By: R. AuBuchon Jr.
In the past few weeks we have been encouraged to live and work together as the body of Christ. I want to continue in that thought for a few more messages to come.
In Nehemiah chapter 2 & 3 we find the people working together. God was doing a great work in their midst. The temple had been reconstructed, and now the city wall was being rebuilt, along with the work of restoration in the lives of the people.
I believe God is doing a work in our lives that is in direct proportion to that of the days of Nehemiah.
He is desiring to reconstruct the temple for true worship …
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
He is desiring to rebuild the walls of protection to keep His Word intact and thus keep sin out of our lives … its His work of restoration.
Life and living are restored when worship and the word become elevated in our lives. But it doesn’t come without a fight.
One thing we need to be aware of … Where God is working the "Big O" comes to mess things up.
Big O = opposition to God’s work
· Satan becomes angry at God’s work. (vs.1,7)
· Satan ridicules God’s work. (vs.1b-3)
· Satan brings confusion. (vs.8)
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
· Satan breeds fear. (vs.11-12)
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
Be assured … Satan does not have anything less in mind than to …
· Steal the Joy of God’s work
· Kill the Fervor for God’s work
· Destroy the Desire to do God’s work
John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I shared with Robb Cox a couple weeks ago this thought … "Things are going so well as I see and sense God moving in us at TBC… but I am watching for something to go wrong."
Now some might find that "negative" thinking … but I prefer to see it as being alert to the schemes of the Devil.
2 Corinthians 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Where God is working the "Big O" (opposition), Satan himself comes to try and mess things up.
So what are we to do? Call for AAA Service! Be armed for battle as we are anchored to the truth to become activated to work.
1. Armed for the Battle
Our first admonishment in the day of opposition is to be armed for the battle. We need to be like the mighty men of David … "armed and ready."
1a. Armed in Prayer (9)
"Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God …"
What a great commentary on the life and leadership of Nehemiah. His first response to the opposition was prayer.
One of the great means of arming ourselves for the battle is to first fight the battle in the trenches of prayer.
· Daniel after hearing the bad news of the day went home and prayed … as was his custom (Daniel 6:10)
It should never be said about you and I, as it is with some … "The problem with prayer is you have to have a problem to pray." We ought to be people who pray before, during and after a problem arises.
One modern day custom is "email." We spend time communicating with others through electronic mail.
I saw a T-shirt this past week with a stick figure on its knees praying with the logo saying, "Knee Mail." Let us be people who find the time to be knee mailing with God.
Isaiah 58:9-12 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ’Here I am.’ "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
God is doing a work in us! God is doing a work of restoration in our midst … let us rise up and call out to Him … arming ourselves in prayer for the battle.
Nehemiah along with the people prayed … Hear O our God (vs.4)
· Jesus prayed at the grave of Lazarus … "Father I thank You have heard Me." (JN 11:41)
Nehemiah & Co. prayed acknowledging the presence of God and His powerful ability to overcome any attack.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.
Nehemiah prayed for a counter attack from the hand of God against the opposition. (vs.4b)
From the trenches of prayer Nehemiah prepared to make a stand … we set a watch against them day and night. (vs.9b)
1b. Armed in Preparation (16-18)
From the time before and after arriving in Jerusalem Nehemiah was a man of great preparations.
Faith presumes nothing, and plans for success by the hand of God.
The prepared plan was … ½ worked while ½ watched … armed and ready. (vs.16)
· Spears … to hurl, throw (offense)
· Shield … a protector; (root: to hedge about)
· Bows … bending for shooting; strength
· Armor … breastplate (root: to be free)
In light of Ephesians 6 … we find that God has carefully prepared and fitted us for battle in His armor. We are to wear God’s armor and war in God’s armor.
Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
· Belt of Truth
· Body armor of Righteousness
· Shoes of Peace
· Shield of Faith
· Helmet of Salvation
· Sword of God’s Word
Ephesians 4:18 NLT Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
We ought to meticulously dress and prepare ourselves for the days battle in God’s armor.
The prepared plan was to work with one hand and carry a weapon with the other. They carried the burdens of the day … while carrying on the work of God.
Don’t let the burdens weigh and slow you down … keep on working! That’s God’s prepared plan.
1c. Armed in Position (13)
Position is important.
One night, long ago, when Val and I were in college we had ministered in a small church near lake Stockton and on our way home our car broke down. In the dark we walked toward a house with lights on, hoping to use the phone. As we approached a dog began to bark. I told Val whatever happened make sure she stays between me and the dog!
You see, position is important!
Therefore I positioned men … after Nehemiah had prayed and prepared the people, he then positioned them at the low spots (weak points) in the wall.
The best laid plans are for not if we are in the wrong position when the battle comes.
As Christians our position is in Christ.
Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Positioned in Christ we take our stand.
· Positioned to stand in grace … Rom 5:2
· Positioned to stand by faith … 1 Cor 16:13
· Positioned to stand fast in one spirit … Phil 1:27
Nehemiah understood the positioning was important so he placed the people where they would work best … being able to keep watch over their families.
We live in a day when we must do all we can do with God’s help to strengthen and fight for our families.
Strategic Positioning is … after praying and preparing we take our stand with a mind to watch and a heart to work.
Matthew 24:43 "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Remember … the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.
Could it be that the reason families across the land are hurting and falling apart is because we have stopped arming ourselves in prayer, preparation (gospel of peace), and position?
Could it be that the reason our churches across the land are hurting and lack impact and influence is because they have ceased in praying (crying out to God), in preparing for a new work (satisfied with the status quo) and in positioning the discipling of the people to stand?
Luke 11:21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.
Though this scripture is to be interpreted in the context of the work of Christ verses the work of Satan … it holds the truth that you and I need to be fully armed living in the peace of Christ that only He as the "stronger man" can provide.
Let us be prayed up and prepared in God’s armor so as to be positioned for the Lord’s work.
2. Anchored to the Truth
The second admonishment of the day is to be anchored to the truth.
· Anchor is a heavy object attached to a robe or cable for the purpose of holding in place.
· Anchor gives security and support.
Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
This hope that anchors our life is … God’s promise and presence.
Nehemiah would remind the people of truth concerning God’s promised power and present protection that were available to them.
It’s the truth that will stay and keep us in the face of opposition.
2a. Anchored In God’s Power (14-15)
"Do not be afraid of them."
A great fear in times of battle is the thought of being overtaken by the enemy. Fear can become a strong opponent to bind and keep us weak and from doing God’s work. Fear discounts the powerful work of faith in us.
1 Corinthians 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Though Nehemiah & Co. were arrayed in battle gear, the greater arraignment would be in remembering the power of God.
· God is great (mighty) and awesome (to cause fright)
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
When you walk in the power of God, He brings the false talk of the "Big O" to nothing!
Nehemiah 4:15 "… that God had brought their counsel to nothing."
God’s power at work in you and me to keep on doing His work will silence the critics.
1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;
When you are anchored (secure and supported) in the power of the truth you can get on back to work. (vs.15)
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
2b. Anchored In God’s Protection (20)
To walk in the truth not only empowers and frees us … but it also protects us.
Romans 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Two-fold protection … God’s looking out after us and our looking out for one another (brother’s keeper).
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Nehemiah gave the people a point of rally … the trumpet blast. When heard it was time to drop what they were doing and run to fight for one another.
My heart is captivated by this thought … "How can we have a passion for the lost if we don’t have a compassion for one another?"
A great battle cry is … Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25) In the trenches of prayer we must do battle for our brothers and sisters in Christ. In doing so we experience the power of God fighting for us.
2 Chronicles 20:15-17 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ’Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 ’Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 ’You will not need to fight see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."
Oh to be anchored in the truth … God is our power and protection … let’s serve Him!
3. Activated to Work
Being armed and anchored in God’s armor and God’s truth, there is only one thing left to do … get to work!
Nehemiah 4:6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
· Mind = heart, well willing
Nehemiah 4:21a So we labored in the work …
· Labored = to be occupied
God desires our mind attention be upon His work. As the saved of God … we are activated to do good works.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
3a. Activated In a Great Work (19)
Nehemiah 4:19a "The work is great and extensive,"
The work at hand was more than just mere physical labor … it was a work of ministry.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Let the work God has placed before us be a great endeavor, knowing we minister to one another in it.
3b. In a Guarded Work (22)
Nehemiah 4:22b … that they be our guard.
Work by day and guard by night.
· Don’t let your guard down!
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
· Be on guard persistently
Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.
· Guard yourself!
Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Isaiah 58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Conclusion:
Armed for the Battle
Anchored in the Truth
Activated to Work
What great lessons God puts before us to learn from. Let us rise up in the Lord and get to work.
Amen!
Running for the Prize Sermons: http://scan.missouri.org/~aubuchon/sermons.html
