God is active in this world. God has a plan
for you. You have to take your role in God’s programme in this world. To release
yourself into such plan and role, you need a few principles. These principles
are drawn from Nehemiah’s personal life and ministry.
1. Prayer with Burden to achieve God given task (Neh 1)
Nehemiah heard the pathetic condition of the
city of Jerusalem and its people. He was keen to know it. He could see need and
situation that beyond himself and his situation. This had brought prayer and burden
for people to the life and heart of Nehemiah. He filled with burden. That led
him to pray. He started to move beyond himself in prayer and burden. Paul said “I am obligated
both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish” (Rom 1.14). Mk 6.34 says “When Jesus landed and saw a
large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a
shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Lk 19.10 says “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what
was lost."
2. See Your
role in God’s program in your Position and Place (Neh 2)
God
placed you in this earth in this particular time with a purpose. Acts 17:26 says that “From one man he made every nation of men,
that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for
them and the exact places where they should live.” Nehemiah was an officer in
king’s palace. God worked in him in his workplace. God works in your workplace.
We are adjusted ourselves with life situations but often we fail to adjust
ourselves with God’s program for our life. In your workplace/sphere of life you
can be spiritually effective if you have ‘Prayer+Burden.’ Nehemiah realized his
role in God’s program in his workplace. Whoever you are and wherever you are,
whatever you have, whatever situation you have, you need to realize that God
has a plan for you and you have a role in God’s program in this world.
3. Assuming
Your Spiritual role and job (Neh 2)
Nehemiah assumed his spiritual role. In this
process he did at least four things:
Mobilize prayer First step is prayer and fasting
·
Mobilizing your influence for God
·
Mobilizing resources around you
·
Mobilizing people around you
4. Hindering God’s program
When Nehemiah assumed his role in God’s programme
and started to deliver his responsibilities, he faced hindrances and challenges
from the enemies. The enemies tried to ridicule them and make fun of them (2.19;
4.1-3). These are the two weapons of modern people against those who talk about
Jesus. The enemies again stirred up trouble to hinder the progress of the work
(4.8). They also made schemes to stop
the work and tried to bring fear to the heart of the people (6.1-2). Fear may take
our strength (6.9). However, Nehemiah took
victory over all these hindrances through prayer, trusting God rather than
challenges and guarding themselves. If you want to accomplish God given plan
and role in your personal life, you need to overcome all the hindrance that
come to you on the way.