A Master Builder

A Bit of Background

Every building project that actually gets anywhere has something in common. In pre-modern times this person was known as the master builder, a central figure leading the project. In modern times we would look to an architect, an engineer, and a general contractor to fulfill these rolls.

Today as we continue our design and build series I want to look at a general contractor in the Old Testament, and find out what he can teach us about our relationship with God and others.

Nehemiah was in an interesting place to help with the restoration of Jerusalem. Brief recount of what brought Nehemiah to Jerusalem.

A Good Master Builder

Knows when to take a risk.

Nehemiah 2:1–3 HCSB

During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, so the king said to me, “Why are you sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.” I was overwhelmed with fear and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

Nehemiah is taking a risk in going to the king with his request. He could be told no, the request could be seen as him just trying to get out of his job, he could be seen as attempting to betray the king, setting up a kingdom that could eventually decide to rebel. There are many reasons for Nehemiah to just leave it alone. Many times we are tempted to walk away from things that are uncomfortable, may be difficult or have the potential to place us in a vulnerable position. Whenever we decide to follow God’s leading in any part of our lives there is risk. God tells us to count the cost when we make decisions but ultimately there will be a time that we have to take a risk. Following God with all your heart is a risky prospect. If you and I really think about what we are asked to do. Trust is risky especially in something you can't see, hear, or prove, yet that risk makes faith vibrant.

Proverbs 3:5–6 HCSB

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

Has a plan and asks for help

Nehemiah 2:4–6 HCSB

Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.

What is your request? These 4 words mean so much. Philippians echoes the idea of making a request...

Philippians 4:6 HCSB

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Both of these instances tell us to ask for help, but there is something that must be a part of that request. We have to put in time and effort. In our relationship with God we can’t stop at the acknowledgment phase. It’s not enough to recognize a need for a personal relationship with Jesus. We can’t stop at the acceptance phase either, a one time shot at redemption. There is work involved in any relationship, this translates to every part of our life as a Christ Follower. There are times that we will feel a need to step out and do more, our conscious will be hit when we see suffering, when we read of devastation, when we listen to the cries of the hurt or oppressed, when we are moved with compassion at the picture of a sick child, a lonely senior, a mother at the end of her rope. What we label a hit at our conscious is actually more than that, if we have an active relationship with God it’s nothing less than the Holy Spirit moving in our life prompting us to step out. When that happens we must do the work we must see the need and meet the need, but we can’t just jump, we have to take time in prayer and planning, we count the cost, not to keep us from moving but to make that move intentional. Then once we have done the prep work, once we have researched, and prayed and set out a plan, we ask for help. We make the request, and have to do perhaps the hardest thing we will ever do, let go of our plan, and wait.

Does the research and adjusts the plan BEFORE presenting it.

Nehemiah 2:11–15 HCSB

After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days, I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the one I was riding. I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate and returned.

An important part of any church is it’s ability and willingness to reach out. We know this. We have so much opportunity in our church and our community to spread the Gospel. We have a plan, we have a time line, we have people excited about what we are doing and what we are going to be doing, All of this is important, all of this matters all of the prayer, planning and publicity has to be in place, but what we have to remember in our lives, and in our churches life is the reality that once all of that is done, and once we ask for help, we then do a bit of digging, we look at what is happening, we ask questions, take stock of what is already happening in our life, and we realize that there may be adjustments, We have to be ready to go, ready to make the moves God has called us to make, but we also must be willing to take a look at the plan and other factors and if need be adjust.

(Why and How Ministry at NCA will evolve)

Doesn’t hide problems but offers solutions.

Nehemiah 2:16–18 HCSB

The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged to do this good work.

It’s a safe bet that Nehemiah really didn’t know how deep the problems in Jerusalem were. He knew things were not great, he knew that the city had been destroyed, he knew that there was a remnant of people who were supposed to be rebuilding the city, but he didn’t know exactly what it was going to take and so we have him going out at night, without a bunch of people knowing, inspecting the walls, seeing how deep the problem was He has a choice at this point. He can come in and be super positive and up-beat, he can sugar coat the issues, make them not seem so big, He can tell himself and the people he is going to be working with that things are going to be fine, because God called him and the King sent him, and it’s all going to be Unicorns and rainbows, except that wasn’t true. Things were not wonderful, things were dire, the walls were ruined, the city was in shambles, and no one was going to be served by Nehemiah making it all seem okay and not like a big deal.

When it comes to our relationship with God we have to be willing to take a hard look and be honest. If there are things that need to be worked on, if there are places the Holy Spirit is poking at in our lives, we need to be honest with ourselves, and with those around us. We can’t pretend everything is fine when we are in the middle of a struggle to connect on a personal level with God. Grace is free, mercy is new every morning, justification from God is available to all because God desires a relationship with Us, but none of those things are cheap, none of them come without a realization that we need to step past the mess, past the broken down walls and buildings in our life and see the steps God will give us to move forward into a robust living breathing active relationship with Him. We must do that in our personal life, we must do that in the life of our church, and when we do, when we make that commitment we will find that God will do more than we can imagine.

This Week’s Challenge

Lean into the struggles you are facing. Ask the questions that you don't want to ask and wait for the answers from God. Find someone that you know and trust and tell them what you are dealing with and what God is speaking to you to do.