Building and Battling

  • David Fairchild
  • Mar 22, 2009
  • Series: Nehemiah

Nehemiah 4:15-23: "When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.  16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.  18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.  19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, 'The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.  20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.'  21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.  22 I also said to the people at that time, 'Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.'  23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand."

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The last several weeks we've been exploring the great book of Nehemiah and learning from his circumstances, his theology, and ultimately his example of how we're to be about our Father's great mission of restoring the world by working through His city (the church) for the sake of the world and for His glory.

 

As we've said, this book isn't really about building a wall.  That is the historical context and it most certainly is the central focus of our discussion, but we've been learning that this chosen city, Jerusalem, was to be the place where God's glory dwelled.  This city was to be the place where the other cities of the world looked and said, "So this is what it looks like to live under God's loving and gracious rule." 

 

This book is about a man and people who became so gripped with the reality of God's glory that they were willing to give their lives to see that their God was glorified. 

 

We know that our task isn't to build a wall in Jerusalem, but instead we are to build the walls of the church, which is a city on a hill, by seeing lives restored by grace as each living stone is placed where God intended.  We're also called a temple where the glory of God dwells and as temple stones we are joined with the chief Cornerstone, Jesus, where God will show off His beauty and grace.

 

So when we read about rebuilding the wall and restoring the Temple, we're really talking about joining Jesus in building His church that will be a light to the world and be placed in the midst of our own city, San Diego, much like Jerusalem was to be the model city for the cities and nations of the world.

 

This was Nehemiah's passion and it was contagious to the Jews who had all but resigned to just eek out a meager existence and had lost sight of the splendor of God's glory.  They had grown accustomed to brokenness, and Nehemiah's burning zeal for God's glory became a flame that lit their hearts on fire as they joined God's great mission to restore what had been destroyed through their own sin.

 

As we've been learning, however, this work isn't comfortable.  Most often this work is painful, difficult, and when opposition comes it can be hurtful and dangerous.  Yet we've been learning that when the beauty of God becomes the blazing center of our lives, nothing less will do than to live for it and desire others to see it.  No matter the cost.

 

STUDY

 

Building

 

Verse 15: "When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work." 

 

Even in the face of great difficulties, pain, and opposition, God calls us to continue to build. 

 

A City in a City

 

"Christianity agrees... that this universe is at war. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage." - C.S. Lewis

 

The purpose of the Christian church is not to function as a chaplaincy for those who are barely hanging on to their faith.  It is not intended to act as a safe-house where we gather to clean off the filth from the world around us.  The Christian community is not to be seen primarily as a support group where we receive inspiration and affirmation for living our individual lives.  Though the community may provide all these personal blessings and more, the Christian community is intended to reflect a new way of being human to this world.  We are to be an alternate city within San Diego, where we are demonstrating what a truly human society looks like.  We are more than a support group for individuals; rather we as individuals are to gather together into a community and put on display what a society looks like when it is transformed by the Gospel.  Simply, we are a counter-culture. 

 

Since we are an alternate city, we are to show this city what it looks like when justice, mercy, compassion, truth, love, grace, and holiness reign.

 

Q-What are you building? 

 

Q-How are you building it?

 

We're all building a life.  The question is what life are we building?  Is it the life and mission of our own plans or is it the life and mission of Jesus?

 

They returned when they knew that God had frustrated the plans of their enemies.  When we see that God is frustrating our enemies' plans it encourages our hearts to press on in perseverance. 

 

Q-In what ways can we be encouraged by God frustrating the plans of our enemies?  What is God doing in our midst to show us that He is at work and is frustrating our enemy?

 

Jesus promises to not only build His church, but also to frustrate the plans of our enemy.  The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 

Matthew 16:18: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

 

Battling

 

Verses 16-18a: "From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.  18a And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built."

 

Q-What are you battling?

 

Q-How are you battling it?

 

Everyone has a place to build and defend. 

 

Ephesians 6:10-17:  "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  14  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"

 

And in all of this we bathe everything in prayer.

 

Ephesians 6:18:  "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints"

 

Defending

 

Verses 18b-20: "The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.  19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, 'The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.  20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.'"

 

Q-What are you defending?

 

Q-How are you defending it?

 

The Gospel is unpacked by coming together.  When we gather, we sound the Gospel trumpet and call each other to trust that God has, is, and will fight for us.

 

Often churches practice systematic (topical) care for the body of Christ but we're calling this family to a more systemic (ingested) care where it is the primary way we are working out the truth of the Gospel and massaging grace into each other's hearts. 

 

How did Jesus fight for us?  He won by losing everything.  He demonstrated strength through weakness, wisdom through what appeared to be foolishness, and victory in what looked like defeat.  He fought by giving up everything.

 

Pacesetters

 

Verses 21-23: "So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.  22 I also said to the people at that time, 'Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.'  23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand."

 

In all of this we need Gospel and missional pacesetters who are setting the example for others to follow.

 

John 21:5-17:  "Jesus said to them, 'Children, do you have any fish?' They answered him, 'No.'  6  He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.  7  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.  8  The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.  9  When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.  10  Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.'  11  So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.  12  Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord.  13  Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.  14  This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.  15  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'  16  He said to him a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep.'  17  He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"

 

The basis for all our building, battling and defending is a love for Jesus.

 

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