March 15, 2010

• Nehemiah stationed the people (Nehemiah 4:13)

  Over the past several posts here, we've been reading through/reflecting on/praying through the book of Nehemiah. Please see my posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

  On my other blog, I've done some posts on how God places the members into the Body of Christ as He wills, so today's prayer follows along on that same theme (e.g. - please see here, here and here).

  Nehemiah was God's ordained leader sent by God to seek the welfare of God's people. He was grieved to hear of and then see Israel and the city of Jerusalem a reproach and in distress. God had put it into Nehemiah's heart to go to Jerusalem to lead the people in rebuilding.

  Whenever there are ruins in the Church, God calls some to lead His people in rebuilding. Sometimes God's Church has gotten so low, so terribly low, that we barely resemble the New Testament Church, but thanks be to God because God's love for us in Jesus Christ is persevering, His good hand continues to be on us, and He raises up such men and women to lead His people in His way and His time, and then He puts it into the heart of His people to become engaged in the work of rebuilding. Very often that work of intercession for revival has begun with a couple people in very unlikely places (please see my posts here and here). We know the Lord Jesus told us that where two are three are gathered in His Name, He is in the midst. We also know that God's arm is not shortened that it cannot save. God is not limited by numbers (e.g. - consider the mustard seed, the leaven, the story of Gideon – please see here).

  I will confess there have been times I've become discouraged because sometimes it seems there are only two or three praying (even less), yet God keeps reminding me there are others who are unseen (like He reminded Elijah). He also reminds me it's not about numbers, and that very often numbers serve to obscure His glory. First and foremost God wants hearts surrendered to Him and devoted to Him and His glory. God is seeking our unwavering obedience and our continuing prayers no matter what we might see. May we persevere in faith in approaching His throne of grace knowing no matter whether we see God's hand move mightily in His Church in our lifetimes or not, He hears our prayers and is pleased with us. Let us not seek results but continue to seek His face in spite of what we might see. May we walk by faith and not by sight. May we be found at our time of death on our knees as David Livingstone was, whose whole body was worn out beyond imagination but His heart and mind and soul remained wholly devoted to the service of His Savior.

  God is seeking souls who will obey His call to them and persevere in that calling by faith. He is seeking souls who see their own poverty and neediness as well as that of the Church, souls which will continue to come to the throne of grace asking for His Church to be restored and revived. God will never fail to hear our prayers when we are seeking Him and His Kingdom and seeking that His Church be revived by His power to His glory alone.

  I have been continuing to pray God would set watchmen on the wall:

  Isaiah 62:6  On your walls, O Jerusalem,
  I have set watchmen;
  all the day and all the night
  they shall never be silent.
  You who put the LORD in remembrance,
  take no rest,
  7  and give him no rest
  until he establishes Jerusalem
  and makes it a praise in the earth.

  We look at how Nehemiah was strategic in placing people in chapter 4:

  So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

  In the same way God places people in the Body of Christ. He is calling some of His people to be intercessors, to be watchmen on the wall, those who will give Him no rest until He establishes His Church and makes us a praise in the earth.

  Lord Jesus,

  Nehemiah heard Your voice calling him to go to Jerusalem. We praise you for his example of obedience, dedication to and love for You and Your will and Your people. Yet we cannot forget that the wall was not built by Nehemiah alone. The people of Israel responded to Your voice to the work of building and defending.

  We are so tempted to hand over the work of Your Church to a few leaders like Nehemiah, but let us never forget that You have called and equipped each one of us to walk in particular works to Your glory. We are all ministers. We pray we might have ears to hear where You are stationing us on the wall and that we might respond in willing obedience as Your Holy Spirit works in us.

  You are the head of the Church, the head of the Body. You died so we might live to you. You have gifted each one of us differently. Your Father has ordained works for each one of us to walk in. Though all are called to prayer, there are some of us whom You have ordained to the work of intercession. Others have been called to other works in Your Kingdom. There are many members with many gifts and many callings, but one purpose: to seek the welfare of Your Church and to bring You glory. We are many members but we are called to work together as one man with one mind to Your glory. I am praying You would open ears to hear Your call. We can get distracted in doing many good works, but they may not be the works You have ordained for us. Give each one of us ears to hear Your voice, so we might know where You are stationing each of us. Give each one of us hearts to obey Your voice.

  May we rejoice in the works You are calling each of us to do and treasure the high privilege it is to be involved in Your work here on the earth. May we not neglect using our gifts as You are calling us. May we seek to glorify You and steward all You have given us to build up the Church once again.

  I pray Your mighty resurrection power would keep each of us persevering by faith with joy in the places You have stationed each one of us in the work of building and defending Your Church. Like Israel, we too will meet opposition. Keep us strong, steadfast, immovable abounding in Your work. We can be certain that our labor in You is not in vain.

  Thank You for saving us and calling us to Yourself and making us a people when we were not Your people. Thank You for showing us mercy when we knew no mercy. Your love, grace and mercy never fail to astound us. In light of Your manifold mercies shown us in Jesus Christ, through His Spirit who dwells in us, may willingly and joyfully offer ourselves to You as living sacrifices for that is our reasonable service, our acceptable worship. We were made to serve You, to worship You. May You keep us in Your yoke, in harness for You wherever You station us on the wall, Lord Jesus, just as You finished all the work Your Father gave You to do.

  Amen.

  Please add your prayers as His Holy Spirit leads you.

  • 6:36 PM
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