The Word of God is active and alive.
The old testament is filled with stories of veterans defending, building, working for God’s TRUTH.
Nehemiah recognized the dangers of rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem. He defended against the detractors just as much as any protective army. He had real weapons, having the servant builders and noblemen and guards watch for the enemy. Men fully armed AND even the material carriers or builders had a weapon in one hand or by their side, and building materials in the other. REAL swords meaning real business! Real protection. A trumpeter stayed with Nehemiah for any sounding of the alarm. They even had their swords at their sides when they went for water. They kept building. We have an ability to keep building too, ourselves, our families, our communities, all under God’s direction.
Nehemiah was armed with a Sword of Truth himself, his ability to speak God’s Word was laid on his heart, just like we have THE Sword of Truth of scripture to speak into a situation. Nehemiah said: “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…” We also in these days have ashield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Jesus is the Living Word, and Truth will defend and protect. Jesus came to rebuild God’s Kingdom. Nehemiah restated that the detractors said: “Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Well. YES. God can! We work for the miracle maker, earth-shaker. As Jesus died and took all sin upon Himself to the end, He also ROSE, a stone, a ROCK back to LIFE.
We must keep working, sometimes we forget our journey is not supposed to be easy, but it’s worth it. When we enter a tough situation, we too must listen to our Foreman, take action where the building is threatened, be awake and aware of the situation. We can enter situations equipped WITH the Lord who readies us “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace“
Nehemiah listed the groups of workers repairing each gate and wall section. His people. We have a God who saves. We are God’s people and we ARE fitted for His Work. We are co-laborors. We CAN work with the sword of truth in one hand and building materials in the other.... to be the people who worked with all their heart.
Thank God.
Amen
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The Word Himself reminds us: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”... “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6 excerpts
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Nehemiah 4: 1-2, 6-23
Opposition to the Rebuilding
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”
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6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”
Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.
From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.”
See chapter 3 for the names of the people here:
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Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
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Ephesians 6:10-18
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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.
Debbie Upper 