Holy Courage: Moving from Fear to Faithful Action

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Welcome to Peninsula.
[00:00:01] My name's Adam and I am so thankful that you're here to worship with us today.

[00:00:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
My name's Reagan and today we're going to talk about some cool stuff that's going on here at the church.
[00:00:09] First off, Equip Sunday Nights is back tonight.
[00:00:13] So adults and children, you can be back here at 5 o'clock because we're going to have youth, we're going to have all kinds of different Bible studies.
[00:00:20] In fact, we've got some new studies that are happening.
[00:00:22] Why don't you start us off with that?

[00:00:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
yeah the first one is called habits of the household it's gonna be a 10-week study geared really mostly toward parents with children in the home but really anybody you kind of how you think about your habits during a regular week tools to kind of help you with rhythms and discipleship in your home is a great way for you to not only learn about that but also to kind of discuss it around the table and think about how you can really implement those things together a big part of that is we would love for you to sign up for that to register online
[00:00:51] That'll help us make sure that tonight and over the next couple of weeks we have enough resources for you.
[00:00:56] That's right.

[00:00:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
And another Bible study that we have starting is Never Too Late.
[00:01:01] That begins tonight as well.
[00:01:02] It's a four-week study and you can register online also.
[00:01:05] You're going to get all the information where you're meeting and all those other things online after you register.

[00:01:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
That's right, and when you walk in on Sunday evening, just look for a couple signs.
[00:01:14] We'll be pointing you headed in the right direction, but we look forward to that.
[00:01:18] Also, if you're pretty new here at Peninsula, and maybe you're like, what's Sunday night equipped?
[00:01:22] What do we do?
[00:01:23] How about groups?
[00:01:24] How does my family get involved?
[00:01:25] I've got questions about things like baptism, or membership.
[00:01:28] We would love for you to join us for what we call Starting Point,
[00:01:32] It's lunch.
[00:01:33] It's going to be Sunday, February 1st, right after our second service at about 1215.
[00:01:37] We'll have lunch together.
[00:01:38] We'll have childcare provided.
[00:01:40] It's a great way for you to learn and ask questions about Peninsula and how to get involved here.
[00:01:45] So we'd love for you to join us.
[00:01:46] Again, register for that online, and we'd love to see you for Starting Point.
[00:01:51] Awesome.

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Yeah.
[00:01:52] And February is right around the corner.
[00:01:55] And so we've got some other stuff that's going on.
[00:01:57] That means that our marriage event, and it's called Two Steps Closer.
[00:02:02] So this is marriage event part dos going on.

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
It's the sequel to last year.
[00:02:07] If you're here for that, this is the sequel.

[00:02:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Friday, February 6th, so put that on your calendar.
[00:02:13] That's when the marriage event is going to be happening.
[00:02:16] Whether you're newly engaged or you've been married for hundreds of years, whatever that is, you guys need to participate in this.
[00:02:24] It's gonna be a great event.

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Yeah, so again, register online for that.
[00:02:27] We'd love for you to join us.
[00:02:29] Also in February, a lot's happening as we have a new year, but we are starting a new Bible study.
[00:02:34] This time we're going to be going men's and women's groups through the book of Joshua.
[00:02:38] It's going to start on Tuesday, February 10th.
[00:02:42] That's a study that's going to go verse by verse through the book of Joshua.
[00:02:45] There'll be a men's group and a women's group.
[00:02:47] It's going to be over a 10-week period on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 to 8.
[00:02:51] Again, starting the 10th and going through

[00:02:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
We are glad you're here and we are looking forward to worshiping with you this morning.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Well, good morning.
[00:03:30] Quick question for you.
[00:03:31] Is there joy in the house of the Lord today?
[00:03:33] There we go.
[00:03:35] Amen.
[00:03:36] That's good.
[00:03:36] That's good.
[00:03:37] That's what we're going to be doing today is celebrating the joy that we have that comes from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
[00:03:44] Quick question.
[00:03:45] Another quick question.
[00:03:46] I'm having a bunch of quick questions today.
[00:03:48] Quick question because I mean a quick response.
[00:03:50] How many of you walked through the door today though with a little bit of something heavy on your heart?
[00:03:54] Raise your hand if you had a little bit of something heavy going on in your life.
[00:03:57] And that's what it is.
[00:03:58] We don't want to shy away from that.
[00:04:00] Even though we're praising God and singing about the joy that He gives, we do learn through Scripture, it teaches us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
[00:04:09] and he's the one that turns those things that are hard and heavy on our hearts around the other way so I want to be able to start us out with prayer as we prepare our minds and our hearts before the Lord and that he walks with us into this worship time would you if you would please both here and in the video venue stand as we join together in prayer and we get our hearts ready to sing to him let's pray together father we come to you this morning fully aware of the fact that we need you
[00:04:38] That we don't have things in control like we think we do and we need you to be in control for us.
[00:04:45] We need your hand of favor on us.
[00:04:48] And so Father we come before you to praise you, to sing about the joy that you put in our hearts and as we claim that joy we know that becomes our strength because you become the authority.
[00:05:01] So allow us to turn that over to you and to praise you today that you would be glorified and honored in our singing, in our thoughts, in our hearts as we lay our lives before you.
[00:05:13] For it's in Jesus' name we pray.

[00:05:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Amen.
[00:05:18] Alright church, we're going to worship this morning.
[00:05:21] He's the living God.
[00:05:40] Come on, let's lift our voices.
[00:05:42] We worship the God who was.
[00:05:45] We worship the God who is.
[00:05:47] We worship the God who evermore will be.
[00:05:53] He opened the prison doors.
[00:05:56] He parted the ragency.
[00:05:59] My God, He holds

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the house of the Lord today And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise There's joy in the house of the Lord Our God is surely in this place And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise
[00:06:37] We sing to the God who heals We sing to the God who saves We sing to the God who always makes a way Cause He hung upon that cross And He rose from that grave Our God still rolling stones away There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the
[00:07:13] Lord our God is surely in this place and we won't be quiet we shout out your praise we were the beggars
[00:07:35] Now we're royalty We were the prisoners Now we're run and free We are forgiven, accepted, redeemed by His grace So let the house of the Lord sing praise We were the beggars Now we're royalty
[00:08:05] We are forgiven, accepted, redeemed by His grace Let the house of the Lord sing praise There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the house of the Lord
[00:08:48] We will be beggars, now we're royalty
[00:09:16] We were the beggars, now we're royalty We were the prisoners, now we're running free We are forgiven, accepted, redeemed by His grace

[00:09:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Yes, church, come on.
[00:09:50] Worship Him.
[00:09:51] He's worthy.
[00:09:53] Amen.
[00:09:54] As we continue in worship this morning, continue to lift your voice and your hearts to the Lord.

[00:10:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The sun was darkened and the heavens thundered For a moment death had thought it had conquered But it wasn't over till you said it's over Your word is greater still The perfect sacrifice
[00:11:05] Restore them
[00:11:33] Let us pray.
[00:12:38] Let's sing together.
[00:13:01] The cross still stands, the blood still flows The work is finished and hell still knows That the grave is still empty, the stone is still rolled And you're still high and lifted up, you're still seated
[00:13:32] The work is finished and hell still knows That the grave is still empty, the stone is still rolled And you're still high and lifted up, you're still seated on
[00:15:17] It was my cross you bore so I could live in the freedom you died for
[00:15:43] And now my life is yours And I will sing of your goodness forevermore Worthy is your name Jesus You deserve praise Worthy is your name
[00:16:11] And now my shame is gone, I stand amazed in your love undefiled.
[00:16:47] I will sing of your goodness forevermore Worthy is your name Jesus You deserve the praise Worthy is your name Worthy is your name
[00:17:18] Jesus, you deserve the praise.
[00:17:33] Worthy is your name.
[00:17:36] Worthy is your name.
[00:17:40] Jesus, you deserve the praise.

[00:18:02] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Worthy is your name.

[00:18:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
In the heavens as your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name above all names Be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name above all names
[00:18:33] Be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name of the Lord made Be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise
[00:19:14] Jesus, you deserve praise.
[00:19:25] Worthy is your name.
[00:19:32] Jesus, you deserve praise.
[00:19:39] Worthy is your name.
[00:19:47] Jesus, you deserve praise, worthy is your name, worthy is your name.
[00:20:09] Jesus, you deserve praise, worthy is your name.

[00:20:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Father, God, your name is the name above all names and worthy.
[00:20:18] Father, help us find that place where we don't waste our lives and not praise you, Father.
[00:20:23] We're built to praise you.
[00:20:25] May your name be lifted high today in this place.
[00:20:27] In Jesus' name we pray.
[00:20:29] Amen.
[00:20:31] Would y'all be seated?

[00:20:41] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.

[00:21:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
It's great worshiping with you through song and just love being able to stand up here at the front.
[00:21:17] If you're sitting at the back, it's good, but at the front, it's better.
[00:21:23] And that's very non-Baptist for me to say, but at the front, it is good.
[00:21:28] You can hear the room and it is nice.
[00:21:31] It's very encouraging to be up here worshiping with you guys through song.
[00:21:35] The worship team does an amazing job, don't they?
[00:21:38] Their work is...
[00:21:40] You can tell they put the work in and they care about leading in worship and they worship themselves and I greatly appreciate it.
[00:21:47] Well, how many of you went ahead and started reading the rest of the book of Nehemiah?
[00:21:51] Anybody start reading ahead?
[00:21:53] Good.
[00:21:54] Because you need to have a working knowledge of it.
[00:21:56] But one thing I did say last week was you've got to have a deep understanding of chapter 1.
[00:22:03] of what is actually taking place in chapter 1 so that you can grab what is happening through the rest of the account of Nehemiah.
[00:22:12] And so I'm hoping that you reflect on that, that you remember what was happening.
[00:22:15] We'll do a little bit of recap in just a moment.
[00:22:18] But before we dive into that, I want to show you something that someone sent me last night.
[00:22:25] I just had to show it because it was good enough to go on the screen.
[00:22:29] You know how
[00:22:30] Different fast food places have branding and things like that.
[00:22:37] You might recognize this fast food place.
[00:22:40] It's Dairy Queen.
[00:22:41] They're the home of the Blizzard.
[00:22:44] And this is what they said on their sign.
[00:22:46] Ruining your New Year's resolution since 1962.
[00:22:52] Oh, you know, it's almost worth it.
[00:22:54] That's so clever.
[00:22:55] It's almost worth getting in the car after church today and driving to Dairy Queen and saying, okay, I'm giving up my New Year's resolution.
[00:23:02] I don't know that my New Year's resolution would ever have been giving up the Blizzard, Oreo-flavored Blizzard with a few other things into it.
[00:23:11] I got an M&M Blizzard one time.
[00:23:14] And I thought I was going to need dental work after it.
[00:23:17] You know how the M&Ms just freeze as hard as I'm like, this is not good.
[00:23:21] You know, like I'm having to eat slowly.
[00:23:23] But the Oreo, oh, that's good.
[00:23:25] Can we just reminisce?
[00:23:26] I'm kidding.
[00:23:29] Well, that's a lot of fun.
[00:23:30] I appreciate those.
[00:23:32] Keep them sending my way.
[00:23:34] A lot of times those will come on my, when I'm in the middle of something, like I'm dealing with something, like I'm needing a brain break, and somebody will text me one of those things, and it will give me that two-minute brain break to go, ah, that's hilarious.
[00:23:44] So I love those kind of things.
[00:23:46] It just goes to show that I'm in good company with dad joke people, right?
[00:23:51] So I love that.
[00:23:52] I really do appreciate it.
[00:23:53] Well, today we're talking about the courage to ask, the wisdom to submit.
[00:23:59] The Courage to Ask and the Wisdom to Submit.
[00:24:01] That's the title of the message today.
[00:24:03] And unknown to him, Nehemiah was about to join the ranks of the champions of the faith.
[00:24:09] You see those listed throughout, but people like Abraham and Joseph and Moses and Joshua and Esther and Deborah and David.
[00:24:18] He's about to join those ranks in the text that we're about to see because
[00:24:22] We can see that one person can make a big difference in the world if that person knows God and is fully submitted to them.
[00:24:30] That's the key of where we're headed today.
[00:24:32] And you know those moments that change everything.
[00:24:35] Those moments where one conversation changed the trajectory of where you thought you were headed.
[00:24:43] Those moments can bring life or take life depending on how intense it is.
[00:24:50] Perhaps today you sit in here listening to the book of Nehemiah and you've got that email that is still sitting in your draft box that you haven't sent yet that you need to maybe.
[00:25:02] Maybe.
[00:25:04] That meeting that you haven't requested with that person yet.
[00:25:08] Or that conversation you keep rehearsing in your head, you've been doing over the last year and you know you need to have that conversation, but you just haven't yet.
[00:25:17] Not because you don't know what to say, but because you're not sure how it will be received.
[00:25:26] So we're going to talk a little bit about that today as we dive into this.
[00:25:29] That's where Nehemiah is in Nehemiah chapter 2.
[00:25:33] We learned about what the problem was last week when he found out that Jerusalem, the city of his ancestral graves, was in ruins and the gates had been burned.
[00:25:46] Chapter 1 ends with him weeping and fasting and praying and repenting over the condition of Jerusalem.
[00:25:54] But chapter 2 begins with something far more dangerous.
[00:25:59] He's about to open his mouth in front of the king.
[00:26:03] And up to this point everything has been private.
[00:26:05] It's been internal.
[00:26:06] It's been spiritual.
[00:26:07] It's been safe.
[00:26:11] Now it becomes public.
[00:26:12] It becomes political.
[00:26:14] And it becomes risky.
[00:26:16] So Nehemiah 2 is not about vision casting.
[00:26:20] It's not about leadership strategy.
[00:26:23] It's about holy courage.
[00:26:26] Operative word, holy.
[00:26:30] And it teaches us that spiritual burden eventually demands courageous asking.
[00:26:37] The great thing about it is, is only you know where you stand with God on those things of where I just touched on it.
[00:26:43] And perhaps the Spirit is beginning to pull on your heart with a few things.
[00:26:47] But God does not stir His people's hearts just for them to stay quiet.
[00:26:54] At some point, faith has to speak.
[00:27:00] So let's give kind of the framework.
[00:27:02] Nehemiah is the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.
[00:27:06] That's a fun one to say.
[00:27:08] This is not a decorative role.
[00:27:10] It's a position of trust.
[00:27:12] He tastes the wine before the king drinks it.
[00:27:16] He stands in close proximity to power.
[00:27:19] And he is responsible for the king's safety.
[00:27:24] Which means his demeanor matters.
[00:27:28] His emotions matter.
[00:27:32] His face matters.
[00:27:35] Everything that his countenance is about, in that particular time, you didn't bring your drama into the presence of the king.
[00:27:47] In the Persian court, sadness could be interpreted as disloyalty, or worse, a threat to the king
[00:27:54] So when Nehemiah walks into the king's presence in chapter 2, this is not casual.
[00:28:00] This is high risk, and God has already made it holy ground.
[00:28:07] Go with me on this, because you'll understand where I'm going with this in just a moment.
[00:28:10] But here are the four things we're going to look at today.
[00:28:11] We're going to see that Nehemiah reveals the burden.
[00:28:15] So reveal your burden.
[00:28:17] He prayed, then petitioned.
[00:28:20] Then we're going to examine your motive, our motives.
[00:28:23] We're going to look at our motives when we're kind of bringing this into context and bringing application.
[00:28:28] And then we're going to prepare with precision.
[00:28:31] This is what we see in the text today.
[00:28:34] And we're going to start with revealing your burden.
[00:28:36] This is Nehemiah chapter 2 verses 1 through 3.
[00:28:39] If you'll follow along with me as I read out loud.
[00:28:42] In the month of Nisan,
[00:28:44] In the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king.
[00:28:53] Now I had not been sad in his presence, and the king said to me, Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?
[00:29:03] This is nothing but sadness of the heart.
[00:29:08] Then I was very much afraid.
[00:29:11] I said to the king, let the king live forever.
[00:29:15] Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of my father's graves, lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?
[00:29:27] Don't skip the phrase, then I was very much afraid.
[00:29:33] This is not stage fright.
[00:29:35] This is not survival fear.
[00:29:38] You don't bring emotional heaviness into the king's presence.
[00:29:41] You don't burden the throne.
[00:29:43] You don't show weakness in front of power, yet Nehemiah does.
[00:29:48] Why?
[00:29:49] Because the burden that was in his heart eventually began to show up on his face.
[00:29:56] You can only carry holy grief privately and quietly for so long.
[00:30:03] And what's powerful here is not that Nehemiah is sad, it's that he allows the sadness to be seen.
[00:30:12] You see God working in this.
[00:30:14] You understand this more as we begin to read this.
[00:30:19] He doesn't minimize it, he doesn't deflect it, he doesn't spiritualize it even.
[00:30:25] When the king asks, he answers truthfully, why should not my face be sad?
[00:30:30] He's just speaking truthfully to them.
[00:30:32] This is the first courageous act in the chapter.
[00:30:36] He names the pain.
[00:30:38] He is showing his burden.
[00:30:42] And there is a word here for us to understand.
[00:30:44] Some of us are praying but not being honest.
[00:30:51] Some of us are burdened
[00:30:54] But not being transparent about it.
[00:30:56] Some of us are struggling but pretending we're fine.
[00:31:04] God has so shaped Nehemiah's heart in chapter 1 that his inner burden can no longer be concealed in chapter 2.
[00:31:15] Remember, I said it's key if we catch and understand what happened in chapter 1.
[00:31:20] What was going on in chapter 1 that brought Nehemiah to the point to put his life at risk in chapter 2?
[00:31:29] God has worked so deeply in Nehemiah that even the king can now see what God has been doing in him.
[00:31:35] And that's what I want us to catch.
[00:31:38] The king is starting to pick up, especially when he says the word, because this is from the heart.
[00:31:45] The King is picking up on it.
[00:31:47] It's from the heart.
[00:31:48] It's just not something that's kind of surface-y problem.
[00:31:51] This is something that's coming from deep within.
[00:31:53] So then you see, pray, then petition.
[00:31:59] Let's start in verse 4.
[00:32:00] Then the king said to me, What are you requesting?
[00:32:03] So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves, that I may rebuild it.
[00:32:17] Notice the sequence.
[00:32:19] The king asked the question.
[00:32:20] Nehemiah doesn't answer immediately.
[00:32:24] We're talking maybe like a four-second gap.
[00:32:26] So, I prayed to God of heaven.
[00:32:30] It's what Scripture shows us.
[00:32:32] This is not a long prayer.
[00:32:33] This is not a kneeling prayer.
[00:32:35] It's not like he said, hang on a second, king, and go over and pray.
[00:32:38] This was that breath prayer, that underneath your breath, God help me.
[00:32:46] Here it goes.
[00:32:48] That moment.
[00:32:48] Anybody, you don't have to raise your hand, just think to yourself, have you ever been in that moment to where when you saw what was getting ready to happen, your mind immediately went, oh God help me.
[00:32:58] And it wasn't flippant, it was a literal prayer that you were saying the name of God under your breath because you knew what was getting ready to happen.
[00:33:08] I walk in that.
[00:33:11] Someone comes to my office and wants to speak, even if they have a big smile on their face, under my breath I'm saying, God, help this conversation.
[00:33:20] I don't want it to be about that person.
[00:33:21] I don't want it to be about me.
[00:33:23] I don't even want it to be about the problem.
[00:33:24] I want it to be about you, God.
[00:33:26] So I'm praying, God, help this conversation.
[00:33:30] I just keep that breath of prayer.
[00:33:35] This is something that he whispered.
[00:33:37] It was, here's what's neat about this.
[00:33:41] It was a holy reflex.
[00:33:45] You know, you've heard about the fight or flight nerve that fires off in us when something's going on.
[00:33:50] Oh, if we could default our system that instead of fight or flight, immediately it's holy response.
[00:33:57] Something immediately just happens.
[00:33:59] Bam!
[00:34:00] The first thing that our brain fires off by default is, oh, Lord, be here with us.
[00:34:06] That's a good place to be and we understand that's where Nehemiah is because of what happened in chapter 1.
[00:34:12] We're going to talk about that again in just a minute.
[00:34:15] Don't forget, he had four months of prayer in chapter 1.
[00:34:22] A lot of times we think, oh, this problem happened, I whispered a prayer, now I need to just go see what God does to work in this.
[00:34:28] We're talking Nehemiah was burdened for four months of weeping and fasting and praying before this time came about.
[00:34:37] We read it within the context of the Scripture, and we just kind of like just read through it and go, oh, he got burdened, he prayed a little bit, that, and then now here he is in front of the king.
[00:34:47] It reads that fast, but it wasn't that fast.
[00:34:50] Four months.
[00:34:52] is a long time when you're burdened.
[00:34:55] Four months can feel like a year if it's heavy enough.
[00:34:58] So it was a long time.
[00:35:00] Nehemiah does not pray instead of asking.
[00:35:04] He prays so that he can ask.
[00:35:07] That's what Nehemiah is doing.
[00:35:09] God, give me courage.
[00:35:11] God, give me strength.
[00:35:12] We don't know exactly what he prayed, but he says, I prayed to God.
[00:35:16] Then he speaks.
[00:35:17] If it pleases the king, is what he says, that you send me.
[00:35:23] This is a massive request.
[00:35:28] He's asking for permission to leave his post.
[00:35:32] He's asking authorization to travel and approval to rebuild a city.
[00:35:37] In other words, he's asking the most powerful man in the world of this time to reverse policy.
[00:35:44] Because if you look at history, you also know that King Artaxerxes had stopped the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
[00:35:52] And now, here's Nehemiah going, hey, I want to go rebuild the city that you said no to.
[00:35:59] See how much bigger and weightier it's getting?
[00:36:04] And yet he does it calmly and respectfully and boldly.
[00:36:10] Why?
[00:36:10] Because courage rooted in prayer is not loud, it is steady.
[00:36:18] The text shows us that even in moments of human authority, Nehemiah's instinct is Godward.
[00:36:28] So number three, examine our motives.
[00:36:30] Because what I've done so far is I've challenged us at the very beginning of the talk that we're dealing with something that maybe we know we need to move forward on.
[00:36:39] We know we need to move forward on it, an email, or a conversation, or a meeting, or something we need to have, or something we need to do, and we're feeling that God's moving on this, but we need to examine our motives.
[00:36:51] We need to make sure that it's not self, and that it's actually God that's moving us in this direction, because the text gives us three indicators that this is God that's moving here for Nehemiah.
[00:37:03] It's directed by God rather than self-directed.
[00:37:06] What we know about Nehemiah's motive is not based on his feelings, but on his preparation, his prayer, and the nature of his request.
[00:37:14] The three indicators are he prayed, he waited, and he prepared.
[00:37:19] He prayed, he waited, and he prepared.
[00:37:22] Let's look at this.
[00:37:23] We need to know this to ask ourselves these particular questions.
[00:37:26] Anytime we talk about bold asking, there is always a risk of someone thinking in their minds or using Scripture to their advantage to say, I feel strongly about it.
[00:37:37] God must be in it.
[00:37:42] We can feel strongly about a lot of things.
[00:37:45] Blizzards, for instance.
[00:37:49] I'm uncomfortable in this.
[00:37:51] It's time to make a move.
[00:37:54] If I want it badly enough, that must be faith.
[00:37:58] Those are the questions that are misleading.
[00:38:00] This is not what Nehemiah is modeling to us at all.
[00:38:03] Nehemiah is not acting out of frustration.
[00:38:06] He's not acting out of impulse.
[00:38:08] And he's not acting out of self-interest.
[00:38:11] He is acting from a place of alignment.
[00:38:16] That's key.
[00:38:20] And now chapter 2, he's acting from a place of alignment.
[00:38:24] We talk a lot of times about, I wish I knew what God's will was for my life.
[00:38:28] This is how we get there.
[00:38:29] This is what we're talking about.
[00:38:30] There's a massive difference between God is leading me and I want.
[00:38:36] There's a massive difference between this is a burden God placed on me and I'm tired of this situation.
[00:38:43] You see, biblical boldness is never self-authorizing.
[00:38:47] It is always God-authorized.
[00:38:52] We need to learn the difference.
[00:38:54] As people who are walking through the sanctification journey of becoming more like Christ every day, which is what we're supposed to be doing.
[00:39:02] In other words, I'm different today than I was a week ago because this past week I have walked with Christ.
[00:39:08] And today I'm more mature in Him because I spent time with Him and abide in Him.
[00:39:14] Now I'm starting to learn more and more and more what God is authorizing me to do and what he is pulling me back on rather than being self-directed.
[00:39:23] Do you realize half of the troubles, I'm being very nice there, half of the troubles that we face in this world we bring on ourselves because we move too fast without looking for God's guidance on it.
[00:39:36] We're supposed to be a people redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ who are walking in relationship with God and we're supposed to be able to hear His voice.
[00:39:46] My sheep know my name and they hear my voice.
[00:39:50] We're supposed to be able to recognize that and when we're moving in life we're supposed to be able to call on that and to be able to pull on it.
[00:39:56] So let's examine our motives.
[00:39:58] Number one, is this about God's glory or my relief?
[00:40:05] Nehemiah's request cost him comfort.
[00:40:07] It doesn't increase it.
[00:40:10] If the move you're considering only benefits you, only eases your pressure, only satisfies your desire, be very careful calling that faith at all.
[00:40:26] Number two, has this been bathed in prayer or just fueled by emotion?
[00:40:33] Nehemiah prayed for months before he spoke for minutes.
[00:40:39] Did you catch that?
[00:40:41] He prayed for four months before he only spoke for a few minutes.
[00:40:47] Emotion can feel spiritual.
[00:40:51] Urgency can feel righteous, but neither replaces discernment.
[00:40:59] Number three, does this align with Scripture or just your preference?
[00:41:05] God will never lead you to violate His Word, period.
[00:41:11] He will never ask you to abandon your commitments, damage your witness, or justify sin and then call it faith.
[00:41:19] This passage is not permission to escape difficulty.
[00:41:22] It is an invitation to step into obedience with God.
[00:41:27] It is not about chasing what you want.
[00:41:29] It's about courageously pursuing what God wants.
[00:41:34] Being submitted to Him.
[00:41:35] And that brings us to the third movement in this text.
[00:41:41] Prepare with precision.
[00:41:44] Faith is not vague.
[00:41:47] Faith is not vague.
[00:41:48] Let's look at it in verses 6 through 8.
[00:41:51] And the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, how long
[00:41:57] Will you be gone and when will you return?
[00:42:01] So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.
[00:42:05] Which is interesting, he doesn't say here what time he had given him.
[00:42:09] Now we can look at other texts and we can read through it and we can think that he was gone close to 12 years with a few visits back home.
[00:42:21] We don't know exactly.
[00:42:22] And I said to the king, if it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province beyond the river
[00:42:30] that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall occupy and the king granted me what I asked look at this you need to underline this line right here for the good hand of my God was upon me
[00:42:59] This to me is the theological strength of chapter 2, is this right here.
[00:43:04] Nehemiah doesn't just ask boldly, he answers thoughtfully.
[00:43:10] The king asks, how long will you be gone?
[00:43:12] Nehemiah has an answer.
[00:43:14] He doesn't say, I'm not sure.
[00:43:16] He doesn't say, we'll see how it goes.
[00:43:22] It says, when I had given him a time.
[00:43:27] He had stepped into this.
[00:43:28] So he has thought this through.
[00:43:31] You can look at it.
[00:43:31] You can see it right there in the text.
[00:43:34] He keeps going though.
[00:43:35] He wants letters.
[00:43:36] He wants access.
[00:43:37] He wants resources.
[00:43:38] He wants timber.
[00:43:39] And he has specific locations in mind.
[00:43:43] This is not reckless faith.
[00:43:45] This is responsible faith.
[00:43:49] Nehemiah has anticipated obstacles, identified resources, and clarified needs.
[00:43:57] Faith does not mean winging it.
[00:44:01] Faith in God plans.
[00:44:06] And then he says this, And the king granted me what I asked for the good hand of my God was upon me.
[00:44:15] Nehemiah does not credit his personality.
[00:44:18] He does not credit his strategy.
[00:44:20] He does not say, look at my courage or think about how bold I was.
[00:44:24] He credits God.
[00:44:26] Why?
[00:44:28] Because it was God that this chapter is actually about.
[00:44:34] The good hand of God does not mean blessing, by the way.
[00:44:38] If you look up the original text, the good hand of God actually means power, authority, control and favor.
[00:44:48] What Nehemiah is saying here is, when he says the hand of God was on me, he's not saying that his blessings were touching everything that I was doing and he was turning what I was saying into gold.
[00:44:59] No, what he is saying here is, God was in control of the moment.
[00:45:06] Are you catching what's happening here?
[00:45:08] God wants Jerusalem rebuilt, not Nehemiah.
[00:45:13] That's key.
[00:45:15] That's what we're starting to understand.
[00:45:17] God is directly involved.
[00:45:19] God is actively governing what's happening.
[00:45:22] God is presently at work.
[00:45:24] This is aligned courage.
[00:45:27] Being in lock step with God, some people say.
[00:45:32] Walking arm in arm.
[00:45:35] Picking my foot up because God said pick my foot up.
[00:45:38] Setting it down because God said put my foot down.
[00:45:41] No, I'm not going to step off the edge of the stage there.
[00:45:43] I've had people tell me, it makes me really nervous when you put your foot up there next to the stage like that.
[00:45:48] Does that make anybody nervous?
[00:45:49] Especially the front row.
[00:45:50] Back row doesn't care.
[00:45:51] You're like, I was kind of bored.
[00:45:53] I was hoping he was going to step off.
[00:45:54] I don't know.
[00:45:56] But so you know, just so you know for future reference, if you see my foot go over the edge, it's because I'm feeling the edge with the ball of my foot so I know where it is.
[00:46:03] I have almost stepped off several times, so I had to learn the hard way.
[00:46:07] And there are no steps here.
[00:46:08] I mean, that first step's a doozy there.
[00:46:10] And so I would have to figure out a way to connect it and tie it in, though, wouldn't I?
[00:46:14] I'd be like, oh, just kidding.
[00:46:15] It's an illustration.
[00:46:18] If you're walking without God, you know, I don't know.
[00:46:22] But when God says step, you step.
[00:46:25] When He says don't step, you don't step.
[00:46:29] That's what's happening here and this is what he's talking about.
[00:46:33] He's not reactive, he's not reckless, he's not self-driven at all.
[00:46:37] He's rooted and he's prepared and he's directed.
[00:46:41] God's favor does not eliminate responsibility, it demands it.
[00:46:46] Do you understand that we submit to God and He says move and then we move.
[00:46:53] You don't get your name written at the top of a book of the Bible unless you are fully submitted to God.
[00:47:01] That's what this is about.
[00:47:02] If you think the book of Nehemiah is about Nehemiah only, you've missed it.
[00:47:08] This is about God and His working to get the city, His city that He had chosen, to be rebuilt.
[00:47:16] Because it was a calling of His people to come back to Him.
[00:47:20] It was His grace and His mercy showing out through the life of Nehemiah.
[00:47:24] And we get to watch it through the eyes of Nehemiah.
[00:47:27] That's what's cool about it.
[00:47:28] We get to watch God work through the eyes of Nehemiah as He unfolds this.
[00:47:36] This is what Nehemiah is doing in Nehemiah 2.
[00:47:39] He doesn't walk into the King's presence with a demand.
[00:47:42] He doesn't walk in with entitlement.
[00:47:45] He doesn't walk in assuming anything.
[00:47:47] He walks in with a request.
[00:47:51] God's favor required him to.
[00:47:54] This is an envelope.
[00:47:57] It's kind of a nebulous envelope other than a big word on the front.
[00:48:01] It is a request.
[00:48:05] But it means nothing.
[00:48:06] It has no authority.
[00:48:09] What gives this envelope authority is what's on the inside.
[00:48:17] The letters, so to speak.
[00:48:20] Permission granted.
[00:48:24] With the right letters on the inside of the envelope from the right person with the right authority
[00:48:34] It can change everything.
[00:48:37] It can open doors.
[00:48:37] It can grant access.
[00:48:38] It can authorize movement.
[00:48:42] But only if it's been approved.
[00:48:48] He walks in with a request.
[00:48:51] And he's given the papers.
[00:48:53] And here's what's cool about it.
[00:48:54] You're going to see a tie-in in just a moment.
[00:48:56] A connection to Christ.
[00:49:00] Even in this, you're going to see a connection to Christ.
[00:49:04] Again, all of scripture points to Christ and I don't want you to ever lose the fact that Nehemiah, yes it involves Nehemiah and he tells a story, but Nehemiah is about the power and the authority of God.
[00:49:21] You take, for instance, the book of Exodus.
[00:49:22] You say, somebody say, hey, what's the book of Exodus about?
[00:49:25] Well, it's about God's people being set free and they, yeah, you're kind of right there, but that's through their eyes and that's what happened to them.
[00:49:33] It's actually about God's authority to set free and it points to Christ.
[00:49:38] That's how this works and that's what we need to catch when we're looking at the book of Nehemiah.
[00:49:43] But, with that, Nehemiah doesn't walk in empty-handed.
[00:49:48] But he also doesn't walk in self-authorized.
[00:49:53] He is asking for permission.
[00:49:56] And that's an important distinction for us.
[00:49:58] Because there is a world of difference.
[00:50:00] Listen, I'm going to put some things on the screen.
[00:50:02] I want you to understand.
[00:50:03] I want your brains to start thinking about this.
[00:50:05] This is what's being taught here.
[00:50:06] There's a world of difference between, God, here's what I'm doing, and God, is this what you're doing?
[00:50:15] There's a huge difference between I've decided versus I'm submitting.
[00:50:21] There's a huge difference between I want this versus is this from you.
[00:50:28] An envelope doesn't make demands, it makes requests.
[00:50:31] A letter doesn't assume access, it gives permission.
[00:50:37] And Nehemiah models that posture.
[00:50:42] And here's the thing.
[00:50:44] Some of us in this room are carrying something right now.
[00:50:47] An idea, a desire, a decision, a next step that needs to take place.
[00:50:52] And you're not wrong to want to ask.
[00:50:54] But the question is not, do I feel strongly about this?
[00:50:58] The question is, has God authorized this?
[00:51:08] Because listen, boldness without alignment
[00:51:14] is presumption, but boldness with God's hand is permission.
[00:51:23] On your knees, weeping before the Father, seeking His hand in that next step that you need to take, so that He steps in and then He starts authorizing and authoring it.
[00:51:38] and then all you're doing is an empty submitted vessel to him to move you in the direction you need to go.
[00:51:45] Nehemiah is not the point of the passage.
[00:51:48] God's faithfulness to his redemptive purposes is.
[00:51:54] And notice this.
[00:51:54] Nehemiah doesn't just ask to go.
[00:51:57] He asks for letters.
[00:51:58] He asks for access.
[00:52:00] He asks for timber.
[00:52:01] He has names.
[00:52:03] Asaph, he's already naming someone.
[00:52:05] He identifies the forest.
[00:52:06] This is not emotional.
[00:52:08] This is intentional.
[00:52:09] It's not a whim.
[00:52:10] It's a calling that God has placed on his heart.
[00:52:14] And when God authors the letter, He also fills in the details.
[00:52:22] Faith is not vague.
[00:52:24] Faith is prepared.
[00:52:27] So let me ask you something.
[00:52:30] Gently but honestly, what are you carrying right now?
[00:52:38] Is it a request God has shaped or a desire you've decided?
[00:52:47] Is it a burden that has been prayed over or a frustration you're ready to escape?
[00:52:55] Because Nehemiah shows us God does not shame His children for asking, but He does shape His children before He sends them.
[00:53:11] And when the time comes, when the door opens, when the moment arrives, Nehemiah doesn't hesitate.
[00:53:19] He presents the request and asks for the letter.
[00:53:25] Here's how this connects.
[00:53:29] Nehemiah leaves the palace to rebuild a broken city.
[00:53:35] Jesus leaves heaven to restore broken people.
[00:53:41] Nehemiah risked the king's displeasure.
[00:53:46] Jesus bears the father's wrath.
[00:53:51] Nehemiah asked for permission, Jesus becomes the permission.
[00:53:58] Nehemiah rebuilds walls and Jesus rebuilds hearts.
[00:54:07] Because Jesus had the courage to go to the cross, you and I now have the courage to come before the Father.
[00:54:16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.
[00:54:24] We approach not because we are brave, but because Jesus was.
[00:54:32] Nehemiah 2 is not about ambition, it's about obedience and surrender.
[00:54:38] It's not about self-promotion, it's about holy courage.
[00:54:44] It's not about escaping difficulty, it's about stepping into God's purpose.
[00:54:50] And here's something to think about.
[00:54:54] Every single believer who has given their life to Christ has a God-given purpose.
[00:55:09] Are you seeking to find what that is?
[00:55:15] So the question that we end on is, what have you been praying about that God is now asking you to step into?
[00:55:27] He's prepared you.
[00:55:29] You feel it.
[00:55:32] If you haven't prayed about it, it's not time yet.
[00:55:36] You need to take that time to abide and to be in Him.
[00:55:42] But when God places a burden, He will also provide the courage.
[00:55:48] And when God's hand is on it, no earthly king can stop it.
[00:55:58] Let's pray.
[00:56:06] Father, the first letter that we get that gives us permission to come into your presence is Jesus himself.
[00:56:19] And with that permission granted, we come before you and we lay at your feet
[00:56:27] The things that we've seen, the burdens we've felt, the things we're carrying that we are wondering if you would have us to move forward with.
[00:56:40] Give us the first courage of surrender, to stop trying to self-authorize ourselves to move forward, but to put it in your hands.
[00:56:55] To know that you're with us now in the moment, but you're also already in tomorrow.
[00:57:04] Father, you're always working.
[00:57:07] And I want to be a part of that work.
[00:57:11] So help me to repent where I get in the way.
[00:57:17] Help me to slow down when I'm rushing past where you would have me be.
[00:57:23] But help me to walk in lockstep with You.
[00:57:28] Father, for every individual that's with me in this prayer, there's that many concerns that are coming to Your throne right now.
[00:57:39] And You are a good God.
[00:57:42] You're an amazing, powerful God.
[00:57:46] Help us to acknowledge that.

[00:57:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Help us to seek Your face and to walk where You would have us to walk.
[00:57:55] In Jesus' name we pray.
[00:57:58] Amen.

[00:57:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Would you all stand?
[00:58:22] Blessed assurance
[00:58:26] Jesus is mine He's been my fourth man in the fire Time after time Born of His Spirit
[00:58:46] Washed in His blood And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough I trust in God, my Savior
[00:59:15] He will never fail I trust in God my Savior the one who will never fail He will never fail
[00:59:39] Perfect submission, all is at rest I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps So this is my story, and this is my song
[01:00:08] I'm praising my risen King and Savior all the day long I trust in God, my Savior, the one who will never fail He will never fail
[01:00:36] I trust in God my Savior the one who will never fail He will never fail

[01:01:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Would you read along with me as we transition from this time of worship into our next opportunity of worship?
[01:01:10] It's found in the book of Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 16.
[01:01:14] The Bible says, Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.
[01:01:26] We are sent.

[01:01:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
We need a move
[01:03:08] We need a move of God.
[01:03:11] We're crying out, Lord.
[01:03:14] We need a move of God.
[01:03:16] All over the world.
[01:03:18] We need a move of God.
[01:03:20] We're hungry.
[01:03:22] We're desperate.
[01:03:23] Lord, all across the earth sing today.
[01:03:28] We need a move of God.
[01:03:34] We need a move of God.
[01:03:37] We need a move of God We're hungry, we're desperate Lord open the heavens

[01:04:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
This is the day you made So I'll rejoice and be glad Rejoice and be glad in it