Nehemiah 6:9
Our strength as believers comes from God, and prayer is the channel through which His strength flows to us.
Chuck Smith emphasizes that the believer's strength comes from God, highlighting the necessity of relying on divine power rather than personal strength. He illustrates this through Nehemiah's example of prayer, showing how it served as both a source of strength and a channel for God's resources. Smith points out that prayer should be the first response in any situation, leading to action rather than inactivity. The results of Nehemiah's prayers were significant, culminating in the completion of the wall and a spiritual revival among the people. Ultimately, the joy of the Lord became their strength.
Text
"THE BELIEVER'S STRENGTH"
I. THE SOURCE FOR OUR STRENGTH, GOD.
A. Jesus said, "apart from Me ye can do nothing."
1. Paul said, "I can do all things through . . ."
B. If I learn to rely on my own strength there will come a day when I will fail.
1. There comes to each person a time when he must reach out beyond himself.
C. If I learn to rely on God my resources are always unlimited.
1. No mountain so high but what God and I can't scale.
2. No ocean so broad but what God and I can't cross.
3. No enemy so strong but what God and I can't defeat him.
4. God and I am a majority any time.
II. THE CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THAT STRENGTH FLOWS TO US, PRAYER.
A. Nehemiah was a man of prayer.
1. Hanani had just returned from Jerusalem. Nehemiah heard of sad condition.
a. He wept, fasted and prayed unto God.
1:4 2. He was king's cupbearer, his countenance was sad.
a. "So I prayed unto the God of heaven and said unto the king."
b. Paul speaks of instant in prayer.
4:4 3. Nehemiah exposed to ridicule as he began to rebuild the wall.
a. His response not to man but to God. Help us God and
take care of them.
4. Next he faced a conspiracy.
4:9 a. "We made our prayer to God and set a watch against them."
1. Prayer is never an excuse for fool--hardiness.
2. God expects us to use the good common sense he has given us.
3. Prayer more often leads to activity than to inactivity.
5. Next his enemies sought to draw him away from the work into one of the
villages.
a. They threatened to send an accusing letter.
b. They hoped to strike fear in his heart and weaken his hands for the
work.
6:9 c. "O God strengthen my hands."
B. Nehemiah's pattern for prayer.
1. He prayed about everything.
a. "Men ought always to pray and not to faint."
b. Small things as well as big.
2. It was his first response to a situation.
a. First pray then act.
b. Actions almost simultaneous with prayer.
Ill. THE RESULTS OF PRAYER.
A. The wall was finished in 52 days.
B. There began a spiritual -revival among the people.
C. The people were told to rejoice and have a feast. "The joy of the Lord would be
their strength."
Sermon Outline
- The Source for Our Strength, God
- The Channel Through Which That Strength Flows to Us, Prayer
- The Results of Prayer
- The wall was finished in 52 days.
- There began a spiritual revival among the people.
- The people were told to rejoice and have a feast.
Key Quotes
“apart from Me ye can do nothing.” — Chuck Smith
“No mountain so high but what God and I can't scale.” — Chuck Smith
“The joy of the Lord would be their strength.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must learn to rely on God's strength rather than our own, for our resources are always unlimited.
- Prayer is essential for our spiritual growth and revival, and we should make it our first response to every situation.
- We can apply the principles of prayer in our daily lives by praying about everything, big and small.