IMAGINE
Rebuilding for Greater Impact
Pastor Gary Moritz
pastor@cityunited.church
INTRODUCTION
As we go through life, we tend to forget to dream big dreams. We settle and forget the opportunities that God has placed in front of us. If we are not careful, our faith will fail, and we will shrink our big God into a small corner. God desires us to rise up and build; there are walls to raise all around us, people to reach and lives to rebuild.
What God did through Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem shows how God can use you to rebuild your life, church and community.
“So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build…” —Nehemiah 2:20a (NKJV)
What people break, God rebuilds.
In this Imagine series, we will look at life lessons from Nehemiah to help us rebuild our faith and our church.
January 5 Imagine Praying Powerful Prayers
January 12 Imagine Going for the Goal
January 19 Imagine Organizing for Success
January 26 Imagine Overcoming Financial Bondage
TEXT: Nehemiah 1:1-11 (NKJV, New Testament)
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
Little prayer – little power. Much prayer – much power. Tweet This
IMAGINE WEEK #1:
IMAGINE PRAYING POWERFUL PRAYERS
I.
SHOULD WE PRAY? (v. 1-4)
Answer: Before we
We must be known for our prayer life not our productivitiy in life.
II.
SHOULD WE PRAY?
A. To
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” —Proverbs 21:1
B. To show
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
C. To
“Then He (Jesus) spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, —Luke 18:1
D. To
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” —Colossians 1:9
E. To
“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” —Jeremiah 33:3
III.
SHOULD WE PRAY? (v. 5-11)
A.
Nehemiah said God was:
1.
2.
3.
B.
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” —Isaiah 59:1-2
C.
“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” —Romans 4:20-21
D.
ENGAGE: 21 DAYS OF PRAYER IN EPHESIANS
JANUARY 5th - JANUARY 26TH
(Pick up or download your copy of the guide at cityunited.church/21days)
We are going to pray for
“And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”.” —Genesis 32:26
We are going to pray for
“…and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” —Matthew 16:18b
We are going to pray for
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” —Proverbs 3:5-6
We are going to pray for
“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 3:18a
“Expect great things from God: attempt great things for God.” -William Carey, missionary and father of modern missions