It Only Takes A Spark!

Just like the time of Jesus in Matthew 9:37, the Church today is living in a time when the harvest is full but the labourers are few.  There is a lot to be done in God's kingdom: standing in the gap for the lost and praying for their salvation; standing in the gap for the Church and seeking God's face that He may show Himself strong through us; caring for our societies and demonstrating God's unconditional love to them; preaching the gospel to the lost, bringing healing to the sick and broken hearted, and deliverance to the captives; being Christ's Ambassadors in the market place and influencing the spheres of economics, governance, legislature, politics, education, sports and entertainment for Jesus.

There is an urgency in the Spirit to be involved in the Kingdom's work, for the Day of the Lord is closer today than it has ever been.  The call of God for us to be involved in His vineyard and to prioritise His Kingdom is unmistakably clear.  Time and time again, God has been speaking to us in a language and manner we understand with a clear message that we need to arise from our slumber and be aligned to His will and purposes.  Sadly to note is that many of us (believers) have not heeded to His call.

Our response to the Spirit's promptings has been wanting, perhaps because the cares of this world have made our heart cold and insensitive to the Lord's will; our ears have become heavy that they do not hear and our eyes blind that they do not see.  May God look upon us with mercy and by His grace, enable us to return to Him not only with our lips, but with our hearts also.  The good news is that not all believers are ignorant of what God is saying and doing in this season and many are taking up their positions in the battle field.  They recognise that the tasks ahead are great and the battles are fierce, but they are encouraged and strengthened in knowing whom they serve: Mighty God, Faithful Father, Righteous Judge, Lord of Hosts, Ancient of Days and King of Kings.  These Christians may identify with Nehemiah who as an official in the king's palace, was distressed by the state of Jerusalem and carried the burden of its restoration.  It was a huge task, but Nehemiah served a Great God, with whom nothing was impossible.

When Nehemiah received news about the state of Jerusalem- how its wall was broken down and its gates burnt with fire, he sat down and wept, mourned, fasted and prayed (Nehemiah 1:1-11).  Nehemiah's heart was moved by what moved God; he was alive to God's heart regarding His people and how He was grieved by His people's state of affairs.  Nehemiah utilised some of the weapons available to us as believers- prayer and fasting.  He did not sit back and begin to point fingers as many of us do; he did not hope that someone would arise and work towards his city's restoration; instead, he took it upon himself to be part of what God was doing and availed himself for use.  Its noteworthy that Nehemiah in his prayer asked God that he may find favor before King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:11).  It was not by coincidence that the king responded in a favourable manner to Nehemiah's sad countenance.  Many of us believers are giving our lives up to fate and chance, just like the people of the world would.  That is not God's will for the body of Christ.  He has given us authority and dominion over the earth and we need to exercise that authority to influence the world for Jesus.  The Church's power, authority and influence is made manifest when it is engaged in prayer and fasting, seeking God's face and living righteously.  We must decrease that He may increase in us (John 3:30).

John 12:24- I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Nehemiah took a simple step of seeking God regarding Jerusalem's restoration.  He did not have finer details of how everything would fall in place but He had faith in his God, and so he acted in obedience.  What follows in Nehemiah chapter 2 and 3 is amazing:

• He is given permission by the king of Persia to go to Jerusalem and restore it (Nehemiah 2:6)
• He was given security to take care of them (exiles) as they returned to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:7)
• He was provided with resources needed for rebuilding Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:8)
• Upon arrival at Jerusalem, Nehemiah talked with the officials, Jews and priests about what God had laid in His heart to rebuild Jerusalem.  The men's response was "Let us start rebuilding" (Nehemiah 2:17-18).
• The building of the wall started and each person/ family would build a section of the wall and pass it to those next to them (Nehemiah 3).

Its amazing to note that what simply begun with one man was now a phenomenal team of dedicated builders.  The fire had begun with one man but had spread to the people of Jerusalem like a wild fire.  Figuratively, Nehemiah's obedience to avail himself to God's will was a little spark.  However, the outcome of Jerusalem's restoration was a blazing fire that took the enemies of Jerusalem by surprise. 

The world today is waiting for us to take simple steps of obedience in doing God's will.  Some say, "Does it really matter? My efforts are like a drop in the ocean!"  Yes, your obedience matters!  A whole village's salvation may be depending on you sharing the gospel with one student in your class; a turn around of an organisation may be depending on your daily prayers for its managementstaff; revival of the Church in your city/ nation may be depending on you consistently attending weekly prayer meetings and seeking God's face etc. 

This message has been strong in my heart in the past week and one song that we loved to sing as Christian Union leaders in my High School came to me as an encouragement: "Pass it On" song that states, "It Only Takes a Spark to Get the Fire Burning!".  In light of Nehemiah's life, this song made a lot more sense to me.  God is calling on you and I to make a difference for God's kingdom.  Your spark counts, and through the Spirit's work, the fire of God will burn ablaze such that nations of the world can warm up in its glowing!

Join me in meditating on the lyrics of the just cited song:

Verse 1
It only takes a spark, to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in it's glowing.

Chorus:
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it, it's fresh like spring, you want to sing, you want to pass it on.

Verse 2
What a wondrous time is Spring
When all the trees are budding.
The birds begin to sing,
the flowers start their blooming.

Chorus (see above)

Verse 3
I wish for you my friend
this happiness that I've found
You can depend on him
It matters not where your bound.

Last chorus:
I'll shout it from the mountain tops
I want the world to know
The Lord of Life has come to me
I want to pass it on.