As a pastor, sometimes folks will say, so what do you do? And I say, it's a pretty good job. You only have to work one day a week and it's not a bad gig. So it usually boils down to, I'll say, I put the fun in fundamentalism, kind of joke, we don't use fundamental word, but I put the fun in that. I do church fellowship things and I visit people in the hospital. And so, man, it just seems like through different seasons, you're visiting a lot in the hospital, a lot of funerals, and then there's not so much. This fall, we spent a lot of time in hospitals this fall. And one really cool thing about that that I get to do, and you pay me to do it, is I get to see people finish their journey in life. And we've had several folks this fall who have been faithful church members and just see them finish their journey. And it is a joy. You know, I think of Betty Talley, I think of Anne Reese, most recently probably you have Billy Brumfield. And just to spend time with people as they're getting ready to see Jesus is really awesome. You know, in the true sense of the word, awesome. And it is a joy. It's interesting. When you come to that, you see folks finish well. Don't you wanna finish well? I'm encouraged by, and we looked at it several weeks ago, by Caleb. Caleb's 85 years old. Okay, now I know it's a little different. His 85 isn't our 85 necessarily. but he's 85 and he's tackling a huge opportunity to serve God and finishing the work God gave him. And we looked at that and we simply said that God does amazing things to glorify himself, to powerfully show himself strong through those who are truly devoted to him. I think there's maybe 30 verses in the Bible that talk about Caleb and six of the 30 have this characteristic, it says this, that he was wholly devoted to God. Six of 30, that's not bad. So Caleb finished well. And we learn from him just the truth that God can use you, even if you're advanced in years, to accomplish things that would glorify himself in a powerful way. God does that through folks who are devoted to him. So we kind of looked at him as kind of of a hope, even at the later years. And then last week, we just started to drill down a little bit on another character, and that is Nehemiah. Nehemiah, God had started something in him. And Nehemiah had a burden to do a work for God. And it starts with one person. In fact, we read the passage tonight in chapter two, Nehemiah, he shows up after a couple of months probably traveling, and he walks around the wall, And then he's just, and he didn't tell anybody. And then he stands up with the people and says, look at this mess. Look at the mess that we're in. We need to do some about this. And God moves in through Nehemiah into the hearts of people and say, let's do it for God's glory. And so we saw last week that God really starts the work of glorifying himself And he does that through people who are devoted to him, but he does it through prayer. Prayer is the means of starting the work. And so my hope last week is maybe just to let you walk away thinking, what is it that God would want me to do for his glory and the good of the church here in Allen Park? Yeah, let's just say that you had one year left until you saw Jesus. Now I understand Jesus could come back today and that'd be awesome, right? Amen. But let's just say you knew you had one year where you would live and Jesus wasn't gonna come back to the end of the year. What's one thing you wish you could do for Jesus until you see him one day? Is there something that you just wish, I'd love to do this for Jesus if he gives me the opportunity for his glory in the good of us in the church. for God to do, I just wonder what that'd be. I mentioned that inner city's gonna be 75 years old next year, in July. Wouldn't it be cool that God help us together as just a way that we can glorify you. I don't know what God puts in your heart, but my hope was last week, just let that stew a little bit. Nehemiah, God was working his heart. It took him three, four, maybe five months before he actually stepped through the open door that God provided. And so it takes time. And let God simmer that like a slow cooker in your life, okay? Tonight, I thought something was going on behind me. No? Okay. I thought something was coming up on me. Tonight, I want us to take the next step. Last week was God starts his work in prayer. And tonight is God continues his work in prayer. All right, they're back. He surveyed the land. And I wanna simply look at this passage tonight and see how God how God advances his work or he continues it in prayer. As you begin to work for God, maybe you're already thinking about something that you would like to do for God. Maybe you've been working for God, as Riley mentioned, you're a part of that unsung group of heroes that work with the children on Sunday morning. You teach Sunday school, maybe you're working in other ministries. God's opened a neat door for Marsha and me this year to minister with a group of folks on Thursdays that we're hoping that God will help us to be a gospel witness for. And so, maybe you're already starting in that work. And I just wanna... from this passage from Nehemiah, really some things that you could do as you're continuing the work. The simple truth is this tonight, that God is the means of him continuing his powerful work through you. Prayer is God's means of continuing that work through you. So keep at it. So tonight, I just wanna say, really, there's a couple of things you can do for in particular. that you can do to cultivate that prayer. And we see it in Nehemiah. All right, so we already are in Nehemiah. If you're not there, we're in Nehemiah chapter two, verse 11. They came back to Jerusalem and it probably took them a couple of months. And we read that passage that Nehemiah surveys the work and begins to engage in the work there. And so there's really four ways that we can engage in prayer as we continue God's work. And they all start with the letter P. We should pray for God's power. We should pray for God's power while we size up, speak up, and suit up in doing God's work. And then we see that starting at verse number 11 of chapter two. He comes back and what does Nehemiah do first? He's sizing up the work. He's going and scoping out the work to see what was the opportunity firsthand for him to be involved in it. Verse 11, he takes this survey trip. It's just him. What's he doing in verse 11 and following while he's surveying? What do you think he's doing? Nobody's with him. Do you think he's talking to anybody? I think he's talking to God while he's walking around, seeing what's going on in the city. And Nehemiah is sizing up the work. And I think he's talking to God the whole time, asking for God's wisdom, asking for his glory to be demonstrated in the work. Nehemiah is looking to see what God would want them to do. And you read the verse in chapter two, verse number 18. And he says, and I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable upon me and also about the King's works. Who was the center of Nehemiah's story? Why was he there? He was there to glorify God. He wanted God's name to be glorified in the work there. It wasn't about him. It wasn't about the people primarily. It was about God, please glorify yourself in this. We see that in chapter two in the verse that we read. Listen to what he says. Verse number 20. So I answered them and I said to them, the God of heaven will give us success. The God of heaven will give us success. Therefore, we as servants will arise and build and you, the enemies of the work, you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem. It wasn't an easy work. But what was Nehemiah most concerned about? God, show yourself powerful and do this work. Nehemiah was confident in God's power. Nehemiah was confident that God would enable him to do the work. God was confident because God is the one who called him and God would complete it. What's the work you're involved in now? Maybe it's difficult. It probably is, okay? Maybe it's dealing with somebody who isn't happy about what you're doing. These folks, the word Sanballat, they come back. We saw earlier, even last week, Sanballat and Tobiah, these guys, hear what they're doing and what's their thought. We don't like it. And we see throughout this passage, the first few chapters, that they stand against the work. I simply say this, that we should pray for God's power to be displayed in the ministry that we have for God. Nehemiah sizes up the work, and then he speaks up about the work. Verse 17 and 18, then I said to them, you see the bad situation we're in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be a reproach. and he told them how God was in it and what God had done. Nehemiah speaks up and he wants the people to see it's all about God. So we pray for God's power to be displayed in the work that we have to do. Verse 18 of chapter two, the people say, let us arise and build. So they put their hands to the good work. And you see later in this passage, the people even realize that it's all about God as they undertake the work. So we must pray for God's power while we size up, speak up, and suit up to do God's work. God's work is continued in prayer. And it's a prayer asking for God's power to be displayed. In Nehemiah 4.14, The people are discouraged. And Nehemiah says, it said of Nehemiah, when I saw their fear, I rose and I spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people. Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome. and fight for your brothers and sons and daughters and wives and your houses. We must remember as Nehemiah reminded them that the work is about God and showing God's glory. I just happened to think about this while we were praying tonight. You know what the cool thing is about praying for Sharon McCarty on the list? You know what Sharon's prayer every time I talk to her is, and it's like, I just leave it in the prayer list, because it's exactly what she says. God, show your power in answering the prayer that we have regarding her and her health. And isn't that what it's about for all of us? God, show your power. That's what Nehemiah did. And we must remember to do that. Number two, we should pray for God's protection. We should pray for God's protection while we confidently and steadfastly do his work and watch our back. I know I've said a lot there, but simply this, we should pray for God's protection. We should pray for God's protection while we're confident and steadfast in doing his work and we watch our back. Nehemiah four, we skip ahead a little bit. The people start the work in chapter three, And it's listed out there and we won't take time to really look at all that. It's an interesting chapter. But chapter four, verse one, there's the enemies that come in and they're gonna attack the work. And you see that throughout the next several chapters. And God promises to guard us from our enemies while we're carefully watching for them. Look at verse four and five of chapter four. After Tobiah and Sanballat are really scoffing them and making fun of them, verse four says, hear, O our God, how we are despised. return their reproach on their own heads, and give them up for plunder in the land of captivity. And do not forgive their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out before you, for they have demoralized the builders." What is Nehemiah praying in the middle of this? As he's continuing the work, he says, God protect us. Protect us and do the things that only you can do. There are enemies to the work that you undertake for God and his glory, aren't there? You face that? You know, not everybody's happy when you're trying to help people turn from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's dear son. One of the commentators say, whenever the saints say, let us arise and build, the enemy says, let us arise and oppose. There is no triumph without trouble. There is no victory without vigilance. There's a cross in the way to every crown that is worth bearing. And so these enemies come and oppose the work. If you could flip back to 219, you see him listed there. You see him here at Sanballat. Who's Sanballat? He was a Samaritan ruler. If Jerusalem's here, Northwest, he's a Samaritan ruler, influential ruler. And he comes to attack them. Tobiah. is from an influential family. He's a person who had great influence. He was nobody to sneeze at. We see as well, the third person listed in 219. It says, Geshem, the Arab heard it. If Jerusalem's here, Sanballat is Northwest, Geshem is Southeast in Northern Arabia. Again, a ruler, person with followers and influence. And these are people who are standing against the work and yet God was with them. Another writer says, whether in the area of science or exploration, invention, business, government, or Christian ministry, just about everyone who has ever accomplished anything has faced ridicule. Our Lord was ridiculed during his life and mocked while he was hanging on the cross. He was despised and rejected of men. On the day of Pentecost, some of the Jews in the crowd said that the Christians were drunk. Greek philosophers called Paul a babbler and Festus told Paul that he was out of his mind. So understand there's always gonna be enemies of God's work. Nehemiah and the people faced it. And what was their response? Chapter four, verse nine shows us their response. But we prayed to our God and because of them, we set up a guard against them day and night. God's work is continued. First, when we pray for God's power to be shown in the endeavor that God has put in our heart to do, God's work has advanced when we pray for his protection and we confidently Instead, fastly do his work. And we watch our back. Don't you love what it says in verse nine? And we prayed and we set up a guard against them day and night. These enemies were significant. And yet God was their source through prayer. You see Nehemiah praying an imprecatory prayer. You see it in verse five. You want to pray that against your enemies? It's a little bit different maybe in Nehemiah's day, because you remember, they've got a promise that goes all the way back to Genesis 12, and God promises that he'll bless them to bless them and curse them to curse them. And so what's Nehemiah praying? God, keep your word. You said you'd curse those who are against you, and here they are. Curse them, God. But what's Nehemiah doing? He's asking God to curse them, not him. and not the people, okay? So my point is simply this, that, you know, different day, different time, but we can pray for God to give protection to us and those who are ministers in the work. 1 Corinthians 15, 58 says that we are to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in God's work, for it is not in vain. So, Pray for yourself. Pray for those around you. Pray for those who are ministry partners in the work. God protect them. Sometimes God does keep them from danger. Sometimes God protects them through danger though, right? And what does that mean? That, you know, one of my favorite verses is Psalm 73. God is our portion. that can never be taken away. Even when life is given up on earth, if we know Christ, we have an inheritance which can never be taken away. God, keep them. Keep them in your love. So we can pray for God's power. We can pray for God's protection. Number three, we can pray for God's provision. We can pray for God's provision. We can pray for God's provision while we seize the resources around us and within us to do God's work. God promised us to give us what we need while we do our part in securing the things that we need. Again, Nehemiah 4.15 says this. Again, they're facing this mockery. They're facing the pressure from the enemy. In verse 15 says, It happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to the work. You see that? God's doing what he can do, what only he can do, and he's frustrating the work. And what does God want the people to do? To do their part, what's right in front of them, to do their part of building the wall. Again, in chapter four it says, and I said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, The great, the work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us, our God will fight for us." They're on the wall, they're all spread out, they're all doing their part, and chapter three talks about, they're all stationed around this, and they're building, and they're all separate. And know what Nehemiah says? Hey, listen, we need to have a rallying point. And he gets somebody with a trumpet and he says, listen, when you hear that trumpet, we rally together because we're together in this work. Sometimes part of the provision of God's work is the encouragement of God's people. We need each other, don't we? That's a blessing. I was with one of our folks who's shut in. They're not able to get out to church. I was with them this week and they watched the service on Sunday, but they said, you know what I miss though? Is that face-to-face interaction with others in the body. that encourages me to keep following Christ. I just wish I could be there with our church family. We should pray for God's provision of encouragement, of enablement, of the things that would help us to do the work together. So, much more to say there, run out of time. How does chapter five fit in? You can take a look at chapter five later. Chapter five is the people were really not doing well with each other. They were really stealing from each other and discouraging each other. And know what the provision that Nehemiah needed there? to help them to obey, to do what's right. And I just challenge you, look at how Nehemiah handles chapter five, when there's a discouragement in the body, in the people, because they weren't handling it right with each other. And Nehemiah had to step up and he needed to provide correction to the people. And sometimes that's what we need to do. So number three, pray for God's provision while we seize the resources around us. and within us to do the work. And number four, we see in chapter six, it's this, that we should pray for God's perspective, that we should pray for God's perspective while we discern the enemy's schemes and try to stay focused in doing the work. The enemies come in chapter four and they're mocking the people and they're ridiculing the people. And now the wall's just about built. except the doors aren't hung yet, but he can't discourage the people. So then he comes to attack the leader in chapter six. And you see how Nehemiah is attacked there and their schemes. And they say, oh, come with us and do this and that. And I simply say, God promises to grant us wisdom while we keep our focus on the work that he's called us to do. Chapter six, verse 11. And they're trying to scare him and they're trying to counsel with him. And they say, come Nehemiah, let's gather together. Verse 11, but I said, should a man like me flee and could one such as I go into the temple to save his life, I will not go in. Then I perceived that surely God had not sent them, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sandelit had hired him. Isn't that what we need in doing the work? We need God's perspective to see the schemes of the enemy and to know what is God's will and what we should do to stay at the work, to keep focused on doing God's work. God help us to have wisdom to discern these things. Nehemiah slandered, he's attacked and said all these things and he simply says, it's not true. I'm gonna stay at the work. Just challenge you to look at these things. Number one, as you're doing the work, God, show your power in this. Number two, God, protect us in the work. God, give us what we need. Give us provision. And God, help us to have your perspective. while we seek to discern what your will is, that we would do it for your glory. I hope that encourages you tonight. Lord, when we'll get together next week, we'll see how the work finishes. And it's really God's prayer, the prayer that they offer as they finish that advances God's work. Let's pray and then we'll sing a song together. Let's pray first. God, thank you very much for the story of Caleb and how he finished doing your work in a great way. And Father, thank you for the story of Nehemiah and these people who got busy to do the work that you had put in their heart to do. Thank you for Nehemiah being a leader. Thank you for inscripturating that so we could see it and learn from it tonight. Help us to pray as we do your work. Father, we pray that you would do great things through us, not for our glory, God, not for our glory, but because of your glory, and the good of your people, we pray. We pray that you'd help us to hear and obey your word tonight, in Jesus' name, amen.