Message Action Plan
Talk It Over- NO DREAM is built WITHOUT SUPPORT
"I asked the King to help me by giving me permits for safe travel through the territories on my journey to Jerusalem. . . I also asked him to supply the timber for building from his royal forest. . . The king gave me everything I asked for because God's gracious favor was with me. . . The King even sent army officers and soldiers on horses to escort me!" Neh. 2:7-9
- NO DREAM IS BUILT WITHOUT OPPOSITION
"Now when Sanballat and Tobiah heard I was coming to assist the welfare of the Jews in Jerusalem, they became very upset and disturbed." Neh. 2:10
HOW TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR YOUR DREAM
1. WAIT FOR THE RIGHT TIMING
"There is a right time and right way to do everything." Eccl. 8:6 (TEV)
"When I arrived in Jerusalem, I stayed quiet for 3 days." Neh. 2:11
While Waiting: Reenergize! Pray! Observe! Learn! Build curiosity!
Action Plan: Patience through prayer will allow your dream to happen at the right time. Pray consistently. Start writing down your prayers for the dream God gave you, and what words he speaks to you regarding this dream.
2. MAKE SURE I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK
"It's stupid and shameful to decide before knowing the facts!"
Pr. 18:13
"I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Dragon well and the Dung Gate, TO INSPECT all the broken-down walls of Jerusalem, and all the city gates which had been destroyed by fire." Neh. 2:12-13
"Then I moved on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was so much rubble there wasn't enough room for my donkey to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered at the Valley Gate." Neh. 2:14-15
Action Plan: What steps will you need to make your dream a reality? You will find that you will need others that have skills you don't have. Keep your heart and mind open to have new people enter your life. Make note of these people as you meet them.
3. PROTECT THE DREAMFROM PREMATURE DEATH
"There is a time to be silent and a time to speak." Eccl. 3:7
"The local officials did not know where I'd gone or what I was doing, because I had said nothing YET to the people or priests or nobles or officials or anyone else who would be doing the work." Neh. 2:16
"I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do" Neh. 2:12a
Action Plan: Your dream is just that, your dream. Until God tells you to share it, keep it between God and you. Capture your thoughts and what God had been doing in the waiting, preparation time.
WHAT TO SAY TO ENLIST SUPPORT
4. TALK ABOUT WE, NOT ME: CREATE COMMUNITY
"Now I said to them, 'You can see the trouble WE are in. . . Come, let US rebuild. . . " Neh.2:17a
Action Plan: The words you use are powerful. Work out a clear, intentional statement about your dream. Things become dynamic only when they become specific.
5. PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
"I told them, 'You CAN SEE the trouble we're in: Jerusalem lies in ruins and our gates have been destroyed with fire!" Neh. 2:17b
6. APPEAL TO PEOPLE'S HEARTS
"Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so we will no longer be livingin disgrace." Neh. 2:17c "end our humiliation" "no longer ashamed"
7. SHARE MY STORY TO INSPIRE THEM
"I also told them about how God had been with me and graciously helped me in my conversation with the king in gaining his support." Neh. 2:18a
"They all responded, 'Let us start rebuilding now!' So together they began this good work." Neh. 2:18b
Action Plan: For help in crafting your story, register for CLASS 401 at your campus.
8. ASK FOR HELP CONFIDENTLY
"Come, let us rebuild the wall now!" Neh. 2:17
9. IGNORE NAYSAYERS & EXPECT GOD'S HELP!
"When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem heard this they mocked and ridiculed us. 'What do you think you are doing?' they asked.'Are you rebelling against the king?' I simply replied, 'The God of heaven will give us success! We're his servants and we WILL rebuild this city but you have no claim or right to it." Neh. 2:19-20
Action Plan: Continue to pray, continue to move forward, continue to bring your dream to reality. Never stop seeing God's love for others as the goal of your dream.
Weekly Action Steps
We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or email newstart@saddleback.com
We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him. Because of your faithful generosity, we have been able to provide food and supplies to over 600,000 people in Southern California during this COVID crisis. Give at saddleback.com/give.
We meet in small groups online to discuss what we have heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 83000, visit our website at www.saddleback.com/joingroup, or email smallgroup@saddleback.com.
To be baptized, email mYBAPTISM@saddleback.com.
Listen to our "Doable Discipleship" and "The Well" podcasts from our Saddleback Growth team at Saddleback.com/learn
