IMPACT Recap

Rebuild

January 9, 2023 · 0:41:57

PrayerPurposeLeadership

Recap

Guest speaker Tommy 'Urban D' Kyllonen opened the second Sunday of 2023 at Impact Church by celebrating Pastor Travis's recovery and the momentum of the new year. He framed 2023 as a year of answered prayers and rebuilding, drawing from the Book of Nehemiah. The message centered on how God rebuilds us, our faith, and our communities. Pastor Tommy shared five 'rebuilding block prayers' from Nehemiah chapter one: for a new level of compassion, for help to repent and admit wrongs, for God to break us in order to rebuild us, for help to listen to God's instructions, and for help to reframe and follow through. He illustrated compassion through the story of a friend from his church who quit his job to help people in need, which led to miraculous provision. The sermon emphasized that God often calls us to exciting yet scary assignments, and that when He says it, we must believe it and follow through. Character, more than competency, sustains us in God's work. The call was to dare to be different in 2023, to allow God to reshape and renew us, and to watch Him perform miracles as we step out in faith.

Main Points

  • We need a new level of compassion that moves us to prayer and action for the needs around us.
  • God often needs to break us down—deconstruct our comfort or misplaced faith—in order to rebuild us stronger and more biblically balanced.
  • When God gives an instruction, we must believe it, reframe our perspective, and follow through with courage, trusting Him to provide.

Verses Mentioned

  • Nehemiah 1:1-7 - "In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. They said to me, 'Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.' When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said, 'O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.'" (NLT)
  • Nehemiah 2:1-6 - "Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, 'Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.' Then I was terrified, but I replied, 'Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.' The king asked, 'Well, how can I help you?' With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, 'If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.' The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, 'How long will you be gone? When will you return?' After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request." (NLT)

Daily Action Plan

Monday

Scripture Reflection: Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV) - 'When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.'

Focus Point: Compassion that leads to prayer.

Action Plan: Identify one need in your community or a friend's life. Commit to praying for it specifically today.

Deep Prayer: God, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me a new level of compassion and move me to pray.

Tuesday

Scripture Reflection: Nehemiah 1:6 (NIV) - '...I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.'

Focus Point: Honest repentance.

Action Plan: Take a quiet moment to confess any known sin to God. Be specific and receive His forgiveness.

Deep Prayer: Lord, I admit where I have been wrong. Thank you for your forgiveness through Jesus. Cleanse my heart.

Wednesday

Scripture Reflection: Jeremiah 18:4 (NIV) - 'But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.'

Focus Point: Allowing God to reshape us.

Action Plan: Reflect on one area where you feel God might be 'breaking' an old habit or mindset to rebuild something better. Write it down.

Deep Prayer: Father, I surrender to Your reshaping work. Break me where needed and rebuild me according to Your perfect design.

Thursday

Scripture Reflection: Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV) - 'The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king...'

Focus Point: Listening for God's instruction.

Action Plan: Spend 5 minutes in silence after reading your Bible. Ask God, 'What is one thing You are saying to me?'

Deep Prayer: God, help me to listen. Speak clearly to my heart and give me the courage to hear and receive Your instructions.

Friday

Scripture Reflection: Nehemiah 2:5 (NIV) - '...send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.'

Focus Point: Following through with courage.

Action Plan: Take one practical step toward a God-given goal or assignment you've been putting off, no matter how small.

Deep Prayer: Lord, I am terrified, but I trust You. Help me to reframe my fear and follow through on what You have called me to do.

Saturday

Scripture Reflection: 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) - '...The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'

Focus Point: Building character over competency.

Action Plan: Evaluate your schedule this week. Intentionally invest 15 minutes in a spiritual discipline (prayer, scripture, worship) over a skill-building activity.

Deep Prayer: God, help me to work twice as hard on my character as my competency. Shape my heart to be more like Yours.

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