Nehemiah 4:1-9
"How To Build While Bombs Fall"
Gospelcom Bible Gateway
Many a good work has been looked upon with contempt by proud and haughty scorners. Those who disagree in almost every thing, will unite in persecution. Nehemiah did not answer these fools according to their folly, but looked up to God by prayer. God's people have often been a despised people, but he hears all the slights that are put upon them, and it is their comfort that he does so. Nehemiah had reason to think that the hearts of those sinners were desperately hardened, else he would not have prayed that their sins might never be blotted out. Good work goes on well, when people have a mind to it. The reproaches of enemies should quicken us to our duty, not drive us from it. (Ne 4:7-15)
Nehemiah 4:1-9
"1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--stones that are burned?" 3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall." 4Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders. 6So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night."
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INTRODUCTION:
A. Have you ever made a decision or a commitment only to have every thing fall apart?
B. Do you remember how you felt and what you thought?
C. In this chapter Nehemiah could be tempted to think these thoughts.
D. In Chapter 4 all of Nehemiah's joy and excitement was thwarted
E. Whenever we attempt to do anything for God expect the devil to come against you (John 15)
F. What do you do about it? Become a smart good fighter.
G. As a believer we are on the battle ground and we need to learn how to fight as a good soldier of Jesus Christ and fight the good fight of faith.
H. Nehemiah is attached bith externally and internally. Opposition by mockery and Opposition by connivers
I. Opposition by mocker
A. Who was Sanballat? The governor of Samaria (Neh 2)
B. He laughed in Neh 2, is angry in Neh 4
C. As the governor he controlled the tax base. AS the Jews built the walls he wold lose revenue in the tax base
D. Tobiah was a long term enemy of the Jews. (cf. Balam and the Ammonites)
E. God placed a curse up to the 10th generation of the Ammonites
F. Note that the enemies are identified.
G. In any battle you have questions to ask
1. Who is the enemy?
2. What are they doing?
3. How do they operate?
H. The devil is both real and personal
I. How would you answer the questions above regarding the devil?
J. Notice what Sanballat spoke.
K. What does devil mean? (Rev 12)
L. When you decide that God will be both Lord and Savior you can expect all of the forces of this world to be aligned against you.
M. How did Nehemiah respond (Neh 4:4) Notice what he prayed.
N. Whenever the world goes against God's people, God takes it personally.
O. After the prayed they persisted.
II. Opposition by connivers
A.
B.
C.
APPLICATION:
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2.
3.
MEMORY VERSE: Nehemiah 4:6
6So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.