Slaying the Giant of Lost Hope 2

Pastor Greg Kritz | December 4, 2016

Your mission is most likely

a situation close to home

God may be asking you to step out,

so He can step in

What Close-to-Home Situation

has you burdened?

Nehemiah 1:11 (NASB)

O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.” Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 2:1-4

And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart...” 

Nehemiah 2:1-4

Then I was very much afraid.

 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 

4 Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Communicate with God about everyone and everything 

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

God stepped in when

Nehemiah stepped out

Nehemiah 2:7-8a 

And I said to the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.” 

Nehemiah knew 100% the source of his victory: 

Nehemiah 2:8b 

And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

When man gives you a hand,

you can accomplish much

When God’s good hand is on you,

you can do the impossible

Philippians 4:13 (The Message)

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am”.

Every step out on mission is accompanied by opposition – expect it.

Nehemiah 2:10

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.

Identity one situation that burdens you

Pray diligently and humbly

- Write it Out! Don’t demand – be open to God not responding – watch your heart – ask for an opportunity to step out – be patient

Fast – one day, one meal, or sacrifice something you like … 

Patiently watch for opportunity to step out in faith 

- A note, a gift, a call, a like, a meeting, counseling, a budget, a plan,

Invite others to share in the burden

Persevere through Opposition 

Stay committed by faith to your mission knowing God is behind it

Nehemiah 2:20

So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build”