Facing Challenges Nehemiah 4:1-23

Introduction Opposition from various angles and of different kinds.

The Attacks of the Enemy Nehemiah 4:1-3

A. Sanballat’s sarcastic questions (v 2) What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life?

B. Tobiah’s disheartening joke (v 3).

The Actions of Nehemiah

A. Nehemiah Prayed (4:4–5) “Hear us, O our God…” (v 4). “Turn their insults back on their own heads. (v 4-5).

B. Nehemiah Persevered in the Work (4:6) Nehemiah refused to be side-tracked, distracted or detracted. “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (v 6).

Further Attacks of the Enemy Nehemiah 4:7-12

A. From Outside (4:7–9) The ranks among the enemies had now grown to include more people. They were now threatening violence.

A. From Outside (4:7–9) The response of Nehemiah and his people remained the same: Faith-filled prayer and faithful perseverance.

B. From Inside (4:10–12) Excuses and reservations - “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall” (v 10). J. I. Packer: deal with “attitudinal rubble”.

B. From Inside (4:10–12) Underlying fears of being killed (v 11). Rumours and negative ideas.

Further Defensive Actions Nehemiah 4:13-15

Nehemiah placed defences at the weakest points (v 13). He gave them a rousing speech. “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome” (v 14).

“God had frustrated” the plot of the enemies (v 15) “God had frustrated” the plot of the enemies (v 15). “We all returned to the wall, each to his own work” (v 15).

Doing Ministry Amid Spiritual Warfare Nehemiah 4:16-23

Nehemiah organised the workers into work teams and armed groups. They worked “with one hand and held a weapon with the other” (v 17).

Moreover, Nehemiah had a trumpet blower with him all the time – to mobilise at short notice (v 19-20). “So we continued the work,” (v 21). Nehemiah set a personal example of this attitude.

Lessons

It is good to remember that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. We should expect opposition in many forms when we do God’s will and work.

Our response to such opposition is to follow the dual principles of praying and persevering.

We must learn to be on guard and be alert all the time. Spiritual leaders must set a personal example of watchfulness and total commitment to God and His will.

Reflection Questions

Why is it necessary for a spiritual leader, or for that matter all Christians, to know that they are involved in spiritual warfare? How does Satan throw his darts of discouragement and ridicule at us? What can we do about such spiritual and psychological warfare?

What can we learn from Nehemiah in how he responded from spiritual opposition (from Satan, the world and the flesh)? What does it mean for us today that we must pray and persevere? What does this say about your present situation? How does one deal with “attitudinal rubble”?

How can we be on guard and alert all the time How can we be on guard and alert all the time? Why does being an example of this important in spiritual leadership? How can leaders teach others to do the same?