Grab A Brick!... And Fight!

Nehemiah is a story of a people returning, rebuilding, and restoring their wall of protection.  It's a perfect illustration of the ongoing battle of sin within, as well as the constant bombarding of the enemy without.

Our spring study will be:

Feb - The Wall Project, Self-Control

March - The Enemy Without:  Fear and Discouragement

April - Sin Within:  Greed, Convenience of Culture, Neglect of the Younger

February Wall Builders project assignments:

-Read Nehemiah.  Make a list of Nehemiah's character traits (prayer, knew Scripture, hand of God...)
-Memorize Pr 2:1-11
-Pick a study from Precepts New Inductive Study Series.  Find a partner.
-Grab a brick!  Write in Neh 4:14 with names of your family, church... (I have these).

The Wall Builders of Nehemiah not only had to build with one hand, but hold a sword with the other.  They had "put their minds" to the restoring process.  But in the backdrop, the enemy was ready, waiting for a moment of weakness, a time when their guard was down.  Nehemiah called out, "Don't be afraid of them.  Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, yours sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."  Every time a brick went into place, they were fighting!  Building a defense!

What the ancients did brick by brick, we do precept upon precept, laying our foundation with Wisdom.  Let's put our minds to the task and fight for those within our wall of influence!

Wall of Protection

Self-control is so important Paul requires it of each group he addresses in Titus 2.  It is the only virtue for all four groups, the only virtue for the younger men.  However, Paul himself says, "I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  I don't do the good I want, but the evil I don't want is what I keep on doing."  No self-control Paul.

But Paul makes a point.  This is not your self-help kind of self-control.  A dictionary definition will simply lead to discouragement, failure, and disappointment.  Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing."  So it goes with self-control, nothing self-made about it.  If Scripture requires self-control from every Christian, then self-control is attainable by every Christian.  Take courage!  Where God guides, God provides!

For brevity and simplicity, self-control in Titus 2 is to be wise and prudent in nature.  How do I get self-control/wisdom:  Proverbs 9:10... the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  What is the fear of the LORD:  Proverbs 2.

SELF-CONTROL = WISE = KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE = WALL OF PROTECTION

"Discretion (self-control) will protect you and understanding will guard you" Proverbs 2:11.  Self-control is not simply ceasing to feed the flesh, it is beginning to feed the mind.  Feeding the mind with knowledge of Him, His character, His Word.  Then, wisdom will enter your heart, knowledge will be pleasant to the soul.  Scripture will not be laws, rules with burdens, but a beautiful boundary.  A wall of protection, welcome and necessary.

The Wall Project

Titus 2 Women meets this Tuesday, Feb 7 at 6:30!  This year's theme is The Wall Project and our focus will be self-control.

Proverbs 25:28 compares us to a city with broken down walls when we lack self-control, a place of chaos and vulnerability.  Our building point for this study is Nehemiah, an amazing story of rebuilt walls, renewed faith, and restored worship.

I am beyond excited for another year of Titus 2 Women, encouraging each other in our efforts to honor God's Word!