Arising "in the night." Nehemiah "arose in the night."

The work of restoration begins "in the night," in the time is least opportune for the one who would work with Christ. If you wait for the "sun to come up" you never will perform the work of Christ. Put your hand to the task the moment God tells you to do so. Never mind the obstacles.

It is the people who are willing to "arise in the night" who learn to walk with the Lord.

The Scriptures teach us symbolically and directly that the Glory of God is given during times of spiritual darkness. There always is enough light for the saint who sets out to obey the Lord. The darker the night the brighter becomes the light of the Glory of the Lord.

The flesh can accomplish what is simple and obvious. God performs the difficult and the impossible as well as what is simple and obvious. God is a present help in the hour of trouble.

The cry of the bridegroom will come at midnight. The Lord Jesus walks on the waters of tribulation during the "fourth watch of the night." By faith we can walk with Him.

The greatest revival of all time will come during earth's darkest hour.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:2)

If we wait until we understand how everything is going to work out before we are willing to serve the Lord we will miss the fullness of God's plan for our life. We must step out "in the night" as God directs us.

A remnant.

. . . I and some few men with me; . . . . (Nehemiah 2:12)

The work of restoration will begin with a "few men," a remnant. It is not likely that a multitude of people will come with us when we are starting. It does not require many saints to be obedient to the Lord in order to begin the work of restoration. But it does require some.

Will you be one of those who will work when there are only a few with you? Or will you wait until the work of restoration becomes popular? God is looking for heroes of faith today. Will you become one of them?

Governing the tongue.

. . . neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: . . . . (Nehemiah 2:12)

One of the important lessons we learn in spiritual warfare is to keep our mouth closed, to speak little and pray much. Children babble everything that pops into their minds. The saints learn to speak only when necessary. Much trouble proceeds from the tongue, as the Book of James informs us. The spiritual man or woman governs the tongue, speaking only when there is something worthwhile to communicate.

Spiritual battles are lost when the saints talk too much. Whoever is able to control his tongue is able also to control his whole body (James 3:2).

Nehemiah was an administrator, a builder, and a warrior. He had learned to keep his own counsel and to speak more to God than to people. This is wisdom.

To be continued.