Nehemiah 4:20-23 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us. “So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.” So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

INTRODUCTION

Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally towards it. In other words, when you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Here we read about the sound of the trumpet. In the Old Testament, we read that when people went to war or rejoicing, they heard the sound of the trumpet. There are different sounds of the trumpet. The differences in the sounds of the trumpet can be distinguished and acted accordingly by the people who hear them. There is a meaning for every sound.

• Leviticus 23:24 – trumpets sounded to remind the holy day of convocation
• Leviticus 25:9 – trumpets sounded to signify the year of jubilee every 50 years
• Numbers 10:1-10 – Silver trumpets sounded to call for assemblies of the people, for journeying signals, and as battle signals
• Numbers 31:6 – trumpets used as signals in battle
• Judges 3:27 – assembles warriors with a trumpet signal
• I Samuel 13:3 – announcement of victory by using trumpets
• II Samuel 2:28 – signals an end to the battle

In the New Testament, we read

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Here we read that this is the last trumpet. If so, there are other trumpet sounds before that. I believe

• Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ is like the sound of the trumpet in the New Testament. Proclaiming the Gospel is a continuous sound and is happening in every part of the world, bringing salvation from sin.
• Preaching the doctrines of the Apostles is like the sound of the trumpet. When we come into the church, we begin to grow and become stronger. The sound of the doctrine is continuously resounding within the church alone to form the bride of Christ.

Dear beloved, how many of us are preparing ourselves for this last trumpet sound. There is a difference between the last trumpet sound and the other trumpet sounds. The Gospel forms the church. The doctrines build the Church, and when the last trumpet sounds, it transforms the church from earthly to heavenly.

The last trumpet is not an experience that all will hear. The last trumpet is only for

• those who have yielded themselves to God.
• Those who have submitted themselves to God to be formed, to be built and to be transformed.
• Those who have a godly desire to be united with Christ at His coming.
• They have loved Jesus more than everything.

How many of you can say, I have heard the proclamation of the Gospel, I listened to the doctrine to be built up, and I am waiting for the last trumpet?

When you hear a sound, you look towards that sound. That is the only power that sound has; you give some attention to that sound. The power of the last trumpet is, whoever hears they are blessed; whoever hears they are saints, and they will be transformed from earth to Heaven.

Every week when you hear God’s word spoken. As you submit to the Word, you are transformed in your walk, talk, character, behaviour, etc., But then the last trumpet will transform you to ever be with the Lord.

In our text, Nehemiah says, come and gather here, where the sound of the trumpet is heard. The main intention of the trumpet sound is where the trumpet sounds that where you gather. But the last trumpet will sound in mid-air. The last trumpet sounds when the Lord Jesus is coming with a shout, the voice of the Arch Angel and with the trumpet of God. Where ever you hear the sound of the trumpet, that is where you should gather. The man is on this earth, and the trumpet sound is in mid-air. This earthly man should meet the Lord in mid-air. Anyone, whether they are in the grave or living, the dead in Christ will rise first; they who are alive together will meet the Lord in the air.

From our passage, we understand that we have to gather there when the trumpet sounds, but we also need to be prepared.

WE LABOURED IN THE WORK

Nehemiah 4:20-23 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” So we labored in work, …

The person who desires to hear the last trumpet sound should make themselves labour in the work of the Lord.

Nehemiah 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

1. It is huge

Serving God is huge. It is the work of God, and it is a tremendous job.

Nehemiah 4:19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, …

The work is significant. Have you done anything for the Lord? You labour very hard in this world. The labour in this world can burden you, but the work of the Lord will help you heard the sound of the Trumpet.

2. Distracted

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

We see we hear Martha did many things, and she was weary. We all have so much to do for our work, for our family and other things. Amid all the busyness, you have to do the work of the Lord.

3. Continue the Work of Christ

God has done some work and left it to us to continue. We should continue that ministry. That is the plan of God.

Colossians 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

Paul is saying that which was lacking in the suffering of Christ, I am fulfilling. Sometimes we are not able to keep aside 1.5 hours for church on a Sunday. If you want to be eternal with God, you need to learn to prioritise your time.

Ask yourself some questions?

• Have I suffered for my Jesus?
• Have I distributed Gospel flyers to reach out to the community?
• Have I spoken the Gospel and brought people into Salvation?
• Have I testified about the goodness of God?
• Have I served my God with all my gifts, talents, and soul, mind and strength?

If you do anything for the Lord, you will indeed receive the reward. We should never be slack doing God’s work.

4. Stand before the king of kings

Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men

He who excels in his work will stand before the king. If you have to stand before the king of kings, you have to excel in the work of the Lord. We have to give our best to God and always have an excellent spirit and attitude.

HOLD THE SPEARS

Nehemiah 4:20-23 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. …

They held a spear from daybreak until the stars appeared. A spear is a weapon you always should have in your hand.

On that day, Joshua was on the battlefront. Joshua had a spear, which helped to overcome a city (Joshua 8:18). Now the Lord said, stretch forth your spear toward the city. Joshua stretched forth his hands. He did not stretch forth for few minutes; he stretched forth until the battle is won (Joshua 8:26).

The spear is an offensive weapon, which we always need to use against our enemy. Whenever Satan come, even during sleep, the spirit of the Lord should wake you up and anoint you to defeat the enemy.

1 Samuel 21:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste

David confesses that he did not have a weapon. But Bible says David is a warrior. You should not be without armour when facing the enemy because the enemy always comes with armour to defeat you.

There was a battle during the time of Saul.

1 Samuel 13:22 So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son.

On the day of the battle, nobody had the weapon in their hands, except for Saul and his son Jonathan. If the king and his son have a weapon and none of the soldiers have any weapon, how will they go for the battle?

Do you have the power to face the enemy? We should not be terrified but stand up before him in the Name of Jesus. You have to say He that is in me is greater than he that is in this world. The power that is within you is a greater power. With that, you can always overcome. You can overcome Satan. You can overcome the flesh. You can overcome sickness. You can overcome this world. You can overcome any circumstance. The power that can overcome everything is within you.

Like how David got back his weapon, today, you should take hold of the power of God that is within you.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds

Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God.

STAYING IN JERUSALEM

Nehemiah 4:22 At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.”

If you want to hear the sound of the trumpet, you should stay in Jerusalem. You cannot stay somewhere and say I did not hear the sound. Only those who lodge in Jerusalem will hear the sound.

Jerusalem shows the church, or it also indicates peace. We can understand it is the city of God. It shows the presence of God. Jesus said, tarry ye in Jerusalem until you receive the promise of the father. Only when you tarry in Jerusalem, you will be baptised in Holy Spirit.

Shimei cursed David, but later, he asked for forgiveness. He was given a pardon, with the condition that he should stay in Jerusalem always. As long as he was in Jerusalem, he was in peace. After a couple of years, he forgot about the condition. One of his servants left Jerusalem and did not return. So Shimei searched for his servant, and without realising the condition, he went out of Jerusalem. What happened? They called him and killed him.

You have read about the man who left Jerusalem to go to Jericho and was caught among the thieves. Likewise, if you want to hear the sound of the trumpet, you should be in Jerusalem. Don’t leave Jerusalem and get into trouble. Stay in Jerusalem, and you will hear the sound of the trumpet.

Today during this lockdown, we have plenty of choices to watch church services from all around the world. You should never be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Think and analyse. Establish yourself in one church where you can grow and be strong in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Jerusalem is God’s church.

Jerusalem means peace, and Heaven is peaceful. We need to have peace to hear the sound of the trumpet. You need to have peace with your spouse, with your children, with your in-laws, with your fellow believers, with your pastor, etc. Only those who are at peace will hear the sound of the trumpet.

You lodge in Jerusalem. When situations and circumstances are against you, you have to preserve your peace. When there is a problem or confusion in the church, you should not leave the church and go away. You should have a willing heart to stay in Jerusalem, and you should not remain there out of compulsion.

Nehemiah 11:2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH

Nehemiah 4:22 At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.”

They have to guard by night. In other words, they have to watch. After coming to salvation,

• you are a watchman.
• You have to guard your family.
• You have to guard your church.
• You have to guard your ministry

In Genesis, God kept man in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it (Genesis 2:15). In other words, day and night, the man had to guard or watch over the Garden of Eden. As children of God, we need a spirit of keeping ourselves awake spiritually day and night.

1. Watch your way

Nahum 2:1 He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.

If your way is right, God will be there. It should not be your way but the way of the Lord. In the Old Testament, the Lord said to Isaiah that your ways are not my ways. But in New Testament, the Lord says I am the way. It should be the faith journey, and it should be the way of holiness.

2. Watch your mouth

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

You should watch over your mouth because many have lost their peace because of their mouth.

Ecclesiastics 5:6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, …

Don’t allow your flesh to sin by your mouth. If there is no peace in your life, the reason could be your mouth is not guarded. If you watch over your mouth, you will be successful in many things. Therefore, he says, Lord, keep a guard over my lips.

Job was lamenting, but the Lord started to speak when he shut his mouth, and he received a double blessing.

ALWAYS HAVE YOUR GARMENTS ON

Nehemiah 4:23 … So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

They did not take off their garment. Those who stand for the Lord or want to hear the trumpet sound should not remove their garment.

Songs of Solomon 5:3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?

When the Lord is coming and knocking on the door, what did the bride say? The bride was giving an excuse and saying I just washed my feet and taken off my garment. So the bridegroom had to leave without seeing or talking to the bride. But when she came out, he was not there. If you want to meet the Lord Jesus, you should always have your garment.

Jesus came in search of the backslidden Peter. As He was walking on the shore searching for Peter, one of the disciples saw Jesus and cried out; the Lord is standing on the shore. Peter heard it and jumped into the water because he was without a garment. He could not face Jesus without the garment.

1. Garment of praise

Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

When we adorn ourselves with the garment of praise, we will always be praising God. Not matter what is happening in your life, keep praising God. that is the sign of a child of God who is getting ready to hear the trumpet sound.

2. Garment of light

Psalm 104:2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain

You should be covered with light and not with darkness.

3. The garment of fine linen

Revelation 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

He who overcomes that is the bride of Christ, and they wear a garment of pure linen. It signifies the righteousness of saints. You are a child of God, and you should not leave righteousness.

You are a believer at work, at home, etc., you can be a leader, father, mother, or child, but before God, you are a believer. Once you go to work, you cannot say I am not a believer. Where ever you are, you are a believer. If you take a mango tree and plant it in the Antarctic, it is still the same. As a believer, we should not be changing based on circumstances and situations. Where ever you are, be a child of God. God always looks at you as a believer and as an anointed person.

CONCLUSION

Where ever the trumpet sounds gather there. Very soon, the last trumpet is going to sound.

• Do the work of the Lord? He needs you, and He believes in you.
• Always hold on to your weapon because the enemy always comes with his weapon. Our weapon is the Name above all Names, the Name of Jesus.
• Stay in Jerusalem. Your church is your Jerusalem. Establish yourself, grow and prepare to hear the sound of Trumpet.
• Be the guard. Keep a guard over your way and your mouth. Also, guard your family, your church, your ministry.
• Always keep your garments on you.

You have heard the Gospel many times. You hear the doctrines preached every week. But there is the last trumpet call. That last trumpet will sound only once. Only those who are prepared will hear the sound of the trumpet and be transformed to be with Jesus forever.