NEHEMIAH – PART 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 4

THE PRAYER LIFE OF NEHEMIAH Member’s Notes

I. Introduction Learning Outcomes:

Understanding, Behaviour
Prayer is one of the overriding themes of the book of
Nehemiah and the secret of his success. It begins with Objective:
prayer in Persia in chapter 1 and closes in prayer in At the end of this lesson, you will
Jerusalem in chapter 13. be able to:
• Recite three aspects of prayer
in Nehemiah’s life.
The prayer in chapter one is the first of 12 different
• Implement one practical action
prayers recorded in the book. It is exciting to know that to enhance your prayer’s life.
Nehemiah not only record how he pray but what he • Experience praying together as
prayed. There are prayers of adoration, thanksgiving, a cell group.
confession, petition as well as prayers of anguish, joy,
protection, dependence and commitment. Nehemiah is a
story of compassionate, persistent, personal and
corporate prayer.

Prayer gives Nehemiah perspective, it widens his

horizons, sharpen his vision and dwarfs his anxieties.
Nehemiah’s public life was the outflow of his personal
life, which was steeped in and shaped by a lifestyle of
prayer.

Discussion:
By looking at the content of his prayer in Neh 1:4-11,
can you list down some spiritual truths or lessons that
you can learn?

Today, we want to discuss 3 aspects of prayer from Nehemiah’s life.

Member’s Notes
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NEHEMIAH – PART 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 4

ii. T When I heard these things, I sat

h down and wept. For some days I
mourned and fasted and prayed
e before the God of heaven.
P Neh 1:4
r But we prayed to our God and
i posted a guard day and night to
o meet this threat.
Neh 4:9
r
i
t
y
o
f
P
r
a
y
e
r
When Nehemiah heard about the desolation of
Jerusalem, the first thing that he did was to mourn, fast
and pray. When faced with opposition, Nehemiah prayed
before taking any course of action.

What do Neh 1:4 and 4:9 tell us about Nehemiah’s prayer life? How
does that compared with your personal prayer life?

Prayer is liken to our spiritual breath, without with we will die

spiritually. Yet many Christians tread a life of prayerlessness. Why do
you think this happens?

Do you have a prayer partner? Is there someone whom you can

regularly pray with?

What are some ways we can encourage each others to grow in our
prayer life?

Member’s Notes
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NEHEMIAH – PART 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 4

iii. T
h The king said to me, "What is it
you want?" Then I prayed to the
e God of heaven, and I answered
P the king, "If it pleases the king
and if your servant has found
l favor in his sight, let him send
e me to the city in Judah where my
a fathers are buried so that I can
rebuild it."
s Neh 2:4-5
u
r Then I said:
e "O LORD, God of heaven, the
great and awesome God, who
o keeps his covenant of love with
f those who love him and obey his
commands,
P Neh 1:5
r
a
y
e
r
Nehemiah was praying fervently for more than a 100 days before an
opportunity arose for him to make his request to the King. At that
moment, he uttered a quick prayer to the Lord when asked to give
an account for his sadness or face execution. (Neh 2:4-5)

In his prayers, how does Nehemiah address God? What does that tell
us about his perspective of God. (compare with Neh 1:5)

Prayer can be enjoyable. Do you agree? Why and why not?

Prayer is about cultivating the presence of God in our life. What are
some practical ways to help us cultivate the presence of God?

Between one breath and another, Nehemiah was in the audience

chamber of God. This quick petition illustrates at least 5 practical
lessons for us regarding prayer. Can you list some of them?

Member’s Notes
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NEHEMIAH – PART 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 4

iv. T I also said to him, "If it pleases

the king, may I have letters to
h the governors of Trans-
e Euphrates, so that they will
provide me safe-conduct until I
P arrive in Judah? And may I have
o a letter to Asaph, keeper of the
king's forest, so he will give me
w timber to make beams for the
e gates of the citadel by the temple
and for the city wall and for the
r residence I will occupy?" And
o because the gracious hand of my
God was upon me, the king
f granted my requests. So I went
P to the governors of Trans-
Euphrates and gave them the
r king's letters. The king had also
a sent army officers and cavalry
with me.
y Neh 2:7-9
e
So the wall was completed on the
r twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two
days. When all our enemies
Nehemiah was successful in rebuilding the wall because of his prayer heard about this, all the
life. God not only grant him favour but provide timbers from the surrounding nations were afraid
and lost their self-confidence,
King’s forest for him. When faced with opposition, Nehemiah prayed
because they realized that this
and God deliver him from his adversaries. (Neh 2:7-9, 6:15-16) work had been done with the
help of our God.
Do you think Nehemiah would be able to accomplish all he did if he Neh 6:15-16
had not prayed? Why and why not?

Why do you think God choose to work through prayers of his people?

“Prayer is not just for accomplishing the work of God, but

characterizing the man of God”. Do you agree with the above
statement? What do you think goes into the process of prayer?

Have you experience the power of prayer before? Do you have a

testimony to share in which God miraculously answered your prayer?

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NEHEMIAH – PART 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS NOV 2005 WEEK 4

v. C
o
n
c
l
u
s
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o
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1. Spend a few minutes to review through the lesson. Write down 3

things that you have learnt in this lesson.

2. Write down ONE action step that you can take in the next 7 days
to enhance your prayer’s life.

3.
0.5
Spend some time to pray together as a cell.

Member’s Notes
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