Introduction

I imagine many of you have seen the movie, We Bought a Zoo. It’s sort of a true story about a man who is struggling after his wife dies, and he buys a rundown zoo. He and his kids take a winding journey to get the zoo operational and to heal from their grief.

As I thought about our text, I was reminded of a line by the movie’s main character. He says, “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” I don’t know about the promise of something great. If you’re a fool, insane courage might get you killed.

But I like the idea of just 20 seconds of courage because courage is not the absence of fear. No, it is the ability to fight through your fear. And very often, you don’t need hours of courage; you just need 20 seconds. Think about how 20 seconds of courage could translate your evangelism. If you just have the courage to start the conversation, the rest comes naturally. Or if you just have the courage to hit send for that hard phone call, God may use you to transform a life.

Nehemiah demonstrates that sort of “embarrassing bravery,” in today’s text. And the Lord used him mightily as a result (read). That’s some “insane courage.” Nehemiah risked everything not knowing what would happen. But his cause was right, it honored God, and it was worth death itself. And God blessed. The key statement is v. 8b.

This text is here to tell us, God blesses the efforts of those who ambitiously pursue his purpose. So, my challenge is simple. Trust God and ambitiously pursue his purpose. How can you do that? My outline consists of 4 challenges you must embrace. First…

I.  See God’s purpose.

Before we go further, remember Nehemiah’s context (timeline). Nehemiah’s story begins about 140 years after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. 70 years later a group of Jews returne and rebuilt the temple. But then they stopped and left Jerusalem in ruins.

Then Ezra returned in 458 B.C. Apparently, some of the people got motivated, and they began rebuilding the city. But Israel’s rivals didn’t like it. According to Ezra 4, they wrote a slanderous letter to King Artaxerxes accusing them of planning a rebellion. He believed them, and he ordered the Jews to stop.

In the meantime, Nehemiah is living a life of luxury in King Artaxerxes’ palace as his cupbearer. But when he hears about the king’s order he is crushed. Four 4 months, he grieves, he fasts, and he prays.

Finally, Nehemiah makes a very courageous appeal to the king. He doesn’t detail his thought process, but his convictions, his passion, and his zeal bleed through everywhere in this story. I don’t want you to miss Nehemiah’s vision because it is essential to the story. And you must share Nehemiah’s vision if you are going to share his ambition for God’s will. Notice that…

Nehemiah was zealous for God’s purpose. This is important. Remember that the key statement is 8b, “The good hand of my God was on me.” It’s a great statement. We all want God’s good hand. So, we could easily turn this sermon into a quest to get God’s good hand on your ambition for wealth, success, or the pretty girl. But we would totally miss the point of the text.

That’s because Nehemiah didn’t chase just any passion. No, he was zealous for God’s purpose (1:9). Nehemiah was zealous for God’s covenant with Israel and ultimately for God’s promise of salvation (2:3). Again, his zeal is for God’s people. That’s what drove him to pray and to risk his life.

You must share Nehemiah’s passion. It should grieve your soul that so many people our community are bound for hell. You should care about the health of our church. You should grieve when you see a brother dragging spiritually, or you notice another sliding toward apathy. I hope you are passionate about the Great Commission and its success in our town. I hope you share Nehemiah’s willingness to sacrifice for its success.

Sure, God cares about all the other things. But this passage is about God’s goals, not yours. If you want his good hand, you must care about the things God cares about. Notice also that…

Nehemiah saw God’s providential hand. He ends chapter 1 by telling us he was “cupbearer to the king.” He’s implying that this was no accident. He believed God had uniquely positioned him for impact. Like Esther before him, Nehemiah didn’t view his posh job as his to use for his own comfort and security. No, God put him there “for such a time as this.”

If you were in Nehemiah’s position, would you think the same way, or would you even notice what God was doing? Sadly, if many Christians were in Nehemiah’s position, they’d be sad to hear about Jerusalem’s condition, but they’d be so caught up in the palace pleasures that it would never even cross their minds that God put them in the court to do something.

We enjoy the very best prosperity and security in human history. God has blessed the American church with tremendous gifts, education, experience, and maturity. We are so blessed.

But too often we are so stuck on ourselves that we never consider why God gave us these things. So, consider how has God prepared you to advance his purpose. What resources and gifts has God provided? How has he prepared you to advance the Great Commission? Recognize God’s providential hand. As well…

Nehemiah planned for success. In other words, Nehemiah didn’t just have “insane courage.” He carefully planned his request for maximum effect. For example, he ends his prayer in 1:11 by saying, “Make Your servant successful today.” He chose a very specific day to risk everything.

2:1 says it was a day when “wine was before (the king).” That may indicate a party, and we know Persian kings liked to give favors at certain parties. Regardless, Nehemiah chose a day when the chances for success were best.

We’ll also see that he had a shrewd plan for speaking the king and that he had thought through exactly what he needed from the king to rebuild Jerusalem. So, Nehemiah did not have blind courage. He didn’t have a big heart but no brain. He had wise, thoughtful, purposeful ambition.

So, there’s always an element of risk and uncertainty to any ambitious plan . But don’t think that shrewd plans and wise strategies are contrary to faith. They should be an expression of great faith.

In sum, Nehemiah saw God’s purpose. He knew what God wanted him to do, and he strategized to get there. If you are going to make an impact for Christ, you must share his vision. Get your eyes off yourself and see what God is doing. Get excited. Then wisely pursue his will. The 2^nd challenge is…

II.  Boldly act on faith.

Nehemiah begins the account by acknowledging that…

Nehemiah risked everything. Again, Nehemiah had a lot to lose. He had a great job, especially for a Jewish exile. But Nehemiah was passionate about God’s purpose, he believed God put him in the king’s court for a reason, and he was willing to risk it all by showing his sadness to the king.

But why was that so risky? It’s because there was no round table in Susa. The king was in charge, and everyone deferred to the king. In fact, artwork from the time indicates that it was proper to cover your mouth with the palm of your hand to shield the king from your breath.

So, Nehemiah was expected to deal with his own problems, not bring them into the court. As well, the Persian kings viewed visible sorrow as a potential sign of a threat. What if you have a heavy heart because you know the king is about to be attacked? So, showing sorrow could get you killed. Nehemiah understood all that, so he kept his sorrow hidden for 4 months.

Then he chose a specific day to show his sorrow and make his appeal. He probably believed this day was his best chance to get a positive response. That morning, he prayed the prayer of Nehemiah 1, and he went to work.

As he approached the king with his wine, he courageously chose to let his emotion show through. This never happened. He knew the king would notice. He could be a dead man in the blink of an eye. But it was time for Nehemiah’s 20 seconds of insane courage. He let all his sorrow shine through. In so doing…

Nehemiah maneuvered shrewdly. He wanted the king to notice, and he wanted the king to ask. He probably hoped this approach would win the king’s sympathy. Sure enough, Artaxerxes noticed (v. 2). Something is wrong.

And Nehemiah admits “I was very much afraid.” Again, courage is not the absence of fear; courage is the strength to press through the fear. Nehemiah courageously showed his sorrow. Now he has the king’s attention, and he must answer his question.

He does so bravely but shrewdly. Afterall, remember that Artaxerxes had ordered the Jews to stop building Now, Nehemiah must ask him to reverse his policy. Persian kings don’t like to do that. So, Nehemiah doesn’t say, “Hey idiot, you messed up. Now you need to fix it.” Instead, Nehemiah doesn’t even say Jerusalem; he just laments the fact that the place of his ancestors’ tombs is in ruins. Who is going to be offended by that? Everyone knows you don’t desecrate the dead.

It’s shrewd, and it works. Artaxerxes sympathized, and he didn’t send Nehemiah to the gallows. Instead, he asks, “What would you request?” Nehemiah’s mind had to be racing. But before he answered, he paused for something very important.

Nehemiah relied on the Lord. He says, “I prayed to the God of heaven.” He doesn’t tell us what he said, but I’m sure it was something profound like, “Help!” That was enough because God saw his heart.

It’s a great example for us, first, because it demonstrates that Nehemiah was in the habit of relying on God. When the king asks you a question, and your instinct is to cry out to the king of kings, that speaks to your habits. Nehemiah was in the habit of dependence and prayer.

You won’t react like Nehemiah in the heat of the moment unless you cultivate a rich fear of the Lord through healthy worship and constant prayer. It’s no accident that God’s good hand was on Nehemiah. God’s grace flows through a life near his presence. That’s where you want to live.

Beyond that, sometimes we think that the only kind of good prayer time is to run off to the wilderness and pray for hours like Jesus. But Nehemiah offers several quick little prayers in this book.

You need extended, focused times of prayer. But moment by moment dependence on the Lord is good for your soul, it honors the Lord, and he blesses it. So, don’t pray in the morning and then do everything yourself the rest of the day. Live in God’s presence in active reliance on his grace. You can know God’s good hand as you do. So, Nehemiah prayed. Then…

Nehemiah bold requested help. Verse 5 is a 2^nd 20 seconds of insane courage (read). He’s respectful, but he gets right to the big request. “Artaxerxes, I want you to commission me to leave my job and rebuild the city you commanded my people to stop building.”

Nehemiah’s heart is racing. There’s probably some kind of dramatic pause. For some reason the queen is sitting there (that’s unusual). Maybe she spoke up. Maybe the king and queen had a conversation. But then Artaxerxes answers with a short and shockingly approving answer (v. 6).

Even if we won’t admit it, sometimes we wonder just how accurate some of these biblical stories are. But we have other records from the same time. We know that Artaxerxes was having troubles on the Western front of his empire. He needed allies in the region around Israel. It makes very good sense considering everything else we know to assume that the king he figured it would be beneficial to have a trusted ally build a fortress in that region. But ultimately, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov 21:1). God turned the king’s heart.

Sometimes your problems seem huge, and in your strength, they are impossible. But they are not impossible to God. The sovereign Lord can manage them quite easily. So, trust the Lord. Ambitiously pursue God’s purpose because you believe God can work.

That said, the king asks, “What do you need?” And Nehemiah had thought through exactly what he needed (vv. 7–8). Nehemiah didn’t have a dreamy view of what was ahead. He knew the other governors in the region were hostile to Judah. Nehemiah needed royal letters to make sure no one opposed the work. And he also knew that Jerusalem was going to be mess. He needed construction materials, specifically, lumber to rebuild the city.

So, Nehemiah didn’t give a half-baked request. He courageously requested what he needed to finish the job. He didn’t just ask permission to go; he asked the king to fund the project. He boldly acted on faith.

What about you? Do you have a bold faith that transforms your life. I’m not just asking if you have insane courage because you might be a fool. No, do you really believe God is the sovereign Lord so that it drives you to boldly share the gospel, confront sin, and risk earthly comforts for eternal rewards?

Don’t be content with a small faith that makes little difference in your life and little impact for eternity. Get passionate about helping us transform Apple Valley for the Great Commission. Trust God and ambitiously pursue his purpose. The 3^rd major challenge is…

III.  Anticipate God’s blessing (v. 8b).

When you study a narrative always pay attention for little editorial, evaluative comments like the one at the end of 8. That is an important comment about what God wants you to remember about this story. First, it reminds us…

God’s blessings are always grace. Don’t miss the word good. It’s Nehemiah’s way of saying that he didn’t earn God’s blessing, and Israel certainly didn’t deserve it. They deserved to be wiped from the earth.

But this story is about far more than a construction project. Israel is the people of God. Without an Israelite nation, the prophesies about Messiah can’t come true. And Jerusalem isn’t just any city. It’s the place where Jesus will die for the salvation of sinners.

So, the little word good is Nehemiah’s way of reminding us that God didn’t do this because Nehemiah twisted his arm. He did it because he is good, he is committed to the promise of salvation, and he will fulfill them. So, every time you see the grace and faithfulness of God in Nehemiah, it should encourage you that God will keep every salvific promise to you as well. If you are in Christ, he will keep you, transform you, and bring you to glory. You can trust God’s gospel promises.

If you aren’t saved, stop leaning on yourself to get to God. He is gracious and faithful. Repent of your sin, and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior.

And in general, make sure you see God’s good hand in every blessing you enjoy. Sometimes, you like to take all the credit. Sometimes you only see what you want, not what God has done. Christian, God has been good to you. See it and give thanks. And this little editorial comment also reminds us that…

God honors faith. This is not a guarantee of God’s blessing. Many Christians have taken risks like Nehemiah, and God allowed them to suffer or even die.

But the Bible consistently calls us to anticipate God’s blessing when we step out by faith. Some of you are living by fear, not faith. Your Christian life is stale and fruitless. You need to step out by faith and go after the work of the ministry. Tighten your budget and invest sacrificially in the Great Commission. Share the gospel. Make a disciple. Why? “For eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely his” (2 Chron 16:9). God honors faith, so walk by faith and anticipate his blessing. The 4^th major challenge is…

IV.  Anticipate hostility (vv. 9–10).

Before I get to the main point, I want to note that stories like this can seem almost too good to be true. Sometimes we wonder just how accurate the Bible really is. But we have an ancient document called the Elephantine Papyrus. One of them that is dated to 407 B.C. says that Sanballat was an old man and that he was governor of Samaria. And ancient records also repeatedly mention a ruling family in the region by the name of Tobiah.

The people who tell you the Bible is a bunch of loose fables and that you are an uneducated fool for believing it are the real uneducated fools. They blindly believe hearsay that would never stand up to scrutiny because they don’t want to submit to God. Don’t be intimidated. Nehemiah is an accurate, inspired account of events that really happened. Trust the Bible.

But returning to the story, Nehemiah got everything he wanted from the king. God’s good hand was on him! He set out for Jerusalem, and for the first time in his life, he saw the Promised Land. It’s awesome!

But the romance didn’t last long. Sanballat and Tobiah were “very displeased that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.” They are powerful men, and they are determined to destroy Nehemiah. They are going to mock Nehemiah, they will conspire to attack Jerusalem, and they will even attempt to assassinate Nehemiah. They are bad dudes and a real threat. So, v. 10 foreshadows some big challenges ahead.

It’s an important piece of the story because it means that God’s good hand doesn’t eliminate every challenge. We tend to think that if my life is hard, I must be doing something wrong. Every hardship is God shutting the door.

But nothing about Nehemiah’s mission is going to be easy. It’s going to be a fight every step. But he never stops. He prays, he plans, and he keeps going because God’s purpose matters.

So, stop whining about how hard it is to serve the Lord. Stop looking for an out or an excuse to quit. You’ve got all eternity to live the good life. No, trust God and ambitiously pursue his purpose.

Some of you are halfway through the hardest summer you’ve ever had out at Ironwood. Keep going. Others are discouraged by seemingly fruitless ministry, strife with people, or overwhelming busyness. Do not interpret your frustrations as God’s disapproval. God never promised an easy path. So, have a vision for what God wants to do. Get excited for his purpose. Step out by faith.