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NOTES

Made for More
“We Are Relevant and We Make Big Asks…of God and of Each Other”
Carl Nichols

Nehemiah 2:1–8
1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

Big Idea:
If the vision is from God, stop playing small. Ask like it.

FIVE BOLD MOVES FROM A BURDENED BUILDER:

1. We pray first, not last.

Nehemiah 2:4
Then I prayed to the God of heaven…

We’re binging on screens and starving our spirits.

Prayer isn’t your escape plan, it’s your game plan.

2. We speak up, even when we’re scared.

Nehemiah 2:2-3
I was very much afraid, but I said to the king…

Insecurity is the soil that fear grows in.

Insecurity is the engine of fear.

Fear is robbing our generation of revival.

Fear is a feeling. Boldness is a decision.

3. We ask with a plan, not just passion.

Nehemiah 2:5
“Send me to the city in Judah...so I can rebuild it.”

Nehemiah had a burden in his heart and a blueprint in his hand.

The Ask…

  • Permission To Go
    “Send me to the city in Judah…”  (v. 5)

  • Protection On The Journey
    “May I have letters to the governors…so that they will provide me safe-conduct…”  (v. 7)

  • Provision For The Vision
    “May I have a letter to Asaph…so he will give me timber…” (v. 8)

God doesn’t fund emotion. He funds execution.

If you’re too vague to name it, you’re not ready to build it.

Passion without a plan is noise. Passion with a plan is power.

4. We trust God with the outcome.

Nehemiah 2:8
…because the gracious hand of my God was on me…

Nehemiah made the ask, but he left the outcome to God.

5. We give others ownership within the vision.

Nehemiah 2:17
“Come, let us rebuild the wall…”

Nehemiah didn’t say, “Watch me.” He said, “Join me.” 

Vision without people is just a dream. Vision with people becomes a movement.

We can’t rebuild the spiritual walls in our city with a part-time church mindset.

Closing Questions for Reflection…

  • Are you praying like it depends on God?

  • Are you inviting like lives depend on it?

  • Are you giving like you believe in the mission?

  • Are you speaking up when it matters?

  • Are you owning the vision of this house?

I’m not asking you to watch what God does at Relevant. I’m asking you to be part of it.