Hitting a Wall
October 8, 2017
Nehemiah 4:15-23
Building on the Gospel . . .
. . . Involves Hard Work
“. . . we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction. . .” (v15-16)
“ ‘For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:13-15)
. . . Requires a Sword
“. . . and half held spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail.” (v16)
“Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held a weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built.” (v17-18)
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. . . fastened on the belt of truth . . . put on the breastplate of righteousness, . . .put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. . . take up the shield of faith, . . .take the helmet of salvation, . . . and the sword of the Sprit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:11-17)
. . . Demands Unity
“And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall.” (v16)
“And (God) gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God . . .” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
“The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there.’” (v18-20)
. . . Understands God’s Role
“When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall . . .” (v15)
“Our God will fight for us.” (v20)
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)