We can implement our ministry plans if we rally together and stay vigilant (4:20).

Nehemiah told the leaders and the people, “The work is great and widely spread out, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Our God will fight for us” (4:20). Again we see the truth that we can trust the Lord to help us but we still need to do our part. The other truth we see is that, despite our individual ministries and separate concerns, we are finally all in this together. The people had their own work to do on various parts of the wall, but when a threat arose, they were to come together and fight together for their common cause.

God has given each one of us a calling and a responsibility for fulfilling our calling in his church and in his world. Moreover, he has given us the gifts and abilities to do what we are called to do and the responsibility to develop and exercise those gifts and abilities. Our church really needs for every one of to take our calling and responsibility seriously. It is important that we individually identify and exercise our gifts.

We must remember, though, that we are all in this together. The trumpet is blowing and it is time for all of us, young and old, male and female, long-time member and short-time member, bold and shy, out front person and behind the scenes person, to rally together. There is so much to do and there is so much that we can do if we will just do it together.

Some of us have not yet found and filled our place on a Ministry Team. We need you now. We need people who are called to work with children to join the Children Ministry Team, who are called to work with youth to join the Youth Ministry Team, who are called to work with Preschoolers to join the Preschool Ministry Team, who are called to evangelism to join the Outreach Ministry Team, and who are called to visit the sick to join the Hospital Ministry Team. Plans for the Community Center are coming together; great ministry opportunities are going to present themselves there. We need to band together behind that ministry. The trumpet is blowing; we need to rally together. We are going to be offering more and more opportunities to get involved in ministry to the people all around us. We need to step out and to get involved.

And we need to be vigilant. Nehemiah told the people to stay inside Jerusalem all the time so that they could work by day and stand guard by night; they always stayed on ready, clothed and with their weapons in their hands (4:21-23). In the New Testament, Jesus told His disciples always to be ready for His coming and in the meantime to do what they were supposed to do. Paul called his churches to be on the lookout for the return of Christ but to be vigilant about their ministry in the meantime.

We also need to be vigilant. In all days — and especially in these days — we need to stay alert, to stay committed, and to stay focused on the great ministry that God has given us to perform.

People all around us are choking to death. They need less talk from us and more action. It’s time. The enemy is at the gates. This community is in need of God’s love and grace. There is no time but the present. The trumpet is blowing and it is time to rally together. God is with us but he expects us to make it happen. Are we willing? Will we show it?

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Michael L. Ruffin is Pastor of The Hill Baptist Church in Augusta, GA.