Don't trust Them trust Him!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we look at Nehemiah, the purpose was to ignite the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the revival of the people returned from Captivity.
As you read the book, you will notice that Nehemiah was consistent in the things that he did and said.
His book begins with prayer and centers around doing physical work for the Lord.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
I C
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 cor 15.
Nehemiah is one of the Jews still living in Persia, He was the cup bearer of to King Artaxerxes
Nehemiah was concerned and saddened that being back from captivity for nearly 100 years, that they have not rebuilt the city walls.
In Chapter 1 Nehemiah, wept, prayed, and fast, Confessing to God over the deeds of his people. Also interceding to God over the needs of the people.
In Chapter 2, Nehemiah asks the King (Artaxerxes for permission to head to Judah.
The King agrees and gives letters 1 for Passport permission to the Persian Officials. And another to Asaph manager f the king’s forest to receive the necessary timber for construction.
Midnight meetings
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
In Chapter 3, Nehemiah names duties of those building the wall.
He speaks of the gates in the Wall
Sheep Gate speaks of the cross.
The Fish Gate speaks of soul-wiining.
The Old Gate. Our old Nature.
The Valley Gate speaks of our sufferings and testings.
THe Dung Gate speaks of works of the flesh.
The Fountain Gate speaks of the Holy Spirit.
The Water Gate speaks of the Word of God.
THe Horse Gate speaks of believer’s warfare.
The East Gate speaks of Christ’s return.
The Miphkad gate speaks of the judgement seat of Jesus
Christ.
In Chapter 4, the haters/enemies show up to to angrily ridicule.
Nehemiah and people prayed and renewed their commitment.
Sanballat, Tobiah, and a coalition of Arabs Ammonites, Ashdodites threatened an attack.
Nehemiah and the people prayed and appointed around the clock guard.
Some became discouraged, Nehemiah spoke words of reassurance and armed all the workers.
In Chapter 5, internal strife takes place, Some of the rich Jews were profiting at the expense of their poorer brethren by forcing them into slavery and acquiring their properties.
Nehemiah 6.1
1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates),
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm.
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.
6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.
7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”
9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
I. There is no Compromise only Conviction with Jesus Christ.
I. There is no Compromise only Conviction with Jesus Christ.
1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
Compromise is to make concessions or accommodations for someone who does not agree with a prevalent set of standards or rules.
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. 4 You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.
The word of the Lord makes is it clear the God does not condone compromising his standards.
As believers we must make sure that no one takes us captive through deceptive and useless philosophies.
When people hear about the good things your are doing, what you are accomplishing the, success you are having. The enemy is ready to attack.
Job 1
7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
Dont’t Trust them Trust Him
Text verse
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm.
Sanballat and his crew become desperate because they heard Nehemiah had builded the wall and there was no breach.
With the Word Bible Commentary Nehemiah 6
Beware when the enemy is smiling and holding out his arms to hug you! We must say no to invitations that compromise our witness (2 Cor. 6:14–7:1) and take us away from the great work God has called us to do.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
People will become desperate to destroy if you do not compromise. Satan is desperate to destroy the church. He attacks the families to make destroy the church.
Text Verse
3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
Nehemiah Answers with Conviction.
Rev
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Though it was repeated four times, [Nehemiah’s] uniform answer was that his presence could not be dispensed with from the important work in which he was engaged. This was one, though not the only, reason. The principal ground of his refusal was that his seizure or death at their hands would certainly put a stop to the further progress of the fortifications.
Nehemiah suspected foul play. Why would they want him a day’s journey away from Jerusalem? Then he could not oversee the work, and by outnumbering him they might do him harm. Though he could not prove his enemies’ motives at the moment, he chose a method that would eventually demonstrate whether they were sincere. He simply sent messengers to tell them he was involved in a great (important) project and could not leave it unsupervised. By responding in this way Nehemiah was not openly questioning their motives. In fact he was giving them an opportunity to prove their motives were sincere, if they had really wanted to make peace.
Getz, G. A. (1985). Nehemiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 685). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
1
13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Eph
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
TEXT VERSE
4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.
6:4. Sanballat and Geshem’s response tipped their hand. Rather than countering with an offer to meet with Nehemiah in Jerusalem, four times they sent … the same message and Nehemiah responded four times with his same refusal.
Nehemiah could have impatiently attacked their motives on their third or fourth request. But he patiently waited it out till they revealed their motives. And this they did with their fifth response, which involved their second scheme.
II. Covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ
II. Covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ
Neh 6.5-8
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.
6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.
7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”
Songwriter says, What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow that makes my white as snow; no other fount i know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 john
Sanballat and his crew is not just going to give. Sanballat names means Sin.
When you are doing a work for the Lord sin is going to follow you.
Sin and Satan are going to do their job, will you as a believer?
Here comes the Blackmail, the slander, the attack on your reputation.
Sedition
When Nehemiah’s enemies realized he would not leave Jerusalem and meet with them, they tried another tactic. They put pressure on him, trying to force him to meet with them in the plain of Ono. Sanballat sent his servant to Nehemiah with an unsealed letter. The letter reported an alleged rumor that Nehemiah was trying to set himself up as the king of the Jews, which in turn would be a threat to Artaxerxes (the king).
This letter was insidious in several ways. First, the letter made it seem as if they had Nehemiah’s welfare at heart. The letter implied that their reason for conferring with him was to protect him.
Second, and more basic to their motive, they were attempting to get Nehemiah to respond out of fear, Third, the letter may have contained an element of truth. Possibly some well-meaning religious leader in Judah had interpreted Nehemiah’s presence as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah-King.
Sanballat tried to black mail and bully Nehemiah with this threats to“Either you come to talk to me, or I will see that the king hears about your rebellion.” He ended the letter with the same invitation found in the Hebrew of 6:2: “Come, let us meet together
this report will get back to the king. Sanballat tried to blackmail and bully Nehemiah with these threats: “Either you come to talk to me, or I will see that the king hears about your rebellion.” He ended the letter with the same invitation found in the Hebrew of 6:2: “Come, let us meet together.”
Nehemiah’s bold response demonstrated his trust in God. He outrightly denied the accusation. He told his fellow workers that the letter was designed to frighten them into thinking their wall-building would bring Artaxerxes’ wrath down on them
Just because you say doesn't mean its true. This letter is a fabrication, inventing from your mind.
III. Confidence in the King
III. Confidence in the King
9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Nehemiah recognized the psychological warfare of the enemies. The same verb translated “frighten” in v. 9 is repeated again in vv. 13, 14, 19, where it is translated “intimidate” (lit., “to make afraid”). The different forms of opposition in this chapter were all intended to instill fear in Nehemiah and his helpers so they would not continue the work
Nehemiah recognized the psychological warfare of the enemies. The same verb translated “frighten” in v. 9 is repeated again in vv. 13, 14, 19, where it is translated “intimidate” (lit., “to make afraid”). The different forms of opposition in this chapter were all intended to instill fear in Nehemiah and his helpers so they would not continue the work
Nehemiah did what, he normally did he prayed asking God for Strength
Breneman, M. (1993). Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (electronic ed., Vol. 10, p. 211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
Nehemiah did what he normally does he prayed asking God for Strength.
I know im going through but O God, Strengthen my hand,
Members are have their own agenda, O God, Strengthen my hand.
I don’t have the money for bills, O God, Strengthen my hand.
Sickness in my body, O God, Strengthen my hand.
I lost my Job, O God, Strengthen my hand.
I know, trust and believe in the King because of what we read back in Verse 7.
There is a King in Judah
Not sure in Sanballat knew what he was saying, but there is King.
See i dont trust them, but I trust HIM.
-Alpha and Omega
Beginning and the End
-Hope for tomorrow
Jehovah Jireh- Provider
-Jehovah Nissi-Banner in Victory
Adam redeemer
Abel’s Vindicator
Abraham’s Sacrifice
Noah’s Ark
Joshua Battle-Ax
Moses Bush on Fire
Gideon’s Fleece
Samson Power
David Music
Jeremiah Balm in Gilead
Ezekiel wheel in the middle of wheel
Rose of Sharon
The Lilly in the Valley
But most of all over 2000 years ago he became my Savior, Jesus came down through Forty and two generations. He tabernacles here for 33 ½ years. Because He is the Leader, He stopped by my and your house/ church to pick up your sins and my sins. He picked up the cross and marched to Calvary. Jesus voluntarily laid down his life to die for us by death of the Cross. Jesus Charged them when said if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me. Jesus reached down and got man by hand and reached up and got God by and said it is Finished. He locked his head in shoulders, gave up the Ghost and died. Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. But on early Sunday se He rose with all Power in hands claiming victory over Sin, Satan, and over Death.