How important it is to begin by aligning ourselves under God.
This issue is the result of a deep exercise that seems to have been growing simultaneously in the hearts of many North American believers. It cannot be stressed enough that if this burden is going to bear fruit for God (rather than being a mere topic of discussion), it must not be a stimulus to rely on the arm of flesh. Although Nehemiah responded to the need by moving to Jerusalem, assessing the project during his lonely night ride, calling the people to rise up and build, answering the criticisms (sure to surface whenever anything is attempted for God), and making suggestions as to how the work could most effectively progress, the following should also be noted:
• the first and essential step was made in the sanctuary: “I sat down and wept, and mourned…and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Neh. 1:4). Nothing will happen without this.
• this praying encompassed worship, intercession, supplication, confession and a claiming of the promises of Scripture (see vv. 5-10).
• Nehemiah’s supplication concluded with his making himself available for the service of the Lord, whatever that might cost (v. 11)—including, obviously, a leave of absence from his employment for a time.
Once the necessary repair work was assessed and the people rallied to the work, it is obvious that there was constant contact with Headquarters. God was welcome to change any plans that His servants in good faith had made.
In this the books of Nehemiah and Acts agree. The apostles planned and acted, first praying that the Lord would direct their steps. And He did exactly that. When they “assayed to go into Bithynia” (Acts 16:7), the Spirit’s redirection was most welcome. This conscious and constant aligning of themselves under the eye of God was key to their success. Nehemiah wrote when the work was finished in a mere fifty-two days: “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God” (6:16). In a similar way, Mark reminds us that “they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them…” (16:20). Luke states: “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (2:47, nkjv); “And the hand of the Lord was with them” (11:21).
However, it should not be thought that we need a second call to do the work of preaching the gospel to every creature. God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). To this end, Paul—who was only in Athens to rendezvous with his fellow workers—felt constrained to declare: “God…now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Since the Church has received a “general call” to evangelize the world, why are some waiting for an “effectual call” to be personally involved in this great work? When 100 believers converged on Little Rock, AR, for a concerted gospel effort, some observers asked, “Why Little Rock?” To which we would politely respond, “Why not Little Rock, brother?” Surely every village, town and city was included in the Saviour’s great appeal to go with the gospel to every soul.
This does not negate what has previously been said. On occasion, the Lord will redirect our efforts. This we welcome. Who would not want to know that “a great door and effectual” had been opened to us, though “there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9)? How our hearts would thrill to hear the Lord of the vineyard tell us, as He told Paul concerning Corinth, “I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:10). Yet barring specific directives, we should do as the early believers did, “everywhere preaching the Word” (8:4).
It is our heart-felt desire that the following observations from Scripture and (hopefully) practical suggestions for implementing these principles will be a stimulus to us all—to contemplation, conviction, confession, communion, consecration and co-operation in this great work, and that it will be for the ultimate glory of God alone.