I took this particular call at the counseling center we had set up at the KDSM TV studio with the Palau Evangelistic Campaign about midnight. It was an 18 year old woman with a two year old daughter. Her husband had attempted suicide months earlier, and they separated for a while. During that separation she had an affair with another man. When I visited with her she was living with her husband again and struggling with guilt from her immoral relationship. She was somewhat interested in spiritual help, but afraid that her husband would not approve of her calling us.

Many called; women and men, in their teens, 20's and 30's, but persons 40, 50 and older called, too. Some were lonely, wanting to talk. Some had serious problems with their children, with their spouse, with abuse, with sexual matters, with depression, with sin and guilt. Some wanted advice and assurance. The list could go on and on. While I was not surprised at the hurting people, I must admit that I was a little surprised at the openness of so many to share such deep intimate struggles with total strangers.

With no disrespect for these and many other hurting people, I think we may compare come of these broken lives with the broken walls of Jerusalem. As we return to the story of Nehemiah, a man with a heart in tune with God's heart, a man willing to risk his life for God, dare we open our eyes to see the rubble in our midst?

What Nehemiah purposed to do would be good steps for us to use.

I. Examine the Rubble.

Of course, Nehemiah knew months earlier that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins. That news motivated him to specifically pray about his response to the needs. He risked his life in presenting his request to King Artaxeres, who gave him a leave of absence, and a commission to go to Jerusalem to repair the wall. Then as he approached the city he discovered that Sanballat and Tobiah were not at all pleased to have Nehemiah interested in the welfare of God's people.

Remember, Nehemiah had been living in the beautiful city of Susa, actually in the royal palace. It is likely that he knew little or nothing about even the slums of Susa. Now he was in a position to see the ruins of Jerusalem before he challenged the people to rebuild the wall.

Listen to what three Bible Commentaries have to say about examining the ruins:

Matthew Henry:

He arose in the night and viewed the ruins of the wall, probably by moonlight, that he might see what was to be done and in what method they must go about it, whether the old foundation would serve, and what there was of the old materials that could be of some use. Those that would build up the church's walls must take notice of the ruins of those walls. Those that would know how to amend must enquire what is amiss, what needs reformation, and what may serve as it is.

New Bible Commentary:

Nehemiah's capacity for detailed planning is again in evidence. His secret reconnaissance would acquaint him with the actual situation and thus enable him to deal with any opposition through an "it-can-be-done" attitude.

Wycliffe Commentary:

It was wise, with enemies on every hand, to keep his plans secret until he could ascertain the true magnitude of the task. To avoid exciting attention, his companions walked while he rode a horse or mule.

My first thought about this night time examination of the walls was different. I first thought the darkness would make it difficult to get a good look at the rubble. This is probably because of my experiences of mowing, gardening, and doing some other outdoor projects at night. How wrong I was! I am completely convinced after studying the passage.

Listen to Frank Tillapaugh's description:

The scene is somber as Nehemiah sets out at night to see the shambles of the city. He decided to tour the ruined wall be the light of the moon when nothing could break his concentration; he wanted to feel the full impact. Consequently, he developed a heart that beat with God's heart, enabling his to see beyond his own needs and circumstances to the needs of others. He was able to see through the eyes of Jesus.

Yes, Nehemiah carefully examined the rubble. Are we interested in examining the rubble of our society, even our own area? What would happen if we would go for a walk or a horseback ride down the streets our communities and countryside by the light of the moon? In Nehemiah's case the ruins he viewed were brick, but for most of us, the ruins would be people, possibly even some like the people I mentioned that called the counseling center I was working in several years ago.

In I Thessalonians 1:8 we read: For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything."

These words do not honestly describe the ministries of many churches today, even if were to define everywhere as between the walls of existing churches. Are half of the people of North Iowa being ministered to by our churches? I do not believe so.

How much of our society do the people of our congregation have effective contact with, contact that may meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs? Do we care? The rubble of broken lives, of hurting people includes the homeless, the street people, the lower middle class, the middle class, the yuppies and the upper economic class of our society.

A few years ago, Youth for Christ issued these statistics:

Every 24 hours in the U. S. -

13,7000 kids become victims of broken homes,

5,400 run away, 32,876 take some form of narcotic

1,370 attempt suicide, 3,287 become pregnant

1,389 have an abortion, 10,958 are beaten, molested, or abused.

Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family has said that as he flies over a city he thinks about all the broken homes and fractured relationships represented by the houses below. . Do we want to see the invisible, or are we more comfortable keeping our eyes closed to the needs around us, in Adel, Waukee, DeSoto, Redfield, Urbandale, Des Moines, or the needs on a distant mission field?

Jesus was frustrated that his disciples did not see what He saw. Take Zaccheus, for example. They saw a despised tax collector, small in stature, and small in status in their eyes. Jesus saw a man who needed a friend and deliverance from sin. Or consider the woman at the well in John 4. Not only was she immoral, but the disciples thought she was of the wrong ethnic background. Of course, Jesus saw a hurting woman, who once she was redeemed, could help spread the Gospel in Samaria.

My friends, I really believe that we need to condition ourselves to see what Jesus saw. I don't think it comes naturally , even for a Christian. With all the media exposure and multitudes in need, I think we often tune out much of this today. Instead, we should ask ourselves, "Who are the hurting people? What is their point of contact with Jesus Christ? What would God have me do?

If you have been blinded to needs, but want to see the needs Jesus sees, you might consider some field trips, spending a few hours or more examining the rubble. One trip might be to the emergency room of Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines some night watching people come in with gunshot wounds, knife wounds, drug overdoses, DWUI, abused women and children. Another might be a tour of some of the homeless of Des Moines, a Saturday night street ministry or some of the terrible places in which some people live. You could volunteer to help at the Crisis Intervention Center or the Salvation Army. Maybe you would rather do your examining sipping 7-Up in a bar, a middle class, or a high class bar, listening to people longing for purpose and meaning in their lives

Are you willing to examine the rubble? If you are, please do not stop there. That alone is not enough. Let's turn back to Nehemiah to see his next step.

II. Enlist Workers

After examining, carefully examining the rubble and deciding what needed to be done, then he Enlisted worker. While we see him move to this next step we need to realize that the context is a person with a heart for God. I believe the context of Nehemiah's steps is a prayerful openness to God leading him along the way.

To minimize opposition, even before he got the project underway, he had quietly examined the situation. Then he took the next step. He reminded the people of Jerusalem of the bad situation they were in and asked them to work with him in rebuilding the wall. Even though he had the authority from the King to command them, instead he encouraged them to join with him in this task. Perhaps it was more of a pep talk. He shared his heart, his burden for God and told them of the king's commission. With this they responded, "Let us arise and build." Nehemiah enlisted them as workers and they put their hands to the good work.

I think this a beautiful story to illustrate how a man with ah heart for God can lovingly encourage people in a worthwhile task for the Lord and enlist their aid. They quickly went to work, when their Godly leader presented a challenge.

The rubble, the ruins in our society in which we need to enlist workers today are often people. Some are people who don't think they would fit in our churches if that thought had even crossed their minds. Some are devoting their energies to mere survival while living comfortably or even in affluence, have a great void in their lives. Are we willing to get involved to be enlisted in meeting needs and enlisting others to do so?

Consider the words of Paul in Philippians 2:4,5. As important as it is for us to participate in worship, Sunday School, Bible Study, Adult ministries, Youth Ministries, etc., often good people in the church think that is enough. Remember the GO of the Great Commission and the power of the Holy Spirit motivating us in serving Christ.

Conclusion

Examining the Rubble and Enlisting Workers to minister to certain needs and specific groups of people is foreign to many churches. Many people with needs, from the up and outer to the down and outer are not going to just come to worship with us, come to Sunday School, and Youth Group, and Bible Study - at least not unless they are personally asked and encouraged by us to come, and brought with us. When they do arrive, we need to intentionally make them feel welcome. Are we willing to adapt our services to meet their needs? Or are we still entrenched in our fortress mentality that says, "We'll minister to anyone who will come and fit in with us?" Are we willing to begin an unleashed mentality in our churches that says, "We'll design ministries to go after those who won't come to us?"

In closing, we do not need to have every detail figured out before we can begin a ministry. Don't kill a ministry God is calling us to by assigning a committee to study it rather than doing what we know God wants us to do. Let's be willing to risk, starting new ministries as the Holy Spirit leads us.

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