From the Book of Nehemiah Chapter 3
The book of Nehemiah is such a great book for the child of God that desires to make a difference in the Kingdom, as every child of God should. It’s a prime example of someone living in a fallen world and fighting back to take care of his own. That was Nehemiah.
He was the king’s cupbearer. A man trusted and fearless enough to make sure no one was going to poison the king. He, for certain, was somebody, and yet he was under the authority of a world ruler. Not a spiritual leader. But his burden and passion for his people is what got him into a position that they, nor the world could deny him opportunity to rebuild what had been broken down.
That’s how I look at our community. It’s falling apart. Our city is unkempt, our communities are filled with broken homes and broken lives, our churches have breaches that should not be, and all the while, God’s people stand by watching it happen, and in need of leaders that will rise up and start the rebuilding.
We’re God’s crew. And using that acronym we’ll discover “Chief Reasons Everyone Works.”
That’s how we’ll have success in the little kingdom we call home in the hills of West Virginia.
In the journal art for today’s blog I pulled words from the entire chapter of Nehemiah 3. It’s one of those chapters that can cause you to zone out if you’re not careful. It’s filled with names, roles, titles and jobs. We can read scripture like that and miss the little things that are the big things. Like beginning in verse of chapter 3 it says that “Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and they builded the sheep gate.”
It’s Our Church
And they were church leaders, willing to roll up their sleeves and pitch in where needed. And their place was the sheep gate. That’s the role of our church leaders too; they’re responsible for the sheep. Under Nehemiah’s leadership he rallied the troops to begin to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and a portion of that wall was where the sheep were lead through the sheep gate and into the temple.
What was once a sacrificial offering is now how God reference’s His children. Church leadership is not only responsible for leading the sheep into the church, but once they’re in, they’re responsible for making sure they’re safe.
How do we do that? How do we insure that our people are sheltered from harm?
STUDY THE WORD
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
SHARE THE WORD
- Romans 15:1-5 ~ We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
As members of the body of Christ, it’s our job to help grow the church. While it’s a different day than in the days of Nehemiah, membership is still by the blood. (The blood of Jesus) And while they were the tribes of Israel, we are the congregation of God.
Just as they had gone astray from the way they should have been living, which is what created the position they’d found themselves in, with not only a broken city, but a broken relationship with God; we too can identify with that analogy. From the age of accountability, when we understood right from wrong, we had a broken relationship with God. Church leadership, and us, need to be repairing the gate where the sheep come into the fold. We need to make the door of the church beautiful. And we do that by allowing them to see the beauty of God, right from the beginning.
It’s Our Community
Hassenaah sons were in charge of the fish gate. Then there were other’s under them. It doesn’t say they were fishermen. Just men, willing to work.
Jesus told Peter (who was a fisherman) in Matthew 4:19 ~ And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
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It’s important that we understand the references and parables that Christ shares with us in His words. Fishing was an important part of the communities along the sea. It was their livelihood. Well, it’s the livelihood of the church too! If we’re not out fishing and building our church, it will eventually fade away.
What fish do you have on the hook to build your church? Write them down, commit them to prayer and think on them as serious as Hassenaah and his friends took the building of the fish gate.
It’s Our Children
The work crews on the wall were every bit as diverse as the crews in our church. Everyone, regardless of their life roles, had an important role in the church.
Nehemiah 3:12 ~ And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
Commentary says of the “daughters” that they were possibly rich widows or heiresses who employed men to build at their own expense. Halohesh must not have had sons. This would have been the culture of the day, and while we have certain roles in the church as men, women and children, the point is, we all have a role and a responsibility to set the example for others. Especially the young. Children need to have a voice and role in the church so that as they grow in the Lord and become adults, they continue on serving. If they’re never allowed to serve when they’re young, how will they know that they can as they age?
What are jobs can they do:
Toddlers?_________________________________
Elementary?_______________________________
Pre-Teen?________________________________
Teen?____________________________________
College?__________________________________
Everyone who desires to serve needs a job. When Hannah brought Samuel to the temple, he was but a child, yet he served. Again, we know the culture was different, but the message is still the same. We need to point children into the direction of service as young as possible.
What’s your earliest remembrance of service?
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
It’s Our Responsibility
What if Nehemiah had stayed with the King? What if the community had stayed at home? What if nobody did anything? Well it’s unfortunate that many churches are facing that dilemma today. We have to accept the responsibility we’ve been given, and everyone has been given something to do.
What is your part of the wall?
- The sheep gate?
- The Fish gate?
- Cleaning Crew?
- Guarding the wall?
- Providing materials?
- Entertaining the troops?
So many more! We have to show up! It’s our responsibility!
