I am excited as to what God is doing this year both in the life of First Baptist and in the life of Las Brisas. God is moving in a great way!
As we launched our new series last week, preaching and teaching through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, I could see lights coming on around the room in the eyes of those in attendance.
This Sunday and next we will be looking at the first hurdles that Nehemiah encountered in his obedience to God.
The first hurdle which Craig will be talking about this week is Nehemiah had to get permission to return to Jerusalem from the king - now as we mentioned last week, Nehemiah had a very prominent position in the kings house as cup-bearer. This was not a job that was taken lightly nor was this a job that Nehemiah could just walk away from. As cup-bearer Nehemiah would have been privy to many state secrets, private conversations, war-time plans, etc...
Nehemiah knew this which is why we see in the very first verse a clue as to Nehemiah's approach.
Chapter one starts off saying in the month of Chislev (November-December) however at the start of chapter 2 we see it's now the month of Nisan (March-April)...
So Nehemiah has been fasting and praying for about 4 months at this point when the king questions his demeanor... He has been preparing his heart to go before the king and rightfully so, in those days the king could have just as easily killed Nehemiah as look favorably on him.
We see as the chapter unfolds that he has dutifully thought through the whole processes and even requested letters from the king as to ensure his safe passage.
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
Nehemiah didn't allow fear to stop him, he PRAYED and PREPARED, and next week we will see how he PURSUED God's vision for his people.
Will you do the same?
Nehemiah 2:1-9
2 During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2 so the king said to me, “Why are you sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.”
I was overwhelmed with fear 3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
4 Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”
So I prayed to the God of heaven 5 and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”
6 The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.
7 I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. 8 And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress, the city wall, and the home where I will live.”The king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God.
9 I went to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent officers of the infantry and cavalry with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased.
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