CALLED TO BE QUALIFIED or QUALIFIED TO BE CALLED

Last night, I began to take our church on journey. It is a journey that will cover more than 6000 years, introduce us to 40 writers, only one of which was not a Jew, and take us through 66 books. I am leading our church book by book through the Bible. This is not intended to be an "exhaustive" exposition of each book, but a synopsis of the major themes, truths, and thrusts of Genesis-Revelation. Last night we covered 2000 years, through 50 chapters, of the book of Genesis. We were reminded of the blessed truth that in spite of man's failures, God is faithful. If last night is any indication, it is going to be an exciting journey.

Yesterday (Sunday) morning, I began the book of Nehemiah. I have always loved the book of Nehemiah for several reasons. It is an excellent book to begin a New Year or any year for that matter. It is a book that provides inspiration, motivation, and prioritization as endeavor to do the work God has called us to do.

The name Nehemiah means, "The Lord has comforted." Nehemiah was a man God raised up to accomplish a seemingly impossible task. I believe the book of Nehemiah is one of the greatest books in the Bible to denote the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men. It reminds us that it is no accident that we are where we are in any area of our lives.

Nehemiah held the prestigious position of being a "cupbearer" to the king. The cupbearer would be much like a 'chief of staff' in today's world. He tasted the king's wine before he drank, and the king's food before he ate it. He was a man of impeccable character and integrity.

The Book of Ezra denotes the 1st 3 remnants of Jews who had been allowed to go home, under the decree of Cyrus, to rebuild the Temple. The Book of Nehemiah denotes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The temple had been completed for almost 20 years, but the walls and gates remained in ruins. The people were under great "affliction" and "reproach." There was spiritual discouragement, as well as structural depletion.

Nehemiah possessed a heavy burden for the people and the problem. He saw a need, and he cared enough to respond to the need. He wasn't content to ignore the problem and allow someone else to respond to it. He went into his prayer closet and poured out his heart to God, and petitioned God to allow him to become a solution to the problem.

What God accomplished through Nehemiah is almost hard to believe. God worked in the heart of Artaxerxes, a pagan king, and allowed Nehemiah to return home and finish the project in just 52 days. Nehemiah reminds us that when God wants to accomplish His work, He always prepares His workers. He raises up men, women, boys and girls, gives them a blueprint of His plan, and then enables and equips them for the task.

It has been well said, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Position, power, prestige and possessions have never been a prerequisite to be used of God. In most cases, such things simply get in God's way. God takes the weak and makes them a warrior; God takes the cowardly and makes them courageous; God takes the simple and makes them strong; God takes the foolish and makes them faithful; and, God takes the poor and makes them powerful.

As I said to our people, "I have learned that if I make myself teachable, if I make myself dependable, and if I make myself available; then, I will have made myself USABLE for the glory of God."

I am prayerful that God will use Nehemiah to encourage, enrich, and enlarge the faith of His people to realize that the same God who enabled him is the "same yesterday, today and forever;" and, is able to enable us to accomplish the work to which He has called us.

You may not be called to be qualified, but make sure that you are qualified to be called. Make yourself teachable, dependable and available; and, you will become qualified to be usable.

Looking to Jesus,

Pastor Steve