Welcome to episode 267 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study through the Book of Nehemiah. Today, we will look at building under fire. Key takeaways: Ridicule needs an audience. A mocker is never really talking to you; he is performing for somebody else. Some people are all guard, no prayer. They have a plan for every possible scenario, but do not spend time in prayer about them. And others are all prayer, but no guard. They are pious, but passive. There are believers who are all sword and no trowel — always fighting, always defending, always outraged, always at war with somebody, and they have not built anything in years. Ask them what they are against, and they will talk for an hour. Ask them what they are building and the room goes quiet. And then there are believers who are all trowel and no sword — sweetly, cheerfully building away with no idea that there is an enemy, no armor on, no discernment, no Scripture in their hand, and they will be the first ones down when the raid comes. Quotable: Fear is very often a failure of memory — in the moment of terror, we forget who God is and what He has already done. Application: Do not answer a mocker. You do not owe your critics a defense. Instead, take your concerns to God and then get back to work. If you are all sword — if you have become an expert on everything that is wrong with the culture and the church and the country, and you cannot remember the last time you actually built anything — then put down the argument this week and pick up the trowel. Serve somebody. Disciple somebody. Lay a stone. If you are all trowel — busy, cheerful, active, and completely unarmed — then belt on the sword. Get in the Word every day this week. Not a devotional thought on your phone at a red light. Expect opposition — ridicule, then threat, then discouragement — because opposition is not a sign you have missed God’s will; it is often proof that you are squarely in it. Pray and prepare, both, and stop pretending either one alone is faith. And keep building while you keep watching Connect with us: Web site: https://springbaptist.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBCKleinCampus(Klein Campus) https://www.facebook.com/SpringBaptist(Spring Campus) Need us to pray for you? Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider.
