January 15 2015 Principles Of Courage For Opposition

Principles Of Courage For Opposition

Nehemiah 6:11-16

1. Courage is in doing our duty.
Verse 11 - O Lord, please hear my prayer. Help me now as I go in and ask the King for a great favor.
John 7:21 - Jesus said, not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Farther in Heaven.

2. Courage is putting our trust in God.
6:9 - Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Isaiah 12:2 - Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength.

3. Courage is standing steadfast (unmovable.)
Verse 11 - Should such a man as I flee? 
Ph. 1:29 - Do not be frightened in anyway by those who oppose you, for they will be destroyed and you will be saved, and that by God.
Eph. 6:10 - Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

4. Courage is serving in silence.
Verse 15-16 - So the wall was finished and the enemies were cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought by God.

5. When faced with opposition you refuse to quit.
Ne. 6:15 - When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
Ne. 6:21 - So we continued to work from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.

POEM
I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
There are battles to fight by day and by night for
God and the right, and I’ll never let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
I’m sick ‘tis true and worried and blue and worn out through and through. 
But I won’t let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
I will never yield, won’t lie down in the field and
surrender my shield.
No, I’ll never let go.

I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
May this be my song, may in legions of wrong, oh, God, keep me strong, so I’ll never let go.

January 8 2012 How To Live Effectively Through Prayer

How To Live Effectively Through Prayer

Nehemiah 1:4-11

Ezekiel 22:30 - I (God) looked in vain for anyone who would build again the wall of righteousness that guards the land, who could stand in the gap…but I found not one.

The effectiveness of my public life is determined by my private life.

Three Key Questions:

I. When should I pray?

Answer: before I do anything else. (verse 4)
An effective person does more than pray, but he doesn’t do anything else until he prays.

He prays:
• Effective people make prayer a first priority.
• Ineffective people make prayer a last resort.

When Nehemiah used prayer:
1:4-11
6:9
2:4
13:29
4:4,5
5:19
4:9
13:14,22,31

II. Why should I pray?

1. It shows I’m depending on God.
John 15:1-8
Matt. 5:3

2. It lightens my load.
Isaiah 40:31 - They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they Shall walk and not faint.

Effective people find their strength on their knees.

3. It releases God’s power.
Jer. 33:3 - (God says) Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you know not.

III. How should I pray?

Example of effective praying - verses 5-11.

Key question to ask myself:

How we should pray.

Four Secrets To Answered Prayer

1. Base your request on God’s character.

What Nehemiah said about God (verses 5-6)

* You’re a faithful God
* You’re a great God
* You are a God of love

2. Confess the sins of Israel and himself. (vs. 6b-7)

Effective people accept the blame. Losers pass the buck.

3. Claim the promises of God.
(vs. 6b-8) Nehemiah reminded God.

Prayer transforms God’s promises into performance!

The strength of my prayer life is determined by how well I know the promises of God.

4. Be very specific in what you ask. (vs. 10)

If I can’t ask God to bless what I’m doing, then I’d Better start.

Summary: The Type of Prayer God Answers:

* A prayer of conviction. (of who God is)
* A prayer of confession. (of what I am)
* A prayer of confidence. (in what God has promised)
* A prayer of commitment. (I’m willing to be a part of the answer)