Responding to Opposition, Discouragement, & Fear – Nehemiah 4

[Scripture reading = Hebrews 13:5-8)

Pray & Intro: [review] Neh has met with great success thus far in this endeavor that God set his heart to do. * Now in chapters 4-6 Neh is faced with potential setback after setback as he seeks to see the people advance this task to its completion. Today in chapter 4, we see the external threat of enemies and the corresponding internal threat of discouragement and fear. à You’ve experienced opposition, felt oppressed… Perhaps even today you are opposed, discouraged, afraid. Let’s take a lesson from the Holy Spirit in the pages of Nehemiah… to deal with opposition by keeping our eyes on God, keeping vigilant of the enemy, and to keep on working. [& state 3 points of outline]

Read Passage to Explain & Apply: When faced with opposition and discouragement and fear, we keep our eyes on God, keep vigilant of the enemy, and keep on working.

1. When ridiculed, we pray and continue the work. (vv.1-6) à When the enemy ridiculed, Neh prayed (and the people kept right on working).
   1. Sanballat and Tobiah say a lot of mean stuff. (Ridicule comes from a place of selfishness and pride… Their interests are being threatened, so they get mean.)
      1. Sanballat – Mocking the workers (Q 1)… Mocking the work (Q 4)… even mocking their building materials (Q 5). But the real zinger for Neh must have been mockery of their faith in the God of their work. (2^nd and 3^rd)
      2. Tobiah takes a turn – Their wall is so poorly made, a light step of a fox will crumble it.
      3. Make no mistake. Ridicule hurts (The tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Jam. 3:8) – Sometimes in our sensitivity we even feel more ridiculed than we actually are.
   2. But Neh knew how much ridicule could hurt the people and hamper their efforts. Neh also knew that such ridicule trampled the glory of God. So he prayed for God to bring their mockery and evil devices back on their own heads. à imprecatory prayer – praying for God’s judgment on your enemy
      1. Don’t pray curses on someone, for their damnation. That’s contrary to the heart of Jesus. (Lk 6:27-28) But I believe you can rightly pray for God to halt injustices and bring judgment on the head of the perpetrator, provided that you also pray for their repentance.
      2. We should never be ok with sin grossly abusing the character of God. We must never be complacent as God’s glory is being smudged out or usurped. [Wow, that hits me a painful way about sin in my own life. Like needles under the fingernails…]
   3. People of God, your first defense and your first offense is always prayer. [illust. – prayer song from my childhood] And prayer should get your head on straight so that you’ll keep working. (v. 6) – with heart*
2. When plotted against, we pray some more and plan for protection… and continue the work. (vv.7-9) à When the enemies banded together and plotted against them, Neh and Co. (prayed again) and planned for protection.
   1. These four groups in v. 7 are not all like buddies or anything… but the enemy of my enemy, you know. So Israel ends up literally encircled by these cooperating enemies—Sanballat and the Samaritans up north, Tobiah and the Ammonites out east, Geshem and the Arabs to the south, and now throw in even the western folks from Ashdod, a city in Philistia. (oh, those Philistines) [exit]
   2. Neh got others to pray with him, and then they got busy with their protection plan. And here we learn that one part of it was to stand guard 24/7. Their enemy was mean, looming large, and sneaky too (v. 11).
   3. We need to know our enemy’s tactics. – Satan’s desire is to thwart God’s plan (thru his ppl)
      1. Poor Israel has been taking it on the chin for millennia. ‘God, thanks for choosing us to be your people, but we could do without the target on our backs.’ – Satan would know doubt love for God’s people to turn on him with blame, but you can’t have it both ways. To be God’s chosen people is also to be the enemy of his enemies. You can’t be his and gain the world and its approval. To love God is to hate the world.
      2. Another one of his tactics is to hit you in your weak spot. Neh posted guards there (v. 13). I’m not trying to moralize here. This is just plain good leadership and godly wisdom. We do well to take notes and follow this model. Know your enemy’s tactics and take extra care to guard weak spots.
   4. And again, what is your greatest defense? (prayer) à And when have you over-prayed? – Only when your prayer replaces your working. (combining prayer and readiness, faith and action) Dependence on God’s sovereignty and submission to God’s service. One of the true benefits of right prayer is that it reminds us who God is!

• When intimidation reaps discouragement and fear, we renew our focus on who God is, remain battle ready… and continue the work. (vv.10-23) à When the enemy intimidated with fear of force, threatening military attack (and even Judah’s own people were either discouraged or afraid, begging them to call it quits), Neh rallied and prepared the people, and he developed a regular defense plan.
  1. Fear makes us falter – discouragement dwindles our hope. (And this is another tactic of the enemy—to get us to defeat ourselves.) (see vv. 10-12)
     1. Discouragement comes to us all, is tough to get off (even with bleach), and tends to be a recurring disease. It’s also extremely contagious. – And it’s a troublesome beast. For example, do you think fatigue is different when flavored with discouragement? What about frustration? (v. 10)
     2. Likewise, fear can be pervasive and pernicious, not even completely rational. Fear and doubt don’t always make sense, but fear is very real to the one who experiences it.
  2. Neh knew the people needed encouragement and courage. – How could he help them not give in to fear and discouragement?
     1. Request God’s help. (We’ve hammered that twice, but be sure that nail is secure. People of God, your first defense and your first offense is always prayer.)
     2. Remember who God is. (v. 14)
        1. Find encouragement in the character of God. Find courage in the strength of God. (Jesus loves me. Jesus loves ME. Not because of who I am but because of who HE is. What encouraging news is this!!!) Is God thwarted? Will God win? – Joshua 1:9
        2. Can he be trusted to only allow things that are best? (in light of forever) – 2 Cor. 4:1&16
        3. When you give in to discouragement and fear, it doesn’t just hurt you (which it does, but I think we focus on that too much*). It robs worship from God. It steals his thunder.
     3. Re-organize priorities. – It’s true, it stinks that they can’t just build the wall without being belittle and threatened. But no use whining about it. à With all the real danger surrounding us, we need rock solid safety measures. – Neh. split the work force (half stand guard with weapons ready) v. 16, carry a load in one hand and weapon in the other v. 17, work on the wall with sword at your side v. 18, a trumpeter to sound the alarm 19-20, take safety measures to stay overnight and with people coming and going 22, even sleeping with clothes on and weapon at your right hand 23.

Conclusion:

The world can be a dark, doleful, and desperately wicked place. (And if we’re honest, that’s largely b/c our hearts can be dark, doleful, and desperately wicked.)

• I hesitate to use the word hate (b/c I tell my kids it’s not a word to toss about), but I have come to REALLY dislike Christian teaching that basically pretends like everything is coming up roses. It’s all hunky-dory. Or even teaching that just doesn’t do justice to the very real struggles we face, or the real sacrifice it is to follow Christ on a daily basis.
• You’re ridiculed, you’re threatened, you suffer. But you guard the truth and you keep on working in service to God b/c there’s eternal value in it. [On the last day…] The ridicule will stop, the threatening will stop, as will suffering. But the growing relationship you have with your God, that lasts forever. There is only one remedy for facing opposition and even feeling discouraged and afraid. Keep your eyes on who God is, and keep on working for Him. [click]
• 1 Peter 4:12-19 [if time allows]

Lesson 5 – Responding to Opposition, Discouragement, & Fear (Nehemiah 4)

When faced with opposition and discouragement and fear, we keep our eyes on God, keep vigilant of the enemy, and keep on working.

When ridiculed, we pray and continue the work.

When plotted against, we pray some more and plan for protection and continue the work.

When intimidation reaps discouragement and fear, we renew our focus on WHO GOD IS, remain battle ready, and continue the work.

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV)

Take It Home: (Further application & Discipleship Group discussion starters)

• Share a time that you have experienced ridicule or intimidation because of your faith in Christ and daily walk in following Him. How did you respond? How might you have responded differently?
• Do we tend to get soft when prospering and forget to be vigilant of a very real enemy? Share examples or give an illustration.
• Be sensitive but honest with one another on the topic of discouragement and fear. Describe a situation where God was or is working in you to graciously grant you hope and courage.
• Why is recognizing and resting in WHO GOD IS the best remedy for opposition, discouragement, or fear? Consider specific attributes of God and His love for you in Christ. Read Psalm 118 and take note of the phrases that grip you.