Everything was going on perfectly that afternoon in the Citadel of Susa, the palace where our brother Nehemiah was working as the taster of the King’s wine. Suddenly, Hanani, another one of our brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and the gist started.
Nehemiah questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. The response was really bad! 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. When Nehemiah heard these things, he sat down and wept, then he spent the next few days not eating only praying. That’s what Nehemiah 1:1-3 tells us. The question is why is Nehemiah taking it too personal?
For a very long time, I’ve always wondered why Nehemiah was really depressed when he heard about the news of the broken wall until I read in Proverbs 25:28 that “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” When a city is left without walls, anyone can come in and most times can’t be held accountable for the consequences of whatever they do when they enter.
I believe that our lives are like cities and we are the watchmen of over those cities. It is our responsibility to ensure that our dividing walls of self-control are standing strong and separating us from the immoral desires of the world around us and all forms of reckless living.
You can’t just pray only when you feel like praying, that’s why you’ve not prayed in two weeks and you’re probably not going to feel like praying in another couple of weeks, your wall is broken down, enemies are within your walls and when the output of their works starts manifesting would you be surprised?
Just because you’re engaged and the pastor is aware of the relationship, you think it’s time to pitch your tent permanently at the brother’s house making it your weekend hangout spot or getaway home. I hear you pass the night there once in a while too but you claim nothing has happened. Well, thank God for the grace keeping you if what you’re saying is even true but your guards are down, at this rate when the enemy will strike you won’t see it coming and recovering from it might be tough.
Oga pastor, so the only time you get to read your bible now is when you’re preparing for a ministration? If you have not been invited to preach anywhere you’re OK taking an indefinite break from the bible because somehow the devil has managed to confuse and not to convince you that your existing knowledge is sufficient; to you, his words are no longer new every morning. No wonder you’re now using style to tap current from the female members of the flock and those nude images are finding their way back to the secret corner of your phone. No wonder your sermons are turning our head but not our heart, we enjoy them but never impacted by them.
It’s time to quit all these riotous living and start getting deliberate about spiritual things, about our walk with the Lord about sinful and carnal living. We need to build a wall so tall and so strong that the demarcation between us and the world becomes very obvious. The time to build it is now.
May God will strengthen our resolve in Jesus’ name.
