Israel's remnant had returned to Jerusalem, repaired its temple, and were offering the required sacrifices. But they were a people who were living in fear of being overtaken by their enemies. They had good reason to be so fearful. While their temple had been rebuilt, their walls and gates had not. Their protection lay in ruins, leaving them wide open and vulnerable for attack. Then Nehemiah came on the scene and led the people in an organized plan to repair and strengthen their city walls and gates. Finally Israel would be able to settle into a life without fear, anxiety and worry.
In studying Nehemiah 3 this morning I learned from commentator David Guzik that the phrase "made repairs" was used 35 times in this 32 verse chapter about the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. While it seems highly likely in a chapter dedicated to the "who" and "where" of this work that this phrase would be used often, in a very repetitive sort of way, I was surprised to learn the Hebrew meaning of "made repairs" was to strengthen, make strong, and encourage. Guzik spoke of the correlation between this chapter and Eph. 4: 11-13 which states:
In his commentary Guzik spoke of the purpose of the church as being like the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem because this "equipping and building up," which has almost the exact same definition: to prepare, to strengthen, to make usable!"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."
While I was relishing this great insight, the Spirit began to bring another thought to mind. I could clearly understand the comparison to the church. It is a place where we can be taught what we need to know to be equipped to take the gospel to the world, but also to grow up in maturity in Christ, in our faith, knowledge, and fullness until we become mature. Church is a place where we feel protected and safe so that we can be built up from the inside out. The walls of the church cannot be found to be in disrepair, or the enemy will have opportunity to come inside and destroy what God is building. Now enter the voice of the Spirit in my heart.
Part of what caused the breaches in the walls (the church) are those who are not taking care of their own individual hearts. You see, in the rebuilding of the city walls under Nehemiah's leadership, many groups were helping in various spots along the wall. But sometimes the Word lists individuals who where repairing the wall directly in front of their own home! Do you see where I am going? The breaches in the walls of the church are sometimes caused by believers who are not joining in the effort of rebuilding their own part of the wall, their own hearts. When God's people become complacent in their walk with Him, not only is their life affected, but the entire body of believers is! How we walk individually greatly impacts the safety and security of the entire church!
As I was considering this truth and what my part was in a broken church wall, the Spirit spoke a second thought to me. When we choose to practice an "I'll go to church when I feel like it" mentality, forsaking the gathering together, we also are leaving a part of the wall unattended and in ruin. If we are not present, the part we bring to the body of Christ is also absent, leaving a gaping hole for the enemy to enter through! Hebrews 10: 22-25 are not just uplifting words! Read them:
". . .let us draw near with a sincere heart . . . let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering . . . let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together . . . but encouraging one another . . ."
These verses are a call to personal, direct contact with and commitment to the body of Christ. It is difficult to "stimulate others to love and good deeds" if you are "forsaking you own assembling together"!
Are you leaving a gap in your local church body? The answer is yes if you are attending church complacently, with no real desire to grow or to change. The answer is yes if you are attending church only when you "feel" like it. The gap you leave is an open door to the enemy of our faith! It's time to close all the entrances we have given to the enemy!
Wow. To think that we are only effecting ourselves when we refuse to listen to the Word, the Spirit, or even our own pastor is a huge mistake. As Christians, we are called to place others ahead of ourselves. It's hard to make that claim when we are placing our church family in jeopardy. It's time to make the name "Christian" mean more than church attendance. I'm working on my portion of the wall. Are you?
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