2. ORDINARYORDINARY
WORLDWORLD
CHANGERSCHANGERS

3. NehemiahNehemiah
Not a priest, prophet,Not a priest, prophet,
warriororkingwarriororking
—— just a man who sawjust a man who saw
something and gotsomething and got
bothered…bothered…

4. Walls of Jerusalemhad been down for140 years.
Why? God told Israelites—obey will be blessed
Worshiped false Gods—Babylonians tooktheminto
captivity.
Some people moved back—rebuilt temple so they could
worship
Walls remained down—vulnerable and embarrassing.

5. NEHEMIAHNEHEMIAH
Cupbearerto King Artaxerxes of
Persia: Butler
Somebody has got to do
something—might as well be me.
52 days

6. NEHEMIAH1:1-4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH1:1-4 (NIV)
The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth
year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
Hanani, one of my brothers, came from
Judah with some other men, and I
questioned them about the Jewish
remnant that had survived the exile, and
also about Jerusalem.

7. NEHEMIAH1:1-4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH1:1-4 (NIV)
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.”
When I heard these things, I sat downsat down and
weptwept. For some days I mournedmourned and
fastedfasted and prayedprayed before the God of
heaven.

8. THREE QUALITIES HOWTHREE QUALITIES HOW
GODCAN USE YOU TOGODCAN USE YOU TO
BE ORDINARY WORLDBE ORDINARY WORLD
CHANGERSCHANGERS

9. SITSIT DOWN TODOWN TO
CRYCRY..

10. NEHEMIAH1:4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH1:4 (NIV)
When I heard these things, I sat
down and wept.

11. Nehemiah lived in Persia—almost 1000
miles away fromJerusalem
Lived in comfort—status, influence.
Sad, but that’s not my problem…Read,
Tweet—move on.

12. WHAT BREAKS
YOURHEART?
• Child abuse
• Bullied
• Broken families
• Physical/Sex
Abuse
• Poverty/Hunger
• Unwed moms,
• Human trafficking
• Heart Callous to
God
• People w/no hope

13. SIT DOWN
TO CRY.
Let it in.
Feel the pain.
Embrace the
burden.

14. SIT DOWN
TO CRY.
Disunity in the
body of Christ…
Knocked on my
door!

15. SIT DOWN
TO CRY.
I’m only one
person. What
can I do?
Invoke the God
of heaven! God +
1 always = a
majority!

16. KNEELKNEEL
DOWN TODOWN TO
PRAYPRAY..

17. NEHEMIAH1:4 (NIV)NEHEMIAH1:4 (NIV)
For some days I mourned and
fasted and prayed before the God
of heaven.

18. KNEEL DOWN
TO PRAY.
Leadership
genius,
investigates,
strategizes,
delegates,
opposition

19. KNEEL DOWN
TO PRAY.
All covered by
intense and
intimate prayer.

20. First of 12 different mentions of
prayerin Nehemiah!
May be facing some walls that are
down—looks impossible!
With God all things are possible!
Share yourburden… Praying

21. May be facing some walls that are
down—looks impossible!

22. With God all things are possible!
Share yourburden… Praying

23. STANDSTANDUPTOUPTO
ACTACT..

24. NEHEMIAH2:3-5 (NIV)NEHEMIAH2:3-5 (NIV)
but I said to the king, “May the king live
forever! Why should my face not look sad
when the city where my ancestors are
buried lies in ruins, and its gates have
been destroyed by fire?” The king said to
me, “What is it you want?”

25. NEHEMIAH2:3-5 (NIV)NEHEMIAH2:3-5 (NIV)
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 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 ancestors are buried so that I
can rebuild it.”

26. Not okay… Not on my watch… Not okay… Not on my watch…

27. Somebody has got to do somethingSomebody has got to do something
—might as well be me.—might as well be me.

28. Division—One PrayerDivision—One Prayer
Many otherproblems in world atMany otherproblems in world at
that time—Nehemiah chose thisthat time—Nehemiah chose this
one.one.

29. You can’t do everything—You can’t do everything—
but you can do something.but you can do something.

30. Somebody has got to do somethingSomebody has got to do something
—it might as well be me!—it might as well be me!

31. Rebuild templeRebuild temple
People are scattered… JerusalemisPeople are scattered… Jerusalemis
in ruinsin ruins

32. Something broken… destroyed…Something broken… destroyed…
hopelessnesshopelessness

33. Government is broken. Morals areGovernment is broken. Morals are
broken.broken.

34. Churches are broken.Churches are broken.

35. Marriages are broken. Families areMarriages are broken. Families are
broken. Many live with no hope!broken. Many live with no hope!

36. YourYour greatest burdengreatest burden often opens theoften opens the
doorto yourdoorto your greatest blessinggreatest blessing..

37. Don’t worry if you’re deeply botheredDon’t worry if you’re deeply bothered
by something—worry if you’re not.by something—worry if you’re not.