Archive for the ‘Nehemiah--BibleTrekToday’ Category
Scripture reading for May 9th: Nehemiah 3-4
God’s people are wired for work! When a vision is present, focus of energy and teamwork can result in a miraculous amount of work being done and great accomplishments. It takes leadership and discipline to get people to work together. There are many hindrances that try to hold up progress and destroy the vision. The leader must assess the situation, cast the vision, organize the team of workers, and deal with the hindrances in a timely and effective manner. He can’t run a popularity contest or seek to appease those who would hinder or hold up the work.
Nehemiah was an effective leader. He was chosen by God as he prayed for the city of Jerusalem, burdened for it’s broken-down walls. Nehemiah was given favor, authority, and materials from the king to go and rebuild the broken walls of his beloved city. His vision was the rebuilding of the walls. His plan of action was formulated as he assessed the situation for himself after arriving there. (Nehemiah 2:11-16) He decided on putting families in charge of rebuilding the section of wall nearest their own homes. (Nehemiah 3) This brought personal responsibility to bear on how the job would be done and how fast they would work. You work harder and smarter if your own family’s lives depend on it.
Nehemiah had to deal with opposition, both external and internal. This is spiritual warfare that is ever-present in the life of a believer seeking to do God’s will. He prayed first (Nehemiah 4:4-5) and then posted a guard. He armed half the men while the others worked. He kept a trumpeter by his side to sound the alarm if any family was attacked and needed help. (Nehemiah 4:17-20) Everyone worked together and kept ready to meet any opposition or force that might attack them.
This is a good plan for each person in God’s family. We are each assigned work to do by the Lord according to our gifts and talents. There will be opposition and it must be dealt with and watched closely to avoid setback and defeat. The Holy Spirit is the trumpeter in our lives who lets us know when trouble is coming. He helps us prepare for attack and leads the resistance. As we work and fight together the work gets done quickly. We remember that we are fighting for our own protection and that of our family. Personal responsibility and God’s grace insure the victory!
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14
Scripture reading for May 8th: Nehemiah 1-2
Sometimes prayer is used as an excuse for doing nothing. “I’ll pray about it” is an easy answer when asked to serve in a ministry or do a project. I have used it myself! Often times, as we pray, God moves on our heart and turns it to do His will and want what He wants! (Psalm 37:4) We have the choice of following His leading, or just continuing to pray and hope the prayer will be answered. One choice leads to amazing journeys and seeing the desires of our heart (and God’s) fulfilled while the other produces little in the way of results.
Nehemiah was an Israelite who was cup bearer to the king of Persia. He held a position of trust and would have been a close adviser and bodyguard for this king. He heard a report from those who had returned to Jerusalem earlier to rebuild the temple. They told how the work was at a standstill and the walls were broken down and gates were burned with fire. This report disturbed him greatly. He began to weep, fast, and pray before his God, the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4-11) Nehemiah, in faith, prayed and confessed the sins of his own people. He reminded God of His covenant with Moses to bring the people back if they would call on Him. He asked for favor to approach the king. (Psalm 5:11-12)
As he was doing his job before the king, God opened the king’s heart to ask him about his sad countenance. Nehemiah again prayed quietly and answered the king. He asked for help in rebuilding Jerusalem and it’s walls. God granted him favor and his prayers were answered. He, himself, had been used by the Lord because he fasted and prayed and allowed God to move him into place to do something to bring the answer! (Nehemiah 2:7-9) Prayer often activates faith that brings action. Note that Nehemiah continues to pray about everything along the way. There are 10 recorded prayers of his in this book.
Is there something that really moves your heart with pity? Is there a need that you see that is not being met or an injustice that is calling to you for help? Why not begin praying and fasting and opening your heart to the Lord about that situation? As you do, be open for action that you may be able to take to bring about change, healing, or a godly answer. The Lord wants to move our hearts through prayer to godly work. The result will be a joyous celebration when we realize what the Lord has accomplished as we prayed and worked! In the end of this story, Nehemiah has rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days!