PRAYER AND PLAN

A man hears of his home—bad news—yet he is not there to change things.  What does he do?  Because he trusts God, he prays.  Because he has a job to do where he is, he cannot go but believing God is all powerful and cares, he prays to God.  But often when one prays, God also gives an opportunity to be used in other ways as well.  Nehemiah 2:1-10

Does God know the situation?  Does He care?  Can God change things?  Some of the questions we may have as hard situations of life arise.  And the answer is, “Yes.”  God does know—God does care—God CAN change things.  One reason hard things may arise is so that we might learn to trust God rather than ourselves.  Not the only reason, but one reason.  There are some situations only God can do.  But God also chooses to use people when our hearts are right and when we are on His agenda—His plan—His way rather than just ours.

In ch. 1, we found that Nehemiah heard of the city of Jerusalem being in ruins—and especially their city wall, despite people having returned from captivity for more than 10 years.  And Nehemiah was so concerned, he took His concerns to God.  Now in chapter 2, the setting is about 4 months later.  He had fasted and prayed for this situation for 4 months.  What have you prayed for and pleaded for with God for 4 months? 

But for Nehemiah, what happened over that time frame?  Apparently God showed him God’s plan—and that plan was to use Nehemiah as a leader to get the task of rebuilding the wall accomplished.

Last week, we said a wall represented protection for the people.  And it showed the greatness of God—that God was great enough, powerful enough, to rebuild it.  And we compared that to the state of a church—what does it say about God to others when a church is in disrepair, both physically and spiritually?  And how does a church provide spiritual protection when it works properly?

But the rebuilding of a wall also represented a group of people working together, and in their case, as well as the case of a church, people working together on God’s agenda—for God’s glory—with God’s purpose.

Nehemiah prays—not just one time—not just for a day or two or a week.  He prays for 4 months—and as he prays, God gradually reveals HIS plan—Nehemiah is to be used by God to lead the people to accomplish the task.  The more time we spend praying for something, the more God gradually reveals Himself and His purpose and plan to us.  If you have a heart for something, it will show up.  Not that serious or committed—you will give up praying.  Very serious about something—you not only do not give up—God gradually shows you ways YOU are part of His plan.

Nehemiah prayed—God revealed Himself to him—God revealed what needed to be done—and God revealed to Nehemiah that he was to be part of the solution to the problem in Jerusalem.  So now, in ch. 2, Nehemiah approaches his boss—the king—one who had stopped the building of the wall several years before.

When you are in the presence of the king—especially when the king is partying—you do not show sadness or do things that make the king sad or go against the king’s plans.  The focus is on the king.  But that is what Nehemiah did—because he had prayed and God had showed Nehemiah the plan.

The king asks him why he is sad, and what he wants.  And another prayer goes up—another prayer for success and courage to share the plan God wanted.

“I want to go to lead in the rebuilding of the wall in my home town.  I want letters of protection against enemies and those who might try to stop me or the work.  And I want you, king, to supply some of the building materials.”

WHOA!  A very bold request—it came out of 4 months of prayer—and it could only be given success because God inspired it and God continued to be involved in it.  It was all about God—not about Nehemiah.

You ever prayed that bold a prayer?  You ever been involved in that bold a plan?  Blackaby, Experiencing God, “when God asks something, He asks us to be involved in something that only God can accomplish.”  Because that shows the greatness of God—it is witness to God’s abilities—not man’s abilities.  It is a witness to the world and those with much less faith.  But that boldness—that courage—that plan comes from time spent in prayer, not from just the heart or mind of man.

Rebuilding a wall takes many people.  Rebuilding a church takes many people—not just a pastor or leader—not just the work of one or two people.  And the plan comes through prayer. 

Gradually, in prayer by individuals, the plan is revealed—the plan of God—not just the person or group.  The plan will require prayer, but the plan will also require boldness and courage, and more prayer.  And then there will come a time when God says, “The time to step out is NOW.”

Who here will pray?  Who will continue to pray?  And then when God gives the plan, who will step out on faith to work and serve and give and lead?  It’s easier just to sit back and let someone else do it—prayer and being committed to the plan and task.  It’s easier just to go somewhere else.  But does God call His people to easy things?

Or does God call HIS people to things that only HE can accomplish?

For God to change bad circumstances, it takes our prayer, and our commitment and our joining Him in what He wants to do—so that He will be glorified—and so it will point others to Him.  It’s not about us—it is about Him!