"OPPOSITION AND DISCOURAGEMENT"

Nehemiah 4:1–4 “Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.”

>>>Sanballat and Tobiah (and Geshem) were still opposed to the work of the Jews and mocked them.

*(v.2) He was among the wealthy (army) of the Samaritan people. His calling them “feeble” was a way to contrast themselves with the Jews.

*His jeering suggested it was impossible for the Jews to rebuild the wall.

*(v.3) Tobiah mocked the strength of the wall-that even something as light as a fox could tip it over.

>>>(v.4) Once again, Nehemiah prays. He prays against the opposition he was facing from his enemies.

OPPOSITION FROM OUR ENEMY

>>>As we are following God’s call, will face opposition. Ultimately this is opposition from our real enemy-Satan.

>>>“Satan” means “enemy” or “adversary”. He is always against God and His people.

>>>The way we fight against our enemy? We begin with prayer.

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Nehemiah 4:10–12 “In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.””

>>>In contrast to the energy and motivation to build the wall in chapter 2, the task now seemed impossible.

*(v.10) The strength of the workers was failing. There was also too much rubble to get through to continue a wall that was only half its height.

*(v.11-12) The people then began to listen to the plot of the enemy. The attitude among the people was “just give up”.

OPPOSITION FROM OURSELVES.

>>>We can be our own worst enemy. We walk by our sight and our weakness instead by faith in what God has called us to do.

>>>It seems like the more we get discouraged in our own strength, the louder the voice of the devil becomes.

>>>Our natural reaction when discouraged is to give up.

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Nehemiah 4:13–14 “So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.””

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WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OPPOSITION AND DISCOURAGEMENT? REMEMBER AND FIGHT!

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