Resilient Rebuilders 10: Staying Focused When the Walls are Down

Nehemiah 6

Intro

Matthew 6:33 NASB 2020

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

The Lord has already told us that if we will stay focused on what He has called us to do, He will come through for us.

Truth

I. When God’s work increases, so does the opposition.

When the forces of darkness see God’s people going about God’s work and success is evident, the forces of darkness often work even harder to slow down and discourage the work.

Nehemiah was a master at handling opposition to God’s work in his life. Let’s take a look at some example here and learn from him.

Sanballat and Geshem

Nehemiah 6:1–4 NASB 2020

Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it, although at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates, Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let’s meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were plotting to harm me. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” Then they sent messages to me four times worded in this way, and I answered them with the same wording.

Challenge: come at me bro.

Reminds me of a middle school boy calling out another boy he is mad at for a fight.

Sanballat and Geshem had an immature way of dealing with their conflict, but Nehemiah wasn’t having it.

Resolution: ain't nobody got time for your shenanigans. I'm doing God's work.

When the forces of darkness come at us, it is an opportunity for us to remember that we are doing the Lord’s work and no one can stop the Lord’s work.

We don’t have time to be distracted by the silliness of the world and to go down their pathway.

Sanballat

Nehemiah 6:5–9 NASB 2020

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. In it was written: “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; for that reason you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports. You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let’s consult together.” Then I sent a message to him saying, “Nothing like these things that you are saying has been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind.” For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, God, strengthen my hands.

Challenge: Threat to lie to the king about Nehemiah rebelling against him.

Answer: Lie is called out and the threat ignored.

Prayer: But now, God, strengthen my hands.

Again, he isn’t playing the world’s game but rather appeals to the Lord for strength to continue and to overcome.

Shemaiah, hired by Sanballat and Tobiah

Nehemiah 6:10–14 NASB 2020

When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, “Let’s meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let’s close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And who is there like me who would go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go in.” Then I realized that God certainly had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He was hired for this reason, that I would become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could taunt me. Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in accordance with these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets, who were trying to frighten me.

Challenge: False prophecy regarding a threat on Nehemiah's life.

Resolution: Refusal to give in to fear, discerning of the spirits.

Prayer

Nehemiah 6:14 NASB 2020

Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in accordance with these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets, who were trying to frighten me.

II. When God’s work is accomplished, it demoralizes the forces of darkness.

Nehemiah 6:15–19 NASB 2020

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they realized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Also in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. Moreover, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence, and were reporting my words to him. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Outcome

When we keep our eyes focused on God's kingdom and his ways, God will come through for us. 1. The wall was miraculously completed. 2. The enemies of the Lord were exposed, humiliated, and terrified. 3. God's people were preserved and restored. 4. The land was made a little more ready for Christ.

Gospel Application

Who is God? He is the Lord who does whatever He pleases, whether people like it or not.

What has God done? He has carried out His work through His people.

Who are we? We are God’s chosen people in Christ.

What will we do? We will stay focused on God’s work, trusting Christ to carry out His work through us in our days just as He did for Nehemiah.

Challenge

We must not allow the forces of darkness to be more persistent than we are as God’s people. (6:4)

Luke 16:8–9 NASB 2020

And his master complimented the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it is all gone, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.

The source of true courage will be our walk with the Lord. (6:9)

James 4:7–10 NASB 2020

Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

We can spot false prophets when said prophets are encouraging us to do something which is contradictory to God’s word. (6:12)

Knowing God’s word and being in tune with the Holy Spirit gives us supernatural ability to resist the enemy’s attempts to throw us off of God’s path.