Monday morning pastor 11/19/06

Pastor Mark

11/19/06

Nehemiah 1

What does a microwave have to do with Nehemiah?

The book of Nehemiah is a historical book that takes place at the end of the Babylonian captivity under the Persians. Nehemiah the book’s principle character is the cupbearer to the king an extremely trusted and influential position however hazardous the job description.

In Chapter 1 the book starts off with a bang. A number of Jews have returned from Jersualem including Nehemiah’s brother. Nehemiah asks for a report on the condition of the city and the temple. The report is extremely grim. Nehemiah responds in mourning, fasting and prayer.

Nehemiah’s prayer includes offering praise to God, confession of sin, asking God to restore his glory to Jerusalem.

The first chapter of Nehemiah provides a number of practical applications to a Christian’s prayer life.

Nehemiah’s concern for Jerusalem and the Temple demonstrates an important principle. God’s glory is a priority in the life of Nehemiah.

Secondly Nehemiah’s prayer shows concern for the location of God’s presence. In the OT God’s presence resided figuratively in the Temple in Jerusalem. Today God’s presence dwells in the individual believer in the form of the Holy Spirit. Care for God’s presence involves care for the life and body of the believer.

Nehemiah’s prayer demonstrates that he was willing to be the instrument God used to answer the prayer. Nehemiah was also content to wait for God’s answer. Daniel was also an example of long term prayer. Daniel prayed for 70 years to see Jerusalem restored as well as himself returning to Jerusalem. God would not answer this prayer until after Daniel died.

What does this have to do with Microwaves?

Our culture has been built on fast food, atm’s, drive thru’s and microwaves. We want things now! Unfortunately Microwaves have crippled our ability to wait on God.

Microwaves do 1 thing good, they cook food fast. However, they do not cook food good.

Nehemiah was concerned for the glory of God.

Microwaves do not bring glory to the food that is being cooked. You could cook the best cut of steak possible in the microwave, but it would not taste the same as a steak cooked on a grill by a professional chef.

Microwaves cook food and they cook food fast.

Sometimes prayer takes time, and we give up after the microwave time is up.

Nehemiah was willing to be used by God to answer others’ prayers and his own.

Using the microwave cooks the food for us rather than spending the time to cook in the oven and the skill that is necessary to cook from beginning to end.


Next time you use a microwave think about Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter 1.