NEHEMIAH
The book of Nehemiah tells
us exactly what we are likely to come against in serving the Lord.
Walls were broken down,
the gates burnt
1. Opposition through being despised 2:19-20
2. Opposition through ridicule 4:1-6
3. Opposition through the threat of attack 4:7-9
4. Opposition through discouragement 4:10
5. Opposition through extortion 5:1-13
6. Opposition through compromise 6:1-4
7. Opposition through slander 6:5-9
8. Opposition through treachery 6:10-14
1. Opposition through being despised 2:19-20
His authority was
challenged
By what authority do you
do this?
It is essential to know
our calling.
That we are not acting on
our own imaginations.
Compare Peter and John in
Acts 4. Who do you think you are?
We should not despise not
the days of small things
Timothy, let no man
despise thy youth
The God of heaven Himself
will prosper us
2.
Opposition
through ridicule 4:1-6
An attack was made upon
their ability to complete the work.
"Not by might, nor by
power, but by my spirit", Zechariah 4:6
Sanballat mocked the Jews
Tobiah the Ammonite even
if a fox goes up on it, he will break it down. Nehemiah did not try to defend
himself but brought his cause before God.
The people had a mind to
work
3. Opposition
through being threatened 4:7-9
The threat of attack
Watch and pray
Enemies angry when they
saw the work progressing.
Conspired to attack
Set a watch. 4:9
4. Opposition
through discouragement
All the rubbish had to be
cleared.
Rubbish will hinder the
work – needs to be cleared.
In ministry – rubbish
needs to be cleared.
The rubbish of worldly
attitudes
The rubbish of false
doctrines
The rubbish of speculative
teaching built on a particular idea or interpretation, e.g. speculative
demonology.
"Do not be afraid of
them remember the Lord.” 4:4
5. Opposition through extortion 5:1-13
All things common in the
early church.
Caring for each other.
John 15:10-11 If you keep my commandments
v12 love one another as I
have loved you.
1 Peter
The doctrine of Christ
6. Opposition through compromise 6:1-4
Let us meet together
6:3 “I am doing a great
work”
Inspired leadership
Four times he answered the
message the same way.
Ezra 4:1-4
2 Kings 17:24-33
7. Opposition through slander 6:5-9
The enemy attacked his
motives.
Building your own kingdom
'Now O God strengthen my
hands'
He was determined -
steadfast nothing was going to move him
He knew his calling.
8. Opposition through treachery 6:10-14
Out of fear tried to get
Nehemiah to sin
Nehemiah was bold - Should
such a man as I flee. v11
Nehemiah knew who he was
“They that know their God
shall be strong…”, Daniel 11:32.
Compare Mordecai,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, etc..
Final outcome