BUILDING

Sometimes you have to tear down in order to rebuild.  Sometimes, tearing down just happens by others or storms, but still rebuilding is necessary.  And sometimes, Satan intervenes in tearing down.  But it takes everyone to rebuild. 

Nehemiah 2:18, 20, 3:1-12 

Nehemiah told the people what God had provided for them to rebuild the wall.  And they committed themselves to the task.  And they worked alongside one another. 

What does God provide for His work?  Whatever is needed.  He is always at work around us, Blackaby says.  God is always ahead of us in working.  We just have to pray and look for what he is doing. 

Does this apply to rebuilding a church?  Whose church is this?  Who is the Provider for His church?  Does He have enough resources to complete the task?

When the Jews realized what God had already done on their behalf, what did they do?  They committed themselves to rebuilding the wall.  They knew it was needed, but they didn’t get around to it.  They knew it was needed but they just focused on their individual lives and doing “their” things. 

But when they heard all that God had done for Nehemiah, inspiring him to come, giving him building materials, using him as an organizer, they realized this was God’s work.  So then what did they do?  They committed themselves to God’s task for them—their part. 

Notice what Nehemiah said to the naysayers and those trying to stop the work (in v. 20), “God will give us success.”  When God is in something, it will happen.  God is the difference between failure and success.  God can do anything He chooses!  Do you believe that? 

But notice the other thing Nehemiah said, “We his servants will start rebuilding,…”  What did he call them?  God’s servants—they were doing this task as a way of serving God. 

When people work together to rebuild a church that is down to almost nothing, they are being “servants” of God.  It He wants the task done, God will do His part.  But will God have willing servants, doing their part? 

Notice in chapter 3 that God used all kinds of people—priests, skilled laborers, people from other towns, some near some far, and even women were involved in the hard physical labor of rebuilding the wall around their city.  Some did small parts and others did large parts.  Some finished work in one area and then moved to another area to work more toward the task. 

God uses all kinds of people in rebuilding his church—extroverts and introverts, teachers, deacons, leaders, followers, old and young and children.  Everyone can do something. 

If all you can do is prayer (notice what I said—“all” you can do is pray”—isn’t that often our attitude about prayer—we think it really isn’t much—but it really is very important—maybe one of the most important things in being a servant of God, isn’t it?) 

Pray for God to call out laborers into His harvest field.  Pray for success.  Pray for servant hearts toward God and His work.  Pray for others to join the task.  Lots of specific things to pray for, besides just a generic prayer—God bless us and grow us. 

Nehemiah used the people’s natural inward focus to get the wall rebuilt.  Many of the people who worked on the wall worked on the section of the wall closes to their homes.  Would you want protection close to your home, your loved ones?   

But Nehemiah also found servants with an outward focus.  Some who did not live in Jerusalem came to help rebuild the wall.  Their focus was not just on themselves, but on fellow Jews in Jerusalem and their safety.  For a church to grow, there needs to be an outward focus. 

Do others need what is offered at church?  Do people need to know Christ?  Do they need to know what the Bible says about living their lives?  Do they need support and encouragement and friends? 

Fellowship meals could be times of inviting others to attend.  Or they could be just another chance for us to have fellowship among ourselves.  What would Jesus do?  What would He want? 

But on the other hand, would people want to come?  Is there anything that would encourage people to come back—real Bible study, real worship and joy in worship, real friendship and support?  Good questions for each of us to ask ourselves.  There has to be something that attracts people—why would they want to come? 

Josh Hunt, SS consultant, says to quit inviting people to SS.  He says instead, “have more parties.”  Invite people over for a meal at your house to let them get to know you in a fun environment (I hope your home is a fun environment).  Maybe invite a family from church with a family that is not churched.  Trust can be built through building friendships—real genuine relationships.  Later maybe, you can invite them to come with you to your church.  But after they are really friends. 

Why do we always try to get people to come to church for Games nights and fun things, when we could just, with a few, do these with others.  In fact, you are probably already doing some of these.  We have, at times, when we were having a birthday party or family over, also invited international friends over to celebrate with us.  Include people in your normal celebrations and activities.  Ask someone to “go along” with you for ballgames, movies, etc. 

Rebuilding a church today is about building relationships.  That’s what Josh Hunt means when he says, “Have more parties.”  If you’re fun to be with when you’re NOT in church, maybe you would be fun to be with IN church too. 

It takes everyone—servants of God—doing a task.  God provides what we need—we join Him in what He is already doing as we ask Him where, and when we see, we then act. 

Servants rebuild walls.