Responding to God’s Promptings
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© May 1, 2016
Does God ever give you specific promptings?
· To call, write, or visit someone to minister to them as God’s encourager.
· To pray for someone God has laid on your heart.
· To go somewhere and/or do something special at God’s prompting.
· To be cautious regarding a situation or individual.
· To find that your reading the Scripture for the day gave you specific encouragement and direction.
· Etc., etc.
Has God encouraged you with His guidance?
It has been a blessing to see the Church’s response to the recent needs in the community. He has prompted many to give and participate in caring for these significant concerns.
Around 2,400 years ago Nehemiah, a Jewish cup bearer for King Artaxerxes in Babylon, heard from friends who had recently returned from Jerusalem, about the critical disrepair of their relatives and much loved ancestral city.
God Prompted Nehemiah
God had given Nehemiah the desire to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem – God had put this desire in Nehemiah’s heart.
Nehemiah 2:11–12
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem….
Was it strange that God prompted His servant Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls?
What is so interesting is that Jerusalem’s walls and gates had not been repaired since the time it had been conquered and torn down 141 years previously. God had waited 141 years before He had prompted someone to rebuild the walls.
What happened 141 years before 2016! A comparative for today…
Some Events that happened in 1875
• June 4 - Two American colleges play each other in arguably the first game of college football: Tufts University and Harvard University at Jarvis Field in Cambridge, Massachusetts’
• November 9 - American Indian Wars: In Washington, D.C., Indian Inspector E.C. Watkins issues a report stating that hundreds of Sioux and Cheyenne associated with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse are hostile to the United States (the Battle of the Little Bighorn is fought in Montana the next year).
• November 26 - The Times newspaper in London reveals that Isma’il Pasha has sold Egypt’s 44% share in the Suez Canal to Britain in a deal secured by Benjamin Disraeli without the prior sanction of the British Parliament.
• December 20 - ICRM renamed International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
• Asia's first stock exchange is established: "The Native Share & Stock Brokers Association", the modern-day Bombay Stock Exchange.
• Wimbledon: Henry Cavendish Jones convinces the "All England Croquet Club" to replace a croquet court with a lawn tennis court.
• The opening of Flushing High School, the oldest public high school in New York City.[1]
141 years was a long time for the walls of Jerusalem to have lain in disarray.
How Important is Timing to God?
Galatians 4:4–5
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Mark 1:14–15
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
In the Fullness of Time, the Mystery of the Gospel was Revealed and fully Proclaimed to those on the Earth.
The Church Age, which for 2,000 years would proclaim the Gospel of Salvation, was initiated at the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah - His Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension and sending of the Holy Spirit.
God waited 4,000 years before sending His Son to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. “Just the right time!”
· Redemption from sin Completed by Christ,
· Power for the Transformation of God’s Children through spiritual New Birth by the Holy Spirit sent from God.
Romans 5:6
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
One Day the Judgment of Mankind’s sin on earth will be delayed no longer and the Mystery of God will be accomplished
Revelation 10:5–7
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! (“that there should be time no longer” kjv) 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
Luke 21:24b–36
24 …Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
In the Fullness of Time the complete Mystery of God’s Will shall be put into effect: Unity of All Things under Christ
Ephesians 1:7–10
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
God Put in the heart of Nehemiah the Desire to Rebuild the Walls – at just the right time
Even though God’s Temple had been recently rebuilt, the dire situation of the protective walls in Jerusalem, after being torn down for 141 years before, made lack of security in the city a major problem. It made Nehemiah’s heart sad. God was prompting him to do something about it. Would he try? What about his important position with the king? What would the king say? Even though a long time had gone by, God prompted Nehemiah to take responsibility for rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls.
What are some excuses we use when God prompts us about something He wants us to do?
· “Now might not be the right time! It has been that way so long!”
· “What will others think?”
· “Is this really God prompting me, I’m not sure?”
· “I don’t know if this is the best idea!”
· “Wow, that would really be something!”
How do we know what we are supposed to accomplish in God’s Kingdom?
Practice Listening: Listening for God… discerning His Voice takes practice!
Begin by asking God to guide you…then look for His guidance.
Hebrews 5:14
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Follow the Clues: What are some important clues that God has given us concerning what He may want us to do?
· How has God gifted you?
· What has God put “in your hand” and in your heart? (“Moses…what is in your hand?”)
Exodus 4:1–3 (Moses questioning God at the “Burning Bush”, about Moses’ resistance of returning to lead Israel out of Egypt)
4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A staff,” he replied.
3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
Practice Listening
Follow the Clues
· Look Around: What are some needs around you in which you could assist?
Ecclesiastes 9:10
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 11:5–6
5 As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
Let’s look at the first three chapters of Nehemiah and see what God did to prompt His servant Nehemiah in accomplishing His Purposes for His People and His City.
Nehemiah Heard about the condition of the Exiles and Jerusalem
Nehemiah 1:1-3
1 In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
Nehemiah’s Response: Grave Concern and Prayer
Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said...(please read Nehemiah’s prayer in your own Bible in Nehemiah 1:4-11)
...I was cupbearer to the king.
God’s Timing for the Israelites and Jerusalem:
· God had judged Israel for their sin by bringing them into captivity for 70 years – the exact number of years they did not follow the Jewish Sabbatical year to fallow their crops. Of course, that disobedience was a mirror of the horrendous idolatrous life they had chosen to follow year after year. God disciplined His people by first destroying His own Temple and city and then allowing a heathen king to carry off the remaining Israelites into captivity.
· In the fullness of time God prompted Cyrus, king of Persia to restore the exiled Jews back to their homeland and to rebuild God’s Temple.
· God used the leadership of Zerubabel and then Ezra to finish rebuilding the Temple – having serious opposition and disruptions during that time. It was not “smooth sailing”, but God gave His strength to accomplish His purposes.
· By the way… Queen Esther was in Xerxes palace during the time between the rebuilding the Temple and before Nehemiah’s arrival. God placed Esther there to spare the lives of the Jewish exiles who were in Babylon – at just the right Time!
· God placed Nehemiah in the right position with the king and then prompted Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and city of Jerusalem. God then prompted King Artixerxes to confirm the timing by authorizing and then financing the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
· Opposition always stands in the way of God’s Work. If God has placed His prompting in your heart, you will prevail over opposition, through the help and Power of the Holy Spirit; if not, God’s fuller purposes will still prevail!
· If God gives you something to do, God will give you the means and the manpower to accomplish His Work, as He did with the many who assisted Nehemiah in the building of Jerusalem’s walls.
King Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem
2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”
I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.
Opposition is Always Present when you are doing a work for God
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites. (see vs. 19-20)
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls
11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
Nehemiah 3
God had prepared the hearts of Builders of the Wall at just this Time, each to assist in the monumental task:
Nehemiah chapter 3, identifies 41 sections of the wall under the workmanship of 41 different leaders, families and/or business partners, so it could be completed in a timely way.
1. 1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.
2. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and
3. Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.
4. 3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
5. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section.
6. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and
7. next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs.
8. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
9. 6 The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
10. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates.
11. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section;
12. and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
13. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section.
14. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house,
15. and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him.
16. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.
17. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.
18. 13 The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. They also repaired five hundred yards of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
19. 14 The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Recab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.
20. 15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David.
21. 16 Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes.
22. 17 Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani.
23. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.
24. 18 Next to him, the repairs were made by their countrymen under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah.
25. 19 Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle.
26. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
27. 21 Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.
28. 22 The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region.
29. 23 Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and
30. next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.
31. 24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner,
32. 25 and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard.
33. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.
34. 27 Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.
35. 28 Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.
36. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house.
37. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs.
38. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section.
39. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters.
40. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner;
41. 32 and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.
Avenues that May Help Us Decide to Follow God’s Promptings…
o Has God put something on your heart to accomplish for His Kingdom, as He put on Nehemiah’s heart?
o Should we practice learning to listen for the Voice of God?
Asking His direction, watching for His answers, and waiting on His Will?
Hebrews 5:14
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
o What are the Clues that God has given you to pursue for His Kingdom?
o How has God gifted you?
o Would you be willing to use “what is in your hand” for His Glory?
o If God gives you something to do, God will give you the means and the manpower to accomplish His Work, as He did Nehemiah.
o If our prompting is merely the desire of others or a wish for ourselves we may not have the same accomplishment.
o We are the Temple of God and are building God’s Kingdom.
o Be Aware that Opposition always stands in the way of God’s Work.
o Look around and see if there are areas that need your help, that you can put your heart, mind, hands and talent into for God’s Kingdom’s sake!
Take My Life
By Frances R. Havergal
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy Love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal Throne,
It shall be Thy royal Throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
____________________________________
End Notes Timeline
Fall of Jerusalem (Judah) 586 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon
Return from Exile (539–445)
Fall of Babylon 539
Cyrus of Persia (539–530)
1st return of exiles to Jerusalem 538
Temple building begins 536
Temple completed 516 [20 years]
Darius I (522–486)
Esther in palace of Xerxes 478
Xerxes I/Ahasuerus (485–464)
2nd return of exiles to Jerusalem under Ezra 458
Artaxerxes I (464–423)
3rd return of exiles to Jerusalem under Nehemiah 445
[141 years from Jerusalem’s destruction] [2]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1875
[2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (32). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.