David Gavin's sermon at CHRIST CHURCH, AUGHTON

Sunday, 27 July 2004

Theme: The God of Heaven will give us success

Bible reading: Nehemiah 1&2

Read Nehemiah chapters 1 and 2, then foucus on 2:20 - "The God of heaven will give us success."

· Where does Nehemiah's confidence come from?

· Where does our confidence come from (for instance for our building projects?)

From Nehemiah’s own words:

1) 2:12 “It’s God who put it on his heart”

How’s that happened? We were told in Chapter 1, verses 1-5

· It started with a conversation about Jerusalem

· Nehemiah felt upset about the state of the city (God’s city)

· He therefore spent time before God.

· It becomes a “let’s do it” and prayer of faith.

It’s basis is in God’s covenant concern for his people and meditating on his promises.

1:8,9 is from Deut 30:4
Much of the language of v.5-11 is based on Solomon’s prayer and God’s answer in the dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 6,7; especially v. 14-16)
He’s taking hold of God’s “I will’s”

2) 2:18 “The Gracious Hand of God on Me”

Shown in 2:1-9

· v. 1-6: The king doesn’t chop his head off for coming so morose into his presence. Rather, it pleased him to help.

· V. 7-8: Also all the help and permission he needed is granted.

· V. 9 “The king also…” Given more than asked for. The gracious hand of God is always like that for us in Christ!

N.B.

· There may be delay:

o Nehemiah is part (ii) of Ezra. They’ve got bogged down.

· There may be opposition

o V.10 – Sanballat and Tobiah

· There is much work needed

o Chapter 3 and even the preparations of 2:11-16

3) 2:19,20 God is bigger than any obstacle (“The God of Heaven”)

Notice “the God of Heaven will give us success” is in reply to the threat of the king – v.19
Why not say – “no, the king’s on my side”?
…because in the end his hope is in God, not the king!

THIS GOD’S BIG … “The God of Heaven”

Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, who can be against us?