Nehemiah: God's Broker Part 2

I heard the story of the 12 year old who won some sort of writing contest sponsored by Hersheys Chocolate. Part of the prize was a trip to the mecca of all pleasure, the home factory in Hershey Penn. Here he was given a 5 star tour ending with an ‘above all you can think or imagine' experience. He was conducted into a large room composed entirely of shelves liberally stocked with every product Hersheys has ever produced. He then learned that for the next hour he had total liberty to graze freely amongst the brown fields. Upon hearing this, the little fellow took off his baseball hat in an act of true reverence and is reported to have said: “Oh that my capacity could rise to the level of my opportunity!”

Perched on some heavenly scenic viewing platform, I would say that as the church we might find ourselves praying the converse: “Oh that our opportunity would rise to the level of our capacity!”

I refer to the fact that every member of His Church is endowed with ministry, gifts and ability or anointing. The finish carpenter walks through the door of the new home under construction. He opens up his sawhorses, rolls in the compressor, and begins to lug in various power tools, and strap on a bulging toolbelt. All of which are to be used in aiding the expression of his profession. He will do so in accordance with the experience and degree of commitment he possesses. Profession, tools, product. Ministry, gifts, anointing.

The reason that many today are disheartened with the present church system (irregardless of denominational headings) would be due to undreamed of capacity running into a strangle hold narrowness of opportunity.

Pardon a semi-worn illustration. The violins are in perfect tune, and are prancing in the gates, 'high strung' and nervous, for that defining solo right in the midst of the final crescendo. The kettle drums are ready to shake the very depths of each soul present. The pianist sits before his melodic loom ready to weave an intricate tapestry that alone can afford a canvas for all of the artists surrounding him. The brass is ready to send forth a clarity of authoritative emotion and direction, while the woodwinds will add the softness of a beautiful woman at their side to give life to their declaration. The glockenspiel waits for its one moment to cast its euphoric spell. Unbounded capacity. But, someone is needed to provide a living fluid frame of opportunity for each. A guiding passion and affection for the whole, interlaced with nothing less than a shared genes familiarity with each part. Okay you guessed: the conductor. He reads the entire score, not just one part. He could produce a decent sampling on just about every instrument present, probably close to master of a couple. His presence is able to hold the adrenalin of all in sway, though his own breaks forth or withdraws with irresistible impact on those he leads. He alone can unleash the vast frontier of emotion mysteriously locked in the whole. He provides the context for each one to shine forth in their stuff.

This is the ministry of the apostle; small ‘a' because that's how he is. He just doesn't have time for the capital ‘A' stuff. It leaves a bad taste in his mouth. Stale popcorn in a ratty theater in the declining area of town. Subtle gimmicks and not so subtle gimmicks plied in pursuit of a market share and limelight. He hurts for the emptiness of heart that lures his yoke fellows into endless laps with no winner's circle.

There are stirrings going on in the ranks of heaven's earth brigade to put these familiar disappointments behind us. A new level of legitimacy and freshness are about to surface in this wonderful thing called the church. The long hoped-for element that can close the gap between what we have known and what we have produced. A wonderful wake up call from a wonderful God in the form of a double expresso cappuccino latte tall grande cup of apostle. YUM.

I think the 2600-year-old record of Nehemiah provides us with some foggy-mirror insights into this great thing that has begun to unfold in our day. So we'll just pursue some of those at our leisure. Yeah?