Rebuilding Together #6: Spiritual Vigilance
Opening: Remaining spiritual vigilance is critical to carry out God’s call.
I. PUTTING ON SPIRITUAL GUARD UNTIL THE END.
“The rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates).” (6:1b)
Safety, Stability, Security
“Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors.” (6:3a)
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
Two types of pain
a. Pain of growth
b. Pain of regret
“Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” (7:3b)
II. REMAINING IN THE ORIGINAL CALL.
“Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying ‘Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.’ But they intended to do me harm.” (6:2)
“And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.” (6:4)
“Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, ‘Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.’” (6:10)
“And I understood and saw that God had not sent him but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.” (6:12)
III. FILLING THE HOLES TOGETHER.
“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.” (6:15)
Correcting vs. Connecting
“I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.” (7:2)
Closing: Guarding is equally important as building.