Beginning Great Things

The good fight means… 1) Persevere! 2)Flee, Pursue, Fight Fight self, sin and the world system … by building!

The Good Fight = BUILDING Nehemiah was moved by some bad news … ‘The wall of Jerusalem is broken down.’

PREPARING TO BUILD

Nehemiah 1:4 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5 And I said: “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You & observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Nehemiah 1

8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer. Nehemiah 1

Prayer Requests that get answered

6 please let Your ear be attentive & Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, 11 Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant LISTEN!

‘PLEASE LISTEN’ Preceded by – Prayer & Fasting, weeping & mourning (v4) Passion for the calling/purpose or request – Worship (v5) [We love you, great & awesome God] PLEASE Listen – Not a ‘spoilt child’ prayer that God must fulfill – Conscious of Psalm 127. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. Followed by Confession (v6-7)

8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, REMEMBER YOUR WORD!

Preceded by – Confession (v6-7) REMEMBER YOUR WORD! REMEMBER YOUR WORD! Genesis 1 Then God said, “Let there be…” (8 times) Psalm 107:20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it Followed by declaring God’s Word (v8-9)

11 … let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” LET ME PROSPER!

Preceded by Declaring God’s Word (v8-9) LET ME PROSPER! LET ME PROSPER! Joshua 1 1 After the death of Moses … the LORD spoke to Joshua …, saying: 2 “…. go over this Jordan… 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. … 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success....” Followed by Acting on God’s Word (Chapter 2)

Building God’s Kingdom begins with Prayer Requests that get answered

CONCLUSION - prayer requests! 1.‘PLEASE LISTEN’ How is your passion for …? 2.‘REMEMBER YOUR WORD’ Know His Word so you can remind Him! 3.‘LET ME PROSPER’ Act on His word to accomplish HIS will

But can God use me? 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’

Question of the year: Will you … Fight the Good Fight … by praying to do something great for God’s kingdom?