STAND OUT

Day: Day 2
Date: January 9, 2024

Nehemiah allowed his heart to be broken as God’s heart was broken. As he began to understand what the enemy had done, he wept before God, repented in the gap, fasted, and prayed.

The first thing he did was communicate with God through the power of prayer.

He needed to see more than the problem; he was looking to see what the answer could be from God’s perspective.

You see, God was looking for someone.

He was looking for someone who had already been prepared to lay down his life for another.

As a cupbearer, Nehemiah was willing to drink a poisonous drink for the benefit of the one who was ruling.

As we go further into Nehemiah’s story, we will realize that he and the king had gotten to know each other in a somewhat personal way.

God intended to put inside of Nehemiah, from the foundations of the earth, the ability to stay in service to a king even when it was difficult.

Nehemiah was a STANDOUT employee.

God is still looking for those in whom He has already invested. He is looking for those who will serve others wholeheartedly because they have it in their DNA to do so.

We all have it because God made us in His image and likeness. It is a natural response for us if we allow God’s attributes to arise within us and be applied to whatever we are doing.

What attributes do people see in our lives that would stand out to them and cause them to take notice that we are different?

We must understand that our desperate cries to God have the ability to open someone else’s heart towards Him. Our prayers are making a way through the darkness.

Nehemiah’s cries to God made him stand out to the Persian king (not Jewish) who was in charge.

A cupbearer was an officer in the royal courts. It was his duty was to serve the drinks at the royal table.

Nehemiah knew what it was like to be in the presence of people in high positions in the natural. He was used to being among royalty.

We should come boldly before God to the throne of grace and enjoy our fellowship with the King of kings. It’s in His presence that we can receive and enjoy favor to go forth to accomplish what is needed.

Because of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a cupbearer had to be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He had to guard against poison in the king’s cup and was sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before serving it.

Nehemiah knew this was a life-threatening position. Yet he was willing to give his life for the protection of the king that he served.

This year we have choices to make that will be made only if we become aware of how broken God’s heart is for the condition of the Body of Christ.

There are those who are lost and waiting for the sons and daughters of God to arise and bring the remedy, and we will make that choice only if that awareness breaks our hearts.

Nehemiah happens to be the ONLY named cupbearer in the Bible.

He was about to discover that this earthly position had a primary purpose, for he was exactly fitted into God’s perfect will. The Lord had a plan to turn all things around for good, and Nehemiah was included in that plan.

Nehemiah 2:1-2a NKJV

1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.
2a Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”

To me, it is apparent that Nehemiah had served this king well and the king was instantly aware that something was wrong.

However, the cupbearer was not supposed to show this type of emotion in front of the king. It could have cost him his life.

Nehemiah 2:2b-3 NKJV

2b So I became dreadfully afraid,
3 And said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”

Although he was afraid, he still honored the king AND as he continued to explain, he did not hold back all that he felt. He was exploding with a burden for what had occurred to the Temple and to his brethren. He took a chance at displaying the pain he felt, having faith that God would provide the blessing needed to accomplish what He had in mind to restore.

AND THEN GOD MOVED! Nehemiah had indeed received favor:

Nehemiah 2:4a NKJV

Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”

We are God’s answer to bring change!

Nehemiah had an encounter that started in his spirit in reaction to what was needed.

God had already seen the bigger picture. He had already provided a king who had the power, influence, and resources that would be needed.

We must all return to our God and realize HOW BIG OUR GOD IS! The world will co-labor with us when we have the heart of God.

We have believed a lie that we are separate and must do everything in our own little fortresses of life. But we are called to be integrated into society and to believe that we can receive the favor of prominent/eminent people in the world.

They can help provide for us, and we can influence them when they become aware of how great our God is and how much He is committed to love.

The king wanted to help.

And Nehemiah was not alone in that moment. Look at the next part of that verse:

Nehemiah 2:4b NKJV

So I prayed to the God of Heaven.

This is how we need to be. We need to be so close to the heart of God that we can count on Him to fill us with wisdom in the moment.

How did Nehemiah answer? With what God had placed in his heart to do.

Nehemiah 2:5 NKJV

And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

He responded appropriately and we too are called to respond with a heart that sees what must be done and do our part in getting it done.

Why is this a year of God RE-ESTABLISHING His Church? So that He will have a dwelling place (inside of His people) that pleases Him and that will cause transformation in individuals, cities, and nations.

PRAYER

Dear Lord,

We are coming to You requesting that You open our eyes and our hearts to that which is on Your heart.

We recognize that we have not been as aware of the condition of Your people and even of our own hearts as we should be.

We are asking for Your forgiveness and that You would not allow us to be distracted from eternal matters any longer.

Your Church is on Your heart because You are counting on us to restore that which is broken and to reach a lost and dying world with the truth of who You are.

Let us STAND OUT and draw attention to Your loving kindness and commitment to bring remedy to all people.

Let this be a new time of intentionality to live as You would have us to live and to take the action that You have assigned to each one of us.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

AMEN.

WORSHIP/VIDEOS

With Everything – Hillsong Worship

On the Altar – UPPERROOM