Who Can Be Against Us

Good morning everyone I do hope that your week has been a blessed one. Mine has been good. I was trying to get a guest speaker this week for you and they had promised to speak but it does not look like they will be here. I then had to prepare for this morning which is good because I love sharing the treasures of God’s word with you each Sabbath. Have any of you tried to guess who the person is from the bible that we will be learning about remember this person came from the Old Testament and had to deal with spies. Just hang on a minute there is someone banging on the church officer door. Maybe it is the speak that I was trying to secure for this morning sermon. Well I guess if it is the person better late than never and then I will also be able to sit down and see what treasures there are in God’s word. Got to go and see who is at the door.

I want to thank you pastor for reaching out to me and asking me to come and tell you my story. Where do I start? I stood on the top of the walls of Jerusalem and over looked the cities of those who had opposed us but the wall was completed. Fifty two days. I could hardly believe what we had accomplished. While I was traveling here which took me some time I got to read the bible that you have today and wow God has worked wonders through out the ages. As I was reading I came across the verse that Micah read in . Hearing the name Micah brings back so many memories of the city I love so much and how Micah and Isaiah spoke the word of the Lord to the people warning them but they did not listen and the Babylonians came and destroyed the City of God left it in ruins and took the temple furniture to Babylon to say that their god was more powerful that the Creator of the universe. I am getting carried away. Thanks Micah for that lovely scripture reading because it reminds me of what God was able to accomplish through us despite the difficulties that we encountered over the fifty two day. What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? This is my testimony God was truly with us in all aspects of us repairing the walls of Jerusalem.

Sorry I am getting a head of myself. Lets go back to the beginning. Some of you might know that I was cupbearer to the Persian King at the time. King Artaxerxes was a good man and over the time that I served him we became friends and which allowed the King to confide in me, which was a really strange thing. A cupbearer might sound to you like someone who carries cups around for the the king but it actually there was much more to this position. I was a prime minister, and a master of ceremonies, I was surrounded by all the splendor of the Persian Empire but I never forgot where I came from. You see I use to live in Jerusalem but when the Babylonians conquered it I was taken captive just like Daniel and his friends. I not only forgot where I came from but I never forgot the God I loved and served.

Hang on a minute. It has just dawned on me that you might not know who I am. Your pastor has a great deal on his plate with this new way of doing church that he forgot to introduce me. My name is Nehemiah.

While serving the king I got news that the captives that had returned to Jerusalem are under great stress and are in great disappointment. I urged the messenger to tell me and he said that the wall of the city have been broken down and the gates are burned with fire. When I heard these words my heart sank. My heart was broken. The city that I love was lying in ruins. I morned for days with fasting and praying to God asking Him what can I do. I need the king the grant me the opportunity to present my plea to him. A few months had passed and my sadness had not left me. All the time I was seeking a God given opportunity to speak to the king. Then one day the king approached me and asked why was I so sad. It can be because you are sick it must be a sorry of the heart. This was my window, my opportunity. But I was scared. I could have lost my life at this point. So, I sent up a silent prayer to God that He would help me. My voice trembled as I explained to the king the sorry of my heart.

I told him that my home town lay in ruins and the people are being oppressed. Then the king turned to me and said what do you want? If God is with me who can be against. I serve an amazing God I hope that you serve the same God. One that was able to help in the most trying times. But not only did God open a way for me to go and help but He also suppled all the letters I need for safe travel. I also had access to the the forest in the mountains of Lebanon so that I could get timber that was needed. My God was suppling all my needs. He was suppling all that I need not to live but to accomplish the work that He needed me to do.

I want to thank you pastor for reaching out to me and asking me to come and tell you my story. Where do I start? I stood on the top of the walls of Jerusalem and overlooked the cities of those who had opposed us, but the wall was completed. Fifty-two days. I could hardly believe what we had accomplished. While I was traveling here which took me some time, I got to read the bible that you have today, and wow God has worked wonders throughout the ages. As I was reading, I came across the verse that Micah read in . Hearing the name Micah brings back so many memories of the city I love so much and how Micah and Isaiah spoke the word of the Lord to the people warning them but they did not listen and the Babylonians came and destroyed the City of God left it in ruins and took the temple furniture to Babylon to say that their god was more powerful that the Creator of the universe. I am getting carried away. Thanks, Micah, for that lovely scripture reading because it reminds me of what God was able to accomplish through us despite the difficulties that we encountered over the fifty-two day. What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? This is my testimony God was truly with us in all aspects of us repairing the walls of Jerusalem.

Sorry I am getting a head of myself. Let’s go back to the beginning. Some of you might know that I was cupbearer to the Persian King at the time. King Artaxerxes was a good man and over the time that I served him we became friends, and which allowed the King to confide in me, which was a really strange thing. A cupbearer might sound to you like someone who carries cups around for the king but it actually there was much more to this position. I was a prime minister, and a master of ceremonies, I was surrounded by all the splendor of the Persian Empire, but I never forgot where I came from. You see I use to live in Jerusalem but when the Babylonians conquered it, I was taken captive just like Daniel and his friends. I not only forgot where I came from, but I never forgot the God I loved and served.

Hang on a minute. It has just dawned on me that you might not know who I am. Your pastor has a great deal on his plate with this new way of doing church that he forgot to introduce me. My name is Nehemiah.

While serving the king I got news that the captives that had returned to Jerusalem are under great stress and are in great disappointment. I urged the messenger to tell me and he said that the wall of the city have been broken down and the gates are burned with fire. When I heard these words, my heart sank. My heart was broken. The city that I love was lying in ruins. I mourned for days with fasting and praying to God asking Him what I can do. I need the king the grant me the opportunity to present my plea to him. A few months had passed, and my sadness had not left me. All the time I was seeking a God given opportunity to speak to the king. Then one day the king approached me and asked why I was so sad. It can be because you are sick it must be a sorry of the heart. This was my window, my opportunity. But I was scared. I could have lost my life at this point. So, I sent up a silent prayer to God that He would help me. My voice trembled as I explained to the king the sorry of my heart.

I told him that my hometown lay in ruins and the people are being oppressed. Then the king turned to me and said what do you want? If God is with me who can be against. I serve an amazing God I hope that you serve the same God. One that was able to help in the most trying times. But not only did God open a way for me to go and help but He also suppled all the letters I need for safe travel. I also had access to the forest in the mountains of Lebanon so that I could get timber that was needed. My God was suppling all my needs. He was suppling all that I need not to live but to accomplish the work that He needed me to do.

I arrived in Jerusalem with a military escort I tell you that the attention of all the people there even those who were making life difficult for the returning Israelites. As I think back what God had done, He had supplied all that I need for the work. I learnt very early on in my life in Babylon that worshiping and doing things for the Lord would always be followed by opposition. The building of this wall was no different. What did not expect was that my own people would oppose me. The noble people the people of influence did not want to get involved in this project. The Tekoite’s new that the rebuilding of the wall was God’s work but still they were not willing to get involved, they refused to make any effort. Nevertheless we pushed on.

I arrived in Jerusalem with a military escort I tell you that the attention of all the people there even those who were making life difficult for the returning Israelites. As I think back what God had done, He had supplied all that I need for the work. I learnt very early on in my life in Babylon that worshiping and doing things for the Lord would always be followed by opposition. The building of this wall was no different. What did not expect was that my own people would oppose me. The noble people the people of influence did not want to get involved in this project. The Tekoite’s new that the rebuilding of the wall was God’s work but still they were not willing to get involved, they refused to make any effort. Nevertheless, we pushed on.

Sanballat, his actions were a direct representation of the meaning of his name, hate in disguise, the enemy is secret. Him and Tobiah made life difficult for us. They mocked us by saying that the wall will not even be able to hold a fox running up it. They were saying that the wall will never protect us that we were waisting our time. Things got even worse those building the wall now need to carry a sword for protection against those who were saying they are our friends. Being made fun of, having threats of life, then lies. All these were really demoralizing. The lies that were being spread was that I wanted to become the king of Israel and if this message go out of hand then we could have been attacked. All I could do was turn to God. I cried out to Him and said, Hear, O God we are despised. We were hated. O, we just had to trust in God. Our neighbors were saying that we would not even see them come in and attack us and put a stop to the building.

Sanballat, his actions were a direct representation of the meaning of his name, hate in disguise, the enemy is secret. Him and Tobiah made life difficult for us. They mocked us by saying that the wall will not even be able to hold a fox running up it. They were saying that the wall will never protect us that we were wasting our time. Things got even worse those building the wall now need to carry a sword for protection against those who were saying they are our friends. Being made fun of, having threats of life, then lies. All these were really demoralizing. The lies that were being spread was that I wanted to become the king of Israel and if this message go out of hand then we could have been attacked. All I could do was turn to God. I cried out to Him and said, Hear, O God we are despised. We were hated. O, we just had to trust in God. Our neighbors were saying that we would not even see them come in and attack us and put a stop to the building.

I have realized that God does not want us to just sit back and wait for Him to act. He longs for us to move forward in faith. This is what I did. To give the workers assurance I posted armed guards all along the wall with swords, spears, and bows. I said to the people do not be afraid, remember the Lord, great and awesome. Fight for your sons, your daughters, and your wives, and your houses. The people needed to be reminded why were they doing this. They were doing this for their families, there were doing this for God and because they were doing this for Him they did not need to fear.

I have realized that God does not want us to just sit back and wait for Him to act. He longs for us to move forward in faith. This is what I did. To give the workers assurance I posted armed guards all along the wall with swords, spears, and bows. I said to the people do not be afraid, remember the Lord, great and awesome. Fight for your sons, your daughters, and your wives, and your houses. The people needed to be reminded why were they doing this. They were doing this for their families, there were doing this for God and because they were doing this for Him they did not need to fear. As they remembered that they were doing this God first and then for their families they returned to work.

Through all these difficulties I was praying that God would strengthen their hands that they would not get discouraged otherwise the work would never get done. Then is happened. I went to the house of Shemaiah and he had and urgent message for me. It was a message of life and death. He had heard that Tobiah and Sanballat were going to kill me. They were going to do this because they did not want this wall to be completed. Shemaiah said that we needed to go the temple and take shelter there. My heart was pounding. My adrenaline was pumping. At first, I thought this is a good idea but then I thought of all the people on the wall risking their lives and what would they think if ran for safety to the temple. Shemaiah ran to the temple and hid himself there because the gates at the temple offered more security. I trusted him; he was a good friend, but God gave me insight into his evil plan. God allowed me to see that Shemaiah was paid by Sanballat and it was all a ploy to get the work of the Lord stopped.

Fifty-two day and the work was done our enemies were upset they also realized that this work although done by human hands was actually accomplished by God. He was the one that supplied that which we needed to complete this task. He was the one that supplied all the workers He continued to encourage them and sustain them. If God is with us who can be against us. Sean I would like to assure your church here in Hanford that no matter what troubles they are going through if they trust in God He will get them through. You know Sean, as I look at what Jesus did while He lived on the earth I see many similarities to Him empowering us to build the wall. Jesus is this great treasure. That we can receive and have in our lives. Him being our treasure came at a great cost to Him. The struggle that He endured on earth the pain and suffering on the cross and His death are all part of Him being mankind’s treasure. Just like God suppled all that was needed in the letters to pass from one province to another and a letter to get wood from the mountains of Lebanon, He also gave us the assurance that we can trust in Him. He suppled all we need. As God has acted in the past so He will act today and in the future. The God you and I serve is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If He was able to supply that which we need I know that He will give you want you need. God will supply all that you need even when we look to salvation and long for that glorious day. Jesus is the greatest treasure and if He is by your side you do not need to fear.

Well Sean, thanks for letting me speak to your church I need to go. O, you want me to pray. I can do that. let us bow our heads in prayer.

Amen