second half!
The walls of Jerusalem were half up
...the mountain was half climbed ...
the project was half finished
...the vision was half complete.
Almost but no all-together. Half done
is to fail! It was at this point
in Nehemiah's program that the
real trouble hits. The external
bugaboo was open warfare with
armed intervention from the
United Nations (verse 7).
The internal danger was
discouragement ...that's tougher
than armies, swords, and battle
cries.
The zip was gone!
Momentum was lost!
Adrenaline was no
longer flowing!
Discouragement from physical exhaustion
...four weeks of intensive labor had left
the Jerusalem jalopy with an emotional
blown tire. Fatigue made the game plan
seem futile.
Let me illustrate this feeling of dejection.
I stood alone on the California Interstate,
miles from a telephone or gas station.
Cars and 18 wheelers whizzed by without
even a glance. My station wagon had a flat
tire. Worse yet, I was worn to a frazzle,
too pooped to participate
...I was drained ...leveled!
Pray all I want; grumble all I could; blame
the tire company; blow air back into the
leaking rubber; wish for a miracle - one
thing I had to do - change the flat tire
on the car and in me.
That's what Nehemiah had to do ...the
worker's union had a flat tire. "In
every movement there are short-winded
people who sit down and pant like a
dog, acting as if they are over-worked
and completely worn out. The air has
gone out of their tires."
Nehemiah, the cheer leader, cried out
four words of encouragement: "REMEMBER."
The inspiration of a watch-word:"Remember the Lord"Get your eyes off the problem and onto
(verse 14).
your omnipotent Lord. "A proper view of
God puts all difficulties in proper
perspective." Over-comers by faith,
not by feelings.
The second word: "REBUILD." Piety and
practicality are Siamese twins. Charles J.
Spurgeon well named his magazine of
encouragement and challenge ...The Sword
and The Trowel. Get out the garbage
trucks and clean up the rubbish that
is a hindrance. Get out the swords
and spears and clean up the antagonists
that are a hindrance. "Let's clear
everything out of the way and get
through to God."
The smoke alarm system in verse 20 is:
"RALLY." The esprit de corp of a united
team was aroused by the blowing of the
ram's horn. The Lord is our rallying
point: "He shall fight for us."
- this divides the men from the boys. The
boys go home to sulk and the men heed
the blast of the trumpet.
The constant watchfulness is tied up in
the verb: "RESIST." The folks had a
mind to work, a heart to pray, and an
eye to observe. "Strength is gained
by overcoming adversity, not by
giving in to it." We are the church
militant. "But it is well to remember
that building the walls is the end,
and fighting, if necessary, is but
the means. The trowel, not the sword,
is the natural instrument."
Have you stopped at the half-way point?
Here's fresh air: "Remember ...rebuild
...rally ...resist!
My Biblical promise: Isaiah 41:10,
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God:
I will strengthen thee; yea, I will
help thee; yea, I will uphold thee
with the right hand of my
righteousness."
- Bob Foster
Our Statement Of Faith ~ Bob & Glenda
