Building The Wall

*We, as Christians are continually building a wall. A barrier between us and our adversary, the devil. He is always looking for an opening that will allow his fiery darts to hit us. (1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: / Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.) Neh 4:1-3 1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Feeble = weak, having no power

Fortify = make stronger

Sacrifice = to give up something for the sake of someone or something else

Revive = bring back, renew, rekindle

*Just as Nehemiah's enemies mocked and tried to intimidate the builders, Satan does the same thing to us. He tells us:

We are weak and we have no power with God

We can't strengthen ourselves

We have nothing of value to give unto God

We can't revive the things that are wanting in our lives such as faith, confidence & compassion

Even what we accomplish will ultimately fail

How dare he mock us & try to convince us that we have no power & our work is in vain!

We are the called, the chosen, and the faithful. (Rev 17:15)

We can do all things through Christ, which strengthens us. (Phil 4:13)

Neh 4:4-15 4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: 5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. 6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

*The people had a heartfelt determination to reach their goal.

7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the

Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches (broken places, gaps) began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against

Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. ["Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matt 26:41] 10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

*rubbish = anything that is of no use

11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

*We must never let our guard down, for Satan will attack & try to hinder even in spiritual places (higher places)

14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the

rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

1. Be not afraid..."For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Tim 1:7

2. Remember the Lord, which is great & terrible...be reminded of past victories & answered prayers, not forgetting that he is the almighty, powerful, awe-inspiring God.

3. Be prepared to fight >

Eph 6:11-18: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. *Use all the resources of the Word & Spirit of God 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. *We battle against evil forces that try to control our thoughts & actions. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; *Have the Word of truth settled deep inside of you & guard your conscience by your righteous living. 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. *Faith in God's Word will protect you, as you use it to speak against the evil that would come against you. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: *Protecting your mind with the Word that brings forth salvation. 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

*God has given us what we need to stand against the enemy; We can speak the Word with authority if we walk in righteousness & we hold fast to our faith & trust that God is faithful keep us in His safekeeping.

Neh. 4:15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. *Their enemy's counsel was brought to naught, the work continued, & they didn't have to fight!