A Powerful, Effective Response to Hard Times! Nehemiah 1-2

I. The Report: In the Month Chislev: November/December

Distress: Misery, evil, injury and calamity! It’s just bad! Unhappy, unfortunate, sad.
Reproach: Scorned, taunted, disgraced, Great Contempt.
Walls Broken Down – No Glory, No Protection, No Refuge, No Hedge of Protection: The enemy comes in at will! No Strength! Breach! And where there is no protection there is no peace! Walls for Jerusalem meant that God has not forgotten!

Isaiah 49:14 But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me and the Lord has forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you! 16 Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before me!

Gates Consumed With Fire – No Thanksgiving and Praise!

Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name!

Psalm 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them I shall give thanks to the Lord.

Evil, Disgraced, No Glory, Forgotten, No Praise, No Thanksgiving!

II. The Response:

Out of a Godly Compassion Nehemiah Weeps, He Mourns, He Fasts and Prays!

The Fast: A Fast God Desires: Isaiah 58:5-7

To Humble Oneself! V. 5

You Receive a Greater Grace!

James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore {it} says, “God is
opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

You Are Seen By God! Matthew 6:16-18

To See Strongholds Broken. V. 6
To Meet Real and Pressing Needs. V.7

Nehemiah’s Effective Prayer! Nehemiah 1:4-11

James 4:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Begins With High Praise to Our Great God! 5

Continues With A Sincere Confession and Appeal to God! 6-10
1 John 3:16-18

Finishes with a Confident Petition! 11

III. The Result! In the Month Nisan: March/April Neh. 2

Incredible Favor With God and Man! 2:3-8
An Incredible Vision! 2:11
A Final Restoration Not Without Opposition!

The Glory of God
The Word of God Nehemiah 8:3
The Final Return of Exiles!

The need I desire to see Met_________________.
Who is related to this Need? _____________.
God is leading me to fast _______________ for this Need.