"SO BUILT WE THE WALL"
We live in an evil day. The times are treacherous. Our streets are dangerous. Not just where wars are happening, but outside of our homes--no matter where you live, danger lurks. There are guns, illegal and legal drugs (used in illegal ways), unimaginable violence, serial killers--and most of them aren't bred in the inner city (for those who think safety is in the suburbs or the gated community). We are in the last of the last days, and true to the Word of God, mens hearts have "waxed worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived". Think, only of this past week's news report in the nation. The nation's capital, your city, our nation at war in Iraq and Afghanistan--when you think of these things, you must acknowledge that our world is full of evil and wickedness, but short on love.
The Scripture in Nehemiah, has been on my mind, much of this week--not so much (in regard) to save the world, but for those of us who profess Christ. We who are called by His Name, must build the "Wall"; BUT, we can't do it one by one. We can't do it, assembly by assembly--only when we come together in worship and warfare, will we win this battle.
"Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. SO BUILT WE THE WALL, AND THE ENTIRE WALL WAS JOINED TOGETHER up to half its height, FOR THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK. Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create CONFUSION. Nevertheless we made a prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.... And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried the burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other they held a weapon.... Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, 'the work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us'. So we labored in the work, and half the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appears.... So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of God." (Nehemiah 4:4-9,15-17,19-21;6:15,16)
It was another day, another enemy--(or so it looked like another enemy), another "gap"/breach in the "wall", needing to be repaired. As different as it seems, it is very much the same. We have to do the same thing Nehemiah did--seek God, draw close to our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ ( being willing to "work" with everyone! Nobles and Rulers were on the wall working, too). It's time for EVERYBODY, to get to work! There is no room for respect of persons!
We live in a day, when right is viewed as "wrong", and wrong is viewed as "right"! And, the people of God are SILENT! As long as we can go to church and have service, get dressed up, travel to conventions, sing, preach and testify--everything is okay. Why are we saved???
We are saved to become WITNESSES! We are ALL called to be "able ministers of the reconciliation". He does not choose us before the foundation of the world, just so we can make it into Heaven, and that's it! We have a Wall to build. Breaches to repair--within our churches, our cities, our nations, our families, our world--even ourselves. There is a responsibility that comes with the gift of salvation--no, our salvation isn't about works. But, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." Your works don't save you, but they must follow your faith!
We can't win this world, full of hatred, deception and every possible wickedness, if we can't even win each other. Charity/Love begins at home! "By this shall ALL men know that ye are My disciples, that ye have LOVE one to another." Yes, I have said it, again. We have to start with each other. Show LOVE. Be extravagant with it! Don't be afraid to say it--but more importantly, show it, in deed. It is easy to say, it's another thing, to give love. The more you do it, the easier it is--and the more you want to do it.
Infect the atmosphere with LOVE!!!! Build THAT Wall.
The Scripture in Nehemiah, has been on my mind, much of this week--not so much (in regard) to save the world, but for those of us who profess Christ. We who are called by His Name, must build the "Wall"; BUT, we can't do it one by one. We can't do it, assembly by assembly--only when we come together in worship and warfare, will we win this battle.
"Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. SO BUILT WE THE WALL, AND THE ENTIRE WALL WAS JOINED TOGETHER up to half its height, FOR THE PEOPLE HAD A MIND TO WORK. Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create CONFUSION. Nevertheless we made a prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.... And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried the burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other they held a weapon.... Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, 'the work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us'. So we labored in the work, and half the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appears.... So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of God." (Nehemiah 4:4-9,15-17,19-21;6:15,16)
It was another day, another enemy--(or so it looked like another enemy), another "gap"/breach in the "wall", needing to be repaired. As different as it seems, it is very much the same. We have to do the same thing Nehemiah did--seek God, draw close to our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ ( being willing to "work" with everyone! Nobles and Rulers were on the wall working, too). It's time for EVERYBODY, to get to work! There is no room for respect of persons!
We live in a day, when right is viewed as "wrong", and wrong is viewed as "right"! And, the people of God are SILENT! As long as we can go to church and have service, get dressed up, travel to conventions, sing, preach and testify--everything is okay. Why are we saved???
We are saved to become WITNESSES! We are ALL called to be "able ministers of the reconciliation". He does not choose us before the foundation of the world, just so we can make it into Heaven, and that's it! We have a Wall to build. Breaches to repair--within our churches, our cities, our nations, our families, our world--even ourselves. There is a responsibility that comes with the gift of salvation--no, our salvation isn't about works. But, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." Your works don't save you, but they must follow your faith!
We can't win this world, full of hatred, deception and every possible wickedness, if we can't even win each other. Charity/Love begins at home! "By this shall ALL men know that ye are My disciples, that ye have LOVE one to another." Yes, I have said it, again. We have to start with each other. Show LOVE. Be extravagant with it! Don't be afraid to say it--but more importantly, show it, in deed. It is easy to say, it's another thing, to give love. The more you do it, the easier it is--and the more you want to do it.
Infect the atmosphere with LOVE!!!! Build THAT Wall.
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