Announcements:

• Women’s Meeting (Next one August 19, at 9:30am)
• King Jesus will be praised worship night (July 30, 2023 at 6pm)
• Prayer meeting (Next One August 6, 2023 at 6pm).  First Sunday of every month
• Spanish Translation for the sermon is now available at HCC.  Feel free to invite Spanish speaking people to church.
• Outreach carnival event Friday July 28, 2023 at 6pm
• Shoe Giveaway Saturday August 5, 2023 at 3pm
• Youth meet every Saturday at 6:30pm.
• Pray for HCC and Open Hands Community Charitable Services as we prepare to expand our service to the community.

Sermon Notes:

Main Point:  Let the church arise and fight to defend this Holy Ground.

Defining Holy Ground:

• Where righteousness is welcomed.
• Where King Jesus is genuinely praised
• Where the presence of the Holy Spirit is evident because of the praises of God’s people
  • in your heart
  • in your home
  • in the church

Steps Nehemiah took the defend Holy Ground

Nehemiah 1:1-11.

1. Nehemiah asked the question:  How are God’s people doing?
   1. We must be spiritually aware that the enemy is at war with us and the enemy uses our sinful carnal nature against us.  
   2. Only when we are led by the spirit of God can we defend Holy Ground.
2. Nehemiah realized God’s people needed revival.  Holy Ground is not being defended
   1. We must be aware of that we are in urgent times and we need revival.  
   2. A move of God.  
   3. A passion to defend Holy Ground
3. Nehemiah wept and fasted and prayed. (This is spiritual warfare)
   1. Asking God to hear his prayer
   2. Confesses of sins from the children of Israel and from his family
   3. Ask God for mercy
4. Nehemiah goes to the front of the battle to defend Holy Ground in Jerusalem 
   1. If we are going to see a genuine move of God, the church must go to battle in the spirit realm.  
   2. By the time we come to church Sunday morning, we must have already been in battle.
5. Nehemiah begins to repair things that are broken 
   1. Be prepared to make changes to fix the things in your life that do not glorify God; if you do not remove and fix broken things in your life you will not be able to defend Holy Ground.
6. Nehemiah 4:1-2.  Nehemiah encounters resistance 
   1. Of course, we will encounter resistance when we begin to defend Holy Ground.  
   2. When you encounter resistance, rejoice you are defending Holy Ground.
7. Nehemiah 7:1-4.  The wall was built and order was established to do things God’s way.  
   1. When revival comes, and many are saved and set free, we must be good stewards and make sure order is established to do things Gods way.  
   2. Let no man get the glory in a move of God.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

• When God’s people are in the spiritual fight, the enemy will be defeated.
• There are so many people that will be saved, set free, and delivered because we decided to fight the good fight in spiritual warfare
• Genuinely Pray and fast, Praise and worship, consistently and you will experience the presence of God in habit the praises of his people
• It is up to us to set the atmosphere that will defend this Holy Ground.