“Out of the Ashes” (Nehemiah 2:1-8)

Spiritual Reflexes

“How do you respond when you hear bad news?”

We all know about reflexes. When a doctor gently taps your knees with his or her rubber-tipped instrument, your leg pos upward, almost by itself. We call it a reflexive response.

In a very similar way, most of us have a reflexive response when life’s challenges hit. We don’t think about it, we don’t plan it, we just respond.  When trials come, some people respond by giving up. They just quit and say, “I can’t take it!” Others do the opposite. They get angry and lash out. Still others respond to life’s challenges with a cool indifference and apathy. And finally, there are some who stand firm and press on even when life seems to press in against them. Psalm 112 says, “Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands… They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes” (vv. 1, 7-8). Let me ask you. What is one challenge you are facing during this season of your life? How do you respond?

Nehemiah, A Man of Prayer

Nehemiah’s first response to the challenging news was an honest outpouring of emotion and prayer. “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). That was Nehemiah’s reflexive response. He was a man of prayer. Nehemiah overcomes life’s challenges through prayer. There are three things that are really standing out in his powerful prayer life.

The Power of “WE” Prayer

When he prayed for those in distress, Nehemiah included himself. “I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the Israelites, confessing the sins of the Israelites, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned” (v. 6).

This past week I served as a hospital chaplain on call. I was asked to come and pray for the patient who was passing. On the way home I felt something was missing – a lock of empathy. I didn’t emotionally engage. I didn’t include myself. Nehemiah didn’t have to pray and fast. His life was comfortable and secure. But he put himself in another’s shoe. He fully engaged, struggled, wept, agonized, fasting and praying. He prayed passionately and desperately, holding fast to God’s promise. And his prayer was heard. That is the power of “WE” prayer.

The Power of “Specific” Prayer

Another quality we can learn from Nehemiah’s prayer life is the power of “specific” prayer. Nehemiah’s prayer is a good model to follow. His prayers consists of three parts: Adoration (Praise and Thanksgiving) –  Confession of sins – Supplication/ Petition. In particular, Nehemiah concludes his prayer this way: “Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man (the king)!” (v. 11) At first, the challenges seemed overwhelming and impossible to overcome. Once he began to pray, God showed him the way. His vision of what needed to be done became clearer and clearer. And he prayed for next steps. He didn’t pray for God to send somebody. He specifically prayed, carefully planned, and volunteered, “Here am I – send me!”

The walls of Jerusalem had been in ruins for 141 years. Several attempts had been made, but not successful. Through Nehemiah’s specific prayers, first, the king’s heart was stirred, then the people’s hearts were stirred, then the rebuilding plan succeeded. As we pray, God tells us what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. As I was praying for the future of the church, at first I felt lost. But as we prayed daily and weekly (at the Wednesday Prayer Meeting), our core values, our mission, and our vision became clearer. Our core values are worship, discipleship, fellowship, outreach, and evangelism. Our mission is to make disciples. Our vision is to become the most loving place in town – “inclusive” and “outwardly focused” community. As we pray for the next steps, God shows us the stepping stones to his vision (what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.)

The Power of “Persistent” Prayer

The third thing we can glean from Nehemiah’s prayer life is the power of “persistent” prayer. On the surface, it looks like God answers Nehemiah’s emergency prayer “on the spot.” The king said, “What do you request?” So Nehemiah sent his quick “telegraph” prayer to the Lord (2:4), and the king granted him what he asked (v. 8). But here, we need to remember, Nehemiah’s emergency prayer is backed up by four months of fasting and praying. (*In the month of Chislev (1:1) = Nov-Dec, In the month of Nisan (2:1) = April) For 4 months, Nehemiah persistently prayed and prayed and prayed.

One day Jesus told the disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up. A story of a persistent widow and unjust judge. This poor widow kept coming to see the judge every sing day, saying, “Give me justice!” At first, the judge ignored her. But finally he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice.” Then, Jesus said, “How much more will your heavenly Father grant justice to those who cry to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7)

Story of Adoniram Judson

Lastly, I want to share a story of a man of prayer who is like Nehemiah. His name is Adoniram Judson. At the age of 25, he got a vision from God for mission. As he was praying for the unchurched, he was moved with compassion. He became the first missionary to Myanmar. He had to face so many challenges and obstacles. He was in prison, beaten and tortured. His wife and children died from the disease. It took 6 years for him to baptize his first Burmese convert. It also took 12 years to make 18 new Christians. But, he prayed through, and through, and through for Burmese revival. God faithfully sustained him, guided him, and showed him the next steps. When he died, he left the Burmese Bible, 100 churches, and over 8,000 believers. And now Myanmar has the third largest number of Baptists worldwide. Still, many Burmese and missionaries do remember Judson and celebrate “Judson’s Day” in July.

Many others’ religious work and their visions were like footsteps in the sands. They disappeared. But, Judson has engraved his work on imperishable granite. The secret of its endurance is his prayer life. Judson said, “Endeavor seven times a day to withdraw from business and company and lift up thy soul to God in private retirement. Begin the day by rising after midnight and devoting some time amid the silence and darkness of the night to this sacred work. Let the hour of opening dawn find thee at the same work. Let the hours of 9, 12, 3, 6, and 9 at night witness the same. Be resolute in His cause. Make all practical sacrifices to maintain it. Consider that thy time is short and that business and company must not be allowed to rob thee of thy God.”

My prayer is that our reflexive response to life’s challenges is always prayer. May my life and your life be shaped by prayer, filled with prayer, and led by prayer. Like Nehemiah, and like Judson, may we be remembered as a woman and man of prayer and shine like the stars forever. Amen.