Nehemiah 2:4-10

Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”
Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

Maximum Victory and Joy Worship Center

Many times we make requests to other people to do something for us, sometimes such request might be genuine and some other times not. Nehemiah received the news from the province that the Jews in Jerusalem were in great distress because the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and gates burnt by fire and he was saddened by this report. This proves that he was a man who was mindful of other peoples’ welfare and since he was in a position of trust he wanted to help restore the walls. He planned to go to the king to ask for permission and provision for the task ahead knowing very well that they king would have him killed for it because he was the cupbearer of the king.

Before embarking on such a journey we see that he received the message in the month of Chislev in the Hebrew calendar is what we call December and he went before the king in the month of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar is our month of April. Apparently there is a gap of four months in between these two events although he appeared before the king on daily basis for he was the king’s cupbearer. Therefore the only possible explanation for this could be that he needed enough time to pray about the whole thing. The gravity of the matter plus concern for his safety which was at stake should the king misinterpret his intentions of the request for rebellion or treasonable  crime whose only punishment was death so he needed God’s favor before presenting his case.

Out of the blue the king inquired about his wellbeing, Nehemiah immediately knew that his prayer had been answered, his request granted. He was able to discern that the king was not just being solicitous but was being compelled by God to respond to Nehemiah’s prayers. There is a proverb that says ‘strike while the iron is hot’ or ‘make hay while the sun shines’ both means that take the appropriate action when the timing is right.

He was praying for four months while biding his time for the right opportunity. I am sure that if he were a Christian of today he would have complained that his answer was taking long time while in limbo or that God was not answering his request. I thank God for him because he could know when the time was right to act, and indeed he placed his request before the king.

We also see him as someone who was meticulous in his planning and sense of leadership too; when the opportunity came he was ready with every detail of his requirements. He didn’t ask for time to go and consult or something, he was spot on. He was gifted with ability to discern the time; it is unfortunate that some Christians today don’t know when their time has come. Sometimes they complain of delays between time of prayer and waiting for results such that they miss the opportunity when it comes and they are passed by.

They moan and complain for time on the end but nothing happens simply because they didn’t seize their opportunity. When such is missed they result to looking for their own alternatives, like going to witchdoctors, ‘seers’ and many disreputable personalities where they spend fortunes they should not have had to. I am surprised and saddened by Christians who have had sound doctrine taught to them and yet they are the first to look for seers who can’t even see anything beyond spreading hatred among brethren.

I am yet to see a ‘seer(s)’ who tells people to love their neighbors and family. Correct me if I am wrong or if you can but I know that this is the time that Jesus spoke about saying; many will rise in my name but they indeed wolves in sheep’s’ clothing. The basic commandment that Jesus gave us was that of love; every fake seer first tells their clients that they are being bewitched by their neighbors, brothers, sisters, parents and so forth. Ever wonder why they never tell you that your blessings are coming via such and such brother or sister?

Nehemiah gave a litany of requests and they were all met because the king didn’t have a choice for the Lord was pushing him to do what was required. He had done his homework well, he knew he needed security; he needed materials for rebuilding and this entirely required king’s direct intervention, he also needed some kind of diplomatic status. Not that he went out first and came back for more letters, no; he requested and was given all the authority documents he needed before embarking on the journey. Some of us would have thought that he had gone overboard, but I say that he took the opportunity as God had granted.

Most of us have had chances like that but squandered them while debating in our heads what should or should I not ask for. When God grants favor, it is not limited, remember it is not in the power to the person granting but he/she is being compelled to act. God has severally told us that His thoughts are not our thoughts because our thoughts constrain us to look at our abilities on a linear axis and we forget His ability to meet our requests is awesome. Nehemiah knew that he was praying to a God who was not limited, God who could shake mountains and fill valleys that he should pass so he didn’t even hesitate to tell the king everything he needed.

This reminds me a story I saw that is doing rounds in the internet about a poor lady who went to a grocer’s shop to ask for credit because her family was nearly and needed food but she didn’t have the money. She is said to have been turned away but a kind shopper said he would stand surety for her. The grocer condescendingly told her place her shopping list on the scale and whatever it weighed he would give her according to that weight.

The story goes on to say that she hesitantly placed a piece of paper on the scale and the scale weighed down. The grocer was startled but started filling the opposite tray but the scale could not rise until he had piled many groceries into the tray. Afterwards when they were through, they examined the piece of paper and they found that it was a prayer request and not a shopping list. The grocer was so astonished and he told her not to pay for her purchases. The moral point in this story whether real or imagined is never to underestimate the weight of a prayer that is before the living God.

Today we are so constrained by our reasoning such that even when the opportunity is right we are not ready to make appropriate use of it. I used to wonder why it so easy to believe lies peddled by quasi-servants of god and not His true word. I got the answer is from 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (NKJV) then I was able to understand why they so willingly believe such lies.

God grants opportunities to those who are ready to receive His word and wait only upon Him to fulfill whatever they request without wavering. Nehemiah went about his duties without any complaint or murmuring, when the time was not right the king could not see that he was melancholic but because the Lord was working for Nehemiah; the king noticed something was wrong with his cupbearer; not only that but he was also able to sense that the problem was not physical but spiritual, Nehemiah 2:2 - Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” think of that! Who could bring about such a revelation if not God? God empowered the king to know that there was something bothering Nehemiah and the gravity of the matter is apparent.

Through this cue, Nehemiah knew that time was right though he was afraid for his life. His fear didn’t impair his ability to respond to God’s leading so he put forward his requirements and even when the king wanted to know much more like for how long he would be away, he didn’t answer that question straight away. He was gone for twelve years; he was also promoted to be the governor of the province of Judah; something he could never imagine even in his wildest dreams. This shows that when God answers prayers He does beyond what we ask for, for He knows our needs even before they are registered in our conscience.

Psalm 143:1

Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness. (NKJV)

David knew this secret that God is faithful enough to answer his supplications and do so righteously. This tells us that we should never waver in our requests to God because He will definitely give an answer. The most important question to ask is, are we ready for the answers or are we just complaining and murmuring? I am praying for all Christians of today who have this complaining spirit that God will heal them of that evil disease; there is nothing as bad as praying for something but you are not ready when it comes. We should strive to remain in place for that important answer because God will definitely answer in His righteousness by being righteous too.

God’s ear is ever open for the prayers of the righteous, one Kenyan singer sang in vernacular that ‘there is no dustbin for the prayers of the righteous’ and again God is not deaf that He can’t hear the prayers that are placed before Him. Silence doesn’t mean a denied request but wait for an answer at the appropriate time, are you ready for it? Don’t look only where you are expecting it to come from because God’s thoughts are not at par with yours nor His ways your ways.

1 Corinthians 16:8-10 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. (NKJV)

Apostle Paul was in Ephesus and he was writing to the brethren in Galatia and Corinth regarding his travel plans; he tells them that though he was to travel, he was not yet ready to go to them because God had opened a door for him to preach the gospel effectively. Through this we see that it is not just an open door but an effective door. This how God works, He doesn’t opens doors for the sake of it but doors through which you can effectively do what you are supposed to do.

Paul was ready when the door was opened and he seized the opportunity to work the works of God and not his own. Nehemiah also seized the opportunity not to serve his selfish interests but to serve God; we are, through this being sensitized to the fact that God does what we indeed ask of Him with specific understanding. Remember Solomon prayed for wisdom to rule God’s people, the purpose should always be acceptable with God and not self.

Whenever such opportunities come they are accompanied by opposition commensurate with them in magnitude and force. When Nehemiah was given the authority to go and restore the walls of the city of Jerusalem, Sanballat and Tobias were strongly opposed to him and they even derided him. They challenged his authority to rebuild the city wall that had been destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar. When Paul’s door was opened, adversaries also rose to oppose him. Whenever somebody wants to build something Godly, Satan also says I will bring it down. This is a normal situation that God actually allows to take place; He knows that Satan has no power to bring down what He has allowed to be built.

Satan will use every trick in his book including intimidation, cajoling, opposition, derision and all sorts of threats to stop whoever is building. We also know that destroyed/ruined walls and burnt gates also apply to our spiritual lives. So whenever you purpose to rebuild your spiritual life, Satan also embarks on bringing down every wall you try to erect. Everything you are doing to come out of any evil habit that you’ve found yourself into seems is countered at every turn. Sometimes discouragement, sometimes all sorts of excuses, procrastination seem to take the center stage; it takes a lot of determination and resolve to finally set the ball rolling in the right direction.

I am not trying to discourage you but I am encouraging you by alerting you to the fact that adversary after adversary will come your way as you start to rebuild those broken wall or burnt out gate in your life. You know very well which parts of your life has been naked; damaged and the devil knows too, so he will thwart your efforts from the start. If it is something that requires money, he tells you don’t have enough; if it has to do with time, he shows you how busy you are; if it requires concentration, he supplies you with lots of distraction; if it involves other people, he shows you how much they hate you; if it involves fasting, he shows you how weak you are; if it involves quitting some habit that is taking you away from the will of God, he shows you how alluring such things are. I could go on for a long time, but I will leave you to fill in which best fits what your case.

Nehemiah received a lot of adversity from the likes of Sanballat, Tobias and Geshem the Arab who were his tormentors while he rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem by day and night. The good thing is that he never allowed himself to be distracted by their threats, cajoling or intimidations or even threats to physical harm, he kept on with the work that was set before him, I think we need to borrow a leaf and emulate them. Paul was not distracted by the size or number of adversaries that opposed his preaching; in fact he doesn’t even bother to give them names, he concentrated in the enormity of the task ahead.

When we concentrate on adversaries we miss our calling, by recognition we give legitimacy to disturb us but when we ignore them and forge ahead with the calling we are given grace by God to succeed because He is concerned with our success in everything we want to rebuild. Many things might be wrong in our lives but when we pray to God for strength to rebuild He allows us to do so and at the same time He let’s us have adversity, so that we can see how powerful He is. Though discouragement comes we must understand our encouragement will come from Him.

Revelation 3:8
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. NKJV

First, God reassures all that He is aware of all the work that we’ve done, are doing or intend to do in the future. For this reason He has opened a door for us that will lead to accomplishing that which we are supposed to accomplish. The most interesting aspect of this is that nobody and nothing can close this door, beautiful! No amount of opposition can shut a door that God has opened. This is wonderful news brethren!

Secondly, He says is aware of the amount of strength in us to pursue that which we are intending to do however this should be the least of our problems. When we keep His word, we don’t require so much strength because His word has all the strength we need to conquer whatever addiction; rejection; prostitution; hatred or any other situation we have to overcome.

His authority is final; when He opens doors, He also gives power to overcome any adversity that comes along the way. My brother my sister I would beg of you to be sensitive enough today to see these open doors and follow through your prayer to the end. Whenever God provides He doesn’t provide in halves but in fullness and totality; whenever you pray look out for your door, take the cue and move into it without murmuring or looking over your shoulder.

The devil might try so much to derail your efforts to rehabilitate some parts of your life; it may be your marriage; your health which was ruined by addiction; perhaps it is your education too; perhaps it is your professional life that is in a disarray; perhaps it is your relationship that is staggering; perhaps it is your ministry that is unsteady; perhaps it is your family that is disintegrated; if you need help in these areas pray unto God and He will open a door and provide you with strength to overcome all challenges that come along.

Opposition is not an excuse to procrastinate any positive action on our parts, for through Nehemiah and Paul we have clearly seen that we can prosper well in the despite full fledged adversity. In fact adversity actually should confirm that we are on the right track in whatever it is that we have set out to achieve. Again we should always never lose sight of Who is supplying us the power and strength to work at that which we have set out to achieve. Many Christians are sometimes lured by the devil into the trap of taking credit for the success of whatever they are doing instead of giving glory to God. Lest you forget let me remind you that; He is the One who opened the door; He is the One who provided you with strength, direction, guidance and intelligence to accomplish it all.

Remember that at the appointed time God brings people into your life to help reach your destiny but sometimes due to your hang-ups you shun them off. Sometimes it might somebody who is below your social status, intellectually, financially, physically or even education wise and you can’t expect them to help in any way; this too might another lost opportunity. God will not come in the ways that you expect Him to but He will come in His own fashion.

So my brother my sister kindly and humbly allow me to place this request to you. Do not second guess God especially after you have prayed for something and you’ll be blessed for it. Many people do this by thinking that God cannot use such and such people or incidents, through this way you miss your point entirely and have yourself to blame for it. Do not be wise in your own eyes, remember!

Prayer: Dear God thank you for opening a door for me to minister unto your people courtesy of Journey 2 Joy International Ministries; you had a reason for joining us together as you have; so effective is this door that many have been receiving your word in the most remote parts of the world that I could never physically reach, that, truly is an effective door; thank you for giving me strength to follow through this vision despite many challenges, derision from peers, friends and foes, adversity and constraints from the enemy. It is by your power and continued provision that these devotions have been rolling on through the last two years because you gave an effective means to minister unto your. I pray for my readers that you may open doors for them as well and it is in Jesus Mighty Name I pray. Amen.

This devotional was written by Bishop Joseph Koburu Mukiira of Maximum Victory and Joy Worship Centre Nairobi, Kenya and brought to you courtesy of Journey 2 Joy Internationa