CONFIDENCE and AWE! (Nehemiah 1:5)

And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

THE STUDY:

          What we are starting to look at today is considered, by some scholars as, the “prayer of Repentance” (5-11). This prayer is the first of twelve instances of prayer recorded in this book. (See 2:4; 4:4, 9; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 9:5ff; 13:14, 22, 29, 31.) The Book of Nehemiah opens and closes with prayer. It is obvious that Nehemiah was a man of faith who depended wholly on the Lord to help him accomplish the work He had called him to do.^[1]

The first part of this prayer is Nehemiah’s acknowledgement of God. Nehemiah faced a situation he knew he could not solve by himself. But he also knew that with God all things are possible (Jer. 32:17). Nehemiah began his prayer by acknowledging that fact: O Lord God of heaven (Neh. 1:4), the great and awesome God.^[2]

          This is Nehemiah’s humble and reverent address to God, in which he prostrates himself before him, and gives unto him the glory due unto his name. It teaches us to draw near to God,

1.   With a holy awe of his majesty and glory, remembering that he is the

God of heaven, infinitely above us, and sovereign Lord over all.

2.   With a holy confidence in his grace and truth, for he keepeth covenant and mercy for those that love him, not only the mercy that is promised, but even more than he promised: nothing shall be thought too much to be done for those that love him and keep his commandments.^[3]

             

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that it is one thing to pray but to tap into the power of prayer one needs to start by addressing the one who doesn’t just hear the prayer but can do something about it. Prayer should always be done with a sense of CONFIDENCE and AWE.  

APPLICATION:

           The Scottish novelist George MacDonald said, “In whatever man does without God, he must fail miserably, or succeed more miserably.” Speaking about the church’s ministry today, the late Alan Redpath said, “There is too much working before men and too little waiting before God.” Nehemiah succeeded because he depended on God.^[4]

          My encouragement today would be to Go to prayer not as submitting a list but in AWE of who you are addressing and in CONFIDENCE He will answer those prayers. Nehemiah had this AWE and CONFIDENCE and so can we today. Blessings

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Determined. “Be” Commentary Series (16–17). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Ne 1:5). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[3] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Ne 1:5–11). Peabody: Hendrickson.

^[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Determined. “Be” Commentary Series (17). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

I John 4:17

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By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

THE STUDY:

God’s universal love can be so lived out through us that others may see in some measure what God is like. We participate in God’s nature now: in this world we are like him (lit. just as that one is also we indeed are in this world; see 2:6; 3:7).

John expects believers to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus in love in the present (Lieu 1991, 90). Holiness is not reserved only for after death. Calvin said: “What God is in heaven, He bids us to be in this world, that we may be reckoned his children” (1959, 295). This astounding promise, to be like him, can hardly be overestimated. Sharing in the nature of God is a present possibility (2 Pet 1:4). It is a reality not withheld until after death. It is the only adequate preparation for death, when we stand before God on the day of judgment. This firm foundation is forever linked to God’s love at work among people. Confidence before God and Christian love go together (Bruce 1970, 113).^[1]

                   

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that God’s love is lived out through us in this present day. It is not something that is reserved for a later time (Heaven) but to be lived out in the same world that the antichrist dwells.

• We also walk away with the understanding that within this love the believer finds confidence in the future. This confidence is a sense of anticipation of the coming of Christ and not a reservation. We find that Christian love and confidence go hand in hand.

CONCLUSION:

          Hudson Taylor was interviewing some young people who had volunteered for the Lord’s service. He asked several practical questions to find out how well qualified they were for the life they were anticipating. “And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?” “I want to reach others across the sea because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” one replied. Another said, “I want to go because millions are dying without ever having heard of Jesus, the only One who can save them.” Others have similar answers.

          Hudson Taylor looked at them thoughtfully for a moment and then said. “All of your motives are good, but I fear they will fail you in times of severe testing and tribulation—especially if you are confronted with the possibility of having to face death for your testimony. The only motive that will enable you to remain true is stated in II Corinthians 5:14. Christ’s love constraining you will keep you faithful in every situation.”

          Let us walk into this day with the Love of Christ and the confidence that goes with it.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (149–150). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:21-22 (Part 2)

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21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

THE STUDY:

The other day we looked at God calling us to be holy which enables us to become what he requires. Thus the confidence we enjoy is both now and preparation for the future. Today as a result of active participation in the truth by real deeds of love, Christians can calm their disapproving hearts and achieve boldness in prayer, and their prayers will be answered because they, as believers, are consciously subject to God’s will (they obey His commands and do what pleases Him). This presumes, of course, that the requests themselves are made in subjection to God’s will.^[1]

The author of Hebrews encourages the believer to approach that throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16; Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace).^[2] The word confidence originally described the full citizen of a Greek city-state who had the democratic right to speak freely. In New Testament times Jesus and the apostles spoke with confidence when they publicly proclaimed the gospel. We have the freedom to go to God in prayer and have fellowship with him and the Son, Jesus Christ.^[3]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding that as we grow in Christ our confidence grows. Our nature starts to become the nature of Christ. What we are asking the Father to do is what the Son would be asking as well.

CONCLUSION:

          Years ago a young missionary had to flee from western China. An infuriated mob hotly pursued him. He hastily boarded a river boat. The mob, too, came on the boat. Then he jumped into the river. The mob began to throw spears at him. Miraculously he escaped, unharmed. When he was telling of the ordeal later, a friend asked him, “What verse from the Bible came to you as you were darting beneath the boat to escape the spears of the mob?” “Verse?” he asked in astonishment, “why, the Lord Himself was with me!”

          We don’t have to have a bible in our hands or a cross around our neck to have the presence of God with us. If we have asked, believed, and confessed then the Spirit of God is with us. This is our confidence!

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1 Jn 3:21–22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (316). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (316–317). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 3:21-22 (Part 1)

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21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

THE STUDY:

Yesterday we looked at having this sureness found, not in our works but in our faith in God. In his love and Mercy is where we find assurance. This is found in an all-knowing God. Thus, the love of the all-knowing God enables the people of God to have “confidence before God.” In Greek, parrēsian conveys the meanings “courage, confidence, boldness, fearlessness.” Strengthened by the Judge before whom all will someday stand, we can come, not fearfully, but with assurance. God calls us to be holy and enables us to become what he requires. Thus the confidence we enjoy is both now (specifically related to prayer) and preparation for the future.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning knowing that we are not hanging on by a thread while God sits there with a pair of clippers ready to snip us into hell. God is doing everything possible to allow us the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Once we enter into this relationship with Him, we now are equipped to live out this relationship through his strength, power, love, and grace that dwells inside us.

CONCLUSION:

           We’ve often wondered how waitresses could remember the various orders for different meals that they receive day in and day out. And now we know, because while we were getting impatient at our table the other day, we called to the girl: “Waitress, have you forgotten me?”

 And, to the amusement of everyone around, she answered pertly, “Oh, no, sir! Indeed not. You’re the stuffed tomato!”

          Let us remember today that God doesn’t forget us. In this faith we can find confidence in God. A god who is not out to trip us up but catch us when we do fall.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (127). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 2:28-29 (Part 1)

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And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

THE STUDY:

          These two verses form a bridge between two chapters. Verse 28 is a brief summary of chapter 2. The next verse is a prelude to chapter 3. Both verses are short and because of their respective contents, they do not form a unit. For this reason, some scholars place a division between these two verses. For the sake of conformity to the chapter divisions, however, we include them in chapter 2.^[1]

          John uses the phrases “little children” and “abide in him” at the beginning of this verse. I am not going to address these phrases due to the fact that it has already been discussed in earlier devotionals. The thing that may be obvious to us but appears not so obvious to those who John is writing to is the phrase “when he appears.”

Believers understand that Jesus will return. John mentions the first coming of Jesus in the flesh—“our hands have touched” in 1:1. In chapter 2 he writes about the certainty of Jesus’ second coming (v. 28). The epistle has few references to his appearing, but this verse and 3:2 are clear in presenting the truth of Christ’s return.^[2]

How do believers respond to the news of Jesus’ return? They obey God’s commands, continue in Christ, and are confident at the prospect of Jesus’ return (compare 3:21). The word confident actually means that believers readily, frankly, and boldly speak about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They communicate their faith.^[3]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away, this morning, with this question in mind: How do we communicate our faith? As a believer we know Christ is returning! As a believer we are to remain in him and follow his commandments. This is some of the ways we communicate His return.

CONCLUSION:

          In communicating our faith we must be confident in the promises found in the Bible. Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence.

 Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s Second Coming.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (287). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (287). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (288). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[4] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.