When everyone does their part, it is amazing what can be accomplished. Nehemiah 3 describes how Nehemiah and the people who returned to Jerusalem rebuilt the wall around the city. What is significant about it is that no one person did it all; rather it was done by numerous individuals and groups who rebuilt one of the gates, or the section in front of their home. For example, verse 10 says: “Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house.” With everyone pitching in like that, the whole wall was soon rebuilt.

This wonderful picture of cooperation in Nehemiah is just the way a successful church will operate. No one person can do everything that needs to be done in a church, not a pastor, staff minister or church member. But when everyone does their part, the church can be a powerful and effective body.

The enemy of our souls also knows this, and will do whatever he can to distract and divide a church, so that it cannot harness the power of what they can do together. Each of us should ask ourselves: is there anything I am saying or doing which might harm our church’s fellowship and cooperation? And: am I doing my part to advance our church’s mission? You can’t do everything that needs to be done in the church, but like Jedaiah and others in Nehemiah’s day, you cooperate with others and do what God puts in front of you. The gates of hell cannot stand against God’s people when they do.