Pastor Paul Page October 2020

 

Last month we talked a little bit about Nehemiah, and the Israelites rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. God gave them a task, and it wasn’t easy. The work was hard, the work was long, and there was danger. There were enemies waiting for an opportunity to attack them and tear down the wall.

 

Just like the Israelites rebuilding the wall, remember, we’re not alone. We have God, we have our church family. The church is like an emergency room to help the lost find Jesus and help Christians get stronger in Christ.  There’s a perfect example right here in Nehemiah. They had an enemy to face. They went to God, they asked Him for help. They depended on Him.

They did it together. They did it with prayer.

They watched – were on guard – day and night, always. They were always prepared to stand against the     enemy. They never stopped working.

 

And that’s our job as Christians. We need to be there for each other and for others. People struggle in their minds and they don’t want to tell anyone about it. This is something we have to deal with every day. The Bible tells us that the forces against us are not physical, but spiritual, and our weapons are mighty spiritual weapons from God. Jesus tells us we need to continue showing love to other people.

 

Galatians 6:2

² Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

John 15:12-14¹² This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

 

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

Some of our weapons are:

 

Praise – in the Old Testament God sent all the singers to the front of the battle. Praise chases away Satan.

2 Chronicles 20:21 ²¹ And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

The Word of God – Hebrews 4:12 ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

Prayer – Ask God to protect us and help us stay away from sin

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 King James Version (KJV) ¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

James 4:7⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:18-20. praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Fasting – to help us keep our focus on Christ. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

-Matthew 6:16-18

 

Nehemiah told the rest of the people not to be afraid, but to remember the Lord. Nehemiah 4:14 ¹⁴ And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

We forget that God is always around us, that he will always protect us, just as He showed Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6:14-17. ¹⁴ Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

¹⁵ And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

¹⁶ And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

 

We need to do it together: The story is told of two men riding a tandem bicycle up a steep hill. After much effort, they  finally made it to the top of the hill. The front rider said, “That was a tough ride.” To which the second rider replied, “Sure was, and if I hadn’t kept the brake on we might have slipped backwards.”     Source: Unknown

                                                                                                        -Paul Brow, Haven of Rest