Halfway! - Nehemiah 4:7-23

The halfway point of any project is perhaps the most difficult point to push through. Whether you're running the mile and you run half of it and you push past that whether you're halfway through a difficult course or semester. Maybe it's a renovation project in your home and your halfway finished and you can see the goals of the mass around half way is a difficult hurdle in life. The newness has worn off and you hear yourself saying somebody will not know and the people are rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but there facing opposition in their learning how to overcome. Have you ever gotten into a project and even made a good start, but you became weary and discouraged and lost the will to continue, I sure have. If you can relate to that. Please keep listening. In this lesson. Stephen will show you how to defend yourself against the never ending attack of Satan seeks to end our work on Stevens calling today's lesson halfway. It was many years ago at the beginning of a major conflict in Europe when Germany mounted an invasion on Poland and how Poland was into troubled they had a history of repelling the attacks of barbarians from warring neighboring nations. Besides, they were known for their skilled horsemanship. Their horses were among Europe's finest horses.

So when they learn the German forces were advancing. They prepared 12 brigades of their finest warriors and with swords flashing in the sunlight sounded the charge and their horses surged forward with great powerful stride.

Trouble was, this was not a war fought a thousand years ago. This was the beginning of world war two Manchester. In his biography of Winston Churchill wrote their horses galloped proudly right into the path of newly designed German Panzer tanks. The outcome was predictable, total annihilation, total devastation, I am convinced that we believers often expect to take on the enemy of our soul with methods that rival, galloping at full speed into the face of the German tank, the devil, Lucifer, Satan, the father of lies is on a search and destroy mission. He cannot have the soul of the believer, but he can have your saw and he seeks to deceive, seeks to destroy that he seeks to distract.

He seeks to divide any believer or company of believers that seek to advance the kingdom of light and bring glory to the Prince of heaven open your Bibles please to the book of Ephesians chapter 6 notice with me what kind of war. This is and what kind of weapons where to use call rights. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might and were commanded in verse 11 put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes the devil 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. Therefore take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having that everything the stand firm.

In other words, ladies and gentlemen we are to be properly prepared for battle. You don't resist German tanks on horseback and you do not resist the Lors of the red Dragon with an hour of worship once a week and may be a blessing before lunch and dinner where to clothe ourselves in the armor of the warrior which has been so designed by God for the Christian warrior to resist this Dragon. One of the pieces of armor designed by our Lord, that I often think of in my own personal struggle with the enemy is the shield of faith. It is an essential weapon and I do say weapon because it is not only defensive but as I show you it is offense. Paul refers to the shield in verse 16. Look, there shield of faith, which is able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil shield has to do with the object of our faith. Faith is never something that we try to drum up its significance is the object of our faith. We could have week. They resist the object of our faith is in the reality of God's person number one. David the Psalmist wrote Val, O Lord, are to shield about the object of our faith is in a living, real personal God, our shield is also faith in the reality of God's promises in our shield his face in God's providence. This person his promises in his providence. He said by means of his providence that all things would work together for your spiritual good so that ultimately verse 29 of Romans eight says you will be conformed into the image of his son. That is, all things are designed to develop character in you and glorify the name of God.

God is behind every scene engineering everything toward the praise of his glory. Whether we can see it or not I was on the phone. The number of years ago with a pastor named Charlie and he and I had been working out some arrangements together. He lived in a different state and were working through our calendars on a particular event and he didn't call me on Friday as he said that he would and so eventually that afternoon I called him today Charlie. Haven't heard from you. Just wanted to follow up on these dates going to work.

He said well Stephen is that only Norma calendars things are confusing right now for my family and I see last night our nine-year-old son was hit by a car.

Could you call me back in a few days in the thick of the battle circumstances occurred and sure enough, a fiery missile will hit directly into your shield of faith whose object is a personal God that's challenged the promises of God are challenged. The providence of God is challenged in the message attached to the fiery missile is does God really care when's the last time you heard his voice. How do you know he cares how do you know he's in control and get your life in you think you your rights right of the key does care. I don't think he is in control and you throw down your shield of faith and look what happens to the warrior that she more vulnerable than ever. I remember being so convicted because that same Thursday night when our daughters and at 104.6 temperature and mom had her in the bathtub sponging her down. Keep her from going into convulsions and I was down after midnight at this little drugstore try to get something.

I remember thinking to myself. Life is really loud I can't you time these things a little more conveniently, Lord I got for breakfast on my day off while I was commiserating. It occurred to me later on that while I was in the drugstore.

Charlie was a curbside for his life would change forever. This Romans shield that Paul talked about gives us insight into the operation of our faith as Christian soldiers. It was not a small shield effect was often referred to as a door 4 feet tall. They planted in the grant-in-aid hide behind it was wound with a burlap or leather hides in and doused with water so that when the flaming arrow came and hit the shield. It would just fizzle out so it protected the soldier from the fiery missiles of the enemy and by the way, that shield protected every other piece of armor and that's an interesting study also how faith is related to every other piece of armor.

But secondly, the shield also unified the, the Army of the Romans had invented the shield to be beveled along the edges and hooked so that they could attach it as it were, to the shields on either side of them, thus forming this long wall of steel as the Army moved forward against the enemy double wall of steel approaching.

Is this army unified.

What a tremendous illustration of the church. We are to move forward with unified passion and purpose, linking our shields with one another in this community and literally around the world as we attempt to glorify God and deepen our character for his. I was enjoy after the service people, some to make appointments on the chair problem. Some said just got saved in others. Who knows. I look forward to look for the end of the service.

It is a trick question. I try to set you this guy came up to me. They said Stephen.

Did you know that the apostles in the book of acts used to drive around Jerusalem in the same automobile I said was not going to miss that part of what you target race again asked said they were all in one accord. He ruling that verse for me. I'll never think. In fact, I just ruined it for you.

You'll never think of that verse again without I got a Honda but you know what a wonderful thought like a family that piles into a car or a van. You're headed in the same location so the body of believers is aware piles into the same vehicle and moves forward one more point about the shield is like include my introduction shield not only protected the soldier and unify the Army, but it also reflected the sun.

When I discovered you could discover it as well with your Bible encyclopedia, but in the center of each shield was a round piece of brass they would attach it to the face of their shield before going into battle, the soldiers would polish that brass until it was like a mirror and then as they walked in battle. Together they would turn their shields in such a way that the sunlight would be reflected off that brass into the eyes of their and the believer reflects by faith. The truth of God's son, who was the light of the world. The enemy is easily distracted by the brilliance of that light. He hates the name of Christ. He hates the gospel that is been defined by the the life of Jesus Christ and his death and his burial and his resurrection and so we we reflect the light of this off of our shield of faith back against, as it were, the kingdom of darkness as we penetrate the darkness with the light of the gospel, so we advance when the Dragon approaches we hide behind their shields or we link it to another believers shield that we reflect on the light of God's promises in the attributes of God's person and the security of God's providence and we with our shields take one more step forward nowhere and all of the Old Testament. Perhaps define the shield of faith so clearly demonstrated in the book of Nehemiah II invite you to chapter 4 and I want you to picture tenant with me, just inside the city gates. As we rejoin our study and we watch these people grab on to their shields and so survives were told that another enemy army has just been added to the ranks of those who will fight against Jerusalem if I can verse seven when sand ballot to buyer the Arabs, the ammonites, and here they are. The astrocytes heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on and that the breaches began to because they were very angry. All of them conspired together to common fight against Jerusalem, and to cause a disturbance in it. Now if you had a map you look at all the enemy nations, you would notice that with the addition of the astrocytes they were former Philistines to the west, the Jerusalem is now completely surrounded. There is nowhere for them to run verse six tells us why the enemies were so angry. It's as we built the wall in the hall wall was joined together to have a tight taken that mild class, circumference, and they have now built the wall up to half way there are no breaches, no holes where they can they can sort of run in and so the Jews in Jerusalem are accomplishing their task. Now this new plan to attack Jerusalem is unveiled with perfect timing to be as practical as I can hear what a wonderful time for the enemy to turn up the heat than when people are halfway finished the halfway point of any project is perhaps the most difficult point to push through. Whether you're running the mile and you run half of it and you push past that whether you're halfway through a difficult course or semester. Maybe it's a renovation project in your home and your halfway finished and you can see the goals from the from the mass surround you half way is a difficult hurdle in life. The newness has worn off and you hear yourself saying that somebody will now I know I've gotten into right to difficult part of life in pushing through even though the people pray to God.

In verse nine and they set up a guard of popular songs being chanted in Jerusalem when the verse 10 lesson Judy. It was said, here's this poem chanted the strength of the burden bearers is failing and yet there is much rubbish.

And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall. What a song. But stop a moment and dissect this little are called discouragement. It happens to be one of Satan's most powerful tools in the life of any believer.

I believe more believers head for the sidelines because of discouragement than perhaps any other thing. It would not be surprising to discover that discouragement is often most deeply felt when you are halfway there.

First of all, this poem tells us the people were tired verse 10. The strength of the burden bearers is failing. That is the first half of the job is exhausted them.

In fact, it's the easiest part because they can reach most of it from here on out in scaffolding it's ladders.

It's hard work taking those stones up even higher and higher retired were distracted.

Secondly, the people are saying notice yet there is much rubbish. The key word is the word yet and I was there physically exhausted. They built half the law.

But in spite of all the work they've done. There is all of this literally dry earth debris. But did you notice whether people begun to focus their attention on what was finished, but on all of the rubbish 100 years worth of it. 100 years worth of vines growing all over and around these huge massive rocks, many of them, which have tumbled down into the valley. The first half was built by the stones that were easy to gather. Now the hard work is ahead. And they are distracted. All they can see is the rub. The challenge in the process of raising children, all you can see around you is what has to be done and I was being done in the middle of a project that is demanding and all you can see is that which has to be done. Not that which has been accomplished in building a marriage been in a long enough to know now, that takes mortar and rock chisel to his head.

I mean, a chisel that will help to you discover that the life of being a Christian warrior means there is challenge retired were distracted. It's the hurdle of being halfway. No wonder the song continues in verse 10 to tell us the people felt hopeless notice. And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall. We can do it were physically exhausted. Nehemiah work doesn't let up.

Look around you all of the rubbish, debris on the mounds of earth that have been formed over the years is shifting winds rush through the ruins of Jerusalem were we try we made it halfway that this is all we can do is quit the Dragon whispers to make matters even worse there. Discouragement was mixed with fear. The fourth element is the people were afraid of their future. Verse 11. Our enemy said they will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work in your Jews live around the city of Jerusalem, verse 12, and they told us 10 times that will come up against us from every place you may turn on. This is so encouraging to have your Jewish friends come along 10 times and say every other day. Megan turned this way I know to be there waiting for you to put a knife in your ribs. You turn this wagon off goes dead to be able to finish the job and is nowhere for you to run you think will. Thanks a lot.

People were ready to throw in the towel and run for cover. Verse 14 then comes along.

It's the hinge verse of this chapter. In this event when I saw their fear.

Nehemiah says our rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord. It was great and also see the people were comparing their strengths to the enemy and they were coming to the conclusion the enemy is going to win. Nehemiah compares the enemy to the strength of God and there's no way the enemy can win but just read now and it happened, verse 15 when our enemies heard that it was known to us, that is their surprise attack. They got it frustrated her plan than all of us return the wall. Each one was work that day on half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.

Those who are rebuilding the wall of those who carry burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon can imagine that sword in one hand, a trowel and the other as for the builders each wore his sword girded at his side as he built while the trumpeter stood near me and I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. The work is great and extensive and we are separated on the walls far from one another. They could be as half a mile away at whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet rally to us. There are God will fight for us so we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared at that time.

I also said that the people that each man with his servant spend the night with an Jerusalem so they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day. In other words, her 24 hour work shifts now so neither I my brothers, my servants nor the men of the garden followed me.

None of us removed or close it is none of them had a fresh change of clothing down to the work was finished and each took his weapon, even to the water for timeless principles of the fence number one, they prayed to God to God before you tell anybody else secondly prepared for battle Baxter Road over 100 years ago the petition without precaution is presumption of a challenge in your life. Yes, tell the Lord, but maybe there's something you do for him is all I got all these problems here and now I just leave them with you and check in with you once a week they continued. Third, the process of building. That is, they went back to the wall. They stayed at the task they returned her eyes to God and they were turned their eyes to the goal. One of the strategies of the enemy is to so focus us on the rubbish and the enemies that we forget were in the process of building building building character building lives building ministries and forth, they committed to defending one another, they might sit in verse 20. Basically when you hear the trumpet drop everything and run and come where you hear the trumpet the Lord strength will enable us to fight the enemy. In other words, be prepared to link your shield of faith with those others among you, and their shields of faith. The principal is this now live should fight alone.

Going past halfway will call for several things.

Number one will call for spiritual vision. Remember the Lord. He is great and awesome whenever you are confronted by the challenges of life and the hurdles of being halfway what we tend to forget that the Lord is great and awesome lore of the red Dragon is so dipped into the pond of our lives that we forget that our Lord is great and awesome Martin Luther, the 16th-century reformer was mired in despondency went on for weeks, around the home and in front of his wife. He was so mired down with the challenges of trying to reform the church. If you can imagine that Europe facing battles and fighting wars. None of us would know anything of what he was so despondent that after several weeks, an event occurred, his wife walked into a study wearing all black and he said, who died, she said God did became about as cherry-red as a God did not die, she said, then lived like it. Remember, the Lord is great and awesome. Are you discouraged remember the one is so agonized in prayer that he sweat great drops of blood is its capillaries under his skin burst.

So in agony. Was he.

Are you treated poorly or even rejected by some remember the one who was despised and rejected, and no one is steam them. Nobody considered important. In fact, they ultimately rejected him and crucified him. Are you suffering with some sorrow. Remember the one who would where the nickname man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Remember the Lord. He is great and awesome when I first read that I had it so you thought is that all the Abydos I can motivate anybody that's it is always featured in a given area and expect people to go back and risk their lives. That was it. Why is this all you need. Remember, the Lord is great and awesome going past halfway hurdles. My friends also require stubborn faith like my friend Charlie and his wife who clung to their shields of faith and serve the Lord faithfully clinging stubbornly to the reality of God's person to the truthfulness of God's promises in the security of his prominent thirdly going past halfway will demand unselfish assistance. The people began to serve one another even more diligently. Verse 21. They worked until the stars came verse 23 they went without changing clothes they were willing to rally together and fight for each other. They didn't look to themselves.

They looked to the task at hand and to others. Nehemiah and the people were thus rescued from the lawyer of the red Dragon. The lore of discouraged and they continue to build the wall of Jerusalem. I want you to know that everyone in this auditorium is in the process of building walls. Solomon here are building walls between themselves and others.

All thick walls, others, and I think most others tend to build walls around themselves, creating their own private towers, we build little shopping malls in there to keep us distracted and we bring all our toys and their and our staffs and we hook a satellite dish up to the wall of the tower and get everything we need to ever have to think about anybody else but us but me myself and I unprotected from the enemy in the here my friend, you have become the CS Lewis wrote some powerful words. Let me read them to you if you want to make sure of keeping your heart intact. You must give your heart to no one rapid carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries. Avoid all entanglements lock it up safe in the coffin of your selfishness.

But in that casket safe dark, motionless, it will change.

It will not be broken will become the enemy knows that all too well a basis hook with discouragement and waits to see if some believer will take it and abandoned the wall with their own little if we could rewrite the timeless truth is learned in the MI chapter 4 that help us hurtle the halfway.

It would simply be these number one, we focus on what's important what you know trying to build trying to accomplish by the grace of God, we focus on that. Second of all, remember, upon whom you rely then upon refocusing and remembering report for duty thankful for the practical lessons and encouragement. God's word today. You're listening to wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi. Today's lesson from our series through Nehemiah is called halfway were always glad to get a note from a listener. Cynthia from North Carolina said my husband and I listen faithfully every morning. We've been blessed so much and appreciate your faithfulness to the Scriptures. Larry and Celia from Georgia said were inspired, challenged and encouraged every single day.

Thank you for staying true to what the word says will thank you for that.

That is our commitment to you to teach and apply God's word accurately and faithfully.

Tomorrow is one of our question-and-answer broadcast so tune in for that here on wisdom for the heart