Description

I. Introduction 

1. The historical narrative took place during the postexilic period – around 445 BC to 430  BC. Judah was a small backwater province (no longer an independent kingdom) of the  Persian Empire
2. The characters a. Main cast: Nehemiah the Cupbearer  b. Supporting casts: Ezra the Scribe, the Priests, the Levites, the remnant of the  Children of Captivity, and the enemies of God’s People. 
3. Main Theme: Rebuilding the spiritual lives of the people of God through rebuilding the  walls of Jerusalem, the worship of God, and the lives of the people  

II. The unfolding of the Crisis vs 1-3 

1. The remnant of the children of the captivity were in trouble and shame. 
2. The city of God – Jerusalem’s wall and gates lie in ruins for almost 150 years 
3. What is the crisis you are facing in your life?  
4. How do you evaluate the crisis in your life?  

III. The reaction to the Crisis vs 4 

1. The common ways one reacts to a crisis  a. Anxious, Fearful, Disappointed, Dejected, Depressed
2. The child of God should and can cast his care and crisis to God in prayer 8 

IV. The resolution of the Crisis vs 5-11 

1. Praised the God of heaven vs 5
2. Confessed and identified oneself with the sin of God’s people vs 6-7
3. Laid hold on God’s covenant mercy and promises vs 8-11 

V. Conclusion 

1. Each crisis in life is essentially a faith crisis – a test to show us how much we trust in  the Lord and what is our esteem of God 
2. We can carry everything including our crisis of life to the Lord in prayer 
3. Christ, who faced the greatest crisis in his life, yes, in the history of mankind, cried to  the LORD at the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Though God seemed silent,  and the crisis seemed long, yet the LORD raised Christ from the dead to give Him the  victory over sin and death.