1 00:00:01,350 --> 00:00:01,351 Dr. Gregg Marutzky: 2 00:00:01,351 --> 00:00:02,700 Good morning, church. 3 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:03,880 Good morning. 4 00:00:04,410 --> 00:00:04,500 Good. 5 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,080 We have a great crowd this morning. 6 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,480 It is wonderful to see all of you. 7 00:00:10,590 --> 00:00:14,790 I, uh, gonna put a little commercial out here to start with. 8 00:00:14,790 --> 00:00:19,830 I don't usually do this, but, uh, I saw a movie that, uh, helped my 9 00:00:19,830 --> 00:00:22,320 heart really want you, uh, men. 10 00:00:22,619 --> 00:00:27,030 Especially older men like me to have a soft heart, loving heart, 11 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,450 full of love, full of encouragement. 12 00:00:30,750 --> 00:00:35,820 And so, uh, I went to, uh, uh, I can only imagine two this week. 13 00:00:36,150 --> 00:00:36,750 Yeah. 14 00:00:37,379 --> 00:00:39,660 And I guess somebody else did. 15 00:00:39,930 --> 00:00:40,709 All right. 16 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,099 But, uh, it's about a song, even if, and it ties into the sermon this morning 17 00:00:47,099 --> 00:00:50,910 because it talks about even if God. 18 00:00:51,269 --> 00:00:52,680 Doesn't show up. 19 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:55,560 He says, God can fix everything. 20 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:01,680 All you gotta do is say the word, but even if you don't, I'm still gonna trust you. 21 00:01:01,739 --> 00:01:03,420 I'm gonna still gonna serve you. 22 00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:09,900 And that's what we're gonna see here in Nehemiah chapter four, because this is one 23 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:11,910 of the great chapters of this whole book. 24 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:19,230 It's really a great chapter because it talks about how, uh, first it begins with. 25 00:01:19,664 --> 00:01:24,225 Uh, demeaning, demoralizing, and discouraging words. 26 00:01:24,225 --> 00:01:25,635 Isn't that a great way to start? 27 00:01:25,755 --> 00:01:26,985 Oh, yeah. 28 00:01:27,435 --> 00:01:29,325 But we've all experienced it, haven't we? 29 00:01:30,135 --> 00:01:32,745 We've had some of our dreams dashed. 30 00:01:32,745 --> 00:01:37,365 We have had some of our, our, our desires and some of the things we've hoped 31 00:01:37,365 --> 00:01:41,325 for, uh, distracted and, and diverted. 32 00:01:42,015 --> 00:01:48,585 And the prosecutors of God's people really wanted to stop the building 33 00:01:48,585 --> 00:01:54,104 of the wall, and Satan really wants to stop the building of the church. 34 00:01:54,225 --> 00:01:54,405 Yep. 35 00:01:54,675 --> 00:01:59,535 He's always scheming, he'll, always trying to find some way to stop the 36 00:01:59,565 --> 00:02:04,785 church from growing, stop the church from having great influence in society. 37 00:02:04,995 --> 00:02:10,365 Stop Christians from becoming all that they can be, becoming like Jesus. 38 00:02:10,455 --> 00:02:10,750 And so. 39 00:02:11,490 --> 00:02:16,350 First he uses these kinds of words, and he used it from the mouth of 40 00:02:16,350 --> 00:02:22,859 sand ballot and tobiah and ham and some others to persecute the Jews. 41 00:02:23,250 --> 00:02:28,140 And fortunately, the, the, the brothers and sisters didn't listen. 42 00:02:28,980 --> 00:02:29,880 They didn't listen. 43 00:02:30,225 --> 00:02:35,025 Yeah, they had purpose, they had mission, they had faith, and they, they just 44 00:02:35,204 --> 00:02:38,745 refused to be discouraged and beaten down. 45 00:02:38,954 --> 00:02:41,625 And so they built up the wall to half its height. 46 00:02:41,895 --> 00:02:44,865 You know, the wall was nine feet thick. 47 00:02:45,885 --> 00:02:46,425 Wow. 48 00:02:46,425 --> 00:02:47,685 That's what I say. 49 00:02:48,105 --> 00:02:49,545 Having been a civil engineer. 50 00:02:49,605 --> 00:02:51,465 Nine feet, that's a lot. 51 00:02:51,465 --> 00:02:52,725 That's a lot of wall. 52 00:02:53,085 --> 00:02:53,985 All right. 53 00:02:53,985 --> 00:02:54,195 Long drag. 54 00:02:54,405 --> 00:02:57,704 And they built it up to half its height. 55 00:02:58,079 --> 00:03:00,540 So then what does the enemy do? 56 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:02,970 Then? 57 00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:04,950 He gets very personal. 58 00:03:04,950 --> 00:03:13,050 First it's personal, but then he starts to threaten with danger and death and 59 00:03:13,050 --> 00:03:19,020 defeat and starts these rumors that we're gonna come and we're gonna attack, 60 00:03:19,020 --> 00:03:22,710 and you're not gonna be expecting it, and you're gonna get defeated and 61 00:03:22,710 --> 00:03:24,420 you're gonna, some of you're gonna die. 62 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:27,540 Yeah, it's dramatic. 63 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:28,890 It's dramatic. 64 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,320 And so what does Nehemiah do as the leader? 65 00:03:35,940 --> 00:03:39,540 He encourages the people, gives them a new plan. 66 00:03:40,049 --> 00:03:41,339 You know what his plan was? 67 00:03:42,359 --> 00:03:43,560 I'm gonna give you a sword. 68 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,350 Gonna give you a sword. 69 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,350 So you can work with one hand with a trow. 70 00:03:49,890 --> 00:03:52,859 And the other hand, if you gotta grab your sword, you grab the sword. 71 00:03:52,859 --> 00:03:53,970 I'm gonna give you a helper. 72 00:03:54,390 --> 00:03:55,530 We're gonna team up. 73 00:03:55,530 --> 00:03:56,700 We're gonna pair up. 74 00:03:56,790 --> 00:03:59,880 So you're gonna have somebody that covers your back and we're 75 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:02,160 gonna blow the trumpet, whatever. 76 00:04:02,670 --> 00:04:05,550 We hear the enemy coming and we're all gonna meet in a 77 00:04:05,550 --> 00:04:07,590 certain place and attack 'em. 78 00:04:07,620 --> 00:04:11,100 'cause they'll attack where the wall is lowest, where we haven't 79 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:14,460 built it up as much where they think they can get through. 80 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,810 And then we'll all gather and we'll, we'll defeat 'em together, United. 81 00:04:21,930 --> 00:04:26,010 But there was a time in this story, and we're gonna see it as we parse 82 00:04:26,010 --> 00:04:32,010 it out, that the people listened to these threats, especially about 83 00:04:32,010 --> 00:04:34,770 death, and they got discouraged. 84 00:04:35,250 --> 00:04:36,630 And you know what happens? 85 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:41,730 The telephone game, you hear something, you share it with someone else, 86 00:04:41,730 --> 00:04:44,280 they share it with someone else, they share it with someone else. 87 00:04:44,430 --> 00:04:48,210 And by the time it gets to the end of the line, it's exaggerated. 88 00:04:48,990 --> 00:04:49,200 Yeah. 89 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,250 And so the brothers and sisters were sharing all this discouraging stuff, 90 00:04:53,250 --> 00:04:55,919 how they're gonna attack us and they're gonna surprise us and here they're 91 00:04:55,919 --> 00:04:57,810 gonna come this way and that way. 92 00:04:58,020 --> 00:05:01,560 And eventually it got 'em so paranoid. 93 00:05:01,650 --> 00:05:04,109 'cause these superstitious people come on. 94 00:05:05,070 --> 00:05:08,609 I mean, you could read, you've read the Bible and some of these wars, 95 00:05:08,820 --> 00:05:11,039 God people didn't even need to fight. 96 00:05:11,070 --> 00:05:15,750 He just started a rumor and they started killing each other. 97 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:16,979 Yeah. 98 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:24,480 So God's people were even a little bit superstitious and emotional at 99 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:32,040 times, but Nehemiah had a plan and the people followed through and we 100 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,020 don't finish building the wall today. 101 00:05:34,530 --> 00:05:37,290 In fact, we get more persecution in the next chapter. 102 00:05:37,290 --> 00:05:38,370 It's gonna be great. 103 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:41,130 I'm just, I'm just wetting your appetite. 104 00:05:41,130 --> 00:05:45,300 But today is some really good, practical, helpful. 105 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:52,860 Spiritual principles and spiritual truths for us to keep building up God's church. 106 00:05:52,860 --> 00:05:53,430 Amen. 107 00:05:53,555 --> 00:05:53,845 Amen. 108 00:05:54,090 --> 00:05:57,930 And so let's dive into it here this morning, but first, let's 109 00:05:57,930 --> 00:05:59,790 renew our confession of faith. 110 00:05:59,790 --> 00:06:00,420 All right? 111 00:06:00,690 --> 00:06:01,560 Say it with me. 112 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,820 The first line, Jesus is the son of God. 113 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,240 And the next line, Jesus is Lord. 114 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,860 That's our confession of faith. 115 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:13,530 I'm putting it before you 'cause I don't want us. 116 00:06:14,055 --> 00:06:14,865 To forget it. 117 00:06:14,865 --> 00:06:18,195 I want us to always know why we're building up God's 118 00:06:18,195 --> 00:06:19,815 kingdom and God's church. 119 00:06:20,175 --> 00:06:22,395 And it's because Jesus is divine. 120 00:06:22,395 --> 00:06:29,205 He's the son of God, he's our savior, he's our messiah, and he is Lord of our lives. 121 00:06:29,565 --> 00:06:30,105 Amen. 122 00:06:30,315 --> 00:06:30,885 Amen. 123 00:06:31,275 --> 00:06:35,565 And I'll put this up for a second so you, you can get a little bit of history. 124 00:06:35,775 --> 00:06:38,955 I read one of the brother's books from, uh, the Philippines. 125 00:06:38,955 --> 00:06:40,095 He wrote a great book. 126 00:06:40,470 --> 00:06:45,750 That applied to our series, it's titled Persia and the Bible. 127 00:06:45,870 --> 00:06:50,970 So he tells us the intersection of all these Persian kings and Nehemiah and 128 00:06:50,970 --> 00:06:55,670 Ezra and Mal, uh, Haggai and Zacharia. 129 00:06:55,950 --> 00:07:00,960 But first it was, uh, Cyrus's decree, you know, and then Darius 130 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,540 was on the throne and then Xerxes. 131 00:07:03,540 --> 00:07:08,075 And then, uh, we pick it up in Nehemiah with Art of Xerxes Xerxes son. 132 00:07:09,179 --> 00:07:15,359 Uh, that's where our story begins, and I, and I took this next table out of, uh oh. 133 00:07:15,359 --> 00:07:16,409 It didn't come through there. 134 00:07:16,409 --> 00:07:16,890 Sorry. 135 00:07:17,219 --> 00:07:19,140 It looks great on my iPad. 136 00:07:19,349 --> 00:07:20,219 Sorry about that. 137 00:07:20,909 --> 00:07:21,750 All right. 138 00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:26,400 But it, a little more of the history, the, the re, the reconstruction of the 139 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:31,229 temple under re ball, the reconstruction, the restoration of the people under Ezra, 140 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,179 and then the rebuilding of the wall. 141 00:07:33,450 --> 00:07:34,950 4, 4, 4. 142 00:07:35,474 --> 00:07:37,905 That's where our story starts. 143 00:07:37,905 --> 00:07:39,495 So let's dive in. 144 00:07:39,765 --> 00:07:41,685 You've heard this saying, haven't you? 145 00:07:42,344 --> 00:07:42,465 Oh, yeah. 146 00:07:42,525 --> 00:07:48,195 Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me. 147 00:07:49,935 --> 00:07:56,414 But then some psychologists named Charles Glassman said, unless you believe 148 00:07:56,414 --> 00:07:59,534 them and then they can destroy you. 149 00:07:59,534 --> 00:07:59,625 Yes. 150 00:08:01,065 --> 00:08:04,275 At first God's people didn't believe the word. 151 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:10,890 But halfway through this chapter, they started believing the words and it 152 00:08:10,890 --> 00:08:14,250 started to cause drama and discouragement. 153 00:08:14,940 --> 00:08:15,510 So let's dive in. 154 00:08:16,710 --> 00:08:18,810 First, the enemies will always threaten you. 155 00:08:19,049 --> 00:08:20,280 They'll always threaten you. 156 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,419 Satan is threat threatening us with tapes that play in our heads. 157 00:08:24,870 --> 00:08:29,430 That's what mental health says, that we have these scripts from childhood 158 00:08:29,430 --> 00:08:34,350 and we have these scripts from, from even before we're born, the Prime. 159 00:08:35,698 --> 00:08:38,970 Before we're even born pre-birth, we have some thought. 160 00:08:39,568 --> 00:08:41,010 That are planted in our heads. 161 00:08:41,010 --> 00:08:44,550 We have some genetics, some ways that we're wired that give 162 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:48,329 us certain tendencies, but the enemy always threaten threatens. 163 00:08:48,329 --> 00:08:51,720 It says, when sandal heard that we were rebuilding the wall, 164 00:08:51,810 --> 00:08:58,319 he became angry and was greatly incensed, and he ridiculed the Jews. 165 00:08:58,650 --> 00:09:04,890 Halfway through this chapter, it says that the enemies of God became very angry. 166 00:09:05,699 --> 00:09:07,050 So here they're just angry. 167 00:09:07,845 --> 00:09:13,095 But then they get even more angry as God's work progresses and they 168 00:09:13,095 --> 00:09:17,025 start out with this demeaning and demoralizing and discouraging. 169 00:09:17,685 --> 00:09:22,125 And let me, let me tell you, at this time, Jerusalem wasn't that big. 170 00:09:22,125 --> 00:09:25,455 This is about a mile and a half around, all right? 171 00:09:26,470 --> 00:09:29,655 But it became fortified with a nine foot wall. 172 00:09:29,745 --> 00:09:30,090 It really. 173 00:09:30,854 --> 00:09:35,895 Was impregnable, they thought at one time, then the Assyrians destroyed it. 174 00:09:35,954 --> 00:09:40,844 And so they're trying to rebuild it so it will never be destroyed again. 175 00:09:41,295 --> 00:09:43,905 And then the enemies label us. 176 00:09:44,775 --> 00:09:49,484 They get, they persecute us in, uh, counseling and therapy and psychology. 177 00:09:49,905 --> 00:09:53,594 Uh, there's, uh, the diagnostic statistical manual. 178 00:09:53,954 --> 00:09:58,935 It tells us how to diagnose people, and there's even a wave in psychology 179 00:09:58,935 --> 00:10:04,665 today to not diagnose people because that label can even make things worse. 180 00:10:04,665 --> 00:10:06,675 So we've gotta be careful with labels. 181 00:10:07,095 --> 00:10:12,045 But it says in verse two, and in the presence of his associates, the, and 182 00:10:12,045 --> 00:10:14,714 the army of Samaria, so he's boasting. 183 00:10:14,714 --> 00:10:20,564 This is the, the, the, the general of the, uh, Samaritan Army sand ballot. 184 00:10:20,970 --> 00:10:23,610 What are these feeble Jews doing? 185 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,710 Meaning weak Jews? 186 00:10:25,890 --> 00:10:27,420 Will they restore the wall? 187 00:10:27,420 --> 00:10:29,010 Will they offer sacrifices? 188 00:10:29,010 --> 00:10:30,840 Will they finish in a day? 189 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,220 Can they bring these stones back to life from those heaps 190 00:10:35,220 --> 00:10:38,610 of rubble burned as they are? 191 00:10:38,910 --> 00:10:41,430 And so listen to what they're saying. 192 00:10:41,700 --> 00:10:44,310 And sometimes words sink in, don't they? 193 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,240 They sink in and sometimes it's hard to get 'em out. 194 00:10:48,870 --> 00:10:48,930 Yeah. 195 00:10:49,530 --> 00:10:49,735 You know. 196 00:10:50,610 --> 00:10:56,100 Not to ruin the movie for you, but some of the things, one sentence that his dad said 197 00:10:56,100 --> 00:11:05,670 in the original movie that dreams don't come true, stuck in his son's head, and 198 00:11:05,670 --> 00:11:09,930 then it's played out a little bit in the second movie, but I won't ruin it for you. 199 00:11:09,930 --> 00:11:10,410 All right. 200 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:16,470 It's a great movie, especially for us older guys, weak first, 201 00:11:16,470 --> 00:11:17,880 they're called weak workers. 202 00:11:18,735 --> 00:11:21,945 What are these feeble Jews doing and a weak plan? 203 00:11:22,335 --> 00:11:23,565 Will they restore this? 204 00:11:23,565 --> 00:11:24,705 Well, there's no way. 205 00:11:24,885 --> 00:11:26,775 Not with the materials they have. 206 00:11:26,865 --> 00:11:27,855 They have a weak God. 207 00:11:27,855 --> 00:11:29,385 Will they offer a sacrifice? 208 00:11:29,385 --> 00:11:30,495 Weak leadership. 209 00:11:30,915 --> 00:11:34,185 Telling them they're gonna finish in no time, even in a day. 210 00:11:34,485 --> 00:11:37,515 Weak materials, can they bring these stones back to life. 211 00:11:37,515 --> 00:11:38,324 They've been burned. 212 00:11:38,324 --> 00:11:43,395 They're not strong anymore, and then weak workmanship, what they're 213 00:11:43,395 --> 00:11:49,395 building, even a fox could climb up on and it will fall over. 214 00:11:49,814 --> 00:11:53,865 I don't know what negative tapes you have in your mind about your own 215 00:11:53,865 --> 00:11:56,685 life, but I imagine you have some. 216 00:11:57,015 --> 00:11:57,074 Yeah. 217 00:11:58,035 --> 00:12:02,265 I don't know what negative tapes you have about the church, but 218 00:12:02,265 --> 00:12:03,824 let's erase the negative ones. 219 00:12:03,855 --> 00:12:04,155 All right. 220 00:12:04,155 --> 00:12:04,425 Come on, Greg. 221 00:12:05,205 --> 00:12:06,314 Let's put 'em behind us. 222 00:12:06,314 --> 00:12:07,485 Let's throw 'em off. 223 00:12:07,485 --> 00:12:13,845 Let's not let 'em burden us, and let's replace them with positive tapes. 224 00:12:13,845 --> 00:12:14,535 Amen. 225 00:12:14,895 --> 00:12:16,185 Because we're not weak. 226 00:12:16,215 --> 00:12:21,615 We're not these things, but the opposition came from north, south, east, and west. 227 00:12:21,615 --> 00:12:25,064 Sometimes you feel like it's coming at you from every direction, don't you? 228 00:12:25,110 --> 00:12:25,170 Yeah. 229 00:12:26,460 --> 00:12:30,180 I mean, don't you feel like life is hard sometimes? 230 00:12:31,170 --> 00:12:34,620 I don't know what's in all of us, but I think within all of us, 231 00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:37,290 we're like, life should be easier. 232 00:12:40,170 --> 00:12:41,940 Why is it gotta be so hard? 233 00:12:43,020 --> 00:12:47,220 When I was a kid, there was a song that came out named Charlie Brown. 234 00:12:47,460 --> 00:12:48,990 Oh, Charlie Brown. 235 00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:50,130 Charlie Brown. 236 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,150 And one of the lines in the song says, Charlie says. 237 00:12:54,750 --> 00:12:57,000 Why is everybody always picking on me? 238 00:12:58,260 --> 00:13:00,240 It was just Lucy that was picking on me. 239 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:08,550 But sometimes we feel like everything's against this sand ballot in the, in the 240 00:13:08,550 --> 00:13:15,060 north, Gresham, in the south, Dubai in the east, and the ash do, uh, people 241 00:13:15,060 --> 00:13:21,015 from ash, dod in the, the east, the west, they mock verse three, Tobiah the amite. 242 00:13:21,675 --> 00:13:24,525 Who was at his side said, what are they building? 243 00:13:24,555 --> 00:13:28,005 Even a fox climbing on it would break it down. 244 00:13:28,214 --> 00:13:30,285 All right, no, that's not true. 245 00:13:30,285 --> 00:13:31,814 'cause it was nine feet thick. 246 00:13:32,564 --> 00:13:35,685 Verse four, it ridiculed some more. 247 00:13:35,834 --> 00:13:36,375 Hear us. 248 00:13:36,375 --> 00:13:44,204 So God, for we are despised, turn their insults back on their own heads. 249 00:13:44,324 --> 00:13:49,155 Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 250 00:13:49,334 --> 00:13:51,255 This is reminiscent of the Psalms. 251 00:13:51,945 --> 00:13:56,055 David always said, God, turn it back on my enemies. 252 00:13:56,595 --> 00:13:58,665 You deal with my enemies, God. 253 00:13:59,415 --> 00:14:04,575 And that's what this is a prayer, just like the psalmist prayed. 254 00:14:04,845 --> 00:14:06,195 Help us God. 255 00:14:06,555 --> 00:14:11,655 Prayer is the response to opposition when you're building spiritually. 256 00:14:13,095 --> 00:14:18,314 When I get discouraged, when I get demoralized, when I get depressed, I pray. 257 00:14:18,890 --> 00:14:19,180 Amen. 258 00:14:20,140 --> 00:14:20,580 I get away. 259 00:14:22,064 --> 00:14:26,865 And I pray, I try to plug myself into the Almighty God. 260 00:14:27,765 --> 00:14:30,375 And you know what's great about here in Orange County, you can go 261 00:14:30,375 --> 00:14:35,775 to the ocean and there's something about the power of the waves just 262 00:14:35,775 --> 00:14:37,935 coming in, starts giving you power. 263 00:14:38,895 --> 00:14:43,245 The more they smash against the the shore, I just, I feel myself 264 00:14:43,245 --> 00:14:48,735 getting stronger because that power gets translated to me, that energy. 265 00:14:49,829 --> 00:14:52,140 The might of God prayer. 266 00:14:52,170 --> 00:14:54,630 It needs to be our response. 267 00:14:54,630 --> 00:14:56,579 It needs to be my response. 268 00:14:56,579 --> 00:14:58,680 Look at Proverbs 16 verse three. 269 00:14:58,949 --> 00:15:05,400 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 270 00:15:05,459 --> 00:15:06,000 Plans. 271 00:15:06,030 --> 00:15:07,140 OC Church. 272 00:15:08,310 --> 00:15:09,870 Proverbs 1426. 273 00:15:10,079 --> 00:15:16,770 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress and for their children. 274 00:15:17,745 --> 00:15:19,455 One of my child's here. 275 00:15:20,535 --> 00:15:22,785 It will be a refuge. 276 00:15:23,775 --> 00:15:29,265 I want this, this, uh, church to be a refuge for me, for you, 277 00:15:29,745 --> 00:15:32,565 for my kids, for my grandkids. 278 00:15:32,745 --> 00:15:36,945 Kathy and I were putting together the little chairs for our 279 00:15:36,945 --> 00:15:38,595 little four year old's room. 280 00:15:38,865 --> 00:15:40,845 You know, she's sitting on it today. 281 00:15:41,250 --> 00:15:43,949 I made sure I, I double checked. 282 00:15:43,949 --> 00:15:45,510 I didn't miss any screws. 283 00:15:45,510 --> 00:15:49,170 There were more screws in those chairs than I've ever imagined. 284 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:55,020 I mean, our wrists, both of us were so sore last night, you know, 285 00:15:55,290 --> 00:15:59,280 from turning the screwdriver, and I gave Kathy the good screwdriver. 286 00:15:59,550 --> 00:16:00,120 All right. 287 00:16:00,540 --> 00:16:05,215 I took the other one, and that's what US men should do, but. 288 00:16:05,825 --> 00:16:09,930 There are so many screws, but I, I'm feeling good today that my little 289 00:16:09,930 --> 00:16:15,720 granddaughter's probably sitting on my chair or Mimi's chair, all right. 290 00:16:16,380 --> 00:16:19,530 And I hope she comes out of there and says, daddy, we got, 291 00:16:19,530 --> 00:16:21,750 I mean, papa, we got new chairs. 292 00:16:23,250 --> 00:16:24,720 They fit me perfectly. 293 00:16:27,150 --> 00:16:27,780 I hope so. 294 00:16:28,050 --> 00:16:32,370 I put 'em on a different level than Kathy put 'em on, so I didn't 295 00:16:32,370 --> 00:16:34,260 follow her directions very well. 296 00:16:35,235 --> 00:16:38,325 Verse five, believers pray. 297 00:16:38,325 --> 00:16:43,005 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight. 298 00:16:43,245 --> 00:16:47,445 For they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. 299 00:16:47,505 --> 00:16:51,645 When they were insulting God's people, they were insulting God 300 00:16:52,395 --> 00:16:55,245 again, the picture of what they built. 301 00:16:55,335 --> 00:16:56,055 I love it. 302 00:16:56,355 --> 00:16:59,085 Psalms 1 0 9 verses one through five. 303 00:16:59,355 --> 00:17:00,495 Here's David. 304 00:17:00,765 --> 00:17:01,395 David. 305 00:17:01,980 --> 00:17:06,089 Telling us how to pray, showing us how to pray, my God, whom I 306 00:17:06,089 --> 00:17:08,490 praise, do not remain silent. 307 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,710 For people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me. 308 00:17:13,980 --> 00:17:17,730 They have spoken against me with lying tongues, with words of hatred. 309 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:18,690 They surround me. 310 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,848 They attack me without cause. 311 00:17:21,060 --> 00:17:25,858 In return from my friendship, they accuse me, but I'm a man of prayer. 312 00:17:25,890 --> 00:17:29,490 They repay me evil for good and hatred. 313 00:17:29,775 --> 00:17:31,095 For my friendship. 314 00:17:31,215 --> 00:17:33,255 And you know, sometimes we felt that way. 315 00:17:33,255 --> 00:17:36,615 We've had friends betray us, we've had hard times. 316 00:17:36,795 --> 00:17:39,915 But then that just draws you closer to Jesus, doesn't it? 317 00:17:40,425 --> 00:17:40,515 Yes. 318 00:17:41,055 --> 00:17:45,105 Because he's the one that understands and feels everything we feel. 319 00:17:45,165 --> 00:17:46,455 I love the book of Hebrews. 320 00:17:46,455 --> 00:17:48,765 We'll go through a Hebrew series at some point. 321 00:17:49,155 --> 00:17:53,475 The perfect high priest, the perfect brother, the perfect savior. 322 00:17:53,895 --> 00:17:57,015 And then what do the believers do initially? 323 00:17:57,405 --> 00:17:58,995 They fortify their faith. 324 00:17:59,445 --> 00:18:04,395 But when sand ballot, Tobi, the Arabs and Ammonites and the people of Aashto 325 00:18:04,395 --> 00:18:10,455 heard that the repairs of Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps 326 00:18:10,455 --> 00:18:14,985 were being closed, they were very angry. 327 00:18:15,765 --> 00:18:16,545 Good for them. 328 00:18:17,325 --> 00:18:18,555 Let's make Satan angry. 329 00:18:18,555 --> 00:18:19,035 You want to? 330 00:18:19,690 --> 00:18:19,980 Yeah. 331 00:18:21,525 --> 00:18:23,055 You know, we need to hate Satan. 332 00:18:23,865 --> 00:18:24,700 We need to hate sin. 333 00:18:25,335 --> 00:18:25,920 Yeah, we do. 334 00:18:25,965 --> 00:18:28,275 We definitely need to love each other. 335 00:18:28,275 --> 00:18:28,425 Amen. 336 00:18:29,025 --> 00:18:29,535 Amen. 337 00:18:30,765 --> 00:18:35,535 And the Bible says Jesus's ethic was to even love our enemies. 338 00:18:36,255 --> 00:18:43,125 So even some of these prayers, I pray a little timidly about my enemies, David. 339 00:18:43,125 --> 00:18:43,905 He was bold. 340 00:18:43,905 --> 00:18:45,735 He prayed, curses down. 341 00:18:45,915 --> 00:18:50,655 There's one psalm that has, I counted them, 14 curses of his enemies. 342 00:18:51,465 --> 00:18:54,675 I can't pray that because I don't want 'em coming on me. 343 00:18:55,980 --> 00:18:57,450 What goes around comes around. 344 00:18:57,450 --> 00:19:00,000 And so I have a hard time praying that one. 345 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:01,440 I won't be preaching that one. 346 00:19:01,470 --> 00:19:02,130 All right. 347 00:19:02,370 --> 00:19:03,840 You can if you want to. 348 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,980 David did, but I'm going to, I'm just trying to love my enemies. 349 00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:08,430 Amen. 350 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:11,970 But I am not gonna let 'em discourage us. 351 00:19:12,630 --> 00:19:19,620 Persecution comes in many forms, from anger to plots, to threats 352 00:19:19,620 --> 00:19:22,260 to anything Satan can think of. 353 00:19:22,260 --> 00:19:24,420 Here's the next plot, verse eight. 354 00:19:24,794 --> 00:19:28,334 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem 355 00:19:28,334 --> 00:19:30,885 and stir up trouble against it. 356 00:19:31,155 --> 00:19:31,845 All right? 357 00:19:32,205 --> 00:19:36,524 So Satan is always trying to attack, but the believers guarded 358 00:19:36,524 --> 00:19:38,324 themselves and girded themselves. 359 00:19:38,504 --> 00:19:45,165 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet their threat. 360 00:19:45,584 --> 00:19:47,895 So the workers became warriors. 361 00:19:48,885 --> 00:19:50,070 Sometimes that's what you gotta do. 362 00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:53,400 Sometimes you feel like, Hey, I'm working. 363 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,310 I'm God, why are you putting more on my plate? 364 00:19:57,660 --> 00:20:01,320 But sometimes you gotta be both a worker and a warrior. 365 00:20:02,010 --> 00:20:04,560 A worker and a warrior. 366 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:05,880 All right. 367 00:20:06,300 --> 00:20:10,800 And so, oh, my clicker is, I need some help. 368 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,030 It's not working for me. 369 00:20:12,030 --> 00:20:12,450 Here. 370 00:20:13,860 --> 00:20:14,760 There we go. 371 00:20:15,420 --> 00:20:17,490 And now the next one. 372 00:20:18,570 --> 00:20:19,290 All right. 373 00:20:20,985 --> 00:20:25,155 Showing you that again as they're building this wall around, you may 374 00:20:25,155 --> 00:20:29,865 not need it, but you may wished you'd took a pic picture of it last week. 375 00:20:29,865 --> 00:20:31,065 So I give it to you again. 376 00:20:31,185 --> 00:20:31,515 Amen. 377 00:20:32,565 --> 00:20:37,755 So let's keep going, but here's what we need to be careful of. 378 00:20:38,205 --> 00:20:41,955 Meanwhile, the people in Judah, so they're outside of Jerusalem, 379 00:20:42,615 --> 00:20:44,805 they may not be working as much. 380 00:20:45,465 --> 00:20:47,805 The strength of the labors is giving out. 381 00:20:48,209 --> 00:20:52,590 And there is so much rubble, they cannot rebuild the wall. 382 00:20:53,340 --> 00:20:57,149 Great projects are never easy, and there's always gonna be distractors, 383 00:20:57,389 --> 00:21:02,639 and there's always gonna be armchair quarterbacks that are looking on from 384 00:21:02,639 --> 00:21:04,770 a distance and saying it can't be done. 385 00:21:04,770 --> 00:21:05,639 It's too much. 386 00:21:05,820 --> 00:21:07,169 I think they're wearing out. 387 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,629 I don't think they have the strength to do it either. 388 00:21:09,870 --> 00:21:14,010 I don't think they can make a wall out of what's left of that rubble. 389 00:21:15,105 --> 00:21:19,095 There's always gonna be people that distract in verse 11. 390 00:21:19,095 --> 00:21:24,255 Then they fear also our enemies said before they know it or see us, we will 391 00:21:24,255 --> 00:21:31,155 be right there among them and we'll kill them and put an end to their work. 392 00:21:31,305 --> 00:21:35,475 So they're trying to make the brothers and sisters paranoid. 393 00:21:36,465 --> 00:21:41,564 We need to believe the Lord's promises and reject the lies of Satan. 394 00:21:41,715 --> 00:21:42,254 Amen. 395 00:21:43,004 --> 00:21:51,254 Satan and his demons and his minions, but they just kept building this wall and 396 00:21:51,254 --> 00:21:56,324 everybody just building their part of it, and every one of them had a part of it. 397 00:21:56,594 --> 00:21:59,564 Look at verse 12, then the Jews who lived near. 398 00:22:00,585 --> 00:22:06,165 Them came and told us 10 times over, so these are the Jews outside of Jerusalem. 399 00:22:06,735 --> 00:22:09,555 Wherever you turn, they will attack us. 400 00:22:10,065 --> 00:22:14,415 So they're repeating the lies of the enemies. 401 00:22:14,655 --> 00:22:20,355 They're repeating the discouraging, demoralizing, demeaning words. 402 00:22:21,285 --> 00:22:23,775 What are some of Satan's lies to us? 403 00:22:24,525 --> 00:22:25,665 You can make your list. 404 00:22:25,665 --> 00:22:26,865 I made this list. 405 00:22:27,195 --> 00:22:28,545 We all have our lists. 406 00:22:29,355 --> 00:22:30,525 You'll never change. 407 00:22:32,355 --> 00:22:32,655 Why? 408 00:22:32,715 --> 00:22:33,135 Why try? 409 00:22:33,135 --> 00:22:36,735 You need to give up, but what's God's promise? 410 00:22:36,795 --> 00:22:38,205 You can be blameless. 411 00:22:38,895 --> 00:22:39,885 I'm gonna make you blame. 412 00:22:39,885 --> 00:22:41,475 I'm gonna make you like Jesus. 413 00:22:41,775 --> 00:22:44,685 I'm gonna fill you with the Holy Spirit, the power to raise Jesus from the 414 00:22:44,685 --> 00:22:47,325 dead, and you're gonna become awesome. 415 00:22:48,135 --> 00:22:49,275 You lack the power. 416 00:22:49,275 --> 00:22:53,265 No, God's promise is you have resurrection power. 417 00:22:54,405 --> 00:22:55,605 You are too weak. 418 00:22:56,370 --> 00:22:59,310 The Bible says in Philippians, we can do anything through 419 00:22:59,310 --> 00:23:00,990 Christ who gives us strength. 420 00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:06,720 Satan says, you're guilty, and Jesus says, nah, you're forgiven. 421 00:23:07,830 --> 00:23:09,420 Satan says, give up. 422 00:23:09,420 --> 00:23:10,590 It's too hard. 423 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,630 And the Bible says, never give up the good that you're doing. 424 00:23:16,650 --> 00:23:19,895 One Corinthians 15, your work in the Lord is not in vain. 425 00:23:20,745 --> 00:23:21,825 It's not in vain. 426 00:23:22,514 --> 00:23:24,524 You do not need God. 427 00:23:24,705 --> 00:23:26,294 That's what the world tells us. 428 00:23:26,835 --> 00:23:30,495 You don't need a crutch, just use your computer. 429 00:23:32,595 --> 00:23:34,544 Especially now use ai. 430 00:23:35,235 --> 00:23:37,605 You may not be that smart, but AI is, 431 00:23:41,115 --> 00:23:43,514 you know, AI's a good thing. 432 00:23:43,514 --> 00:23:45,075 Computers are good things. 433 00:23:45,645 --> 00:23:49,425 You know, books are good things, you know, language. 434 00:23:50,250 --> 00:23:54,720 Punctuation, all the different inventions, the printing pass over time. 435 00:23:55,020 --> 00:23:57,180 I mean, progress is gonna continue. 436 00:23:57,180 --> 00:23:59,190 We're not gonna fight progress. 437 00:23:59,550 --> 00:24:02,370 But don't lose your humanity. 438 00:24:03,150 --> 00:24:03,270 Amen. 439 00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:04,950 And don't lose. 440 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:06,930 Who programs that? 441 00:24:06,930 --> 00:24:07,560 Ai. 442 00:24:07,740 --> 00:24:08,580 That's us. 443 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:09,090 Amen. 444 00:24:09,090 --> 00:24:09,270 Amen. 445 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:11,160 He goes on. 446 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,740 He says, you will miss out. 447 00:24:15,270 --> 00:24:15,840 What is it? 448 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:17,010 Uh. 449 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:18,450 Fear. 450 00:24:18,510 --> 00:24:19,530 FOM. 451 00:24:20,754 --> 00:24:21,045 Fomo. 452 00:24:21,585 --> 00:24:22,410 Oh, fomo. 453 00:24:22,470 --> 00:24:23,100 That's it. 454 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:24,510 Yeah. 455 00:24:24,510 --> 00:24:25,260 I don't care. 456 00:24:25,260 --> 00:24:27,540 So I don't know what it, what it is. 457 00:24:30,450 --> 00:24:31,980 No, you won't miss out. 458 00:24:31,980 --> 00:24:33,810 You'll avoid the ugly of life. 459 00:24:35,070 --> 00:24:37,440 You'll avoid falling into the pit. 460 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:39,360 You have plenty of time. 461 00:24:39,510 --> 00:24:41,850 No, you'll be missing the blessings. 462 00:24:41,970 --> 00:24:44,220 Why not have the good now and later. 463 00:24:44,220 --> 00:24:44,340 Amen. 464 00:24:44,879 --> 00:24:45,960 It's not worth it. 465 00:24:46,635 --> 00:24:48,284 It's more than you can imagine. 466 00:24:48,375 --> 00:24:48,824 Amen. 467 00:24:49,725 --> 00:24:51,405 You can make your lists. 468 00:24:51,975 --> 00:24:55,185 You know, I need to remind myself of the promises of God. 469 00:24:55,185 --> 00:24:56,415 That's where faith comes from. 470 00:24:57,254 --> 00:25:00,405 That's what Satan tries to destroy your faith, but your faith is 471 00:25:00,405 --> 00:25:02,175 built on the promises of God. 472 00:25:02,475 --> 00:25:05,625 If you're lacking faith, read the promises of God. 473 00:25:06,284 --> 00:25:07,754 Renew your faith. 474 00:25:08,415 --> 00:25:11,205 I've been down before I remember. 475 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:18,629 Halfway through one of my, uh, uh, scholastic endeavors, one 476 00:25:18,629 --> 00:25:22,229 of my, uh, halfway through the coursework, one of my professors 477 00:25:22,229 --> 00:25:24,659 say, well, you're halfway there. 478 00:25:25,020 --> 00:25:27,689 Now the learning curve becomes vertical 479 00:25:30,479 --> 00:25:30,600 snap. 480 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:31,949 I'm barely making it now. 481 00:25:33,284 --> 00:25:37,770 Now we're going straight up, you know, are you kidding me? 482 00:25:38,535 --> 00:25:43,155 And I mean, I had to get tutored every week for 30 minutes by this guy. 483 00:25:43,455 --> 00:25:46,095 I didn't understand what he wanted, what he meant. 484 00:25:46,335 --> 00:25:51,075 I got so discouraged I kept, felt like I was beating my head against the wall. 485 00:25:51,075 --> 00:25:53,325 But you know what that does makes your head hard. 486 00:25:55,545 --> 00:26:01,155 And eventually I broke through that wall and that Robert, Robert Carillo 487 00:26:01,155 --> 00:26:02,865 tells us we'll all hit the wall. 488 00:26:02,895 --> 00:26:06,165 Yeah, and you gotta figure out something when you hit the wall. 489 00:26:06,195 --> 00:26:09,735 Either climb over it, go around it, or blast through it. 490 00:26:09,795 --> 00:26:12,705 My approach in life is usually to blast through it. 491 00:26:12,705 --> 00:26:12,825 Amen. 492 00:26:15,285 --> 00:26:16,514 But you gotta keep going. 493 00:26:17,264 --> 00:26:21,405 You gotta keep, go through that wall and then once you get through it, 494 00:26:22,035 --> 00:26:26,264 it's like, oh, I get it now I get it. 495 00:26:27,135 --> 00:26:28,335 It's like water skiing. 496 00:26:28,335 --> 00:26:29,300 You can try to get up. 497 00:26:29,910 --> 00:26:32,130 You, I mean, just over and over. 498 00:26:32,130 --> 00:26:34,650 And they, and they just say, it's just balance. 499 00:26:34,650 --> 00:26:35,730 It's not that hard. 500 00:26:35,730 --> 00:26:37,170 Just pull yourself up. 501 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,590 And you, every time you do, you feel like you're drowning and they're 502 00:26:40,590 --> 00:26:42,660 jerking your arms out of their socket. 503 00:26:43,950 --> 00:26:49,230 And then you figure out that one mover, keep your weight behind the ski, and 504 00:26:49,230 --> 00:26:50,520 all of a sudden you pop right up. 505 00:26:50,580 --> 00:26:51,540 Oh, that was easy. 506 00:26:53,670 --> 00:26:55,590 And every time from then on, you pop up. 507 00:26:56,370 --> 00:26:57,420 It's just like riding a bike. 508 00:26:57,420 --> 00:26:58,590 At first you're scared. 509 00:26:58,590 --> 00:26:59,940 You fall over, you're scared. 510 00:26:59,940 --> 00:27:02,460 You fall over and then you get that balance. 511 00:27:02,485 --> 00:27:02,775 Yeah. 512 00:27:02,775 --> 00:27:05,280 You're like, yeah, I'm a bike rider now. 513 00:27:06,330 --> 00:27:07,080 I'm a big boy. 514 00:27:08,010 --> 00:27:09,375 I'm a water skier now. 515 00:27:09,485 --> 00:27:15,695 Yeah, it's always easy looking back, but pushing through. 516 00:27:16,530 --> 00:27:18,780 Overcoming the opposition. 517 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:20,400 Are you with me there? 518 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:20,490 Yes. 519 00:27:20,580 --> 00:27:21,030 All right. 520 00:27:21,030 --> 00:27:22,140 Let's finish this up. 521 00:27:22,170 --> 00:27:23,070 Verse 13. 522 00:27:23,070 --> 00:27:27,630 Therefore, I station some of the people behind the lowest points of 523 00:27:27,630 --> 00:27:30,840 the wall at the what exposed places. 524 00:27:31,230 --> 00:27:35,460 Posting them by what families, 'cause they'll fight for their family 525 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,460 with their sword, spears and bows. 526 00:27:38,910 --> 00:27:44,190 Nehemiah knew how to make things work, how to make it. 527 00:27:44,820 --> 00:27:46,230 And so he regrouped. 528 00:27:46,230 --> 00:27:49,860 He rallied, and he reunited to rebuild. 529 00:27:50,190 --> 00:27:55,680 He rejected the thought, the threats, taunts and trauma of the enemy. 530 00:27:56,430 --> 00:27:57,660 And then what did they do? 531 00:27:58,440 --> 00:27:59,460 They retreated. 532 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,830 When the, our enemies heard that they were aware of their plots 533 00:28:04,830 --> 00:28:06,840 and that God had frustrated it. 534 00:28:06,900 --> 00:28:11,010 We all returned to the wall, each to our own work. 535 00:28:12,149 --> 00:28:14,639 The believers partnered from that day on. 536 00:28:14,969 --> 00:28:18,449 Half of my men did the work while the other half were equipped with 537 00:28:18,449 --> 00:28:21,149 spears, shields, bows, and armor. 538 00:28:21,389 --> 00:28:24,899 I would've rather been one of those that had the shield and 539 00:28:24,899 --> 00:28:25,979 the, and the bow and the armor. 540 00:28:26,070 --> 00:28:28,290 Let the other guy do the manual labor. 541 00:28:28,350 --> 00:28:29,399 Let me kill somebody. 542 00:28:29,459 --> 00:28:31,290 Oh, excuse me, I should've said that out loud. 543 00:28:32,775 --> 00:28:38,385 The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah. 544 00:28:38,775 --> 00:28:46,155 Spiritual partnership creates a band of workers and warriors to resist wickedness. 545 00:28:46,545 --> 00:28:49,035 Jesus sent us out two by two. 546 00:28:49,035 --> 00:28:52,425 We gotta stay connected to our partner. 547 00:28:52,545 --> 00:28:54,405 Two are better than one. 548 00:28:54,675 --> 00:28:55,395 We know this. 549 00:28:55,395 --> 00:28:58,305 Verse two are better than one. 550 00:28:59,025 --> 00:28:59,805 All right. 551 00:29:00,435 --> 00:29:01,665 Two are better than one. 552 00:29:02,774 --> 00:29:05,475 Because they have a good return for their labor. 553 00:29:05,985 --> 00:29:10,695 The believers adapt who were building the wall. 554 00:29:10,754 --> 00:29:14,595 Those who carried materials, did the work with one hand and held a 555 00:29:14,595 --> 00:29:18,074 weapon in the other good for them. 556 00:29:18,465 --> 00:29:19,935 This is so encouraging. 557 00:29:20,355 --> 00:29:23,115 And then verse 18, he says. 558 00:29:23,715 --> 00:29:28,274 Of each of the builders wore their sword at his side as he worked, 559 00:29:28,575 --> 00:29:33,284 but the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me, Nehemiah. 560 00:29:33,915 --> 00:29:38,355 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, 561 00:29:38,385 --> 00:29:40,995 the work is extensive and spread out. 562 00:29:41,445 --> 00:29:48,135 We are widely separated for each other along the wall, and so what does he do? 563 00:29:48,135 --> 00:29:52,305 Verse 20, when wherever you hear the sword. 564 00:29:52,695 --> 00:29:54,795 Of the trumpet join us there. 565 00:29:54,855 --> 00:29:56,805 Our God will what? 566 00:29:57,915 --> 00:29:58,815 Fight for us. 567 00:29:58,845 --> 00:30:00,345 Our God will fight for us. 568 00:30:00,375 --> 00:30:01,575 You gotta have some watchmen. 569 00:30:02,445 --> 00:30:04,275 That's why God's given us shepherds. 570 00:30:04,965 --> 00:30:08,715 That's why God gives some people to watch over the flock. 571 00:30:08,715 --> 00:30:14,805 To protect the flock watchmen, protect God's people from danger and defeat what? 572 00:30:15,045 --> 00:30:17,625 By sounding the alarm. 573 00:30:18,390 --> 00:30:20,550 And then some of the believers specialized. 574 00:30:20,550 --> 00:30:24,870 So we continued the work with half the men holding the spears with the first 575 00:30:24,870 --> 00:30:27,480 light of dawn till the stars came out. 576 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:30,300 They worked all day long, verse 22. 577 00:30:30,510 --> 00:30:35,820 At that time, I also said to the people have every man and his helper stay inside 578 00:30:35,820 --> 00:30:42,660 Jerusalem at night so they can serve as guards by night and workers by day. 579 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:47,280 Now where the, were the workers fired up to hear that. 580 00:30:49,139 --> 00:30:53,490 You can't go home to your family, especially if they live outside the wall. 581 00:30:54,060 --> 00:30:57,570 You gotta work by day and you gotta be ready to fight at night. 582 00:30:58,410 --> 00:30:59,010 That's okay. 583 00:31:00,180 --> 00:31:04,379 Somehow God gave his people that extra strength. 584 00:31:04,415 --> 00:31:08,485 They found a way where there's a will, there's a way. 585 00:31:08,504 --> 00:31:10,200 Did your mama ever say that? 586 00:31:10,740 --> 00:31:12,240 My mama used to say that. 587 00:31:12,629 --> 00:31:17,310 And so instead of weak workers, they were strong workers, guards by night, 588 00:31:17,310 --> 00:31:19,500 workers by day, they had a strong plan. 589 00:31:19,770 --> 00:31:22,919 They wore their sword at their side and they worked. 590 00:31:23,190 --> 00:31:25,680 They had a strong God, our God will fight for us. 591 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,080 They had strong leadership station to people of the 592 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:30,570 lowest part, strong materials. 593 00:31:30,570 --> 00:31:33,030 We rebuilt the wall till it reached half its height. 594 00:31:33,030 --> 00:31:36,899 Strong workmanship, fight for your families. 595 00:31:37,290 --> 00:31:38,665 So what's the moral of the story? 596 00:31:40,379 --> 00:31:42,870 These are the things I really want you to take away. 597 00:31:42,870 --> 00:31:47,940 Brothers and sisters, one Corinthians nine says, we read the Old Testament 598 00:31:48,210 --> 00:31:50,700 because we need to learn these lessons. 599 00:31:51,419 --> 00:31:54,149 Don't miss the lessons of the Old Testament guys. 600 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,730 Great projects require great sacrifice. 601 00:31:57,645 --> 00:31:59,805 And service to accomplish. 602 00:32:00,375 --> 00:32:04,155 God calls us to build and battle at the same time. 603 00:32:04,725 --> 00:32:07,845 That may sound like too much, but we, God will give us the way. 604 00:32:08,295 --> 00:32:12,375 Overcoming our fatigue and fears requires purpose and prayer. 605 00:32:12,795 --> 00:32:16,365 God sustains and strengthens us at our point of exhaustion. 606 00:32:16,695 --> 00:32:21,285 At the halfway point, adaptions and adjustments are required. 607 00:32:21,675 --> 00:32:24,615 Satan tries to create discouragement and division. 608 00:32:25,004 --> 00:32:29,534 Great work demands dawn to dusk sometimes and day and night effort. 609 00:32:29,774 --> 00:32:34,845 The stress and strain of protection and production it costs. 610 00:32:34,905 --> 00:32:36,405 It costs us. 611 00:32:36,465 --> 00:32:42,675 Never forget God's presence and protection and what lessons can we take away? 612 00:32:43,125 --> 00:32:44,655 Oppositions inevitable. 613 00:32:45,735 --> 00:32:49,305 You've been discouraged in life, haven't you, but you've overcome. 614 00:32:50,055 --> 00:32:53,865 Satan tries to stir up outsiders to discourage God's servant. 615 00:32:54,555 --> 00:32:56,475 You do what you must to accomplish. 616 00:32:56,475 --> 00:32:58,215 God's work what? 617 00:32:58,575 --> 00:33:05,745 At great risk, the mind is greater than the body defines strength. 618 00:33:06,165 --> 00:33:08,085 Somehow they did it night and day. 619 00:33:08,475 --> 00:33:14,115 Spiritual work is never easy, especially when you have opposition and persecution. 620 00:33:14,625 --> 00:33:19,395 Satan focuses us on our fears and exaggerates the danger. 621 00:33:20,205 --> 00:33:22,605 Innovation occurs though when you're desperate. 622 00:33:22,725 --> 00:33:23,895 That's chaos theory. 623 00:33:24,705 --> 00:33:29,115 All the great inventions have happened when you had to find a way. 624 00:33:29,595 --> 00:33:35,324 And lastly, partnership multiplies the effort, efficiency and safety. 625 00:33:35,564 --> 00:33:36,405 Amen. 626 00:33:36,405 --> 00:33:40,485 Nehemiah chapter four, they rebuilt the wall. 627 00:33:40,754 --> 00:33:41,534 God bless. 628 00:33:41,595 --> 00:33:42,014 Amen. 629 00:33:42,310 --> 00:33:42,600 Amen.