UNSTOPPABLE

Shaken #4

Pastor Brandon Cross

Woodland Church

Sunday, September 27

(Nehemiah 4:4-6) “Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

MAIN IDEA:

If we are to move forward in our mission as His church, we need to be unified in our purpose to reach our community and be willing to sacrifice our comfort for one another. When God’s people are willing to commit to backing up our prayers with action, effort, and determination to fulfill His will for ALL people, the improbable can be realized! Through Him, we are UNSTOPPABLE!!!

QUESTION:

How do we become UNSTOPPABLE in fulfilling God’s mission for us?

1.  Strong, Faithful Leadership:

• Co-laborers – Nehemiah labored alongside his people. We must do the same. (Ref.  1 Thessalonians 5:12)

• Motivators/Encouragers – Battle fear/frustration with encouragement. (Ref. Nehemiah 4:14)

• Prayer Warriors (4-5, 9) – Fight opposition with prayer and preparation; demonstrate prayer as a weapon!! (Jehoshaphat)

2.  Wholehearted Commitment:

We need to be driven by the same urgency to see our community know Jesus!

3.  Balancing Work and Defense (4:16-18):

The builders operated with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. “Build and Fight” mentality.

• For Members: Recognize your specific spiritual gifts. Some believers are naturally gifted “builders” (teachers, encouragers, administrators), while others are “defenders” (intercessors, discerners, apologists). Both must respect and work alongside one another to complete the wall.

4.  Vigilance and Prayer (4:4-5, 9): In response to threats, the people prayed to God and set up 24/7 guard, refusing to let fear stop their progress.

5.  Unified Action (4:6; 4:15): The community was united in purpose, working together despite being spread out along the wall.

6.  Divine Reliance (4:19-20): Nehemiah encouraged them by focusing on God, stating, “Our God will fight for us!” (Jehoshaphat)

CONCLUSION:

MAIN IDEA RECAP:

If we are to move forward in our mission as His church, we need to be unified in our purpose to reach our community and be willing to sacrifice our comfort for one another. When God’s people are willing to commit to backing up our prayers with action, effort, and determination to fulfill His will for ALL people, the improbable can be realized! Through Him, we are UNSTOPPABLE!!!

QUESTION:

What are we building here as Woodland Church? 

• If we are fixated on building our programs and ministries with just numbers, we are missing the mark. Here is what we should be building:

1. An Atmosphere of Worship
2. A Culture of Listening and Presence
3. Bridges of Hospitality and Corporate Witness
4. Equipped Disciples 
5. Radical Inclusivity at the Margins

CALL TO ACTION:

We can be unstoppable when we are unified in building Woodland Church to be a body of believers that desperately chase His purposes for us in reaching the lost in our community.

1. Commit to one another in all areas of life and faith. 
2. Commit to building and fighting together.
3. Commit to reliance on God together in prayer and worship.