Fight, Week 4: Fight for Your Family

Message Title: “Fight For Your Family” A deep concern  They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV) When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV) The first step in rebuilding the wall and fighting for your family is taking a look at what's really going on.  Seek out the holes.  Seek out the foundational issues. It's ok to be broken over it.  It's good to pray about it.  Let God speak to your heart about what He would have you to do.  Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV)  A passionate courage  Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Nehemiah 4:11-15 (NIV) Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” Nehemiah 4:11-15 (NIV) 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 4:11-15 (NIV) 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 4:11-15 (NIV)  Decide who you're going to serve.  “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NIV)  Decide who you're going to be. Then the Lord replied:  “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. Habakkuk 2:2 (NIV) Without vision, people perish.  Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18 (NIV) As a household, who are you going to be!?