As with any Agent of Smash's story, you have to have a proper introduction to who they were/are before you get to the smashing part. So if you have time, lets look into Nehemiah before we get to the glory of the SMASH!
I would highly suggest you read through Nehemiah as I go through this in order to see much of this straight from the word. I personally despise the notion of simply taking someone for their word especially on Scripture as that tends to lead to corruption and idolatry in our hearts. So please take a moment and read the first chapter for this installment of "Nehemiah - Agent of SMASH."
Nehemiah's story is one of much intrigue. He is a man who was evidently most favored as he had earned the right to be the cup bearer for the king. This was an extremely important job as kings were often sought to be killed by poison in their drink. The cupbearer was responsible to see to it that the kings cup was pure and free from poison and if necessary, he must first drink in the sight of the king in order to prove his loyalty and that the wine was not tainted. This was a job not taken lightly by any king or his court. So Nehemiah was a favored man.
We first learn of Nehemiah as he is meeting with a delegation of his fellow Israelites who have come to Susa where Nehemiah served the king. Anxious to hear about his home country, Nehemiah pressed them for information on his precious home, only to learn of how it lay in disgrace. In chapter 1:3 we read “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
His response is as one might imagine we had on 9-11 when the towers fell. Nehemiah wept bitterly. He was so overcome with grief that he "mourned and fasted" for several days. Then it says he prayed! I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU READ his prayer as found in verses 5-11 in chapter one. I want to point out what he said in verse 6-7......
I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Do you see what Nehemiah did? He followed what we see in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where God said, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land!" Nehemiah did not simply confess that Israel had sinned, he included himself and his family as part of the sin problem. He did not pray, "Lord forgive them..." he said "please forgive US!" He then reminded God of what He had promised to Moses (v8-9) and then humbly asked God to grant him success "before this man" referring to the earthly king whom he served!
Our first look at this Agent of Smash is of a man who is a servant in a foreign land to a foreign king. He did his job with integrity and served as he was trained to as a child, with a heart to glorify God. But upon hearing about his homeland being in rubbles, his heart broke and he sought the ear of his Father to see what it is he might could do. He was a man of action, but his first action was not to "do something" but rather to seek God's face and ask God to forgive, remember, then give success.
Therefore, to be one of God's "Agents of SMASH," you must begin with a humble heart that seeks God's face and realizes your sin and inability, thus relying totally on His ability to do what needs to be done!
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