STAY ON THE WALL

Neh. 6:1-4

 

Nehemiah 6:1-6  Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)  2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.  3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?  4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.  5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;  6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. {Gashmu: also called, Geshem}

 

Intro:  Ill. In the book of Nehemiah we learn that God has given the people a task. This task is to rebuild Jerusalem, our text speaks of the walls surrounding the city. While the work is going on there are many attempts by his enemies to stop him from doing the Lord’s work. Nehemiah’s dedication and service stand as testimony of what Christian commitment is about. Satan, and his crowd, are always going to try to get Gods people to quit and abandon their cause and task, but if we do, understand there are certain things that we can expect to lose. There are some great and wonderful things that have to be abandoned if we leave the task God has called us to complete. I would like to preach for a while on this thought: Staying On The Wall. If we don’t here is what we abandon.

 

  I.  v. 3b                                  (we abandon) THE WORK

 

    A.  Ill. Nehemiah’s call and commission was to a “great” work. (Ill. Every work that is for the Lord is a great work)! Do we consider Gods work as a privilege or an obligation? Psalm 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

    B.  Satan will try every trick in his book to get you to quit, but if you just stay on the wall - James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.; 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. If these things were not possible God would not have given them to us in the Bible, would HE?

 

 

    C.  Ill. God’s plan and his work are just too great for us to abandon them for the devil’s foolishness! Its so important the job lasts 24 hours per day! (Ill. It is hard to quit - John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. - Ill. The Apostles! If one quits it starts a vicious cycle, others immediately begin to follow. When Peter quit the other apostles followed. Don’t say you wont, cause you may already have!

 

 II.  v.3a                                   (we abandon) THE WAY

 

    A.  Ill. It seems to have been Nehemiah’s manner of life to give himself 100% to his work. To come down would have been to step down. He would have had

to turn his back on the right way. Are we willing to give God the leftovers of our life? Stepping down is doing exactly that, giving leftovers to God, things leftover from work, personal life, pleasure, desires, wants, then at some point comes God.

 

    B.   Stepping down from the Lord’s work, tells the world and the church we are turning away from the path of righteousness and godliness. God’s call is for us to walk straight - Pro. 4:23-27. Ill. Our duty before the Lord is to faithfully carry out His commands and do His work efficiently, joyfully and faithfully.

 

    C.  To step down is to compromise, (Ill. Israel and the golden calf!). We must ever hold to that which is right, even if we are standing alone when the dust settles!

 

III.  v. 3b                                   (we abandon) THE WITNESS

 

    A. Ill. Nehemiah held a place of great authority and respect among the people. If he had come down, the work would have stopped and may have never been

finished. All Jerusalem was watching his lead. In Jerusalem, Nehemiah was

the leader, the people watched him and emulated what they saw their leader. 

His witness would have been ruined! The people would have been convinced

that there really was a greater work that the Lord’s work!

 

    B.  We need to realize that we are being watched by a growing body of younger, impressionable believers. If you step down from the Lord’s work, they may stumble - Matt. 18:6. God help us to walk straight before the little ones!

 

    C.  The people outside Jerusalem (the world) were looking also! One false move and Nehemiah’s credibility would have been destroyed. 1 Thessalonians 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 

    D.  What can we do? Stay on the wall for Jesus and keep on living for Him  John 6:63-69  63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.  67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

IV.                                               (we abandon) THE WAYWARD

 

    A.  Ill. Jerusalem was known by all, Jew and heathen alike, as the place where

God was worshipped. Nehemiah loved God and wanted to rebuild the fallen

city so that God could be worshipped and the lost could be converted unto

Him. To have come down off the wall would have been equal to forgetting the

eternal danger the sinner is in.

 

    B.  Anytime God is worshipped and proclaimed in truth and sincerity, souls will

be saved. If we come down from our high calling in Him, we have abandoned

the lost and given them up to Hell.

 

    C.  You and I are the only light some people will ever see. Therefore, we must not be dimmed by the world, but we must shine brightly. We are the only Bible many will ever read. Therefore, we must be clear and pure! 1 Corinthians 14:7-8  7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? {sounds: or, tunes}  8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

 

Conc:  Our duty should be clear. We should refuse to listen to the calls and challenges of the devil, stay in the battle for Jesus and don’t come down for any reason! If we settle for anything other than the prefect center of Gods’ will we are in the wrong place. Dont kid yourself, I didnt say you and I could be perfect in God’s will, I said the perfect center of God’s will. God knows where He wants you and I, we should seek that place and settle for nothing less than that. His will is for you and I as an individual and as a body of believers, if we expect to influence our community for Jesus we must be in Gods will in each and every way. This church cannot be about me and mine it must be about Him and His. (Ill. If Nehemiah had come down, he would have been in danger – I have news for you if you come down, You will be too!) Stay on the wall; finish the task and God will ultimately bless your life and effort.