Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.”  I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.  But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” (Nehemiah 2:17-19 NIV).

Having identified that there are problems, the task that lies ahead is to fix them. The task of rebuilding is fraught with underlying problems. Nehemiah had a plan that was sanctioned by God.  However, he never revealed his plan to all those he came in contact with. As the enormity of the task became apparent, and not knowing the resources Nehemiah had at his disposal, several groups of people began to question the job of rebuilding.

When we are faced with problems, it is refreshing when we know what they are and have a plan to fix them. However we must be aware that we will always face opposition. For Nehemiah he was faced with the diabolical trinity of a Persian, an Ammonite and an Arab. They conspired to derail what God had put in Nehemiah’s heart.  So as we start the process of rebuilding the broken areas in our lives, we must recognise that there will be opposition. For Nehemiah, these people who opposed him were high officials in their regions and people listened to them.  Those who oppose what you do usually have some expertise in particular areas.  This does not give them the right to talk you into jettison what God has placed in your heart.

Today remember that the rebuilding process will be long and arduous and there will be opposition, but you can do it if you rely on godly people who see the good work that God is doing in you.

 Read Nehemiah 3