Standing in the Cross+hairs - pt.2

Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro:
Last week we opened up chapter 6 of Nehemiah and we started looking at the mindset, strategies, and tools we need to have, in our arsenal, when we are standing in the cross-hairs of Satan.
Standing in the Cross+hairs - pt.2
Standing in the Cross+hairs - pt.2
Nehemiah has dealt with and effectively combated every attack that Satan has thrown at the people who are rebuilding the wall… And he now stands directly in Satan’s cross-hairs because of it…
Discernment
Commitment
Integrity
In verses 1-9 he has used Discernment to avoid distraction, deception and division… He has shown his commitment to the mission, through unwavering resistance… and he has exhibited integrity, in-spite of the rumors that were being spread and through the way that he responded to such rumors.
Let’s look at the rest of this chapter together…
(Read vv.10-19)
We need to have…
Meat:
I found out last week that a couple of my kids are clock watchers… After the service, I was promptly informed that they knew I was going into over time due to the fact that when I started my second point, they looked at the clock and it was 11:55…
Well here’s a good fix for that… On this morning’s outline I’ve listed the first three items that we need to have in our arsenals…
Discernment, commitment and integrity… and this morning we will just add to it… but for the record… it is (whatever time it is) and I am on point #4… which is…
We need to have…
4. Confidence
4. Confidence
When Satan unleashes his attacks, one of his most effective and insidious weapons is doubt… Satan knows that doubt doesn’t require immediate results; it’s like a slow-acting poison, subtly eroding our trust and planting seeds of uncertainty.
He whispers questions, just like he did in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really say…?” These questions aim to make us second-guess the clarity of God’s Word, the certainty of His calling, and the sufficiency of His grace.
Ultimately, if Satan can get us to doubt, he can shift our focus away from God and onto our own inadequacies,… our own circumstances… and our own fears.
Satan has been trying to tear down Nehemiah’s confidence with Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem… and guess what… its not working… and when his plan doesn’t work right away, then Satan gives up, right?!… absolutely not!
In v.10 we are introduced to a man named, Shemaiah…
Nehemiah 6:10 “10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer;
We are not told why Nehemiah went to the house of Shemaiah… My sanctified imagination thinks that Shemaiah requested to see him…
I struggled a little bit this week with v.10 because most, every other translation says something along these lines…
Nehemiah 6:10 (NASB95)
10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home…
Nehemiah 6:10 (KJV 1900)
10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up…
Nehemiah 6:10 (NIV)
10 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home…
But the NKJV says…
Nehemiah 6:10 (NKJV)
10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer…
When you go back to the original Hebrew, it does not have any mention of a “secret informer” (at least in transcripts listed in the program that I use), but it does have the word that can be translated as restrained, arrested or locked up.
Why the NKJV has it translated this way… I have no idea… it is not a contradiction of Scripture, it is just the way their team chose to translate this verse, based off from the transcripts they were using…
All that being said… we can knowledgeably say that Shemaiah was, for one reason or another, confined to his home… the fact that his genealogy is listed, tells us that he was probably someone who was well known in the community (possibly thought to have been a prophet of God, as evidenced in v. 12)… and from the conversation that he has with Nehemiah, it will become very clear that he is in fact, a secret informer…
What he says in the latter half of v.10 gives it away...
Nehemiah 6:10 (NKJV)
10 … and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.”
… and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.””
Shemaiah was trying to break Nehemiah’s confidence by pretending to deliver a message from God. People in the community likely saw Shemaiah as a prophet, so he used that reputation to make his advice seem trustworthy.
And it doesn’t sound terrible… it sounds like Shemaiah is trying to help keep Nehemiah safe… But Nehemiah’s confidence is not in the words of man…
8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
Nehemiah was confident…
4.1 In God’s Word
4.1 In God’s Word
Look at v.11…
Nehemiah 6:11 “And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!””
Shemaiah was trying to get Nehemiah to run to the temple to hide. The implication is that he was trying to get Nehemiah to hide in the Holy of Holies, because not even Sanballat, Tobiah or Geshem would dare to enter that room.
But Nehemiah said, “absolutely not!” .... “I will not go in!” why? because God has given specific rules about the Temple and those who may or may not enter it… especially the Holy of Holies… and anyone who disregards those rules will die…
and vv.12 says…
Nehemiah 6:12 “Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.”
Many people often say things like, "God told me this" or "The Lord assured me this was okay."… While it's important to remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must remember that God will never lead us in a way that contradicts His Word or His unchanging character.
Any impression, feeling, or perceived message from God must be tested against the truth revealed in Scripture. His Word is the ultimate standard, and His character is consistent and holy.
God told me it's okay to date this person, even though they're married.
Nope… God condemns adultery and defines marriage as being between 1 man and 1 woman…
Well, God has given us peace to live and sleep together because we are planning to get married anyway.
Nope… The Bible clearly teaches that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage and God’s design for purity is not dependent on intentions or future plans but on obedience to His commands.
How about this one… The Lord told me I don’t need to go to church because my faith is personal.
Sorry, not buying it because -the Bible emphasizes the need for fellowship and gathering with other believers for encouragement and growth.
If what we believe we've heard encourages actions or attitudes that conflict with His principles, it is not from God.
Nehemiah’s confidence in God’s Word stemmed from his deep knowledge of it and his unwavering belief in its truth and authority. He didn’t base his decisions on fleeting emotions, societal norms, or personal opinions… but on the solid foundation of what God had already spoken.
Beloved, we have to realize that our ability to live confidently and make God-honoring decisions is directly tied to our knowledge of His Word. The more we study Scripture, meditate on its truths, and align our lives with its principles, the more we will grow in faith and confidence.
Remember, Satan will try to get you to doubt God’s word in order to make you fall…
v.13
Nehemiah 6:13 “For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.”
If Nehemiah would’ve fled to the Temple for his own safety, he would have to leave the others to fend for themselves and would’ve been considered a coward. Any respect that these people had for him as a leader would’ve gone straight out the window…
And if he would’ve taken Shemaiah’s advice and entered the rooms that only the High Priests were permitted to go, then that would’ve been a direct violation of the Law given to Moses, which would (at the very least) lead to Nehemiah being stripped of his authority, but it would’ve most likely resulted in his death.
But thankfully, Nehemiah showed Confidence in God’s Word… … and he also showed Confidence…
4.2 In God’s Sovereignty
4.2 In God’s Sovereignty
v.14…
Nehemiah 6:14 “My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.”
Once again… we find Nehemiah sending a quick prayer to Heaven…
In doing so, he acknowledges the reality of his enemies’ schemes… and once again… he refrains from taking matters into his own hands.
Instead of seeking personal vengeance or retaliating in fear, he entrusts the situation to the ultimate Judge, displaying his firm belief that God is fully in control and will deal justly with those who oppose His work.
As godly leaders, who stand in Satan’s Cross+hairs, we need to have confidence in God’s word and Sovereignty as well…
We also need to have…
5. Faithfulness
5. Faithfulness
Last week we talked about being commited… Commitment is the decision to dedicate yourself to a cause, relationship, or responsibility…
We need to be commited to what God has called us to do…
However, Faithfulness comes in as the consistent follow-through on that commitment over time, even in the face of challenges or temptations that Satan throws at us to try and get us to waver.
Nehemiah not only made a commitment to build the walls of Jerusalem, but he was faithful…
5.1 To Finish the Job
5.1 To Finish the Job
v.15…
Nehemiah 6:15 “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.”
The task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was monumental, not only because of the physical labor but also due to the constant opposition from external enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah, that were causing internal discouragement within the people.
Despite ridicule, threats, and attempts to intimidate him, Nehemiah remained faithful. His focus was on the mission God had given him, and his faith in God’s guidance allowed him to lead the people to complete the wall in an astonishingly short time.
If they would’ve had the Guinness Book of World Records back then… or Ripley’s Believe it or Not… this project would’ve been in both of them…
As godly leaders, we are called to exhibit unwavering faithfulness to God’s call and purpose, demonstrating commitment and perseverance even in the face of relentless opposition.
What joy Nehemiah must have had as he wrote the words “So the wall was finished...”… From ridicule to threats, from lies to intimidation, Satan relentlessly attempted to derail the mission and discourage Nehemiah. Yet, Nehemiah refused to be swayed. He kept his focus on the task at hand, trusting in God’s guidance and protection.
His faithfulness and refusal to give in to fear or distraction allowed him to persevere, leading to the successful completion of the wall.
What a great example of the fact that no matter the obstacles or opposition we face, faithfulness to God’s purpose will enable us to see His plans fulfilled in our lives.
As godly leaders we should strive to be able to echo, with sincerity, the words of the Apostle Paul when he said…
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
This is so important, because… our faithfulness…
5.2 Brings Glory to God
5.2 Brings Glory to God
v.16...
Nehemiah 6:16 “And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.”
Two things that I want to mention…
The very thing that the enemies of Israel had been trying to bring about— which was severe discouragement in order to stop the rebuilding of the wall—ultimately happened to them instead.
“And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes;...” … they were demoralized, they were trying to get Nehemiah to lose his confidence and instead they ended up losing their confidence…
What a great example for us to see that those who plot against God's people or His purposes will ultimately see their efforts fail…
“Well then Pastor, why does God let people get away with all that is evil in the world today”… To that I say… “He doesn’t”… He just happens to have quite a bit more patience than we do…
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
In the end, as seen with Nehemiah’s enemies, their schemes will be turned back upon them, and God’s will will be done… …
2. But what stands out to me even more is the last part of v.16…
16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
At the end of the project, after all the insults were hurled, after all the attempts to stop the project were made, after the gates were hung and the doors were closed…
The enemies of Israel didn’t say “look at what those Jews did”… or “Look at what Nehemiah did”… no, no, no… … they said… “Look at what God did”
The enemies of Israel, who had relentlessly sought to thwart the rebuilding, could not deny that the wall had been completed in an impossibly short time—52 days—and they recognized that such a feat could only be accomplished with divine assistance… Instead of crediting human efforts, they were forced to see and declare the hand of God in the process.
As godly leaders, Our labor may seem small or insignificant in the eyes of the world, but when we align ourselves with God’s purposes, the outcome will always point others to Him.
When we stay faithful to God's plan for our lives, may our ultimate motivation be to hear—and to humbly say—“Look at what God has done.”
But just because one battle is over… we need to make sure that we don’t let our guard down… … The last item that we need to have in our arsenal is…
6. Vigilance
6. Vigilance
Military and law enforcement call it “keeping your head on a swivel”… or “maintaining constant situational awareness.”
For Nehemiah, the main project is completed… but as I stated before… Satan doesn’t take losing very lightly… He is not a quitter but stays on the field even after it looks as if he has lost the battle.
Many Christians, though successful in winning the battle, have carelessly lost the victory afterward… Satan is always searching for "the right moment" to strike, aiming to turn those who once triumphed into those who fall.
Nehemiah 6:17 “Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them.”
The nobles of Judah, people who should have been allies to Nehemiah and the Jewish people, were instead working with the enemy, Tobiah.
Nehemiah 6:18 “For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.”
Through this correspondence of letters Tobiah was able to shape the thinking of the nobles, leading them to accept his lies rather than seek the truth. Some of these nobles even went so far as to swear an oath of loyalty to Tobiah, believing he was in the right.
And then v.19…
Nehemiah 6:19 “Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.”
These, so called nobles, were constantly coming in and telling Nehemiah how great of guy Tobiah was… anything that Nehemiah would say or do, they would immediately report back to Tobiah… and through it all, Tobiah was still trying to instill fear and discouragement into Nehemiah as he would continually send him threatening letters.
And yet, Nehemiah remained Vigilant… he never let his guard down… He remained alert to both external and internal threats… and He refused to be distracted or swayed by fear, standing firm in his faith and the mission God had given him…
Just as Nehemiah had to “keep his head on a swivel,” godly leaders today must maintain spiritual awareness…
Whether the attack comes through false allies, flattering words, or outright threats, our focus must remain fixed on God’s purpose for our lives.
Closing:
What "wall" has God called you to rebuild or protect in your life? Perhaps it’s your marriage, your family, your faith, your integrity, or your calling to serve Him in a specific way.
Whatever it may be, remember that Satan will not stand idly by. He will attempt to distract, discourage, and stop you in any way that he can think of.
If you are truly trying to honor God with your life, then I can assure you are already in Satan’s cross hairs… make sure that you have
Discernment
Commitment
Integrity
Confidence
Faithfulness
and Vigilance at the ready in your arsenal.
These are not just virtues to aspire to; they are essential tools for standing firm in the face of the enemy’s attacks.
The battle is real, but so is the victory we have in Christ. Stand firm, be prepared, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen you.
Remember… God is with you, and through Him, the impossible becomes possible… So Let’s live out what we say we believe, no matter the challenges we face.
Prayer: