As one studies God’s Word’s, it sharpens the spiritual senses of discernment to single out men and women who had the ability to break and destroy the enemy and who could build a stronghold for the people to be secure. Although there were many, I have chosen Nehemiah, Ezra, Jesus, Paul as focal points. Other reformers have also been mentioned in the chapters dealing with God’s principles.

NEHEMIAH

(Strong’s # 5166 Hebrew.) “Consolation of JAH”

Son of Hachaliah (Strong’s # 2446 Hebr.) “Darkness of JAH”.

Nehemiah was known to be responsible for rebuilding the walls, repairing, and hanging the gates around the city. Whereas his father had truly experienced the darkness of JAH during his exile, Nehemiah entered the consolation of JAH as God’s judgement had reached its fullness of time. Nehemiah was also a loyal cupbearer to king Artaxerxes. A great reformer who was humble enough to serve a foreign king.

Neh 1:3 describes the state in which Jerusalem was found:

“The survivors left from captivity are in great distress and reproach.”

The wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates were burned with fire. Some churches are in the same situation.

Nehemiah’s reaction to this terrible news was absolutely Godly. When he heard the words, he sat down and wept and mourned for many days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. There are some principles of prayer in this heart’s cry of man.

(Neh 1 :5-11)

Remind God of His covenant with you.

Remind Him of His mercy to those who keep His commands.

Ask Him to hear and see your prayer – which you continually pray day and night for those in distress.

Confess the sins of those in distress, if you are convicted of something, include yourself.

Remind God of His Word and be accurate; don’t just choose the parts you like. Include judgement and blessing.

Take the Word of prophecy and implement it in your present reality.

Nehemiah asked God to remember what He commanded Moses:

(Neh 1:8,9)

“If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me. and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast into the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there. And bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling place for My Name.”

Nehemiah used God’s Word, prophesied by a man, to help him to sort out a city in ruins. This is an earthly type of the New Jerusalem which is to come spoken of in Revelation.

Ask God to grant you mercy in the sight of those with whom you have to do.

Nehemiah shows some endurance. He was fasting and praying before the God of heaven regularly for about four months as Nisan was four months after Chislev. It took four months to receive a breakthrough!

The king asked Nehemiah what his request was. Immediately, he prayed to the God of heaven. The Spirit of the Lord is the Spirit of wisdom. Them when he asked the king, he did so respectfully. His request contained five topics:

For the king to send him to Judah.

That he may rebuild it.

in a set time.

for letters to kings and governors beyond the river, and a permit to pass through until he reaches Jordan.

For a letter to Asaph – keeper of the king’s forest – to give him timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, for the house he will occupy.

As the requests were granted, all glory was given to the good Hand of the Lord upon a man.

Applying this to our situation as a church will comfort and console us too and allow us to finish the work.

REFORMERS NEED OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT

All reformers need opposition to the call of God upon their lives, because it’s only when you squeeze an orange that orange juice will flow. Apostle Dr. Andre Pelser preached on “Suffering.” and explained how when you squeeze an apostle, apostolic juice flows; so much so, that when Paul was put in jail, he