Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
Does God really still perform great works? He does! Do we really trust him to do them? Daniel predicted the rebuilding of the wall and the prophecy came true here in Nehemiah. When he first arrived, the people said it couldn’t be done. The job was too big. The problems were too great. God’s men and women joined for the spiritual task of rebuilding the wall, a great task for the work of God.
We serve the same God today. The size or time constraints don’t matter. Whatever we set out to do, it can be done with the help of God. Satan may hinder. If God is in the matter, he cannot tear it down. We’re still on solid foundation. God always has the upper hand. We’re on the winning side. The enemies of Nehemiah had to admit the completion of this task was the work of God. Nehemiah asked for the privilege of doing a great work for God. The people had to acknowledge it was great and was wrought by the hand of God.
People throughout the Bible asked for big things and got them. In Joshua 10, he commanded the sun to stand still and it happened. That’s big! Joshua completed and won the battle that day. God came through. In II Kings 2, Elisha asked a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. He was told that if he saw Elijah taken away it would happen. When Elijah was taken away, a lot was going on, but Elisha kept his eyes on Elijah. He took the mantle of Elijah and with it parted the waters. There are 8 miracles associated with Elijah and 16 with Elisha. That’s a double portion. That’s big! In Joshua 16, Caleb at 85 years of age, should have been taking it easy. Instead he asked God for a mountain. It was full of giants but he fought them and got that mountain. He asked big! God is able! In I Samuel 17, little ruddy David, a boy who attended sheep, went against a giant. Goliath berated Israel and their God. Everyone was afraid of him. David heard it and said “is there not a cause?” He refused the armor of King Saul, went to the river and got 5 smooth stones and with his sling threw one into the forehead of the giant. In human eyes David didn’t stand a chance, but he was going in the name of the Lord. He asked for Goliath and God gave it. We need to remember that in Malachi 3:6 God said I change not. In Hebrews 13:8 it says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. He can work miracles today just as he did then.
Blessings come from asking for the big things. It glorifies God and shows his power. The wall was rebuilt in 52 days. Done by people just like us. Could God have just spoken the new wall into existence? Sure, he could. But he chooses to work through people. That’s how he builds his church–through people like us. Asking for big things prospers the work of God. When we trust God, not the bank or the government, the work of God will prosper. Trust God more than men. He will meet our needs and get us to the other side. When big things happen, it confounds the unbelieving world. Even the heathen in Nehemiah’s day acknowledged what happened with the walls. On Elijah’s day on Mount Carmel, God answered him by fire when the prophets of Baal could do nothing. The people admitted Elijah’s God was the true and living God.
We have not because we ask not. When was the last time you asked for something big? Pray. Call on the Lord. Let’s ask for great work to be done at this church. He’s still the same God. He can do it.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 