- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 11,641
O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me." In those days I was the king's cup-bearer. Nehemiah 1:11 NLT
Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries. In terms of their background, expertise, and leadership roles, the men hardly could have been more different. In terms of their dedication to the Lord God, however, they both were all in. They stand out as two of the greatest men of prayer.
Before embarking on his journey from Babylon back to the Promised Land, Ezra gathered a great group of men together and proclaimed a fast. Then they humbled themselves before God and asked for a safe journey for themselves and their families (Ezra 8:21-23). A few months later, Ezra offered one of the Bible's greatest prayers of confession (Ezra 9:5-15).
Before asking the king's permission to leave his post and seek the welfare of his people, Nehemiah and other men prayed for four months (Nehemiah 1:4-2:1). While conversing with the king, Nehemiah shot up a bullet prayer (Nehemiah 2:4). Later, he and Ezra led another revival, which included another powerful prayer of confession, this time before all the people (Nehemiah 9:5-38)
Bottom line: Ezra and Nehemiah were champions of prayer. They always invited other men to join them in earnest, heartfelt, deep prayers. And they continued praying until they felt sure that God would answer their prayers.
Prayer: Lord, please bring me into a group of men of prayer.
Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries. In terms of their background, expertise, and leadership roles, the men hardly could have been more different. In terms of their dedication to the Lord God, however, they both were all in. They stand out as two of the greatest men of prayer.
Before embarking on his journey from Babylon back to the Promised Land, Ezra gathered a great group of men together and proclaimed a fast. Then they humbled themselves before God and asked for a safe journey for themselves and their families (Ezra 8:21-23). A few months later, Ezra offered one of the Bible's greatest prayers of confession (Ezra 9:5-15).
Before asking the king's permission to leave his post and seek the welfare of his people, Nehemiah and other men prayed for four months (Nehemiah 1:4-2:1). While conversing with the king, Nehemiah shot up a bullet prayer (Nehemiah 2:4). Later, he and Ezra led another revival, which included another powerful prayer of confession, this time before all the people (Nehemiah 9:5-38)
Bottom line: Ezra and Nehemiah were champions of prayer. They always invited other men to join them in earnest, heartfelt, deep prayers. And they continued praying until they felt sure that God would answer their prayers.
Prayer: Lord, please bring me into a group of men of prayer.
