Nehemiah 6:10-14

How To Face Your Fears Nehemiah 6:10-14

One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” 11 But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” Nehemiah 6:10-11

I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me. Nehemiah 6:12-14

2007

1. In the face of fear, leaders don’t flee He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” Nehemiah 6:10

a. irrelevantb. inaccessible How does the world view the Church?

a.The church is not a place to go for comfort, security and inspiration!

b. Homeostasis: the tendency to stay the same.

Fear is like a thermostat. FEAR

c. The result of fear He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this… Nehemiah 6: 13a is sin

Growth

F E A R

He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Nehemiah 6:13 Loss of credibility and reputation. The Consequence of Fear

2. Commitment To Fight But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” Nehemiah 6:11

2. Commitment To Fight “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it.” Mark 8:34-35

a. All leaders feel fear b. Leaders recognize the source of fear I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Nehemiah 6:12

a. All leaders feel fear b. Leaders recognize the source of fear

Living from the perspective of Easter

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear, knowing what must be done does away with fear.” Rosa Parks

3. A Willingness To Forgive Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. Nehemiah 6:14

3. A Willingness To Forgive a. They forgive others

Unforgiveness It is burning down your house to kill the rat.

3. A Willingness To Forgive a. They forgive others b. They forgive themselves

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1