Remembering...In the Midst

Remembering Game

When faced with tough situations, it is really easy to forget

Week 1-2 Recap

Week 1: Your goal must include God FIRST

Week 2: Your goal must have definite plans

Another important part of achieving our goals is REMEMBERING them ALL of the time

--- All-nighter story ---

The reason I succeeded is because in the face of opposition... I remembered

Nehemiah’s Opposition

Nehemiah 4:1–3 CSB

1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews 2 before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”

Nehemiah and his workers were staring opposition right in the face!

When this happens in our lives, we must make an intentional effort to remember who God is

Nehemiah 4:4-11

Nehemiah 4:4 CSB

4 Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.

When faced with opposition we must pray

Nehemiah 4:5–9 CSB

5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered the builders. 6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working. 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

BUT WE PRAYED… in the face of opposition, prayer is so important!

Nehemiah 4:10–12 CSB

10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. 11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, they attack us.”

When opposition hits (and it will hit) your strength WILL fail.

You will feel like there is too much rubble — and you will never be able to accomplish your goal

Nehemiah’s goals, plans, and relationship with god was amazing AND HIS PEOPLE STILL FELT LIKE THAT

Why and What?

Why did they feel like that?

OUR BIGGEST DOUBTS COME WHEN WE FORGET WHO HE IS

So What should we do when we feel like that?

Remember!

When we remember who He is, we remember that He gives us strength to pursue God-sized Goals!

Nehemiah 4:14-15

Nehemiah 4:14 CSB

14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”

Remember the Lord — and FIGHT!

That’s when we will be able to accomplish our goals!