Everybody builds. Whether it is your career, your walk with God, your marriage, family and churches. As we build we need to learn something that is very important. I was reading through the book of Nehemiah and here are some insights I got:

Neh. 4:7-8 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry,  and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.

You will have Sanballat and Tobiah’s in your life that would try to destroy what God wants you to build. They could be dream stealers, gossipers, negative people or people whose main calling is to destroy what is being built for God’s glory. I love how Nehemiah responded.

Neh. 4:9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

Nehemiah and the people prayed and watch. Watch is the keyword. A lot of people pray but they never watch.

Nehemiah then launched out to make the speech that would inspire people not just to be build.

Neh. 4:14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Fight! He tells us to fight for our brothers, sons, daughters, wife and family. Fight for things that matter.

Neh. 4:16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
Neh. 4:17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.
Neh. 4:18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

Nehemiah teaches us something about building. You don’t just build, you FIGHT!!! You fight Sanballats and Tobiahs.

You build your family but fight for time with your wife and kids

You build for your wife but fight for sexual purity

You build your career and fight for your integirty

You build God’s church and fight against spiritual pride and burnt out.

Build and fight.

Don’t just build.

The devil wants a fight. Give him a good one.

And here is the secret as you fight:

Neh. 4:20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

Let God fight for you. Trust fully in His power to empower you to do what is required of you. Without Him on your side, fighting is useless.