Prophetic Impressions for 2009: Opportunity in Discouragement
March 7, 2009
By Rodney Kirkpatrick
The start of the third month of this year marks a point that could accurately be described as "the end of the beginning" for 2009. In many ways I sense a similar place being highlighted by the Holy Spirit concerning many in the Body of Christ. Nehemiah 4 illustrates many points that I believe parallel much of what the Body of Christ is and will soon be experiencing.
Work directed by the Lord
Before getting to the specifics of Nehemiah 4, it is important to understand what precedes it. Nehemiah was engaged in the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem because the Lord both placed it his heart to do the work (see Nehemiah 1) and most importantly commissioned it through His word. Nehemiah 2:7-8 (NASB) says,
7 And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah,
8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.
It is clear here that Nehemiah was not engaged in a well intentioned, but misguided work, rather he was working to an end directed by the Lord.
Just like Nehemiah, Christians must be mindful that there is a difference between a calling and a commission. We are "called" before we are born (see Eph 1:11 and Romans 8:29-30), but we are commissioned to specific work in the Lord at particular times. It is very important to be sure that the Lord has given His word as approval for what we are or soon will be involved in . I believe it is wise to take the practical step of writing down the direction the Lord has given you for what you find yourself doing and that this will be an important initial step to help us when circumstances make things seem unclear.
My strongest impression in the spirit for this year is not that there is a large portion of the Body of Christ engaged in presumptuous activity, but rather that most are doing what God has told them and they are facing a strong attack of discouragement.
Receive Encouragement from Discouragement
Nehemiah 4:1-3 (NASB) says,
1 Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.
2 He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?"
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!"
Anybody doing what the Lord has called them to will be resisted by the enemy. Just like the builders in Nehemiah's time, we must guard against being "demoralized" by the world and other voices that are heavily influenced by it. One of the ways to do this is to listen carefully to the words of Christ to His disciples in John 15:18-19 (NASB):
18 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."
In other words when we are "mocked" like Nehemiah's builders, it is actually a sign that we are doing what we are supposed to and that the work we are engaged in has been sanctioned by the Lord. Endeavor to receive critical and discouraging words as a signal that your efforts are effective and causing the enemy enough concern that he has to try and stop it.
The right response
We must also take great care not to react to criticism in our own strength and in the flesh. Nehemiah 4:4-6 (NASB) says,
4 Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.
6 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
The early Apostles faced a similar situation in Acts 4:29-31 (NASB):
29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Note first that in both these instances the boasts and taunts of the enemy were taken to the Lord. It is a great challenge not to react rashly when we are unjustly criticized, but we must remember that only the Lord knows how to properly deal with the situation. Secondly, it is important to understand that when we are accused by others, it is an opportunity to call upon the Lord and see Him turn what was meant for evil to good. If we can react God's way, He will give us more power to shine His light and "shake" the world free from the darkness that dominates it.
Encourage one another
Another primary aspect to overcoming discouragement leveled by the enemy is to be encouraged by our brothers and sisters in Christ. Nehemiah 4:11-15 (NASB) continues,
11 Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work."
12 When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, "They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,"
13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.
14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses."
15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
It is vital for us to be involved in the consistent fellowship of local assemblies, but to be "stationed" with one another goes beyond simply sitting with one another in gatherings. Two principals to live by in the coming days:
1) You have to be intimately related with other Christians. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB) states it well,
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Someone has to know you well to encourage you toward your God given purpose. You "stimulate one another" by spending time with them and sharing your heart and we must get to the place where we are close enough to others that they know how to encourage us not to give up.
2) You must be joined to the right people. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (NASB) says,
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
First of all to be "placed" means there are specific people you must be in relationship with. Furthermore, to have it done by the Lord, you have to submit to His direction concerning who you are supposed to be joined to. It almost always requires us to die to our own desires concerning who we are to be in relationship with and how the dynamics of such a relationship work.
Emerging leaders with corporate vision
Nehemiah 4:18-20 (NASB) finally says,
18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.
19 I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another.
20 "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."
It must become natural for the Body of Christ to defend and support its different parts when they are in need. A key scripture to meditate on in this time is Ephesians 4:1-6 (NASB) which says,
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
The "sound of the trumpet" for Christians must increasingly be that Christ, not form or doctrine, unifies us and is the basis for our fellowship and our battles. God has made different parts of the Body of Christ to function in very diverse ways that can only be linked together through Jesus in the Holy Spirit. He is the substance that closes the gaps in the Church and a primary mark of leadership anointed by the Lord will recognize this and exhort the stronger parts of the Church to rally to the side of those parts who are facing distress.