Purpose: To show that the Christian needs to face the challenge of service today.
You will remember last week, we considered the need in Victorious Christian Service to recognize the need for our service to the Lord. Tonight, as we come into this second chapter of the book, we are met with the need to face the challenge.
As soon as Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and started moving around in his work, opposition reared its ugly head. Verse 10 tells us, “But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.” We shall be seeing more of these two men, but it is enough to know for now that they were arch enemies of the work Nehemiah had come to do.
We may be certain that whenever a child of God says, “let us arise and build,” that Satan is ready to stand up and say, “let us arise and resist it.”
There were plenty of Jews in Jerusalem at this time, in fact, they had been here much longer than Nehemiah. They were perfectly satisfied with things as they were. They did not even think of the reproach against God that these broken-down walls represented; they were no menace to Satan. But Nehemiah, who was ready to face the challenge, was a great enemy to the work of the devil.
There is no battle anywhere in the spiritual sense until the Christian pitches in. There is no concern of the devil about the church, until he sees a Christian who is seeking only to do the will of God. But when he sees just one who is determined to serve the Lord, he is ready for battle.
As we consider this portion in relation to Facing the Challenge, I would have you observe that three essentials to Christian service are clearly defined in these verses. They are found in our investigation, cooperation, and determination.
1. Investigation
Before Nehemiah began his work, he was determined to know the real condition of things. He did not want a false view of the work that challenged his efforts. Thus, he went out by night and rode around the entire wall of the city to see for himself what the conditions were.
In his tour of inspection, he came into places where it was impossible for him to pass while riding upon his beast of burden. Can we imagine the grief he must have experienced in seeing for himself the waste of the city? Nehemiah was bold enough to look at the condition as it really was and then rise to face the challenge.
Are our hearts ever stirred like this? Do we take time to care about the deplorable spiritual conditions we see about us? Do we ever lose any sleep over the tragic conditions we see today, as men reject Christ? Think of the coldness of our prayers and the routine of our service. Do we ever really stop to ask God what he would have us do about it?
Before we ever enter into service, we need to stop and count the cost. But after counting the cost, we need to go on unafraid, knowing that we serve the God who is sufficient to meet every emergency. We need never look back or withdraw from the task until we can look at the Master and say, “It is finished, the work you called me to do.” To do less than this, the Bible declares, will make us unfit for the Kingdom of God.
2. Cooperation
In verse 17, you will note that after Nehemiah had carefully observed the work that had to be done, he went to the people and said, “Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach.”
By scanning the third chapter of this book, you will see that there was a good plan and strategy for the work. It was to be done effectively and efficiently. Nehemiah was not interested in being a one-man team. The work of the Lord is too great for that. He divided the work into forty-two groups. All along the wall, people were at work. Each person was committed to building the section of the wall nearest to his own home. Each person worked with the one desire to see the work completed. They were not filled with jealousy over what someone else was doing. They had their own work, and it was all part of the greater and overall task that had to be done. They were conscious of their next-door neighbor and thankful they were also sharing in the work.
S.D. Gordan said, “Cooperation increases efficiency in amazing proportions. Two working together in perfect agreement have fivefold the efficiency of the same two working separately.” He said further, “A united church would be an unconquerable church. But the moment that cooperation is sacrificed as an essential, real power is at a disappearing point.” The greatest menace to a church is the person who will not work with others just because he cannot have things as he desires them.
We need this spirit of cooperation in our church.
3. Determination
You will note in the 10th and 20th verses that Nehemiah is about to run into trouble.
These three men were set on defeating the work of Nehemiah. Notice, however, the courageous way in which Nehemiah dealt with them. They laughed at the work that they were about to do, but Nehemiah replied, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build.”
In the face of criticism, he could take courage in the fact that he was doing God’s work. Therefore, God would be with them.
Furthermore, he reprimanded them for their hindrance. “You have no portion, or right, or claim in Jerusalem.”
What was he actually saying here? You own nothing here; in fact, you have no right to be here, so why don’t you just get out.
Be assured of this. The person who is constantly standing in the way of God’s work by criticism has no right to his claims, and would be far better for him to just move along and let the people who desire to work set their hand to the task.
Conclusion
There are three keys to victorious service as we face the challenge of the work of the Lord. First, we need to carefully investigate the task. There is no advantage in rushing foolishly into the work. We need to take time to wait upon the leading of the Lord. After we see the work as it really is, then we can learn how to go about the task.
Cooperation is another key. Unless we can engage together in the work in a spirit of unity and love, we will have a miserable defeat. The work of the Lord is so great that it takes the very best of everybody pulling in the same direction.
By determination, in knowing this is the Lord’s work, we can go on to great victory.
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