Making Plans that Work
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Big Idea: Prayer is where the Planning Starts
Big Idea: Prayer is where the Planning Starts
Waiting on God is not passivity, it’s discernment
The world is full of people with a critical spirit and the result is a love that grows cold and a hardened heart. What we need are people with a prophetic spirit who point out what’s broken while they point towards a solution
The results: hearts of stone with cold love or the heart of flesh that God promises
1. Start with Prayer
1. Start with Prayer
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,
Nehemiah Goes to God first
Nehemiah actually allows himself to be personally concerned about the need...
2. See the Need
2. See the Need
11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.
The ‘WHY’ has to drive your ‘WHAT’ and your ‘HOW’
...This is where we connect with God’s heart — it’s where we connect with our heart — This is where we
...
STORY:
3. Do something about it
3. Do something about it
1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah was an ordinary guy (I was a cup bearer)
Nehemiah never once heard God’s audible voice or had an angelic encounter
Nehemiah saw something that was broken and he decided that he would rather risk the pain of trying and failing than the pain of failing to try
STORY: Going from Critic to Prophet
STORY: Going from Critic to Prophet
I’ve had people criticize me for how I share the gospel or how I disciple
“I like the way that I do it better than the way that you don’t.”
“I like the way that I do it better than the way that you don’t.”
But don’t just charge in with no plan...
4. Be Prepared
4. Be Prepared
4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
Nehemiah has been praying for anywhere between 90 and 150 days — He’s seeking God — Getting Ready — Preparing for moments of opportunity
Are we preparing for what comes next after COVID? Young people: What did you do during the greatest global pandemic in history? ....Netflix?
Be prepared for the favor...
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
Nehemiah still doesn’t just rush in willy nilly...
11 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.
13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate. 16 The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration.
Nehemiah took his time
4. Don’t do it alone
Nehemiah Shares the Vision
Conclusion: I think Jesus has been preparing us for this moment…to build a pandemic proof church