WED: “OUR FEAR OF GOD HELPS US OVERCOME OUR FEAR OF MAN”

TEXT:  NEHEMIAH 1

Key Verse: v. 11

>God’s people are to desire God’s glory to be right with God

>God’s people need to honor God’s name if they desire God’s blessings

>God’s people need to seek God’s help when facing the fear of man

I. He had a legitimate burden for God’s glory vv. 1-3

  1. He was burdened over the affliction of God’s people in Jerusalem
  2. He was burdened about the condition of Jerusalem
  3. He was burdened for the protection of Jerusalem

II. He had a legitimate request unto God vv. 4-10

  1. His request was to God in his great burden v. 4

He had been weeping about the condition of Jerusalem

He had been mourning for days before the Lord

He had been fasting to spend more time in prayer with God

He was praying unto the only one who could meet his need

  1. His request was for God’s glory in His people v. 5
  2. His request was to God with repentance of sin vv. 6-8
  3. His request was for God to work according to His promises vv. 9-10

If God’s people would return unto Him and they were

If God’s people would obey Him again and they were

If God’s people would let God bring them back to His pace and they had

Now he was asking for God’s great power and strong to bless them again

III. He had a legitimate concern about his situation v. 11

  1. His faith in God was greater than his concern about the king
  2. His fear of God was greater than his fear of man
  3. His desire for God’s help in his burden was greater than his circumstance