Rebuilding the Walls (Part Two)

This is a continuation of my previous post titled “Rebuilding the Walls (Part One)”. Click on the following link to read it before reading this.

http://zlwin.blogspot.com/2008/08/rebuilding-walls-part-1.html

The third form of opposition came through discouragement. The workers had already completed the walls to half its height. The worked with all their heart amidst the enemy’s threat and taunting. Then one day they grumbled and said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

Their enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

The Jews told the workers, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

You see, the people were very discouraged because they have already worked for so many days yet there were still so much rubble. Moreover their enemies are going to attack them. They then started to get discouraged and compromise on their work. Many of them would have thought of giving up and return to their comfort zone and do nothing about anything – just enjoying life. Many of them would have wanted to leave the work unfinished and return to safety. They compromised the work given by God.

When we compromise God’s work, nothing will be done and we will repeat cycle after cycle and things will get worse. How do we tackle discouragement in our ministry? We fix our eyes on Jesus. Jesus’ three long years of ministry was tiring and full of enemies’ threat. People constantly wanted to put him in jail because he told the truth. Paul followed in Jesus’ footsteps. He traveled from places to places and some the people he ministered to were not willing to accept him. It was tough for these guys to do the work of the ministry. However if we persevere, we would be as great as Paul who started so many churches together with his fellow co-workers in God.

The fifth form of opposition is the destruction of corporate unity through extortion or greed. The Jews voiced out their complains to Nehemiah saying, “We have many children and in order to stay alive we need food, we are lack of food. We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards and homes for food! We also have to borrow money to pay the king’s tax! Moreover our sons and daughters are given to slavery because we cannot pay our debts.”

Nehemiah called for a meeting with the leaders and solved the problem. The officials were extorting money from the people. This is a form of greed which is one of the seven deadly sins that God hates. Because of greed the people were put in bondage. When our co-workers are in bondage we will be ineffective in our work. We cannot neglect the needs of our brothers and sisters and only want to satisfy our own needs. Every worker in the kingdom of God needs to watch the backs of one another with love. We need to be concern about the well-being of the corporate body of Christ and not bring one another down. If Satan succeeds in dividing the body of Christ, the body will fall and die.

Therefore in the work of ministry we must not give in to selfishness. Instead we must work together to build up one another and give support. Apart from that we must not be discouraged by what we see in front of us but be encouraged by what we do not yet see ahead of us. Victory could only be seen through the eyes of faith and through the work of perseverance.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

There will be two more continuation for this topic. Keep watching this space for updates yea. I feel that those leaders who are serving in the ministry should read. This is also an encouragement and insight for me as I read and meditate and pray. I hope this topic will bless you as much as it has bless me now.

God bless.