What’s your strategy?

Nehemiah 4:16 - From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at this side as he worked.

It’s your strategy that you have in place for when things get ugly that will rescue you.

Do you have a strategy?

What’s your strategy when someone verbally or physically attacks you?

What’s your strategy if you are tempted in ways that are against your values…?

What’s your strategy?

Nehemiah established a strategy because he had a huge task ahead of him - rebuilding the wall right around Jerusalem, and there were a number of neighboring people groups who were bent on making sure this didn’t happen. These people tried a number of tactics to try to dishearten the people of Judah and get them to stop work.

Firstly they tried using words that mocked the people building the wall, like - “What they are building - if even a fox climbed on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”

When mocking the people didn’t work they plotted physical attacks against the wall builders.

So again I ask… what would you do if you faced serious opposition and attacks on your life?

Would you give up?

Pack up and leave?

The first thing the people of Judah did was prayed to God for protection. Don’t ever eliminate the power of prayer as your number one priority.

Secondly they placed half the workers to work on rebuilding the wall and the other half were suited out with fighting equipment to fight off any enemy that may have wanted to stop the rebuilding of the wall.

So can I encourage you with a quick summary toward a great strategy - Pray and pray some more… Then jump into action!

Finally - NEVER GIVE UP!

Nehemiah teaches us that opposition will come.  But sometimes you may need to be prepared to fight for what you believe in.  And that doesn’t mean a punch up… but it does mean, put something in your hand to get the task done!