- Nehemiah 3:28
The protective wall that had been built around their city had been destroyed. (This story is from the Old Testament). Nehemiah rallied the people to rebuild. In requiring the priests to rebuild the section of the wall in front of their own home, he was shrewdly insuring certain things:
If the person was in charge of their section in front of his own home:
- He was more motivated to build quickly and properly
- He wouldn't waste any time traveling
- He would defend his home if the wall were attacked
- The building would be an entire family effort
My community group looks for needs within our community for the same reasons...this is our home, when we rebuild what is broken in front of our own houses, we too are more motivated to build properly and quickly...we don't waste time traveling to another place...we would be more willing to defend what we are building...and we can include our entire families in the work!
This truth applies to the new ministry that my community group is beginning at St. Mary's Villa (notice the scripture says the "priests" build in front of their own homes). We need to remember that we are indeed priests in the Lord's kingdom and this is God's work.
If you are part of a group with a large project - make sure each person sees the importance and meaning of the job that they have to do. This will ensure quality work and personal satisfaction.
Nehemiah found more than broken walls (Nehemiah 7:73- 13:31)......He found broken lives. In response he gathers the people together to hear Ezra read God's law. The people repent and promise to change...backsliding is always a danger, we must constantly check our behavior against God's standards in the bible.
As I was pondering these truths this morning, I remembered another scripture that contained wisdom about "building"...
2 Chronicles 14:7, "Let us build up these towns, he said to Judah, and put walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought Him and He has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered."
Judah in this story, had peace with all her neighbors. Times of peace are not just for resting...They allow us to prepare for times of trouble. King Asa recognized the "time of peace" as the right time to build his defenses. The moment of attack would be too late.
It is also difficult to face spiritual attack unless defenses are prepared ahead of time. Decisions about how to face temptations must be made with cool heads long before we feel the heat of temptation. Build your defenses now, before temptation strikes.
Working as a large group in ministry is going to be difficult...the temptations to disagree or see the work differently are going to be great. Egos and talents may begin to but heads with each other, even though the ultimate goal is to fortify and rebuild what is broken...we must remember that we workers are broken as well, and that we need to be renewing our minds with God's word constantly. We must be prayerful during times of peace...building spiritual walls, and gates and bars...we need to pray together as a group more than ever, allowing God to strengthen and unify us...decisions about how to face these things must be made now with "cool heads"
When facing opposition from a strong enemy (which we will be facing as we start new work for the Lord in areas where the enemy has had full reign) we can find wisdom from king Asa again. In 2 Chronicles 14:11 it says: " Then Asa called to the Lord God and said, Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us Lord, you are our God, for we rely on you, and in your name, we have come against this vast army, Lord you are our God, do not let mere mortals prevail against you."
If you are facing battles that you feel you can't possibly win, don't give up - In the face of a vast army, Asa prayed for God's help, recognizing his powerlessness against such a mighty army.
The secret of victory is to admit the futility of unaided human effort, and then to trust God to save. God's power works best through those who recognize their limitations (2Cor 12:9-10). Those who "think" they can do it on their own are in the greatest danger.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. " - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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