The Strength to Repent, Volume 2 : February 22, 2026
Finding Strength in the Song of Revival
Good afternoon, everyone! This past Sunday, Pastor Michael took us deep into Nehemiah chapters 9 and 10, showing us the powerful "nitty gritty" of how a heart truly revives. It wasn’t just a history lesson; it was a roadmap for our own stories today.
The Heart of the Matter: Confession & Worship
Michael started by breaking down two big words that we often overcomplicate:
Confession: Recounting our character and actions with humility—basically, being honest about where we’ve messed up.
Worship: Remembering God’s character and actions with admiration—looking at how faithful He is even when we aren't.
In Nehemiah 9, the Israelites spent a huge chunk of their day doing exactly this. They sang a song that walked through their entire history—from Abraham to Moses—celebrating how God rescued them, provided manna, and never abandoned them, even when they were "stiff-necked" and rebellious.
The Power of Remembering
Pastor Michael got real with us, admitting that it’s easy to forget the "big things" God has done. He shared how our small church has seen lives changed, hearts renewed, and people finding freedom from addiction.
"God is so faithful in beating up the pride in people... stripping away arrogance, one bandaid at a time."
Moving Toward Repentance
The sermon ended with a call to repentance, which Michael defined as "committing to change belief attitudes or actions to align with God’s word". The Israelites made a binding, written agreement to change their ways—vowing to honor the Sabbath and support the house of God.
While we might not be making vows about ancient agricultural laws, Michael challenged us to think about what "vow of repentance" we need to make in our own families and personal lives today.
