In our previous post, we've seen why the city of Jerusalem is important and have come to the conclusion that we too are being called to the work required to build a wall of defense on behalf of the city also known as the local and global Church. For some who attended our recent Equipping: Prayer, some of this will be a review, but read on so that we remain on the same page, so to speak, in the next blogs on this subject.
The book of Nehemiah is the account of a man who was not a builder nor was he a man of status or station. He was a cup-bearer - one who would taste the king's wine before he drank to make sure no one had poisoned it. He served the King, and apparently he served him well because when he told the king his heartache over the condition of his hometown, the king gave him everything he needed to do the work - materials, time off, authority, etc.
Can we find encouragement in this? As followers of Christ, and servants of the King, won't our King also give us everything we need to do the work of the city? Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things - what to eat or wear - He will provide. If you'll make His Kingdom your focus, He'll make your needs His.
So Nehemiah went to Jerusalem, came up with a gameplan, made an impassioned presentation and the work to rebuild the wall and install gates began with great enthusiasm. The people were into it! They knew the city was not only unsafe, it was an embarrassment. So they worked. Together. And the scripture tells us in chapter 4 verse 6 that they built half the wall because "the people had a mind to work."
Can we find caution in this? When you do the work of the Lord and engage in building His Kingdom, a mind to work and enthusiasm will take you far, but it won't take you all the way. They got half the work done by shear inspiration and love for the job. That's when the enemy took notice, and they had to move beyond inspiration to determination. If they were going to finish the work, it was going to be a 24/7, non-stop, sword strapped to their side, treachery all around, but KEEP WORKING kind of fight. We can't expect a fuzzy, warm feeling to be enough to do what God is calling us to do. It's gonna take some grit.
We learned that to do the work of prayer is no different - it takes more than inspiration, it also takes determination. Once the enemy gets wind of the progress in the ministry, he will do everything to discourage, and distract us. He uses mockery, gossip, hearsay, confusion, intimidation, and lies to attempt to keep us from the work of prayer. But in the face of this antiquated weaponry, we resolve to continue in prayer.
First, we make it personal. Nehemiah 4:14 charged them, "do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, Who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughter, your wives, and your homes." Many of us pray earnestly for our families. With intensity and specifically we bring to the Lord passionate pleas for them. Do we pray with the same fervor for our church family? Shouldn't we? The Church is a Father unified under our heavenly Father, bought with the blood of His Son. This is a family. Pray for your family, your church.
Second, listen for the trumpet. Nehemiah 4:20 is the battle plan - keep working building the wall, but listen for the trumpet and coming running to the place it's being sounded because that's where the battle is raging. In prayer, you will often (when you train your ear) hear the Lord calling you to prayer over the most random things and at various times. You might be in a service and see someone moved with emotion, someone who looks tired, someone who's distracted and the Spirit of God will tell you to pray for them. They don't even need to know you're praying, but God does. Listen for those unpredictable calls to prayer - in the grocery store, over the pastor as he teaches, over the congregation as they engage, over people you encounter any time, anywhere.
Finally, keep your clothes on. Nehemiah 4:23 tells us Nehemiah and his brother and servants never had a down time. They didn't go home and put their pajamas on and take a rest. Even at the end of the day they stayed dressed ready for the next trumpet call to battle. Keep your clothes on - more specifically keep your armor on! This is war! When we fight, we fight on our knees. The battle belongs to the Lord, but we are still engaged in every part of it. Battle in prayer over your church family.
Tomorrow we'll talk about praying over the leadership.