“Building and Battling”

Neh 4-6 & Selected, Part 4

Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Feb 2, 2014

• God works out His perfect plans… Involving His children, Neh 1

• God works out His perfect plans… Involving His children, Neh 1

• God calls Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the task of rebuilding, Neh 2

• God works out His perfect plans… Involving His children, Neh 1

• God calls Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the task of rebuilding, Neh 2

• Nehemiah assembles God’s “Dream Team” & begins working, Neh 3

• God works out His perfect plans… Involving His children, Neh 1

• God calls Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the task of rebuilding, Neh 2

• Nehemiah assembles God’s “Dream Team” & begins working, Neh 3

• Nehemiah persevered in battling as the walls went up, Neh 4,5,6

• God works out His perfect plans… Involving His children, Neh 1

• God calls Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the task of rebuilding, Neh 2

• Nehemiah assembles God’s “Dream Team” & begins working, Neh 3

• Nehemiah persevered in battling as the walls went up, Neh 4,5,6

• Key Principle: Problem – Prayer – Praise as God works, Bible

Five Truths concerning Building & Battling…

1. Battling through trials Grows our spiritual faith

Nehemiah 4:6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked

with all their heart.

1. Battling through trials Grows our spiritual faith

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

2. Battling requires utilization of all our Resources

Neh. 4:9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

2. Battling requires utilization of all our Resources

Nehemiah 4:17-18 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,

18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded

the trumpet stayed with me.

3. Battling always involves both Submitting and Resisting

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3. Battling always involves both Submitting and Resisting

Nehemiah 5:6-7,9 6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered

them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury

from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them… 9

So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?

3. Battling always involves both Submitting and Resisting

Ephesians 6:10-12 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 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.

Cross Creek

3. Battling always involves both Submitting and Resisting

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

4. Battling draws us toward greater God Dependence

Nehemiah 4:4-5 4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of

captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, they have thrown

insults in the face of the builders.

King Hezekiah, 2Chron 31-32

4. Battling draws us toward greater God Dependence

2 Chronicles 32:8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained

confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

5. Battling with Perseverance brings Success from the Lord

Nehemiah 4:20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God

will fight for us!"…

1 Samuel 17:47 “… for the battle is the Lord's…”

Cross Creek

5. Battling with Perseverance brings Success from the Lord

Nehemiah 6:15-16 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16

When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their

self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Cross Creekers…

• Step Out!• Get Connected!• Serve One Another!• Together Growing & Reaching!

Cross Creekers…

• Step Out!• Get Connected!• Serve One Another!• Together Growing & Reaching!

It’s all about Jesus!