Intro:

This morning we are going to get right into our passage of Scripture. Our focus today is going to be a continuation of what we were talking about last week…

The Necessity of Perseverance - pt.2

In the first 9 verses of chapter 4, we saw a couple of the weapons or tactics that Satan uses on a regular basis, Ridicule and Intimidation. This morning we are going to focus on another one of those weapons…

Lets look at the rest of Nehemiah chapter 4… (Read vv. 10-23)

Satan’s Weapons/Tactics...

Ridicule

Intimidation

Meat:

One day, Satan decided to have a yard sale. He laid out all his tools, each one with a price tag. There was Pride, Envy, Anger, Greed, Hatred,… even the ones that we looked at last week… Ridicule and Intimidation... —all deadly tools he had used over the years to lead people astray.

A curious onlooker noticed an old, well-worn tool set apart from the rest. It looked tired, but it was clearly cherished and carefully guarded. When he asked Satan how much he wanted for that one, Satan laughed, saying, “Oh, that one is not for sale.”

“Why not?” asked the onlooker.

“Because,” Satan replied with a dark grin, “that tool is more useful to me than all the others… most people don’t even realize that I am the one who is using it… With it, I can pry open the hearts of people, even when nothing else works. Once inside, I can plant whatever I want.”

And with that, he carefully tucked his tool of “Discouragement” away… … knowing he would be using it again very soon.

As you can see on your outline, numbers one and two are the weapons that we looked at last week… Ridicule and Intimidation… … Number 3 on your outline, is what we are going to hone in on today…

3. Discouragement

Satan’s use of discouragement is often illustrated as a subtle but incredibly effective tactic… and he waits until the perfect time before he uses it…

Notice it comes after the ridicule and intimidation…

Discouragement works by undermining a person’s confidence, faith, or hope, making them feel like they’re incapable of achieving their goals or handling life’s challenges.

It taps into self-doubt, convincing someone that their efforts are futile or that they’ll never be "good enough."

Basically it takes all of the words spoken in ridicule and intimidation and it makes them seem so believable, that they become louder than any truth or reassurance. It plants seeds of doubt that grow into towering walls, blocking out the light of hope and magnifying every fear and flaw.

Even the faintest negative words echo persistently in the mind, drowning out encouragement and convincing the heart that the worst fears are true.

Soon, discouragement replaces confidence with anxiety, resilience with resignation, until the person sees only their limits, and not their potential.

Once a person feels defeated, they’re less likely to continue fighting or pursuing the work they are involved in… …

And that is exactly what we see happening here in our passage today.

As godly leaders we are going to be faced with discouragement… whether it is our own discouragement or trying to help people navigate through their times of discouragement… … We can be sure that we will face it time and time again.

Nehemiah and the people have been dealing with the ridicule and intimidation since they started the building project and it was emotionally draining…

Also, if you remember from v.6 last week… they were about half way done with the wall…

Nehemiah 4:6 “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

I believe the main reason that Satan’s attack of discouragement was so effective here, is because everyone was…

3.1 Physically Worn Out

v.10 “Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.””

Remember, the finished wall is roughly 2 miles around, it stood about 40 feet high, and was about 8 feet thick… … Here in Nehemiah chapter 4, it is about half its height… basically half done…

So, its already 2 miles around… its already 8 foot thick… and its standing about 20 feet high…

They don’t have cranes like we do today, they don’t have cement mixers like we have, no excavators, no bulldozers… The machines are the people and the people are physically worn out… … Their initial enthusiasm has worn out, they look around and see how much work still needs to be done, they are constantly hearing the ridicule and intimidation of their enemies… and discouragement sets in.

Listen… Satan knows when to use the specific weapons that he has at his disposal… and if you think back to the last time you were discouraged… I will go out on a limb and say that before the discouragement set in, you went through something that was either spiritually, emotionally or physically exhausting… maybe it was something that exhausted you in all 3 of those areas and all of the sudden something happens and… boom!… you are super discouraged…

If you feel like you fit that description… let me tell you… you are not alone! … Even the Prophet Elijah fell into the pit of discouragement shortly after a spiritual victory…

We don’t have time to turn there this morning, but write in your notes, 1 Kings 18 & 19…

In 1 Kings chapter 18, Elijah confronts the prophets of the false god Baal… This is where the prophets of Baal spend an entire day trying to get him to send fire from heaven… and of course he doesn’t, because Baal is a false god.

Then when it is Elijah’s turn, he builds an altar, completely saturates with water, prays to the One True God and before he can say Amen, fire falls from the sky and consumes the altar, the sacrifice that was on it, and all the water that was poured on and around it.

Following his confrontation with the prophets of Baal, Elijah prayed for rain, which had been withheld for three years. God answered his prayer, sending heavy rain to signal the end of the drought. This was a significant spiritual victory for Elijah and a demonstration of God's power.

After the rain began, Elijah, empowered by the Lord, ran ahead of King Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel, a distance of about 17 miles… when he gets to Jezreel, Elijah received a message from Queen Jezebel, who threatened to kill him in retaliation for the defeat of the prophets of Baal.

This sudden shift from triumph to fear shook Elijah deeply and introduced a wave of discouragement… And at the beginning of Chapter 19 we see Elijah fleeing from Jezebel, hiding in the wilderness and asking God to take his life right then and there…

Satan saw that Elijah was spiritually, emotionally and physically worn out and this is when he decided to use his favorite tool of Discouragement.

For the ones building the wall with Nehemiah, Satan was able to use the fact that they were physically worn out to be a foundation for their discouragement and it…

3.2 Changed Their Focus

They’ve got this massive wall that it is in front of them… 2 miles around, 8 feet thick, 20 feet high… and they have accomplished the first half in record time… and yet, what are they focused on…???

still in v.10 - “Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.””

The “rubbish” refers to the broken stones, debris, and other remnants left from the previous wall’s destruction by the Babylonians. This debris littered the construction site, making it difficult to lay a new foundation or build the wall efficiently. The more they focused on the rubble, the more daunting their task seemed.

Initially, the people were filled with zeal to rebuild the wall, inspired by Nehemiah’s leadership and God’s provision. But as they became overwhelmed by the sheer amount of rubble, their focus shifted from the vision of a completed wall to the current obstacles. This “rubbish” became a symbol of everything holding them back and distracted them from their goal.

Seeing the vast amounts of rubble left over from the past destruction reminded them of Jerusalem's brokenness and their former defeat. They began to feel incapable, thinking they would never be able to clear the debris and rebuild. This is evident by the last phrase of v.10 “… we are not able to build the wall.”

This focus on the rubble took away their confidence and fed their doubt,... which unfortunately overpowered their initial faith and determination… Discouragement changed their focus from the progress to the problems.

Satan uses rubbish to change our focus as well… The “rubbish” in our lives can represent the remnants of past failures, obstacles, or negative thoughts that hinder progress. Just like in Nehemiah’s time, focusing on these “rubbish” elements can drain us, breed discouragement, and make us lose sight of the purpose God has for us as godly leaders.

For the people rebuilding the wall… Satan didn’t just change their focus from the progress to the problems… he also changed their focus from the Protector to the Peril… look at vv. 11-12

“And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.” 12 So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.””

These verses reveal how the constant threats from the enemy shifted the people's focus to fear and the overwhelming nature of their task. By focusing on the threats and their own limitations, they began to lose sight of God’s power and protection, allowing discouragement to weaken their faith.

Just like the people in Nehemiah's time, we often allow discouragement to shift our focus from God to the dangers, challenges, or uncertainties we face. When we dwell on what could go wrong or on our own limitations, we lose sight of God’s power and protection.

Is it any wonder that Paul tells us in…

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

When our focus is right we see challenges through the lens of God's truth, power, and promises rather than through fear and doubt.

By centering our minds on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy, we guard against discouragement and allow God's peace to shape our mindset.

For a brief moment it would seem that Satan’s plan worked on those who were rebuilding the wall… The discouragement that he caused…

3.3 Halted the Project

Again, this was just for a small portion of time. And what I see here is a situation that Satan meant for evil and God meant it for good.

And I say that because Absolutely, Satan likely saw the brief pause in the work as a victory, assuming that his tactics had succeeded in halting God's project permanently.

Yet, what Satan intended as a final blow became an opportunity for Nehemiah and the people to regroup, pray, and refocus. This temporary halt allowed Nehemiah to reassess and strengthen the people—not only physically but spiritually and emotionally as well.

In reality, God used this moment to bring the people together, igniting a deeper sense of unity, vigilance, and dependence on Him. Instead of giving up, they were reminded of the greatness of their Protector, who was far mightier than any opposition.

As godly leaders we need to realize that when we or the ones that we are leading are exhausted and discouraged, sometimes the only thing that will get us to regroup and refocused on the proper things, is some rest.

The rest of the chapter is…

3.4 Nehemiah’s Response

We know from last week that he has already responded to Satan’s attacks with prayer and now we see that he responds with action…

We will go through these verses kind of quick…

V.13 “Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.”

At the beginning of the project, there were some families that were working together and working right close to their homes… and now it seems, Nehemiah has made sure that everyone is working right alongside their families.

Because our families are a source of encouragement and motivation

And if they were attacked, men would fight more courageously to keep their families safe from harm.

v.14 -“And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.””

Nehemiah gets the people to refocus on the Lord, Who is Great and Awesome… reminding them that it is the One True, Great and Awesome God that will protect them… and he reminds them of their motivation to get this project completed… their families.

After they were able to regroup and get refocused on God, look at what happened...

v.15 - “And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.”

The discouragement is gone, Israel is was prepared to fight and all of the sudden, the enemies threats cease… but even though the threats cease, Nehemiah doesn’t let his guard down… He sets up long term defence plan to get them through the remainder of project.

Remember, this is a small group of Jews that are doing this project… they don’t have an established military to send out, so they are all pulling double duty.

vv.16-18 - “So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.”

He made 2 separate groups that would alternate responsibilities… One group would be working and the other was standing on the wall ready to fight…

vv.19-20 - “19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.””

He set a specific rallying point in case they were attacked… wherever you hear the trumpet, come to that place and… what did he say would happen… “Our God will fight for us”

He’s making sure their focus is staying in the right place…

v.21 - “So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.”

They were working overtime hours in order to get the project completed as soon as they could.

v.22 - Nehemiah 4:22 “At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.””

He had everyone stay within the walls at night… even the ones who travelled from outside of the city to work… during the last half of the project, they stayed within the walls…

First of all, so that they could get decent rest and not have to get up so early in order to back to the city for the next work day.

It also served as a way of protection so that the enemies couldn’t attack them as they travelled home at night.

And then v.23 says…

“So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.”

Nehemiah, his servants and the few guards that he had from King Artaxerxes, didn’t allow themselves to become complacent or distracted, instead keeping their focus on both the work and the need for defense. This level of readiness reflects their reliance on God while also taking practical steps to guard against attacks. It’s a powerful reminder of the spiritual discipline required to persist in God’s work, staying equipped with both faith and a readiness to defend against the enemy’s attacks.

As you look at the recent groups who have attacked Israel… as soon as Israel retaliates, the leaders of these terrorist groups try their best to get as far away from Israel as they can and leave their loyal subjects to fight the war by themselves.

Not Nehemiah. He stood with his people on the front lines, sharing in their struggles, sacrifices, and dangers. He didn’t abandon them but remained present, vigilant, and fully invested in both their protection and the mission at hand. …

And as godly leaders we need to do the same—standing beside those we lead, setting an example of faithfulness, courage, and commitment. True leadership means being present in both the challenges and the victories, demonstrating a willingness to endure hardships alongside others, and embodying a steadfast trust in God, regardless of the cost.

Closing:

When Discouragement crept into the lives of these people, Nehemiah dealt with it wisely and quickly… and we need to make sure we do the same and persevere by…

Be mindful of your emotional, spiritual, and physical state, especially during or after significant challenges or victories. When you feel worn out, it’s essential to rest, take in spiritual and physical nourishment, and seek support and encouragement from other godly leaders.

During times of discouragement, remind yourself of God's promises and past victories in your life. Surround yourself with uplifting influences, whether through scripture, prayer, or encouraging relationships, to counteract those feelings of discouragement.

And finally… Acknowledge that feelings of discouragement can be a tactic or weapon used by Satan to distract you from your purpose. When you sense discouragement creeping in, actively counter it by focusing on the truth of who you are in Christ and the work God is doing in and through you.

“… whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Prayer: