Article: A Heart to Rebuild the Broken walls | Jobin sam varghese

God is in the constant quest for men and women who would carry the anguish in their heart for the completion of the work that God had begun in this world!
Any house or country borders are guarded with walls/ fences which protect and separate them from the rest. Giving a closer look at our spiritual lives, do we still have those walls? One of the reasons why many families, churches and individuals fail is because of the fall of these walls- prayer, word of God and the presence of the Lord.
Exodus 17:11 says “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning”. Where are the Moseses of today? Where are the mothers, youth leaders and Sunday school teachers who weep for this falling generation?
In this article, I’ve penned down my thoughts about Haggai, Nehemiah, Josiah & Jonah.
The Mission Call in Haggai
The book of Haggai is compiled in the form of dialogues between the prophet Haggai and the priests
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:2-4)

Don’t you think these words speak well for the time that we are in today? When God’s mission has become the least of our priorities? Has the madness around us moved us away from the primary calling of Serving the Lord? Just like Mordecai said to Esther, “ Isn’t for such time as this you are placed in the palace ”? Yes in the office , college, community,church – we’re placed with a greater mission of re-building the broken walls. Are we getting derailed as the Israelites mentioned in the above passage- busy behind building their own houses?
The agony of Nehemiah,
Nehemiah had probably a peaceful life serving in the palace. But his heart always longed towards the Jerusalem temple. When his fellow brothers from Jerusalem visited him – the below conversation happened – Nehemiah 1 –
“I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah’s heart was broken when he heard the fallen state of Jerusalem . He couldn’t be silent about it. His heart was filled with anguish .I am reminded of the following verses of Jeremiah “Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry “
King David shared a similar anguish
“he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 2 Samuel 7.2. Even though David had all the comfort the palace could provide, his heart longed to see the temple of God being built.
A person who has truly heard the call of God / Seen the broken wall, can never be silent. Their heart will pound to understand and move forward on what God could do through their life to rebuild those broken walls.
I truly love the methodology of work adopted by Nehemiah- where he asked people to build the portion beside their own houses – You could observe these phrases in Nehemiah 3 – “opposite his house” (v. 10), “in front of their house” (v. 23), “beside his house” (v. 23), and “in front of his house” (vv. 29, 30). If only we would just rise to build the portion of work, that God has placed in our influence, maybe a colleague who sits beside , that young / teenager who is left out in the church/ community , the possibility of you having a cell meeting at your place, the option of opening your house to bring comfort and warmth to the lost.
Nehemiah while giving the Leadership to rebuild the temple had to endure tough opposition. But through prayer, fellowship with other people of God and perseverance he was able to move forward. In one of the incidences while he was informed of conspiracy against him with the advice to flee, his response was interesting “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go”- When better prospect or storm comes by your mission/life, don’t run away. Pursue forward on the mission God has placed over your life.

The Zeal for Reformation – Josiah
Josiah came to the throne after series of failed Kings . He came to throne when he was just 8 years. He didn’t have a role model to look up to but we read one of the thing he did “he began to seek the God of his father David ” and the first initiative he took was to rebuild the temple and remove idolatry across the land . He had the Law/ Scripture found that was lost for several years. Post-hearing the scripture readout – he tore his robes ,wept and stirred up the reformation across the Land to serve the Lord.There maybe instances in our lives- probably we may be too young or the entire system is corrupted but if we have the zeal to seek the Lord, He will lead us.
Heart of God for the Lost – Jonah!
In the book of Jonah, we are able to understand deeper on Gods heart for the lost-
Meditate through the below passage from Jonah 4-
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Are our hearts’ burden aligned with the greater plan of God?
Jonah’s entire concern was on the plant that dried out than for the city of Nineveh. Aren’t we living in cities like Nineveh ?..Where people are deceived..not able to differentiate b/w the left or right ? When today’s world legalizes and normalizes what the Bible calls sin, does it really bother us?

Conclusion –
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”- Ezekiel 22.30. God is looking out for someone to stand in the gap for your office/college/city and to rebuild the broken walls – Shall we respond to this great call by committing our lives to His greater purposes?
Prayer – Lord – here I submit my life to the great mission that you have placed over my life- may my heart be filled with anguish for the mission you have placed over me- may you find me as the one standing in the gap- Lord have mercy on our land and Lord help to bring healing and comfort to the lost and broken ones- help me lord – In Jesus Name – Amen!

Jobin sam varghese

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