This year we moved to a new church. It was not an easy move, nor was it what I had planned. God had been speaking to me as I preached at my last church, "Get out of your box." I preached that message over and over, the Lord would speak it to my heart, and I would think, "OK Lord, these people are sure stubborn." And I would preach it again, hoping they would get it right that time....and it was me!
God began to lay the new burden on my heart in the Spring, I began to pray in earnest after being given confirmation from the Lord, we then went to tryout at other churches, to minister and get to know folks, to find the Lord's direction for us. After ministering in several other churches, I began to get a feeling in me, I cannot describe this feeling, but I knew the answer was close. I also knew these other churches had precious people, but, I never got a peace. One day the Bishop called me and asked me to go to this little town, "just look at it he said"; when I came to this little church whose doors were closed it was sitting in ruins, along with the parsonage, and God spoke to me and said, "Build a Wall." There was no congregation, no money, no help beyond my wife and the Lord, praise God that was more than enough, but in my mind I was 'critical' thinking. But God said, "Build a wall."
God spoke to me of Nehemiah, of the burden God placed on his heart, of another time and location where Gods house was sitting in ruins, and a man named Nehemiah took up the burden, took on the battle, and was victorious.
Nehemiah built a wall with a spear in one hand and a hoe in the other (Arkansas language) prepared to fight while they were building. Not to give up. But to build a wall.
Nehemiah 6:6,14,16,17
6. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
14. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
16. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and bows, and the habergeons, and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah,
17. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one of them with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
How could I do less? Did I not have a mind to work? Were not sons, daughters, wives, and homes being destroyed here? Was not the House of God sitting in ruins? I knew exactly what I had to do. I knew it would not be easy (not to pat myself on the back) but I am a builder, I know the hours, weeks, and months, and money it would take to repair these buildings. My mother-in-law reminded me of Nehemiah, God had already spoke that to me, and I knew it was confirmation. I then reminded myself in v. 14 that the Lord IS the Lord, he is mighty and He was on MY side.
We are still building a wall here, work is not finished. It has been hard, it has been a battle. But the reward has been good. The Lord IS good.
God began to lay the new burden on my heart in the Spring, I began to pray in earnest after being given confirmation from the Lord, we then went to tryout at other churches, to minister and get to know folks, to find the Lord's direction for us. After ministering in several other churches, I began to get a feeling in me, I cannot describe this feeling, but I knew the answer was close. I also knew these other churches had precious people, but, I never got a peace. One day the Bishop called me and asked me to go to this little town, "just look at it he said"; when I came to this little church whose doors were closed it was sitting in ruins, along with the parsonage, and God spoke to me and said, "Build a Wall." There was no congregation, no money, no help beyond my wife and the Lord, praise God that was more than enough, but in my mind I was 'critical' thinking. But God said, "Build a wall."
God spoke to me of Nehemiah, of the burden God placed on his heart, of another time and location where Gods house was sitting in ruins, and a man named Nehemiah took up the burden, took on the battle, and was victorious.
Nehemiah built a wall with a spear in one hand and a hoe in the other (Arkansas language) prepared to fight while they were building. Not to give up. But to build a wall.
Nehemiah 6:6,14,16,17
6. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
14. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
16. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and bows, and the habergeons, and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah,
17. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one of them with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
How could I do less? Did I not have a mind to work? Were not sons, daughters, wives, and homes being destroyed here? Was not the House of God sitting in ruins? I knew exactly what I had to do. I knew it would not be easy (not to pat myself on the back) but I am a builder, I know the hours, weeks, and months, and money it would take to repair these buildings. My mother-in-law reminded me of Nehemiah, God had already spoke that to me, and I knew it was confirmation. I then reminded myself in v. 14 that the Lord IS the Lord, he is mighty and He was on MY side.
We are still building a wall here, work is not finished. It has been hard, it has been a battle. But the reward has been good. The Lord IS good.
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