2. Nehemiah 4:1-6

4. Outside Sources V.4- We are despised V.5- for they have demoralized the builders They- Sanballat (Hornite), Tobiah (Ammonite), Geshem (Arab) Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us [and said], "What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" Ridicule “The language of the devil” “Paper bullets of the brain” William Shakespeare

5. Outside Sources Ridicule Sanballat V.2- What are these feeble Jews doing? Feeble- withered or miserable V.2- Are they going to restore it for themselves? “Will they fortify themselves? V.2- Can they offer sacrifices? “It will take more than prayer and worship to rebuild the city” V.2- Can they finish in a day? V.2- Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?

6. Outside Sources Ridicule Tobiah V.3- if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down! The finished product is inferior V.6- for the people had a mind to work Intimidation (Vs.7-14) V.8- All of them V.7- Sanballat [N], Tobiah (Ammonites) [E], Arabs [S], and the Ashdodites [W]

7. Intimidation (Vs.7-14) V.8- Conspired together Fight against Jerusalem Cause a disturbance V.11- Our enemies said They will not know or see (Stealth) We will kill them and stop the work (Determination) V.12- The Jews told us ten times They (our enemies) will come up against us They will come from every place where you may turn V.14- When I (Nehemiah) saw their fear

8. Inside Sources V.10- Judah said The strength of the burden bearers is failing There is too much rubbish We are not capable of completing such an enormous task V.6- halfway finished (26 days into the project) 6:15- 52 days to complete 6:17-19 V.17 in those days (during the construction of the wall) V.17 nobles of Judah V.18 many in Judah were bound by and oath to him (Tobiah)

9. “Whenever the people of God start doing the work of God, there will be opposition. A worker of weak faith and purpose will quit, but a person of resolution and confidence will overcome the opposition and finish the task. Nehemiah was such a person.” Warren Wiersbe God Given Commission 1:4-11 “O Lord I beseech You” 2:8 “the good hand of my God was on me” 2:12- “God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem”

10. God Given Courage 2:4- “So I prayed to the God of heaven” 4:14- “remember the Lord who is great and awesome” 4:20- “Our God will fight for us” 6:9- “But now, O God, strengthen my hands” 6:14- “Remember me, O my God,”

11. God Given Conviction 2:19-20- “The God of heaven will give us success” 4:4-5- Act on our behalf 4:9- “But we prayed to our God” 6:15-16- “With the help of our God”

12. Acts 4:23-31 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'

13. 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.