Wow! What an incredible Sunday we just shared at Rolling Hills on our Commitment Sunday! Our God moved in such a mighty way at all our campuses. I am still in awe of seeing God show up and show off! I love our church family. To see children and adults respond to God with all their hearts always moves me in such a powerful way. All glory to our great God!
Throughout these past eight weeks, we have been studying a guy in the Old Testament named Nehemiah. He lived 2,500 years ago. Yet, Nehemiah and the people got it. They didn’t miss their time or opportunity to live for God back then, and I pray the same for each of us. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down. The city was not even a city anymore, but simply an outpost. The people joined together to do the work. This was not an easy task. They had to overcome opposition, avoid distractions and literally put their lives on the line for the glory of God. But, they did it. They prayed, worked and sacrificed, and in 52 days they rebuilt the wall!
Now, this is significant because Nehemiah is the last book chronologically in the Old Testament. Not only did God want to restore Jerusalem, His Holy City, but God was also wanting to restore the hearts of His people. After the walls were rebuilt, Nehemiah had Ezra, the priest, read the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament) to the people. The people confessed their sins and made a commitment – “we will not neglect the house of our God.” Nehemiah 10:39
This building of the walls and the commitment of their heart to God impacted generations. In just four hundred years, the Messiah will walk through the walls they rebuilt and be dedicated at the Temple, then die on a cross and ultimately conquer death through His Resurrection. They were a part of transforming history and the world for the glory of God. And, now it is our turn…
As God’s people today, we are not building walls but we are building God’s Church. We are not having to be outside moving stones and using swords to fight enemies at the same time, but we are still called to the same sacrifice. We have to overcome fear and worry to give sacrificially to build God’s church. We are not setting the table for the first coming of the Messiah but for His second coming. We are preparing the Bride of Christ for when Jesus comes back. May He find us faithful and ready.
This past Sunday, I saw God’s Church in action. I saw people give and sacrifice for the glory of our God. I watched with tears in my eyes as precious children came forward and gave their offerings to God. Then, Lisa and I came together to make our commitment for the next 2 years. We prayed, stretched and sacrificed because we believe in what God is doing in His Church. Then, so many adults, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ came forward to make their commitment. What an incredible time of worship! This is the Body of Christ today. All of us locking arms, sacrificing and giving to see God do what only God can do. To build His Church and to impact the NEXT generation for Jesus and His Kingdom. I love God’s Church!
Nehemiah concludes with this prayer, “Remember me with favor, my God.” Nehemiah 10:31. Nehemiah had a personal relationship with God, “my God,” and he lived his life for God’s glory. We all have to choose the audience we will live, for the world or for God. Nehemiah could have stayed in a palace (Nehemiah 1), but he chose to identify with God and His work. I pray the same will be said of each of us. And, after watching God’s people respond in prayer, worship and giving these past eight weeks, especially on Sunday, I know it will.