It is easy to look around at our friends and communities and analyze them, scrutinize them and most commonly talk about them. It is hard to go to people and build them up. It is hard to do something about the problems we see. It is hard to build something that will last.In the Bible there is a man named Nehemiah. Nehemiah lives through the Babylonian empire. Nehemiah is not a pastor or a prophet. Nehemiah is just a dude. He is like you and me. He is somewhat successful. Nothing is special about Nehemiah until he steps into his calling.
Nehemiah 1:3-4 "They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept."
Many times the direction you receive comes when brokenness is revealed.
Do you weep about the things God weeps over?
So many dreams are lost in the waiting period. Do not be impatient with the Lord. His timing is always better than ours.
Nehemiah 1: 11 "Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
Nehemiah 2:1, "In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before,2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” "I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” "Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
Where are we going? We are going to the places we came from. Not literally. But we are going back for our friends and for our family. We are going back for our community. We are going to lay bricks for people who are hurting and broken and have no hope. One by one we are going to build.
1. What was your favorite part about this series?
2. What do you feel like your role is aka how are you going to lay your bricks?
3. What is it that you feel like you mourn over that God also mourns over?
4. Joe mentioned praying for opportunity and favor. Which opportunities do you want to specifically prayer over? What people do you need favor with?
Follow us on instagram for encouragement and more information on upcoming events @1826fc. 1826 meets every Tuesday at Faith Chapel in San Diego at 7pm.
