Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Let us continue to examine Nehemiah Chapter 4. I have pondered repeatedly, what have we done? Yet, the theme of this chapter is, "Our God will fight for us."

Having read this chapter, do you see God at work? It is difficult to discern! But in reality, to truly build the wall, to truly build the church, to truly do the work in God's heart, if you want to accomplish it, it must be our God who enables us to do it! Therefore, brothers and sisters must know that our God will fight for us!

Our brothers and sisters must grasp a key point: no matter what you do, as long as you have the courage and trust in God in your heart, then you will surely see God enabling you to accomplish all that you do, because God is the God who enables us to accomplish things. Our God will fight for us.

In the process of finding the theme of this chapter, I struggled a lot. Let me share with you briefly. What runs through this event is actually Nehemiah's faith! It is Nehemiah's faith that causes God to fight for us.

Look at the weak Jews, who have become accustomed to weakness. This 52-day work of building the wall, in their hands, has been a matter of being bullied year after year, day after day. But when Nehemiah came, the situation changed. Isn't this miraculous?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, no matter what is accomplished, the faith of the top leader in God plays a crucial role. Moreover, not only does he have faith in God, but he must also inspire the brothers and sisters to have faith.

I tell you, if a person has no faith in this life, then it must be "rushing around in a panic"! Although my words are harsh, the truth is indeed so. If you have faith in God, you do not need to be "rushing around in a panic."

We entrust things to God, and at the same time, we must have our own arrangements. But it is not your arrangements that play a decisive role, it is God who plays a decisive role. Then why do people still make arrangements to do this and do that, and still make plans? Don't forget, that is what true faith is.

Recently, there is a very popular song called "Useless," which is very well sung and immediately touched my heart! However, I have found that people in this generation lack a heart of trusting in God. In fact, you do not need to be "rushing around in a panic," because God will fight for us.

If You Do Work That Pleases God, the Enemy Will Hinder

But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”

Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox could go up and break it down!” (Nehemiah 4:1-3)

This passage confirms one thing: Nehemiah did the right thing! Because the enemy began to oppose. We all need to know that if you do something right, something that pleases God, you will find it very miraculous.

Among us, there is a sister who goes to many churches, and her husband does not object, because those churches do not engage in spiritual warfare, nor do they do work that pleases God, so no one hinders her.

Later, one day, she felt that something was not quite right, and then she searched online and found our Chinese Mingding Church. After that, she came to learn among us. This learning had serious consequences, alarming her Sanballat in the spiritual realm. Her husband became very angry and hindered her. Isn't this very strange?

She said, "My husband used to support my belief in the Lord. Why does he hinder me when I come to this place?" I tell you, this illustrates one thing: you have begun to enter into God's heart. Don't be afraid, everyone. When we do work that pleases God, the enemy will definitely come to hinder us.

In the spiritual realm, there is such a situation: if you are a weak Christian, you will live in harmony with each other, because the dark forces in the spiritual realm kick you and you endure it, slap you and you accept it.

If that is the case, where will there be spiritual warfare? There can be no spiritual warfare. Then we are weak Jews, and everyone is "fine," but can we be victorious if we continue to live like this? Therefore, sickness comes, and the heart is also depressed, uncomfortable, and twisted, because there is no victory.

Therefore, I tell you, God's will is for us to be victorious, to be able to trust in Him, and to be strong and courageous to draw upon God's promises.

Every step our church takes forward, before we can break through, there is a fierce and difficult spiritual warfare. But our brothers and sisters must raise their faith, because our God will fight for us, and no one can hinder the accomplishment of God's will!

A Leader Who Trusts in God Is Key to Accomplishing Things

Everyone, think carefully. The Jews of all ages have been like that. Then why was the nation strong when David was in power? Because David did things that pleased God, and David had faith in God. But the Israelites' nature has basically not changed, so the state of a nation is closely related to whether the leader of the nation trusts in God.

Then when is trust in God manifested? It is in times of spiritual warfare! I tell you, our church has come all the way, fighting all the way. In circumstances that seem hopeless, as long as you trust in God, you will overcome every difficulty.

Nehemiah is a leader who trusts in God very much, but he did not only trust in God when he was in the palace, nor did he suddenly have faith after becoming the governor of Judah. Then how did he get to the position of cupbearer and governor of Judah? His process of growing up was a process of practicing faith.

Nehemiah encountered a small difficulty, a small illness, and overcame it by trusting in God, so he is a person who practices faith. Many people have nothing to do, no Sanballat, no Tobiah, and live comfortably and with ease.

However, many young people lack the practice of faith in small things, thinking that they are comfortable and at ease, but when they encounter difficulties and spiritual warfare in doing things, they end up "rushing around in a panic," which is not the right way to do things.

Therefore, our brothers and sisters must practice faith in very small things, but many people despise small things and cannot do big things! Some people cannot solve small problems, but are full of confidence in big problems.

For example, some people say, "Oh, I just have a cold, so I won't bother God. I'll pray when I get cancer!" But if you cannot rely on faith even for a cold, can you rely on faith for cancer?

Therefore, those who are healed among us must be careful. It is not because of yourself, but because the church is constantly receiving God's grace, allowing God's promises to be fulfilled in your life. You still need to constantly practice.

Then each of our brothers and sisters must practice this victorious faith, this Nehemiah-like faith. We must do things in a very proper way, with detailed work plans and arrangements, knowing what to do and how to do it. Then we must also have faith in God. In fact, all things are just a manifestation of faith in God! As a result, Nehemiah said:

Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of exile! Do not cover up their guilt or let their sins be blotted out from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. (Nehemiah 4:4-5)

Do you think this sentence is simple? This sentence represents Nehemiah's very sincere view of this matter. These people are provoking God's anger in the eyes of the builders.

Did Nehemiah know that he was doing something that pleased God? How could he not know? The reason why he was able to come to Judah was because he pleased God in the palace, and God opened a way for him. So at this time, he practiced faith once again.

Did Nehemiah know the weakness and condition of the Jews in his heart? He knew that these people were not easy to lead. These people said, "The rubble is so great that the strength of the laborers is giving out, and we cannot rebuild the wall." What kind of brains do these people have? They deserve to be beaten!

The Jews really need "Japanese devils" to make them build if they are told to build. This is a group of people who are "rushing around in a panic," too weak.

I also have to thank God! In the past few years, we have been screening all the time. We are building a church of elite soldiers. Every time we endure a blow, it is actually not small! Recently, I have been very distressed because I have encountered many hindrances. We are an online church. If we are blocked, it will really be fatal.

Thank the Lord! If the church is blocked, we will be forced to open up new battlefields, new paths, and new channels! Our church has been a church of elite soldiers from the beginning. Do you think that a church of elite soldiers will not be hindered? It is also hindered.

Thank God! I once again raise our faith. Next, you will see with your own eyes God accomplishing wonderful things among us! Because overseas, in North America, Oceania, Europe, and other places, there are many of God's people who need Mingding Doctrine.

In the coming generations, don't think that the church is just like that. No! We declare again that the Christian transformation we bring will affect future generations of Christians and have a profound impact on the future of Christianity.

We are expanding dramatically overseas. In fact, we used to be quite complacent, but later we were hit a bit, which cleared our heads. Do you think this is human work? No, this is God at work, making our minds clear again.

Therefore, our brothers and sisters must begin to be God's elite soldiers, and everyone must become a leader who trusts in God, and everyone can accomplish things. Some people say, "Teacher, as long as you have faith, you can do it." No! Our church is a church that trains elite soldiers. If you just randomly pull a brother or sister out, they can become very excellent leaders.

So you can accomplish things because of your trust in God. Your faith will be transformed into God fighting for you, and God will accomplish what you want to do. What we want to do is all in the heart of Jesus Christ. Let's continue to look at:

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. (Nehemiah 4:6)

When Sanballat saw that they were building the wall, he didn't take it seriously, because there were many Jewish traitors among the Jews who were colluding with Sanballat.

Every nation has traitors! The Han Chinese have traitors, and the Jewish people have Jewish traitors. As a result, unexpectedly, the wall was being built halfway up "slippety-slide," and if it continued to be built, wouldn't it be finished? It exceeded the enemy's imagination.

This is very close to our situation. We have been quietly building and have reached halfway. Thank God! We are going to bring a new breakthrough, which is to examine every book in the Bible. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and some books have been preached for the second time, like Nehemiah, which is now being preached for the second time.

However, accomplishing things is definitely not a state of "rushing around in a panic." You must be calm and composed! God does not like us to be busy. Even if you are at work, you say, "Teacher, I am so busy and under so much pressure." Then you must have done something wrong.

Nehemiah was not in a hurry either. He made very proper plans and implemented the work in a practical way. It is God who enables us to accomplish things, but it is definitely not a lying-flat approach! Many of us trust in God, either we don't believe and rush around in a panic, or once we believe, we lie flat. Then you say, isn't this all over?

Our brothers and sisters must accomplish things, and we must all become calm and composed, with ease. How good it is to have God!

Praying, Preparing, and Building Simultaneously

I tell you, I especially dislike people who pray all day long, because they don't like to pray, but because they are very lazy, do nothing, and pray themselves into a stupor, knowing nothing! When the real enemy comes, they don't know how to prepare or build.

Our God is the God who fights for us, but we must pray, prepare, and build simultaneously. I will read it to you:

When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. (Nehemiah 4:7-9)

If you pray and prepare all day long, but the wall makes no progress, and it is still halfway up now, next year, ten years later, what's the use? So it must be praying, preparing, and building simultaneously.

Then how to prepare? Post a guard and guard day and night. If you want to come and cause trouble, you will definitely be killed! We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Then continue to build, and it will be finished in fifty-two days.

As a result, the enemy saw that they had done half of it in twenty days, and the enemy panicked and wanted to kill them to stop the work. Can it be stopped? Who kills whom is really hard to say!

Our church has made a transformation in the past two or three years, and we are all doing practical things. From the day I established the church, I wanted to build a church of elite soldiers. I never thought of building the church into the Jerusalem church, and then organizing prayer teams and intercession teams to pray there. We never thought of doing that.

We recently managed to transform a sister who has been among us for many years. She used to be the captain of the intercession team in another church, but she couldn't do anything well and was full of religious flavor.

In fact, she is not without skills, but she believed in a wrong theological system. Now she has slightly renovated her home and turned it into a tailor shop, repairing trouser legs and sewing clothes for others, and she is doing better and better.

I haven't followed up on how she is doing recently, but at least she is doing practical things. Does she need to pray? Yes! Does she need to do this tailoring well? Yes!

As for Peter, I am not ashamed to see him anyway, but he should be ashamed to see me, because I have "revealed" almost all of his affairs. He lived by praying and preaching, but as a result, he built the Jerusalem church into a mess. How did that happen? It was because he was devoted to praying and preaching.

Then how did Paul do it? He weaved tents and did odd jobs, doing many things! He not only supported himself, but also built the church so well.

I thank God! The accumulation and cultivation of the past years have trained me to be a person who does practical things! I do software, do renovations by hand, and do it very well. I also do Bible study very well.

Some time ago, I led everyone in studying the Book of 1 Timothy. I truly believe I have explained this book clearly. It would be a mistake to treat this book as merely written to Timothy, applying it as a common theological concept. If you do that, many things will not add up.

Praying, guarding, and building simultaneously are key to living out God's glorious image. This is what pleases God. If you mess up the church, only know how to pray, and become a social cripple who knows nothing, will that do?

Therefore, we must all become people of prayer, and at the same time, become people of warfare. This warfare is not a fake one, but a real one. Who can stop you then?

Do not think that you used to rule the roost at home, nor think that after believing in the Lord, you are suppressed by your family. That's not the case. If people hinder you from believing in the Lord, can you go on without some character?

Now, continue praying, guarding, and building simultaneously. You can say, "I used to do nothing, but now I can do something practical. I used to cry, make trouble, and threaten suicide at home, but now I don't cry, make trouble, or threaten suicide!" Some might think, "Why are you getting more energetic and powerful?" If I am doing something right, why are you stopping me? Are you out of your mind?

Do you all understand the flavor of this? Don't lose your strong劲, and become soft like mush. If someone kicks you, you just take it. Then you become a weak Judahite, unable to do anything. Then you are finished.

## Strengthen the Faith of the Brothers with Actions and Words

God fights for us according to our faith. I will read it to you:

**And Judah said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” (Nehemiah 4:10)**

I tell you, if I were Nehemiah, and you came to me and said this, I would really want to beat you up. I am leading you to build the wall properly, and you say your strength is failing. Why hasn't your strength failed when you play games and scroll through your phone?

When you do something right with me, this little thing makes you "shit your pants." Weren't you very capable? Weren't you calm and composed when you were suppressed by Sanballat? Why are you shitting your pants now that you are repairing the wall?

Of course, if I said this, I would have to repent. What if people's faith is weak? Let's see what Nehemiah did:

**Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:13-14)**

This is well said. You can't touch people's core interests. Their core interests are not the wall, but their brothers, children, wives, and property. Nehemiah is very capable. If you let me handle this, I would do the same, because you have to do it this way.

Why did China become prosperous after the reform and opening up? Because Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of the reform, understood human nature too well! You must fight for your property, otherwise Sanballat will rob you of your things, right? Once you touch these core interests, they will rise up and fight, saying, "Don't be afraid of them! Remember the Lord, God is great and awesome."

This sounds a bit sad. Why don't people know God and have faith in God? Why do you have to use your core interests to motivate you? Can everyone live a God-centered life? Don't you know that God will fight for us?

When I was preparing the manuscript, I felt a little sad when I read this. You stupid, clumsy, and weak Judahites, when will you believe in the Lord? Of course, Nehemiah didn't dare to say that. He was too smart, too capable, and understood human nature too well!

Why was the wall of Jerusalem desolate for decades? Why were these people in the city of Judah so stupid? It's because they had no faith! So what should Nehemiah do? He let the people take their swords, spears, and bows according to their families, but they had no faith in God, but they had faith in taking swords, spears, and bows; they were not interested in building the wall, but they were interested in their brothers, children, wives, and property.

If our brothers and sisters also rely on this to be motivated, then we should not be called Mingding Doctrine. We must live a God-centered life, which is to trust in God. Our God will surely fight for us.

I really feel sorry for Nehemiah, but I am also happy for myself, because I don't want such people. I just want to build an elite church.

Until now, you can still stay with us, which still explains the problem. At least you won't say to me, "Teacher, there is too much rubble, and the strength of the burden bearers is failing, so we cannot build a glorious church."

If so, I will put you out for a while, and if it doesn't work, I will put you out for a while. Then you can forget it! I will say, "Go, go, I will do it myself." Everyone, please tolerate me, I am still a bit temperamental, and I must also repent.

Therefore, Nehemiah strengthened the faith of the brothers with actions and words. These people trust those who take swords, spears, and bows, but they cannot see the angels and heavenly hosts of God encamping around us. Then let you use your mortal eyes to see what you can see!

In fact, are those who take bows, knives, and guns fighting there? No! They didn't play any role. They just strengthened the faith of these weak Judahites a little bit.

Brothers and sisters, be strong. We don't need to use these things to strengthen our faith. We only need to use God to strengthen our faith. Our faith is built on God, and God will surely fight for us, and we will surely win.

Brothers and sisters, ahead is a road full of God's glory. No one can destroy God's good plan for us. Don't be afraid! Remember that the Lord is great and awesome, and our God will surely fight for us! God also knows our "small calculations," and He will definitely take care of our "small calculations."

Although it is good to gain more benefits from the gospel, don't keep your eyes on the benefits of the gospel. Your eyes should be on God, doing what pleases God. If you were Nehemiah, would you be so miserable? If you really have faith, you would also go to be a cupbearer.

Our brothers and sisters must know that Nehemiah strengthened the faith of the brothers with actions and words, which is really bearing the weakness of others, but can you not let me bear your weakness? Can you become Nehemiah and bear the weakness of others?

Thank the Lord! In North America, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia, our influence is growing, because our theology is the most advanced theology, in accordance with God's will! But when you look at how those people interpret the scriptures, I really don't think they are saying the original meaning of the Bible.

## God Also Destroys the Enemy's Plans

**When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. (Nehemiah 4:15)**

How did the enemy know? Because there were traitors, they originally wanted to come in and kill some Judahites to stop the work, but seeing that this plan didn't work.

Let me explain to you how God destroys their plans. God is very powerful in destroying people's plans! For example, Laban wanted to chase Jacob and take back all the cattle, sheep, and camels that Jacob had taken away. How could he take them back? Only by killing Jacob, so in fact he was going to kill Jacob.

As a result, on the night before he was about to catch up, he had a dream. God said, "Laban, you must be careful. Don't say good or bad to Jacob, let alone kill him. Before you kill him, I will kill you. Don't you know that I am God?" When he saw Jacob, Laban gestured a few times. As soon as he was about to draw his knife to kill Jacob, his arm cramped. God is too powerful.

We are talking about legends. Also, as soon as Sanballat was about to do this, his mother-in-law died, and his wife said, "Sanballat, my mother is sick, and she is 'plastering the walls with dung' at home." Oh! I tell you, no matter whether this person is theist or atheist, he will associate when he encounters this kind of thing.

He thought: I want to deal with Nehemiah, and his mother-in-law went crazy and smeared the dung from the toilet on the wall. Tobiah came to Sanballat's house and said, "Oh, something happened to our family too."

Our God is great and awesome. Don't think that we are weak Judahites, so God doesn't help us. Now that there is Nehemiah, it's different, and God will destroy their plans.

In the past, as soon as Sanballat did business, he made a lot of money. Just after plotting to kill the Judahites to stop their work, he did another business and lost everything, even the capital. Do you think God is powerful? Our God understands people's hearts too well.

God is very powerful in touching people's core interests. Some people say, "How do you know?" Isn't there the Bible as a basis? When Moses arrived in Egypt, he wanted to bring the Israelites out, so the sons of the Egyptian Pharaoh all died, and all the firstborn of Egypt also died. Then the Egyptian Pharaoh went crazy, and then he let the Israelites go.

It is too easy for God to ruin people, so in this life, don't go against God with anyone, otherwise you won't know how you died! There was a cancer patient, in his thirties, who was so thin that he couldn't stand it. He prayed, "God, let me live a few more years!" Then who do you think did it? Wasn't it God who did it?

God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and God will curse whom He will curse. God wants to deal with whom He wants to deal with. The key is whether you are the one being dealt with? If you are the one being dealt with, then you have to be careful. If God helps you deal with others, it is too easy.

If a person has faith in God in his life, then it is amazing. Your enemy is God's enemy. It is great to have God's help! If God fights for us, there is nothing that cannot be done, and no enemy can stand before us! If God fights for us, we will do what pleases God, and we will surely be above all the nations of the world.

Then do you still have to worry about retirement? Do you still have to worry about this and that? No need! So don't offend God in your life, otherwise, God will just send a little ghost to deal with you, and that will be fatal. This is how God destroys the enemy's plans.

## Half Doing the Work, Half Preparing for Battle, One Hand Doing the Work, One Hand Holding Weapons

Half doing the work, half preparing for battle, one hand doing the work, one hand holding weapons, this sentence is too good, I will read it to you:

**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 building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon with the other, (Nehemiah 4:16-17)**

Do you all understand? What happened as a result?

**and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:18-20)**

**So we continued the work with half of the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn until the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Have everyone—along with their servants—stay inside Jerusalem, so they can serve as our guards by night and as workers by day.” Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. (Nehemiah 4:21-23)**

I ask you, among Christians, do some people regard lying flat as faith? There are many! They lie flat and do nothing, and as a result, they are dealt with by the enemy, and they ask God, "God, why? Aren't you a great and awesome God? Why do I still have to take a knife and a gun? Wouldn't it be over if you protected me?"

In fact, that's not the case. Half doing the work, half preparing for battle, one hand doing the work, one hand holding weapons, is really good! In the Bible, Nehemiah is a rare person who does practical things and trusts in God, very powerful!

Don't say that David is also like this! Moses is also like this! Think about it, which one is not like this? This is called true faith.

If you lie flat, you think, "We don't need anything, we just do this, it's better to take off our clothes and have a good sleep, lying in the quilt, God will surely protect you." But is that the case? Absolutely not! You can't lie flat.

We must do the work with one hand and hold weapons with the other. We must pray, guard, and build simultaneously. This is a basic principle, and this basic principle applies to all levels of our Christians.

The Apostle Paul did it right. He was half doing the work, half preparing for battle, one hand doing the work, one hand holding weapons. Where did he learn it from? He learned it from Nehemiah.

Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible were people of the same era, but Ezra couldn't do this. Ezra could only study the Bible. What kind of people did Ezra train later? They became Pharisees. Isn't this very evil? Because they only read the books of the law.

But the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee who did practical things. That's why I encourage everyone to do more things and use your faith in doing things.

Do you say that Ezra did a good thing or a bad thing? Is it a good thing or a bad thing for Peter to pray and preach? In fact, if you only pray and preach, you will not live out the image of God. How can you live out the image of God? Trust in God, practice faith in everything, and accomplish things, then you will live out the image of God.

Half holding weapons, half doing work, one hand holding weapons, one hand doing work, doing this day and night, do you say those people have a bad smell? Yes! But it doesn't matter.

Our brothers and sisters learn a lesson from Nehemiah, try to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees. So what if it's hard? Isn't it normal to be hard? Thank God! God has favored me and chosen me to serve Him, because I love to do right things, and it doesn't matter if I work hard, I like it.

During his years on earth, Jesus told his disciples to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees. Did they avoid it? No! They fell into the leaven of the Pharisees all at once. So Christianity is not the "leaven" of the Pharisees. We need to deal with this kind of thing.

If you tell me, "Teacher, I am a prayer warrior in our church." I think you should do something practical! A practical thing is better than a warrior. Thank God, God will surely fight for such people, Amen!

This is the end of our Bible study. May God bless everyone!

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