"Strengthen My Hands"
Week 2 - Activate
Pencil Boone
Part of Activate—Effective Prayers for the Church
January 12, 2024

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INTRODUCTION

Do you ever doubt that God hears your prayers and that your prayers make a real difference? The people who faithfully prayed to God in the past were part of creating a story of divine help and significant influence on the Church’s journey. In the Bible, these prayer champions stand as examples and sources of inspiration, showing us how to connect with God and unleash His transformative power.

“I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? 2My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” —Psalms 121:1-2

In this collection, we will discover the key ideas behind powerful prayers, revealing the secrets that turned these leaders into instruments of God’s divine help. Whether it’s asking for help or praying for others, we’ll discover how to sync our hearts with God’s plans, creating a prayerful atmosphere that drives our church ahead.

We will focus on the following powerful and activating prayers:

January 4/7
”Go Before Me” - Moses

January 11/14
”Strengthen My Hands” - Nehemiah

January 18/21
”Give Me Wisdom” - Solomon

January 25/28
”Increase My Faith” - The Apostles

February 1/4
”Forgive Them” - Jesus

February 8/11
”Activating Our Church” - Super Vision Sunday


ACTIVATE 21-Day Prayer and Fasting Guide


Text: Nehemiah 6:1-9 (CSB, Old Testament)

Today’s Takeaway: We strengthen our hands by fighting on our knees.

Week 2 - “STRENGTHEN MY HANDS”


Nehemiah Faced Opposition from Sanballat & Co.:

Sanballat & Co. 1 & 2:

  • They laughed at Nehemiah’s vision (2:19)
  • They criticized and belittled Nehemiah’s efforts (4:1-3)

Sanballat & Co. 3 & 4:

  • They gathered a coalition force to frighten and intimidate Nehemiah’s workforce (4:7-12)
  • They sowed seeds of division in Nehemiah’s workforce
    (5:1-13)

Nehemiah fought opposition on his knees. He turned the problems into prayers.

HOW DO WE ALLOW GOD TO STRENGTHEN OUR HANDS?

I. DO NOT BECOME BY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

“The Lord is the strength of his people; he is a stronghold of salvation for his anointed.” —Psalm 28:8

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” —Psalm 46:1

II. HOLD TO GOD’S WORD AND PLANS

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” —Psalm 73:26

“I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word.” —Psalm 119:28

“Lord, be gracious to us! We wait for you. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.” —Isaiah 33:2

Nehemiah knew that what was proposed was a violation of the law because non-priests were not allowed within the sanctuary.

III. PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU AND THAT HE WILL PURIFY YOUR HEART


CONCLUSION: What do you need to do to allow God to strengthen your hands?


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DEEP DIVES:

  1. How can we follow Nehemiah’s example of turning challenges into prayers when facing opposition?

  2. What strategies can help us stay focused on God’s strength and refuge amid difficult circumstances, as emphasized in Psalm 28:8 and Psalm 46:1?

  3. How does grounding ourselves in God’s word, as seen in Psalm 73:26, Psalm 119:28, and Isaiah 33:2, contribute to our strength and perseverance?

  4. Considering the sermon’s message of allowing God to strengthen our hands, how can we practically apply these principles in our daily lives?


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