Congregational Prayer & Fasting DAY 1
Sermon Title: BREAK MY HEART
Scripture Text: NEHEMIAH 1:1-11
By: Ptr Nic Sy
Sermon Notes:
“Following Jesus was never meant to be safe. We are called to a life of faith, not a life of comfort.”
BREAKTHROUGH PRAYERS
“Break my heart”
“Make me bold”
“Send me”
“Search me”
“Speak to me”
NEHEMIAH 1:1-4 ESV
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital,
2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
“Nehemiah understood that what could be and should be can’t be until God is ready for it to be.”
BREAK MY HEART PRAYER
I. Burden for Sin
NEHEMIAH 1:5-7 ESV
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,
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
“Staying aware of our own sins keeps us humbled before God and others so that we don’t sit in judgment on them.”
BREAK MY HEART PRAYER
II. Burden for God’s purposes
NEHEMIAH 1:8-10 ESV
8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’
10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
“Though Nehemiah was burdened for God’s agenda, he also knew that it is God who is able to accomplish his purposes.”
BREAK MY HEART PRAYER
III. Burdened enough for God to use
NEHEMIAH 1:1-11 ESV
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
“The greatest joy in praying is not necessarily receiving an answer, but in becoming the answer.”
NEHEMIAH 1:1-11 ESV
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
“We can do a lot of things after we pray, but we shouldn’t do anything until we pray.”
“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.
-A.W. Tozer
“God’s greatest blessings are on the other side of our greatest breakings.”
Following Jesus was never meant to be safe. You and I should begin praying, “Break my heart for what break yours.
General Prayer Requests
BREAK MY HEART PRAYER
- Pray for a Heart of Compassion
JEREMIAH 8:20-22; 9:1 NIV
20 The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.
21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
9:1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.
- Pray for God’s purposes
ISAIAH 46:10-11 NIV
10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
- Pray for willingness to do God’s will
ISAIAH 6:8 NIV
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
- Pray for our City
JEREMIAH 29:7 NIV
7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."