Nehemiah 4:16-18
Nehemiah is one of my favorite books in the Bible, and also one of my favorite men. Why? Because his story is so wonderfully unfolded. He ached for what had happened to Jerusalem, and more specifically, the walls that had been built to protect it. Jerusalem and the walls themselves were in terrible disrepair. Once he had heard of this, he began his strategy to rebuild them. As a planner in the Air Force, part of my responsibilities was to anticipate as much as possible the possibilities of what could happen, and our response to each of those possibilities. We called them “Courses of Action.” Plan on two or three possible COAs, and from there consider the ripple effect for each. Like when you drop a stone in the water, there are concentric rings that spread out from the point of impact. You must think three or four rings out. Nehemiah was a strategist. There is a great deal revealed in how he thought, anticipating what might happen. He was prepared. These three verses show that he planned for the rebuilding of the wall, but also planned for their security, anticipating attack by those who oppose them. There is purpose, reason, and deliberateness behind every word of Scripture. In these passages, God is showing us that He has a plan for everything. There are no surprises for the Lord. In His grace, He invites us to join him in that plan. Just as Nehemiah had a strategy (under God’s direction), so too must we have a strategy. As a member of the elder team, there is a strategy behind every sermon, every program, and every event that happens at Emmanuel. The goal is simple yet profound…to honor God by making passionate disciples. As believers in Christ and members of Emmanuel, we are to build the church in terms of leading others to Christ. But, as a body of believers, we must also protect the church by holding fast to God’s Word, not yielding to the world but rather by changing it. We are part of God’s strategy. Are you ready to fight the good fight?
Nehemiah is one of my favorite books in the Bible, and also one of my favorite men. Why? Because his story is so wonderfully unfolded. He ached for what had happened to Jerusalem, and more specifically, the walls that had been built to protect it. Jerusalem and the walls themselves were in terrible disrepair. Once he had heard of this, he began his strategy to rebuild them. As a planner in the Air Force, part of my responsibilities was to anticipate as much as possible the possibilities of what could happen, and our response to each of those possibilities. We called them “Courses of Action.” Plan on two or three possible COAs, and from there consider the ripple effect for each. Like when you drop a stone in the water, there are concentric rings that spread out from the point of impact. You must think three or four rings out. Nehemiah was a strategist. There is a great deal revealed in how he thought, anticipating what might happen. He was prepared. These three verses show that he planned for the rebuilding of the wall, but also planned for their security, anticipating attack by those who oppose them. There is purpose, reason, and deliberateness behind every word of Scripture. In these passages, God is showing us that He has a plan for everything. There are no surprises for the Lord. In His grace, He invites us to join him in that plan. Just as Nehemiah had a strategy (under God’s direction), so too must we have a strategy. As a member of the elder team, there is a strategy behind every sermon, every program, and every event that happens at Emmanuel. The goal is simple yet profound…to honor God by making passionate disciples. As believers in Christ and members of Emmanuel, we are to build the church in terms of leading others to Christ. But, as a body of believers, we must also protect the church by holding fast to God’s Word, not yielding to the world but rather by changing it. We are part of God’s strategy. Are you ready to fight the good fight?
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