A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (September 18, 2017)
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. (Nehemiah 2:20)
Here is where the leadership lessons really begin. Nehemiah knew through prayer, and through the words from the King what He was called to do, but now it was time to perform the doing of it. The following is a summary of some of the key actions (spiritual and natural) taken by Nehemiah to get the job done:
He took authority over the enemy (Sanbalat, Tobiah, and Geshem) and told them they had no rights (no claim, no share, no part, no legal right) in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:20).
He organized the people to build the wall. The Hebrew word for wall is “chowmah” which means to join together. 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).
Nehemiah had to constantly face the attacks of Sanbalat, Tobiah, and Geshem. They were continually trying to get Nehemiah to come down off the wall but he recognized and discerned their deceptive intent and refused to come off the wall or stop the work.
He also had to train his people for security and battle. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. (Nehemiah 4:18-21)
The wall was finished in 52 days and Nehemiah gave charge over Jerusalem to Hanni and Hananiah. Nehemiah returned to the King as he had promised (Nehemiah 7:1-2).
What I want you to see here is a picture of Jesus. Jesus left His position in Heaven to save us. In the natural mind, that did not make sense. Why would the Son of God leave His position in Heaven to come save us and be tortured and die for us? Love is the only answer for that! Jesus came to save a lost people, initiate the building of His church, and defeat the enemy. When it was all accomplished He returned to the Father, just like Nehemiah returned to the king, and He gave us authority over the enemy to keep building His church.
The Body of Christ can accomplish great and mighty things if we stay true to God’s Word. We cannot afford to listen to the ridicule, scorn, divisiveness, and fake news of the enemy. We have to be able to discern false prophets. We have to put on the whole armor of God and be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy. We cannot look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. We are disciples of Jesus Christ and we must go until He comes, preach until all know, and work until He stops us, and when He comes for His own, He will have no problem finding or recognizing us. We will be on the wall!!!
