Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Reformed in Doctrine, Worship, and Practice

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” Psalm 60:4

  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Contend For
    • What We Believe
    • How We Worship
    • How We Are Organised
    • Important Documents
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Articles
  • Publications
    • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Young People’s Magazine
    • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
    • Synod Reports
    • Religion and Morals Committee Reports
  • Audio
    • Sermons
    • Theological Conferences
    • Youth Conferences
  • Congregations
    • Places of Worship
    • Current Ministers
    • Galleries of FP Churches
  • International
    • Zimbabwe Mission
    • Other International Congregations
    • Translation Work
    • Metrical Psalms in Various Languages
  • History
    • History of the FP Church
    • Congregational Histories
    • Deceased Ministers and Probationers
    • Obituaries and Synod Tributes
    • Moderators of Synod etc.
  • Spiritual Help
    • How to Find Spiritual Help
    • How may a sinner be saved?
    • How may someone know if they are truly saved?
    • Spiritual Mindedness
    • Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2020-21
  • Bookshop
Home / Articles / A Great Work Must Go On

A Great Work Must Go On

In Nehemiah 6:3 we read: “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”

Nehemiah was doing a great work. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates were burnt down. This good man could not consider such a sad scene with anything other than a fervent desire to rebuild. In the Lord’s gracious and overruling providence, an opportunity was afforded Nehemiah to lead the rebuilding efforts and he received authority to do so.

The work was great from many points of view. It was pleasing to God, being in accordance with His mind and will. It was a work that was grounded in sympathy with the low state of God’s cause on earth, visibly manifest in the broken walls of the holy city. It was a work that was preceded by prayer, and carried on with prayer. It was a work that was fiercely opposed by the enemies of God. Thus, in various ways it was indeed a great work.

The opposition of men like Sanballat served only to highlight how great and important this work was. As steadily as Nehemiah rebuilt, so steadily the threats grew. First there was mockery, then threats, and in the context to the above text, from chapter six, subtle calls to get Nehemiah off the site, seemingly, with murderous intent.

We see, from the way in which the Lord’s servant refused to comply with the invitation of Sanballat and Geshem, that Nehemiah never lost sight of the greatness of the work in which he was engaged. Indeed, it was this very high view of the work that the Lord had put into his heart to do, that ultimately kept him from falling into the murderous hand of these enemies of God and His cause on earth. So we see that the Lord can and does keep his saints from falling at times, by having them taken up with that which is good. Nehemiah said, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…” They repeated their calls, but he did not move from his reason for not complying – it was a great work, and a great work must go on.

So too, the great work of advancing Christ’s cause on earth must go on. The gospel must be preached, God must be worshipped in public and in private, and His church built and maintained in this world. The people of God are duty-bound to go on “building the wall” in God’s strength. In so doing, they find peace in staying their minds on God. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isa. 26:3).

The greatest comfort that the people of God can take is that the work is Christ’s. It is His cause and kingdom. As He assured Peter, one who was to be so useful in the work of the gospel, “I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18) .

A great work must go on.

Rev George B Macdonald

Calendar

  1. 9 Mar - Meeting of Presbyteries: Western and Northern
  2. 16 Mar - 17 Mar - Synod Committee meetings
  3. 23 Mar - Meeting of Presbytery: Outer Isles

View All Events

Latest Articles

  • Approaching Judgments – Part 5
  • Approaching Judgments – Part 4
  • Worksheets for the Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2

Recently Added Audio

  • Who is worthy to open the book? 20 Sep 2009
  • Lazarus at the table with Christ 20 Sep 2009
  • Sons of God 27 Dec 2020
  • Mine eyes have seen thy salvation 27 Dec 2020
  • Direction for Joshua 4 Oct 2020
  • God pleased to use preaching 4 Oct 2020
  • Enduring by faith 27 Dec 2020
  • I was brought low 3 Jan 2021
  • Jesus in the midst 3 Jan 2021
  • The Father calling sinners to Christ 22 Nov 2020

View All Sermons

Download Latest Issues:
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
Young People’s Magazine

Free Presbyterian Places of Worship

Browse the Church Bookshop

Walking in the Light: Notes of Prayer Meeting Addresses by Hugh M Cartwright, £10.99
The Shorter Catechism Explained from Scripture by Thomas Vincent, £4.49
Memorials of the Life and Ministry of Charles Calder MacKintosh, £9.59
Pleading for a Reformation Vision: Life and Selected Writings of William Childs Robinson by David B Calhoun, £11.99
Heaven Opened: The Riches of God’s Covenant Grace by Richard Alleine,  £9.59

Back to top

Website Contact

Rev Keith M Watkins
[email protected]

Moderator of Synod

Rev J Bruce Jardine
FP Manse, Tarbert
Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF
UK

Clerk of Synod

Rev Keith M Watkins
Free Presbyterian Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA, UK.
[email protected]

General Treasurer

Mr William Campbell
133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow,
G3 6LE, UK.
[email protected]

Copyright © 2021 Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland · Log in · Subscribe via RSS · Privacy Notice

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more.