Overcoming danger… (2 things)

• 1^st – Danger from without… vs. 1-23
  • 1^st – Mocking the work of God… vs. 1-5
    • Sanballat heard Jews were rebuilding the wall – made him furious (burned with great anger)…
      • Sanballat was a leader in Samaria – and they were not happy with the Jews…
      • The Samaritans wanted to help rebuild the Temple – Ezra 4:1-5 – but were not allowed…
      • They were a mixed faith – a combination of paganism and Judaism…
      • And Zerubbabel had wisely refused to let them have any part in the Temple!
      • Ezra 4:4 – “Then the people of [Samaria] tried to discourage… [the Jews] in building…”
      • The Samaritans failed to keep the Temple from being rebuilt…
      • But at least they had been able to keep the Jews from going any further for 70 years!
      • So Sanballat was furious that the Jews were again stepping out in faith / trusting the Lord!
      • The world/satan would love nothing more than to get us to reject Jesus Christ…
      • But if they cannot get us to reject the Lord – then they at least do not want us to grow…
      • We can believe in Jesus – but think an education / money / job are more important…
      • Or we can go to a Bible study – just not every week – maybe once a month…
      • Anything to keep us from living a sold out life for Jesus Christ – compromise our walk…
      • So if we dare to step out in faith – make no mistake – it makes our enemy furious!
    • Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the Jews…
      • What are these ‘weak Jews’ trying to do – build a wall (fortify) / in a day…
        • Rebuilding a city from ruins – stones that had been burned (making them fragile)!
        • The term Jews is one that came into use only after the Babylonian captivity…
        • The idea was to remind the ‘Jews’ they were a conquered weak nation…
        • And the work they were trying to accomplish was impossible!
        • Satan loves to remind us of our past – the accuser of the brethren – Revelation 12:10
        • He has all the ‘evidence’ he needs – all our sins / our immoral past…
        • He wants us to think we will never be a Godly man/woman – it is impossible!
      • But we to not get frustrated in our walk – good fruit takes time and patience to grow…
        • Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man… delight is in he Law of the Lord… he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season.”
        • As we attend church / read our Bibles / pray – changes do happen – slowly…
        • Rather than looking for the fruit – we just need to keep busy serving Jesus…
        • As we are faithful to abide in Jesus – spending time in His Word…
        • in God’s time we will bear great fruit – so keep doing good – Galatians 6:9
      • Tobiah added that if a fox walked on their new wall – it would collapse…
        • The idea being they were working with sub-par material – useless ruined stones!
        • Our enemy would love to try and make us think we are worthless – ruined…
        • But nothing the devil says is true – everything that comes from him is a lie – John 8:44
        • He lies and tells you sin is fun – just give it a try – get you hooked like a drug dealer…
        • He lies and tells you once you have sinned – you cannot go back to God…
        • But the truth is we are precious stones – which God will use to build an eternal home!
        • I Peter 2:5 – “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…”
    • Nehemiah prayed to God against the Samaritans…
      • It is a rather harsh prayer – let them be conquered / do not let their sins be forgiven…
      • It was said in the heat of the moment – spoken in anger – and it was wrong!
      • Luke 6:27 – “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…”
      • We are not to curse those who come against us – we are to love them…
      • Because they are not our real enemies – they are the ones we need to reach!
      • They are just puppets – being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
      • If we get upset / argue with what they do or say – we are arguing with a puppet!
      • The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
      • Rather than get upset with the people – pray for them to believe in Jesus Christ!
  • 2^nd – Threatening the workers of God… vs. 6-15
    • Sanballat and crew grew furious when they heard the wall was ½ finished… vs. 6-10
      • They made plans to attack Jerusalem and create confusion – to stop the work on the wall…
      • At the same time the work took a toll – men of Judah complained they were exhausted!
      • Times are often the most difficult in life – just before God does the most amazing work
      • I fear too often we give up – wear out – just before God does something incredible…
      • It is good to remember – it is always the darkest – just before the dawn!
    • Then the enemy started spreading rumors… vs. 11-12
      • The Jews would never see them coming – surprise and kill them – to stop the work…
      • The Jews who lived near Samaria reported (10x) they were coming from all directions!
      • You may have noticed that if you tell someone ‘good news’ – it stops there…
      • But a good piece of ‘bad news’ quickly becomes juicy gossip and spreads!
      • We are not to be a part of telling others rumors  – do not spread gossip!
      • James 3:5 – “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do…”
    • Nehemiah did not ignore the threats… vs. 13-15
      • He posted armed guards at low points in the wall / and at the uncovered gates…
      • But he encouraged the people not to be afraid – because the Lord is great and awesome!
      • A title God gave in Deuteronomy 7:21 – talking about his power to fight for Israel!
      • God reminded Israel of what He did to Egypt – the superpower of the day…
      • 10 increasingly devastating plagues – topped off by parting an ocean!
      • God would use the same mighty power against the nations in the Land…
      • Stop the sun in the sky for a day – rain down hail from heaven – Joshua 10:12-13
      • With God on our side – 1 can defeat 1,000 / 2 can defeat 10,000 – Deuteronomy 32:30
      • If God is the one fighting for us – who can possibly stand against us – Romans 8:31
      • As we learn to depend on the Lord – we are absolutely assured of our victory…
      • Sin / satan / the flesh do not stand a chance – God will overcome them all!
      • He will complete the work of salvation He began in our lives – Philippians 1:6
  • 3^rd – Ready for the battle… vs. 16-23
    • Be prepared: From that time on – Nehemiah divided the labor force… vs. 16-17
      • ½ worked on the wall – while the other ½ was armed ready to defend the city…
      • Even those who worked on the wall – had a shovel in one hand / and a sword in the other!
      • No matter what we are called to do in life – we need to carry a sword – Hebrews 4:12
      • Because we at war – and never know when we might get an change to use it…
      • If we are unsure of ourselves about the Word of God – the hope of Jesus…
      • We are not going to be very effective – we are going to be embarrassed when asked…
      • So get we need to know our Bible – know how to find important verses – be prepared!
      • I Peter 3:15 – “If you are asked about your hope, always be ready to explain it.”
    • Be united: The workers were spread out all over the city… vs. 18-20
      • Nehemiah kept a trumpeter near him – so he could sound the alarm at any moment… 
      • If they heard the trumpet – they were to rush together – and God would fight for them!
      • When we face challenges and hardships in life – we are not alone…
      • In Christ – we are not called to be an Island – we are called to be part of a family…
      • So that we are able to stand for God – reminding each other that the Lord fights for us!
    • Be diligent: They assigned spearmen to guard the city from sunrise to sunset… vs. 21-23
      • Then they all who worked during the way – also stayed to guard the city at night…
      • They did not even take off their clothes – except to take the occasional bath!
      • The simple point being – they worked hard – it was not easy to serve the Lord…
      • In the same way we as believers need to train – work hard…
      • Living for Jesus is a daily choice – and it takes work and commitment on our part…
      • We choose to take the time to get into God’s Word – set-aside time to pray…
      • We make the time to attend Bible studies – grow in our faith…
      • We need to avoid those temptations in life that would distract us!

• 2^nd – Danger form within… vs. 1-19
  • 1^st – The complaints of the people… vs. 1-5
    • The people came to Nehemiah complaining there was not enough food because of a famine…
      • They had large families – and although there was food to buy – they could not afford it!
      • Some complained they had mortgaged their land to buy food / pay their taxes…
      • Others complained they had to go so far as to sell their children into slavery!
    • As if being in constant fear of an attack from without were not enough…
      • Nehemiah had to also deal with attacks that came from within – from his own people!
      • Because satan will not limit himself to just one strategy – he will come on multiple fronts!
      • I Peter 5:8 – “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
      • Satan is smart – he knows at direct attack against the people of God is often useless…
      • He can make noise – but he is like a lion without teeth – bark worse than bite!
      • A much better strategy is to try to stir up trouble – he will attack us from within…
      • He will try to cause problems – try and get the church to turn on itself!
      • Luke 13:18-19 – Parable of the Mustard Seed – if you cannot beat them / join them!
  • 2^nd – Set my people free… vs. 6-13
    • Furious – Nehemiah called a meeting of the guilty nobles and rulers… vs. 6-7
      • He accused them of charging interest to their Jewish brothers…
      • God commanded the Jews to never charge interest to their brothers – Exodus 22:25-26…
      • They were not to take advantage of those in need – if they wanted to help – just give!
      • Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
      • It is a good idea not to lend to others – people are thrilled when you give to them…
      • Then avoid you like the plague when it comes time to be paid back…
      • Better to simple give it if you have it – if you do not then you cannot!
    • Nehemiah accused them of selling the people of God into slavery… vs. 8-9
      • God had redeemed the people of Israel from the bondage of – Egypt / Babylon…
      • But now the rulers were selling their own brothers back into that same slavery!
      • They were not walking in the fear of God – thinking about the result of their actions…
      • The pagan nations around them were watching their terrible witness!
      • We are called take care of our own – provide for the needs of others in the church…
      • And how we react sends a message to the world – tells them what God is like!
      • When we do not help – we force those who are lacking to turn to the world for answers…
      • It sends a terrible message to unbelievers – God does not even care about His own kids…
      • It becomes no surprise people are not that interested in getting to know Jesus!
    • Nehemiah called on the guilty to restore what they had taken… vs. 10-13
      • They were to give back that very day – the land / crops / houses / food / even interest…
      • The nobles did not argue – they agreed to the terms unconditionally…
      • Nehemiah had them take an oath before the priests – promising to comply…
      • He then warned them with a curse – if they broke their word…
      • God would ‘shake’ them out of their home and property if they disobeyed!
      • Proverbs 28:8 – “A person who makes money by charging interest will lose it. It will end up in the hands of someone who is kind to the poor.”
      • Taking advantage of others may gain momentary wealth – but then God opposes you…
      • So many people try and rip off others just to make a few extra dollars…
      • Missing the blessings of God – that would bring eternal riches!
  • 3^rd – The example of Nehemiah… vs. 14-19
    • In the 12 years Nehemiah served as governor of Judah – he never collected a personal tax…
      • Those who had come before him demanded – bread / wine / and 40 shekels of silver…
      • Even the servants of those men lorded their power / position over the people!
      • But Nehemiah did not – even though he fed 150 rulers at his table daily…
      • He never bought land (settled in) – and he and his servants worked on the wall!
      • He did this because of the fear of God – and the heavy burden of the people!
      • Too many pastors today abuse they authority they are given in the church…
      • They use the pulpit as a means for personal gain – taking advantage of the people of God…
      • The result is people are wary of the church – the Gospel message becomes tainted!
    • Nehemiah asked that God remember what he had done for the people
      • He was not looking for a reward from men – he knew his reward came from the Lord!
      • If you asked me to set up a computer for you – I would expect you pay me for the work…
      • But if someone else asked me to set it up for you – they would be the one to pay!
      • If a pastor is truly called by God – does not look to the people to provide for him…
      • He understands He works for God – and trust in the Lord to provide for all his needs!