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Nehemiah 4: 1 - 23

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Nehemiah 4: 1 - 23

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Nehemiah 4: 1 - 23

BERLIN WALLBERLIN WALL

BERLIN WALLBERLIN WALL

NEHEMIAH 4:1NEHEMIAH 4:1

Now, Sanballat, hearing that we were building the wall, was very

angry, and in his wrath made sport of the Jews.

NEHEMIAH 4:2NEHEMIAH 4:2

And in the hearing of his countrymen and the army of Samaria he said, What are

these feeble Jews doing? will they make themselves strong? will they make

offerings? will they get the work done in a day? will they make the stones which have been burned come again out of the dust?

NEHEMIAH 4:3NEHEMIAH 4:3

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Such is their

building that if a fox goes up it, their stone wall will be broken

down.

NEHEMIAH 4:7NEHEMIAH 4:7

But when it came to the ears of Sanballat and Tobiah and the

Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites, that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was going

forward and the broken places were being made good, they were full of

wrath;

NEHEMIAH 1:8NEHEMIAH 1:8

And they made designs, all of them together, to come and make an attack on Jerusalem, causing

trouble there.

THE OPPOSITION INSIDE-OUT

THE OPPOSITION INSIDE-OUTTHE OPPOSITION INSIDE-OUT

TobiahHis name means “Yahweh is good.” With

a name like that, he is probably a Jew from Ammon. He is married to the daughter of

Shecaniah (3:29; 6:18) and his son is husband to Meshullam’s daughter. M eshullam’s son,

Berekiah, led a group of wall builders. Tobiah is also related to Eliashib, the priest.

THE OPPOSITION INSIDE-OUTTHE OPPOSITION INSIDE-OUT

Sanballat

It derives from a phrase translates “Sin (the moon god)

has given life.” He is out-and-out pagan.

What is your natural reaction when things gang up against

you?

DISCOURAGEMENTDISCOURAGEMENT

(Neh 4:10) And Judah said, The strength of the workmen is giving way, and there is much waste material; it is impossible for us to put up the wall.

DISCOURAGEMENTDISCOURAGEMENT Discouragement kills strength And Judah

said, The strength of the workmen is giving way (v.10a)

Discouragement also kills vision and there is much waste material; (v..10b)

Discouragement is a murderer it is impossible for us to put up the wall (v. 10c)

FEARFEAR

(Neh 4:14) I saw that the people were worried, so I said to them and to their

leaders and officials, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and terrifying the Lord is, and fight for your relatives, your children, your wives, and

your homes."

FEARFEAR Fear makes you skeptical. This means that

you are afraid to try anything new. Fear makes you selfish. This means that

you are afraid committing yourself to someone or something.

Fear makes you short-sighted. This means that you are afraid to launch into the future.

The people in this situation took seven positive steps when they heard

these three enemies were coming against them. You have three

enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. And they gang up on you.

STEP 1: TUNE INTO GODSTEP 1: TUNE INTO GOD

(Neh 4:4) Give ear, O our God, for we are looked down on: let their words of shame be turned back on themselves, and let them be given up to wasting in a land where they are prisoners:

STEP 2: PRAYSTEP 2: PRAY

(Neh 4:9) But we made our prayer to God, and had men on watch against them day and night because of them.

STEP 3: ADMIT YOUR NEEDSTEP 3: ADMIT YOUR NEED

(Neh 4:10) And so at that time the people of Judah said, "The workers are becoming tired. There is too much dirt and trash in the way. We cannot continue to build the wall.

(Neh 4:11) And our enemies are saying, 'Before the Jews know it or see us, we will be right there among them. We will kill them and that will stop the work.'"

STEP 4: FOCUS ON GOD, NOT YOUR PROBLEMSSTEP 4: FOCUS ON GOD, NOT YOUR PROBLEMS

(Neh 4:14) After looking over everything, I stood up and spoke to the important families, the officials, and the rest of the people. I said, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember the Lord, who is great and powerful! You must fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters! You must fight for your wives and your homes!"

STEP 5: GET SOME SUPPORTSTEP 5: GET SOME SUPPORT (Neh 4:16) From that day on, half of my men

worked on the wall. The other half of my men were on guard, ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The army officers stood behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall.

(Neh 4:17) The builders and their helpers had their tools in one hand and a weapon in the other hand.

(Neh 4:18) Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. The man who blew the trumpet to warn the people stayed next to me.

STEP 7: THANK GOD IN ADVANCESTEP 7: THANK GOD IN ADVANCE

(Neh 1:5) Then I prayed this prayer: "LORD, God of heaven, you are the great and powerful God. You are the God who keeps his agreement of love with people who love you and obey your commands.

WHY THANK GOD IN ADVANCE?

WHY THANK GOD IN ADVANCE?WHY THANK GOD IN ADVANCE?

God is approachable (Neh. 1:5a) Then I prayed this prayer: "LORD, Go of heaven

God is Awesome (Neh. 1:5b) you are the great and powerful God

God is powerful (Neh. 1:5b) you are the great and powerful God

God is loving (Neh. 1:5c) You are the God who keeps his agreement of love with people who love you and obey your commands.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WALLSTHE IMPORTANCE OF WALLS

The Wall of Jerusalem represents:

God’s favorSecurityHonor