It's Time to Rebuild

Introduction

When the people of God are building the kingdom, the enemies of God will rise up to discourage.

Discouragement and opposition comes in various forms:

Contempt - 2: 10

Little regard for your efforts

Mocking - 2: 19-20

Nehemiah responds, basically saying “God will help us”

Ridicule - 4: 1-3

Nehemiah prays

Conspiracies - 4: 7-8, 11

Nehemiah and the people pray

The people kept building, protected themselves

God frustrated their plans

Fear - 4: 14

Nehemiah encouraged the people

The people built and prepared for a fight

Distractions - 6: 2-5

Five letters attempting to get Nehemiah to quit building

Nehemiah kept building

Lies - 6: 6-9

Opponents fabricated stories in attempt to frighten, even hired someone to

Nehemiah prayed

Threats - 6: 10-14

Nehemiah prayed and kept building

Lost their confidence - 6: 15-16

When the task is complete, the opposition lost heart

Continued attempts to frighten - 6: 17-19

Even after wall and doors were finished, letters still came