Zeal for the Kingdom
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Zeal for the Kingdom
Zeal for the Kingdom
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.
DT: When we are committed to God we care for God’s people and God’s place of worship.
Introduction
Introduction
Zeal is probably the best way to begin this series. Nehemiah exemplifies what it means to be filled with zeal for the work of God. He is not a prophet nor a leader in Jerusalem, at this point, but a cupbearer for the King of Persia.
Nehemiah proves to us that regardless of our circumstances we too can be active and integral to the growth, development and building of God’s Kingdom.
What is zeal? It is the energy and motivation to achieve a goal. That is what we will find in the personality of Nehemiah. A man motivated and enthusiastic about God’s people and God’s place.
This narrative is written by Nehemiah as he describes what it took to lead the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah begins by explaining that he received a report from his brother and others who had come from Judah and he did not like the report.
It is during ninth month of the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes the Persian king. This is important because it informs us that Judah is yet under the oppression of Persia and Persia is the powerhouse government of that day. This is not a hinderance to Nehemiah’s faith and determination. We will find that Nehemiah trusts the power of God and indeed wishes to please God.
Nehemiah will help us to realize that we too can accomplish much for the God when we are determined to trust God regardless of the so called powers that be. We too can please God and be builders in His kingdom when we place our hope and trust in God!
God desires you and I to have the zeal for His kingdom today that Nehemiah had during his day.
Transition: What does that zeal look like? Well the text today offers three views of zeal for the kingdom of God: it is Demonstrated by Genuine Concern, Demonstrated through Godly Compassion, and Demonstrated with Prayer.
Demonstrate Genuine Concern (vv.1-3)
Demonstrate Genuine Concern (vv.1-3)
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah though he is distances away from Jerusalem, living in a palace serving as an official in the kings court finds himself concerned with the condition and status of the people of God who had escaped and survived the captivity of Persia.
Nehemiah recognizes that these are God’s people and there is a God given purpose for their existence. He asks what is going on back home. What is the shape and the situation of the people of God.
Nehemiah receives heartbreaking news look at the text:
3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Application: Where ever you are in life always have concern for God’s people and God’s place. God does not elevate us to forget the struggles. God elevates us so that we can aid the struggling. Are you deeply concerned about the Lord’s people and the Lord’s place? Are you more important than the work and progress of the kingdom?
Transition: Secondly the text teaches to Demonstrate Godly Compassion
Demonstrate Godly Compassion (v.4)
Demonstrate Godly Compassion (v.4)
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah did not just shake his head about the state of the walls in Jerusalem. Nehemiah felt empathy and heartbroken over the condition. he wanted more for the people in his native home. He wanted God to be represented by more than the burnt walls and dejected people.
Compassion caused him to feel and care for the condition of the people of Judah. Compassion caused him to see a bigger picture and a better picture of their future. The text says that he sat down and wept for days. In other words he could not get them off of his mind. That’s one of the characteristics of compassion, it will not allow you to just dismiss the pain or plight of God’s people. It will not allow you to ignore the work needed in God’s service. You can’t just idly walk by and not do anything. Compassion causes us to move.
Application: Have a heart of urgency for the work that God has before you. Be compassionate enough to see the big picture that God is showing.
Transition: Lastly, the text offers us the lesson to Demonstrate Unceasing Prayer
Demonstrate Unceasing Prayer (vv. 5-11)
Demonstrate Unceasing Prayer (vv. 5-11)
5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah made it his business to pray to God about this situation. This was not a prayer to leave at the altar. This prayer was a prayer to be empowered and to empower. Nehemiah sought God to empower him to do what God willed and also to empower the people to recover and rebuild.
He prayed for forgiveness - vv. 5-7 (eyes, ears and the heart of God)
He prayed for God’s Promises - vv. 8-9 (The will and the strength of God)
He prayed for the people of God- vv. 10-11
Application: Pray for God’s will. Pray for those who are involved in the work of God. Pray for God’s forgiveness. Pray for God’s direction. Pray for the people involved and the entirety of the work of God. Do not only pray for your part, pray for all parts!
Conclusion
Conclusion
You and I are compelled by the Scripture to live with zeal for the Kingdom of God. You were purposed to serve God. You are purposed to enhance the kingdom. You are purposed to serve in your church. You are purposed to give God your best service. You are purposed to pray for the kingdom.
Jesus had zeal for the Kingdom. Jesus lived and died for the Kingdom. Calvary was a place of victory for the Kingdom.