glancing over my children's thing. The family home in the parking my father got up early to come and watch me practice what come to spend time with his son did spend time together but this was different. This was fifth grade I had been invited. The teacher told me to talk with him about something of significance related to the fifth grade and he wanted to talk it over with. I can still remember that we all looked up to. This man is fifth-grade boy.

He was tall and strong and in a deep voice. I still remember he always smelled like coffee. I can remember going it is his office and sitting on that chair and talking to him of these psyche number what the issue was.

But the appointment with him was the thing I can remember it like it was yesterday even though it was only about 12 or 13 years ago.

Now you pray like that you go to God with boldness because you have been invited come you go with a sense of knowing your meeting with the grade authority that is above all other authority and you tend to say yes sir.

I let me tell you some things.

Yes sir. Oh, thou great God of heaven, great and awesome that you are true, praying places gotten on his throne in us at his feet. Listen, just as I read from Psalm 145 Davises I will extol you my God and King extol is the Hebrew verb room which means the place high to lift high to raise up I will extol you. I will bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you and I will praise your name great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts on the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wonderful works I will meditate men shall speak of the power of your awesome acts and I will tell of your greatness. They shall eagerly honor the memory of your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of your righteousness the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and great in loving kindness. The Lord is good to all of his mercies are over all his works all your work shall give thanks to you, oh Lord, in your godly one, shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and talk of your power to make known to the sons of men, your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of your kingdom. This man knew how to talk to God see that prayer like Nehemiah's prayer does not begin with the believer going into the presence of God and say, but all there you are a great and awesome God that gains the attention of our Lord. Prayer is not the communication of our will to God with the surrender of our will to God.

It is not us having our ways we said with him. It's this God having his way with us. One author wonderfully illustrated the alignment of our will to God's sovereign will. Through prayer by asking this question. If I throw out a line from my boats with a hook on it and I catch hold of the shore and I pull do I pull the shore to me or do I pull myself to the shore.

Prayer is not pulling God to me. Prayer is in effect pulling my boat up alongside of God. Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus Christ. Let us then with full assurance of faith, draw near were pulling our little boat next to an incredibly awesome and powerful and sovereign God. When our Lord taught his disciples how to pray. He said whenever you pray in my name that is in the name of Jesus ask what you will and it will be done.

1413. Most of you, like me, I imagine we teach our children to pray we teach hours to end by saying something like, in Jesus name, amen. And that's a biblical way infected follows what Jesus Christ exhorted them to do. In John 1413, whatever you ask in my name that is in Jesus name. That is how you ask. That's how you approach the father but you remember now that to pray in Jesus name means then that when you finish praying you should have prayed something that Jesus could sign his name to what you are in effect doing. I just pray this prayer and I can sign, as it were Jesus Christ to it, he would have prayed it. Jesus taught them that they were to pray in a way that when they finished, it was something he himself would not hesitate to lend his name to everybody like John 1413 a not so many like John 1413 B. The latter part of the verse, whatever you ask in my name, that will I do. No, so that the father may be glorified in the son. In other words, the kind of praying that Jesus Christ will sign his name to is the prayer that recognizes the glory and sovereignty and majesty and will and design of this awesome father God. So we learn how to pray because it is a way of shaping the waiver. I can remember all four of our children when they were young, very little learning how to color.

Of course, the first step was to keep them from eating the crowns once they got past that stage and we introduce them to coloring books into problems. One was choosing the appropriate color that was realistic and of course you know the pictures and the grasses is brown and the and the sun is pink and in our hair is red and our lips are blue and then all of the second problem is staying in the line.

They just sort of put the color on there. They just go back and forth in all the colors and they show it to you when you say all my, isn't that stunning or something like that and they say like it's my sister on the refrigerator door. So my we put on the refrigerator.

When we pray we must learn to choose the appropriate words and to color them correctly and then we learn to stay within the lines and staying within the lines means that we have this perspective of sovereign that he is God and we are servant. He is not our servant and we are not Lord tend to say yes sir an awful lot.

Then we observe Nehemiah's prayer involved in acknowledgment of sin. He prayed in the last part of verse six I and my father's house have what sin the prayer God listens to is a prayer that not only confesses his sovereignty, but confesses arts, by the way, if you don't acknowledge your sin before the father you're talking to. The air got us turned a deaf ear to you.

Fact I was thinking about this past week and I want to give you two categories of people's prayers are not acknowledged by God number one. First of all the prayers of unbelievers are not heard I was a God hears everything that he doesn't pay attention or acknowledge their prayers on 3415 David wrote the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry of the Lord here were righteous. There has to do with one's right standing before God, not perfection in life.

Fortunately, we have the righteousness of Christ imputed to our filthy accounts so that we have right standing before God in Christ first. One third part of the deception of the heart and part of the deception of this world system by the God of this world is that somehow people can pray to God and at the same time refused to believe the truth of the gospel there already in your neighborhood at work. Just ask them backed up different polls that I have read show that at almost twice as many people believe in praying to God than believe the gospel of Christ.

We pray all we had prayer time God answers my prayers to what you believe in Christ: a way to suck it was not good for part of the deceived human race. John 931 says we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone trusts God and does his will, he hears the second category of disqualified people are not only unbelievers but disobedient believers. David said if I regard iniquity in my heart he will not hear my prayer, how it is examining we go to got only when there is in any center heart will if that's the case, none of us whatever the word regard means to cherish and to defend if I go to God and I'm trying to communicate with him and at the same time. I cherished sin in my heart on the defendant of God to bring up 11 to defend. Pray all you want but is not listening is waiting instead free to say. I acknowledge my sin. As David said I will not hide my iniquity from the sum 32 five so you open your heart to him. Peter even became more specific for the New Testament believer when he wrote the startling words, men live with your lives with understanding Lester prayers be hindered. That's interesting for married men in your relationship with your wife is either an obstacle or an aid to your personal prayer life.

In other words, to become even more specific if you're a married man. One of the best ways to get God's attention is to give your wife yours. All the women said men brother Steve preaches over time mentor thinking see their no my wife at times is beyond understanding and all the men's better not say anything. I interesting incident that your fellowship on earth affects your fellowship with heaven. Nehemiah said here is prayer. The game God's maximum attention.

I and my father's house in sin.

Verse seven we have acted corruptly against prayer that gains the attention and ear of the sovereign God is one that places the priority of that prayer upon his sovereignty and then acknowledges was moved to the third prayer God listens to his prayer that is confident trust prayer that has a confident trust in Scripture that you know that the Bible is not so much a book of answers as it is a book of promises in his Nehemiah praise here in chapter 1 of his memoirs he repeats from memory at least 10 different Old Testament passages 10 different promises of God to his people through Moses in the Torah or the law to show you a few references will have time for all of it back in verse five. Nehemiah refers is prayer to Yahweh translated in your text Lord Capitals LORD that is his covenant keeping name that name was first introduced by God to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus chapter 3 where God came to Moses and he said listen when I use you to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, where they are enslaved to a land he tells Moses that is flowing with milk and honey, go tell them that you know Moses response was sort of like I don't know who should I tell them I've been talking to which her name, the one in which God came up with this one and he said you tell them that I am hi God, the verb to be. Tell them I am that I am from that verb we have the derivative Yahweh.

And so this name that was first introduced is a name that identifies God as a promise keeping God's with the very outset of Nehemiah's prayer.

Here he is saying, in effect, Lord of.

I'm praying I'm yielding this prayer to a God who keeps his promises not not-so-subtle. Does he say furthermore an adverse who preserves the covenant he just puts it out there do you keep your promises and lovingkindness of those who love him and keep his commandments, that by the way, was a paraphrase a quotation from Exodus chapter 20 were six were God said to Moses, I am a God he shows lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments. So Nehemiah here is claiming the promise of God to Moses on Mount Sinai data verse eight were Nehemiah says remember the words which thou didst command my servant Moses that he goes on to quote a Leviticus chapter 26 verse 33. If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the people at half" in Nehemiah 19 from Deuteronomy chapter 30 verses two and four is the other half. But if you return to me and keep my commandments, and do them, though those of you who have been scattered work in the most remote part of the heavens.

I will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause my name to dwell in other words, Nehemiah is saying listen covenant keeping God you promised.

If we were unfaithful, you'd scatter us and that is happened here we are in Persia reaping the consequences of our disobedience, but all God, would you please keep the other half of your promise that if we returned to you.

You will restore us to the place where you've chosen for your name to dwell, which is Jerusalem and by the way, is a quote from Deuteronomy chapter 12 verse five another. In verse 10 of Nehemiah 1 Nehemiah simply parents back to got a paraphrase of Exodus 32 verse 11 where Moses interceded on behalf of rebellious Israelites. He says they are as Nehemiah or does. They are thy servants and my people whom thou didst redeem by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. The majority of Nehemiah's prayer these gentlemen is the reciting and paraphrasing of Scripture to coin a phrase of Spurgeon, the hundred plus years ago.

The prayer of Nehemiah was biblically with the promises of God. He had a grasp of the word and the word had a grasp of him.

He had sifted through the word of the law and now you see the wall 16 through him. I wonder if you removed from our pricing. Quotations of scriptural promises, how much praying we would do, how important are his promises all important you believe in heaven you know such a place.

How can you have confidence of ever getting that eternal patient because Titus one to set God, who cannot lie, has promised you eternal life. You believe that you have everything you need from him that pertains to life and godliness. How do you know that by his magnificent promises.

First Peter 14.

Don't ever forget that the very reason that you can even pray is because the Bible promise you can Hebrews 10. Could it be that we do not know what to say to God because we don't know enough about what God has already said there was in our prayers. Lack words to him because we do not sift through his words to us. Could it be that we we live fearful, anxious, lives because we have forgotten the promises or we do not know the promises or the promises of God. Do not sift through our thinking and through our hearts and out into our lives when promise the Christ intercedes for us. Imagine now how wonderful it is for somebody to tell you hey by the women to be great is wonderful for the word tells us that Jesus Christ intercedes for us.

Robert Marie McShane, the missionaries died over hundred years ago the young man 30s said this if I can hear Christ praying for me in the next room. I would not fear a million enemies yet distance makes no difference. He's praying for me. Even Nehemiah note to say because he knew the words and confident trust in the word. Finally, the prayer the gains the maximum attention of God is of course the priority of God's sovereignty and the acknowledgment of sin and trust in the Scriptures, and finally it is humility and supplication. Verse 11 oh Lord, I beseech the made eye and ear be attentive to the prayer of a servant in the prayer by servants who delight to revere thy name here does make thy servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man isn't it fascinating that the last thing Nehemiah prayed was his request.

Chapter 2 will give us the details of what Nehemiah has in mind. But did you notice here that Nehemiah grants his request now to God and he inserts him in as part of the answer. Have you discovered in your Christian life. The wonderful experience of not just receiving an answer from God, but being the answer of God number of years ago, a young man from Korea who was a believer, came to the states to study in a Christian college he graduated and went on to the University of Pennsylvania to work on his Masters degree clear testimony of faith in Christ without one night to the post office and he was mugged and beaten so badly that he died the Philadelphia police caught these young teenagers who had accosted this student and killed him. And they were brought in before the trial that gained national attention.

His mom and dad from Korea flew over to be at the trial. They also believed in Christ, had a clear testimony it and understand the American system of jurisprudence, but when these men were found guilty of murder before the judge pronounced his sentence. These two people. Mom and dad asked if they could speak the judge they were granted an audience in there and that packed courtroom. Mom and dad Down on their knees in front of the judge's and with great humility asked the judge if they could have these young men you give them to us will take them back with us and we will show them the love of a mother and a father, and will show them the love of Jesus Christ which they made to give them to us.

Course judge didn't have power to do anything like that so he denied the request course for a moment to a watching broken world. I saw a flash of Christian testimony or two people said we will become the answer of the cause of God on God's attention what the maximum attention God to restore a broken down world.

Learn how to pray like this man praying. You start with the sovereign majesty of God, and somewhere in that prayer you lay open your heart before God and ask him to break your own heart over your own's menu leaned heavily and entirely upon the revealed word of God through Scripture somewhere in there you let God know, whatever you want me to do. I will do. I haven't come to tell you what to do. I've come so you can tell me prayers like that do not have to be two hours long. They can be two-minute and when you pray like this man praying you can with confidence and your prayer with those wonderful in Jesus friends is that we acknowledge the sovereign majesty of God, admit and confess our own sinfulness.

Trust the promises of God's word and approach God in all of life with humility. Let's find some time to pray today and put into practice what we've learned if you joined us late.

You've been listening to wisdom for the hard with Stephen Devi. Today's lesson is called in Jesus name, amen and is part four in our current series through the book of Nehemiah. If you miss part of this lesson and want to listen again. We have each of these lessons posted on our website and you can listen to them free of charge.

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