The Wall - Pt. 3 - Wall Warriors Series

The Wall

Pt. 3 – Wall Warriors

I. Introduction

Nehemiah a captive, a slave has risen to status of cup bearer for the king. He gets a bad report about his hometown and responds. He has taught us that we must be moved beyond tears. That God keeps His Word . . . both curses and promises. That God uses those who are available and that have prayerability. Then last week Nehemiah reveals that we must practice countenance, conversation, and complaint control! Let's move forward. Nehemiah chapter 3 is a list of which group of people repaired which section of the wall teaching us that we all have the responsibility to repair the wall of God's protection and favor around our own homes! I want to draw your attention to Nehemiah 4 today.

II. Text

Nehemiah 4:1-3, 6-9, 13-14, 19-21

1-2When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger, vilifying the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he let loose: "What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of make-believe?"

3 At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, "That's right! What do they think they're building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight."

A. Warriors expect enemies!

Nehemiah had faced no enemies while sitting in the comfort of the palace. No foe opposed him while he minded his own business. However, as soon as he shook off apathy, became resolved in his mind to make a difference enemies came out of the wood work!

I don't know if you have made up your mind to build your marriage into a world class marriage rescuing it from ruins. It may be that you have made up your mind to get your financial house in order. Perhaps you have determined to follow your dream after years of sitting on the sidelines hiding from your purpose. However, what I do know is that Nehemiah's experience will be repeated! As soon as you make an attempt to build enemies will come out of the wood work! No temptation before, no depression before, no fear before, no resistance before but now every day a new enemy squares off against you! Expect it! Prepare for it. Expect old enemies that you thought were gone to rise up. Samaritans and Ammonites. When you go to work old stuff will surface. Old issues will arise! There will always be a giant or an enemy that arises when you start to do something for God!

B. Warriors understand that their enemy will underestimate them!

Nehemiah's enemies underestimated the ability of the people to build. He underestimates you and tries to get your to underestimate you. Can I tell you as an encouragement . . . your enemy is gifted at underestimating your strength. If he had known what you are capable of when you set your face like flint he would leave you alone. Some of you have bought the lie of weakness that he has sold you. Understand that his view of your power and anointing is not fact, but fiction! Rise up in your power! If the God is for us who can be against us? No weapon formed against us shall prosper! Let my neighbors, my family, my foes, my co-workers, classmates underestimate what I can accomplish with the help of my God!

Nehemiah 4:6

We kept at it, repairing and rebuilding the wall. The whole wall was soon joined together and halfway to its intended height because the people had a heart for the work.

7-9 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well—that the breaks in the wall were being fixed—they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could. We countered with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against them.

13-14 So I stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their swords, lances, and bows. After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: "Don't be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

19-20 Then I spoke to the nobles and officials and everyone else: "There's a lot of work going on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other. When you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us."

21 And so we kept working, from first light until the stars came out, half of us holding lances.