Dear beloved: Nehemiah 4:16-18 gives us a great picture of how we are to carry on our kingdom work in the face of enemy harrassment and persecution. Neh4:16 And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. v17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who were carrying the burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and one hand holding a weapon. v18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. And in verse 20 Nehemiah says "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there, Our God will fight for us."
As we go about our kingdom building jobs we must keep the gospel armor strapped on, keep one hand free to lay the bricks while at the same time keep the sword of the spirit in our other hand to slay the enemy if he should come near. Ephesians 6:10 tells us, Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. v11 put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. v12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. v13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, That you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. And of course we know that the sword is the sword of the spirit, the word of God as it tells us in Ephesians 6:17, and we know also that the sword, the word of God, is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, able to divide asunder the soul and the spirit, the bones and the marrow, even to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Beloved, if we are going to impact our communities and this nation and turn back the onslaught of the evil schemes, then we must take our place on the wall and not shrink back with fear. God is calling each of us to get in the battle, to stand firm. We can win back what the devil has taken from us and from our families. Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water. Stand strong in the Lord, the battle belongs to the Lord. God bless you as you build His kingdom today, in Christ, Jim
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