Pray for More

Dan Harding

17th July 2011

*Are we able to pray big courageous prayers?
*We might think an extraordinary prayer is done by missionaries or when someone has seen a vision or God has spoke to them
*But..we need to pray extraordinary prayers too
Nehemiah's heart was broken
*Nehemiah 1:1-4:

Nehemiah’s Prayer

 ¹ The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:    In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
 ³ 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. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.


*Nehemiah was an ordinary man but God answered his prayers tremendously
*Do you weep easily for things that how you said would be?

Nehemiah confesses sin
*Nehemiah 1:6b-7: I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
(both sins of ommission and commission)
*He and all those people had a clear mind on what they were suppose to do

Nehemiah prayes God's own promises
*Nehemiah 1:8-10 : ⁸ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
 ¹⁰ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

Nehemiah requests success and favour
*Nehemiah 1:11: 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.”

   I was cupbearer to the king.

*He wants God to use him

Nehemiah is granted his prayer by God
*Nehemiah 2:8: ⁸ And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

*He rebuild the city and God's name upon it
*There were no angels, prophecy, vision but knew God's promises and wept about it
*When we know extraordinary prayers like this, it is not the end

How do we pray big prayers?

*God's general promises + What personally means to us

*God's heart + Your heart

*Matthew 28:19-20 : ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

*Acts 1:8 : ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

*If what we desire is in sync with God's plan, we just have to pray boldly
*What are the big prayers God is waiting for us to pray?
*Pray a bold prayer if you want to do something extraordinary! 


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**