Fight

Do Not Be Afraid  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Nehemiah instructs the people rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem to fight for their brothers, sons, daughters, wives and homes. He wants them to remember that God is on their side. How do they fight in this context? How do we fight in ours? Join us this weekend as we take a look at how to "Fight" for those things most important to us.

Notes
Transcript
Liking to do something and being good at it are not the same thing. I like to play golf but I am not good at it. I know I shared a little bit about my preChrist days. I told you all that I use to like to fight. before I went into the Army, I liked to fight but I wasn’t really very good at it. When I came out of the Army, I knew how to fight a lot better. Stay with me and we will see how this relates to our passage today.

Last week we talked about remembering

We talked about the importance of remembering what God has done for us. Remembering the strength and power of our Lord.
Today I want to talk about how we fight for our brothers, sons, daughters, wives and our homes, as Nehemiah is commanding these people.
I get that we are not in the same circumstance that they are. We are not living under foreign oppression or captivity, even though it might feel like it sometime. We do not have mutliple kings threatening us with physical violence.
However, there are parallels here. I want us to see if we can learn a little about how to fight for our brothers, and sisters, sons and daughters, and wives and homes. I want to fight for them. I want to fight for you.
Nehemiah 4:14 ESV
And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Really we need to back up a few verses to get a better picture.
Nehemiah 4:10–14 ESV
In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Nehemiah is a book written during the same timeframe as the book of Ezra. Ezra, a prophet, and Nehemiah are in Jerusalem at the same time. Ezra arrived earlier than Nehemiah. Nehemiah comes back to help rebuild the city of Jerusalem after receiving the go ahead from the king of Persia/ who had defeated Babylon. Several kings of neighboring lands were not happy about the rebuild.
If we will remember the Lord is with us, we can fight without fear or discouragement.

If rebuilding was going to happen, they would have to fight.

The fight was less about violence and more about resolve.

After covid, and with the post christian culture we live in, we have some real rebuilding to do as well.

If we will rebuild, we will need to fight.

While there are multiple aspects of fighting well that we could discuss. There are three things to remember to fight this fight well.

Do not be discouraged

The jews were discouraged when they looked around an saw all the ruble and the enemy.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Coming into a new pastorate can be overwhelming. However, I know my God. I know he has a plan here. I need to remain emboldened by that understanding. I need to be patient and not be discouraged. and so do you!
2 Corinthians 4:8–9 ESV
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Do not fail to be aware of the enemy

1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Do not confuse your enemy

Galatians 5:15 ESV
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
It is us against the enemy, Satan. Not you against me. Families, husband and wife.
Galatians 5:14 ESV
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 16:13–18 ESV
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 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.
Gates are not offensive weapons. They are defensive weapons.
No gate, nor plan of Satan can standup to a unified body of believers standing of the profession that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.
We need to remember our Lord and fight for our brothers, sons, daughters, wives and homes.
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