ORDINARY ORDINARY WORLD WORLD

CHANGERSCHANGERS

NehemiahNehemiahNot a priest, prophet, Not a priest, prophet,

warrior or kingwarrior or king

— — just a man who saw just a man who saw something and got something and got

bothered…bothered…

Walls of Jerusalem had been down for 140 years.

Why? God told Israelites—obey will be blessedWorshiped false Gods—Babylonians took them into

captivity.

Some people moved back—rebuilt temple so they could worship

Walls remained down—vulnerable and embarrassing. 

NEHEMIAHNEHEMIAH

Cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia: Butler

Somebody has got to do something—might as well be me.

52 days

NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 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.

NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 (NIV)

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.”When I heard these things, I sat down sat down and weptwept. For some days I mournedmourned and fastedfasted and prayedprayed before the God of heaven.

THREE QUALITIES HOW THREE QUALITIES HOW GOD CAN USE YOU TO GOD CAN USE YOU TO BE ORDINARY WORLD BE ORDINARY WORLD

CHANGERSCHANGERS

SITSIT DOWN TO DOWN TO CRYCRY..

NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.

Nehemiah lived in Persia—almost 1000 miles away from JerusalemLived in comfort—status, influence.Sad, but that’s not my problem…Read, Tweet—move on.

WHAT BREAKS YOUR HEART?

• Child abuse

• Bullied• Broken families• Physical/Sex

Abuse• Poverty/Hunger • Unwed moms, • Human trafficking • Heart Callous to

God• People w/no hope

SIT DOWN TO CRY.

Let it in. Feel the pain. Embrace the

burden.

SIT DOWN TO CRY.

Disunity in the body of Christ…Knocked on my

door!

SIT DOWN TO CRY.

I’m only one person. What

can I do?Invoke the God

of heaven! God + 1 always = a majority!

KNEEL KNEEL DOWN TO DOWN TO

PRAYPRAY..

NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 1:4 (NIV)

For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

KNEEL DOWN TO PRAY.

Leadership genius,

investigates, strategizes, delegates, opposition

KNEEL DOWN TO PRAY.

All covered by intense and

intimate prayer.

First of 12 different mentions of prayer in Nehemiah!

May be facing some walls that are down—looks impossible!

With God all things are possible!Share your burden… Praying

May be facing some walls that are down—looks impossible!

With God all things are possible!Share your burden… Praying

STAND STAND UP TO UP TO ACTACT..

NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)

but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)NEHEMIAH 2:3-5 (NIV)

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 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.”

Not okay… Not on my watch… Not okay… Not on my watch… 

Somebody has got to do somethingSomebody has got to do something—might as well be me.—might as well be me.

Division—One PrayerDivision—One PrayerMany other problems in world at Many other problems in world at that time—Nehemiah chose this that time—Nehemiah chose this

one.one.

You can’t do everything—You can’t do everything—but you can do something.but you can do something.

Somebody has got to do somethingSomebody has got to do something—it might as well be me!—it might as well be me!

Rebuild templeRebuild templePeople are scattered… Jerusalem is People are scattered… Jerusalem is

in ruinsin ruins

Something broken… destroyed… Something broken… destroyed… hopelessnesshopelessness

Government is broken. Morals are Government is broken. Morals are broken. broken.

Churches are broken.Churches are broken.

Marriages are broken. Families are Marriages are broken. Families are broken. Many live with no hope!broken. Many live with no hope!

YourYour greatest burdengreatest burden often opens the often opens the door to your door to your greatest blessinggreatest blessing..

Don’t worry if you’re deeply bothered Don’t worry if you’re deeply bothered by something—worry if you’re not.by something—worry if you’re not.