We remember that there were some people that didn’t want the walls of Jerusalem to be built. Nehemiah dealt with this very well. The opposition was incessant.
Nehemiah 4:13
Nehemiah 4:15
When Nehemiah talked to the people he was unequivocal and clear. And when he conveyed to them “be not afraid of them, remember the lord,” all of them took courage and took heart and they realised that it was God who was going to fight for them as they themselves stood their ground.
‘...God had brought their counsel to nought’; this reminded me of many verses where we can see that man might have the best strategies on this earth but when it comes to fighting God’s purposes, God brings their counsel to nothing. And I was reminded of the words of Moses to Joshua.
Deuteronomy 31:6
There was an assurance on the part of Moses that God was the one who had led them thus far and it was God who was the one who was going to lead them into the promised land. “Fear not”. I was reminded of other words of Moses.
Exodus 14:13
There’s a sense in which this was true to Nehemiah. He knew his destiny and the man appointed by God for that purpose. And the people rallied. And here when the people were about to cross the Red Sea “see the salvation of the Lord” it was then that he lifted his arm and stretched out his staff over the Red Sea.
There is no need to jump up and down. When God fights for you, you will hold your peace and you will see the victory He brings. And when He fights for you, there is no doubt that He has brought the victory about. The opposition that some of you are having at this time is for the reason that you are going to witness how God and He alone will bring the victory and you will know it’s of Him.
“You will hold your peace” as in he knows the outcome and he knows what you need to do at each points of the journey. He knows how to influence things, so that you meet this person at this time. It doesn’t matter what situation you are in. You will see as a result of you standing still, you will witness the victory that only God has brought about. That’s because he loves you. He loves to reveal His love for you.
And when Nehemiah told them to fight, they grouped.
Nehemiah 4:15
And there is a sense in which God uses opposition to unite people together. The focus is put on opposition outside. There is a common denominator where you are in difficult circumstances and you can say “I’m going to trust God in this” or you’re not. He’s not going to force you, but by His Holy Spirit, he is going to cause you to witness his victory, in your situation. The timing of that victory, he knows. The timescale of the pressure, he knows.
Nehemiah knew the wall had to be built.
Nehemiah 4:16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
So Nehemiah was given wisdom.
Nehemiah 4:17
So half of the people were there with the defence. The other half were getting on with the building. But even those on the walls, they had a weapon.
Nehemiah 4:18
It’s interesting because everyone but everyone was able to defend their position. There was no gap; no one was left out. You were in either half. Everyone was able to defend their position. No one missed out. It’s interesting, when we think about a sword. And I want to just zero in on that. When we think of the image of a sword, for the builders, 'everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so builded’. There was a readiness to defend; there was an awareness of their situation. They were there to rebuild and the advent of Nehemiah marshalling the forces, as it were, in a structured planned way, irrespective of the voices shouting at them and of those who were trying to cease the work. Nehemiah and the people got to work and every one of them had a weapon.
This book (the Bible) is our weapon and the defence of truth is this. That’s why there are some at the moment who are doubting this. Why? This is key.
I want to share with you some things about what this sword of the spirit means. This is what we strap to our side. Every one of us has one.
I want to just look at 10 things about this sword.
Ephesians 6:16
One thing that I’ve been very conscious of is that, going forward, we need to have a study going on of the Bible. There has been a profusion of interest in the Bible and a prompting to pray more. Please don’t neglect your sword. You’ve got to be ready to give a hope; a reason for the hope that lies within you.
Hebrews 4:12
Reading your Bible, asking God to reveal himself through the Bible, is crucial. There is no way that we want it to be anything but growing, acknowledging, getting involved in, reading, God’s word. Read the word of God. Why? It’s our sword. Why should we? Because we need to be ready. God wants for you to take part in His church and do what He has prepared you for. The opposition you’re facing right now is God whittling down the inside of you, questioning what is the basis of your life.
2 Timothy 2:15
If we do not make an effort to read this book, you won’t know how to rightly divide it. Read His word.
2 Timothy 3:16
Psalms 119:9
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth shall pass away; our lives shall pass away. But God’s word will not.
Are you reading the word of God?
1 Peter 1:22
Luke 16:17
This sword, that is in your possession is a daily, life giving, word of God. Every one had a weapon.
Romans 10:17
2 Samuel 22:31
How often are you reading the word of God? How involved are you with your sword? Does it only come out on a Sunday or do you have it to hand and it is something relevant to you? Every one had a weapon and the builders had a sword by their side.
This is a time for all of us to shake ourselves up and be aware that as rampant opposition occurs, with groundless words, as shouts occur, with fruitless aims, so it is that God is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. You’re a part of it.
Nehemiah 4:17
It’s time for you and me to take our part.
Friday, 6 February 2009
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