For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
Nehemiah 4:18
Our Crumbled State
And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Nehemiah 1:3,4
In Christ, we are lively stones built for a spiritual house of our Lord God (1 Peter 2:5). We are the body of Christ; He is our Head (Ephesians 4:14-16; Colossians 1:15-18; Colossians 2:19). As the body of Christ, we are each a member and we each have a purpose – one which, if we do not do, we threaten the whole body of Christ as we are one (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:14-16). When we have arguments, problems, envy, etc. with our family of Christ, we turn against each other. We make our ranks look like a disheveled Mr. Potato Head – the arm and eye are in the wrong places while the ear is dismembered and ignored. In this state of confusion, we split into groups (denominations, if you will) and divide ourselves according to minor doctrinal differences. That is when the walls comprised of lively stones start to crumble because the stones are wearing each other down, grinding at each other.
The Silent Attack
In this state of crumbling, we are watched. The Devil, the accuser, the slanderer of the brethren of the family of God, stands against the family of Christ. Stalking our moves he has waited for the perfect moment: chaotic division. He strikes and goes for the weakest, the milk-mature believer.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 5:12 – 6:2
We have sent our weak children in the faith out to war. We no longer equip the church but entertain and motivate. Our Christian soldiers have skipped the necessary boot camp, being sent straight into the war zone. This should not be! We must be first instructed on the Bible and be able to wield the sword.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isaiah 28:9-10
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8
Our goal is not to be established in the wisdom of this world, for the wisdom of God is the foolishness of this world (1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Isaiah 29:14). Instead, our goal as Christ-followers should be from the above-quoted scriptures: learn Christ and become established in the TRUTH and not the ways of this world. When we are well versed in what Christ teaches as He has commanded us, then and only then can we correctly and effectively wear the armor (Ephesians 6:11-13). The armor of God is not something you can get all at once but little by little with the limited understanding you are given. Christians must be taught first how to overcome.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 12:10-11
Suit up for the battle
Once we establish our present condition as a Body of Christ and see the devastation of ill-equipped believers, we must take a stand to nurture and disciple a generation prepared to live out the promise Jesus gave us: “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”(Matthew 16:18). We do this first by being armed as we rebuild the crumbled walls of this house of which we are lively stones (1 Peter 2:5).
For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
Nehemiah 4:18
We must be armed with the Sword of the Spirit, God’s Holy Word. The goal of resisting those who have crept in unnoticed (Jude 4) is to be prepared and conquer by “the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11).
When we lay down our lives and take up our cross with Christ, we sign up for attacks from the spiritual darkness. The question is not “Will you be attacked” but “How will you respond”? The answer of an overcomer would be “by His blood”. So, beloved brother/sister, will you suit up and repair the wall of the crumbling American church or will you sit and watch it be overrun? When Nehemiah heard of Jerusalem’s condition he did the following and interceded on behalf of his people, will you?
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Nehemiah 1:4
Rooted in Him 
Leave a comment