Another great prayer message from the book of Nehemiah. this prayer is actually Ezra's, but it's also recorded in Nehemiah. It is a blessing (thanksgiving) to God. Old Testament, Prayer

1. Prayer Generation
Neh. 8:1-12

3. Eager Listeners
• The congregation gathered as one man to
listen to the Law being read.
• They asked for it to be read!
• They wanted to understand it!
• They were willing to stand a long time and
hear a lot of Scripture being read.

4. Eager Preacher
• Ezra stood behind a wooden pulpit, on an
elevated platform and read the Law.
• The people stood to hear the Law being
read, out of respect for the Word.

5. Eager Prayers
• Ezra finished reading and blessed the LORD,
the great God.

6. The Blessing (Ez 7:27-28)
“Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put
such a thing as this into the heart of the king,
to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,
and who extended to me his steadfast love before the
king and his counselors, and before all the king's
mighty officers. I took courage, for
the hand of the LORD my God was
on me, and I gathered leading men
from Israel to go up with me.”

7. Eager Prayers
• Ezra finished reading and blessed the LORD,
the great God.
• When he prayed, the people joined in with
“Amens!”
• When he prayed, they joined in with lifted
hands, bowing low and worshiping.

8. Eager Listeners
• The Levites translated and explained what
the law meant.
• Their goal was understanding.
• Their application was relevant, convicting,
powerful.
• The people were moved to weeping.

9. Eager Worshipers
• Nehemiah declared a national holy-day to
focus their attention on God.
• The Levites counseled the responders after
the rally.
• The Levites reestablished their patterns of
worship according to Biblical instructions.

10. Eagerness Quotient
• Do we have similar eager responses to the
Word of God?
• Whenever the Word of God is read, do we
eagerly bless the LORD, the great God?
• Is the spirit of our prayers toward God or
men? Who will be worshiped in their wake?
• Are we eager to lead in accurate
interpretation, proclamation and application
of the Word? In prayer responses to God?

11. Prayer Requests
• Pray for an eager, receptive congregation
• Pray for your preacher who reads, explains
and challenges with the Word
• Pray for the Spirit’s conviction, brokenness
over sins, and tender responsive hearts
• Pray for godly leaders who can counsel for
change
• Pray for revival

12. Praises
• Praise God for the power of His Word
• Praise God for His coordination of messages
and listeners
• Praise God for His strength, given to those
who believe for their enjoyment
• Praise God for teachers and leaders who
encourage holiness
• Praise God for growth, revival, change