Komstad Evangelical Covenant
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Great Courage Maybe they felt threatened by the thought of a strong Jerusalem. Maybe they just didn't like to see anyone succeed. Some people are like that. They just want to be grouches, and they can cause a lot of trouble. For a while, they are merely a footnote to the story, a little sidebar conversation that doesn't really affect anything. But in chapter four, they become real. And scary. We've been following Nehemiah as if it was our story, because in a way it is. But before we dig too deeply in this chapter, be very careful how you describe the war that face. We aren't called to battle people. We are called, however, to struggle against the powers and ideas that wage war against the truth. Our weapons are not the same as the world uses. But they are weapons nonetheless. So let's see what this chapter can say to us. A Conflict Inside The first onslaught comes from Sanballat and Tobiah, spokespersons for the opposition. As the people work, these two ringleaders hurl accusations. They can't succeed. They won't build the wall. They will never see worship in Jerusalem. Everything they build will simply fall of its own accord, so ... why go on? Just quit. We don't build a wall today. We build a life for Christ. But why do some people seem to stop before they even begin? Why is it so difficult to step out on faith, believing that God will really work in my life? Why take my guilt to God, even when he has promised to forgive? Why is it so hard to believe that God would forgive me? The first warfare most of us will ever face is discouragement. That voice may come from inside us, or it may come from someone who is very close to our lives. Even when they don't say it, a lot of people assume that there is no way to live an honest, prayerful life today. No way to trust God. No way to depend upon God for strength when our strength is gone. To their mind, it doesn't work. And if you hear that voice over and over and over again, you can begin to say the same thing. The first weaponry to master for a Christian is the armor. The armor that God describes in Ephesians 6 is largely to protect us from doubt, discouragement, and guilt. They rob us of joy and prevent us from going on. Personal armor was one of the major tools given to soldiers during the Vietnam War, and now in Iraq it is being developed to an even greater degree. It has been credited with reducing the incidence and severity of wounds in battle. Christians ought to be just as zealous about their own protection. Discouragement leaves a person wounded and useless. But faith gives life ... and strength ... and joy. A Conflict Outside Discouragement is a battle fought for the most part inside us. It is an attitude that we can control. In Nehemiah's day, no real conflict erupted while the enemies were talking. But then they started making plans. When the word got to Jerusalem, the crisis of wall-building worsened. Already they were running out of strength. Now they were faced with another struggle of a completely different kind. For a while, the work stopped. Everyone turned to the danger at hand. Even when the work crews returned to the wall, half of the residents stood guard while the other half worked. There has always been in the church a divergence of gifts. And some of those gifts are shaped for warfare. If you aren't familiar with spiritual gifts, they are simply the skills and abilities that God gives to Christians in order to build the church. A pastor who steps up to speak ought to rely not on their education but on the word that God gives them for the day. In the same way, a Sunday School teacher can be gifted to teach more effectively, and a church leader can be gifted to lead more wisely. Many churches have thrived because of individuals who prayed regularly for the ministry, the pastor, and the people. We are losing our generation of prayer warriors. They are growing older faster than we can replace them. In a way, these people stand as a guard around the church, pleading for God's protection around families, projects, ministries, and needs. If you are looking for a place to serve in the church, don't forget that there are two kinds of service. Some build. Others stand on guard. Both are a part of building a ministry for Christ in this community. A Leader for Conflict And then there was Nehemiah. Everyone had their post. Some worked on the wall, and some protected the work from those who would destroy it. But the man with the trumpet stood next to Nehemiah. In the event of a conflict, the warfare could erupt at any point around the very expansive wall. The people were told to rally to the place of the attack. The trumpet would call them. And the man with the trumpet stood next to Nehemiah. Out of a city full of faithful workers, God would raise up one Nehemiah. One leader who was bold enough to stand where the conflict arose. One leader who would wade into the disagreement and restore order and peace. Every church needs at least one. Aspire to something. Build, guard, or lead. Choose one. The battle is not coming. It is here. |
Open
my eyes so that I might see great and
wonderful things in your word.
Psalm 119:18
Psalm 119:18
Beresford,
South Dakota
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