In Arnold Dallimore’s short biography of Spurgeon, he has one chapter entitled, “Daily Life in the Great Church,” which includes the following: “The Metropolitan Tabernacle was not, as some have assumed, merely a highly populated preaching center. . . Apart from the sick and infirm, there were very few who came only on Sundays. There were activity and work that brought great numbers to the Tabernacle on many occasions during the week.”
But thanks to modern technology and a new lazy outlook from our society, many Christians are not interested in practical service in the church. Nehemiah had to combat this same kind of lethargy, but he rose above it, prompting the people to work, all the while fighting against the enemy. Nehemiah experienced the attacks of conspiracy, discouragement, and carnality. We are facing the same opposition today.
1. THE ATTACK OF CONSPIRACY (4:1-9)
How deadly is conspiracy when it is found in the church, or even in our own lives. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, and many others faced such conspiracy, so don’t be surprised if you do too. Nehemiah faced the same thing. Any time you take a stand for the Lord to do what’s right, you will face opposition.
THE DESIGN OF CONSPIRACY
There is intentional anti-Semitism going on here. Notice what the Jews faced.
RIDICULE (v. 1-3)
They are ridiculed as being feeble, yet they are building with great success.
CONTENTION (v. 7-8)
The world is quick to join forces when they see Christians moving forward with the work of the Lord. These groups wanted Jerusalem to lie in ruin, just as the world wants Christianity to sit dormant.
THE DEFEAT OF CONSPIRACY
This opposition has found some success because Nehemiah admits that some of the builders have become demoralized (v. 5). They have become apathetic to the work of the Lord. How can this be defeated? There are two ways to defeat this:
Through prayer (v. 4-5, 9)
Nehemiah prays for himself (v. 4)
Nehemiah prays for a righteous cause (v. 4-5)
Nehemiah prays with the saints (v. 9)
We cannot accomplish any work for God without prayer. Without prayer, we are laboring in our own strength and with our own wisdom, and that is sure to fail.
Through perseverance (v. 6)
The people had a mind to work! They did not have a lazy outlook, but decided that God’s walls were a priority. Despite the mockery, they maintained a godly vigilance; their enthusiasm and zeal were unquenchable.
This is the mindset we need when we come to church. You are not a pew warmer, you are a wall builder! We must be ready and willing to work for the Lord!
2. THE ATTACK OF DISCOURAGEMENT (4:10-23)
In January of 1865, Spurgeon began publishing a monthly magazine called The Sword and the Trowel, being derived from Nehemiah 4:17-18. The subtitle was, “A Record of Combat with Sin and Labor for the Lord.” In that first issue he added: “We would ply the trowel with untiring hand for the building up of Jerusalem’s dilapidated walls, and wield the sword with vigor and valor against the enemies of the truth.” We must do both. In one hand, we must build the wall, but in the other, we must fight for the truth and defend what is ours.
THE DESIGN OF DISCOURAGEMENT (v. 10-12)
How typical to be excited and zealous when a project begins, but over time, become dispirited and eventually quit. I’ve seen it happen many times.
Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Paul repeats this truth in II Thessalonians 3:13. Don’t let weariness push you to stop building the wall. We see three Satanic strategies laid out before us:
The indirect threat of failing strength (v. 10) this came from the builders!
The direct threat of ambush (v. 11) The enemy desires to slaughter us.
The direct threat of being surrounded (v. 12) The enemy desires to beat us with numbers.
THE DEFEAT OF DISCOURAGEMENT (v. 13-23)
Nehemiah wisely chose to do the right thing. He did not give up when discouragement struck, but rather pulled everyone in even more tightly so as to correct wandering and stumbling. Nehemiah performed five strategies to defeat discouragement:
Strengthening of the ranks (v. 13) family reinforcements. Every member of the family should participate in the work of God.
Strengthening with exhortation (v. 14) Focus on the character of God.
Strengthening with sword and trowel (v. 15-18) Diversity of gifts. Some were better for defense, some better at building.
Ephesians 4:16, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Strengthening with consolidation (v. 19-20) The trumpet was the rallying call which united everyone to keep working and fighting.
Strengthening with vigilance (v. 21-23) The work never ceased; day or night, the work continued with watchful eye for the enemy.
3. THE ATTACK OF CARNALITY (5:1-19)
In chapter 5, the flesh begins to rear its ugly head. The man of the world lives to fulfill his fleshly desires, but the saved should have a craving for godliness. However, even Christians can fall prey to their flesh and give in to its desires. When this happens in a local church, it becomes difficult to keep building.
I Corinthians 3:3, “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
THE DESIGN OF CARNALITY (v. 1-5)
Carnality often concerns itself with legitimate needs, as we see in this story.
Food, housing, taxation, and families are all mentioned. This makes Nehemiah “very angry” (v. 6). In the midst of earnest labor for the right cause of God, there is indifference to pressing personal needs! Nehemiah puts it like this: If God has redeemed His people from slavery, how then can His people enslave one another? That is what was happening. Families were being neglected because of the work on the walls.
THE DEFEAT OF CARNALITY (v. 6-19)
Those who were guilty of this readily acknowledged their sin and promised to restore those who had been wronged.
The Importance of Leadership Example (v. 13-19)
Nehemiah shakes his garment (v. 13) to prove he had nothing to hide and that he would help those in need. He wanted everyone to have this attitude. We all need a shake-down!
Nehemiah did not take advantage of his position to get money or things from the people (v. 14-15). He depended on God to take care of Him. The pastors of this church are not here to take advantage of you, but to help you as we build together.
Nehemiah also states that he worked on the walls just like everyone else (v. 16-17). We are all laborers in God’s field, workers in His harvest, builders for His wall.
Finally, Nehemiah chose to eat as a common Jew, although he could have dined on the finest of meats and wines (v. 18-19). He asked God to take care of him. He did this for the Lord, his city of Jerusalem, and his people.
CONCLUSION
At church we’re building a wall. It’s a wall of truth, a wall of great power, a wall of limitless potential, a wall for all to see. Are you at your spot on the wall? Do you have your sword to fight, and your trowel to build? Is your family on the wall, or are you alone? We all have a job to do. There is room for you on the wall, so grab your trowel, your sword, and get that mindset to work for the Lord! We want to build the wall of the Sunday School; we want to build the wall for soulwinning; we want to build the wall of fellowship. We have so many walls to build, so find your spot and let’s build together for the glory of God.
