Resisting the Enemy

opposition to God’s plan

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 1–5

Our enemy, Satan, never wants the Lord’s work to prosper. Christ is the Builder; Satan is the destroyer. We now see the hand of the enemy as he seeks to oppose and hinder the work

Satan does not want God’s plan to prosper; Believers must stay committed until completion.

Avoid Adversaries 4:1-3

Just Say No-

it’s ok to say no sometimes.

All friendships and partnerships are not good for you.

Some are out to take you out. . drain you of all your resources and get you off track from destiny.

4:1–3 “The enemies” (v. 1) encountered by the Jews were the same as “the peoples around them” referred to in 3:3; 4:4; and elsewhere (9:1–2, 11; 10:2, 11; Neh 9:24, 30; 10:31–32). Many were from Samaria, descendants of those brought by the Assyrians from elsewhere in their empire

The leaders were not trying to be Exclusive and Non-Inclusive. . . they wanted to maintain standards for worship.

If we are tempted to think that Zerubbabel and the other leaders were sinfully separatistic or mistaken in their evaluation of those who offered their assistance, we must observe that these outsiders are identified as “enemies.” Their motives were clearly subversive. These neighbors claimed to worship the same God as the Jews

They worshipped the Lord and their own gods.

2 Kings 17:33 ESV

33 So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

Danger of Syncretism

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (5) Rejection of Help from Enemies (4:1–3)

They did not have the same convictions; they did not submit to the authority of God’s Word; they were not dedicated to the one true God. “Such, then, is the uncompromising verdict of Scripture on the claim we worship your God as you do, when it is put forward as a multifaith proposition.” If one set of religious convictions is true, an opposing set must be false.

We have to say no, to those who don’t want to see God’s movement take place

Deny Discouragement 4:4-5

Just say Go

Get out of here. . leave me alone

They did everything to frustrate God’s people from building the temple.

They started bribing- 4:5

blogging (letters written) 4:7

They tried to weakened the people.

“The peoples around them” (v. 4) were no doubt the same as those of 3:3, referred to as “enemies” in 4:1. “Set out to discourage” is literally “relaxing the hands” or “making weak the hands” to disable by causing despair

people lie. . do everything to distract you from purpose.

Defend Desires of God 6:14

Just stand firm

They made it through

15 years from chapter 4-5. .

they were delayed but not denied

you got to keep pushing. . keep pressing...

God’s favor. . God’s plan will not fail.