Love Works 15 (things that ought not be)

Text: Nehemiah 6: 1-19

Intro: Like the previous two chapters this passage has application even beyond the work of Restoring personal relationships. We see the enemy in full swing attempting to stop Nehemiah in the task of Restoring the walls. They are in a scramble.

Illustration: Imagine the servant of the Lord and the Enemy in this gigantic chess game. If the enemy cannot beat you (Rom8:37 more than conquerors) than he will attempt to stop your next move.

Trans: The Enemy will try to Stop a good work especially Restoration. The enemies of God tried to bring:

I. Letters to Distract (1-4)

Sanballat sends a letter to invite Nehemiah to a communal meeting of the minds.

A. Nehemiah sees the set up a mile away.

B. The Bible says that “they thought to do me mischief”

Sanballat knew that if he could not stop the work he would remove the head. He had hopes to take Nehemiah’s eyes off of the work (4 times) so that they could stop the work.

Illustration: There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong. You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn't say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to read."

The Answer – Focus on the Work (vs. 3)22

When the enemy shows up is not the time to hang up your hat and quit it is time to put your nose to the work. You have a great task FOCUS

The warning should be to us as well...

Remember that in Nehemiah the people were holding each other as slaves and increased indebtedness. They were charging crazy interest rates. The problem was that they saw a place for advantage where their needed to be generosity.

They placed more value on their own abode than the worship and promises of God. We need to all place a level of priority and then encourage each other in that work.

We can fall into the same trap. The difference is that we have Christ and a bond in him that far exceeds the work of the world around us.

II. Lies to Discourage (5-9)

Sanballat sends a 5th letter now this letter is for the purpose of Scarring Nehemiah

A. They contain nasty lies about their good work taken as with bad intentions.

B. Their Goal was to “weaken” their hand from the work.

Nehemiah calls this gossip out for exactly what it is – Sanballat’s Imagination. (make believe)

Illustration: Winston Churchill exemplified integrity and respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. "That's Winston Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men." When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!"

Barbara Hatcher, Vital Speeches, March 1, 1987.

The Answer - Truth in God’s Hands

That is exactly how he handles it he tells the truth and then dedicates it to God.

When Gossip about you is in the mill trust in the truth. You cannot change what others think of you, nor can they change what God’s knows about you.

Let us consider one another here.

This last year I lost my grandfather. A man that made a huge impact in my life. After the funeral I recieved a text from a friend and he told me this.

III. Losers to Disgrace (10-14)

Now Sanballat sends a prophet to trip up Nehemiah. Shemiah attempt to work Nehemiah in a state of fear. He hopes to coax Nehemiah into hiding in the temple

Nehemiah’s response is classic. He draws a direct line between the fear of man and sin (13). He also saw that to hide in time of work would give opportunity for reproach from such an evil report.

Illustration: You could ask David of disgrace after the sin of Bathsheba in fact along with killing the giant most people remember David for his disgrace.

The Answer – Remember who you are. Do right.

It is hard to do what is right and harder yet when those that are supposed to do right don’t.

Nehemiah says “should such a man as I flee?”

Nehemiah knew that it was not fitting for the leader of God’s people to be hiding. So he did right. (note: the discernment came after he had already decided to do what was right.)

IV. Leaders to Disrespect (17-19)

This serves as a warning to every child of God. Because we can become the source of trouble in the good work. The wall is finished the work complete time for celebration. However, it will still be many chapters away. Largely I believe because of the disrespect shown in vs. 17-19.

Instead of looking now on what God has done they still focus on the relationship they have with the enemy.

In 3:5 we found the nobles were to good for the work now they are undercutting the man of God and the work of God by acting as a go between.

When it is time to rejoice and live in the Lord the last thing we need is here the enemies side of things.

Illustration: The television needs to be shut off in many homes because it has become the way of keeping in contact with the enemy.

The Answer – None.

See God deals with them himself in the chapters to come and we will find that this will not be the last we hear of them.

For the present though I find a little sick joy in vs 16 to see that they are helping the losing side. And therefore will never no the joy of success.

Consider the honor that is due to everyone made in the image of God. I have an idea honor you leaders oh and honor each other. That isn’t permission to never speak up against wrong, you would do that for a leader.