Be Encouraged...

[George]

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This is a spin-off of the thread Anybody Notice, but I believe it's something that needed to be said so that as family we do not fall into discouragement -- a key working of the enemy.

We can easily become discouraged in doing good. Paul wrote about it,

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

In the Old Testament, I recall the story of Nehemiah. How Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and how he had to fight through different circumstances while the wall was being built.

Nehemiah 4:6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

Notice the wall was built half-way and built speedily while the people had a mind to work! They had a goal set in mind! They had a heart to work through the process of rebuilding the wall.

Nehemiah 4:9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Interestingly the people waited to make their prayer unto God! Sometimes we spend more time worrying about building our house, our walls, we forget the fact that unless the Lord builds the house everything is in vain.

The first part of the verse says ... NEVERTHELESS we made our prayer ... but we should be people of prayer and whenever there's a situation we need to send that situation right to the throne of Grace!

Nehemiah 4:10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

Now the people had become weary -- they had become worn down and worn out -- they were focused on the rubble! You see the wall had been destroyed roughly 70 years before they started rebuilding the wall. In order to properly rebuild the wall of Jerusalem they had to clear out the rubbish -- clear away the rubble that was preventing them from building the wall. It seemed like the task was soo huge, so overwelming, and they began looking at all that was not done. Instead of looking at what was accomplished!

Nehemiah 4:17-20 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

Now when they went to finish building the wall, their enemies were at the gates wanting to stop the building of the wall -- the enemies wanted to wall to cease from being built. So all those that went about building the wall, equipped themselves with a weapon while they were building! The key was when the enemy was at the gates, they were armed and ready for a fight, but Nehemiah reminded them -- OUR GOD SHALL FIGHT FOR US!

As a person overseeing the building of the ministry, I am watching a wall being built much like Nehemiah was. I am watching how the ministry is growing speedily, and watching how the wall is being built.

You see, the people working on the wall in Nehemiah's time were separated, each one doing their own little portion of the wall and building the wall towards each other -- they became focused on their portion of the wall -- and said within themselves -- wow this is a lot harder than I thought -- and there's a whole lot of rubbish to clean out!

Is there rubbish in front of your portion of the wall? Clean it out and continue building to the wall -- there's a lot of work still left to be done!

But Nehemiah while overseeing the building of the wall was looking at the big picture and seeing a wall being built -- seeing a huge project being finished. I am watching a wall -- a ministry -- being built and I am seeing excellent all the raw diamonds in the rough polishing themselves into shining gems for the Lord! Many of you don't see how many people are coming into the Kingdom through the internet side of the ministry, how marriages are being helped, how people are being discipled and re-dedicating their lives to the Lord -- so be encouraged you may or may not realize the words you type may be helping someone grow in the Lord!

Meanwhile the enemy is constantly at the gates, so while we are building we need to have our swords ready, but always realize ultimately that the BATTLE IS THE LORDS! Be encouraged for the battle is the Lords and He's already provided us the victory!

Your brother in Christ with much agape love,

George

[ray]

Very good! We all should be encouraged. Thanks George.

[Born Again]

Wonderful post George- we all needed that. Thank you and God bless you brother!!! :il:

[BoldlyProclaimingChrist]

Very good post George. I like the analogy you used because it puts an image to the thought making it easier to remember. Good show!