Nehemiah 1:10-11

10Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.

11O Lord, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Nehemiah 2:1-8, 17-18

1And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had never been sad before in his presence.

2Therefore the king said unto me, Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much afraid,

3And said unto the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lies waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

4Then the king said unto me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

5And I said unto the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you would send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers, that I may rebuild it.

6And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall your journey be? and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

7Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may let me pass over till I come into Judah;

8And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which pertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the temple that I shall enter into. And the king so granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

17Then said I unto them, You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we are no more a reproach.

18Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me;

GOD loves His children, anyone who builds intimate relationship with Him, He builds intimate relationship with that person. GOD shows His goodness and favour to His children. He desires to give us everything we need that fits to His will and purpose for us.

It means GOD works in your life that He has expressed His goodness toward you.

< Live with a definite purpose in mind. Fast and pray to ask for GOD wisdom and direction.

Serving GOD, being a servant of GOD motivates me in my life, to the things GOD called me to do. Enjoy GOD in the process.

Nehemiah 1:4-5

4And 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,

5And said, I beseech you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God that keeps covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

< If we want the favourable hand of GOD, we need to pray GOD to build intimate relationship. Ask GOD’s guidance in your prayers

He desires, pours out extra blessings.

Nehemiah 4:4

4Hear, O our God; for we are despised:

He ask GOD’s guidance

Nehemiah 6:9

….. O God, strengthen my hands.

< Several months He prayed and fasted waited upon GOD, listen.

If we believe GOD will do what He says then whatever He would like us to do we will be willing to do it because we trust Him. We must learn to walk by faith.

Nehemiah 1:11

11O Lord, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Nehemiah 2:3-4

3And said unto the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lies waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

4Then the king said unto me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

He believed GOD will send him to Jerusalem to rebuild Jerusalem. He asked protection and everything he needed to get the job done.

GOD says I will always be there, He says I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5

I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Philippians 4:13, 19

13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

That person who believes in GOD will experience GOD blessings abundantly.

<Obedience. Be obedient to GOD and leave all consequences to Him. Faith and obedience are hand in hand. If you really trust GOD you will do whatever He requires for you to do. Be willing to do the tough things, be willing to do the difficult thing. If GOD said to do it, the favourable hand of GOD is upon you.

< Diligence. He planned what to do. He motivated people to gather around Him and to support Him.

Nehemiah 2:18

18Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

GOD is looking for industrious people, people who will give their best.

GOD will pour out His blessings, His favourable hand will be upon those who are willing to do whatever GOD called them to do, who are diligent to do their best.

Please the Heavenly Father in faith and obedience to Him, GOD will give you favour in the eyes of the world. GOD gave him favour in the eyes of king.

Nehemiah 4:11, 15-17

11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

15And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone unto his work.

16And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants worked in the work, and the other half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the armour; and the rulers supported all the house of Judah.

17They who built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, so burdened themselves, everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

They had enemies everywhere and he was committed to do the work. They were willing to pay the price. Favourite hand of GOD will pour upon you if you are diligent, industrious in the work whatever GOD has called you to do.

< humility began to share the vision GOD has given him. He organised people and got things done. GOD made all of us weaker for us to need Him. Whatever GOD called us to do, will enable us to do it by the power of Holy Spirit.

Ultimately a great revival happens in the city. GOD did great work through Nehemiah because he is a humble man. When we recognise we don’t have all the answer, we need each other. GOD calls us to do it with a humble spirit. We need GOD to accomplish what GOD called us to do.

< Recognise and accept that favourable hand of GOD will lead us to circumstances in life that will bring great pain, suffering and heartache. Because pain is part of His purifying process in our life. No matter what He called us to do He is ultimately calling us to confirm to likeness of His Son.

We need to position ourselves to receive the favourable hand of GOD.

They were harassed and attacked by the enemies and they tried to harm Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 6:3

3And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?

All of us will have set backs, no progress.

Nehemiah 6:15, 16

15So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.

16And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

When we walk with GOD prayerfully, in faith, obediently, cooperatively, when we recognise the hardship and set back we will experience and recognise GOD’s hand on us, grace, love undeserved favoured of GOD upon us. There will be progress.

< Praise the LORD, favourable hand of GOD.

Nehemiah 2:20

20Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Ephesians 3:20

20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Nehemiah 8:4-6

4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

They glorified and honoured GOD.

If we live purposefully, obediently, with His purpose in mind, trusting Him, obeying Him, be industrious to do the things He has called us to do, give praise to GOD, there will be progress, GOD will accomplish more than we expect or deserve. Good hand of GOD will be poured out on us.

Recognise GOD is a creator and He has a right to do anything in your life. Recognise praise and honour belongs to Him. His hand is ready to be poured out on those people who purposefully, willingly, obediently, with His purpose in mind, trusting Him, obeying Him, industrious do the things He has called them to do, give glory, praise and honour to GOD.