The Work
Twenty times in Nehemiah Chapter 3, we find a particular phrase. This phrase reveals one of the key reasons why rebuilding the walls was such a tremendous success in the face of such overwhelming opposition.
Let’s remember where we are as we come to Nehemiah, Chapter 3. God’s people had been taken into captivity by enemies. Years had passed and the City of Jerusalem, with no leadership, was in terrible shape. All the walls had been destroyed and all the gates had been burned to the ground.
Nehemiah was a captive and had the duty of being cup bearer to Artaxerxes. Nehemiah heard about the walls and gates and the trouble of his people and was terribly upset. He developed a burden to see something done to restore the great city. In order for this to happen, a miracle would have to occur. Nehemiah had no money, no power, no followers, no experience, and no human hope of pulling this together.
But Nehemiah had a burden and he began to pray diligently. For months he cried and prayed. At times he fasted. Then one day God opened the door of opportunity and King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to go to Jerusalem and accomplish this task. He also gave Nehemiah protection and material support.
The miracle had begun, but it was by no means a sure thing. When Nehemiah got back to Jerusalem, he saw, what most would say, a ruined landscape. Not only that, but there were leaders in the neighboring countries that were opposed to the work.
Nehemiah surveyed the situation, called upon the people to join in the work, and then launched the project.
“NEXT TO HIM OR, NEXT TO THEM.”…This little phrase that is so easily overlooked and under-read holds a great impact for the work of God. This phrase speaks of the cooperation of God’s people to accomplish a great task. As we see the work described, we see this phrase over and over again.
A God-given vision had been accepted. A plan had been developed. A God-fearing people had determined to work together to see it done. The devil wouldn’t like it, but as long as these people stuck together and obeyed God, they could not be stopped! The people stood shoulder-to-shoulder in order to see a miracle unfold. Do you remember what Jesus said about His church? He said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
I want you to know that I am not interested in this being a first-class church. It is my goal to make this a third-class church. Let me explain.
During the days of stagecoach travel, a man had to take a trip. He went to buy his ticket and learned that there were 3 separate classes of travel: First Class, Second Class, and Third Class. The man looked in the stagecoach and all the seats looked the same to him, so he simply bought a Third Class seat.
As they rode along, the Third Class passenger took pride in the fact that he had paid less but was sitting right next to a First Class passenger. Then the coach came to a steep hill. The stagecoach slowed to a crawl and then came to a stop. The stagecoach driver yelled into the coach and said, “All First Class passengers, please remain seated. Second Class passengers, get out and walk. Third Class passengers, get out and push!”
Now you know what I mean when I say that I want us to be a Third Class Church. We don’t need riders, and we certainly don’t need watchers. What we really need are workers! We need everyone to help with the work of building the wall.
Let me share three principles of doing God’s work.
Working Together With God
Look at Nehemiah 4:6, which reads, “So built we the wall; and the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” Do you see this scripture every Sunday you come here to worship?
There is a divine, Biblical principle of working together with and for God… 1 Corinthians 3:9, ” For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building..” Working for the Lord is important.
What I am trying to say is this: We are saved to work, not just to get to heaven.
When you read in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Do you get excited about the work?
Being Motivated to Work
You never know who may be listening to or watching you. People are deciding whether to be positive or negative in the work of God by listening to and watching those they respect. Are we positively influencing the work or do we find ourselves being negative? Each person has a circle of friends. You can help or hinder the work with your influence.
Go back and look at the list of names in this chapter. Now, why do you think God would take up so much space in Scripture just to record a bunch of ancient names that we often can hardly pronounce? Let me say this; maybe, JUST MAYBE, the Lord wants us to see that people, REAL PEOPLE, did the work mentioned here. People, like you and like me, took the challenge and met it! They influenced their neighbors, relatives, and friends. They motivated one another by standing side-by-side to get the work done.
These people were not professional builders. Some of them were scribes, some of them were shepherds, some of them were store keepers, and some of them were farmers. But, they put their SHOULDERS together and did the work. They could not all do the same thing. Some could lift rocks. Some could place the rocks on the wall. Some could bring water and food to the workers. Some drew the plans. But, together they did what they could. It is easy to become discouraged when you don’t have help.
God keeps up with names. That is why they are listed in this passage. He knows who is working and where they are working.
Developing a Working Community
Note that different people worked in different places on the wall. They were a community, a fellowship of believers, doing what they could to accomplish God’s task. We are not all alike, but we are all in the family of God. Our personalities are not the same, BUT OUR SALVATION IS THE SAME.
Some churches have a hard time understanding this. They think everyone is supposed to be the same, like the same things, and want to do everything the same way. Such churches have a very difficult time. I heard about a man in one church that was having some internal problems. He became so nervous he could hardly speak. He went to the doctor who gave him some medicine for his nerves. Two weeks later the man called the doctor and asked, “What did you give me?” The doctor told him that he had given him some mild tranquilizers. The man replied, “Well, I don’t want any more of them; why, yesterday I even spoke to people at church that I don’t like!”
God’s people should be united in Christ. We are a community of faith.
The Bible is filled with illustrations of this truth. We cannot all do the same thing, but we can do our part. We cannot all give the same, but we can all sacrifice in giving. We cannot all teach, but if we cannot teach we can be a good listener. We cannot all sing, but we can encourage the musicians. We cannot all administrate, but we can assist.
I am reminded of the story of two men who were sure they would not be used in the war effort. They reported to be tested for service. One was blind; the other could not use his arms. The examining officer said, “Sure you can serve. You there, that is blind, you can pump water from the well. And, you, that cannot use your arms, tell the blind man when the bucket is full.” There is something all of us can do.
Nehemiah rejoiced to be in community of faith – he could not do the work alone! We must remember there is a Supernatural part of working together with God. Nehemiah and the people completed the work. This was not possible because they were so strong or smart. This was possible ONLY because they gave all they had, and depended on God for the rest.
When God’s people work in that manner, God always supplies the rest.
Peace and Grace
Pastor Bruce