A new pastor was out one evening visiting shut-ins. As he was enjoying the company of a beloved church member, his pager went off. He called the number displayed on the screen. He was informed that a church member and his son had both been shot during the robbery of a family business.
As he arrived in the emergency room, the receptionist said the family was gathered in the waiting area on the third floor. The receptionist took the pastor to the family. As he rode the elevator the receptionist said, “I am not supposed to tell you this but since you are their pastor, the father died in route to the hospital and the son is in surgery with life threatening wounds.”
How does anyone prepare to walk into such a devastating situation?
Nehemiah’s task to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was a very different situation from what the pastor was facing that evening. However, the same fear and anxiety were present. Sometimes a task that the Lord has for a believer carries fear and anxiety, just like the pastor faced as he walked into the waiting room, and Nehemiah faces as he was charged with rebuilding the walls.
How did Nehemiah overcome the obstacles he would face?
Invest your heart (Nehemiah 2:1-3)
The king and Nehemiah had a great relationship; after all, he was the king’s cupbearer. A cupbearer had the trust of the one he served. One day, the king noticed something different about Nehemiah’s demeanor. “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness from the heart” (v. 2).
The sadness Nehemiah displayed to the king occurred four months after the news came from his brother that the walls around Jerusalem were still in ruins. Why did it take so long for him to share his heart with the king?
Fear. For a servant of the king to show fear or sorrow was very dangerous. The king could execute anyone who displeased him.
Nehemiah was not going to let his fear keep him from doing what God had called him to do. His sadness of heart gave him the opportunity to speak with the king; “the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire” (v. 3).
To serve the Lord, we must put our whole hearts into his service. The time that lapsed before he shared with the king allowed for spiritual preparation to occur. Nehemiah invested his heart to the call of God by fasting and praying (1:4).
How much fasting and praying do we do?
Set clear goals (vv. 4-8)
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When the king asks, “What is it you want?” (v. 4). Nehemiah did not say, “Let me get back with you on that.” He had a plan.
Notice before he answered the king he prayed. God must be involved in reaching our goals. With the king’s blessing, doors would open for him to ask others for help.
Verses 7 and 8 reveal to us Nehemiah’s planning to reach his goals even before he asked the king for help. He needed safe passage as he traveled; he needed timber to build back the gates, the wall, and a place to live during the project.
Even though he had given much thought and preparation to what he must do to get the walls back up, Nehemiah clearly understood God’s hand must be upon him. We see this when he says, “because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests” (v. 8).
Please remember, no matter how small or large the task that God has impressed upon your heart, keep him at the forefront of your planning.
Enlist support (vv. 11-18)
Why was Nehemiah so driven to rebuild the walls? Look what he says in verse 17, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”
With the city wall not repaired, Nehemiah saw this as dishonor to both the nation and to God. The ruins made it appear the God of Israel had no power to reestablish Jerusalem as the religious center of Judah.
What do our churches today show the world when a majority of the membership is not in a house of worship on the Lord’s day?
Nehemiah met opposition in the three governors mentioned in verses 10 and 19. He did not allow opposition to keep him form his task. He made a secret night visit to inspect the walls (vv. 13-16).
What did this additional homework do for Nehemiah?
By obtaining the facts and assessing that his plan was realistic he was able to enlist others to join him. It was because of the confidence in his plan and in his God that he moved forward. This inspection allowed additional information to be obtained before he enlisted the support of the Jews, priests, nobles, local officials and other builders.
Be prepared before asking others to help accomplish the work of the Lord.
Before the pastor left to respond to the emergency call, his wife encouraged him to find someone to go with him. Not knowing any of the history, the pastor asked a man to accompany him who had a longer relationship with the family. God provided the needed help by providing the right person at the right time.
When we step up to serve the Lord, we often discover our love and passion to serve him equips and provides what is needed to accomplish the task at hand.
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