Building With Sword and Trowel
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
4/26/2015 PM
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Text:
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Nehemiah 4
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Psalters: |
173, 188, 113, 160 |
- Devilish opposition.
- Trouble came first from without, in the form of mockery, threats and plots.
- Sanballat (sin gives life) a governor in Samaria; Tobiah (an Ammonite from the east) a false prophet become enraged.
- Also they conspire (8) with others (Arabians from the south and Ashdodites from the west) to create terrorists acts (11).
- Behind such rage is Satan, who inspired men to hate God, His work and Word, and His people.
- Another threat to the work is discouragement in the ranks (10), which results from the mockery and threats.
- Those who lived in outlying villages were repeatedly threatened: their families would be attacked in their absence (12).
- Pessimism and fear sapped their strength and led to some despair.
- There were responses to the mockery and threats.
- Nehemiah responded by praying (so immediate that he breaks right out,4,5), and had the people pray (9).
- Prayer (awareness of God’s relationship to us) fortifies us to plan a defense with two elements.
- Nehemiah prayed that God would judge the wicked for their sins against Himself and His people.
- Second, Nehemiah’s prayer led to the action of setting a watch (9,13).
- Third, Nehemiah equipped everyone with a sword strapped to their side (18), but kept them working (a trowel).
- The wonderful result.
- The enemies were deflated: their plans have been detected and saw the Jews renewed commitment to work.
- The Jews were united in their determination to resist their threat.
- We are given to see our victory by prayer and continued commitment to the building up of the church.
- The more we apply the full armor of God, the greater our protection and the less likely of our being attacked.