May 21, 2010

Today's reading: Nehemiah 2, 3, 4; Psalm 21, 51, 81, 111, 141; Proverbs 21

Psalm 51:18, "Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem."

Today's verse jumped out at me while I was reading through the book of Nehemiah. I know, how did that happen? Well the Holy Spirit brought it to me feeble mind. I would like to concentrate today on the last part of the verse, 'build thou the walls of Jerusalem." I think we can learn some thing from Nehemiah. Let's take a look.

If we are going to rebuild we are going to have to make intercession. Look at Nehemiah 2:4, "Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven." There are far too many people out there in the realm of Christianity that is trying to do their own thing their own way. We need to be people of prayer. We must seek God's will so that it can be done God's way. Prayer is one of the most important tools in the Christian's tool box.

If we are going to rebuild were have to make an inspection. Nehemiah 2:13, "And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire." Nehemiah was going around the city and getting a true vision of the work to be done. I don't mean we need to look and see if we can complete it or not. Leave that to God if He has called you to the work. Take a look around and see if you will need the help of others and seek it. By surveying the city we see that Nehemiah got a deeper burden for the work as he surveyed the city setting in ruins.

If we are going to rebuild we will have to make interest in rebuilding. People must see the need to rebuild. Nehemiah 2:17-18, "Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." I remember reading a book on leadership and the author said if you are in a position of leadership and you see this as a journey with others following you and you take a look back and nobody is following you then you are just out for a walk. (This was not even close to an exact quote.)

If we are going to rebuild we must have inspiration. Nehemiah 2:20, "Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem." Sometimes it is hard to motivate people. Notice the motivation here. If you don't help then you do not belong. Wow! That was real motivation. This will come as they see the burden for the work and let God speak to them about the work.

When all of this comes in line then you see what happens in Nehemiah 4:17, "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." May God enable each one of us to do His work His way.

So how are you doing?