In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, we see a great example of what James says in the New Testament: the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. When Nehemiah heard bad news, he prayed and fasted. This shows us that in tough times, we should turn to God, pray, and ask for help.
Briefly, here is what Nehemiah did and how the people responded together:
* He prayed for his people when he heard about their distress
* God’s word was read aloud
* The people realized their disobedience
* Then they grieved and repented
The Israelites had been exiles, far from home, living in Susa. Back home in Jerusalem, the walls had fallen, and those who returned were in danger from enemies. Nehemiah heard this news and prayed. He humbly approached God, calling Him great and awesome.
In chapter 1, Nehemiah confesses the sins of his people and reminds God of the promise given through Moses--to gather them if they returned to Him.
In chapter 8, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly and read from it. This included men, women, and all who could understand. It was the first day of the seventh month.
* In verse 6, Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. All the people answered "Amen," lifting their hands and bowing their heads. They worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
* In verse 13, on the second day, the leaders of all the people, including priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra to understand the words of the law.
* In verse 18, day by day from the first to the last day, Ezra read from the book of God's law. They kept a feast for seven days. On the eighth day, there was a solemn assembly as was customary.
They read the Word of God together for many days. When they realized they had disobeyed, they grieved. But Nehemiah told them not to be sad, but instead, they should rejoice because the joy of the Lord is their strength. So they celebrated with feasting and sharing.
The Israelites were renewed spiritually because they understood and obeyed God's Word.
Now in chapter 9, we learn that on the twenty-fourth day of the month, the children of Israel gathered to fast. They wore sackcloth and put dirt on their heads, and separated themselves from all strangers, confessing their own sins and the sins of their fathers.
In a profound act of national repentance and revival, they spent a quarter of the day reading the book of the law of the Lord and another quarter confessing and worshiping the Lord (about 6 hours!).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, should we not in like manner in our day gather the children of God to read, worship, and cry out to Him? Are we not in distress across our lands?
Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Joel 1:14
There is no more neglected ministry or discipline among the Believers than that of public and private prayer. We need a Nehemiah call for dedicated times of prayer in the Church assembly, because our walls are broken.
Instead of the Wednesday or Sunday evening Bible study, spend that time reading the Word and then praying that word. Time specifically devoted to prayers and intercessions needs be put on the calendars, set aside and dedicated to it! Can we not watch and pray for one hour?
Jesus says to watch and pray, Paul tells us to do this constantly.
We should do that.
The pastors and elders need to call the Church together. And if not, then perhaps members themselves should! By twos and threes, even in homes and then as a congregation in the sanctuary to read, worship, repent, and pray.
Then would lights shine across the land and fires would be lit!
Hallelujah!
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Thank you for reading Epaphras Prays, a ministry of intercessors for the people of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our intent is to pray—and to teach others to pray, Biblical prayers. We all desperately need to be praying more, and yet we do not sense an urgency among believers to do so. Help us reach out with our newsletter to invite and encourage others to their prayer closet.
