Nehemiah Series #11

Defeating Fear

Text: Nehemiah 6

Introduction

Mysophobia is fear of dirt. Hydrophobia is fear of water. Nyclophobia is the fear of darkness. Acrophobia is fear of high places. Taxophobia is fear of being buried alive. Xenophobia is fear of strangers. Necrophobia is fear of the dead. Claustrophobia is fear of  confined places. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

Unfortunately, many people who have learned to fear things that they probably shouldn’t have, never learned the fear of the God. Too few who have acrophobia have learned to fear God and to keep His commandments. Many who have some of these fears give no heed to the words of Christ: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Many fear what man can do to them but not what God will do at the judgment day if they do not repent and turn to Him in faith.

Rom. 8:15 “15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

1) Your Enemy Is Always Listening!

A. The distractions and conspiracy begins

What did they hear?

What the enemy hears is significant to how they interact with you.

The people had completed the wall with the exception of hanging the gates.

One thing that will always motivate the enemy to keep coming, is you keep moving forward.

What does the enemy hear from your life?

This is why jesus told Peter that the Devil desired to “sift him as wheat.”

Peter writes that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking those whom he may devour.

Fear was the cause of Peter to sink in the water.

Those whom the devil seeks:

God’s children

God called

Spirit empowered

God strengthened

Those who will let their guard down.

He is interested in sowing fear in the mind of the working class Christian.

The enemy no doubt sent an enticing message: “Lets work out our differences and stop fighting.”

The only thing the enemy wants to work out is to work you out of continuing to work for God’s purpose and glory.

2) The Work Is Always Great

A. “I am doing a great work”

This statement is remarkable!

This perspective is not an easy one to maintain in Kingdom work.

In spite of the ups and downs of Nehemiah ministry, he still viewed this work as GREAT!

It was more than Nehemiah words that tells us of his perspective of the work; it was his continuous investments.

How do we know of ourselves that we view worship, giving, service, prayer, evangelism as a great work?

How easy are you persuaded from those things?

What/whom persuaded you away from them?

What could truly be of greater value?

(vv.5-9) Lies leading to fear continues.

The enemy is going to continue until the last gate is hung.

All the enemy needs is ONE opening!

Things like this happen today.

False fabrications about your motives and plans and integrity.

A tactic to create fear in their leader.

Everything rises and falls with leadership.

ALL Christians are leaders!

Nehemiah knows his vulnerability.

(v9) Without God keeping his mind on the work and his hands doing the work, the work would STOP.

Nehemiah was saying, “God, keep me moving forward.”

3) Miss Use Of God’s House

A. Nehemiah is given fake news

The enemy hired a fake informer to trick Nehemiah.

The false story — Hide away in God’s house and preserve yourself out of fear, because the enemy is coming to kill you.

What is wrong with this picture?

Go to the house of God (place of worship)

Go there and preserve YOU (worship yourself)

At the heart of worship is FEARLESS SACRIFICE.

The devil would love for all of God’s children to hide away in their place of worship.

If that is all our Christianity amounts to, then we are all living as frauds.

Illustration: Don’t act like Mr. Rogers does when he enters and exists his staged home.

A worship that remains hidden from the world is a worship that hides from the world a Savior it needs.

If we truly worship Christ we will live out a sacrificial life for Christ.

Nehemiah kept his worship PURE & AUTHENTIC before GOD & God’s people.

Don’t forget what Nehemiah was actually doing; leading God’s people to worship God.

4) Defeating Fear Promotes Worship

What happens when God’s leaders and people continuous in the work without surrendering to fear?

The enemy is weakened

The enemy comes face to face with God

The work gets completed

The people continue with purpose for God’s glory

The people continue with greater strength

The people live with wisdom toward enemy

Conclusion

2 Tim. 1:7 “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Study the person of God

Think on the promises of God

Remember your identity in Christ