Corporate Prayer

Corporate Prayer

Prayers of Exaltation (Vs 1-5)

Nehemiah 9:1-5

• Explain
  • Quarter of the day = Scripture reading
  • Quarter of the day = confession and worship
• Written prayer for Who God is
  • A couple of moments to write out specific praises for who He is.
  • Don’t get distracted! (Cellphone, looking around, don’t try to cheat off other people’s pages)
  • Try not to dig into what he has done yet. But let’s just write out the different names or attributes of God.  “you are _______”
• For the Non-Christian
  • What are the reasons you don’t believe in God?
• Let’s do that now
  • You are holy
  • The everlasting redeemer 
  • Prince of peace
  • Ruler of the cosmos
  • Clothed in majesty
  • Peacemaker
  • Gentle
  • Humble
  • Kind
  • Generous
  • Savior
  • The lion of the tribe of Judah
  • Worthy
  • Gentle

Prayers of Thanksgiving (7-15)

Nehemiah 9:7-15

• Thanking God for specific things He has done.  We know you are these things because we have seen you do these things…  “God I praise and thank you for…”  How has God shown His goodness in your life?
  • Be personal!
• For the non-Christian
  • Write down some things you are thankful for… helpful to think about who you are thankful to…
• Small Group Prayer

Prayers of Repentance (16-35)

Nehemiah 9:16-35

• VS 16-17 But…
  • Despite all of God’s goodness, we have still chosen to sin against God
    • Why?  Why did they act presumptuously? Why did they stiffen their neck? Why did they refuse to obey? We have forgotten of your wonders.
    • How do you deal with a history of failure?  
      • Accumulation is a powerful thing (laundry, Dishes, Transgression) Consider how, over the course of your life, your sins have piled high.  Moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, as tall as everest. And as dense and thick as can be.  
        • The israelites are rehearsing their transgressions over their history.  Them first, then us.
• But… God – Ready to forgive, gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. God will not forsake us!  
• Individual Prayer Silently

Prayers of Petition (36-37)

Nehemiah 9:36-37

• GRACE!!! EVERYONE WHO CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.  
• SINS FORGIVEN = RIGHTEOUSNESS SECURE.  PERFECT IN HIS EYES. WELCOMED INTO HIS PRESENCE!  HE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU.  ASK!
• “God we need your help”  we are in great distress, Your blessings are going to our enemies.  Our lives are a mess.
  • We are creation, you are creation, we need you.  
• For the Non Christian – Imagine that there is a perfect, all loving all good God exists, and he loves you and wants to help you.  Try that thought experiment for me.  And Consider what that has to say about your heart… where you are at.
• Write these down

Conclusion – Prayers of Submission (38)

38  “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.

• My life is yours, God. My future is yours, God.  My decisions are yours, God.  “God I trust you with…I surrender…. I will follow you…”
• For the Non Christian – What is keeping you from saying that to God?
• Altar – Worship