Good morning, all!

Father, we know by Your word that walls come down and walls go up. You are the chief architect; you said NO man can lay a foundation and that You alone lay a true foundation. But You call Your sons and daughters to build on that foundation, and NOT to lay anything on that foundation that is corrupt but only that which will endure eternity. We ask you Lord to give us the wisdom to know what is incorruptible so that Your kingdom will last forever and give us the strength and conviction to build it today, Amen.

Nehemiah 4

1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
Dr Doubt heard the walls of Jerusalem were going to be rebuilt so he stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and was angry and made fun of the Jews.

2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
He told his buddies, what are these weaklings going to build? They think they got what it takes? Church gonna get it done? And what will they use the rubble?

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
And his friend Captain Criticism with him, even if they build a wall if a little fox goes on it, he will break it and it will fall.

6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had one mind to work.
So despite the naysayers we began to build the wall and we got halfway there for the people were agreed with one mind to do that which the Lord had asked.

17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, [everyone] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon.
And those that built the wall each day did so with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, but they built that wall.

21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
And they kept working from sunrise until the stars appeared.

Bottom line

I’m sure you know we’re NOT speaking about an actual wall, right? What does the wall represent?

[Pro 25:28 KJV] He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls. The wall represents a life LIVED. We live our life by the spirit of God that dwells inside of us, and when we don’t, we have NO walls to protect us and our city…SOUL…is broke. What’s broke? Our relationships with God and the people in our life. How important are our relationships? Well without a strong wall the city is BROKEN, the city we’re speaking of is Jerusalem…PEACE. Peace is the cornerstone that holds everything together, without it our life is nothing but a pile of rubble. I believe Jesus actually spoke on this very subject when he left His vineyard to his servants, but they mistreated the people he sent to work the vineyard until they eventually killed them.

[Mar 12:10 NKJV] Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. We reject the cornerstone; we reject living a life of peace. How? When we condemn and criticize one another, that’s what prevents the walls from being built and that’s when peace is broken down in our life. That’s why we need a sword and a trowel to build that wall. The sword of course is God’s word which should change me and cause me to speak with grace and NOT condemnation. Makes sense right if we’re saved by grace our words should sound like grace, if not, you’re NOT saved.

[John 1:16 KJV] And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. How many received God’s grace? ALL!!! And if we received His fullness NOT His emptiness, we give grace because we received it so that should be the only thing, we have to offer others. And what’s the trowel represent to smooth out the cement in that wall?

[Eph 2:7 KJV] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. KINDNESS!!! What did you think the riches of God were? Money? He says that’s corrupt and holds NO value. God’s riches are kindness and that is how you build a wall…a life of faith. Are you rich? Does grace EXCEED the limits of our carnal mind? Makes sense to me if we treat one another with kindness instead of condemnation that might actually hold the wall together, right? What’s the opposite of holding the wall TOGETHER? The stone the builders REJECTED.

[Luk 10:16 ESV] “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me. We reject one another, we think we have the right or good reason to do so but that’s what the self-righteous always think. Do you have peace this morning? [Rom 8:6 NIV] 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Whatever governs your life this morning will determine the type of life you live, when we live by our selfish nature it’s death NOT physical, but you live without God…might as well be dead. And when we live by the spirit the presence of God is with us, so we have life and peace. No chance of having peace without God and you can’t enter His kingdom without it…it’s the price of admission.

Point to Ponder

Do you work until you see the stars? [2Pe 1:19 NIV] We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Pay attention, the star will arise in your heart when you build that wall with grace and kindness.

Let’s all build like there’s no tomorrow, In Him Phil

Faith – Family – Friends