Remember Your God

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

4 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2 before his colleagues and the powerful men[a] of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”4 Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered[b] the builders.6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.10 In Judah, it was said:[c]The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it[d] until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again,[e] “Everywhere you turn, they attack[f] us.” 13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18 Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the one who sounded the ram’s horn was beside me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” 21 So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. 22 At that time, I also said to the people, “Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” 23 And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.

Context

This week we are continuing our walk through the book of Nehemiah. As you will remember last week, Nehemiah had received the blessing of the king to go and rebuild the walls and protections of the city of Jerusalem. After spending time in prayer and contemplation, he had received his request from God to find favor in the king’s eyes, and was allowed not only to go do it, but also received the resources he needed to do it. So, after the long journey to Jerusalem, he rested, inspected the walls, made a plan for action, shared with everyone what God had done, shared his plan, and everyone came together and began the hard work. This came, of course, with attacks from the old enemies, but the people nonetheless continued with what God had revealed to them.

In today’s text, we see the hard work and attacks from the enemy really catch up to everyone. Here, the Isrealites began to see and experience what every follower of Jesus needs to know, this is that When a believer tries to do good work and grow, spiritual warfare will come. Yes, indeed even right now, all around you is a very real but unseen war going on. The powers of Satan, Sin, and Darkness against the powers of God, Righteousness, and Light. Don’t put this off as a mere analogy believer, this is very much real and it very much has a huge effect on your day to day moment by moment lives. That is, you are a child of God if you are a follower of Jesus, and Satan would like nothing more than to get rid of you as a threat to him and his forces.

Part of your job, believer, is to stay aware and vigilant to this threat, and prepared to meet it, just as Nehemiah had the people stay diligent against (yet still going about the task) attacks from the enemies of Israel. You can do this believer, stay vigilant, by Remembering your God, what He has called you to do, think, say, act, know, and believe, and putting aside anything that could keep you from doing so. So, let’s see this example unfold in your bible’ today, let jump into the text where I want you to know to do and do these actions while you realign yourself to remembering your God during spiritual warfare.

Message

The first action to know to do and to do is to: Turn to God in difficulty 1-6

4 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2 before his colleagues and the powerful men[a] of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”4 Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered[b] the builders.6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.

Here we see, the verbal attacks and belittlings from the enemies of the people (and God) come at the builders in Jerusalem. While they are just words to us, to them, in the heat and hardness of the project, these words would have been very damaging, hurtful, and disheartening. They heard things like, look at these pathetics jews, do they really think they can do this? Do they honestly think they can rebuild and offer sacrifice, do they honestly think they will finish, pathetic….. Do they really think they can rebuild the walls from all this rubble (in reality most of the stone was still very much usable)? Look! Their craftsmanship is so terrible, so bad, that even if a light little fox climbed on it, it would fall! To these attacks, Nehemiah petitioned his God in prayer, do not let this terrible attack go unseen and unheard, they have stirred us up and damaged us, making us less effective at our task. Yet still, they had a mind and heard to work, so they continued to build until the wall was half as high as would be and all the walls were joined together.

Now, i’m sure each and every one of us here have turned the wrong way before while we were out driving. This happened to me this past Wednesday while I was out delivering groceries.You see, I had just finished a delivery in the middle of nowhere, the address had a Cadiz address, but I knew Cadiz was several miles away. So, I was on a country road, pulling out of the driveway, didn’t know which to go, so I went left when I needed to go right to get back to the main road. As you could imagine, figuring out that I was on the wrong path and turning around, was a critical thing I needed to do once I realized I was wrong, as their were little to no places to turn around on this road (who knows how far away the nearest driveway or road was, it sure seemed like it would be awhile!) Fortunately, I figured it out before it was too late, and only had to drive a quarter of a mile to turn around, but if I hadn't then, it could have been much worse.

Nehemiah here, turned to the right place first, and I warn all of you to do the same (and when you don’t, of course correct very quickly). While he could have lashed out with vengeance against the enemies, he remembered to turn to God first, and remembered God’s promise to His people, and a point that Paul wrote to the church at Rome which said, “17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,[a] says the Lord. So, instead of turning to your anger in difficulty, turn to your God instead, and remember what He said, that He has you, and He will take care of the situation. So, turn to God in difficulty, and know that When a believer tries to do good work and grow, spiritual warfare will come. So, be ready for the battle ahead, remember Your God and what He said, and what He has done, and what He has said He will do.

The next action to know to do and to do as your realign yourself during spiritual warfare is to: Look to God when you falter 7-14

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.10 In Judah, it was said:[c]The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it[d] until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again,[e] “Everywhere you turn, they attack[f] us.” 13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”

When the enemies heard of the building progressing well, they were furious. Where they could swindle, plunder the people, and exercise their control/influence over them was diminishing and they did. Not. like. That. So, they began all to make a military plot against them, then bring them down, most likely to surround the town and take them out, they began with psychological warfare, letting people know that this was the intent to get them to lose heart. Already though, the people were becoming disheartened, tired, their attitudes and spirits began to fall, to falter, they began singing this sad song, it’s too hard, we can’t do it, the job is too big, all around. Meanwhile, the enemies scheme continues, intending to take them out before they could even muster a defense. So, nehemiah began stationing armed men near the weakest part of the wall, and addressed everyone, telling them don’t be afraid, your awe inspiring all powerful and might God is for you, so if you must fight, fight for us all, fight for your family, fight with all your might.

I’m sure you are all familiar with the hymn, “Just a closer Walk with thee.” In it, One of the verses goes: “ Through this world of toils and snares; If I Falter Lord, who Cares?; Who with me my burden shares?; None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.; Just a closer walk with thee; Grant it, Jesus, is my plea; Daily Walkin’ close to Thee; Let it be, dear Lord, let it be. So, the verse in short is saying: this world is hard and difficult, and if I falter (if I fail) will anyone care? Who will help me with my burdens and trouble, Jesus, Jesus who is the only one I need.

This writer of this song and Nehemiah both knew, that when you falter, don’t give up, don’t stop. Instead, continue and redirect yourself to God, Remember Your God, remember the warfare you are in, and remember who fights with and for you. This WILL happen to you believer, this warfare and difficulty believer, any time you to try to grow towards God in a new way and any time you try to make yourself more effect in your mission to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. So, instead of giving up, or fleeing, running away, or taking the easy way out, stay with Him, stick with Him, God cannot and will not fail. Look to God when you falter, because when you do, rest assured you are about to see God’s power of full display when you look to Him.

Another action to know to do and to do as you religion yourself to remember your God during spiritual warfare is that: Your God goes before you 15-23

15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18 Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the one who sounded the ram’s horn was beside me. 19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” 21 So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. 22 At that time, I also said to the people, “Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” 23 And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.

Sooner or later, all the enemies heard of Nehemiah’s plan for protection, so they backed off, clearly their God had gone before them and fought the battle for them. Still, they remained diligent for incoming attacks, yes this slowed things down (as half the workers were placed for guards and everyone that could kept a weapon with them), people were even given the roll of horn blower for rallying the fighters if need be. Yet still, Nehemiah made it clear, if we fight, have heart and courage, for our God is fighting for us, we cannot lose! With this renewed vigor and spirit, they went about rebuilding, renewing, revitalizing, and restoring the wall. The did this non-stop, always vigilant, always ready, even when washing, getting water, and resting. They knew they must be ready for spiritual warfare, but that they had the best weapon of all, God, on their side.

You have heard it before, but here it bears remembering and reading that bible passage Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus during a time of spiritual warfare. He wrote to them: 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

So family, here me! When a believer tries to do good work and grow, spiritual warfare will come. So, is your armour on? Do you polish it? Practice with it? Use it? Better yet, are you living the kind of faith life that needs it? All of us should. If you don’t need or don’t use your armour, then it is clear that the enemy (Satan) doesn’t see you as a threat, so he is going to leave you alone. If you are a threat to the power of Satan, Sin and Darkness, which every child of God, Righteousness, and light should be, then you need it every day. Know this though, once you use it or if you are using it, with those weapons and armour, you cannot fail, because Your God goes and fights for you before you. He is ahead, and He has already won, you just need to follow Him.

Conclusion

Beloved, change of any kind in your spiritual life (both as a person and as a collective church body) will come with its own difficulties along the way, but also its own rewards. Chief of these being that God is Honored and Glorified by us when we put ourselves aside and instead of focusing on self and wants, we focus on being disciples that love God, love people, and make disciples. That is great reward indeed, with it’s own behind it. So, remember and do these truths when you are making change to come close to God and bring others closer to Him, remember and Turn to God in difficulty 1-6, also know and remember to Look to God when you falter 7-14, which is a great thing to do because Your God goes before you 15-23. Remember You God, and seek Him always, remember the cross, which Jesus died on so that You could be saved from your sins, and remember that His invitation for Salvation is for many many more.

With all of that being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God, though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do is accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each heart here, continue as we leave to go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better proclaimers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.