NEHEMIAH                                                              

                                                                       

The book of Nehemiah tells us exactly what we are likely to come against in serving the Lord.                                                                     

Walls were broken down, the gates burnt                                                             

                       

1.  Opposition through being despised 2:19-20                                                   

2.  Opposition through ridicule 4:1-6                                                                      

3.  Opposition through the threat of attack 4:7-9

4.  Opposition through discouragement 4:10                                                                   

5.  Opposition through extortion 5:1-13                                                                 

6.  Opposition through compromise 6:1-4                                                            

7.  Opposition through slander 6:5-9                                                                     

8.  Opposition through treachery 6:10-14                                                              

                                                                       

                                                                       

1.  Opposition through being despised 2:19-20                                                   

His authority was challenged

By what authority do you do this?

It is essential to know our calling.  

That we are not acting on our own imaginations. 

Compare Peter and John in Acts 4. Who do you think you are?                        

We should not despise not the days of small things                                                        

Timothy, let no man despise thy youth                                                                   

The God of heaven Himself will prosper us                                                                       

                                                                       

                                                                       

2.      Opposition through ridicule 4:1-6   

An attack was made upon their ability to complete the work.

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit", Zechariah 4:6 

Sanballat mocked the Jews                                                            

Tobiah the Ammonite even if a fox goes up on it, he will break it down. Nehemiah did not try to defend himself but brought his cause before God.                         

The people had a mind to work                                                                  

 

 

3.  Opposition  through being threatened 4:7-9

The threat of attack

Watch and pray                                                                    

Enemies angry when they saw the work progressing.                                                     

Conspired to attack                                                             

Set a watch.  4:9                                                                  

 

 

4.  Opposition  through discouragement    4:10

All the rubbish had to be cleared.

Rubbish will hinder the work – needs to be cleared.

In ministry – rubbish needs to be cleared.

The rubbish of worldly attitudes

The rubbish of false doctrines 

The rubbish of speculative teaching built on a particular idea or interpretation, e.g. speculative demonology.

 

"Do not be afraid of them remember the Lord.”    4:4                                          

                                                                       

                                                                       

5.  Opposition through extortion 5:1-13                                                                 

All things common in the early church.                                                                   

Caring for each other.                                                                      

John 15:10-11  If you keep my commandments                                                               

v12 love one another as I have loved you.                                                             

1 Peter 2:21 example that you should follow in His steps                                               

The doctrine of Christ                                                                      

                                                                       

                                                                       

6.  Opposition through compromise 6:1-4                                                            

Let us meet together                                                            

6:3 “I am doing a great work”                                                                      

Inspired leadership                                                              

Four times he answered the message the same way.                            

Ezra 4:1-4                                                                 

2 Kings 17:24-33                                                                 

                                                                       

                                                                       

7.  Opposition through slander 6:5-9                                                                     

The enemy attacked his motives.

Building your own kingdom                                                             

'Now O God strengthen my hands'                                                             

He was determined - steadfast nothing was going to move him                        

He knew his calling.                                                             

                                                                       

                                                                       

8.  Opposition through treachery 6:10-14                                                              

Out of fear tried to get Nehemiah to sin     

Nehemiah was bold - Should such a man as I flee. v11

Nehemiah knew who he was

“They that know their God shall be strong…”, Daniel 11:32.

Compare Mordecai, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, etc..                         

                                                                       

                                               

Final outcome                                                                       

6:16 Enemy disheartened, perceived that this work was done by God