Stay Focused
Let us go on a little journey together today… into THE Great Awakening.
I was studying my way through a past revival in scripture and I was impacted by how many applications and direct references could be drawn for today’s divine calling:
“And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61:4)
We are the people and THIS is the time to manifest the promised Jubilee that Jesus declared in Luke 4:19 “To proclaim the Day of our Lord.”
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)
Do not gloss over the language of our requirement to be a NATION within a nation. God deeply cares about nations because they are filled with people. Any people-group that is effected by the Gospel WILL transform a nation… just as, to the negative, the people in our nation who are submitted to evil are desiring to conform our nation to wickedness.
I pray that your heart is encouraged by seeing the biblical parallels of yesterday (Nehemiah) and today (the Christ-culture of the Ekklesia) building the walls (Spiritual defenses) around the Temple (the place of worship and service unto the Lord).
Nehemiah chapter 3
1At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall.
Notice that this work was a direct calling of God. Do not over-spiritualize everything in such a way that it makes you lethargic like past generations. We are called to build things… buildings, governments, nations, schools, and more that are to reflect and advance the Kingdom of God. Wherever there is an absence of light there is darkness. Jesus wants His light in every facet of living to bring goodness and blessing to the people of this earth. Nehemiah REQUIRED the priest to get to work doing things that they were not doing because they were busy with the stuff and things of their self-centered lives. This chastisement from a disciple who was a government official (Nehemiah) could have been met with anger or resentment from these high and lofty spiritual leaders.. but instead they humbled themselves and recognized their isolationist mentality was destroying the spiritual climate of their nation and generation… and got to work.
2The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.
Notice the unity of these people who were operating under a divine mission together. Specifically, the men of Jericho come from a lineage of negativity, and likely insecurity. The prophetic word after, “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho,” was that it would only be rebuilt under a specific curse that manifested in the most satanic Israeli king, Ahab (married to Jezebel). After the defeat of Jericho, Joshua declared, “Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho: ‘At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates’” (Joshua 6:26). These, “men of Jericho,” rose above their past and did a mighty work of obedience and unity for the Lord. They redeemed the curse to bring blessing (Galatians 3:13-14). Redeemed people do heroic things to redeem people!
5Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.
There will always be these people in the church. The ones who are too good to get dirty with the real work of the ministry. “Somebody else can do the hard, sweaty stuff… I’ll just be over here ‘praying’ for y’all…” Notice the insinuation of rebellion in this verse because they did not heed their, “supervisor’s,” commands. Long story short, in the new, rebuilt Jerusalem, these nobles were stripped of their nobility and lost their potential as a consequence of their pride and inaction. In the New Testament, we are ALL a, “royal priesthood,” and serve each other like our Savior exemplified… by the lowly position of servant-foot-washer.
8Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs, and next to him, Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs; 10next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
Notice the heart and willingness of these humble folks who are doing their obedient part of the work of the Lord. Goldsmiths and perfumers doing hard manual labor in masonry and construction…? Wow. This shows what a people can do when they allow the empowerment of the Spirit affect their hearts and hands. They were way “overqualified,” but it did not matter because what needed to be done, they were willing to do. Also, please notice that everybody had a very specific place and duty that was right in front of them. When each person built their required section of wall, NEXT TO their neighbor, the whole wall was built quicker and more efficiently than if they started at one place and worked their way around. Such wisdom to embrace for today. If we, Beloved, just do our part, stay in our lane, then the whole wall of the Kingdom can be built stronger and quicker. What is your part?
14The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.
I love this! The ruler of the district was responsible for fixing the, “Dung Gate.” He was called to fix the sewer… A ruler called to work up to his elbows in human waste because that was his section and it needed to be done. Beloved, please hear me when I say this type of mentality is what all of us should have. There is no hurting person, no terrible circumstance, no painful past that we should shy away from. We need to be willing to get as dirty and stinky as necessary to repair the walls and gates in other people’s lives. Being promoted by God does not take you away from the mess, it empowers you to fix the mess.
28Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.
I truly wished that other ministers today grasped this truth. What I am called to do, what Beloved Church is called to do… is unique to us. I am honored by that. If we build what we have been ordained to, and every other minister/ministry does their part, the whole wall is beautiful, strong, and seamless. This makes it easy to not get side-tracked or distracted by the, “shiny objects,” of other people’s callings. We will make disciples, train them up in the Finished Work of Christ, rebuild the, “seven realms,” to the Glory of God, and raise up generations of world changing influencers who will establish our land in righteousness and tear down oppression from tyrants. YES! Just typing it gives me a shout!
4:1-2Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”
Beloved, do not be deceived, this high calling comes with monumental pressure and persecution from the kingdom of darkness. The enemy will not just roll over and hand us what he has spent six-thousand years trying to control. With the expansion of victory will come the arrows of ridicule, lies, insults, and discouragement. Stand strong! If vile words and threats could kill, I would have been dead a long time ago. These bullies with wagging tongues can only affect you if you allow them to. Ignore their threats like a Child of God should. “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-39)
14After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not 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.”
What a great example of leadership. Do not look at the problem, look at the solution. He inspected (judged, considered, looked at closely) the situation AND his people. Good leaders do this, and many Christians today do not want this kind of authentic and transparent relationship… to their own personal detriment. He was also continually reminding his peeps of the WHY behind the work. This is for the Lord! This is for our children, our generations, our nation! Notice, God wants you to fight for Him, but to fight for things that are dear to your heart also. Good leaders are good repeaters. And we see that Nehemiah hates that four-letter-cuss-word that starts with “F” too!
15-16When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor.
This is so awesome! Work with one hand, fight with the other. I could preach this for hours! When we are wholly submitted to the mission of God, He can frustrate our enemies and train our hands for war and victory. Stay focused and courageous until the very end and you will see the beauty of what God is exhorting us to build together.
What Ezra could not do in seventy years (rebuild the walls), Nehemiah did in fifty-two days. What the generations before us could not do in manifesting this Jubilee, you and I will see happen with a divine quickness!
Are you excited…? I am!
I love you passionately!
Steve
