Embracing Change: The Journey of Restoration and Unity

What a powerful morning together! We witnessed the impact of prayer as our church family went out to cover 28 schools, believing that God will change lives in those places this year. It’s a reminder that even a single day of obedience can have eternal consequences. God often calls us to step out of our routines, to change our location or habits, so that we can experience breakthrough. Sometimes, the courage to simply move from the back of the room to the front, or to ask for prayer, is the first step toward transformation.

We took time to honor and pray for our teachers and all who serve in education, recognizing their work as a true ministry. Their calling is vital in shaping the next generation, and we stand with them, asking God to protect, encourage, and empower them for the year ahead.

Turning to the story of Nehemiah, we see a blueprint for restoration. God calls us to rebuild areas of our lives that have fallen into disrepair—whether it’s our marriages, ministries, health, or even our thought life. Every part of our life is spiritual territory, and the battle for restoration is both internal and external. The process always begins with a burden from God, not with resources or plans. Without that God-given burden, we won’t have the perseverance to see the work through when the excitement fades and opposition arises.

Nehemiah’s journey teaches us to respond to God’s burden with prayer and fasting, seeking His plan before we act. Repentance, seeking God’s favor, and asking for favor with those in authority are foundational steps. As we move forward, we must expect opposition—both from within and without. The enemy will try to discourage and intimidate, but we are called to remember the Lord, to keep our spiritual weapons ready, and to fight for what God has entrusted to us.

Restoration is not a solo endeavor. Nehemiah rallied others, recognizing the power of unity and the necessity of community. When we’re tempted to isolate ourselves in our struggles, we must instead sound the trumpet and gather with others for strength and encouragement. The work is hard, and there will be moments when we hit the wall and want to quit. But with grit, God’s burden, and the support of the body, we can persevere and see God’s purposes fulfilled.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Breakthrough often requires a change in routine or location. Sometimes, the first step toward transformation is simply having the courage to do something different—whether that’s moving out of your comfort zone, asking for prayer, or changing a daily habit. God often meets us in the unfamiliar, using small acts of obedience to open the door for greater change. [39:46]
• 2. Restoration begins with a God-given burden, not with resources or plans. Before any rebuilding can happen, God places a weight on our hearts for what is broken. This burden is what sustains us when the initial excitement fades and the work becomes difficult. Without it, we lack the perseverance to finish what God has called us to do. [50:32]
• 3. The process of rebuilding requires repentance, seeking God’s favor, and honoring spiritual authority. Nehemiah’s prayer included confession for himself and his people, a plea for God’s blessing, and a request for favor with those in authority. These steps clear the spiritual atmosphere and invite God’s power into our efforts, reminding us that success is rooted in His hand, not our own abilities. [54:18]
• 4. Opposition and discouragement are inevitable, even when we are following God’s call. The enemy will use intimidation, criticism, and fatigue to try to stop us. In these moments, we must remember the Lord—His greatness, His promises, and His presence—and refuse to quit, even when we feel like we’ve hit the wall. [68:14]
• 5. Restoration is a communal effort that requires unity, vulnerability, and daily vigilance. Nehemiah didn’t rebuild alone; he rallied others, kept the people connected, and ensured everyone was armed and alert. We must resist the temptation to isolate ourselves in our struggles, instead sounding the trumpet and gathering with others for support, prayer, and encouragement. [72:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [38:37] - Celebrating the School Prayer Drive
• [39:13] - Lessons from Changing Your Routine
• [41:00] - Offering and Gratitude for Volunteers
• [42:13] - Honoring Teachers and Educators
• [44:05] - Prayer and Blessing Over Educators
• [45:58] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
• [47:51] - Introduction to Nehemiah: The Call to Rebuild
• [49:53] - Spiritual Territory and the Battle for the Mind
• [50:32] - The Power of a God-Given Burden
• [54:18] - Nehemiah’s Prayer: Repentance and Favor
• [58:10] - Forming a Team and Facing Opposition
• [62:38] - Dealing with Discouragement and Criticism
• [68:14] - Remembering the Lord in the Midst of Battle
• [72:07] - The Importance of Unity and Community
• [73:55] - Keeping Your Spiritual Weapons Ready
• [75:50] - Receiving a Fresh Burden from God
• [77:44] - Responding in Worship and Commitment

Bible Reading

Nehemiah 1:1–11 (ESV) — > The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 4:6–14 (ESV) — > So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Observation Questions

1. What was Nehemiah’s first response when he heard about the broken walls and the trouble in Jerusalem? (Nehemiah 1:4)
2. According to the sermon, what is the first thing God gives us when He wants to restore something in our lives? [[50:32]]
3. In Nehemiah 4, what kinds of opposition did the people face as they rebuilt the wall?
4. How did Nehemiah organize the people to respond to the threats and discouragement they faced? (Nehemiah 4:13–14)

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that restoration begins with a God-given burden, not with resources or plans. Why is having a burden from God so important for perseverance? [[50:32]]
2. Nehemiah’s prayer included repentance for himself and his people. Why might it be necessary to confess not just personal sins, but also the sins of a group or community? [[54:18]]
3. The people rebuilding the wall became discouraged and wanted to quit when they “hit the wall.” What does this reveal about the process of restoration and the challenges we face? [[01:06:19]]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of community and not isolating ourselves during struggles. Why is unity and vulnerability with others so crucial in the process of rebuilding? [[01:12:07]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon mentioned that sometimes breakthrough requires a change in routine or location. Is there a specific area in your life where you feel stuck and might need to step out of your comfort zone or change your habits? What would that first step look like for you? [[39:46]]
2. Nehemiah’s journey started with a burden from God. Is there something in your life or in the world that God has placed a burden on your heart for? If not, are you willing to ask God to give you a fresh burden? [[01:15:50]]
3. When Nehemiah faced opposition, he remembered the Lord and encouraged others to do the same. What are some practical ways you can “remember the Lord” when you feel discouraged or under attack? [[01:08:14]]
4. The sermon talked about the importance of repentance and seeking God’s favor before taking action. Is there an area in your life where you need to pause, repent, or seek God’s direction before moving forward? [[54:18]]
5. Nehemiah didn’t try to rebuild alone—he rallied others and sounded the trumpet for help. Are you currently trying to handle a struggle or challenge by yourself? Who could you invite into your process for support, prayer, or encouragement? [[01:12:07]]
6. The people kept their spiritual weapons ready at all times. What are some “spiritual weapons” (like prayer, Scripture, worship) that you can keep close and use daily as you face challenges? [[01:13:55]]
7. The sermon honored teachers and those serving in education as people with a calling and a ministry. Is there someone in your life serving in a difficult place (like a school, hospital, or other frontline area) that you can encourage or pray for this week? [[44:05]]