Text: Nehemiah 4:1-9

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” —Ephesians 6:16

It can be quite frustrating when other people criticize your actions, especially when those people don’t know your heart. Just like the moon couldn’t keep shining if it paid attention to all those dogs barking at it, we need to keep our focus on the mission God has called us to without getting distracted by all those negative voices screaming at us externally, or internally. We should never be surprised by criticism. Matter of fact, we should learn to expect it and deal with it appropriately.

It’s been said that all you have to do to avoid criticism is say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. There is no such thing as opportunity without opposition. Never has their been a person of faith, vision, and action who didn’t face criticism. If Jesus was criticized, you can take it to the bank that you will be criticized, too. Even though there is a beneficial side to good-intentioned criticism—that which genuinely seeks your welfare—that’s not what we see unfolding in the fourth chapter of Nehemiah. What we see here is criticism born out of enmity.

When Nehemiah and those missional communities rolled up their sleeves and got busy for God’s kingdom business, there were some folks who became furious about their work. Sanballat and Tobiah didn’t want to see that wall rebuilt. They weren’t offering constructive criticism; they were enemies of Israel, and enemies of God. They didn’t have the people’s interest in mind, just a seething hostility that manifested itself in sarcasm, mockery, and slanderous attacks.

We serve God differently under faith as opposed to discouragement. We worship and pray differently under faith than under discouragement. That’s why our enemy is so intent on discouraging us through critical voices. Sometimes the most negative voices are the ones in our head. I read recently that Robin Williams’ widow stated that the Hollywood star was chased by an “invisible monster” during the final months before taking his own life. Those invisible critics in our head can often be the most brutal on our soul, the most haunting in our memories, and the most crippling to our faith.

We need to rightly deal with those “invisible monsters” in our lives. Like most attacks of discouragement, the lies of the enemy are often laced with small amounts of truth. The critics were right in that, as builders, the Jews were feeble. There was weakness in their efforts. There were elements of inadequacy and inexperience. They didn’t have the best materials to work with. A lying, discouraging attack will often have some truth in it, but it will neglect the greater truth: God was with them and has promised to see them through.

I used to get very beat up when the invisible enemy pointed out my weaknesses, my flaws, my failures, and my inadequacies. Not so much anymore. I take those small facts and I point them to the greater Truth found in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10…

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Consider this: The victory over your invisible enemy doesn’t come from denying all his little facts; your victory comes from taking all those minute realities and pinning them to the cross of Jesus Christ. It is there that He takes our unworthiness and grants us the covering of His worthiness. He takes our insufficiency and wraps us up in His all-sufficiency. He takes away our sin-soaked garments and redresses us in His perfect righteousness. When Nehemiah’s enemies plotted together to inflict confusion and discouragement, the man of God knew how to handle it—“we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:9).

Nehemiah’s greatest weapon against discouragement was his prayer life. Think about that as you seek to abide in Christ this week.

PRAYER

Father, help us to recognize the difference between constructive criticism that we can learn from, versus those disingenuous voices that never have our best interest in mind. Grant us wisdom to know the difference, and the diligence to face our opposition with bold faith in your greater Truth over our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for personal reflection, small group discussion, or dinner table conversations:

1. Why do you think some people get upset when they see others succeed?  What kinds of events, opposition, or setbacks most discourage you?     
2. Why did Sanballat become angry with the Jews and what did he and Tobiah do to discourage the Jews from rebuilding the city walls? (Nehemiah 4:1-3) 
3. How did Nehemiah respond to the taunts of his enemies? (Nehemiah 4:4-5) How did Nehemiah and the Jews respond to the evil plotting of their enemies? (Nehemiah 4:9)  
4. When have you ever felt opposition from other people when you have done what you thought was morally right? How should we respond to negative events or criticism from others?
5. What can you do today to prepare yourself to deal with opposition or criticism from others? What have “invisible monsters” been saying to you lately? What greater truths are you going to claim over those voices?

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The post Dealing With Your “Invisible Monsters” appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Nehemiah 3:1-32

“Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” —Luke 22:26

We Were Soldiers is a Vietnam War film dramatizing the historical events that took place on November 14, 1965. U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore leads a newly created air cavalry unit into the Ia Drang Valley, a.k.a. the “Valley of Death.” In a moving speech, Moore (played by Mel Gibson), promises the young troops:

“I swear, before you and before Almighty God, that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off, and I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me, God.”

This is a commander who understood the staple of leadership.

The third chapter of Nehemiah is all about missional communities working together to accomplish something seemingly impossible (see Nehemiah 4:3), with some of the most unlikely people making the difference. These tribes are laboring against incredible odds and relentless opposition to rebuild the city’s broken down walls, and I find it quite striking that we see no expert builders, master carpenters, or professional contractors on site. What we do see are clergy, volunteers, goldsmiths, perfume makers, and some diligent women all pitching in to serve the mission. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, that God often chooses unlikely and unqualified characters to do some of His greatest work because they are the ones who boast in His glory alone.

It is in this passage that we also see what true servant leadership looks like. Eliashib, the high priest, is mentioned first in this chapter. He rose up to do the work with the other priests, and they worked at rebuilding the Sheep Gate and the nearby section of wall. Eliashib acted as a godly leader should; he was out in front of the work, the first one with gloves on hands and boots on the ground, leading by serving. He did not act as if he was too “spiritual” for the hard work of rebuilding the walls, and he certainly isn’t just preaching sermons from a distance. Eliashib gets his hands dirty. His ministry is one of proximity with the brokenness. He is quite the opposite of the distracted and indifferent priest that Jesus characterized in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, who kept his distance (Luke 10:25-37).

There is a good reason why Eliashib was mentioned first, and why the rest of the chapter is filled with the names of more than 50 others who followed his example in the work. Ministry is about proximity, and when good leadership exemplifies that, it is contagious to others. Eliashib seems to understand that leadership is about fleshing out the mission—not just pointing the way, or preaching the way, but going the way. Nehemiah not only highlights this example set by the high priest, but he also boldly calls out the nobles who would not stoop to serve their Lord (verse 5). These guys thought they were just too special to serve. I get a little chuckle at the notion that Nehemiah made a list of who showed up for the work—and who didn’t. Yes, he went there didn’t he?!

Consider this, beloved: Jesus said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant.” And when he washed his disciples’ feet the night of his Last Supper, he gave them a whole new paradigm for leadership. His example, like Eliashib’s, teaches us that servant leadership isn’t a deluxe or supplemental version of leadership; according to Jesus, servant leadership is the only kind of leadership. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him and serve others this week.

PRAYER

Lord, open our eyes to see the needs you want us to meet, and the people you want us to serve. Remind us of the sacredness of serving our neighbors—that even the most menial tasks, such as giving a cup of cold water in your name, is an act of authentic worship. Help us take these lessons from Nehemiah about servant leadership, and to humbly apply them to our daily lives as we seek to flesh out the Gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for personal reflection, small group discussion, or dinner table conversations:

1. What are the benefits of teamwork? In what ways have you seen the impact of servant leadership?
2. How did the priests set the example for all the Israelites? (Nehemiah 3:1) 
3. What did the priests do when they had completed sections of the walls and gates of Jerusalem, and what does the priests’ dedication of their work reveal about their motivation? (Nehemiah 3:1)
4. Why do you think the people of Jerusalem were so committed to rebuilding the city walls? Why do you think communities serving on mission together are so important to God’s redemptive plan, and how can these movements be a witness to the world?
5. Where can you flesh out servant leadership this week? What steps can you take this week to depend on God and others to help you face the challenges in your life?

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The post What Biblical Leadership Looks Like appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Nehemiah 2:10-20

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” —1 John 4:4

Anytime we set out to follow a God-shaped vision, there will be… resistance. Steven Pressfield, the writer of The Legend of Bagger Vance, described “resistance” as protean: “It will assume any form, if that’s what it takes to deceive you. Resistance will reason with you like a lawyer or jam a nine-millimeter in your face like a stickup man… The more important a call or action is to our [soul], the more Resistance we feel toward pursuing it.”

Sometimes our greatest resistance comes from within, as depicted in my son’s new short film, Dismal & Himself (feel free to follow the link below to watch it online). Internal resistance might stem from procrastination, lack of confidence, shame, guilt, or feelings of inadequacy. Other times our greatest resistance comes from external opposition, namely other people who want to see us fail. This was the case with Nehemiah.

In this third devotion of our series in Nehemiah, we see the former exile thrust into a mission to restore dignity and livelihood for a vulnerable people who have lost so much. After having his heart broken for the things that break God’s heart, this cupbearer to the king of Persia is sent back to Judah to begin an urban revitalization project and rebuild its broken down walls. You’d think people would be okay with this, right?! How could people be against doing ‘good’ for others who are struggling? But it says, “When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” The slander machine soon kicks in.

The struggle is real. Not everyone will roll out the red carpet for you when you want to do something noble, generous, empowering for others, or pleasing to God. Some will even work against you. Nehemiah is met with intense enemy resistance. His opponents want to crush his reformation project and keep the people oppressed. So they aim to slander his name and falsify his motives. Nehemiah’s progress will be in direct correlation to how he manages to deal with the resistance to his mission. He has opponents, and how he responds to them is critical to his success.

Anytime we pray to God, “Build Your kingdom here,” we should also consider the high cost that comes with that petition (Luke 14:28). Are you ready to be doxxed, maligned, or bullied by others? Are you ready to have your business boycotted? Are you prepared for betrayal? Have you considered that it might cost you your livelihood, your comfort, or your sense of security? Are you ready for the intense spiritual warfare to come… or, did you only mean: “Build Your kingdom here as long as it doesn’t cost me anything?”

Nehemiah considered the cost of obedience. He understood the kingdom of God always has its opposition. The cross of Jesus Christ has always had its enemies, of whom you and I were once such villains when our minds where only set on selfish ambition and “earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19). But thank the Lord Jesus for saving us from ourselves so we don’t have to live with such hostility any longer. Now we can live as ambassadors of the cross.

Nehemiah would appreciate the words of novelist Victor Hugo, who wrote:

“You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything which shines.”

Philippians 1:28 says: “Don’t be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory.”

Consider: Your resistance is here to stay. But your perseverance will always be greater. Nehemiah said, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding…” (Nehemiah 2:20). We can keep our kingdom mission steadfast by heeding the wisdom of Paul’s instruction to the Romans: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). When we understand that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world, we can say from the depth of our sincerity, “Build Your kingdom here,” and mean it with a full understanding of what it might cost us. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him no matter the intensity of the opposition this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, your word assures us that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. It’s not if, but when. Holy Spirit, teach us how to be an example of our Lord Jesus Christ when we are persecuted, never returning animosity with its own kind, but overcoming all evil with good. Grant us the grace and mercy to do this as we continue in your kingdom mission with patience and steadfastness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for personal reflection, small group discussion, or dinner table conversations:

1. How do you usually respond to criticism and opposition? How do you think you would handle a life-threatening persecution for your faith?      
2. What did Nehemiah do when he first arrived in Jerusalem? (Nehemiah 2:11-12) From where did Nehemiah receive his motivation to rebuild Jerusalem? (2:12) What attitude did Nehemiah have about himself and about God? (2:12, 18, 20)
3. Why did Nehemiah experience opposition to the work of rebuilding Jerusalem? (2:19) How did Nehemiah respond to his opponents? (2:20) Whom did Nehemiah credit for the Israelites’ expected success? (2:20)
4. What can we learn from Nehemiah’s example of leadership and from how he responded to opposition? Why do you think Nehemiah was so confident that the Lord would grant him success?
5. How can you prepare to face criticism and opposition in your daily life, or even intense persecution for your faith? How can you demonstrate your dependence on the Lord for steadfastness and success?

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The post Build Your Kingdom Here and Opposition appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Nehemiah 2:1-9

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19

Basil King had a stormy and difficult childhood. Before becoming a clergyman and renowned author, the adolescent had suffered loss of sight and thyroid problems early in life. He faced countless days of loneliness, depression, and agony over the fear of waking up one day and having total loss of vision. He went about his days allowing a “wealth of ability” to lie fallow, until a certain teacher mentored him to tap into his dormant potential. It became a major turning point in his life, waking him to adopt a whole new mantra. King began to live by the phrase: “Be bold—and mighty forces will come to your aid.”

Many people think that they have a resource problem, when actually they might just have a vision problem. The Bible says: “Where there is no vision the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). In 25+ years of ministry among underserved communities, I’ve seen that people can rise up and overcome immense hardship and extreme disadvantages when they swell with a vision for a better future. But when vision doesn’t exist, neither does hope or movement toward positive outcomes. Helen Keller wrote: “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.”

In our last devotion, we saw how Nehemiah’s heart broke for the things that break God’s heart. In his spiritual heart trouble, he began to weep and pray over the ruins of Jerusalem. The more that Nehemiah prays, the more he expects to become part of the answer. Tucked away in the safest place in the land, this exile could’ve easily boasted himself as a gifted intercessor and never left the comfort of the king’s palace. His potential could’ve easily wasted away in the lull of luxury. Yet the more he prays, the more he is moved to make a difference. When the news headlines are at their worst, we see the power of vision swelling up in Nehemiah to champion a great cause.

When the king of Persia recognized Nehemiah’s heart trouble, he asked, “What is it that you want?” When the king asks you a question like this, you think about it carefully! It says, “Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.’” What happens next is nothing short of amazing…

Nehemiah is about to go on his first mission trip to Judah, as an ambassador of the God of heaven, to rebuild its walls and restore the welfare of its people, and guess who’s funding the mission? A pagan king!!! Once Nehemiah captured his God-sized vision, the resources were quick to follow. He was bold—and mighty forces came to his aid. Not only did he get the resources and the funding, the king grants him a full military escort as Nehemiah goes about God’s bigger-than-Persia kingdom business.

“Depend on it,” said Hudson Taylor. “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purposes for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.”

Consider: We don’t have a resource problem as much as a vision problem. Too often we focus on the dilemma of our needs rather than the blueprints of God’s agenda. Beloved, recall and marinate on this red-letter command from Jesus: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Do you believe Jesus and His promise? When we get a hold of God’s kingdom vision for our present days, and are determined to flesh it out in faith, all of the resources of heaven’s throne stand behind us. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Your arm hasn’t shortened in the least bit since the days of Nehemiah. You are the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. You love to flex your muscles over our lives, especially as we step out in faith to serve you. And while your hand is sure to provide all of our need, your finger points us to focus on your kingdom agenda over our perceived immediate need—to seek IT first over all else. Like Nehemiah, break our hearts for what breaks yours, teach us to act boldly in matters of faith, and grant us favor to make a difference in the world around us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Questions for personal reflection, small group discussion, or dinner table conversations:

1. If God gave you a blank check to help people who are hurting, lost, or in distress, where would you begin?
2. How did Nehemiah describe his problem to the king, and what did Nehemiah do before he told the king what he wanted? (Nehemiah 2:3-4)
3. What did Nehemiah ask of the king and what was the response? (Nehemiah 2:5-9) In what ways might this seem amazing or even miraculous?
4. How did Nehemiah overcome his fears? How did Nehemiah demonstrate his dependence on God? What fears do you need to overcome?
5. In what situations in your life do you need to depend more boldly on the Lord? What can you learn from Nehemiah about the role prayer should play in your everyday life? How can you practically seek God’s kingdom first over your perceived immediate needs this week?

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The post Be Bold—And Mighty Forces Will Come appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

Text: Nehemiah 1:1-11

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” —Nehemiah 1:4

I have a friend in Germany who is a pastor, and he begins every day with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. He told me this practice came from the Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth, who is attributed with the quote: “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” One of the reasons my German friend begins his mornings this way is because he wants what he reads in God’s Word to have an application to the times in which he is living. In short, he wants his heart to be broken with the things that break God’s heart, and to have his prayer life shaped inseparably by the scriptures and the world’s present need.

We will have a hard time being light in a dark world if we are not attuned to its plight. Ignoring the ills of our society isn’t the mark of true biblical compassion. God’s Word tells us to “clothe” ourselves with compassion (Colossians 3:12). It should be just as much part of our normal daily attire as putting on a shirt or pants, shoes, or makeup. Compassion is required of us daily.

As we begin a new devotional series in the book of Nehemiah, we meet a man who woke up one day, read the headlines, and it broke his heart. It was a divine interruption to Nehemiah’s norm. Mind you, Nehemiah lived in a palace—the safest place in all the land at that time. He was cupbearer to the king of Persia. But he got word that his people were in “great trouble.” The wall of Jerusalem had been broken down, the gates destroyed by fire, and folks were suffering severely.

In the midst of all of his comfort, luxury, and security, Nehemiah’s spirit is crushed and his heart is broken for what has broken God’s heart. Suddenly he has incurable heart trouble. What did Nehemiah do? Turn off the news, rationalize why those disobedient souls deserved their plight, and go about his business as usual? Hardly…

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah isn’t able to hit the “recall” button on his remote control and switch back to the highlights on ESPN—he is a wrecked man. This newsreel of a devastated community and hurting people crushes his heart. He turns off the TV, pushes aside his gourmet meal, and goes into his prayer chamber. He appeals to the God of heaven, confesses the sins of his people, and recalls the promises of God to restore the unfaithful when they return to Him. Then he asks God for “success,” the capacity to do something and make a difference.

Over the next few weeks we will be seeing the magnificent ways in which God answers Nehemiah’s prayer. There will be plenty of miracles to come, yet we must not forget that it all starts with a man who has his heart broken for the things that break God’s heart, in humility, on his knees before the God of heaven, pleading for a way to make a difference.

Warren Wiersbe once said that if you really want to learn about a person’s character, ask three questions: What makes him laugh? What makes him angry? What makes him weep? When we read about Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time during his triumphal entry, it says, “when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it” (Luke 19:41). What makes you weep about the times we are living in right now? When was the last time your heart was incurably sick because of someone else’s pain and suffering? Is your prayer life being shaped by the brokenness around you? Think about that as you seek to abide in Christ, and clothe yourself in his compassion this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, break our hearts for what breaks yours. Give us eyes to see the devastation and align us with the hurts you want us to respond to. Holy Spirit, teach us what it looks like to daily clothe ourselves in the compassion of Jesus—to take on his garments of justice and mercy. In His blessed name we pray, Amen.

Questions for personal reflection, small group discussion, or dinner table conversations:

1. If you could rid the world of one pain, what would it be?
2. How does our knowledge and image of God affect our prayers?
3. In his prayer, Nehemiah identifies with the sins of his people, their current plight, and the faithfulness of God. Why is identifying in these ways so important if we aspire to make a difference in the world today?
4. What is the connection between prayer and obedience in your life?
5. Where do you need to implement margin in your life so that compassion can clothe you and the Holy Spirit can guide you?

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The post What Breaks Your Heart? appeared first on Jimmy Larche.