Defeating Dangerous Discouragement Nehemiah 4 Lewis Winkler Crossroads International Church

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

By Way of Review:

The temple stood unprotected without city walls

Prayer and vision

King's Help Granted

Nehemiah wisely investigated the situation before getting started

Enemies in Nehemiah's Time Geshom the Arab Sanballat the Samaritan Tobiah the Ammonite NEHEMIAH

The Initial External Challenge: Discouraging Ridicule (1-3) “Angry and Greatly Incensed” “Angry and Greatly Incensed” Ridicule Ridicule “Feeble Jews” “Feeble Jews”

The Initial External Challenge: Discouraging Ridicule (1-3) Will they restore the wall? Will they restore the wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Will they finish in a day? Can they “resurrect” the wall from a pile of rubble? Can they “resurrect” the wall from a pile of rubble?

Tobiah's Fox

The Power of Words “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things out not to be so.” —James 3:8-10 —James 3:8-10

The Power of Words “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” —Proverbs 18:21 —Proverbs 18:21

Some Food for Thought Are you aware of the awesome power of your words? Are you aware of the awesome power of your words? Do you use words more often to build up or to tear down? Do you use words more often to build up or to tear down?

The Initial Response: Prayer (4-5) “Imprecatory” “Imprecatory” Hear us Hear us Note our situation Note our situation Repay in kind Repay in kind

Return their insults upon themselves! Return their insults upon themselves! Let them become plundered and taken captive! Let them become plundered and taken captive! Do not ignore their sin! Do not ignore their sin! Nehemiah's “Imprecatory” Prayer (4-5)

Some Food for Thought: What is your typical “first response” when tough times and opposition come you way? What is your typical “first response” when tough times and opposition come you way? What would you like it to be? What would you like it to be?

The Next External Challenge: Dangerous Threats (7-8, 11-12) Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod become very angry. Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod become very angry. They plot to fight together against Jerusalem and cause trouble for the builders. They plot to fight together against Jerusalem and cause trouble for the builders. They promise to kill the builders if necessary in order to stop them from succeeding. They promise to kill the builders if necessary in order to stop them from succeeding.

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist Him, standing firm in your faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The Next Response: Prayer with Wise Action (9, 13-14, 16-20, 22-23)

1 Corinthians 15:10 “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of [the other apostles]—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”

How to Defeat the Enemy's Dangerous Discouragements: God-dependent Prayer God-dependent Prayer God-informed Planning God-informed Planning God-empowered Action God-empowered Action

Psalm 127:1 Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

The Ultimate Result: The Work Continues (15, 21)

2 Timothy 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Summary and Conclusion: When opposition and discouragement arose, Nehemiah first sought God in prayer. When opposition and discouragement arose, Nehemiah first sought God in prayer. The work of God continued. The work of God continued. When dangerous threats arose, Nehemiah first sought God in prayer and acted with wisdom. When dangerous threats arose, Nehemiah first sought God in prayer and acted with wisdom. The work of God continued. The work of God continued.

Main Idea of Nehemiah 4 Respond to external discouragement and danger with God-dependent prayer, God-informed planning, and God-empowered action. God-dependent prayer, God-informed planning, and God-empowered action.

Personal Application: What discouragement or danger are you facing in your own life right now that is trying to keep you from serving God fearlessly and whole-heartedly? What discouragement or danger are you facing in your own life right now that is trying to keep you from serving God fearlessly and whole-heartedly? What steps might you take in this situation to seek God first, plan, and act with His wisdom? What steps might you take in this situation to seek God first, plan, and act with His wisdom?

Opposition, Danger, and Glory: The Story of William Carey

“Young man, sit down! When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine!”

Opposition, Danger, and Glory: The Story of William Carey Carey sails to India with His Wife and Children

Opposition, Danger, and Glory: The Story of William Carey The Indigo Factory

Opposition, Danger, and Glory: The Story of William Carey A Godly Witness and Prolific Translator

Opposition, Danger, and Glory: The Story of William Carey The Mission Chapel at Serampore

Opposition, Danger, and Glory: The Story of William Carey

The Legacy of William Carey: Before he was thirty-one he could read the Bible in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Dutch, French, and English. Before he was thirty-one he could read the Bible in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Dutch, French, and English. He founded the Baptist Missionary Society, and launched the modern missionary movement which has succeeded in taking the gospel worldwide. He founded the Baptist Missionary Society, and launched the modern missionary movement which has succeeded in taking the gospel worldwide. He founded a university that is still providing a Christian education in India today. He founded a university that is still providing a Christian education in India today. He founded the still-existent agricultural and horticulture society. He founded the still-existent agricultural and horticulture society. He translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, Marathi, and Punjabi, along with numerous portions of other dialects and languages. He translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, Marathi, and Punjabi, along with numerous portions of other dialects and languages. He founded and operated his own printing press business. He founded and operated his own printing press business. He was directly involved in the founding of 19 different mission stations throughout India. He was directly involved in the founding of 19 different mission stations throughout India. Awarded an honorary doctorate degree, he was a highly respected professor of Sanskrit and Bengali languages in India for 30 years. Awarded an honorary doctorate degree, he was a highly respected professor of Sanskrit and Bengali languages in India for 30 years. He successfully lobbied to have the Hindu practice of “sati,” or widow burning outlawed in India. He successfully lobbied to have the Hindu practice of “sati,” or widow burning outlawed in India.

Carey's Final Admonition: “Dr. Carey this, Dr. Carey that! Please, sir, after I am gone, praise nothing about Dr. Carey. Praise only Dr. Carey's Savior!”