“Approaching Authority with Need” – a message from Nehemiah 2:1-10

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our series from the book of Nehemiah entitled “Rebuild and Repair: Engaging the World with Nehemiah.” I preached the third message of the series entitled, “Approaching Authority with Need,” which was based in Nehemiah 2:1-10.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“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?’” (Nehemiah 2:3)

Living at the Intersection of Prayer and Action (Nehemiah 2:1)

Time delay between the report and Nehemiah’s action (1:1-3; 2:1)

Nehemiah’s unhurried life of prayer that leads to action (1:4; 2:1)

Faith and Wisdom that Leads to Action (Nehemiah 2:1-3)

Nehemiah responds to God

Nehemiah acts wisely

Nehemiah boldly opens his heart

Action that is Faith-full and Strategic (Nehemiah 2:4-10)

The king’s first question (2:4a)

Nehemiah prays (2:4b)

Nehemiah’s request (2:5)

The king’s second question (2:6)

Nehemiah’s strategy (2:7-8)

The first steps and first opponents (2:9-10)

Making It Real for Us

A vision to rebuild and repair

Living at the intersection of prayer and action

Reaching out to authority with faith-full strategic action

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Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• Return to Nehemiah’s prayer (Nehemiah 1:5-11) and then compare it with the interaction of Nehemiah with King Artaxerxes (2:1-10). Reflect on how you see God guiding the activities of chapter 2 based on the prayer of chapter 1.
• Read through all of Ezra and Nehemiah with a study Bible to help you get a sense of the historical background and overall flow of this portion of biblical history
• Watch one or both of these videos by The Bible Project:
  • Ezra-Nehemiah: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/ezra-nehemiah/ 
  • The Way of Exile: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/the-way-of-the-exile/