Unstoppable

Nehemiah 4:1–14 (ESV)

1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 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?” 3 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!” 4 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. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. 10 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.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 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. 14 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.”

Introduction:

In the book of Nehemiah, we see a powerful example of facing opposition and overcoming it through faith and determination. Nehemiah was a man called by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed. As he and the people worked diligently to rebuild, they faced fierce opposition from their enemies. In Nehemiah 4:1-14, we see how Nehemiah responded to this opposition and how we can apply his example to our own lives.

Recognize the Opposition (vv.1-3)

Nehemiah 4:1–3 ESV

1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 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?” 3 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!”

In these verses, we see that Nehemiah and the people faced ridicule and mockery from their enemies. Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the Jews, questioning their abilities and their motives. It can be disheartening to face opposition, especially when it comes in the form of ridicule and mockery. But Nehemiah did not let this deter him. Instead, he turned to God in prayer and continued the work of rebuilding the walls.

Illustration: Think of a time when you tried to achieve something important, only to be met with mockery or doubt from others. Perhaps it was starting a new business, going back to school, or pursuing a God-given dream. The discouragement can be real and intense.

Application: Like Nehemiah, we need to recognize that opposition is a part of life, especially when we are doing God's work. We should not be surprised or disheartened by it, but rather expect it and prepare ourselves to respond in faith.

Jesus Himself faced ridicule and rejection. In Mark 6:4, Jesus said,

Mark 6:4 ESV

4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

We should remember that if our Lord faced opposition, we will too.

Transition: Recognizing opposition is the first step. But how do we respond to it? Nehemiah shows us the importance of turning to God in prayer.

Pray for Strength and Protection (vv.4-5)

Nehemiah 4:4–5 ESV

4 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. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Nehemiah’s response to the opposition was to turn to God in prayer. He prayed for strength to continue the work and for protection from their enemies. Nehemiah recognized that the battle they were facing was not just physical but spiritual as well. By seeking God’s help through prayer, Nehemiah demonstrated his reliance on God’s power to overcome the opposition they faced.

Illustration: Picture a soldier going into battle. Before any fight, they would prepare themselves mentally and physically, but they would also seek guidance and strength from a higher power.

Application: In our spiritual battles, prayer is our greatest weapon. We must consistently turn to God, not just for help, but for strength and protection against the spiritual forces that oppose us.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us,

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Our battles are spiritual, and our prayers tap into God’s power to fight them.

Transition: Prayer is essential, but it’s not the only thing we must do. Nehemiah teaches us that we also need to take practical steps in the face of opposition.

Take Action and Stand Firm (vv.6-9)

Nehemiah 4:6–9 ESV

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

Nehemiah did not just rely on prayer alone, but he also took practical steps to address the opposition. He stationed guards to protect the workers and armed them with weapons. Nehemiah encouraged the people to be vigilant and to stand firm in the face of their enemies. He reminded them of the importance of the work they were doing and the need to persevere in the face of adversity.

Illustration: Consider the story of David and Goliath. David did not just pray for victory; he also took action by choosing five smooth stones and confronting Goliath with a sling.

Application: While prayer is essential, we must also take practical steps to stand firm and protect ourselves from opposition. This might mean setting boundaries, seeking accountability, or taking active steps to defend our faith and values.

James 2:17 says,

James 2:17 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Our faith must be active and accompanied by actions that reflect our trust in God.

Transition: Alongside taking action, we must also encourage and support one another. Nehemiah's leadership in this regard provides us with a powerful example.

Encourage One Another and Trust in God (vv.10-14)

Nehemiah 4:10–14 ESV

10 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.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 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. 14 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.”

As the opposition continued to escalate, Nehemiah encouraged the people to not be afraid, but to remember the Lord who is great and awesome. He reminded them to fight for their families, their homes, and their God. Nehemiah’s leadership inspired the people to trust in God and to continue the work despite the challenges they faced. By working together and supporting one another, they were able to overcome the opposition and complete the rebuilding of the walls.

Illustration: Imagine a sports team facing a tough opponent. The coach gathers the players and reminds them of their training, their strengths, and the importance of working together. This encouragement can boost their confidence and performance.

Application: In the face of opposition, we must encourage one another and remind each other of God's greatness and faithfulness. Our collective strength and unity in Christ can help us overcome any challenge.

Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us,

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Conclusion:

In our own lives, we will inevitably face opposition and challenges. Like Nehemiah, we can respond with faith and determination, trusting in God’s strength and protection. By recognizing the opposition, praying for strength, taking action, and encouraging one another, we can overcome whatever obstacles come our way. Let us be inspired by Nehemiah’s example and trust in God’s power to see us through any trial or tribulation.

Illustration: Reflect on the story of the early church in Acts. Despite severe persecution, the early Christians continued to spread the Gospel with boldness, relying on the Holy Spirit for strength and encouragement.

Application: As we face our own challenges, let us remember that we are not alone. We have a community of believers and a mighty God who fights for us. Let us stand firm, pray fervently, and encourage one another in our faith journey.

May we be inspired by Nehemiah’s example to overcome opposition with faith and determination, knowing that with God on our side, we are more than conquerors.