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"Dealing with Opposition" Nehemiah #7

By The Rev. Stephen Becker

November 19, 2006

Church of the Holy Spirit

Ashburn, Virginia

www.holyspiritanglican.org

Main Subject is opposition and spiritual warfare

Main Thrust of chapter 4: The main methods of opposition that are used against the workers

are ridicule, fear, anger, and discouragement. Each point of opposition was met with prayer,

intercession, faith, and hard work believing that victory ultimately comes through faith that God

fights for us.

Compelling Vision: Building walls is critical aspect necessary for Judah and Benjamin to be the

people and nation that God was calling them to be. God wants his people to be protected and

safe, separate from the evil influences of the world as they are called to reflect God's glory and

power to the nations.

Introduction and Background: Nehemiah had a vision of a restored Jerusalem. We too are

given a vision of who we are called to be in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul tells us in the

book of Romans that the whole "...creation waits in eager expectation for the sons and daughters

of God to be revealed" (Rom. 8:22).

We know that God has loved us from before the

foundation of the world. He has a purpose and plan for our lives, and his infinite power is able to

bring to completion his purposes for us (see Eph. 1:3-10). Yet as we look at the way things are

right now, whether it is in your own journey towards wholeness and sanctification or in the body

of Christ, there is much work to be done. The report that Nehemiah heard about the Jews in

Jerusalem could also be said of us: "The survivors ...are in great trouble and shame, the wall of

Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire" (Neh. 1:3). When I have

had an opportunity to talk with a number of men about their walk with Christ, most are honest

enough to admit there is much work to be done. Many feel isolated and alone, and the spiritual

defenses around their lives are in great disrepair. We could easily be discouraged at what we

see. But there is hope for God's grace is raising up people and leaders with a vision. Your Pastor

is one of those who has been raised up with a vision for this church, and he is using the

principles found in Nehemiah to help your church to grow into its full inheritance and purpose.

And today as we look at chapter four we see a clear picture of the battle and struggle that we are

up against.

Body: Nehemiah chapter 4& 6

Notice the words used to describe opposition:

4:1 anger, greatly enraged, mocked (ridiculed) (they called the people "feeble"

4:5 hurled insulted

4:7 The conspiracy and opposition came at them from all sides. With respect to Jerusalem--

Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, Ashdod on the west, Tobiah and the Ammonites on

the east, and Geshem and the Arabs to the south. The workers were surrounded and lived in

constant

fear

being

ambushed.

4:8 they stirred up trouble, plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause

confusion in it.

6:2 schemed against

6:9 frightened them

6:13-14 He was hired for this purpose, to intimidate me and make me sin by acting in this way,

and so they could give me a bad name, in order to taunt me."

6:19 "Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me."

The times Nehemiah was living in were difficult, especially for a visionary and leader like

himself. His observation of his people's present condition made him discontent, and his vision

of what God called him to do invited criticism. Sanballat (whose name means, "May sin give

him life") left no stone unturned in his search for why the wall would never be completed. He

criticized the character of the builders. He questioned their ability and commitment to finish the

project, and his opposition stirred up much fear and discouragement. Yet Nehemiah overcame

the obstacles that confronted him by faith and patience, and a plan that was constantly being

adjusted to meet critical needs that his critics addressed. In other words, Nehemiah saw this

opposition as an opportunity to grow, and therefore he dealt with the criticism of those around

him by doing these three things, which I have taken from Andy Stanley's book on Visioneering.

1. Praying (vs. 4) Instead of responding to the criticism or defending himself to those who had

criticized him, Nehemiah talked to God about it. And in this prayer he laid out his raw emotions

and he didn't care how correct his prayer really was for the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah

against the Jews was in reality opposition against God. And it had the effect of helping

Nehemiah continued to channel his thoughts and energy in the direction of his vision, instead of

focusing his attention on his enemies. How much better we would be if we made prayer our

initial

response

criticism.

2. Remembering the source of his vision (vs. 14) Nehemiah thought back over the situation

and remembered how God had brought them this far. It was by looking back that he found the

energy to move forward. Once again, Nehemiah exhibited his skills as a leader by calling the

people together and challenging them to remember the God they were working for.

3. Revising his plan (vs. 16-18) Nehemiah decided to set up a guard against the enemy. He

realized the balance between walking by faith and leading strategically. Posting a guard did not

demonstrate a lack of faith. If Sanballat and his army decided to invade Jerusalem, Nehemiah

knew that they didn't stand a chance of defending themselves without God's intervention. He did

what he knew to do and trusted God for the rest. And as he was "steadfast and unmovable" he

led

his

people

finish

the

work

fifty-two

days.

Application: Just as the rebuilding of the walls was a demanding project, many facets of human

recovery can take a long time. While the instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit in "new birth"

and "justification" secures the believer's position in Christ at once, the progressive work of

renewing, healing, and bringing sprit, soul, and body into God's fuller intent is a process (I

Thess. 5:23-24).

One of my criticisms of the present day health and wealth gospel and faith movement is that

often it does not tell people the whole truth about the struggles, battles, and process by which

people are able to enter into the great and precious promises of God. There is a natural

impatience with God's timing. We want to see manifestations of the kingdom now. And who

doesn't? But make no mistake about it, "faith works patience" and we must allow patience and

perseverance to bring us to a place of maturity, "so that we may be mature and complete, not

lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).

There is a work of sanctification that God does not want us to neglect. There are walls of

protection that we need around our hearts and our spiritual lives. Therefore Paul tells that we are

called come out from among the evil influences of the world and be separate (see II Cor. 6:17),

remembering our Lord is coming back for a church "...without spot or wrinkle or any other

blemish" (Eph. 5:27).

This church by its separation from the Episcopal Church USA has made a bold step to ensure

that it is building its foundation on the faith once entrusted to the saints. This bold step in many

ways parallels the journey of Abraham, who "set out for a place that he was to receive as an

inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. ...For he looked for a city whose

builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10). In many ways, your Church has been in exile seeking a

homeland. For we are "looking for city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is

God" (Heb. 11:10). The Church has always wrestled with discouragement and apostasy from

within and the forces of secularism and humanism without. It has always struggled with ideas

and philosophies that are opposed to a Christian world-view. We live in a hyper naturalistic,

post-enlightenment, post-Christian world that argues against the substance of our faith. You

have taken these affronts to your faith seriously. And you have taken necessary steps to separate

yourselves from evil. But this journey is not over, and there is still much to be accomplished.

We still battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.

When we are commanded in Scripture to "...not love the world or anything in the world" (I John

2:15-17), the Apostle John was not talking about the earth which is the Lord's, but about a world

system that is hostile to God because of rebellious human beings who are dominated by

SELFISH ambition, pride, greed, as they search for ways to please the uncontrolled desires of

our unredeemed flesh. The opinions of this world are false, its goals selfish, its pleasures sinful

and without the fear of God its influence corrupts.

In the last chapters of John's Revelation (chapters 18-21) we see a great war and struggle that is

taking place in the heavenly realms. In chapter 18 we see the great city of Babylon as it

represents an end time center of human power, glory, and wealth as it exalts itself against the

knowledge of God. And in Chapter 21 we see the New Jerusalem as the habitation of Christ and

his church. It is a tale of two cities. Those two cities are emblems of the cosmic warfare between

good and evil, God and Satan. Many Christian authors have expounded what this battle looks

like in our day to day life. In John Bunyon's book, Pilgrims Progress, he talks about the battle

and struggle for the city of man's soul. In this book we see depictions of things going on which

oppose one's progress in the Christian life. There is warfare over the progress of every

individual who wants to make heaven his home. And there are strategies in hell which are

targeted against the body of Christ as it tries to bring the gospel to every generation.

To overcome the power of the world's system that is hostile to God requires a lot of work,

struggle, and continual self-denial.

To disdain the ways of this world and to pour contempt on everything that is opposed to God in

Christ is a high calling and privilege.

To be clearly separated to God requires fierce determination.

John Piper said, "The outpost of the kingdom of God in Babylon (which is his description the

Church) are meant not only to reassert God's rightful place in all areas of life, and not only to

strengthen each others hands, but also to be a powerful people of worship, drawing down into the

darkness of Babylon the light, and glory, and joy, and power of heaven's celebration of God's

triumph over all evil."

Nehemiah 4:14 "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord and fight for your family." This

brings glory to God for this battle is not just for you, it is also for the next generation. Our kids

are watching and learning from us. Knowing that by your example in how you respond to

opposition and suffering you are laying a good foundation for them.

The writer of Hebrews exhorts us "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,

so that we might not grow weary or lose heart"(12:3).

Summary conclusion: We must keep on keeping on. We need to pray for boldness and a

sanctified tenacity in refusing to compromise the vision of holiness that God has given to us. We

need each other in body of Christ to help us in this battle. But be of good cheer, our Lord has

overcome the world.

"And now him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his

power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church in Christ Jesus throughout all

generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21).