"A MIND TO WORK" PRAYING IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION

TEXT: Nehemiah 4:6 (NKJV)

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.

ILL: "The hardest thing about milking cows," observed a farmer, " is that they never stay milked."

Bits & Pieces, August 18, 1994, Page 3.

If you’re going to make it in this christian life you must understand that it is going to require that you work at it daily b/c there is an enemy and his aim is to discourage you and make you quit!

I. OPPOSITION TO THE WORK

A. YOU HAVE AN OPPONENT/ THE DEVIL

1. Nehemiah 4:1–3 (NKJV)

The Wall Defended Against Enemies

4 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

2. In our text the people of God are rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and the enemies of God don’t like it. They are there to oppose the work, to stop the work from being done.

a.) This is clear picture of the enemy works on the minds of believers, he sees what God has begun to do in your life and that you have been encouraged to live for God, to change your life, or perhaps you’ve been stirred to do something for God, like getting serious:

I’m going to tithe faithfully, I’m going to commit to prayer every day, to bible reading, to evangelizing … etc.

1. He immediately begins to mock you to try and discourage you.

EX: “It’s just a phase you’re going through,” “do you really think you’re going to change,” “once an addict always an addict,” “ common who are you kidding you’ve said this before, I’m going to change, pray, read, witness, and you failed!” “you can’t change.” Nehemiah 4:2–3 (NKJV)

2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

2. Listen to me, there is an enemy who opposes all that God is doing or wants to do in your life , Jesus said he seeks, John 10:10 (NKJV)

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

b.) He wants to discourage you so that you will give up, and say, “It’s impossible!” “I can’t make or serve God.” Nehemiah 4:10–11 (NKJV)

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.”

11 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.”

1. Listen the devil knows and believes more than some believers do, what God can do in their lives. This is why he opposes you so much. He understands the impact you make for the K.O.G. Listen to me, don’t give up, God has a plan for your life and wants to do great things in you and through you!

II. PRAYING IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION

A. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE ENEMY MOCKS

1. Nehemiah prayed. Nehemiah 4:4–5 (NKJV)

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

2. Prayer is the weapon that brings all the spiritual armour in Eph. 6 together. Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

ILL: I recall as anew convert having a dream and in that dream I was using drugs and I remember saying no, I didn’t want that anymore.

a.) It was an attack from the enemy, so I prayed and God set me free and reassured me of my new life, that I was no longer that person in the dream.

ILL: Another time as a new convert, the devil was trying to get me to doubt that I was really saved. I prayed and God revealed this scripture to me from the bible: 1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

1. These early lesson’s I still use today when the enemy mocks or attacks with his fiery arrows.

2. When the enemy is mocking you in your mind don’t be discouraged, instead pray to your heavenly Father, He sees what the enemy is doing and He will fight for you.

B. GOD FIGHTING FOR YOU

1. Nehemiah 4:20 (NKJV)

20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”

2. And that He did. God fought for them, He revealed strategies to Nehemiah that otherwise would not have come unless he had prayed.

a.) God will give you strategies on how to defeat the enemy. 2 Kings 6:8–9 (NKJV)

The Blinded Syrians Captured

8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.”

1. Here in 2 Kings, the enemy plans an ambush against Israel but there was a man of God praying and God warned him of enemy attack ...

2. Strategy, don’t go that way, it’s a trap! The point is that God will help you and fight for you but you have to co-opp with God and do what He says. Like coming to church.

a.) One of the simplest things God instructs us to do is: come to church, all most all of the victories God gave me were when I came to church or bible study, outreach and concerts. Hebrews 10:25 (LEB)

25 not abandoning ⌊our meeting together⌋, as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other, and by so much more as you see the day drawing near.

1. One of the important things to note in our text is the people had a mind to work, they were together . Imagine if anyone of them had been alone, they enemy would’ve had a field day with them. Remember the enemy is looking for the isolated, the hurt, or the stragglers. Deuteronomy 25:17–18 (NKJV)

Destroy the Amalekites

17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.

III. STAYING VIGILANT

A. GOD GAVE THEM VICTORY BUT THEY HAD TO KEEP IT

1. Nehemiah 4:21–23 (NKJV)

21 So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. 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.” 23 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.

2. That’s the thing church where many miss it, God gives victory over the enemy but we must keep it! B/c how many know if you slack off the enemy will be right back on you?

ILL: P. Joe Campbell & P. John Gooding wrote a book, “DELIVERANCE TO DOMINION,”

The gist is that God delivers but believers must live in dominion. Maintain your deliverance.

a.) This is what Nehemiah and the children of Israel did and the work was completed. 1 Peter 5:8–9 (NKJV)

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

1. Sober and vigilant basically mean staying at it, don’t slack off, be steadfast. The people were working with one hand building and with the other holding a sword ready for battle.

2. That’s how we as Christians need to live. We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted . 2 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV)

4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

3. If you’ll do this, you will walk in God’s will and purpose for your life, if you choose not to, then you will struggle and live life never being able to do anything for God.

QUOTE: The condition upon which God has given liberty to man is eternal vigilance.

God is going to help many of you today , He’s is going to move mightily on your behalf but remember you must keep(guard) your victory.