As I searched the scripture and spent some time in quiet reflection, I began to have revelation into some of what this means.
Upon doing some research, I ended in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. And discovered that the wall project with the rebuilding of Jerusalem was completed around 444BC. This was quite meaningful to me.
I have since felt impressed that this year 2012, is a year of significant Kingdom Authority in the church. This is a year when there will be a positioning of persons within the Kingdom of God. I believe that God is moving people strategically to be where they need to be "for such a time as this".
It is during the reconstruction project of the Jerusalem wall that we see an amazing thing take place. During the month of Nisan (the month of redemption...and also when the passover is celebrated) Nehemiah, the cup bearer to Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, was repositioned and sent to Jerusalem for the sole purpose of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.
Now as a governor for the project, he was responsible to see that this project get completed as correctly and expediently as possible. In chapter 2:11, we see that this project was put on Nehemiah's heart by God's design. And this project would take both great wisdom and skill, but there were several challenges that lay in wait for him.
1) The people of the land were depressed and demoralized by their neighbors. The remnant of Israel had been like outcasts and were in great trouble and disgrace. chp 1:3
2) The walls had been torn down, stone by stone and the frames had been burnt up. And with limited resources, the rebuild would require great creativity and skill. chp 1:3, chp 3
3) Time was against the people. They were faced with opposition on 3 forces: The Samaritans, The Ammonites, and The Arabs. These ones ridiculed, tormented and attacked the Israelites whenever they could in an attempt to halt the reconstruction. chp 2:19, chp 4
4) And in the midst of the project of wall restoration, he had to focus his energies on providing for the people. chp 5
In each case, Nehemiah operated with wisdom:
-When faced with the troubled people, he assigned those to help govern and assist all who were in the land. They were all tasked with serving and encouraging one another. This was first addressed by immediately assessing the damage to the wall and assigning certain ones to building portions of the wall.
-With the torn down stones and frames, he immediately engaged all the Israelites in the area to come and work at rebuilding.
-To address the threat of the enemies of Israel, he stationed watchers 24/7 who would guard the wall and fitted each laborer with a weapon and a tool so they could fight or work as required.
-Lastly, he demonstrated wisdom in helping facilitate justice for the people.
I believe that the church is symbolically in this time frame when the "wall is being rebuilt" and authority is being restored to the body. We are being positioned in a season where we are utterly dependent on God and must find ourselves working together to see the Kingdom Come and His Will Be Done.
I believe that just like in Nehemiah's day, we are seeing plans and strategies being revealed and we are being called to work and fight for the Kingdom. And as we are placed and work together, we will see amazing things happen.
"Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:13-14
All in all, when it was completed the wall rebuilding project took 52 days. And through God's design, the wall and the people were restored. I think this is the common theme between Genesis 4-Revelation 19. We see the redemptive work of God to restore us to himself. And I pray that during this season we may see things restored to us that we thought were lost.
Upon doing some research, I ended in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. And discovered that the wall project with the rebuilding of Jerusalem was completed around 444BC. This was quite meaningful to me.
I have since felt impressed that this year 2012, is a year of significant Kingdom Authority in the church. This is a year when there will be a positioning of persons within the Kingdom of God. I believe that God is moving people strategically to be where they need to be "for such a time as this".
It is during the reconstruction project of the Jerusalem wall that we see an amazing thing take place. During the month of Nisan (the month of redemption...and also when the passover is celebrated) Nehemiah, the cup bearer to Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, was repositioned and sent to Jerusalem for the sole purpose of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.
Now as a governor for the project, he was responsible to see that this project get completed as correctly and expediently as possible. In chapter 2:11, we see that this project was put on Nehemiah's heart by God's design. And this project would take both great wisdom and skill, but there were several challenges that lay in wait for him.
1) The people of the land were depressed and demoralized by their neighbors. The remnant of Israel had been like outcasts and were in great trouble and disgrace. chp 1:3
2) The walls had been torn down, stone by stone and the frames had been burnt up. And with limited resources, the rebuild would require great creativity and skill. chp 1:3, chp 3
3) Time was against the people. They were faced with opposition on 3 forces: The Samaritans, The Ammonites, and The Arabs. These ones ridiculed, tormented and attacked the Israelites whenever they could in an attempt to halt the reconstruction. chp 2:19, chp 4
4) And in the midst of the project of wall restoration, he had to focus his energies on providing for the people. chp 5
In each case, Nehemiah operated with wisdom:
-When faced with the troubled people, he assigned those to help govern and assist all who were in the land. They were all tasked with serving and encouraging one another. This was first addressed by immediately assessing the damage to the wall and assigning certain ones to building portions of the wall.
-With the torn down stones and frames, he immediately engaged all the Israelites in the area to come and work at rebuilding.
-To address the threat of the enemies of Israel, he stationed watchers 24/7 who would guard the wall and fitted each laborer with a weapon and a tool so they could fight or work as required.
-Lastly, he demonstrated wisdom in helping facilitate justice for the people.
I believe that the church is symbolically in this time frame when the "wall is being rebuilt" and authority is being restored to the body. We are being positioned in a season where we are utterly dependent on God and must find ourselves working together to see the Kingdom Come and His Will Be Done.
I believe that just like in Nehemiah's day, we are seeing plans and strategies being revealed and we are being called to work and fight for the Kingdom. And as we are placed and work together, we will see amazing things happen.
"Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:13-14
All in all, when it was completed the wall rebuilding project took 52 days. And through God's design, the wall and the people were restored. I think this is the common theme between Genesis 4-Revelation 19. We see the redemptive work of God to restore us to himself. And I pray that during this season we may see things restored to us that we thought were lost.
