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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
CONQUERORS IN CHRIST
The wall was broken down, the gates were burned with fire - impossible situation. I recently reread the Book of Nehemiah and was impressed with a few thoughts that we all might need to consider.
First, there was a major need. The wall around Jerusalem and its gates were in ruin. The people were in great affliction and suffering reproach. When Nehemiah heard about this, he was moved with tears in praying and fasting. I wonder when the last time was that you and I were so moved in such a way over the spiritual needs of our family, church or neighbors.
Nehemiah was no one special. He did not have an outstanding position with influence or a well-padded bank account. He was just a servant, the king's cupbearer. But Nehemiah knew God and believed He could do all things. He did not spend time dwelling on all the impossibilities of the situation, but rather took it to God. He asked God for courage and blessing to enable him with the aid of others, to rebuild the wall.
How often we allow our human limitations and weaknesses to keep us from fulfilling God's will for our lives? "I'm too shy. I don't know how. I am afraid of what people will say. What if I fail?" Do any of these excuses sound familiar to you? It has been said that God is not looking ability, but rather for availability.
God answered Nehemiah's prayer and opened all the doors needed for him to move forward. Of course there were enemies and people who tried to discourage, criticize, hinder and even stop the work. But three things stand out in this story.
One, is the people had a mind to work and cooperated with one another! "So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah 4:6 Wow! That would be a new attitude in some circles. No individual was worried about who would receive the credit for the finished wall. They were all working for one cause: get the wall and its gates rebuilt. We might be amazed what God would accomplish through us if the members of churches were less concerned with personal recognition.
Secondly, when the threats of danger and the attacks of discouragement came, they prayed. They did not start grumbling among themselves nor complaining about Nehemiah's leadership. They turned to their source of help and to the one who's cause they were involved in. Nehemiah spoke to the people, "And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them; remember the Lord," Nehemiah 4:14. How do we react when we are confronted with difficulties resistance?
The third interesting point is, they worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. "They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon." Nehemiah 4:17. They continued to work, but were ready and willing to fight when necessary. Today, the believer's weapon is our sword, the Word of God. "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Ephesians 6:17. We need to work at getting the Gospel to the lost, and at encouraging other believers when they are under attack and tempted to quit. But the enemy will attack us, and that is why we must have the Word in our hearts and minds and know how to use it against him.
In chapter 6, verse fifteen and sixteen of this Book, we read the account of the impossible being accomplished. "So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast sown in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God."
Oh, that the world around us, would see our personal lives and our churches and say, "This is surely the work of God:"
POINT TO PONDER:Are you willing to be a Nehemiah? If God has spoken to your heart through this devotion about something specific, what are you going to do about it?
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- Sandy Hastings August 26, 2008 |
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