Stand Firm

NEHEMIAH received news that the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down and the gates had been burned. When he heard the news he sat down and wept and he mourn and fasted and prayed to God for a few days. Then he went to the king to request that the walls and gates be built again and the king agreed.Therefore he set off to the city of Judah with a few men to inspect the damage done. After inspecting he told his men that the walls and gates should be rebuilt. And they replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. (Nehemiah 1:18)
Rebuilding the walls were not easy for Nehemiah and his people, they received a lot of problems that came in the form of opposition.

He received much opposition in the form of:

- Ridicule (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
- Enemy (Nehemiah 4:6-9)
- Insiders (Nehemiah 5:1-5)
- Craft (Nehemiah 6:1-7)
- Intimidation (Nehemiah 6:10-12)

The list of people that opposed him:

- Sanballat the Horonite
- Tobiah the Ammonite
- Gesham the Arab
- Ashdod and his men
- Noadiah the prophetess
- Other prophets
- The Arabs and the Ammonites

Wow! Far-fetched is it not?!
So many people were opposing him in so many forms!
But yet... With the help of God, Nehemiah’s labor of rebuilding the walls were not in vain at all, God pulled him through and the walls were finally rebuilt completely in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 5:16
... they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Nehemiah stood firm amidst all storms. He was there to depend on God each time when trouble came his way. He trusted God to help him rebuild the walls. He did not give up although there were situations which left him no choice but to give up. He had faith in God.

Nehemiah stood firm.

What is your struggle today? I struggle a lot. I struggle to keep my faith and vision for the youths, especially those in my ministry, Youth Energy and also the whole Youth Church. God has planted in me the desire to see each and every youths rise up for Christ and hear their calling in life. Also to prepare them and to equip them in the things of God. To see them one day lead the youth church in their own specific capacity according to their call. To one day not count members in the youth church anymore but start to COUNT LEADERS.

This is the passion I share with Pastor John and it is my deepest passion now. I am doing all I can to make this happen, to start counting leaders one day. As I am working, so is the enemy, I am going through a lot of problems and each of it tries its very best to bring me down, but I know where I stand. Nothing will move me nor break me; instead, each and every problem will strengthen me and make me.

I know that if my labor is of God, it will never go in vain. So...

I will be STANDING FIRM...

Join me all of you.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, STAND FIRM.
Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Standing Firm,
Zlwin Chew