Nehemiah's Plan

Nehemiah’s Plan

Nehemiah 3 contains a detailed description of the Jerusalem of his day. The whole book of Nehemiah is a testimony to one mans vision and determination to restore God’s Glory to his city and his people. I believe there is a very appropriate Rhema Word from this story for us today. The main thrust of this word is that we have sat back and done little or nothing to protect ourselves whereas Nehemiah did his building with tools in one hand and his weapons in the other. He was prepared for a fight – we, apparently, have completely neglected our defences.

We happily go about building our churches, our businesses, even our families without paying over much heed to their protection. Then, when persecution and opposition come, we are virtually defenceless. Often we squeal to God to protect us. Where is our own protection? How long have we spent warring for ourselves?

We pray for God’s blessing on everything we do. We pray for God’s protection upon everything we do. Why do we not take the battle to the enemy and wage war in the heavenlies before he strikes at us because strike at us he certainly will. Nehemiah learned from the first attack to set watchmen and to arm his workers so that any attack from his enemies could be repelled without stopping the work or even slowing it too much. The watchmen saw the enemy approaching and warned the workers. The workers prayed and took their positions to throw back any enemy attack. So the work progressed because the Lord honoured their efforts -.

Nehemiah’s strategy is a blue-print for us to follow. Nehemiah completed his building plan. He finished the job. So often we start tasks, even those that God really has given us, without the proper preparation and we “finish” with half the job still needing nigh on impossible completion. If God has asked us to do, then He will provide. So why do we get there and still have a mountain of provision to climb. If it was God’s plan we followed, then we missed important steps out. If it was not God’s plan then we got what we deserved.

In these present days, we need to pray protection over everything we do. We need to war for everything in spiritual warfare. Yes, the battle is the Lord’s but that doesn’t mean we can lay back and expect everything to go our way and perfectly smoothly. There is a battle to fight for everything and, I believe, we are called, like Nehemiah, to work for it with our eyes open and our weapons to hand.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,” Col 3:23.

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labour in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.”

Armour on !! Battle ready !!