Christian Life Church
March 22, 2023 - 7pm
#7 EZRA – THE PRAYING REFORMER #8 NEHEMIAH – THE PRAYING BUILDER
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Wednesday 6:30 PM
PRAYING MEN OF THE BIBLE MARCH 22, 2023
#7 EZRA – THE PRAYING REFORMER
“Before the Great War there were many signs of a new interest in PRAYER and new hope from its exercise. How these signs have multiplied, is known to everyone. This one thing at least that is good the War has done for us already. Let us not miss our opportunity. Prayer is not an easy exercise. It requires encouragement, exposition, and training. There never was a time when men and women were more sincerely anxious to be told how to pray. Prayer is the mightiest instrument in our armory, and if we are to use it as God has given the encouragement, we must do everything in our power to bring it into exercise.” Rev. James Hastings
SCRIPTURE
Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah 8-10
Central Truth: God shows His blessing, favor, and reward to those who choose to do the right thing(s) even though they are the hard thing(s).
Who was Ezra?
1/ Jewish priest and scribe – the main character of the Book of Ezra and the co-worker of Nehemiah.
2/ Descendant from Eleazer, the son of Aaron the high priest
3/ His ministry took place during the reign of Artaxerxes I. (456-424 BC)
What did Ezra do?
1/ He appointed the judicial infrastructure in Jerusalem after the exile.
Ezra 7:25, 26 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
2/ He re-established the altar sacrifices and worship to the God of Heaven (Yahweh).
Ezra 8:35, 36 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering,twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.
3/ Ezra repented before God after learning the people of Israel had intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations and then he facilitated reform among the people of Israel.
Ezra 9:1-15
How was prayer a priority of Ezra’s Life?
1/ Ezra and the heads of family, who traveled with him from Babylon, fasted and prayed for protection on their journey to Jerusalem.
Ezra 8:21-23 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
2/ The moment he heard of the sin on intermarrying committed by the people of Israel, he cried out in repentance to God.
Ezra 10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites men, women and children gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.
Christian Life Lessons
1/ Worship of Yahweh is first and foremost, no matter what situation we find ourselves in.
2/ We must learn and embrace the principle of being “equally yoked.”
a/ Faith
b/ Marriage
c/ Business
3/ Repentance is GOOD NEWS!!
Looking Ahead
March 29 – Daniel and Samuel
PRAYING MEN OF THE BIBLE
#8 NEHEMIAH – THE PRAYING BUILDER
“We care not for your splendid abilities as a minister, or your natural endowment as an orator before men. We are sure that the truth of the matter is this: No one will or can command success and become a real praying soul unless intense application is the price. I am even now convinced that the difference between the saints like Wesley, Fletcher, Edwards, Brainerd, Bramwell, Bounds and ourselves is energy, perseverance, invincible determination to succeed or die in the attempt. God help us.” - Rev. Homer W. Hodge
SCRIPTURE
The Book of Nehemiah
Central Truth: You and I were created to have intimate relationship with and to be totally dependent on God. This reality is either won or lost in our prayer life!
Who was Nehemiah?
1/ The son of Hacaliah and governor of the Persian province of Judah after 444 BC.
2/ Cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes who ruled from 465-423 BC
3/ He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
What did Nehemiah do?
1/ He prayed and asked the Lord to give him favor with King Artaxerxes.
Nehemiah 2:4, 5 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.”
2/ He sought God at every turn during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.
3/ He also brought moral reform to the priesthood and to biblical worship and living.
How was prayer a priority of Nehemiah’s Life?
1/ Nehemiah prayed fervently. (Nehemiah 1:4)
2/ Nehemiah focused on the greatness of the One to whom he was praying. (Nehemiah 1:5)
3/ Nehemiah prayed for favor and success. (Nehemiah 1:11)
4/ Nehemiah prayed against the opposition. (Nehemiah 4:4, 5)
5/ Nehemiah prayed to be remembered by God for his obedience and righteous acts.
(Nehemiah 5:19 and Nehemiah 13:14, 22, 29-30)
6/ Nehemiah prayed for strength. (Nehemiah 6:9)
7/ Nehemiah and the people of Judah prayed corporately repenting and asking God to forgive them. (Nehemiah 9:5-38)
Christian Life Lessons
1/ Nehemiah had come to understand the words that would be spoken by Paul when he wrote to the Thessalonian church, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
2/ God is committed to rebuilding the walls of our lives!
3/ Asking God to remember is a great way to demonstrate trust and the desire to do what God wills.
Looking Ahead
March 29 – Daniel and Samuel
#7 EZRA – THE PRAYING REFORMER
“Before the Great War there were many signs of a new interest in PRAYER and new hope from its exercise. How these signs have multiplied, is known to everyone. This one thing at least that is good the War has done for us already. Let us not miss our opportunity. Prayer is not an easy exercise. It requires encouragement, exposition, and training. There never was a time when men and women were more sincerely anxious to be told how to pray. Prayer is the mightiest instrument in our armory, and if we are to use it as God has given the encouragement, we must do everything in our power to bring it into exercise.” Rev. James Hastings
SCRIPTURE
Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah 8-10
Central Truth: God shows His blessing, favor, and reward to those who choose to do the right thing(s) even though they are the hard thing(s).
Who was Ezra?
1/ Jewish priest and scribe – the main character of the Book of Ezra and the co-worker of Nehemiah.
2/ Descendant from Eleazer, the son of Aaron the high priest
3/ His ministry took place during the reign of Artaxerxes I. (456-424 BC)
What did Ezra do?
1/ He appointed the judicial infrastructure in Jerusalem after the exile.
Ezra 7:25, 26 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
2/ He re-established the altar sacrifices and worship to the God of Heaven (Yahweh).
Ezra 8:35, 36 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering,twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 36 They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.
3/ Ezra repented before God after learning the people of Israel had intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations and then he facilitated reform among the people of Israel.
Ezra 9:1-15
How was prayer a priority of Ezra’s Life?
1/ Ezra and the heads of family, who traveled with him from Babylon, fasted and prayed for protection on their journey to Jerusalem.
Ezra 8:21-23 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
2/ The moment he heard of the sin on intermarrying committed by the people of Israel, he cried out in repentance to God.
Ezra 10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites men, women and children gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.
Christian Life Lessons
1/ Worship of Yahweh is first and foremost, no matter what situation we find ourselves in.
2/ We must learn and embrace the principle of being “equally yoked.”
a/ Faith
b/ Marriage
c/ Business
3/ Repentance is GOOD NEWS!!
Looking Ahead
March 29 – Daniel and Samuel
PRAYING MEN OF THE BIBLE
#8 NEHEMIAH – THE PRAYING BUILDER
“We care not for your splendid abilities as a minister, or your natural endowment as an orator before men. We are sure that the truth of the matter is this: No one will or can command success and become a real praying soul unless intense application is the price. I am even now convinced that the difference between the saints like Wesley, Fletcher, Edwards, Brainerd, Bramwell, Bounds and ourselves is energy, perseverance, invincible determination to succeed or die in the attempt. God help us.” - Rev. Homer W. Hodge
SCRIPTURE
The Book of Nehemiah
Central Truth: You and I were created to have intimate relationship with and to be totally dependent on God. This reality is either won or lost in our prayer life!
Who was Nehemiah?
1/ The son of Hacaliah and governor of the Persian province of Judah after 444 BC.
2/ Cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes who ruled from 465-423 BC
3/ He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.
What did Nehemiah do?
1/ He prayed and asked the Lord to give him favor with King Artaxerxes.
Nehemiah 2:4, 5 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.”
2/ He sought God at every turn during the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.
3/ He also brought moral reform to the priesthood and to biblical worship and living.
How was prayer a priority of Nehemiah’s Life?
1/ Nehemiah prayed fervently. (Nehemiah 1:4)
2/ Nehemiah focused on the greatness of the One to whom he was praying. (Nehemiah 1:5)
3/ Nehemiah prayed for favor and success. (Nehemiah 1:11)
4/ Nehemiah prayed against the opposition. (Nehemiah 4:4, 5)
5/ Nehemiah prayed to be remembered by God for his obedience and righteous acts.
(Nehemiah 5:19 and Nehemiah 13:14, 22, 29-30)
6/ Nehemiah prayed for strength. (Nehemiah 6:9)
7/ Nehemiah and the people of Judah prayed corporately repenting and asking God to forgive them. (Nehemiah 9:5-38)
Christian Life Lessons
1/ Nehemiah had come to understand the words that would be spoken by Paul when he wrote to the Thessalonian church, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
2/ God is committed to rebuilding the walls of our lives!
3/ Asking God to remember is a great way to demonstrate trust and the desire to do what God wills.
Looking Ahead
March 29 – Daniel and Samuel