[Nehemiah 2:12-20 KJV] “And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.“
“And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.”
“Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.”
“And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.”
“Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.“
“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.“
“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
“Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.“
Life is like solving a jig-saw puzzle; or doing art work. Sometimes, things do go as you expected. There are times when you have to completely rearrange everything and press on with fresh passion and fortitude. The story of Nehemiah teaches us great lessons which we can apply to be able to rebuild from the ruins.
- Spiritual mapping: We must assess the extent of work to be done. He went alone to see the extent of damage and work that there is to be done.
- Vision casting: Catch the vision. You must see what we are trying to push at and where are going. You cannot stay in the past and be comfortable with ruins. Share what the Lord has put on your heart with stakeholders, people who are going to help the work.
- Inspire faith: Hear again and again until you are inflamed with passion and committed to doing whatever it takes to get there. It will take more than just a few days. Nehemiah tol
- he people of the hand of the Lord and the word of the king that He had spoken to him. Garner support and passion from the helpers. Inspire faith until the people with you arise and agree to build even from the ruins.
- Prepare to soar above every opposition and mockery: Remember that the God of heaven will prosper us and the purpose of the prosperity is to empower us to build. God will prosper us to shame those who despise us but we must arise and build. Be encouraged to understand that the God of heaven will prosper us once we decide to build.
Stay blessed
