God’s Strength in Our Work

Nehemiah New Hope Baptist Church   Date 31 August

Bible Reading: Nehemiah 4 Scripture Ref: Nehemiah 4:15-18

Title: God’s Strength in Our Work

Introduction

Good morning, Church!

Praise God that the Battle Belongs to the Lord!

Once again, we are blessed with the privilege of being ministered to by God's Word.

Previously in Nehemiah, we learned that when opposition rises against God's work, His people respond with faithful resolve.

We learned from chapter four last month that the enemies of God, angered by the advancing work, conspired to cause confusion by forming an alliance to disturb and disrupt the rebuilding (vv. 7–8).

In response to this threat, the Jews called on God to counter the crisis, turning to Him in dependent prayer while taking wise action by setting a guard (v. 9).

When fear began to grip the workers, Nehemiah charged the covenant people with courage, addressing their fear, reminding them of God's greatness, and rallying them to courageous perseverance (vv. 10–14).

This morning, we continue our series in Nehemiah, and we were left in suspense: Would the people continue to stand together as they submit to God and His work, or would they succumb to the threats and spiritual sabotage of their enemies?

Today we'll discover how God answers faithful perseverance—not by removing opposition, but by revealing His sovereign protection and renewing His people's courage to continue His work.

When God's people pray and stand watch, He moves in ways that confound their enemies and strengthen their faith.

Please open your Bibles to Nehemiah 4. Let's all stand together and read this precious passage that shows us God's faithfulness to those who trust in Him.

Prayer

Most Gracious and Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your Word and for the privilege of worship.

Father, we confess that our hearts are weak and bent toward sin. Too often we desire Your blessings more than You, the Blesser. We crave worldly things that satisfy our flesh rather than our spirit. Please forgive us and be merciful to us as sinners.

We thank You that we can place our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross—He who gave His life to pay sin's penalty and won victory over sin and death.

As we come before You and Your Word, we pray for Your leading and guidance. Grant us clarity and understanding. Give us focus and attention. Remove any hindrance that would turn our eyes from beholding You, and discipline our minds to remain in fellowship with You.

We pray that what we hear from Your Word today would utterly crush our sin and guilt, move our hearts to worship, and stir our lives to conviction, transformation, and renewal—conforming us to be like our Saviour.

We give You all the honour and glory, and we ask this in Christ's name—He who has won the victory.

Amen.

God’s Strength in Our Work

Create a Propositional Statement

If God truly reigns over all things, if His covenant love toward His people is unshakable, and if the battle ultimately belongs to Him, then we must ask—can anything in heaven or on earth ever hinder His work or defeat His people?

The answer is a resounding no.

The enemies of God may conspire, threaten, and oppose, but they cannot overturn the sovereign purposes of the Lord.

Rather, in the very midst of opposition, God Himself strengthens and sustains His servants, granting them confidence and courage to persevere in the work He has called them to, so that His glory is displayed, His people are refined, and His purposes are accomplished through their faithful obedience.

Here are the three points we will be studying this morning:

1. Returning Reliantly (v. 15)

The people return unitedly to the wall in faith, relying on God’s intervention that thwarted their enemies’ plans.

2. Working Watchfully (v. 16–17)

The people work diligently while remaining alert, holding weapons as they build, combining labour with vigilance.

3. Leading Loudly (v. 18)

Leadership organises and communicates through the trumpet, providing guidance and maintaining morale amid the threat.

1 Returning Reliantly (v15)

15And it came to pass,

when our enemies heard

that it was known unto us,

and God had brought their counsel to nought,

that we returned all of us to the wall,

every one unto his work.

I want us to remember how Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites—all united in conspiracy—planned to attack Jerusalem and stop the rebuilding of the wall (v.8). Their hatred was coordinated, relentless, and determined to crush the work of God’s people.

The Jews responded with faith: they prayed earnestly to God and, with wisdom, stationed guards to watch the enemy day and night (v.9). They were diligent, courageous, and committed to God’s mission.

Yet despite their faith and diligence, the debris and rubble left from the destruction blocked their progress. Fear began to take hold of their hearts. The threat felt overwhelming, and discouragement crept in.

Look at verses 11 and 12:

“And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.”(Nehemiah 4:11–12)

The people were gripped with panic. The danger seemed unavoidable. They felt powerless, hopeless, and helpless. The enemies’ plans looked unstoppable.

But look at verse 15. We see a turning point, a decisive moment in the narrative. Verse 15 begins, “And it came to pass…”

The story turns.

What comes next is not mere human victory, but clearly the sovereign hand of God at work.

Look at the next phrase. “When our enemies heard that it was known unto us…”

When I read that line, it made me laugh.

Can you imagine the look on the faces of Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, when they realized that their secret conspiracy to attack and hinder the Jews had been discovered?

And what makes it even more striking, if we look carefully at the narrative, is that Nehemiah didn’t simply discover their plan.

Look at the next phrase: “And God had brought their counsel to nought…”

I love that line. Loved ones, God Himself orchestrated the exposure for His purpose. It clearly shows the Sovereignty of God.

The Hebrew verb means to break, frustrate, or render powerless.

When the enemies thought, they were superior, clever, and were going to succeed with their plans, God collapsed their conspiracy and nullified it.

And isn’t this exactly what Scripture declares elsewhere?

Job 5:12 says, “He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.”

Psalm 33:10says,

10The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

That is the God of Nehemiah. That is our God. He frustrates the schemes of the wicked, He overturns the plots of the crafty, He nullifies the counsel of the heathen, He makes the devices of men of none effect, and He ensures that His work will go forward, unhindered, and unstoppable.

Loved ones, Christ has fulfilled this completely. Paul says in Colossians 2:15: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

At the cross, it seemed as though all was lost and the enemies had won. The rulers conspired, Judas betrayed, the disciples fled, Pilate condemned, and the soldiers nailed Christ to the cross where He bled and died.

He was buried, and for three days the disciples were at a loss—dumbfounded by what had happened, defeated, dismayed, and discouraged. The Jewish rulers thought they had succeeded. Pilate thought he had suppressed a revolution. Satan thought he had won.

But just as God frustrated Nehemiah’s enemies, so in Christ He conquered sin, Satan, and death.

Imagine the look on the faces of the enemies of Christ.

On the third day—the first day of the week—when the morning broke, He rose from the dead. Death lost its sting. Christ, the Conqueror, disarmed Satan and all his powers, triumphing over every enemy that sought to stop God’s redemptive work.

Loved ones, do you believe that with your whole heart? Or is it something you only confess with your lips, while deep inside you still look to yourself for strength, for solutions, for deliverance?

When trials come, do you rest in the God who frustrates the devices of the wicked, do you rest in Christ who frustrated sin and death, or do you lean on your own wisdom and strength? Do you trust His sovereignty in the face of opposition, or do you scramble to take matters into your own hands?

Beloved, if the Lord of heaven and earth brings the counsel of the heathen to nothing, why do we doubt His care for us? If He has already shown in Christ that He conquers every enemy, why do we continue to live as though the outcome depends on us? Listen carefully. The call of Scripture is not only to confess that God is sovereign, but to live as though He truly is.

I want you to take note of something here. There is an interesting thread that runs through these narratives about hearing and responding.

In verses 1 and 7, when the enemies heard the report, their response was wrath, great indignation, mocking, and finally conspiring together. Whenever God’s work advanced, their reaction was anger, rage, and plotting destruction.

They listened to one another’s complaints and only fuelled each other’s hatred.

But notice the contrast with the Jews. In verse 10 they listened to discouraging words; in verse 11, to threats; and in verse 12, to repeated warnings. Their response, however, was not rage but fear and discouragement.

Nehemiah, on the other hand, stands out. His response was one of faith in God. In verse 4, he called upon God to hear him. In verse 9, the people prayed to God. In verse 14, Nehemiah reminded the Jews of the Lord who is great and awesome. Then in verse 15, when the enemies heard, it was God Himself who frustrated their plans.

Do you see the lesson for us? Whose voice are you listening to? Are you filling your heart with voices of opposition, fear, and discouragement? Or are you turning to the Lord’s voice—to remember Him, His sovereignty, His goodness, and the truth that the battle belongs to Him?

But since the Jews listened to Nehemiah’s reminder of God’s greatness and his call not to be afraid, what was the result? Look at the end of verse 15: “that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.”

Do you see the faithful good hand of God that cause their unity? Every single person who had been drawn into discouragement by the sight of the rubbish on the wall—every single person who had been consumed with fear and panic at the thought of enemies surrounding them—every single person who had felt overwhelmed, hopeless, and helpless—every one of them returned to the wall. They all returned to the unfinished work in unity because God brought the enemy’s counsel to nought.

Were the enemies completely defeated? No. Were they gone? No.

>>But God is still there. He is faithful to His people.

The conspiracy of the enemy could not break their unity, so long as their eyes and hearts remained fixed on God. >>Remember loved ones, faith is not the absence of opposition, but the steadfastness of heart to continue despite opposition.

So it is with us, loved ones. If our eyes stay fixed on God, if our faith is exercised in the wisdom that He is sovereign, then we will not be overcome by fear, despair, or distraction. So, like the people of Nehemiah’s day, let us return to God’s work not in our own strength, but in reliance on the God who frustrates every enemy and in Christ who has already conquered sin, Satan, and death.

2 Working Watchfully (v16-17)

16And 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.

17They which builded on the wall,

and they that bare burdens,

with those that laded,

every one with one of his hands wrought in the work,

and with the other hand held a weapon.

After God frustrated the enemy’s conspiracy, and the people demonstrated faith in action by returning to the wall, Nehemiah established a city defence policy that involved four strategies. We’ve actually already seen the first one already in verses 4-9 when Nehemiah prays in verse 4 then sets watch in verse 9.

Today, we will focus on the next strategy which is arming and dividing the people.

Look at verse 16: we see another shift in the narrative with the phrase “And it came to pass.”This signals that events unfold under God’s sovereignty, and the reason these things came to pass is because God had frustrated the enemy’s plot.

The next phrase, “from that time forth,” serves as a timestamp, indicating that from this day forward, this would be the standard method of defending themselves as long as the threat persisted.

What is Nehemiah’s next strategy?

The phrase “that the half of my servants wrought in the work…” tells us that Nehemiah’s personal guards were not simply “toiling” in an unskilled or casual way while the other half guarded them. The word “wrought” emphasizes purposeful labour, skillful execution, and effective accomplishment. In other words, they were actively engaged in their duties with diligence, expertise, and the highest quality of effort.

Loved ones, this is a powerful reminder that faithful labour in God’s kingdom must be intentional and effective, not casual or half-hearted.

When we serve the Lord and His church, is it enough to simply show up, sing songs, listen to the message and go through the motion?

Loved ones, every act of service—whether visible or behind the scenes, big or small—should be done with purpose, diligence, and a heart fully surrendered to God.

Think about the ways we worship God through our service. Whether it is preaching and teaching in the pulpit ministry, hosting or participating in a home Bible study, using our gifts in the music and media ministries, fostering fellowship among men and women in the church, preparing meals for our Church lunch, or giving faithfully through tithes and offerings, every task matters.

Even the smallest contribution—encouraging a weary brother, praying faithfully for the needs of others, interceding for loved ones in secret—is counted by God and can have eternal impact.

These acts often require sacrifice. They demand time, energy, sometimes putting aside our own comfort or convenience, yet they are done - so that others may be blessed and God’s work may advance.

Like the men building the wall in Nehemiah’s day, we are called to labour intentionally, skillfully, and with perseverance, knowing that our faithful efforts, though unseen at times, are producing lasting fruit in God’s kingdom.

Let us then ask ourselves: are we serving with a casual spirit, or are we labouring with the same purposeful diligence that Nehemiah’s men displayed?

Are our hands, our hearts, and our lives fully engaged in the work God has given us?

Faithful service is not measured only by what we accomplish, but by the intent, excellence, and faithfulness with which we labour, trusting that God sees and honours every effort done in His name.

What about the other half of Nehemiah’s men?

The text says: “and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons.”

Here we see that Nehemiah was well-versed in military strategy. Notice the arrangement of weapons: some were offensive—the spears and bows—while others were defensive—the shields and habergeons, also known as breastplates or coats of mail.

Interestingly, one weapon is missing: the sword, typically used for close-range combat. The offensive weapons here were designed for mid- to long-range attacks.

Those who carried spears were paired with shields, and those who carried bows were protected by coats of mail. This careful pairing shows tactical wisdom, ensuring the men could attack and defend simultaneously.

Nehemiah organised his men strategically. While some worked diligently on the wall, he assigned the other half to (notice the text) hold their weapons. But they were not standing idly or passively. No—they were actively alert, engaged in a constant defensive position, ensuring that both construction and security were maintained at the highest level.

Notice their choice of weapons and armour. This reveals the comprehensive nature of their defence. The absence of swords was intentional; their goal was not to attack or counterattack the enemy.

Remember, they were surrounded on every side. To leave the wall and pursue the enemy would have left the city vulnerable. Instead, they remained prepared and vigilant, standing watch over their people and their city.

What Nehemiah’s men model is more than good strategy; it is a pattern for God’s people today in how we serve and guard our hearts.

Spiritually, this teaches us a vital lesson.

Like these men, we are called to be faithful in our service while remaining vigilant against the enemy. Our work in God’s kingdom—whether in ministry, prayer, encouragement, acts of service, or giving—is never separate from spiritual watchfulness.

Just as Nehemiah’s men laboured with one hand and held their weapons with the other, so we must serve faithfully while remaining spiritually alert.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armour of God, standing firm and ready to defend against the enemy.

Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5 to be sober and vigilant, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

And in all our work, Colossians 3 reminds us to labour heartily as unto the Lord, not unto men; and 1 Corinthians 15:58 assures us that our labour in the Lord is never in vain.

We cannot afford to labour carelessly or neglect our spiritual defence. Just as the men on the wall held their weapons at the ready while they worked, so we must keep God’s Word, prayer, and righteousness at hand, guarding our hearts, minds, and actions against temptation, distraction, and attack.

Faithful labour and watchful vigilance are inseparable in the life of a disciple. Only when we labour wisely and watch continually can we advance God’s kingdom with purpose, protection, and power.

And just as we need faithful labourers, we also need faithful leaders.

Take note of the last line of verse 16: “and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.”

In some renderings, these rulers are called leaders, commanders, or officers—pointing to positions of authority and direction, which normally would be placed before their followers. But notice where they positioned themselves: they were behind the people of Judah—not out in front.

Unlike the nobles of the Tekoites (3:5), who refused to stoop to the work, the rulers in verse 16 were not detached aristocrats. They stood with their people. They shared responsibility and commitment in both rebuilding and defending their city.

To be “behind” them means they were supporting, backing, and encouraging them. They faithfully supervised, stood with their people, and strengthened them—both as protectors in danger and encouragers in the work.

Loved ones, don’t you find comfort in God when He sends faithful and caring shepherds to His church?

Isaiah 35:3–4 says, “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.”

>>The church does not need a hireling who flees when danger is near. The church needs true shepherds—leaders who watch over the flock, who strengthen the discouraged, who guard against threats, and who encourage the saints to persevere.

Look at verse 17 as the building continues, the narrative is shows us a montage of scenes all happening simultaneously. There’s the working and defending, there’s the builders building, there’s the burden-carriers carrying and loading, and then each worker is seen with a tool on one hand and a weapon in the other. What we see in this scene is faithful perseverance under pressure. They could have yielded themselves to despair and fled but instead they persisted in their God given task, knowing that He frustrated the plans of the enemy.

They have integrated the labour and defence which means each person is doing double the duty. They were so assured by God’s good hand, that they didn’t choose between labour or defence. They willingly do both. This is faith in action as their trust in God motivated them into responsible action.

Loved ones do you see how in their fear and weariness, their faith is expressed and pushed through the task? What’s amazing about it is they were also working in humility and not complaining about having to do two things. God calls us to the same perseverance in our walk with Christ. The enemy still seeks to distract, discourage, and destroy. Yet like these builders, we are to keep one hand to the work of God—serving, building up His church, proclaiming Christ—and the other hand on the weapon of our warfare, which is the Word of God and prayer.

Do not grow weary. Do not yield to despair.

Faith does not retreat when pressed; it perseveres because God has already frustrated the plans of the enemy at the cross.

So I ask you: are you pressing on in the work God has entrusted to you? Are you watchful, armed with His Word, even as you labour for His kingdom? The call of this passage is clear: labour faithfully, watch vigilantly, and trust confidently in the God who fights for you.

3 Leading Loudly

18For the builders,

every one had his sword girded by his side,

and so builded.

And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

We just read in verse 17 that “every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”

At first glance, that raises a question: are they literally balancing a tool in one hand and a sword in the other? How could they possibly build safely and efficiently if they’re only using one hand? And how could they defend themselves effectively at the same time?

Verse 18 gives us the answer. It clarifies how the builders were able to labour and stay ready for battle. Look at the second line: “every one had his sword girded by his side.”

The builders weren’t performing a magical juggling act. Instead, each man kept his sword strapped to his waist, ready to defend, while both hands were free for the work of building.

This is vivid, compressed narrative language that paints a picture of divided duty — and it assures us that Nehemiah’s description in verse 17 is not fantasy. It’s reality: they were ordinary workers yet constantly prepared for the enemy.

We still see a similar work culture in Israel today. Many citizens, even while dressed in plain clothing and going about their everyday tasks, remain armed because they are part of the reserve defence force. This helps us picture what Nehemiah describes: ordinary people, working faithfully, yet always ready for battle.

This calls us to faithfulness in the work and ministries God has given us while being spiritually alert.

Husbands, your first ministry is your wife. How are you being faithful and vigilant with her?

Fathers, your ministry is your family. How are you being faithful and vigilant with them?

Parents, your ministry is your children. How are you being faithful and vigilant with them?

It’s a blessing to be employed and work to provide for your family.

But what about your “other hand” of defence? Are you holding God’s Word as your weapon, or is it empty?

Are you diligently, devotedly, and determined to watch over your loved ones — shepherding them in God’s Word, praying for them, interceding on their behalf, intervening when necessary, and leading them into holiness?

Are you preparing your children only to succeed in school, pursue a lucrative career, and become responsible citizens — or are you preparing their spiritual lives for eternity?

Yes, we are ordinary people, citizens of this great nation, but we are tasked with extraordinary, supernatural work to serve God and His Church.

Too often, we rely on our weakness and shortcomings as excuses: “I don’t know how to lead my family in Bible study. I don’t know how to study my Bible. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Loved ones, have the determination to know God and be diligent in raising your family in light of Christ’s return and eternity.

Don’t compartmentalise your spiritual life from your daily work. Bring God into your home, your job, and your community. Work hard for Him while staying alert spiritually — that is how we honour God in every aspect of life.

Look at the last line of verse 18: “And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.”

In order for Nehemiah to lead and coordinate the Jews effectively, he had a faithful person at his side to sound the trumpet.

Leaders also need support, and that support must be willing to stay close to the leaderand submit to his commands, so that signals can be issued immediately, clearly, and precisely.

But it is not enough for the trumpeter to simply stand beside the leader.

Nehemiah must teach him what each signal means, so that when the trumpet sounds, the people respond correctly.

Without clear instruction, a signal could cause confusion or chaos.

The trumpeter must also be faithful and obedient, ready to act promptly at the Nehemiah’s command.

Likewise, the people must know the meaning of the signal and trust the leader’s command.

Only when the leader, the assistant, and the people are all in sync can the work proceed safely and effectively.

This verse reminds us that leadership in God’s work is not solitary.

It requires teaching, trust, and willing submission at every level — from the leader to the assistant, and from the assistant to the people.

Conclusion Application

Beloved, this verse shows us that faithful work and spiritual vigilance go hand in hand. Just as the trumpeter stayed by Nehemiah, obedient and ready to act, we are called to stay close to God, submitting to His commands and trusting His guidance.

Leadership in God’s work is not just about giving instructions — it is about teaching, modelling, and coordinating so that God’s purposes are accomplished through ordinary people.

Church, this is your calling. Whether you are serving in children’s ministry, worship, music, evangelism, or any other area, lead with diligence, guide with wisdom, and teach those under your care to understand and obey God’s Word. Equip the members you serve spiritually, so that when challenges arise, they know how to respond and stand firm.

Likewise, each of us must be alert and ready, not only for the work God has assigned us but for the spiritual battles we face daily. Hold the Word of God firmly in your hearts as your weapon, prepared to act in obedience, and ready to encourage, correct, and build up the body of Christ.

God calls ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary tasks, but only when we are faithful, obedient, and united in purpose.

Today, examine your life: Are you diligently labouring in your ministry? Are you spiritually armed and alert? Are you teaching, guiding, and submitting as God intends? Do not delay — commit yourself to these responsibilities today, and trust God to accomplish His work through your obedience.

So, we’ve seen God frustrating the plans of the enemy, the vigilance of the builders, and the faithful trumpeter standing by Nehemiah.

But here’s the question hanging over the city:

How can ordinary people keep building when danger is at the gate, and the enemy is watching their every move?

Next time in our series, we’ll step into Nehemiah 4:19–23 to discover how God empowers His people to stand firm, work together, and complete the task He has called them to.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your Word today.

We thank You for showing us the faithfulness of Your people in Nehemiah’s day — how ordinary men laboured with their swords at their sides, and how You provided leaders and faithful assistants to guide and protect them.

Lord, we confess that we are often tempted to rely on our own strength, to grow weary, or to neglect the spiritual vigilance You call us to. Forgive us for times when we have isolated our spiritual life from our work, our home, and our ministry.

Father, empower us by Your Spirit to be faithful in the work You have given us. Help us to hold Your Word as our weapon, to watch over our families, ministries, and communities with diligence, prayer, and obedience, and to serve You with hearts fully devoted. Teach us to lead and to follow in humble obedience, trusting Your guidance in every area of life.

Lord, as we leave this place, let the challenge we have heard today linger in our hearts: to labour faithfully in the work You have given us, to remain spiritually alert, and to wield Your Word as our weapon in every aspect of our lives.

Prepare us, Lord, to stand firm in Your strength, to work together in unity, and to rely fully on You.

We commit our lives, our families, and our ministries into Your hands, trusting that You who began the work will bring it to completion. May all we do glorify You.

We ask this in the mighty and faithful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.