Nehemiah 6

We have been seeing a story of God's Faithfulness, Real Repentance, and Radical Obedience

As they are trying to Obey God radically and fulfill their calling they have been facing constant challenges.

The PEOPLE around them do not want them to fulfill their calling but I believe it goes much deeper than that. Nehemiah constantly uses language that indicates he believes there to be spiritual opposition, taking place, not just human opposition.

Sometimes spiritual opposition and human opposition are one in the same. We believe in the spirit world, both good and evil, and that the devil and his servants, manipulate and motivate human beings to do the harm on their behalf.

Threatening the people with violence did not work. They rallied together, unified by their faith in God and commitment to His mission

Threats from within did not work. People repented, made reconciliation and locked back in on God’s mission.

in chapter,

The enemies next strategy was to threaten the leadership How do you kill a snake? you chop its head off.

All godly people and especially all godly leaders will face opposition and attack from the outside world and the spiritual world

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Nehemiah faces 3 specific threats:

Physical threat

Slanderous Allegations

Temptation to compromise

First Threat: Physical Harm

Nehemiah 6:1–2 ESV

1 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.

Fairly isolated place, away from Nehemiahs support system and the security of jerusalem

Possible ambush?

Possible assassination on the way back?

Possibly wanting to get in Nehemiahs head and have a leg up in negotiations.

Why did they think it might work?

They may have thought they were smarter than he was

Nehemiah, by fear or pride might have been tempted to stop work on the wall, put an army together and go face them.

Nehemiah 6:3–4 ESV

3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.

Nehemiah is not governed by fear of man OR a need to prove himself to man. You could make an argument that Nehemiah looks like a wimp here.

RADICAL OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL ON HIS LIFE

Second Threat: Slanderous Allegations

Nehemiah 6:5 ESV

5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.

Open letter. They wanted everyone to see it. Like a political ad

Nehemiah 6:6–7 ESV

6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”

Dee how it’s like a political Ad? Sneaky Nehemiah SAYS he just wants to rebuild the wall for safety….

Accusation 1: They are planning a rebellion

Accusation 2: Nehemiah is planning to make himself king

Nehemiah 6:8–9 ESV

8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

This is a spiritual battle. Lies come from Satan.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

interestingly Jesus faces the same charges

Jesus followers face the same charges

Nehemiah refutes the lie but he does not get down in the mud with them.

Thats not true.

I am going to worry about what is true:

Psalm 56:9–11 ESV

9 …This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Third Threat: Temptation to Compromise

Nehemiah 6:10 ESV

10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”

We dont know exactly why he was confined to his home. This is not the language of imprisonment, but more a self imposed confinement.

We will see later that this man carries himself as a Prophet so he might have been confining himself to his home for some sort of ministry purpose that we aren't told about

His message/”prophecy” to nehemiah was this : They want to kill you. Come hide in the temple with me.

What was wrong with this proposal?

relying on man solutions not God solutions

shows weakness

potentially breaking God’s law about temple use

Potentially a trap where they would kill him in the temple

“hide in the temple”

Something with the appearance of spirituality

something that appealed to Nehemiahs specialness

Nehemiah 6:11–14 ESV

11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

Not everyone who claims to be spiritual or prophetic is.

Don’t go to youtube or instagram or Chat GPT for spiritual leadership.

Go to the Bible, go to trusted known sources

Acts 17:11 NIV

11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

The Work is Completed but the Spiritual Warfare Never Stops

Nehemiah 6:15–19 ESV

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18 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 taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. 19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.

How can you help leadership?

Pray for us

Don’t talk about us behind our backs

Take care of your stuff

Come alongside

So What?

IF

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Like Nehemiah - stayed prayed up

Nehemiah 6:9 ESV

9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:14 ESV

14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

Nehemiah 6:16 ESV

16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Like Nehemiah - Stay Focused

what has God called all of us to do? Make disciples?

what has God called sandusky Life church to do? Make visible the kingdom of God here in Sandusky for the Glory of God and the growth of his kingdom

Like Nehemiah - Stay Confident (If God has called me, He will enable me)

This is not motivation mumbo jumbo

Nehemiah 6:16 ESV

16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Like Nehemiah - Stay Vigilant

not surprised by peoples sin. Not caught off guard by temptation

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.