This sermon discusses the keys to spiritual success based on Psalm 1. It says the successful believer is separated from sinful ways, delights greatly in God's word, and is prosperous. Some characteristics of a successful believer are avoiding sinful crowds, loving God's word, allowing it to capture one's full attention, being planted near God for life and strength, bearing abundant fruit, and continually drawing life from God. The sermon encourages pursuing these biblical characteristics to measure up to God's standard of success.

1. Sermon Title: Keys to Success
Summary:
In order to be truly successful, we must pursue godly wisdom & respect godly
authority as Jesus did. As we mature, we also need to provide others the
example and training so they will have the desire to pursue godliness as Jesus
parents did for Jesus.
Know:
To be successful in life, we must pursue godliness by asking the right questions
of the right people respectfully and helping younger Christian to ask the right
questions and grow in godliness.
Feel:
The desire to ask pertinent questions of the Bible and mature Christians and the
desire to share your experience and wisdom with others.
Do:
- Identify sources of spiritual and moral authority in your life and reflect on
how you respect or don�t respect them and how much you take advantage of
their wisdom and insight.
- (As a parent, upperclassman, etc.,) identify someone you can befreind
and mentor as a Christian and plan to spend time with them and be an
encouragement and example for them
Plan:
Here is a suggestion to offer. Start a notebook of hard questions, whether from
the Bible or questions on how to deal with certain situations. The notebook will
not let you forget the questions. Then seek out guidance from scripture and a
trusted source of godly wisdom (parent, elder, teacher, minister, freind) and
record your insights from them, and from what your learn from experience.
Text: Luke 2:40-52
Scripture Reading: Eccl 10:10
Intro:
1. Do you want to be a success?
a. What will it take?
b. Money? Knowing right people? Being int the right place? Having the
right things?
2. Text: Luke 2:40-52
a. Twice - Luke says Jesus grew healthy and strong
b. Jesus is still portrayed as a model

2. - So far, Jesus has been a model in how he was born
- We know he is a model in his adult life
- Luke shows that he is a model even as a child
c. Jesus was successful - Grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God & men
3. From this text, we can glean the keys to true success
I. Reach for Godly wisdom
A. Jesus was passionate about learning the important things
1. He was not teaching, but listening and asking questions
a. So why were they astonished?
b. Had to be from the questions he asked
c. Must not have been typical 12 year old questions
2. Jesus response to parents
a. Lit: It is necessary for me to be in the things of my father
b. ie: Didn�t you know where to find me?
c. Evidently already demonsrated passion for godliness
d. So they not find in at mall, park, arcade, etc. but temple
B. ILL: Young boy asking father all kind questions as father read paper
1. Why is the sky blue? Why giraffes neck so long? How come
your hair is turning gray? Why does it snow in the winter?
a. Father kept saying, �I don�t know�
b. Boy asked - Do you mind me asking all these questions?
c. Father said - Not at all, how else are you going to learn?
2. Jesus probably asked all kinds of questions of his father
a. Probably learned a lot - his parents were devout
b. But now he sees a special opportunity to learn more
c. He couldn�t pass it up - I had to be in things of my father
C. We need to take advantage of every opportunity (Prov 2:1-5)
1. If you passionately pursue understanding, you will find it
2. Life is full of possible pursuits, but not better than wisdom
3. (Prov 3:13-18, 23-24) - Will lead to a secure, fulfilling life
4. Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, favor with God and men
D. So what opportunities and resources can you take advantage of?
1. Bible, classes, life groups, youth rallies, workshops, ltc
2. Questions: Write them down, ask parents, preacher, elders....
3. Seek them out relentlessly as fountain of insight
II. Respect Godly authority
A. ILL: Man at airport waiting, sitting next to child
1. Started conversation
a. How old are you? Answer: 4.
b. When will you be 5? Answer: When through being 4
2. Jesus recognized he was not done being a child, not an adult
a. He went back in subjection to his parents

3. b. He respected them
c. If he hadn�t, would not have been successful in growth
B. Why should we respect authority?
1. Rom 13:1-7 - All authority is ordained by God
a. When you dishonor authority, you dishonor God
b. When you honor authority, you honor God
c. 1 Tim 5:1-2- That why says to treat older men as fathers,
and older women as mothers
2. Heb 13:17 - It is for your good
a. (Prov 26:8-12) - Someone gets hurt around a know it all
b. Prov 13:1 - A wise son accepts his father�s discipline
c. Prov 16:31 - Gray head a crown of glory, found in the
way of the righteous
d. Respect gray hair, or even no hair
- If not, will have a hard life
C. ILL: An aged man, had to go live with his son�s family
1. Never sought out his wisdom, an inconvience
2. Drooled a little when eating, so put him in the corner
a. HAnd trembled more than usual, he dropped bowl
b. Frustrated, they gave him a wooden bowl
3. The young grandson whittling one day,
a. Father asked what he was doing
b. Making wooden bowl for you & mommy when you get old
4. Put grandpa at table, began to have relationship with him
a. Grandson fascinated with his stories
b. His insight had a deep impact on whole family
D. What can you do to respect authority?
1. Seek out their guidance, that�s what Jesus did
2. Express appreciate for them
III. Remind others to stay sharp
A. Now we will look to Joseph and Mary
1. Went to Passover every year
2. Did they have to? Law stipulates all �males� - Ex 23:17
a. Women and young children not required to go
b. Rabbi�s said when boys become men, they go at 13
3. Mary and Jesus both going
a. Crucial to his spiritual development
b. It appears to be a family tradition
c. Clear message for parents, leaders, older Christians
B. All of us can help someone else to stay sharp
1. (Eph 4:15-16) - All of us have a part in building each other up
2. We may do it in different ways

4. a. Fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers
b. Teachers, elders, deacons, preachers
c. Life group members, freinds
3. Teens - you play a very important rold in this as well
a. David a Teen, Mary a teen, young Samuel
b. You are a part of the body
c. Teens can mentor those behind you
C. ILL: A skinny man who applied at lumberjack camp
1. Felled a tree faster than anyone in the camp - was hired
2. 2 weeks later, he fired for not producing enough
a. What? I work late and hard, short lunch break
b. Trusing his integrity, the foreman asked
- How often you sharpen your axe?
3. Answer: I haven�t been, been too busy working for that
4. Lost effectiveness, no progress, because not stay sharp
D. Prov 27:17 - Iron sharpen iron, so one man sharpens another
1. It takes two, can�t do this by yourself
2. Our singles group in the Air Force - Ocean Springs
a. We kept each other sharp, spent time together
b. Reminded each other to say & do right things
- Stay away from drunken parties
- I put in charge of welcoming new students
through the AMEN program
- I would grab a couple of us and go find them
- Did a lot of positive things together
d. Intense peer pressure - positive peer pressure
3. Whether adult or teen, we need to stay sharp
4. Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening?
Concl:
1. Have you begun to lay your sword across the sharpening stone? (invitation)
2. True success means staying sharp
a. By reaching for godly wisdom
b. By respecting authority
3. These all go hand in hand, take away one, the others will fall
4. Do you need to be reaching or respecting more? Discuss in life groups
Psalm 1:1-6 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

5. Intro: There are many yardsticks by which men measure success.
Among them are: wealth, power, position, prestige, etc. These are all
indicators of worldly success. However, measuring your spiritual
success and your success as a Christian is a little more difficult. Often,
there is little tangible, visible evidence, which you can put your hands
on to prove you are living a successful Christian life. Generally, success
for the believer is more internal that external. What I mean by that is this,
the small amount of external evidence we produce is the result of much
internal activity in our hearts and lives. That is why it is difficult for
God’s children, who live in a materialistic world, to gauge their success
in their walk with God.
Thankfully Psalm 1 exists. In this worthy doorkeeper to the psalms, we
find insight into what makes a believer successful. Tonight, as the
plumbline of God’s Word moves alongside you life, see for yourself just
how you measure up to God’s standard for successful Christian living.
As we move through this Psalm, allow me to share with you The
Characteristics Of The Successful Believer.
I. v. 1 THE PATH OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER
A. The Successful believer is separated in his walk of life.
1. He doesn’t Believe like the wicked – (Ill. He doesn’t listen to their
counsel and invitations to evil) His hearing is turned a little higher!
2. He doesn’t Behave like the wicked – 2 Cor. 5:17 – (Ill. The old man has
been put forever away!)
3. He doesn’t Belong with the wicked – 2 Cor. 6:17 0 (Ill. He feels out of
place when surrounded by the devil’s crowd.
B. Ill. The downward progress – Walk, Stand, Sit. (Ill. This is the path Lot
took – Gen. 19. It eventually led to his total downfall!)
C. The successful believer realizes that there is a vast difference
between himself and the world he was saved out of, and he lives
accordingly!
II. v. 2 THE PLEASURE OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

6. (Ill. The successful believer is genuinely and completely in love with the
Word of God.)
A. The Word Has Captured His Full Affection – Delight = Pleasure! The
Word of God isn’t a Book of fables, myths and legends. To the child of
God it is the very Word of Truth. it is God-breathed and infallible,
inerrant and absolutely perfect. He loves it and he lives it, finding in its
pages all he needs to grow and prosper for Jesus.
(Ill. The value of the Word:
1. It is Food – Job 23:12; Matt. 4:4
a. Milk for the baby – 1 Pet. 2:2 (Ill. It gives the baby Christian everything
he needs to grow up strong and healthy!) (Ill. It needs to be prepared
and served right however!)
b. Meat for the growing – Heb. 5:12-14 (Ill. It provides all we need to
make us strong in the Lord!)
c. Bread for everyone – John 6:51 (Ill. Bread is the staple food of the
world! No matter where you go, people need the Bread of life!)
d. Honey for those in need – Psa. 19:10 (Ill. nothing has the power to
encourage as does a Word from God!)
2. It is Light – Psa. 119:105
3. It is Truth – John 17:17
4. It is a Mirror – James 1:23-25
5. It is Water – Eph. 5:25-27
a. It Cleanses – Eph. 5:26
b. It Quenches – John 4:13-14
c. It Refreshes – Psa. 119:150
6. It is a Seed – 1 Pet. 1:23
7. It is a Sword – Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17

7. 8. It is a Hammer – Jer. 23:29
a. It can Build Up – Pro. 16:24
b. It can Tear Down – Rev. 2:16; 19:15, 21
9. It is a Fire – Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32
(Ill. The successful believer is in love with the Bible. He knows that in its
pages, he can find all that his soul requires. It embodies the complete
revelation of God to men. It meets the need of the Christian life.)
Do you love it as you should?
B. It Has Captured His Full Attention – Not only does the
successfulbeliever love the Book, but he lives out the Book daily. The
Bible is internalized and it becomes the singular standard for faith and
practice. Every thought, every move, every decision is made against the
backdrop of God’s Word, and what it has to say about an issue.
However, before life can ever be lived in this fashion, the Bible must be
consumed and made a vital part of who you are – 2 Tim. 2:15. (Ill. The
Psalmist declares that the successful believer spends his days and his
nights in the pursuit of the Book. Does the Bible fill your thoughts? Do
you find yourself consumed with its content and mesmerized in the
meditation of it? The Bible is never better than when it is read and then
lived out!)
III. v. 3 THE PROSPERITY OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER
(Ill. The promises of this verse are conditional. When we live separated
lives and feed our souls on God’s Word, then we can expect these
things to happen for us.)
A. His Position – By the River! Always close to the life giving resources.
(Ill. This was meaningful to Israel with her mostly arid conditions.) The
tree planted by the river is never dry and wilted, but is green, lush and
lovely. (Ill. The believer who lives close to God will never be dry and
wilted either. He will be vibrant, lively and productive.) (Ill. Many never
know the joy of drawing off Christ daily! As a result, they are spiritually
wilted and dead looking.) The droughts of life and the dry seasons never
seem to affect the believer who is planted near the river. He is connected
to an unfailing source of life and strength.

8. B. His Prominence – Ill. A tree. The life of the successful believerstands
heads above all those around him. It is easily seen when a man draws
from the Lord. (Ill. Men will know when you have been with Jesus – Acts.
4:13)
C. His Permanence – Planted – Unlike some plants, which live for a
season and die out, this tree, has sunk its root deep and has a hidden
source of life. (Ill. The value of private prayer and Bible Study.) (Ill.
Planted – literally "transplanted." A tree cannot transplant itself, neither
can a man transplant himself into the Kingdom of God. It is wholly a
work of God’s grace. And, He always plants us in good soil, near the
water supply. However, after we are planted, it is our responsibility to
draw from the resources, which God has provided.)
D. His Productivity – "Brings forth fruit" – The successful believer is a
blessing to all those around him, because his fruit is plentiful. (Ill. John
7:38) (Ill. Old apple tree in the cow pasture. Man, cows, birds and insects
all benefited from the fruit off this old tree.) (Ill. You may never know just
who is feeding off your life!)
E. His Predictability – "In his season" This tree isn’t a freak. Just as
there are seasons of fruit bearing, so there are times of rest and growth.
As believers, we aren’t to worry over the fruit. That is the Father’s
business! When everything else is as it should be, then the fruit will
come in its season – John 15:1-5.
F. His Perpetuity – "leaf shall not fade" – The successful believer is like
an evergreen. He is always surrounded by the green of life. (Ill. The trees
in the wintertime. The hardwoods and leafy trees are look dead, but the
evergreens stand out as islands of life in a sea of deadness. They are
unaffected by winter or weather, but they are always the same.) (Ill. our
lives should be lives of consistency! We are called on to be a stable,
faithful and dependable people – 1 Cor. 15:58) The successful believer is
consistent. The curve balls of life are unable to knock him off course. (Ill.
Thank the Lord for consistent people!) (Ill. Life lived by this river in
unchanging.)
G. His Prosperity – "Whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper" – In other
words, God will bless the successful believer. His personal life, his
family life, his business life, his church life, his spiritual life will all be
blessed of the Lord. That isn’t to say that there won’t be stormy seas,

9. but the successful believer will be able to sail them with Jesus until they
are calm once again!
Conc: Do you possess the characteristics of the successful believer? If
so, the Bible, in verse 1, says you are "Blessed." This means "Oh how
very, very happy." I hope you have seen yourself among the happy ones
and are encouraged about you walk with Jesus tonight. You see it is
possible to be successful for Christ and know it with out being self-
righteous!
However, if you saw yourself lacking in some of these areas, then Jesus
stands ready, willing and able to make those things right once again.
Let’s take whatever steps are necessary to make our lives be the
successes they can and should be.
Nehemiah’s Secret For Success
Preached 11/16/2008
Text: Nehemiah 5:19. “Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done
for this people.” Nehemiah 13:31b. “Remember me, O my God, for good.”
Introduction: The market is flooded with books, CDs, DVDs, that share secrets for success.
Everyone is seeking for the secret to success, for that winning edge, a “leg up” in this
competitive world. At the same time, every successful salesperson or celebrity, is looking to
make money by sharing their particular secret to success! In their humble opinion, you must
purchase their product; pay to attend their seminar, in order to be successful! Its amazing how
many formulas there are in the world, to achieve success.
Our text has to do with a very successful individual. His name is Nehemiah. Years earlier, the
Babylonian empire had conquered Judah, and most of the people were exiled to Babylon
(modern Iraq). However, in 538 BC, Cyrus released some of the Israelites to return to their
homeland to rebuild Jerusalem. Zerubbabel returned to rebuild the Temple; Ezra returned later to
restore the people and Israel's national life, by teaching them the Law of Moses; and Nehemiah
returned to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, securing it from the threat of invasion. Anyway
you measure it, Nehemiah was a successful person.
God wants you to have a successful life, that is, as long as you define success correctly. What is
success? The biblical definition of success is to be the person God desires you to be, and to
accomplish the things God desires you to accomplish.
I have just returned from attending a missions conference in Mexico. There at that conference, I
met and got to know many pastors and missionaries who live and minister to impoverished
communities in remote regions of Mexico. If they own a vehicle at all, it is what we would

10. classify as “a junker.” They live a day to day existence, yet they are successful in the eyes of
God. Why? They are yielded to God! One after the other stood before us, expressing the joy and
contentment they found in serving the Lord! They are poor in this world’s goods, but rich in
God’s grace!
When we think of Nehemiah, we think of him as a successful leader and builder. Nehemiah is
remembered as one of the Bible's most resilient and innovative leaders. He was a gifted
administrator and motivator, who was able to plan and organize both difficult people and
complex projects, in the midst of a dangerous and difficult setting. Without doubt, the Lord
accomplished great things through this man.
What was his secret to success? The answer is clear when you read the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah was a man of prayer, with a deep concern for God's will above all else. This man,
from the very beginning of the book, is depicted as a man of prayer. It is his fervent reliance
upon God that gives him the strength and the winning edge, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. It
is his prayer life that sustains him in the midst of his trials.
Prayer was a way of life with this great man! When he first hears for the sad condition of his
people and the city of Jerusalem, Nehemiah begins to fast and pray. Nehemiah 1:4 reads, “And it
came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and
fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.” This famous prayer is recorded in Nehemiah 1:5-
11. Later in Nehemiah 2, as he stands before King Artaxerxes with a heart burdened for his
people and his home town of Jerusalem, he fires off a quick prayer to God. In Nehemiah 2:4 it
says, “Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of
heaven.” Prayer saturates the book of Nehemiah, because it saturates the life of the man.
Our text verses are two separate recordings of what must have been a continual prayer on the
heart of this successful man. It flows spontaneously from his lips and life. From this simple
prayer, we can find three things that present God’s formula for success in your life. Your life can
be a success if you pray the Nehemiah way!
Praying God’s Formula For Success
First: Success comes when you pray with a proper view of yourself. Here we see the one who
prays, or the petitioner. In Nehemiah 5:19, the first three words of Nehemiah’s prayer are,
“Think upon me.” In Nehemiah 13:31b, it is reduced to two words, “Remember me.” What a
bold yet humble request! Nehemiah is asking God to examine who he is and how he is! How we
view ourselves as we approach God is very important! Why? God rejects the proud. Peter affirms
this in I Peter 5:5-7. Whether we come into the house of God or before the throne of grace, we
should be clothed with humility. Why? Peter says in verse 5b, “...for God resisteth the proud, and
giveth grace to the humble.” He goes on to say in verses 6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon
Him; for He careth for you.”

11. How did Nehemiah view himself as he approached the Lord in prayer? We can discover the
answer to this question as we examine his famous prayer recorded in Nehemiah 1:5-11. You
learn a lot about someone, when you listen to their prayers.
Nehemiah approached the Lord as a humble servant. Nehemiah desired nothing more than to be
a loyal servant of God. In Nehemiah 1:6, Nehemiah prays, “Let Thine ear now be attentive, and
Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hear the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee
now, day and night.” Verse 11 says, “O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to
the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants.”
Someone has said, “You can be too big for God to use, but you can never be too small.” To be
successful in God’s eyes, you must first see yourself as a servant. Jesus Christ, the most
successful person who ever lived, entered this world as a humble servant.
Nehemiah approached the Lord as an unworthy sinner. Nehemiah was quick to confess his sin
before God. In Nehemiah 1:6b he prays, “...and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which
we have sinned against Thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.” We serve a moral God
who hates sin, but loves to forgive and restore His wayward children!
Have you confessed your sins to God today? Unconfessed sin will rob you of success! Proverbs
28:13 tells us, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh
them shall have mercy.” We often refer to prayer as coming before the “throne of grace.” Why
do we call it the “throne of grace?” Because were it not for God’s grace extended to us through
Jesus Christ, who is the “new and living way,” we could not approach God at all! By faith, God
has covered and cleansed us in His redemptive blood, and clothed us in His righteousness! Yes,
we can come boldly before the throne of God, but we must never forget to take off our shoes!
Nehemiah approached the Lord with a heart that desired to reverence Him more and more. In
Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah prays, “O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to the
prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who desire to fear Thy name.” Wow!
Nehemiah’s life was focused on God. God was at the center of His life. His desire was that his
thoughts, words, attitudes and actions were seasoned with a sense of reverence toward God.
Are you living your life according to what you think is right and best? What does God think
about your life? What does He think about your actions and attitude? Are you aware of God’s
future judgment of your present life? Do you even care? The “fear of God” has been lost in this
world, and sad to say it has been lost in the hearts and lives of most Christians.
Nehemiah approached the Lord with a heart that desired to be blessed, to prosper! In Nehemiah’s
short prayer, he asked God to remember him “for good,” not bad. He sought not only the Lord’s
approval, but His blessing! In Nehemiah 1:11a he prays, “O Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine
ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who desire to fear
Thy name: and prosper.” Nehemiah faced a great challenge. Would the king allow him to return?
Would he guarantee safe passage? What about the needed materials? Nehemiah knew that if he
was going to make it to Jerusalem and complete his task, God must make it happen!

12. How often in our prayers do we use the word, “bless.” We pray, “Lord, bless this. Lord bless
that.” There is nothing wrong with asking God to bless and prosper us! God has promised to
grant us the desires of our hearts, as long as those desires are holy and in line with His divine
purpose for our lives!
Your life story can be a success story, but it all begins when you pray with a proper view of
yourself!
Second: Success comes when we pray with a proper view of God. In Nehemiah 5:19
Nehemiah prays,“Think upon me, my God.” In Nehemiah 13:31, he prays, “Remember me, O
my God.” It is evident that Nehemiah had a personal, intimate relationship with his God. He
prayed, “my God.” He knew God.
Nehemiah’s knowledge of God came no doubt through personal experience. We all learn about
who God is and how He is as we live life. Paul in II Corinthians 1, tells us that God is the “God
of all comfort,” and that we learn of God’s ability to comfort us in every situation, as we
experience troubles and trials in this life. In II Corinthians 1:4 Paul says, “Who comforteth us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
But there is another way we can learn about God. We come to know God through His Word!
Nehemiah prayed to the God of the Bible! Notice his prayer in Nehemiah 1:8-9. He prays,
“Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou commandedst Thy servant Moses, saying, If ye
transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my
commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the
heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen
to set my name there.” Nehemiah knew God through His Word. He applies God’s words spoken
to Moses and Israel, to his present situation! Why? God is consistent with His Word.
You must read your Bible to learn about God. Your knowledge of God and your knowledge of
the Bible are connected! If you want your prayers answered, you had better believe in God;
know what He is like; and above all, maintain a personal relationship with Him. What kind of
God did Nehemiah pray to?
Nehemiah prayed to a God who was over and above all creation! Nehemiah 1:5a, “And said, I
beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God.” Recently I saw a magazine
article whose heading read, “Never underestimate the power of a woman.” A woman can spot a
small piece of lent on a suit one hundred yards away. She senses things and knows things that
defy logic. Her ability to multitask, boggles the mind! The only difference between a hockey
mom and pit bull is lipstick! Never underestimate the power of a woman!
How many times do we underestimate the power of God? Nehemiah prayed to, “...the Lord God
of Heaven, the great and terrible God!” There is nothing God cannot do! Sarah laughed at the
thought of conceiving and bearing a child in her old age. The thought was absurd to her, but the
Lord rebuked her saying, “Is there any thing too hard for the Lord?”

13. Harry Emerson Fosdick, a North American Baptist minister, said, “God is not a cosmic bell-boy
for whom we can press a button to get things.” Prayer is not a button we can push, that sends
God to accomplish our desires. However, if we ask the God of Heaven humbly, intelligently,
seeking His will with our whole heart, miracles can happen!
Nehemiah prayed to a God who keeps His promises. Nehemiah 1:5 continues, “...that keepeth
covenant.” Nehemiah knew that his existence and the existence of his people rested on God’s
faithfulness to keep the promise He made to Abraham! Israel is alive and well as a nation today,
occupying their land, all because God keeps His Word!
God is faithful! Our relationship with God is based upon a covenant! We can pray according to
the promises of God revealed in Scripture, knowing that He will keep and honor every promise!
Philippians 4:19 promises, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.” Pray the prayer! Claim the promise!
Nehemiah prayed to a merciful God. Nehemiah 1:5 continues, “...that keepeth covenant and
mercy.” Mercy is God withholding what we deserve. All we deserve is the full judgment and
consequences of our sin. How else could we exist for one day, one hour, one moment, were it not
for the mercies of God? It is by His mercies that we are not consumed! Everyday we sin willfully
and repeatedly against God! Because God’s mercy endures forever, we have life, hope and
opportunity to begin again! Hallelujah!
Nehemiah prayed to a God who especially loves those who are obedient. Nehemiah 1:5
concludes, “....for them that love Him and observe His commandments.” Nehemiah was an
obedient servant. He acted upon God’s revealed will for his life! He told the Lord, “Here am I,
send me.”
Nehemiah knew what to do and how to be so to receive the full favor and blessings of God upon
his life. If you notice, I said the full favor and blessing of God. We do not deserve or merit the
grace of God. We do not merit or deserve the blessings of God. However, we are fooling
ourselves to believe that God as our Heavenly Father, is going to bless us fully, when we are
walking and living in disobedience to Him. God chastens His children. Jesus said in John 14:15,
“If ye love me, keep (observe) my commandments.” Charles Stanley once said, “God doesn’t
have favorites, but He has intimates.” We cannot live lives that are sinful, disobedient, and
expect God to give us success.
Our success lies not in ourselves, but in the hands of the great God of Heaven. If we are to be
successful, we must pray not only with a proper view of ourselves, but with a proper dependency
upon God! In a real way, prayer connects us with the presence and power of God! We are
involved in a Partnership with God! God is the Senior partner.
Third: Success comes when we pray with a proper view of our role in the world. My heart
was deeply moved this last week in Mexico, as I saw so many young men who had heard and
surrendered to the call of God upon their lives to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. One after one
they stood before us and expressed their desire and commitment to go to the people of Mexico,
Chile, Equador, Belize, and even China! After years of deputation, the man who surrendered to

14. go to Belize, could never raise enough money to satisfy the government of that country to grant
him a permanent visa. So, he moved to the border of Belize, and makes short mission trips in and
out of that country. He has since established a church on the border of Belize, and continues to
seek a way to fulfill God’s call upon his life. Today in the United States, it’s becoming rare to
see a young adult who will even attend church, much less surrender to God’s call to serve! Why?
This present world system with it’s worldly pleasures and possessions has captured their hearts!
Nehemiah petitioned God to remember him for good, based upon his record as a man who lived
for others, not himself. Notice his prayer in Nehemiah 5:19. “Think upon me, my God, for good,
according to all that I have done for this people.” Nehemiah was not just a servant of God, he
was a servant of the people. He lived for a cause that was greater than himself! Everything
Nehemiah did, was for the blessing and benefit of the people he served. When they were in
danger as they worked on the wall, Nehemiah was quick to devise a plan that protected them and
their families. He looked out for the welfare of the people when they were being charged interest
on the money borrowed from their brethren. Even when Nehemiah was appointed governor, he
refused to follow the lead of those who held the office previously, using the position to take
advantage of the people they served. Nehemiah was always fair and just. Nehemiah loved and
served his people!
True success is not selfish! Success is found in loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and
strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself! Do your prayers focus solely upon yourself?
Why is this a great prayer? It is others centered, not self centered.
For Nehemiah, miracles did happen! He went to Jerusalem and successfully built up the walls.
Nehemiah teaches us that success begins with prayer and ends with a surrendered life. As
believers and as a church, prayer is one of our core values. Prayer is essential to Christian
spirituality and success in this life! Persistent, prevailing prayer empowers us to achieve our
God-given purpose.
Dan Crawford who lived from 1870 to 1926, spent most of his adult life serving as a missionary
in Africa. When it was time to return home to Britain, Crawford described to an old Bantu, the
kind of world to which he was returning. He told him about ships that ran under the water, on the
water, and even those that flew above the water. He described English houses with all of their
conveniences, such as running water and electric lights. Then Crawford waited for the old
African to register his amazement. "Is that all, Mr. Crawford?” the aged man asked. "Yes, I think
it is,” Crawford replied. Very slowly and very gravely, the old Bantu said, "Well, Mr. Crawford,
you know, that to be better off is not to be better.”
What are you doing with your life? Do you pray? If so, do you pray with a proper view of
yourself; a proper view of God; and a proper view of your purpose in this world? This is
the formula for success! Its time to pray the Nehemiah way.difference in your world? Will
you make a difference in your church? You must pray!