More than a Pitch More Than Us: A Vision from God, A Work for All Pastor Kile Baker October 12th, 2025 Nehemiah 4:1-14 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2 before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble? ” 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall! ” Bold steps for God get attention—and opposition. When someone tries something big, and bold - people not only take notice, they take the opportunity to say why it will never happen. When faith gets loud, so do the critics. God’s people have never done anything great without God’s power. 4 Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered the builders. Lean into who the real enemy is, even if people are mean or mad, it’s not them. It’s the spiritual realm that is opposed to God 6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working. 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. They prayed to God, and took practical steps themselves. 10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. 11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, they attack us.” Opposition from the outside fuels the vision — opposition from within fractures it. 13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. The Church should always be building and battling. Just building makes us forget there’s a war. Just battling makes us lose all our warriors. This is why we’re doing the following initiatives: Building - Environments here at the church, updates to the building, revamping for the next generation and building up their faith because someday they’ll be the grownups in here. A pavilion outside, where people can gather, begin new friendships, and stronger ones are built. Shade for families, a place to stay around after gatherings Two new church partners across the world - helping them build a place where they will train and invest in disciples. - For your “ONES” Battling - Partnering with churches in the Great basin, going to battle with them! Planting over 250 churches with TTI (you’ll hear about them next week). Fully funding our missions budget to join in on our current partners who battle right here in this valley, and to send our people to our partners who battle abroad. - For their “ONES” 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” More than us: God’s vision gives us a future worth building, and people worth fighting for.