Principles for Prevailing

Nehemiah 4:11-23
A man was having trouble getting his neighbor to keep his chickens fenced in. The neighbor kept talking about chickens being great creatures, and as such they had the right to go where they wanted.
The man was having no luck keeping the chickens out of his flowerbeds, and he had tried everything. Two weeks later, on a visit a friend noticed his flowerbeds were doing great. The flowers were beginning to bloom.
So the friend asked him how he managed to keep the birds away. "How did you make your neighbor keep his hens in his own yard?"
"One night I hid half a dozen eggs under a bush by my flower bed, and the next day I let my neighbor see me gather them. I wasn't bothered after that.".
Someone observed that the Bible tells us to love our neighbors and to love our enemies. In many cases, they are the same people. It was certainly true for those Jews working with Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. The people of Jerusalem were surrounded by enemies trying to discourage them from continuing the work that God has called them to. The Arabs, Ammonites, and the Philistines of Ashdod were planning to attack Jerusalem before the wall was completed. They would be take the city by surprise, before the wall was completed, and destroy Jerusalem again.
Each time Nehemiah took a step or leap of faith he was met with some form of opposition. And when you and I attempt anything for God, we will also encounter opposition. Their enemies plotted to catch them off guard and ambush them, but God revealed their scheme. As we consider how God thwarted the enemies of Nehemiah, we learn some valuable lessons about how to overcome our opposition.

PRIORITIES-
Remember what is at stake! Remember who fights on our behalf!
Satan wants to isolate us from one another and turn us against one another
And he's doing a pretty good job. We are torn in different directions. He's driving a wedge.
We isolate ourselves from one another with phones, ipods, computers, etc.
In an age that allows us to better communicate, we've lost the desire to communicate
One of the best advantages we have is when our families are working together
When we join one another in the important work of serving God together
And we also notice they were stationed together as families
Families worshiping and working together is another integral part of our church
There is nothing stronger than the bond between family
How beautiful to see whole families united in furthering the work of the Lord
Our country has had many battle cries: Remember the Alamo! Remember the Lusitania
"Remember Pearl Harbor." After 9/11 we said, "Never Forget"
But our best battle cry is "Remember the Lord!" (14)
Psalms 121:1-2 - I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Remember why we are a church and why we preach this message: What is at stake?
Why does it matter? Salvation of lost Train up a child building up your most holy faith

PROTECTION-
15 God is the One who gave victory over the enemy
He is the One who exposed and frustrated their plot
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
If God be for us... who can be against us?
Psalms 118:6 - The LORD