BUILDING AND BATTLING
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, April 4, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
BUILDING AND BATTLING
By Michael D. O’Neal……Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church……Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:13-18
Text: Nehemiah 4:17
Nehemiah 4:17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
Introduction: Nothing in life is really BUILT without some sort of a BATTLE, a fight, some kind of opposition. You cannot avoid a fight if you are going to build.
Our work is God’s will. Our weapon is God’s word. We need to have a brick in one hand and a Bible in the other. We need to have a tool in one hand and a two-edged sword of the Spirit in the other.
As we continue to work with God in establishing a local church, there are three truths I want us to consider from our text:
I. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE BUILDING
A. We need to be building the home
1. We recognize God’s supervision as the true builder.
2. Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
B. We need to be building the house of God
1. God allows us to work with Him.
2. 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
C. We need to be building the house of God (individuals)
1. The only way to build the church up is to build up individual Christians.
2. 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
II. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE BATTLING
A. We must battle our sinful bodies
1. They are called “corruptible” in 1 Cor. 15:53.
2. They are called “vile” in Phil. 3:21.
3. The body must be kept in submission by conscious effort:
4. 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
B. We must battle spiritual beings
1. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
C. We must battle Satan’s beguiling
1. The devil is a deceiver and he is busily at work.
2. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
D. We must battle society’s beckonings
1. The world tries to put the Christian and the church into its own mold.
2. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
III. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE BALANCING
Nehemiah 4:17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
A. We must balance our contention (battling) with our construction (building)
1. Some people battle, but they won’t build. They are straight on doctrine, but they aren’t productive in winning souls and “getting the job done.”
2. Some people build, but they won’t battle. They work at winning souls and equipping the saints, but they aren’t willing to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints.
B. We must balance our convictions and our charity
We need to stand against sin, and we need to also have fervent charity toward the brethren.
C. We need to balance our courage and our cooperation
We need to be fierce and strong in the battle, and we need to encourage the weak, lifting up the hands that hang down, and strengthening the feeble knees.
Let’s build AND battle, as we labor together with God, as a local New Testament church!