GOD THOUGH US. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
Nehemiah 4:6-10

OBSERVATION
Nehemiah's predicament is grim: the job is halfway done, the workers are tired, there's a lot more to do, and enemies are plotting to attack and destroy or delay the work. Nehemiah's leadership kicked in by doing two things: praying and preparing for battle. He found a way to motivate the people to keep working, this time with weapons at a hand's reach...

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

Nehemiah's conviction of God's power to help them build the wall was unshakeable. However, he did not crossed his arms and hoped for the best. He mobilized the people, he worked harder, and he trusted that God through them was going to deliver them and use them to rebuild the city.

APPLICATION
Nehemiah is one of the best examples of godly leadership when facing a difficult task. As a spiritual leader in our community, I'm called by God to build people according to God's will. I'm also called to build a church that exalts Christ and brings people closer to the Lord. This task is not easy and requires a unique anointing of leadership. My assignment is to persuasively cast the vision God has for our church, to motivate God's people to partner together with me to fulfill the vision, to give clear instructions of how to accomplish this vision, and to supervise that we all are in one accord following the same strategy.

I can totally relate to Nehemiah's report. I feel that our walls are also halfway done. We have done a great work, but we are not done. We must continue building. I'm also aware that our spiritual enemy wants to stop us at any cost. and I'm also aware that our workers are tired in in need of some rest. However, I'm fully convinced that God fights on our side and that despite of all these roadblocks, there is a way to partner with God by praying and by doing what it needs to be done. We need to continue closing the gaps, tying loose ends, and building the vision because God works not just for us, but also through us.

PRAYER
Oh Holy Spirit, please empower my life and our church to keep building the vision you have entrusted us. Give me the Nehemiah type of leadership skills to motivate people to work hard not because it depends on our own effort, but because you want to work through us. Help us to serve with passion and dedication, even if we are tired and demoralized. Give us a fresh portion of your Holy Spirit to fill our tanks. Reveal our gaps in the wall and our loose ends so we can diligently deal with them. Amen!