Accomplishing Great Things

God’s chosen people were in captivity, but were being allowed to repopulate Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Nehemiah stood before the king daily as his cupbearer; a most trusted position. Upon hearing that the gates surrounding Jerusalem were broken and the gates were burned, Nehemiah went through a difficult period, until the Lord opened a door to report to the king. With God’s providence at work, the king not only allowed Nehemiah to return and lead the rebuilding project, he also paid the bill and provided documentation for Nehemiah.

The work done by Nehemiah and so many others can only be described as amazing. Finishing the rebuilding project in only 52 days is truly remarkable. Found in the book of Nehemiah are several principles that will help us when we desire to accomplish something great with God’s help.

1. We must know that there is a cause. Nehemiah heard of the walls and gates and it became his cause to rebuild that needed structure. We often hear of the “walls” of people’s lives and hearts being destroyed. When we hear such, we should be moved to, with God’s help, rebuild those walls as best we can.

2. There will be a cost. Anytime something great happens, there are always those who attempt to slow or even stop the work. Nehemiah faced scorn, sword, and scheming. Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and others tried every way they could think of to stop the work on the wall. When we try to reach the lost for Christ, there will be some who will speak evil of us, and who will try to even intimidate us. We must never give up! The cause is worth the cost!

3. For us to accomplish great things, there must be conviction. With difficulty and scorn mounting, the people got together and continued to work. Nehemiah gives a great reason in 4:6: “For the people had a mind [literally, heart] to work.” This was a project that was deeply rooted within them. We will never accomplish anything great in any arena of life until we are fully convicted of the cause. Are we truly convicted to help the lost? The hurting? The downtrodden?

4. For us to accomplish great things, there must be community. Nehemiah 3 contains the names of many who helped with the rebuilding project. One purpose for the listing of those names is to show that it took togetherness, or community, to accomplish this goal. The New Testament church is compared to a body and a house. Neither of these works at its highest level without every part fulfilling its role. If a congregation wishes to accomplish something great, infighting and “camp-building” must stop.

5. Also, there must be communication with God. Before the project (1:5-11, 2:4), during the project (4:4, 4:9, 5:19, 6:9, 6:14), and during the “follow up” work (13:14, 13:22, 13:29, 13:31), we see Nehemiah in prayer. Nothing great ever gets done unless the project is enveloped in prayer. Leaders, especially, need to spend as much time in prayer as possible. When leaders fail to pray, we had better watch out. When leaders are in prayer, the world had better watch out!

6. Finally, there must be a connection with God’s Word. In Nehemiah 8, we are told that Ezra read the Law to the people and it was interpreted in their hearing, so that they understood. From that point on in the account, we read of not physical, but spiritual revival among God’s people. The old restoration statement is true that, if we are going to things in God’s name, we must “do Bible things in Bible ways.” We must have a “thus saith the Lord” for our work. All we do, in evangelism, benevolence, and fellowship, must be done with God’s authority.

7. When those six things are in place, there will be a celebration. The wall was finished, and the people had been spiritually revived. Nehemiah 12, beginning with verse 27 shows us the grand celebration that occurred because great things had been accomplished. Notice that the people were joyful, but all the adoration went to God. All had been done through His will and for His glory. When a sinner is saved, or an erring one is restored, do we celebrate and give God the glory? We should!

Individual Christians and congregations of the Lord’s people can accomplish great things. We must have God’s help, but amazing things can still be done. Walls in the lives of millions of people need to be rebuilt. We can—we must—go where walls are broken and must rebuild. May God help us follow Nehemiah’s example.