Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Sept. 10, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS; DO NOT RETREAT

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-14

Text: Nehemiah 6:11

Nehemiah 6:11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.

Introduction: Fleeing from the fight reveals what kind of Christian you are. Many Christians are fleeing sacrificial service … they are fleeing scriptural standards … they are fleeing sanctified suffering.

You and I are in a fight against the Devil. I want to encourage you, when the going gets tough, to REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS; DO NOT RETREAT.

REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS; DO NOT RETREAT

I. WHEN THE FOE DARES YOU

1 Samuel 17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

A. Recognize your foe’s power

The devil IS powerful, and you cannot handle him in your own strength.
Never underestimate the enemy.

B. Rest in the Lord

Trust in Him, in His power, in His plan, and in His purpose.

C. Resist your foe’s attacks

Don’t roll over and let him defeat you.
Submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you – Jas. 4:7.

REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS; DO NOT RETREAT

II. WHEN FEAR DRAINS YOU

2 Samuel 22:4-7 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

A. Call on the Lord

Rom. 10:13 is a BELIEVER’S prayer!
Cry, “HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLPPP!!!!”

B. Concentrate on the Lord

He is your strength; don’t be afraid.
He is on your side!
There is NO enemy too tough for Him!

C. Charge the enemy by faith

David was confident. He was not SELF– confident, but he was GOD-confident when he “took on” Goliath.
Believe God when you go into the battle!

REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS; DO NOT RETREAT

III. WHEN FELLOWSOLDIERS DESERT YOU

2 Timothy 4:9-18 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

A. Some will seek riches

I’ve seen many Christians get out of their place of service, and some of them get out of church altogether, simply because they wanted to make more money.
This is what 1 Tim. 6:10 means.

B. Some will seek rest

Some of your Christian friends will quit serving God because they have gotten tired and want to quit.
What happens is that they direct their energies elsewhere — toward their job, toward their families, vacation, etc.

C. The Savior will stand reliably

I’ve seen a lot of people quit since I was saved in 1968 and called to preach in 1972, but the LORD has ALWAYS been true!
HE has NEVER failed!

All but 12 deserted the Savior out of the multitudes, and at Calvary, all of them turned chicken. Nevertheless, Jesus went on to Calvary to die for us. Let’s not quit just because someone else quits.

REDOUBLE YOUR EFFORTS; DO NOT RETREAT

IV. WHEN THE FIGHT DISCOURAGES YOU

2 Timothy 4:1-8 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

A. Expect adversity – V. 3

The Lord’s work is not for the frail.
If you become a worker, you can count on facing problems, eventually.

B. Endure afflictions – V. 5

“Tough it out!”
You have made it through other rough spots in the road. Don’t quit now!

C. Envision the appearance of Christ – V. 8

It may be that Jesus is going to come today!
What a shame it would be to give up because of the pains of the fight, when the return of the Lord is right around the corner!

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.