There is a move of God happening right now, and it is calling every believer to rise up. Drawing from Nehemiah 2:18-20, this message unpacks what it truly means to stir yourself up in faith, stand against discouragement, and align with what God is doing in this generation.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to an ungodly king. He had no political power, no army, and no obvious platform. But when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were burned and the city was in ruin, something stirred in his Spirit. He got a vision that things did not have to stay the same.

After sharing what God had done, the people around Him responded with one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture: "Let us rise up and build" (Nehemiah 2:18).

Notice they did not wait for someone else to act. They took personal responsibility. Notice the progression: the good hand of God led to a good word in their mouths, which led to a good action by their hands.

Why Does the Enemy Always Show Up When You Start Building?

The moment Nehemiah and the people committed to building, opposition came. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem showed up with laughter and mockery. They questioned the people's identity and their right to act.

This is not unique to Nehemiah. Anyone who steps out to do something for God will face two specific attacks: frustration and discouragement. These are the enemy's primary tools to pull believers out of their race.

But Nehemiah did not shrink back. He answered boldly. And that is the model for every believer today. You do not have to be silent when the enemy speaks. You know who you are. You are a son or daughter of the living God.

What Does It Mean to "Stir Yourself Up" in Faith?

The phrase "rise up" appears approximately 750 times throughout Scripture. It is not a passive concept. It means to rouse yourself, to stir yourself up out of sitting down, lying down, inactivity, obscurity, and defeat.

In the Old Testament, God would stir up the Spirit of leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. But now, because every believer carries the Spirit of the living God on the inside, the call has shifted. God is no longer coming from the outside to stir you up. He is saying:

You stir yourself up.

Stir up your faith. Stir up your joy. Stir up your peace. Fan the resurrection life inside you into flame. When you do, you will begin to see the will and plans of God come to pass in your daily life.

How Does God Model "Rising Up" for Us?

Because Scripture calls us to imitate God, the best way to understand what it means to rise up is to look at how God Himself does it. There are four powerful ways God rises up, and each one is a pattern for how we should live.

1. God Rises Up to Get Victory Over His Enemies

"Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered." - Psalm 68:1

God is not anxious or reactive. He sits on His throne and rules through His Word. But when He rises up, the enemy scatters. We see this with Jehoshaphat, with Joshua at Jericho, and throughout the whole of Scripture. God has a victory prepared for each one of us. The call is not to pray for victory and wait. The call is to rise up and lay hold of it.

2. God Rises Up to Fulfill His Promises

"Arise, O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the humble." - Psalm 10:12

This verse reflects a covenant expression. When Abraham raised his hand to God in Genesis 14, it was a declaration that God would fulfill His word. God is a promise-keeping God. He rises up to make sure what He has spoken over your life comes to pass. Be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer, and trust that God will rise up to fulfill every promise He has made.

3. God Rises Up to Have Mercy on People

God does not leave people in the mud of life. His mercy is not passive sympathy. It is active compassion that moves toward people and does something. Jesus did not feel sorry for the sick and walk away. He healed them. That is what compassion does.

When we rise up to have mercy on others, we are imitating the very nature of God. It means getting down in the dirt with someone. It means giving, not just feeling. It means going, not just praying from a distance.

4. God Rises Up to Take Back What Belongs to Him

"The Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land." - Zechariah 2:12

There is a moment described in Zechariah 2:13 that is unlike any other: "Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation" (Zechariah 2:13).

When God rises up to reclaim what belongs to Him, there is a holy silence. The accusers go quiet. The enemy's camp goes still. Because God does not move for everything. But when He does, it changes everything. Right now, God is rising up to lay hold of a generation, and He is inviting His people to rise with Him.

Is God Really Moving Right Now?

The answer is yes. What is happening around the world right now is extraordinary. Millions are coming to Christ in Iran in what many are calling the greatest revival in a generation. Churches seating tens of thousands are being built across Africa. God is on the move, and He is calling His church to align with what He is doing.

The question is not whether God is rising up. The question is whether you will rise up with Him. God is not asking you to do something He has not already done. He rises up for victory, for promises, for mercy, and to reclaim what belongs to Him. Now it is your turn. Rise up and build.