Ray , what a courageous , bold man who understood— he was bold , yeah , he was bald Understood that when God has decreed something , it doesn't matter who stands against us , we go forward and do it .
Speaker 2And really the whole thing I see is a typology of the kingdom of God , that we're building the walls of the kingdom of God when we seek and save that which is lost , and we've got to have that understanding that God is for us . He's the one that said go into all the world , preach the gospel to every creature . He's the one that said be steadfast , unmovable , always abounding in his work , because our labor is not in vain .
Speaker 1Welcome to the Pick One Pet and One Pet Only game where we pick one pet and one pet only Only . Only man . It's so fun to make myself laugh . You guys wouldn't understand that . Giraffe , you don't have that level of humor . Giraffe , that's what you'd pick , right ? I'd love to have a giraffe . No , we have choices . Ray , do you want my pet ? I have a dog . No , no , no . Pick one pet , one pet only Porcupine , skunk or Tasmanian devil . One of the three .
Speaker 3What are you going to do with it ? Skunk ? I have a de-skunk skunk yeah you get it just de-skunk it not de-skunked
Speaker 4do you remember when that tasmanian devil almost bit your hand off ?
Speaker 1oh , in australia . I did remember we were filming a segment and I was like just I'm explaining , you know , your hand naturally goes out .
Speaker 4You pointed down to it you like , went down and it was like and the lady thought you were dead .
Speaker 1Well , I remember the tour guide lady . She was a really mellow , calm lady and she just goes . Ah , I'm like what in the world ? They must have seen something happen with that Tasmanian devil . Easy , if something's called a Tasmanian devil .
Speaker 2Devil , you keep away from it . It's like an Arab eater , or you'd stay away from that . That's a good point Arab eater .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , no , those things are vicious man .
Speaker 2Tasmanian devil .
Speaker 1That's why they're named like that . They would attack their own mom .
Speaker 4Were they really .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , they're very , very vicious . It's like today's youth , Very true . But yeah , which one guys ?
Speaker 2Did you go to Tasmania ? No , I wanted to , apparently , it's very beautiful , that's what I hear .
Speaker 1Full Tasmanian devil , I'll take the porcupine , would you Mark ? Yeah , what for Play soccer .
Speaker 3I get your point no .
Speaker 1Oh , ray doesn't like that . Ray Help out . Alright , poisonous frog Tarantula . Tarantula or poison , or scorpion Tarantula , those are easy , you can handle those no Are they poisonous tarantulas .
Speaker 3No .
Speaker 1I was at a .
Speaker 3Not all Tarantula , those aren't easy you can handle those .
Speaker 2No , Are they poisonous ?
Speaker 3tarantulas ? No , not all of them , not all of them . Oh , what's this one ? I was at a Kings game with your son , daniel . I didn't want to talk about tarantulas and we were going across a crosswalk and there was a tarantula that was walking inside the crosswalk . Some guy went by , picked it up , put it on his shoulder and kept and walk in .
Speaker 1You mean the game that Daniel doesn't remember you going to .
Speaker 3Yeah . So I had to prove to him that I went . Does that sound familiar ? It sounds very familiar , guys let's change the subject .
Speaker 2I just hate spiders . Why ?
Speaker 3What does it ?
Speaker 2make you do . I want to spit that way . Yeah it's horrible .
Speaker 1Spiders are disgusting . Okay , Ray , you're starving to death . You haven't eaten in 10 months . I wouldn't have spiders on toast . You haven't had one bite of anything in 10 months . And then you see a spider . A tarantula , you wouldn't eat it .
Speaker 2That's a lie . You would devour that thing .
Speaker 1Then you'd use its legs as toothpicks . You would Ray Alright , gorilla , baboon or hyena as a pet . A hyena would be fun or hyena Gorillas .
Speaker 2As a pet A hyena would be fun .
Speaker 1Gorillas Fun Oscar A hyena .
Speaker 2That'd be pretty cool , gorillas . Actually they're quite gentle , aren't they ?
Speaker 1Gorillas .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1Until they're not , unless you mess with them .
Speaker 2No , no , you're thinking Hollywood with that big thing that climbed up the Empire State .
Speaker 1Yeah , you know , baboons are so vicious man .
Speaker 4Haven't you ever seen Planet of the Apes ?
Speaker 2We did an episode with one of those apes .
Speaker 1No , it's an orangutan , orangutan and boy .
Speaker 2I learned something from that . They're not as intelligent as Hollywood makes out . Everything is reward and punishment if they're going to do something . And I grabbed my hand and pulled me off the chair and I had no resistance . It was so strong . Super strong , wasn't it ?
Speaker 1Ray , absolutely strong . Wait , weren't you guys trying to get the thing to eat a salad or something ? Yeah , it didn't work .
Speaker 2But I made a mistake . I ordered the salad that didn't have tomato and cheese on it for the orangutan and I got tomato and cheese for Kirk and I and I looked it out .
Speaker 1It started to try to get yours .
Speaker 2It got ours .
Speaker 3It didn't want his . I remember walking into Ray's office when we were in the other building and he was calling airlines to get a missing link relative to sit next to him on a plane .
Speaker 2Yeah , I said I've got a relative I want to bring on the plane . Is that okay ? They said no problem . I said it's an orangutan and they said what I said . Yeah , that's what they teach us in schools , that these are relatives .
Speaker 4I said no , you can't .
Speaker 2It's got to go in the cargo hold . He says no , no , it's a relative , it has to go on a plane next to me . And they wouldn't do it . What'd they say ? Right , they just wouldn't do it .
Speaker 1They said , no , our airline doesn't do it , oscar , to take the most vile , disgusting , despicable animal and say it would be fun to have a hyena , are they despicable ?
Speaker 4Dude hyenas are disgusting . Haven't you ever seen the Lion King ? They're so silly , they're all , oh , they're just .
Speaker 1There you have it , friend . Oscar bases his reality on animations .
Speaker 2They look and act and walk like demons . They , Seriously they are nasty .
Speaker 1They laugh at their jokes .
Speaker 4That sounds like your other voice .
Speaker 1I am part of you now . Okay , last one African wild dog , dingo wolf , or house cat Dingo .
Speaker 2House cat .
Speaker 1Oh man , oh my , which shows you how cat oh man . Oh , that's funny . Shows you how much I despise house cats .
Speaker 2Oh , you don't wait . Did you say that's easy ? No , no , I do a dingo dingo . Yeah , that was easy a dingo .
Speaker 1Yeah , they're like a , just a wild dog , they're all criminals .
Speaker 4Dingoes , the dingoes . What is a dingo actually , isn't it ?
Speaker 2like a kangaroo . It's a noise when you hit a spoon against something .
Speaker 1It's like an Australian wild dog . I actually had two dogs , and both of them were named Dingo .
Speaker 3Really Both of them .
Speaker 4Dingo and Dingo .
Speaker 2That's what arrows do . Oh , that's good when you George and . George , the Foreman's kids .
Speaker 1The Foreman's kids , georgina , crazy Well we had the dingoes at different times or the dogs , dingoes , german Shepherds , mark , do you like German Shepherds ?
Speaker 3Oh Bad dog I took my dog on a walk last night . He's a beautiful dog , he's a beach light . He's so great to look at . Did you bring him , took him on a long walk , it was really great . And then we left him inside the house . We went out and got some dinner . We came back and he got into the trash and trash was everywhere and I said I love my trash can more than I love my dog .
Speaker 2No , you let him get into the trash can ?
Speaker 1That's so wicked Mark .
Speaker 3I actually put the trash can up on the counter so he wouldn't get into it .
Speaker 2Where there's a way , it obviously had food in it , did that just go ?
Speaker 1over your heads . Isolate that statement .
Speaker 4I love my trash can more than my dog . I heard it .
Speaker 1I love my dog Mark . Seriously , sometimes I want to sue you . All right , friends . Oh , by the way , we have a guest in our studio today , Our brother Nick from Tahiti , Not from Tahiti .
Speaker 4We met him in Tahiti .
Speaker 1Wow , Oscar you're so nitpicky . This is all one world , brother , get with it . We're very mad at Nick because he didn't bring his lovely wife Teresa with him today . Nick , we're going to have to rectify that , brother .
Speaker 4I also feel like he promised sidecar donuts and they're not here .
Speaker 1Yeah , where are they , brother ? All right , well , you can repent and bring them next time . All right , friends , wait , where am I here in my nose ? I don't even know where I am in my nose . Where am I ? Oh ?
Speaker 4there I am .
Speaker 1All right friends . Another cool , classy comment . This is from T-Girl N-K-A .
Speaker 4Oh , hey , T-Girl .
Speaker 1N-A-K . T-girl N-A-K . I aka . Tingelnaik . I don't know how to read it , sorry . The best I can honestly say that I am a better person since listening to this podcast . The way they talk , the way they take a biblical subject and talk it out from their four different perspectives just sticks with me . I'm constantly busted by the Holy Spirit for my thoughts and actions that are contrary to the word , via the voices of Ray , oscar , easy and Mark . It's a strong dose of biblical truth , the medicine we all need .
Speaker 2Oh , that's nice . Thank you , sister , thank you
.
Speaker 1Very , very encouraging , mark didn't say anything .
Speaker 2Yeah , Mark , yeah thank you .
Speaker 1Thank you , mark , say it in French Merci beaucoup . Wow , such bad pronunciation .
Speaker 3Mark .
Speaker 1Easy quit smoking . I know how many times must I teach you Listen , listen , yeah , merci beaucoup . Oh , that's awful , ray . Listen , merci beaucoup . Never in my life have I contemplated an Indian accent with that phrase Merci beaucoup . Okay , listen , yeah , I'm listening . Edge of my seat , no , no , listen , no , listen , yeah , I'm listening . Edge of my seat , no no listen .
Speaker 4No listen .
Speaker 1Merci beaucoup .
Speaker 3You got it so easy .
Speaker 1While you do that , why don't you break out your fake French ? Don't forget peppy . All right friends . This podcast is brought to you by another one of our radically revolutionary resources how to Make Sure God Hears your Prayers , Ray , does God hear your prayers ? Let's see how humble you are . Does God hear your prayers , Ray , Always why ?
Speaker 1Because I'm in Christ , amen . There you have it . What's the book about , ray ? Haven't read it . Shame on you . All right , friends , make sure to check it out , along with the Living Waters mug and the Evidence Study Bible , all at livingwaterscom . That was not good . You should have done that one . Let's try it , ray . All at livingwaterscom . Oh yeah , he's try it , ray . All that Living waters , not gum . Oh yeah , he's the pro man . We always got to go to Ray for the Indian accent . Give me some curry , hurry , hurry with some curry . All right , friends , time to dive into today's topic . We are dealing with lessons learned from the life of Nehemiah Mark . That sounds familiar . Nehemiah was a prophet .
Speaker 3Yeah , At Bible College I had a professor . He spoke just like that the class was Nehemiah .
Speaker 1Nehemiah , yeah , I like Nehemiah Well good for you . He was a short guy , right , ray , it's up to your knee .
Speaker 2Yeah , nehi-miah .
Speaker 1A little higher than a knee , yeah . But yeah , nehemiah is a great , great book and Nehemiah , of course , was an Old Testament prophet specifically writing about the rebuilding of the Great Wall that surrounded Jerusalem , and he wrote somewhere around 539 BC . It's Trump's favorite book the Wall , 539 BC . It's Trump's favorite book , the Wall . That would be you know what . That would be a funny little spoof to do Trump's favorite book .
Speaker 4I feel like I've seen people try to do that before Ben Price , you know what .
Speaker 1It's funny because someone mocked Trump when he referenced a book of the Bible . I think he said that . One Corinthian , one Corinthians , but that's Two Corinthians , one Corinthians .
Speaker 2But that's Two Corinthians Two Corinthians , but that's correct . We say that in New Zealand , australia .
Speaker 1We talk like that Exactly , but he's not New Zealand or Australia , doesn't matter . Oscar High theory , yeah , anyway .
Speaker 2It's in the Corinthians that mentions cannibalism . Corinthians Two , corinthians ate one .
Speaker 1Oh , you guys , I keep forgetting the dad jokes we got to bring them .
Speaker 1That was a good one . Bring them back . That was a good one , all right . So we know the original wall and temple that's kind of associated with the story were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar . That was the Babylonian invasion , which was about 70 years prior to Nehemiah writing . Then , after that , of course , the Persian Empire had conquered the Babylonian Empire , which included Jerusalem . Jerusalem was always kind of like the jewel , you know , they always wanted to take the prized Jewel Rusum , the Jewel Rusum . And so then after that , the Jews of course began to slowly drift back to Jerusalem . Right after the captivity , like I said , the Persian Empire had taken over , started to settle there and Ezra had come before Nehemiah and started to rebuild the temple . And then Nehemiah dealt with rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem and unbelievably , they did this in 52 days . So we're gonna get into all the details , but we know Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the Persian king , artaxerxes I , and that was boy . What an interesting job , ray . What was ?
Speaker 2that cupbearer . What an annoying name . Yeah , artaxerxes .
Speaker 1Artaxerxes . I'm surprised we're not seeing that on the new names list . Yeah , it's kind of a cool name , though actually Is it .
Speaker 2It's kind of a cool name , though actually Is it ? It's masculine , I got it wrong . What is ?
Speaker 1it .
Speaker 3Artaxerxes .
Speaker 1Artaxerxes was a wee little man and a wee little man was he Just call him Art . He probably just went by Art .
Speaker 4Yeah right , you mentioned cupbearer . I think in our imaginations we imagine also his job was just to hand the king his wine . But actually cupbearer in the Old Testament was something very significant . This is like the right-hand man to the king . I mean , he was one of his most trusted confidants . First , in a very practical sense , the cup bearer is the one that would serve the king wine , which would be . One of the easiest ways you can kill a king is to poison his wine . And so this person was the trusted confidant to serve the wine . But his time wasn't wasted by just serving wine . If you were the cupbearer to the king , you were also one of the king's confidants . You had his ear . You'd be able to give him counsel and wisdom and advice when he asked for it . So not only were you a trusted bodyguard , but you were also , you know , almost like a vice president , in such a way .
Speaker 4And so that think it's important to give context to what we mean by , or what the scriptures mean by , cupbearer .
Speaker 1Yeah , no , that's good , yeah , and we do these friends , because we wanna glean from the lives of these biblical characters . We wanna learn from the highlights of their virtues , we wanna learn from their mistakes and oftentimes we'll get into some of the errors of some of the different biblical characters . So let me jump into chapter one here and read some of the text for us , and then we'll get into it and glean some lessons from Nehemiah .
Nehemiah 1 . It came to pass in the month of Chislev , in the 20th years .
Speaker 1I was in Shushan , the citadel , that Hanani , one of my brethren , came with men from Judah and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped , who had survived the captivity , and concerning Jerusalem . And they said to me the survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach . The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down and its gates are burned with fire . So it was when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned for many days . I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven and I said I pray , lord , god of heaven . Oh great and awesome God , you who keep your covenant and mercy with those who love you and observe your commandments . Please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open that you may hear the prayers of your servant , which I pray before you now , day and night , for the children of Israel , your servants , and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you . Both my father's house and I have sinned . We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments , the statutes nor the ordinances which you commanded your servant Moses .
Speaker 1Remember , I pray , the word of your commandment that you commanded your servant Moses . Remember , I pray the word of your commandment that you commanded your servant Moses saying if you are unfaithful , I will scatter you among the nations , but if you return to me , keep my commandments and do them . Though some of you were cast out to the furthest part of the heavens , yet I will gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling place for my name . Now , these are your servants and your people , whom you've redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand . Oh Lord , I pray , please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who desire to fear your name , and let your servant prosper this day . I pray and grant him mercy in the sight of this man .
Speaker 3I'm sorry , can you start over and say that ?
Speaker 1again . Can you do a different ? Translation now you two can't even sit still . As I'm reading it . I sat reasonably still . What were you doing , Ray ? I sat still . You took a nap .
Speaker 2I turned down his audio Mark turn your volume down so I couldn't hear you , and so I looked down and thought which knob was I going to turn up ? So he had mercy on me and turned me back on . I thought it was quite good having it down .
Speaker 1Oh guys , so Nehemiah gets this report about what's going on in Jerusalem . They're experiencing distress . The survivors who were left there were experiencing reproach . The wall of Jerusalem was broken down , its gates are burned with fire , and the first thing Nehemiah does as soon as he heard these words he says he said I sat down and wept and mourned for many days . I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven . Boy guys , what a response . And how so missing that is Ray . Isn't it in our modern day culture ? Weeping and mourning for days before the Lord ?
Speaker 2Well , we sure need to .
Speaker 2I mean just to watch a little bit of the news to feel a heaviness . Come on you . I've often studied the way the world talks . Somebody gets depressed in this world . There's mental problems . That's how they diagnose it , especially with university and college students . They're told they get mental problems because they've got problems with depression . But someone who's got problems with depression isn't mental . They're sane because they think about life , because life is incredibly depressing , especially with the way the world's going . So if you get depressed about life , you're very sane . And if you're a Christian and it makes you groan , make that groaning work in prayer . Take that groaning to prayer . Don't just groan . Get before God and cry out for this generation .
Speaker 1Wow , to prayer . Don't just groan . Get before God and cry out for this generation .
Speaker 3Wow , you know , Mark there's a song by Jimmy .
Speaker 1Needham , that talks about tearing down basically the idols .
Speaker 3Right , it's a spoken word more than a song , isn't it ? And you actually had a play . I remember at a conference that you spoke on idolatry .
Speaker 1If I'm remembering correctly , yeah With less than 50 words .
Speaker 3Satan deceived Adam to turn his back on the one that he loves . I forget the words .
Speaker 1Yeah , I think you're thinking of another one by Needham . There was a spoken word portion he did , but I'm talking about the song where he talks about tearing down the idols . Where he talks about tearing down the idols and he says in there he says we need to put our friends away and the social interaction we need to get on our knees until we're broken .
Speaker 3Okay , yes , I remember the one you're talking about now . There is a radical distinction , a big difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow . Judas had a worldly sorrow , a worldly sorrow that led to remorse , but it also led to death . The flesh , it can feel remorse , it can feel a disheartening , it can acknowledge the evil deeds , it can be ashamed of the things that it's done . But it's been said that we move from Pharisee to prodigal and prodigal to Pharisee overnight , right , just with the switch of a button . But with godly sorrow it's going to lead to a godly repentance .
Speaker 3And there's some examples that we see within the word of God . Right , we have King David in 2 Samuel , chapter 12 , where he said then David said to Nathan , I have sinned against the Lord . And this is first and foremost what you're going to see with a godly sorrow , because you're going to recognize who your sin is against . That it's primarily vertical before it'll ever be horizontal . Nehemiah , he said , he confessed his sins in Job 42 . Therefore , I despise myself and I repent in dust and ashes . And Micah 7 , though I sit in darkness , the Lord will be my light . There's a recognizing of the mire in which you're in that it's not permanent , right , failure is never permanent . While you're still alive , there's the opportunity and the chance to confess , to forsake , with God's help , and to move forward .
Speaker 3And Zacchaeus was the wee little man . And the wee little man was he . He said if I have cheated anybody out of anything , I will pay back four times the amount . And finally , the prodigal son in Luke 15 , father , I have sinned against heaven and against you . When I said Zacchaeus and I looked at you , ray , I wasn't referring to anything dealing with your stature , by the way .
Speaker 2What stature ? Not the whole stature Exactly ?
Speaker 1Guys .
Speaker 2I think the thing that helps us to pray is the knowledge that God sees all . Sometimes I look at what's happening in the world and I'm horrified with the disgusting things that are happening , and we don't see it from God's perspective .
Speaker 2He sees what's done in darkness , but he sees it from holiness , reminded me of a story I told Sue that I'd forgotten when I was about 10 , I was in this little tree area and I picked up a rock and threw it at the top of a tree and then I heard a window break and it was one of the neighbor's windows and I ran like you wouldn't believe Down . Our street is about 150 yards from home and when I got home I ran inside and then I noticed someone came to the door . It was the guy who owned the house whose window I'd broken . He had chased me down the street , followed me home and he was talking to my mom and I thought , wow , I better go and face the music . So I went out . She looked at me and said did you throw that ? And I said yes , I did . And she said she was so proud of me so I want to go and do it again . No , she was proud of me being honest and the revelation that the world needs is that God's followed them home Wow .
Speaker 2Sounds good .
Speaker 1Ray . Wow , yeah , you know , oscar , I'd love you to speak to Nehemiah's contrition and brokenness
. But let me say first of all that I think a lot of times we can look at something like this and say what's the big deal ? Oh , think a lot of times we can look at something like this and say what's the big deal ? Oh , it's a wall , right . But I love this commentary here online . It says in the Old Testament times , the city walls represented not only the strength of the people within that city , but also the strength of the God they served . Nehemiah depicts the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem . He was distraught when he heard that the walls in Jerusalem were in disrepair , as it reflected not only on the weakness of his people , but also misrepresented God as weak , and so it's important to understand the context of that . But look at what he does , right ? He is making a direct correlation between what are you guys doing ? We're doing a podcast here .
Speaker 4No , I thought Mine did the same thing , but I handled that before we started recording Mark's got one of his microphone wires around the wheel of his chair and I thought he can't .
Speaker 2He's doing it so quietly . That was quiet , but then he decides to turn the chair upside down , which made me , anyway , carry on .
Speaker 1Nick , you want a time as a job , as a full-time babysitter .
Speaker 2No , no . What about a bouncer ?
Speaker 1Yeah , really All right . So , Oscar , but that contrition , you know , and he repeated again and again my sins and the people of the sins of my people , my fathers , we have sinned .
Speaker 4That's . I love that you went there easy , because that's something that stands out to me in verses six and seven is that Nehemiah , he doesn't just look at the culture , he doesn't just look at the people around him and it's like God . They are sinning . God , look what's happening in the culture , look what's happening to society . Listen to what he says . Even I and my father's house have sinned . We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments , the statues and the rules that you've commanded your servant , moses . He sees the sin in others and then he realizes that they're the same sins that are in his own heart , and that is an important . You mentioned Pharisees and legalists . That's an important aspect . Is that the things ? I've heard it once said I think it was Paul Tripp that said the things that we tend to see and hate the most in others . We hide from our own selves and our own hearts . And so here's Nehemiah , like crying out for the repentance of his people and himself .
Speaker 1He knows he's in need of repentance too , and you know , lack of repentance is such a sign of selfishness , being self-willed and being prideful . I love the saying that says God doesn't forgive excuses , he only forgives sins . And , ray , that's the problem often is , we just won't agree with God that our sin is as sinful as it is and we won't turn from it .
Speaker 2Yeah , that's why we need to use the law to bring the knowledge of sin . Is that a new revelation ? We need to take the burning sunlight of the law and put the sinner in the desert until he cries out for the water of God's forgiveness . Wow , yeah , that's good .
Speaker 1All right . So Nehemiah here acknowledges his sin , his people's sin . He's heartbroken over what's happening with Jerusalem , again , like I said , not just because of the circumstantial atmosphere , but also because of how it reflects on God . He was God-oriented , and so then he cries out to the Lord . And then I want to pick it up in chapter 2 , verses 1 through 6 .
Speaker 1It says and it came to pass in the month of Nisan , in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes , when wine was before him , that I took the wine and gave it to the king . Now , I had never been sad in his presence before . Therefore , the king said to me why is your face sad , since you are not sick ? This is nothing but sorrow of heart . I can imagine like Nehemiah's heart at that moment . The king noticed uh-oh , I'm dead right .
Speaker 1So I became dreadfully afraid and said to the king may the king live forever . Why should my face not be sad when the city , the place of my father's tombs , lies waste and its gates are burned with fire ? Then the king said to me what do you request ? So I prayed to the God of heaven and I said to the king now think about this . Nehemiah is in the midst of talking to the king , and so I prayed to the God of heaven . Let me just pause here and ask you guys do you guys ever do that Like in the midst of a situation you're witnessing , you're having a discussion with someone , you're dealing with it Like you pray in your heart at that moment ?
Speaker 2You can just say help , Lord help . And that says everything . He knows what's going on , he intercedes .
Speaker 1Now , ray , what if it's help but it's someone from the South ? How would they say it Help me ?
Speaker 2help me , help me help me .
Speaker 3Oh , I love that , and I love praying just in faith , just believing , even though everything within you perhaps is not filling the faith in the midst
of it . John Calvin said doubtful prayer is no prayer at all . When we pray , we want to make sure that we are praying in faith and just believing that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him , that he hears our prayer . He's a very present help in time of need . We take refuge under the shadow of his wings , that God guides us with his eye , that God is with us right now . Why should we not pray ?
Speaker 1And I love that , oscar . It's easy to gloss over that verse that Mark cited from Hebrews . You know , without faith it's impossible to please God , for he who comes to God must believe that he is duh right and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him .
Speaker 4I love that . I also think it's yeah , I mean , I think an important aspect of our prayer life is to remember that we are coming to the father with needs , with asks , requests , and , like Nehemiah's prayer , is that his kingdom . This is kind of like this is echoing the future prayer of Jesus . Nehemiah is not praying God , give me eloquent words , give me a great kingdom of my own . Ultimately , his desire , the desire of his heart , is to see the kingdom of God built up , and that is the prayer that God answers .
Speaker 1Because it's a selfless prayer Like it talks about in James . You have not because you ask not . You ask and you do not receive because you ask amiss , you wanna spend it on your own pleasures . It's a selfish type of prayer that is displeasing to the Lord . Even when we ask things for ourselves , it should always be for the sake of others . Meaning what Meaning ? Okay , if I'm asking for a resource , if I'm asking for a circumstance to change in my life , it should ultimately be so that I can be in such a position to where my effectiveness can be maximized in touching others and that I can maximize my ability to glorify the Lord .
Speaker 3That's so great and we have to remember as we look at this , right Before Nehemiah lifted a hammer in one hand and had a weapon in the other hand before he did anything like this .
Speaker 3He was a man of prayer , which is kind of the opposite of the way we work . Right , we try to exhaust our resources , we try to do everything we possibly can to figure out the situation , and then we go oh , I got nothing left but prayer . I guess all that's left is prayer , right , when that should be the very first thing we do , and the second and the third , and as we work , we are communing with god , leaving the results to him .
Speaker 1Yeah , I right earnestness .
Speaker 2Earnestness should be such an important part of prayer to us . The factual , fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much . He's the reward of those that diligently seek him . Yeah , if you search for me with your whole heart , you will surely find me . And the ungodly are incredibly complacent about you know , just appear to me and I'll believe . It's not a diligent seeking after God until you realize your plight . And that's what we have to do with sinners is put them into that plight where they need to diligently seek him to live . Amen .
Speaker 1You know , I really do hate that term or that phrase all we can do is pray . I guess all we can do is pray . I wish we would flip that and always say man , the most we can do is pray and let it be our first approach . And also , I think again , I've talked about this before , but the way we speak reveals where our hearts are at , and this isn't like an egregious thing . We don't do it on purpose . But when we talk about the power of prayer , I think that's erroneous . We need to focus not on the power of prayer but on the power of God to answer prayer .
Speaker 2That's really good .
Speaker 4Because , my prayers don't have power .
Speaker 1They're feeble , they're weak , they're insufficient , they're insignificant . And if I'm talking about the power of prayer and I'm thinking that way , then I'm going to get discouraged a lot when I'm praying because I feel the weakness in my prayers . But if it's the power of God to answer prayer , I'm going to be stirred to pray , that's really good .
Speaker 1So I think it's important for us to remember that . Okay , so then he prays to the God of heaven . He says , and I said to the king if it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight , I ask that you send me to Judah , to the city of my father's tomb , that I may rebuild it . Then the king said to me the queen also sitting beside him how long will your journey be and when will you return ? So it pleased the king to send me and I set him a time . So the king approves it and he sends him . All right , we pick it up in verses 15 to 20 .
Speaker 1So I went up in the night by the valley and viewed the wall . Then I turned back and entered by the valley gate and so returned , and the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done . I had not yet told the Jews , the priests and nobles , the officials or the others who did the work . Then I said to them you see the distress that we are in , how Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burned with fire . Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem , that we may no longer be a reproach . And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me , and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me . So they said let us rise up and build . Then they set their hand to this good work .
Speaker 1But when Sanballat and the Hornite , tobiah the Ammonite official , and Gershom the Arab , hey , heard of it it's trouble , kevin . They laughed at us and despised us and said what is this thing that you are doing ? Will you rebel against the king ? So I answered them and said to them the God of heaven himself will prosper us . Therefore , we , his servants , will arise and build , but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem . Ray , what a courageous , bold man who understood . He was bold , yeah , he was bald Understood that when God has decreed something , it doesn't matter who stands against us . We go forward and do it .
Speaker 2And really the whole thing I see is a typology of the kingdom of God , that we're building the walls of the kingdom of God when we seek and save that which is lost . And we've got to have that understanding that God is for us . He's the one that said go into all the world , preach the gospel to every creature . He's the one that said be steadfast , unmovable , always abounding in his work , because our labor is not in vain . If God is for us , nothing can be against us . So Positive confession , not name or claim it of Nehemiah . Does that work ? It doesn't work . Mark Spence has destroyed that . We're going to die . I've heard him say that for about 20 years we're going to die and he's still here .
Speaker 1But he didn't say when you're going to die . He didn't say when you're going to die .
Speaker 2Yeah it's going to happen one day . But yeah , it's not like you know you .
Speaker 3Don't say that You'll die . That just proves how many times we've been in life and death situations together . You're right .
Speaker 2Yeah , too many times . Right . So yeah , we have a good , positive confession biblically that God is with us and because he's with us , we cannot but prosper yeah .
Speaker 4I think what you just said is so important as we study the book of Nehemiah and Nehemiah himself , because if we're not careful again , we can just turn this into a fable about what it means to be a good leader . We can pull out of it . Oh , here's all the things that good leaders do leadership , this , leadership , that . But ultimately , these scriptures , these words , the story of Nehemiah is pointing to the greatest Nehemiah in Christ himself , and that's what you're getting at and I think it's really important for us to . I love what you did historically to fit it within the context of the Exodus and then the returning , the return of God's people to Israel . I think , in addition to that , we need to look at it within the realm of God's promises , covenant to his people and how Nehemiah gets to where he's at and where we are right now in that same thing . And so , if you think about it , you almost got to date back to . Nehemiah acts as a sort of king . Right All throughout the Old Testament you've got prophets , you've got priests and you've got kings . Adam was meant to be a prophet , priest and king in the Old Testament . He was meant to be a prophet in the sense that God told him to speak the names of the animals . That is him using his words to be a prophet , but Adam fails that . Instead of doing that , he uses his words to lie and to deceive . Adam was called to be the perfect priest in that he was supposed to lead his wife well , and instead he throws his wife under the bus . Adam was supposed to be the perfect king in that he was supposed to be fruitful and multiply and take care of the lion , but he ultimately abdicates his throne to the serpent . From that point forward , all through the Old Testament , the role of prophet , priest and king is split from one person into three . You've got Moses and Aaron , David and Nathaniel . And then Zechariah comes along and he makes a prophecy . He says one day there's gonna be again one prophet , priest and king , the perfect prophet , the perfect priest and the perfect king . And so Nehemiah is wedged in there before this perfect prophet , priest and king is coming . Nehemiah is doing the job of a king . Of course , the person that Zachariah was speaking of was Jesus . Jesus was the perfect prophet , and that not only did he speak the truth , but he said I am the way , the truth and the life . Jesus was also the perfect priest , and that not only did he heal the sick and make sacrifices for us , but he was the final sacrifice for our sins . And not only was he , he was also the perfect king . And that not only was he a king , but he was one that prayed my kingdom , come on earth as it is in heaven , establishing his kingdom and then . So now , where does that leave us ? This is what I love .
Speaker 4At Pentecost , the Holy Spirit comes , and then , in 1 Peter , peter talks about us being a royal priesthood and a holy nation . What he is saying is that those who have the Holy Spirit this is what you're getting at , ray those who have the Holy Spirit , are prophets , priests and kings . That each one of us , when we use our tools and resources , when we use our giftings as kings of this kingdom , of God's kingdom , we bring about God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven . When we use our words in evangelism , we are like priests . And when we are yeah , we are like prophets . And when we use our time and energy to care for others , we are like priests , in other words , nehemiah . Care for others , we are like priests , in other words , nehemiah . The whole story is about , ultimately , nehemiah trying to play his role in bringing God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven , and that is the same role God has left you and me . We get to be our own Nehemiahs in our own communities , bringing about God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven .
Speaker 1And really , oscar , what you're focusing on there is being kingdom-minded , and that's what I think is often missing today amidst God's people . All right , let's pick it up . Nehemiah 4 , 1 through 6 .
But it so happened , when Samballot heard that we were rebuilding the wall , that he was furious and very indignant and mocked the Jews . And he spoke before his brethren in the army of Samaria and said what are these feeble Jews doing ? Will they fortify themselves ? Will they offer sacrifices ? Will they complete it in a day ? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish , stones that are burned Now ? Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him and he said whatever they build , if even a fox goes up on it , he will break Mark builders . So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height , for the people had a mind to work .
Speaker 1Mark , the element of discouraging naysayers that are sometimes almost of a demonic nature , almost yeah , of a demonic nature . But you see Nehemiah here Again . I love how prayer is interwoven throughout the text . He just pops into prayer , you know , in the midst of that and you know , and he prays this imprecatory prayer here like hey , lord , you see them . In other words , god , you're the one who exacts vengeance .
Speaker 2You deal with them and then Doberman , I think what you said is just so important and I learned it years ago . And then Stop from an easy . I think what you said is just so important and I learned it years ago . When you're reading through Psalms , you come to Psalms that kind of lack , something like love and gentleness , where David is saying smash out their teeth , oh God , and that's called an imprecatory Psalm or prayer .
Speaker 4That's right .
Speaker 1Could you just ?
Speaker 2explain that , Because when I found that word I thought , oh , that's a relief .
Speaker 1Yeah , well , I think it's a form of prayer that is in keeping with God's justice in situations where we are wronged , and that's where we take our hearts to the Lord right as believers . Of course , our cry is Lord , save them , redeem their souls . But at the same time , we know that when God's cry as Lord , save them , redeem their souls , but at the same time we know that when God's honor is offended , when God's law is violated , judgment is righteous , and so we pray for mercy , we pray for grace , but we know that when there is not repentance , judgment is appropriate .
Speaker 1I think that's kind of what we see there . But , Mark , the fact that he pressed on , I mean all of that oh , if a fox goes on there , it'll break down . What are these silly Jews doing , right ? They think they're going to be able to build this wall , and I just love what it says . So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined . They connected it .
Speaker 3Yeah , when we get our marching orders , we don't stop until the battle is over . You know , the battle belongs to the Lord . We trust the results to Him . But , as somebody once said , we don't give up , we don't let up , we don't shut up until we've prayed up and preached up for the cause of Christ . We move forward , we're continually going and we may not see the results this side of heaven , but when we get to heaven , perhaps the Lord will give us that view into what he was doing .
Speaker 3And Nehemiah was able to see what had happened . I like this text in Nehemiah 6 , verse 15 . It says so . The wall was finished on the 25th day of Elul , in 52 days , and it happened , when all our enemies heard of it and all the nations around us saw these things , that they were very disheartened in their own eyes , for they perceived that this work was done by God . Right , how many times have we , to some degree , we've defended the Lord by saying well , the Lord is out hand , the Lord is doing a work , the Lord is calling me to do this , and people just mock in the midst of it . Well , one day they will in the midst of it . Well , one day they will see the work that God has done and we don't have to see it this side of heaven but God will make sure that he is glorified no matter what .
Speaker 1Amen . And , by the way , Mark Eylul , that's very special to me . Eylul , that's my birthday . That means September in Arabic . Arbatash , Eylul is my birthday . Anyway , see things that I understand because I'm an Arab .
Speaker 3No , we just don't care , Whatever dude .
Speaker 1Okay . So again here now we see in verses 7 through 9 , samballot , tobiah , the Arabs , the Ammonites . They were conspiring to attack them . Right , and again I love it . In verse 9 it says nevertheless , we made our prayer to our God and because of them , we set a watch against them day and night . I love the practicality of this . They prayed and then they did something practical , and that's important to remember as believers , right . First , our first recourse is Lord , we give this to you . The most we can do is pray , and then we're going to be wise and use the natural means you've given us to do it and that's the understanding in the book of Isaiah .
Speaker 3It says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength . That word wait is actually a verb , which means it's an action . We're not just sitting idly on our hands , lord save the world . No , we go out with gospel tracks and we open up our mouths , as we ought , and the Lord leads and directs . Yeah , Amen .
Speaker 1So then , in verses 12 to 14 , we see you know they want to attack them , and 12 to 14 , we see you know they want to attack them and so they put themselves up to guard . And then it says and then Nehemiah says I love it . It says and I looked in a rose and said to the nobles , to the leaders and to the rest of the people do not be afraid of them . I love this .
Speaker 1Remember the Lord great and awesome and fight for your brethren , your sons , your daughters , your wives and your husbands . Oscar , remember the Lord , Great and awesome . How often should we remind ourselves that we need to remind ourselves of who our God is .
Speaker 4Well , it's also like how often do we forget we get distracted by the things of this world ? These tiny little problems become magnificent , become major in our puny little lives . That's like our perception of things . We look at the world through this pinhole and when you see things through a pinhole , this tiny little phone could look so massive where I couldn't see everything around it . But if you look at the world through the lens of who God is , then you'll realize that all of these problems , all of these concerns , all of the things that build up anxiety in our lives , all the things that keep us up at night , are so small in the hands of God , but you don't understand .
Speaker 3It's a thorn in my finger , god .
Speaker 1Yeah , that's exactly right . Seriously , man , and again , it's the whole thing . I've talked about the zoom in thing . Right , this giant King Kong looks like he's tearing down houses , cars . He's just a guy in a monkey suit in a sandbox with some Tonka toys and doll houses right . But when you're zoomed in it looks massive . When we zoom out and see it from God's perspective , we see all our problems for what they are . They're nothing . We need to remember how great and awesome our God is Speaking of God's greatness .
Speaker 2Often when I'm riding my bike down the canal there's about almost a mile of just straight thing . I'll often sing because no one's around . Normally when I sing the tide doesn't come and it's that bad . I cannot sing . But I was taken back to when I was about 16 where in high school we were taught hymns . In a secular school we would sing hymns every morning and we'd sing Bread of Heaven . You know that great hymn Bread of Heaven ?
Speaker 4No , no , not that one .
Speaker 2he said it was great no , it was not that one , no , it's . These are the words . Guide me , oh that great jehovah pilgrim , through this barren land . I am weak , but thou art mighty , hold me with thy powerful hand and I'd sing that to myself and just think how great god is .
Speaker 2I look at the heavens and guys , we just take so much for granted because familiarity breeds contempt , as we mentioned before . But I love looking at the clouds when riding along . There's nothing to distract me . There's no wires between me and the heavens that we have in California and most places . I just look at those clouds and think , man , god is just so awesome because those clouds are filled with water weighing hundreds of thousands of tons . They all just stay up there like they're not weighing anything .
Speaker 2We're dead without that water . And it's just magnificent His creation , and it speaks of His genius and explodes my faith in Him .
Speaker 1Amen , I love that ray . All right you love that ray . I love that ray , that sun ray . So then , in verses 19 through 23, . It's they begin to point something out real quick . No , no , okay , go ahead , go ahead quick for uh .
Speaker 4Chapter 4 , verses 15 to 17 . It says the laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon . That's right , yeah , and this is uh that . That can be translated the sword in the trowel which is the , the magazine that CH Spurgeon started in 1870, . Whatever it was , I love that the sword in the trowel .
Speaker 1Yeah , and on that note you see their hard work too . So verses 21 through 23 of chapter 4 , it says so . We labored in the work , and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared . At the same time , I also said to the people Let each break until the stars appeared . At the same time , I also said to the people let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem that they may be our guard by night and working party by day . So neither I , my brethren , my servants , nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes , except that everyone took them off for washing . He must have stunk , but , ray , this is the sweat of diligence . Diligence is a man's prized possession , but it's so lacking in this current generation .
Speaker 2And it's a reminder that we fight a very subtle enemy and we're to be sober , because our enemy walks about as a roaring lion , seeking him who may devour . So we've always got to hold the sword of the Spirit in our hand . Don't let it fall out of your hand while you're asleep , even Sleep with your armor on .
Speaker 1As a Christian , so after that , we see they kept trying to distract Nehemiah in chapters 6 , 1 through 9 , to kind of set him up , trap him , and he wouldn't give in to them . And then it says in verse 5 , chapter 6 , it is reporting then Samballot sent his servant to me , as before , the fifth time , with an open letter in his hand , and it was written . The fifth time , with an open letter in his hand , and it was written . It is reported among the nations , and Gershom says that you and the Jews plan to rebel .
Speaker 1Therefore , according to these rumors , you are rebuilding the wall that you may be the king , and you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem , saying there is a king in Judah . Now these matters will be reported to the king . So come , therefore , and let us consult together . And I said to them no such thing as you say are being done , but you invent them in your own heart , for they are all . We're all trying to make us afraid , saying their hand is weakened in the work and it will not be done . Therefore , oh God , strengthen my hands .
Speaker 4Again that interwoven prayer .
Speaker 1You know they're trying to do this stuff .
Speaker 2How incredible that God has the ability to strengthen our hand yeah just yeah , amen how do you think he's you got these ?
Speaker 1yeah , bob and edna um yeah , and so you know they , they kept , they kept trying to to distract him and and I love in in one place where he says would such a man as I right like run away from this ? And was the gist of it . And he persisted , and I love at the end , verse 15 of chapter 6 , so the wall was finished on the 25th day of Elul , in 52 days . It happened , they did it and really the whole moral of the story is perseverance , trust , obedience to the Lord . And all of this , guys , was made possible through the doorway of repentance . It all started with repentance of Nehemiah , owning his own sin , the sins of his fathers , the sins of his people , repenting before God . And then the Lord began to open one door after the other and , despite the distraction , the discouragement , the challenges , they pressed on crying out to God every step of the way , and it was done . Amen , wow , so good , so encouraging . And so , friends , press on , press on , and what the Lord has called you to do , trust him , remember your God that he's awesome , he's great , he's mighty , and remember that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him . All right , friends . That does it . Don't forget how to make sure God hears your prayers .
Speaker 1A book by Ray Comfort , the Living Waters Mugs . Don't neglect the mugs . We get pictures from time to time of people who are using them in different ways . We love to see that , so get those . You'll remember to pray for us and you'll remember the podcast , the Evidence Study Bible alllivingwaterscom podcastalllivingwaterscom for your thoughts and ideas . Don't forget , give us comments and ratings and all that good stuff . Thank you for joining us , friends . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters podcast , the one podcast you cannot wait to turn off , right ?
Speaker 2That was good , ray , thank you .
Speaker 1Very good .