Nehemiah 4:17-18 - The weapons of the Builders

The weapons of the Builders – Preaching

Preaching Outline on Nehemiah 4:17-18 – “Those who built the wall, those who bore the burdens and those who carried the loads, each with one hand did the work and with the other had the weapons. And the builders each had his sword girded on his loins, and they were building; and he who blew the trumpet was with me.”

Introduction to Nehemiah 4:17-18

One thing we notice at that time when a great work was being carried out is that Nehemiah makes a point of emphasizing that the builders were building the walls with one hand and weapons with the other.

Why did they have this position? Because there were enemies, there was opposition and they needed to be vigilant against any attack.

Development

My brothers, our spiritual life has 2 concerns, 2 attentions that need to be observed by us, builders.

The concern to serve, in which we are workers, that we serve, that we carry out a great work, that we are builders, because when we attend church we are being used by God to rebuild lives. But we also have another concern, which is to defend ourselves, to be vigilant, because the enemy of our souls has invested.

What good would it do for the builders to only worry about the walls and forget about the defenses? What’s the point of being a “tractor” in the Work and not being vigilant? Not praying, not fasting, not using spiritual weapons. It’s a danger.

That’s why many were left in the lurch, they were dedicated, they were happy to serve God, but they forgot to use their weapons, the weapons weren’t in their loins.

The builders had this position: Work and weapon on the loins.

We have the same prophetic position: we carry out God’s work, but we also have a spiritual life and we need to look after it, we need to be vigilant.

“…he who blew the trumpet was with me…”
Do you blow the trumpet? Do you announce Maranatha to the world? If you preach, you blow the trumpet. If you are carrying out this work, you are blowing the trumpet.

The one blowing the trumpet needs to be close to Jesus, to have a relationship with him.

Conclusion of Nehemiah 4:17-18

What is our position as builders? Are we just looking at the walls and forgetting about the weapons? Are we working and forgetting that we have a spiritual life?

Don’t forget to use your weapons. You are a builder and you need to take care of your spiritual life. The position of the builder is to work on the wall and have the weapon in his loins.