FROM THE RUINS, WE WILL RISE
"17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work." Nehemiah 2:17-18.
When the Babylonian army besieged Jerusalem and destroyed the city, they completely destroyed the Temple and the city. The children of Israel were forced into exile. Those remaining in the city were suffering as a result of hunger and oppression by enemies around. Jerusalem was no longer safe as her wall had been destroyed. The walls once served as a source of refuge, security, protection and stability. But now it lay in ruins. There was nothing left in the once beautiful glorious city than broken dreams, long lost memories and shattered hopes. Jerusalem was a shadow of its former glory! The foundation stones of the city were overturned, the gates burned, and anything of importance had long been stolen by scavengers. That is, until Nehemiah showed up on the scene. He was not an expert builder, but God used him to restore the glory of the city because he had a willing heart. The condition of Jerusalem and its Temple broke his heart. The pride of the Jewish people had deteriorated. So he inquired and was granted permission by King Artaxerxes. After making a thorough survey of the walls of the city at night, he rallied a team, and went to work. Despite oppositions, Nehemiah and his team rebuilt the wall.
Just like in the days of Ezra, Zerubbabel, Haggai and Nehemiah, we're in the midst of a worldwide crisis. Most parts of the world are in lock-downs! The slump in the economy has affected everyone. Those gainfully employed are unable to go to work. Students are not able to attend school. Many cities are abandoned as people stay indoors, either by choice or by government directive. Churches, offices, shops, theaters, restaurants and bars are closed. Even the International Labour Organization estimates that 25 million jobs could be lost. Maybe you’ve been without a job or a source of income for months. The doctor report isn’t what you had hoped. Perhaps you’ve tried without success to resuscitate your failing business. You may have suffered a change in fortunes or it may seem as if your aspirations have been cut down. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a setback that you cannot see a way out of. The socio-economic effects of this pandemic is likely to be severe. But soon COVID-19 will come to an end. Even the darkest night come to an end. "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but [a]joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5.
“And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10.
Job was living a very successful life. Then suddenly, it was all over. In one day he lost everything! Job is left bankrupt, homeless, and afflicted. But his story does not end there. The fortunes of Job were restored. "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity." Proverbs 24:16. There's a comeback after a setback! Even if you're ever swept off your feet by the storms of life, you can come over the waters again. “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. 8 Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, 9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.” Job 14:7-9. The hope of restoration of a tree is not in its leaves but in its root. The future may be uncertain, but we must remember that whatever happens, God will never abandon us. Deuteronomy 31:6. "He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps." Psalm 40:2. God is always present, reaching down to give you a helping hand in the raging storms of life.
YOU CAN'T STAY DOWN:
“23 The steps of a good man are [a]ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:23-24.
There are troubles in this world. Christians will be affected. No one including the righteous is immune from trouble. This should not be a surprise. Even a life of faith, can go horribly wrong. Sometimes we allow the disappointments of the past to paralyze and stop us from taking fresh opportunities. We allow the feelings of failures, guilt, rejection, depression, doubt, bereavement, discouragement, disillusionment, defeat, despondency, despair, betrayal, setbacks and self pity, to overwhelm us to the point that it becomes difficult to move on. But if you’re to see God’s best, you can't stay down. When the circumstances of life come to push us down, we must shake it off. That means get back up! Maybe, today, you feel like you don't have the strength to go on. Maybe you've fallen, and you feel defeated. But your story does not end with you fall.
"Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness,the Lord will be a light to me." Micah 7:8. Arise means to be stirred up, to awake, to get up and to prepare for action. God is calling you to get up, to awaken, and to move upward! You may feel down and depressed by your circumstances, but He has a specific purpose for your life and it is time for you to arise! Arise from depression, regrets, bitterness, and disappointments. Stand up!Failure in life is never final, it’s not an end in itself. Break away from the complication of the past! Don’t let what happened to you yesterday limit today’s opportunities. Arise from shame and guilt. Don’t let the enemy keep you down! Arise from frustration and fear! There are better days ahead. There is a glorious future awaiting you. Your roses will blossom again.
REBUILD:
After years in exile, Zerubbabel strengthened by God, returned and rebuilt the Temple. Another group led by Ezra brought spiritual revival and needed reforms. Under Nehemiah, the broken walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt.
"They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” Isaiah 61:4.
To rebuild is to remodel extensively or reconstruct with new parts. It is to restore. To rebuild is to bring back, return, and recover. It is to put back in order and to adjust. To rebuild is to bring to a former condition, health, or strength. It is to renew! To rebuild is to refresh, renovate, refurbish, readjust, re-adapt, rearrange, redecorate, improve, reshape and to revive. God is a Master Builder! "For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God." Hebrews 3:4. He cares about you. Whether you’re trying to rebuild a home, ministry, career, or business. You can trust Him to take the broken pieces of your life and makes something beautiful out of it. Zechariah 9:12 says, "Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you." Restoration is a promise from God. Joel 2:25-27. He promises to restore all that the locust, canker-worm, caterpillar and palmerworm have taken out of your life. Are you frustrated, confused, and disappointed about the circumstances of life? Then trust Him. The Lord will restore you. "He turns a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry ground into water springs." Psalm 107:35.
Have you been made redundant as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you ever wish you could just start over? Regardless of the past, your life can still be restarted You can have a fresh start! "22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" Lamentations 3:22-23. God has promised to give us a new beginning that's full of hope, joy, and opportunities. Revelation 21:5; Psalm 40:3; Ezekiel 11:19; Isaiah 43:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17. Like a broken clay in the Hands of the Potter, God can transform your life by His grace. "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make." Jeremiah 18:4.
Do you desire revival? Do you long for the reviving work of God in your life, family, church and ministry? The look to God for awakening and revival! Revival is from the Hebrew word chayah which means “to bring back to life,” to “restore to consciousness,” or to “restore to a previous condition.” A revival is new life in Christ. It is the restoration of ones spiritual life. Revival is needed whenever our love for God has grown cold. It is the renewal of the First Love. Revival is a supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit through which God calls His children back to a deeper relationship. It is to be awakened from spiritual slumber. Revival is the sovereign work of the Almighty."6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation." Psalm 85:6-7. To be revived again means that there had been a previous revival. You can’t revive something that has never existed. No matter your spiritual state, God wants to revive you. He'll always forgive and return to His people as long as they return to Him.
"I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them." Amos 9:14.
1. Approach God with genuine repentance.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14. The first thing Nehemiah did in rebuilding Jerusalem was to go to God. Whether it be personal, family, or church, rebuilding cannot begin before repentance and confession. Nehemiah prayed and confessed his sins as well as those of his people. Come to the Lord with a sincere heart. Jesus Christ is the Rock Solid Foundation! Matthew 7:24–29. Your life will continue to fall apart without Him. The Bible says, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11:3. Any building must start with a solid foundation. No structure can stand for long without a solid foundation.
2. Refuse to wallow in self-pity.
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22.
Self-pity keeps you stuck because your focus is on your situations. It keeps you from accepting personal responsibility. Self-pity makes you to focus on negativity. It is self-destruction. Self-pity lengthens the duration of your situation. It is an exaggerated view of ones circumstance. Self pity is an enemy of progress. It turns you into a complainer. Self pity will rob you of your hope. It is the replay button in our memory bank. Are you wallowing in self-pity? Come to God with your broken heart! Let Him heal and rebuild you. Practice forgiveness. Hand over unresolved issues, such as anger, strife, bitterness, and hurt to God. Forgive yourself. Be positive. You can choose to smile today and be hopeful, regardless of the situation you found yourself in. Refuse to be a victim of life's circumstances. Stop speaking or confessing negative things. Avoid low self-esteem. Praise God in all situations. Meditate on His promises. Trust in God's plan. It is time to move on!
3. Learn from yesterday's experiences.
If you made mistakes, learn from them. If you need to apologize, do so. But don’t build a home in the past. The past is a point of reference, not a place of residence. "The Sovereign LORD has taught me what to say, so that I can strengthen the weary. Every morning he makes me eager to hear what he is going to teach me." Isaiah 50:4. In every experience there’s a lesson, so glean it and move forward. When you live in the past, you’re likely to be bitter.
4. Focus on God not on your circumstances.
Psalm 121:1. Lift up your eyes to God when you fall. Have faith. Never lose hope! Don't let your faith be wavering. God is with you always, in the midst of every challenge. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" Deuteronomy 31:8. Remember past goodness of the Lord; it will give you the courage needed to confront the challenges of today. 1 Samuel 17:36.
5. Read and meditate on the Word. The more you read God’s Word when you’re down, the more He lifts you up.
6. A consistent prayer life.
7. Stay in the place of praise, worship and thanksgiving. 1 Corinthians 15:57.
8. Do not be afraid.
When Nehemiah started working on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem people told him it was impossible. Many tried to stop his work. His life was even threatened. But he pressed on! Close your ears to voices that create fear. Do not be afraid, but keep on believing. Mark 5:36: Expect oppositions. “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” Nehemiah 6:2. There are obstacles and opposition along the way. You'll face discouragements and doubts as you try to rebuild. Don’t give up. Don’t go down and be distracted from what God has called you to do.
9. Maintain your integrity.
10. Do no compare yourself to others.
Life's not a competition! You're unique, set apart for a specific purpose. Comparison breeds bitterness and anxiety.
11. You will need the help of others. Get wisdom from them to help you rebuild.
12. Be resilient!
Resilience is the ability of an object to return to form after it’s been bent, stretched or compressed. It also means to bounce back after a fall. To be resilient is to fight through, to stabilize after adversity, to recover and to thrive. Keep going! No matter how hard it gets don't throw in the towel. No matter the pain or difficulty, don't quit. Cling to God and believe the best. No matter how many failures, betrayals or setbacks you’ve experienced in life, it’s never too late to bounce back.
“On the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, the wall was completely rebuilt. It had taken fifty-two days." Nehemiah 6:15.
Elul is the 6th month of the Biblical calendar. In our present day calendar, the month of Elul is between August and September. So don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than fifty-two days to rebuild the broken pieces of your life. Rather, be encouraged by the story of Nehemiah. Stand firm on the Word of God. Don’t give up. Keep pressing on with what God has called you to do. The same God who helped Nehemiah will help you, too. God loves you. He is for you.
If you are ready to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, then come to Him. You are not too far from God. Come as you are. Bring your brokenness and receive God's restoration. Say this prayer today: “Lord God, I come to You today. I know I’m a sinner and I cannot save myself. I acknowledge that I am a sinner who needs Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the Cross to save me and He resurrected on the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to Him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I’m saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, give me hope and faith to trust You for the rebuilding, restoring, and renewing that I need in life, in Jesus name.
2. O Lord, am at the end of my rope and I don’t know what to do next. Show me the way, in Jesus name.
3. Begin to thank God for answered prayers
