John Allen - February 15, 2026
The Sword & The Trowel: Build & Battle (Nehemiah 4)
The call to follow Christ is a call to both build and battle. In Nehemiah, God’s people rebuild Jerusalem’s walls while facing mockery, threats, and fear. Kingdom work is never passive. It requires a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, building from a victory already secured by God. Christ is the greater Nehemiah. We labor from His finished work, not for it. Spiritual warfare looks like putting on the armor of God: truth in our mouths, holiness in our hearts, readiness with the gospel, faith under fire, confidence in salvation, and Scripture prayed in dependence on the Spirit. Grace rescues us, covers us in Christ’s righteousness, and unites us in the mission.