Hand Me Another Brick Leadership Series: Fulfill Your Function In The World

Did you know in 1915, Leon Trotsky, who was one of the leaders in the Bolshevik Revolution, and the spread of communism, Trotsky, was invited to a Sunday School class in Chicago. He went to the Sunday School class because he was searching, looking for some ideas. When Trotsky came to that Sunday school class in Chicago, the Sunday school teacher was not even there, he didn’t even show up. Furthermore, he had not appointed anyone to take his place. So far as history tells us, that was the last time Trotsky ever attended any kind of a Bible study or church.

In 1917, he was in the middle of the Bolshevik Revolution, leading the revolution that was changing the world, and damning the souls of men. One cannot help but wonder what would have happened in 1915 if he had come into a Sunday School class and there was a Spirit-filled, Bible-drilled, victory-thrilled, man or woman of God, standing up there teaching that class. What would have happened if there had been a person with the anointing of God upon him or her? What may have happened on that day? God knows. But, we’ll never know, because there was a Sunday school teacher who had missed his place along the wall-and because of that, there was a gap.

Each of us are called by our Lord to fulfill our divine destiny during the time we have upon the earth. So far, we have learned to fix our focus, find our facts, form our fellowship, fortify our faith and face our foe. We will now be challenged to fulfill our function!

In Nehemiah 3:1-3, we read, “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. And next unto him built the men of Jericho. And next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri. But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof” (Nehemiah 3:1-3).

The rest of chapter three shows us that everyone had a role in the goal; everyone had a part in the plan. Every person fulfilled his function, as each of them worked together to rebuild the wall. When all of pertinent qualities come together, we will be able fulfill our function in our generation.

A. The Pattern

First, I want you to notice the pattern. I want you to notice how they did it. Each one of them found an organized spot-at least there was a leader. They didn’t just all go off and say, “Well, I’m going to do my thing.” You see, God had a plan. And, God gave this plan through His spiritual leadership to the people. The people recognized God’s chain of authority. They were willing to follow God’s man and to do what He directed them to do.

Each person had a part in the work. Each person had a job to do. You see, no person can do everything. Everybody can do something. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. And, what I can do, I ought to do, and what I can do and ought to do, that by the grace of God, I will do. There was a principle: not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice.

B. The People

There was a job for everyone. As you study chapter three, you’ll find that there were apothecaries there. There were goldsmiths there. There were priests there who were working. Some of them were young, and some of them were old. Some of them were rulers. Some of them were laborers. Some of them were craftsmen. The rich were there, the poor were there, women and men-they were all doing their part.

We’ll never get 100%. We will never get all these everyone to work on the wall? In 3: 5, we read, “And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD.” Noticed, “Their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD.”There are always some like that, aren’t there? There are always some people who sit back, and you say, “Well, if they want to do it, just let them do it.”

These are days of opportunity-golden days, glorious days. Don’t you miss it! Don’t let the final record be written, and it be written of you, that, when these great days, so rich with opportunity, were here upon us, that you didn’t have a part in it! God forbid that it should be forever written about you!

C. The Places

Notice the places in chapter three.

Actually, each one started out building right near his own house. We have to start with our family first. We need to pray together. We need to discover what each family member will do in the Kingdom of God.

We must start with our own house, in your own heart, in your own life. Each of us, live our lives in step with God. We need to get alone with God and get on your knees and say, “Oh God, make my heart right! And, if nobody else does anything, Lord, I want to be Your person. I want to be found faithful.”

Each of us must find our place along the wall. What is your place? What has God called you to be and do in this generation?

We are either a stumbling block or you’re building a steppingstone. Nehemiah said, “The God of heaven, he will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Each of us have the opportunity to work together to building something of significance with our Lord. We can either be apart of it, or watch others build it without us. We can either step through the door of opportunity into new victorious rooms or watch the door close in front of us. We have learned to fix our focus (refocus), find our facts (research), form our fellowship (relationships), fortify our faith (renewal), face our foe (resistance) and fulfill our function (reward).