First Baptist Church, Quartzsite

06/02/2026

THE TROWEL AND THE SWORD

“With one hand they labored in the work, and with the other they held a weapon.” Nehemiah 4:17-18

What a picture Nehemiah gives our modern culture! A trowel for building and a sword for defending. The Bible tells us that we have a dual call on our lives.

The trowel is our call to faithfulness in building God's kingdom.

Nehemiah’s workers were tasked with restoring the broken walls of Jerusalem, a city that symbolized God’s presence and covenant with His people.

Faithfulness means showing up consistently and persevere in faithful acts—praying for a struggling friend, serving in ministry, or living out biblical values in a skeptical world. Diligence requires us to approach these tasks with excellence, not cutting corners but giving our best to honor God.

The apostle Paul echoes this principle in Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord." Our trowel is always in hand, shaping lives for God’s glory. Remember faithfulness is not always flashy, but messy! Are we will to get a little dirty for the kingdom of God?

The sword is bravery in the face of opposition.

While the trowel represents constructive laboring, the sword signifies courageous standing. For Christians, the spiritual battle we face requires bravery to uphold our faith.

Bravery does not mean the absence of fear but the presence of faith to stand up and speak up.

Keep in mind that Nehemiah’s workers were not trained soldiers; they were ordinary people like priests, goldsmiths and merchants. But get this, they stood together ready to protect the work of God and proclaim their faith in God.

Christians today may feel at times ill-equipped to face a world that often ridicules or rejects biblical values. But bravery is not about our strength; it’s about trusting in God’s power to sustain us.

In a culture that increasingly challenges Christian convictions—whether on issues of morality, truth, or justice—bravery means speaking truth with love, standing firm in our beliefs, and refusing to compromise our faith for approval. It means being willing to face criticism or loss for the sake of Christ, knowing that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Ephesians 6:12).

The story of Nehemiah challenges us to live our lives with the trowel and the sword in our hands while we balance our diligent work with courageous faith.

Standing in the gap!

Pastor Paul

06/01/2026

You're Invited!

05/31/2026

Good morning! Mark Lauer's sermon: "Nocturnal Faith: Faith That Sees In The Dark" Acts 16

05/25/2026

05/23/2026

Sunday is coming! Join us @ 10am for worship and the word! Pastor Paul's sermon: "Trust Me Enough To Walk With Me" Mark 5.

05/22/2026

Ladies! Don't miss! This Friday @ 10am! Invite a friend!

05/19/2026

MIDNIGHT DARKNESS

“At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous works.” Psalm 119:62

A young man's wife became very ill and died, leaving him with their four-year old daughter. When they got home after the funeral, dad brought his daughter's little bed into his room, so they could face the long dark night together.

Throughout the midnight hours, his daughter was having a hard time sleeping; and so was dad. Nothing could pierce his heart more than hearing his little girl sobbing for a mother who would never come back. So dad tried to comforted her the best he could.

Finally, his daughter stopped crying and dad thought she had fallen asleep. So he looked up toward heaven and said, "Father God, I trust you, but it's as dark as midnight." Hearing her dad's prayer, the little girl began to cry again.

Dad said, “I thought you were asleep.” Then his daughter said, “Dad, did you ever know it could be so dark outside – I can't even see you.” Then she said, “But, you love me even if it's dark, don’t you? You love me even if I can't see you, don't you?” Then dad held his daughter until she went to sleep. That’s when he took his daughter's words and prayed, “O Father, it's dark as midnight. I can't see You at all. But I know You love me even when it's dark and I can't see you.”

Just as King David, who wrote Psalm 119, and the dad in the story, were facing difficult days, they both refused to take their minds off of the Lord. Both men were not going to be robbed of offering up their prayers to God in their pain.

Gratitude is a powerful part of our life in Christ. Studying the life of David reveals a man with many midnight prayers offered to God. He was a very wound warrior but throughout his writings he was a man that never forgot to be thankful and grateful. I find that this attitude helped him overcome the hurts and hang-up from his past. Always remember that gratitude is an attitude that helps us fight off demonic oppression, debilitating depression, and daily temptations.

Refuse to become inward focused, but rather upwards focused, rising at midnight to praise the Lord! Be careful, there is a thief called selfishness that robs us of great blessings and breakthroughs when we focus inwardly.

When was the last time you stopped in the midst of your darkness and despair and realized that regardless of the hurt and hardships, that the Lord is still so good to you, regardless of the midnight madness? Don’t skip out on offering up thanks in the midnight hour, in the darkest days, and in the stormy seasons! I challenge you to remember the Lord when that midnight hour comes to you. The Lord is up, His light is on – He’s just waiting for you.

God bless you!

Pastor Dave