So... I don't know about you, but I guess a couple of you have looked at the David's and Job's and prominent figures of the bible and been like, 'I wanna be like them' . I know. Sounds bold! 😎 and it is... BOLD.
But more often than not, what I really want is their testimony, (not so much their struggle) ,... but their testimony I will gladly take!
Who does'nt want to have a title like a 'man/ woman after God's own heart?
Who doesn't want to see the glory of the Lord for themselves?
Who doesn't want to come from the mountain with a face that's glowing because you have been in HIS presence?
Or have everything that you lost replaced multiple times over with bigger and better?
If you're like me, you' ve read through the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and prayed that there would be atleast 10 who would be found righteous in the city- and because of them, the city would be salvaged. Beyond that, you prayed that you would be amongst those 10- if the same thing were to happen in this generation👊🏾.
Enter this dreaded 'Rona', that is calling us to our battle stations. This one is threatening not just one city but the whole universe as we know it.
I'm reminded of yet another historical figure in the bible, Nehemiah- who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. The story is Epic.
If you haven't read it, go there and do so. Incidentally it's set on the 20th yr👀.
However, Jeremiah doesn't rebuild the wall on his own, he has God's favor and that of the King, -( whom he served as cup bearer), but it takes man after man after man to do the work. Chapter 3 of the book names them one by one and what portion of the wall they helped rebuild.
Naysayers nao😢.... 'Wakose wakufe?!' they are right on que, always round the corner, waiting to mock and make their contibution with opinions that quite frankly, - no one asked for! And just as persistent and dedicated as Nehemiah and the rebuilders were, so too were Sanballat and Tobiah' 'committed' to frustrating their efforts.
*The Command*
Neh 4:14
' **Don't 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.'
**
*The strategy*
Vs 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears and shields, bows and armour. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and *HELD A WEAPON IN THE OTHER.*
*The Prayer*
*6:9 But I prayed, 'Now strengthen my hands* .'
*The Result*
6:15
So the wall was completed on the twenty fifth of Elul, in fifty two days.
*The point,👀* 👉
We are called to carry our cross! You want the title, it comes with a sacrifice.
Maybe you're looking around and wondering how on earth did we get here and how do we stand a chance to survive it? Is this the beginning of the end or just the end?
How will households and economies and life run again after all this is over? Will all this be over? When? How?
... It's easy to get overwhelmed if you focus on the details, most of which we don't have answers to.
*When the foundations are being destroyed, where do the righteous run to?*
Maybe you're saying im not even righteous! 😢, but
God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
And haven't you heard that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much?
Could it be that you are alive at such a time as this because you are the Esther's that this generation needs? The Job's who will not curse God and die in the middle of affliction? The Moses's who will be used to part the red sea of blood and death surrounding us.
The David who will defeat the Goliath infront of us making a mockery of us and God?
The 10 who will prevent fire and brimstone?
The Nehemiah to rebuild the wall?
Could it be those prayers you're struggling to find the words to say will be what reaches the heart of God?
Could it be the weapon we are being told to yield and hold on to as we try rebuild the walls with the other half, - the health workers working tirelessly to help those in need- is that of Prayer?
The command
Do NOT be Afraid, remember the Lord Who is GREAT and AWESOME AND FIGHT FOR YOUR BROTHERS, YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR WIVES AND YOUR HOMES.
WAGE WAR.
PRAY WITHOUT SEIZING.
PRAY LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.
LIKE HUMANITY DEPENDS ON IT.
DEVOTE YOURSELF TO THE WORK ON THIS WALL.
It takes but a few dedicated men and women of God ( a people called by HIS name to humble themselves and pray, and seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways; then HE will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin and will heal our land.
Don't you know that He uses the foolish things of this world, the small and seemingly insignificant.
The YOU and ME.
Today's Nehemiah's- report for duty, the time has come.
