SF1012 - PREPARE FOR VICTORY 2 OF 6 - OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO VICTORY (Neh 2 11-20)

Nehemiah 2:9-20

Introduction

Overcoming Obstacles to Victory…

Identify the Task (Nehemiah 1:1-2:8)

Prepare for Victory (Nehemiah 2:11-20)

Organize for Effectiveness (Nehemiah 3:1-5)

Overcome Opposition (Nehemiah 4:1-23)

Resolve Internal Problems (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

Press on to Victory (Nehemiah 6:1-18)

Timeless Truth

The principles given here will help you in building in any area of life. They will help you build a home, a career, and a church.

Three keys to interpreting Scripture: (1) what did it mean then, (2) what does it mean now, (3) what does it mean to me?

Background

Ø Nehemiah has arrived in Jerusalem.

Ø The people of Jerusalem are defeated, apathetic, living among ruins.

Ø Twice before in the last ninety years someone has tried to rebuild the wall.

Ø They have failed twice. They have no confidence. They are negative.

Ø For ninety years, they have been saying it cannot be done.

The Change

Ø Nehemiah brought new vision

Ø Nehemiah brought new hope

Ø Nehemiah brought new victory

What made the difference - Preparation!

Notice how Nehemiah prepared…

Five principles…

Ø Fix your focus

Ø Find out the facts

Ø Form a fellowship

Ø Fortify your faith

Ø Face your foe

1A. He Fixed His Focus (2:11-12)

God has a plan for your life, He has called you and will equip you. Get alone and fix your focus on God’s purpose for your life. Nehemiah felt the call of God on his life. He understood his purpose.

The Westminster shorter catechism expresses our purpose in these terms. What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

1B. He waited for the right time (2:11)

Ecclesiastes 8:6 (ESV) For there is a time and a way for everything...

What was he doing for those three days? We don't know.

Five possibilities:

Ø He may have been resting, recovering from a long journey. He had been on a camel, crossing the desert.

Leadership Law -- You never make a major decision when you're tired; it will probably be wrong. Fatigue clouds your perspective.

Ø He may have been praying. We know he was a man of prayer.

Ø He most likely was planning. He probably was reviewing his strategy.

Ø He was building curiosity.

Ø A combination of all of these.

2B. He included the right people (2:12)

Ø He kept his mission a secret until he was ready to go to work.

3B. He refused to be distracted

Ø By the size of the task

The circuit of the walls was more than a mile, and the new wall, needed to be three to four feet thick and fifteen to twenty feet high. (J I Packer).

Ø By the attitude of others

2A. He Found Out the Facts (2:13-16)

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

Luke 14:28-29 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- 29 "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

Nehemiah searched out the truth. He saw that God’s work was in disarray and ruin.

1B. He was realistic

Ø He admitted the seriousness of the situation

2B. He was optimistic

Ø He knew that God would accomplish His purpose

3A. He Formed a Fellowship (2:17)

“The best ideas are not mine or yours they're ours.” Rick Warren

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

1B. He could not do the job alone

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress; thinking together is unity, working together is success. Henry Ford

2B. They shared a common concern (2:17a)

Change never occurs until we become discontented with the way things are now.

The greatest motivation in life is not external, nor internal, but eternal.

3B. They shared a common goal (2:17b)

They were able to see both the reality of the problem and the possibility of their God.

4B. They would enjoy a common reward (2:17c)

Publicly – to glorify God

Personal security and satisfaction

4A. He Fortified Their Faith (2:18)

1B. He communicated his personal testimony (2:18a)

Concerning his relationship with God

He rehearsed God’s blessings in the past.

2B. He challenged others to join him (2:18b)

Based on God’s faithfulness to him

People follow people not programs.

1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ."

3B. God blesses faithfulness

Revelation 3:7-8 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

Ø We are to be activated by the Spirit of God – “your works.”

Ø We are to be saturated with the Word of God – “my words.”

Ø We are to be dedicated to the Son of God – “my name.”

5A. He Faced the Foe (2:10, 19-20)

As we get further into Nehemiah we find six different sources of opposition. He got it from every side! The opposition's first strategy: "They laughed at us and despised us."

1B. Opposition is certain (2:10)

"The door to the room of opportunity swings on the hinges of opposition." A Rogers

There is not easy lazy way to do the work of the Lord. We are at war! There will be plenty of opposition! The devil hates what we intend to do.

I John 3:13 "Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you."

2B. Opposition often indicates opportunity (2:19-20)

1 Corinthians 16:8-9 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

There is no opportunity without opposition.

Ø The size of your God determines the size of your goal.

There is no way to escape criticism.

3B. Opposition should encourage us to continue on.

Nehemiah refused to argue.

Ø If you're wise you will not argue with the opposition.

Ø Nehemiah points out that it's God's project and God's idea. (2:12)

Ø God put the burden on him. It was not his idea to rebuild the wall, it was God's idea. Since it was God's idea they would trust Him for its success. That's confidence. He answers the opposition quickly and confidently.

Nehemiah exposes the selfish motives of the opposition. (2:20)

Ø They had a stake in not seeing Jerusalem rebuilt because that would reduce the size of their kingdom. He exposes the motives of the opposition.

Ø Then the opposition comes and says, "You're trying to rebel against the king of Persia." Nehemiah pulls out his letters. "I'm not rebelling against the king. I'm obeying the king of kings. Be quiet!"

Ø He deals with them confidently and quickly.

Application

Are you filling your Place?

Isn't it strange, that princes and kings,

And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,

And common people like you and me

Are builders for eternity.

Each one is given a bag of tools,

A shapeless mass a book of rules,

And each one must make, before life is flown,

A stumbling block or a stepping stone.

Are you prepared for Victory?

Preparation begins with a relationship.

Followed by discipleship

It is completed in fellowship

You must have all three to win.

Nehemiah 2:9-20

Introduction

Overcoming Obstacles to Victory…

Identify the Task (Nehemiah 1:1-2:8)

Prepare for Victory (Nehemiah 2:11-20)

Organize for Effectiveness (Nehemiah 3:1-5)

Overcome Opposition (Nehemiah 4:1-23)

Resolve Internal Problems (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

Press on to Victory (Nehemiah 6:1-18)

1A. He Fixed His ___________________________ (2:11-12)

The Westminster shorter catechism expresses our purpose in these terms. What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

1B. He waited for the right time (2:11; Ecclesiastes 8:6

2B. He included the right people (2:12)

3B. He refused to be distracted

2A. He Found Out the __________________________________ (2:13-16; Proverbs 23:23; 18:13; Luke 14:28-28)

1B. He was realistic

2B. He was optimistic

3A. He Formed a _________________________________ (2:17; Ecclesiastes 4:12)

1B. He could not do the job alone (1 Corinthians 3:9)

2B. They shared a common concern (2:17a)

3B. They shared a common goal (2:17b)

4B. They would enjoy a common reward (2:17c)

4A. He Fortified Their ______________________________ (2:18)

1B. He communicated his personal testimony (2:18a)

2B. He challenged others to join him (2:18b; 1 Corinthians 11:1)

3B. God blesses faithfulness (Revelation 3:7-8a)

5A. He Faced the ______________________________________ (2:10, 19-20)

1B. Opposition is certain (2:10; I John 3:13)

2B. Opposition often indicates opportunity (2:19-20; 1 Corinthians 16:8-9)