2012: Everyone Returned to His Work

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Talk intro:

We’re a little break on our journey through the book of Colossians today so that I can share a little about what I feel is God’s direction for us this year.

You’ll recall that last year our ‘Theme’ was based on Ezra 9:9 Repair, Restore, Rebuild. This year I was led to the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the man God chose to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the city had been destroyed.

As he was leading the rebuilding process he ran into some serious opposition from some guys who didn’t want the walls to be rebuilt because they knew it would mean that they were on their way out.

That’s when we come to Nehemiah 4:15-16. Let’s turn there and take a look.…..

The first thing I want you to see is that…

When God is for us nothing can stand against us. That’s a promise that’s repeated throughout scripture most clearly in Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Keep in mind that this does not mean that we won’t face challenges or even what appear to be setbacks or opposition. I can assure you that we will. Jesus even said that. He said in John 16:33 ‘That in this world you WILL have trouble, but I have overcome the world.’

We certainly had a very challenging year in 2010 but as I look back on 2011 I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness. He has provided relief from our financial crisis, a little breathing room if you will, in a very unique way and in the process has taught us a lot about what it means to be humble and willing to share our blessings with others.

Like Nehemiah, I know that God was in all of this change but I also know that the enemy was right there trying to stir up trouble and confusion. But all of his plots have come to nothing because God is in control.

The next thing is that….

Everyone needs to return to their work.

In many ways this past year was a year for us to get used to our new reality. We are a very different church than we were 1 year ago. But the thing that stands out the most to me is that God has brought us a new stability. What felt like a freefall has come to an end and we’ve been re-established on a firm foundation.

I’m not suggesting that there won’t be any more changes coming our way but the changes won’t be for pruning as much as they will be for growth as we begin to serve and minister to each other and the community around us.

The things we begin to do this year may seem small and insignificant when we compare them to the needs that exist. That’s how the wall in Jerusalem looked to the doubters in Nehemiah 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up [on it], he will break down their stone wall."

But the people remained faithful in their service and before long the wall was completed.

Over the next year we won’t be trying to do big things or even a lot of things, but we will begin to do the right things. It will be kind of a return to basics and allowing God to lead us in rebuilding His work here.

That means that we will all have a place to serve. In vs. 16 you’ll see that there were three main types of people and you’ll find that you fit into one of these categories:
The builders: These are the hands on people, the ones that build things and start projects. They like to get their hands dirty when they serve. These are the people who get things done.

The defenders: These are the ones who will take on the service of prayer and spiritual warfare on behalf of the church and local community. These are the people who clear the way for God’s purposes to be fulfilled.

The leaders: These are the ones who provide direction, resources, guidance and encouragement as we serve. These are the people who keep us on track and on task so we don’t lose our focus.


Now, with a church community of this size we will all be wearing multiple hats and doing multiple things, but I know we will all have a primary calling in one of these areas. Our real challenge will be staying focused on what God wants us to do in the face of such great needs.

So together we’re going to seek God’s direction and then everyone will go to their work together.