““Can a mother forget the baby at her Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though the child she has borne? Though

she may forget, I will not forget you! she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the See, I have engraved you on the

palms of my hands; your walls are palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”ever before me.”

(Isa. 49:15-16)(Isa. 49:15-16)

“…“…your body is a temple of the Holy your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…” Spirit, who is in you…”

(1 Cor. 6:19)(1 Cor. 6:19)

  Benefits of Studying Nehemiah:Benefits of Studying Nehemiah:

1)1)How to rebuild a life where God How to rebuild a life where God desires to dwelldesires to dwell2)2)How to protect a life where God is How to protect a life where God is enthronedenthroned3)3)How to live a life for God’s gloryHow to live a life for God’s glory

““So the LORD said to Solomon, So the LORD said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your attitude and you ‘Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of away from you and give it to one of

your subordinates.your subordinates.

Nevertheless, for the sake of Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.’” out of the hand of your son.’”

(1 Kings 11:11-12)(1 Kings 11:11-12)

““He carried to Babylon all the He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, articles from the temple of God,

both large and small, and the both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD’s temple treasures of the LORD’s temple

and the treasures of the king and the treasures of the king and his officials.and his officials.

They set fire to God’s temple They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of and broke down the wall of

Jerusalem; they burned all the Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed palaces and destroyed

everything of value there.” everything of value there.” (2 Chron. 36:18-19)(2 Chron. 36:18-19)

““He carried into exile to He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who Babylon the remnant, who

escaped from the sword, and escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him they became servants to him

and his sons until the kingdom and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power.” of Persia came to power.”

(2 Chron. 36:20)(2 Chron. 36:20)

““In the first year of Cyrus king In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by word of the LORD spoken by

Jeremiah, the LORD moved the Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to heart of Cyrus king of Persia to

make a proclamation make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put throughout his realm and to put

it in writing:it in writing:

‘‘This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has The LORD, the God of heaven, has

given me all the kingdoms of the earth given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a and he has appointed me to build a

temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may Anyone of his people among you—may the LORD his God be with him, and let the LORD his God be with him, and let

him go up.” (2 Chron. 36:22-23)him go up.” (2 Chron. 36:22-23)

IMPORTANT TRUTH:IMPORTANT TRUTH:GOD USES PEOPLE TO GOD USES PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS ACCOMPLISH HIS

PURPOSES.PURPOSES.

““The king’s heart is in the hand of The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a the LORD; he directs it like a

watercourse wherever he pleases.” watercourse wherever he pleases.” (Prov. 21:1)(Prov. 21:1)

“…“…The remnant that are left of the The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach…” in great affliction and reproach…”

(Neh. 1:3)(Neh. 1:3)

““Above all else, guard your Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring heart, for it is the wellspring

of life.” (Prov. 4:23)of life.” (Prov. 4:23)

““Under cover of night I went past Under cover of night I went past the Valley Gate toward the the Valley Gate toward the

Dragon's Fountain to the Dung Dragon's Fountain to the Dung Gate looking over the walls of Gate looking over the walls of

Jerusalem, which had been broken Jerusalem, which had been broken through and whose gates had been through and whose gates had been

burned up.burned up.

I then crossed to the Fountain Gate and I then crossed to the Fountain Gate and headed for the King's Pool but there headed for the King's Pool but there wasn't enough room for the donkey I wasn't enough room for the donkey I

was riding to get through. So I went up was riding to get through. So I went up the valley in the dark continuing my the valley in the dark continuing my

inspection of the wall. I came back in inspection of the wall. I came back in through the Valley Gate.through the Valley Gate.

The local officials had no idea where I'd The local officials had no idea where I'd gone or what I was doing--I hadn't gone or what I was doing--I hadn't

breathed a word to the Jews, priests, breathed a word to the Jews, priests, nobles, local officials, or anyone else nobles, local officials, or anyone else who would be working on the job.” who would be working on the job.”

(Nehemiah 2:13-14)(Nehemiah 2:13-14)

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:1. Recognize the 1. Recognize the

ProblemProblem“…“…when I heard these words…I when I heard these words…I

sat down and wept, and sat down and wept, and mourned for many days…” mourned for many days…”

(Nehemiah 1:4)(Nehemiah 1:4)

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:1. Recognize the 1. Recognize the

ProblemProblem““As he approached Jerusalem As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had and said, ‘If you, even you, had

only known on this day what only known on this day what would bring you peace—but would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your now it is hidden from your

eyes.’” (LK 19:41-42)eyes.’” (LK 19:41-42)

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:2. Rely on God2. Rely on God

• Prioritize PrayerPrioritize Prayer• Persist in PrayerPersist in Prayer

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:“…“…he said imagine what would he said imagine what would

happen if you went to a friend in the happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed friend traveling through just showed up, and I don't have a thing on hand.’ up, and I don't have a thing on hand.’

The friend answers from his bed, The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don't bother me.‘Don't bother me.

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:The door's locked; my children are all The door's locked; my children are all

down for the night; I can't get up to down for the night; I can't get up to give you anything.’ But let me tell give you anything.’ But let me tell

you, even if he won't get up because you, even if he won't get up because he's a friend, if you stand your he's a friend, if you stand your

ground, knocking and waking all the ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he'll finally get up and get neighbors, he'll finally get up and get

you whatever you need.you whatever you need.

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:Here's what I'm saying: Ask and Here's what I'm saying: Ask and

you'll get; Seek and you'll find;you'll get; Seek and you'll find;Knock and the door will open.” Knock and the door will open.”

(LK 11:5-10 The Msg.)(LK 11:5-10 The Msg.)

3 Keys for Moving 3 Keys for Moving Mountains:Mountains:3. Respond to the 3. Respond to the

NeedNeed““Please answer my prayer and the Please answer my prayer and the prayer of your other servants who prayer of your other servants who gladly honor your name. When I gladly honor your name. When I

serve the king his wine today, make serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and have him him pleased with me and have him

do what I ask.” (Nehemiah 1:11)do what I ask.” (Nehemiah 1:11)