|
Rebuild the Walls
Remember me, O my God, for good! ( Nehemiah 13:31 )
The last words of the Book of Nehemiah are very telling. They cause us to review what it was Nehemiah did for God’s people. Nehemiah lived at one of the lowest points of Israel’s ancient history. The nation had spent the last seventy years in captivity because of its sin. The walls of the city were torn down, and the lives of the people were in ruin. Nehemiah brought life and hope to this nation out of His deep love for God, and great desire for His glory. As we look at the church – the bride of Christ – we recognize that she has sunk to a new low. Lack of morality, lack of prayer, lack of character, and an embracing of the world has led to a powerlessness in the church that has left her at the mercy of the enemy. Our walls are torn down. As we consider what Nehemiah did in the power of the Spirit, I am hopeful that we can be used by God to restore the walls of the church today as Nehemiah did 2500 years ago. As we overview the Book of Nehemiah, we can observe seven things involved in Nehemiah’s great success.
1. Concern
- Nehemiah 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
We will accomplish nothing for the Lord until there is concern for the things of the Lord. This concern comes from knowing His word and knowing His heart. It is fostered in prayer and fasting.
2. Confession
- Nehemiah 1:7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
It is easy to blame others for the condition of the church, but we cannot confess others’ sins. We must be willing to own our part in the weakness of the church and talk to the Lord about that.
3. Commitment
- Nehemiah 1:11 “…and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Nehemiah was not only praying, but as he prayed he was willing to commit to going to the king and getting involved. We too, must be willing, not only to pray, but to do our part in making the necessary changes.
4. Courage
- Nehemiah 2:9-10 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters... they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.
Doing the right thing will not make you popular in some circles. We must be willing to accept the consequences of fighting for God’s glory.
5. Caution
- Nehemiah 2:16 I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.
Had he arrived and announced his plans right away, he would have failed. He was wise and cautious in the manner he revealed his plans. So too, we must be wise in how much information we provide to others and when to do it.
6. Collaboration
- Nehemiah 2:17 Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”
Nehemiah knew that there was a time to involve others. We cannot conquer the problems of the church alone. We must involve others in praying, providing, and proclaiming, that the work of the Lord might be accomplished in a timely manner.
7. Construction
- Nehemiah 3:2 And next to them…
The phrase “next to them” is found five times in chapter 3. The people rose up together to work and accomplish the gargantuan task that laid before them.
Today, we have a gargantuan task before us as we look at a church that is torn down like never before in our generation. But together, we can build it back as we apply the wisdom of Nehemiah in the power of the Spirit to the work that lies before us.
-Pastor Jimmy Morales
|
