God’s Accomplishment
Notes
Transcript
Nehemiah 6:15-19
Nehemiah 6:15-19
There have been significant accomplishments by men. One that comes to mind is the Hoover Dam. It is a feat like none other in the world today. It was completed between 1930 and 1936. It is the largest arch-gravity dam in the United States. It impounds Lake Mead, some 115 miles upstream, the largest man-made lake in the world. It has an estimated 7 million visitors annually, with 1 million taking tours of the dam. It is 726 feet high and 1244 feet across. It took 4.4 million cubic yards of concrete. There were over 100 fatalities during the construction of the dam. With all its impressive facts, this feat would not have been possible unless God had been with them. It was a fantastic feat but not nearly as amazing as building the wall in 52 days.
The wall was 7000 feet long, and they had to maneuver through the rubbish. Most of the workers were not masonries but everyday people. It shows us what God can accomplish through ordinary people when they are faithful and willing—three points stand out in this story.
1. God accomplishes His will through faithful servants.
2. It shows us what is possible when the community works together.
3. Completing a task or mission does not always result in the cessation of hostilities.
God accomplishes His will through faithful servants.
God accomplishes His will through faithful servants.
We defeat opposition by working in God’s will in our lives, community, and families. Through our faithfulness to God, others will see God’s power. Throughout the Bible, we see stories of men and women whom God used to carry out His purpose. These men and women were ordinary, just like us, but allowed God to use them to do extraordinary feats. Nehemiah and the Israelites are stories of accomplishing a task that people knew God was with them.
They built a 7000-foot wall, consumed by rubble in 52 days. They did this without the machinery that we use. Could you imagine your boss coming to you and saying, “I need you and all your coworkers to rebuild this building in 52 days.” What would be your first thought? I am calling HR and turning him in for suspicion of drugs!
The surrounding nations lost heart because they knew God was with them. We read about when God is with His people and we moving in His will how the opposition lose confidence. Exodus 23:27 Joshua 2:9 Deuteronomy 2:25
I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’
The word perceived “ye d u” means to know, notice, and realize. They come to realize who you belong to.
“It is not what you know but Who you belong to that makes all the difference.”
But God, if He is with us, anything is possible! Matthew 19:26 Romans 8:31-33
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
The surrounding people knew that the True Living God was with His people, and they did not stand a chance.
I remember growing up, and when I went to sleep, if my dad was in the house, I knew absolutely nothing could get me. I fell asleep with peace, knowing my dad would protect me. We can be confident knowing our Father is with us when we go anywhere.
Let us turn to Jeremiah 29:11–13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
It shows us what is possible when the community works together.
It shows us what is possible when the community works together.
It amazes me how people can unite about irrelevant issues, and most do not know about them. They listen to some reporter or politician being told or paid to create some false narrative. The one I love is, “If you do not agree with me, you hate me.” I am not sure where disagreeing has become hate, but there are fallacies in this logic. I am sure the people probably disagreed on how the wall was built with each stone, but they worked together. There was an objective that would benefit each of them. So, what did they do? They worked together.
When God’s people, called by His name, come together with one joint mission, they can do the impossible. Think about how Ezra and the community built the temple. They faced opposition, but by working together and doing God’s will, the opposition could not stop their task. How about the Israelites when they encompassed Jericho and came together to do what God commanded? Jericho’s wall could not stop them.
His people doing His will can accomplish His task, but we also need to remember there will be opposition even when it is completed.
Completing a task or mission does not always result in the cessation of hostilities.
Completing a task or mission does not always result in the cessation of hostilities.
I am guilty of believing that once the task is completed, the opposition will stop. What I have come to find out is it will amp up. Once the Pharisees and Sadducees crucified Jesus, they went after His disciples. They understood that it would grow if His disciples kept carrying out His command. Just as the Jews finished the wall, the opposition knew they lost control but would not stop trying to get the power back.
We must be diligent and steadfast to stay united against the enemy even when we are done with a task. I can honestly say when I lower my guard, it is when I fail.
In Nehemiah’s time, as he led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, he faced opposition from surrounding nations. Despite the mockery and threats, he stayed focused, telling the workers to keep building with one hand while wielding a sword in the other! It reminds me of a time when I attempted to bake a cake while my kids decided to have a food fight in the kitchen. I had flour everywhere, yet I somehow managed to finish that cake. We often face distractions and opposition, but laughter and perseverance can lead to incredible victories.
Application:
Application:
1. We must remember that His accomplishments are through us.
2. We can accomplish more together than apart.
3. Opposition is a good thing. Knowing you are on the right track allows you to be encouraged.