WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:13.039 If you can open up your Bibles to uh Nehemiah chapter three and four is what we're going to be looking at this morning. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:16.000 My name is Pastor Samian, one of the pastors here. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.760 If I've not met you, I would love to have the honor to do that. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:25.920 And so I'll be standing there at the back at the end of the service. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:33.200 Before we jump into our passage, wasn't last week just an incredible time together for celebration Sunday? 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:33.759 Amen. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:36.960 Seeing people be baptized, having fellowship together. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:38.240 It was incredible. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:46.880 And in that, I I wanted to just bring up some people who couldn't join us last Sunday, but it's worth celebrating. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:52.240 So for those of you who know, Susan and Brian Roode. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:56.479 Susan has been and Brian have been part of this family for a while. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.759 And I have a picture actually I want to put up there. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.399 After last week on Sunday, I went and visited them. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:07.120 They live literally right across the street here in the springs. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.599 And unfortunately, both of them have been having some health issues. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.239 Miss Susan's been having issues with her back. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:16.719 That's having trouble for her to come to church. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.319 And Brian has been having issues with his heart and so many other things. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.560 He's got a leaky valve, and so much has been going on. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:35.519 One thing to rejoice about and celebrate about, though, is Brian just uh about a month and maybe a couple weeks ago gave his life to Jesus. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:36.719 Amen. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:45.599 And uh was planning to be baptized last week, but through the circumstances and everything that happened. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.959 And so the reason I brought this up, I mean, first is celebrating. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:54.480 Uh Miss Susan, uh, she'll tell you she has been praying for this for 10 years now. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:09.840 And you know, I can only imagine as a wife, as you see your partner um beginning to struggle with health, the concern that she has for uh his soul, but now uh she knows that he has put his hands into the living God and trusted him. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:20.719 So I encourage you to pray for them uh as they walk through these uh challenges, and those of you who know Miss Susan, maybe um personally, to reach out to her and check in on them. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.800 You have a calling, amen. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:27.360 I want you to say that I have a calling. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.960 I want you to turn to your neighbor and say, You have a calling. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:34.319 See, we all have a calling. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:44.639 We've been working through this book of Nehemiah and have learned that all of us have a calling to rebuild the brokenness around us. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:55.360 That just as Nehemiah, which we'll go over a recap here in a little bit, but Nehemiah had a responsibility to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:06.479 We've been learning that all of us have a responsibility, a calling to serve the Lord and rebuilding the brokenness around us. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:11.599 Here's the thing: though you have this calling, you have an enemy. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:13.039 I want you to say that. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:14.560 I have an enemy. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.639 I want you to turn to your neighbor and say, you have an enemy. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.319 There is someone who is, and say it's not me. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:28.800 I just thought that would be that's important to say. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:40.960 Um but here's the thing: there is someone who is actively going against you to fulfill the calling that God has in your life. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:52.240 And you'll see this as you learn to follow Jesus, to serve his ministry, serve his kingdom, to make disciples, the enemy will come after you. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.840 The enemy will come after you. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:01.840 And that enemy we see is the world, the flesh, and the devil. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:10.000 And so here in chapters 3 and 4 of Nehemiah, we'll see the people of God face opposition. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:20.879 As they try to build the walls of Jerusalem, they will be opponents, enemies who will come against them. 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:30.160 So here's the the question that the word of God will answer for us today is how do we serve the Lord when we face opposition? 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:40.240 How do we fulfill this calling to serve God, serve his church, serve his kingdom in the midst of opposition? 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:45.040 And so let us go, although we'll look at chapters three and four together. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:51.360 I want us for our time of reading to look at Nehemiah chapter four, verses six through fourteen. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:58.079 And so, for those of you who are able to, we stand here in reverence to the reading of the word of God. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:05.680 This is us saying, God, we are ready, we're hungry to receive and respond to your word. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:06.480 Amen. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:08.160 Are you hungry today? 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.519 We are a church that is grounded in the Bible. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:18.800 And so every time this book is open, so is our hearts, so is our minds, attentive, leaning in. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:23.680 And so let's start in Nehemiah chapter 4, verses 6 through 14. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.399 It says, So we built the wall. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:33.199 And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:52.240 But when Sambalot and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:59.360 And they all plotted together to come and fight Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:07.040 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:13.759 In Judah it was said, The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.680 There is too much rubble. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.439 By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:27.519 And our enemy said, They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:36.720 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us, Ten times, You must return to us. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:48.959 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the walls and open places, I stationed the people by their clans with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:58.959 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials, and to the rest of the people, do not be afraid of them. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:12.319 Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:14.240 Pray with me. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.040 Lord God, we pray for that. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:26.240 That we know in this very moment there is an enemy. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:39.519 He is at work even right now, plotting, planning, and scheming to stop us from rebuilding what you've called us to rebuild in this world. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:45.920 And so, God, I pray against the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:51.519 That he would flee from this room, from our minds and our hearts. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:01.920 Lord God, that we would be faithful and persevere despite the opposition and obstacles in life. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:06.959 So, Jesus, help us now to receive your word and obey it. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:09.120 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.079 Amen. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:27.439 Before we dive into Nehemiah chapter 3 and 4, uh, maybe a brief recap for those of us since we took a break last week from Nehemiah, but maybe some people who are visiting with us or haven't followed along through the series. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:32.879 The people of God, they lived in the land of Israel, but they disobeyed God. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.360 They disobeyed the law that was given to them. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:42.720 And so, in response to this, God sent the nations outside of Israel to come and take over. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:47.840 And so they destroyed the walls, they destroyed the city, and they destroyed the temple. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:53.600 Then the people of God were taken captive and were exiled all over. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:57.440 They were sent all over as captives to the different nations. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:16.480 And so what happened is 140 years has passed now since the walls were destroyed and the people were scattered, and Nehemiah receives news first, before this, that the temple had been rebuilt by Ezra, a priest, and some others. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:23.600 So the temple of God was rebuilt, but the walls surrounding Jerusalem and the temple were still destroyed. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:32.799 So in chapter one, in hearing this news, he feels burden, feels a calling that something must be done, and he prays to God for help. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:53.200 And in chapter two, we see that Nehemiah, as the king's cupbearer, we learned about, is able to share this burden with the king, and the king actually gives him the material and the letter needed to go and begin this rebuilding work. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:57.039 And so Nehemiah returns and comes to Jerusalem. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:09.840 He inspects, he scouts what's going on, and he begins to call the people to the work to begin building the walls. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:13.279 We saw this in verse 20. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:22.159 But before that, again, this really sets up, I want to look at verse 10 and 19 of chapter 2, just to set up again this idea that there was opposition. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:23.919 Pastor Jeff had brought that up. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.279 Look at verse 10. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:36.879 But when Sambalot, the Hornite, and Tobiah the Ammonite servants heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:41.600 So there are people who were upset that the wall was going to be rebuilt. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:57.840 Verse 19, it says, But when Sambalot the Horite and Tobiah the Ammonite, the servants, uh servant and Geshin the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, What is this thing that you are doing? 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:00.080 Are you rebelling against the king? 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:04.080 So they jeered, they despised, they mocked. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:09.519 And verse 20, our bridge to the chapter 3, which we'll be looking at. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:24.480 Nehemiah says, This, and I replied to them, The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:31.440 And so, despite the opposition, they press on, and so we see them pressing on in chapter three. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:38.559 So we will not look at all of chapter three, but we will describe and look at some verses of what's going on. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:48.399 In summary, chapter three, you can see there in your Bibles is a description of these ten different gates being built. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:58.799 Okay, and within these ten different gates, over 50 people are named, listed, who help build these walls. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:05.759 So if you look at chapter 3, verse 1, it says, Then we have to remember what just happened. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:07.600 Nehemiah calls the people. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:13.360 He says, We're gonna build these walls, then the people move to action. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:24.080 In that first verse, chapter 3, it then says, Then Elishib, the high priest, rose up with his brothers, the priests, and they built the sheep gate. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.440 This was the first gate. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:28.960 They consecrated it and set its doors. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:36.480 They consecrated it as far as the tower of the hundred, as far as the tower of Hananel. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:47.120 So we see in response to Nehemiah's leadership, this call to build, the people respond and they start building these gates. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:54.399 What's interesting about this first one says that they consecrated it. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.399 What does that mean? 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:04.399 To consecrate something is to set it apart, to give something to God. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.799 And this is an important reminder. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:20.720 If we miss this, we will miss the idea of these chapters, is that they weren't building these walls just for their physical protection and their own selfish reasons. 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:26.559 They were building these walls for God, for the glory of God. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:44.960 And I want to convince you that I want to remind you in Nehemiah chapter 1, verse 3, when Nehemiah first hears the news, in verse 3, it says, They said to me, the remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.639 See, it wasn't just trouble, there was shame. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:53.039 There was shame on the people of God who were supposed to represent him. 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:58.080 But we also see this in his prayer in verse 9 of chapter 1. 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:16.080 This is God speaking, saying, But if you return to me, or Nehemiah quoting the words of God, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place I have chosen for what? 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:20.080 To make my name dwell there. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:27.759 See, these walls are about making God's name known. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:33.919 I want to further convince you this at uh uh 1 Kings chapter 8. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:39.759 Solomon, the king who built this temple, that these walls would protect. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:45.679 He says this in 1 Kings 8:41, 41 through 43. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:15:21.200 Likewise, when a foreigner who is not of your people Israel comes from a far country for your namesake, for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, of your outreached arm, when he comes and prays towards this house, which was the temple, hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people, Israel, that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:27.440 So this temple and these walls that were built to protect it was to what? 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:33.279 Make God's name known among the nations, around the world. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:41.600 So it was it that they were building this, not just for protecting themselves, they were building this, consecrating this to God. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.159 It's important to understand. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.080 So here's the first point. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.480 How do we serve the Lord when we face opposition? 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.600 Is this remain united? 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.879 Remain united. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.360 Where do we see this in chapter three? 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:03.759 In chapter three, in the building of these ten gates, I've mentioned that there are 50 people mentioned. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.840 And these 50 people, who are they? 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.559 Who are these people rebuilding the gates? 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.679 Let's take a look. 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.320 We saw in verse 1 it was the priests. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.759 And we see in, look down in verse 8. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:26.159 It says, Next to them, Uzile, the son of Herhiah, pray for me with these names throughout these two chapters. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.159 Goldsmiths repaired. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:35.039 Next to them, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the broad wall. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:41.759 So one of the walls who helped repair, there was goldsmiths and perfumers. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.600 Look at verse 12. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:52.559 Next to him, Shalem, the son of Helohesh, ruler of half the districts of Jerusalem, repaired he and his daughters. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.720 Now, this would have been strange in this time in Israel. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:02.799 For daughters, for young women to be part of rebuilding a wall. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:16.640 But what is it showing here that these people who weren't builders, these perfumers, these goldsmiths, these daughters, and in verse 26, temple servants and these priests were what? 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.799 They were rebuilding the wall. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:22.720 See, they weren't professional builders. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:32.240 These were the people of God who didn't have the skills to accomplish it, but they did whatever needed to be done of what God was calling them. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:38.880 See, when it comes to rebuilding and expanding God's kingdom, here's what you need to understand. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:41.200 Every single one of us has a role. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:46.640 Every single one of us plays a part. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.839 The brokenness around you. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.440 To do something. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:05.920 God is calling you to that. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:15.680 Doesn't matter who you are, what your background is, just like the people here. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:18.559 They could have made excuses. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.279 We don't do that. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:25.200 The priests, I don't do physical labor. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:29.440 The perfumers who work with oil and fragrance. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:34.160 No, they all played a role. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.480 And it's the same for us. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:40.960 Doesn't matter your background, it doesn't matter if you grew up in church or you didn't. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:48.880 Doesn't matter if you're rich or you're poor, or you're black or you're white, or you're a man or a woman. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:55.359 God is calling you to be united in this mission. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:19:00.480 To rebuild the walls of brokenness around us, to serve Him. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:07.440 Can I tell you what the most important thing is about being a servant that matters? 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:13.759 More than being equipped, more than having the skills, it is being available. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:19.279 It is being available and saying there's a need. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.119 And here I am, God. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:24.400 Would you make that a prayer even now in this moment in your heart? 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.759 God, here I am. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:30.240 I want to do something about what's going on. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:38.640 That's why we we need to be united because what happens when one person or one of the families said, you know what? 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.559 We're not about that. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.839 What if nine of the gates were built and one wasn't? 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.559 All it takes is one enemy, what? 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.440 To go through the weak point. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.279 But they what? 00:19:53.359 --> 00:20:03.279 They worked together for one purpose, to make God's name known, to serve Him, to honor Him. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:15.759 And there is power when us as believers, as a church, when we come together for a united purpose, a united mission to make God's name known. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:23.839 That when we come here, we're not coming to hang out or check off the box, that we come to church, but to say we're a family on mission together. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:27.920 That we all play a role to serve Him. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.759 That's what we see. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:33.279 So, how do we serve the Lord when we face opposition? 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:35.119 We remain united. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:38.559 And we'll see this theme throughout chapter four as well. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:45.200 Let's transition now where we really start seeing this opposition in chapter four. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:21:01.440 It says, now when Sambalot, I always want to say Sandalot when I when I see that word, heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered the Jews. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:06.079 So this is the same people we saw in chapter 2. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:06.720 Okay? 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.200 They're continuing. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.559 They're jeering. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.599 What does jeering mean? 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.759 It means to mock, to make fun of. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:20.640 But notice that in chapter 2 they were displeased, but now it says they're greatly enraged. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:25.359 Because they're actually seeing the work being done. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:32.799 Greatly enraged, what does that mean in that the Hebrew language that this was originally written in? 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:35.279 It means to burn with anger. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.599 So what do they say? 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.480 Verse 2. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:46.480 And he said, in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, that's important to know, there's an army. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:53.039 What are these feeble or weak Jews doing? 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:55.599 Will they restore it for themselves? 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.519 Will they sacrifice? 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.599 Will they finish up in a day? 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:06.240 Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish and burn ones at that? 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:08.880 They say, look at the rubble. 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.440 They're gonna put this back together? 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.720 Who do they think they're? 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.640 They're being sarcastic. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:19.200 These weak Jews, what do they think they're doing? 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:26.079 And then maybe the roast of the century, verse 3, look at that. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:30.720 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Yes, what are they building? 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:36.319 If a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone walls. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:44.960 He says, even if they build these walls, if a fox goes on it, these walls are so weak that it will crumble. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:48.559 So the opposition starts to mock. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.640 Here's what you need to understand. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.359 Here's what you need to get. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:23:00.079 When there begins to be a work of God, there will be opposition. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.799 There will be opposition. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.720 Right? 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:08.480 I mean, we see this in the book of Acts. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:18.160 We see this every time there was a move of God, there was a revival of God, they're met with opposition, with persecution. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.480 And it's the same thing that's happening here. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:28.960 There's a work of God, the people of God are beginning to obey and to do, and the enemy is upset. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.319 And he wants to stop it. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:43.119 As you, please get this, as you begin to serve God, there's an enemy who is going to do everything he can to stop you. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.599 To put barriers, to put walls, to mock you. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:53.680 Because he sounds, the devil sounds a lot like Sambalot. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:57.039 You feeble Jews. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:18.559 You think that you can make an impact in your family and in the community? 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:21.519 You think that person's ever gonna be saved? 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:35.759 That's the way the enemy works, is he begins to mock and speak lies into your mind until they enter into your heart and you begin to believe it. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:38.000 That's how the enemy works. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.599 He mocks. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:42.319 So how does Nehemiah respond? 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.319 Look at verse 4. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:47.039 Just begins to pray. 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:57.839 He says, Hear, O our God, for we are despised, turn back their taunts on their heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:07.680 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:11.440 And we'll come back to this prayer later in this book. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:14.559 So it's known as an imprecatory prayer. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.160 Imprecatory prayer. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:20.799 And we'll talk about that in a couple weeks, because the Lord will answer this. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:23.440 But what does Nehemiah do? 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:29.519 He doesn't, after hearing this mocking, go to them and argue with them. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.359 What does he do? 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.200 He prays. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.480 He what? 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:36.480 He takes it to God. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:53.440 Here's the thing: how many of us, so many times, when the enemy comes at us or when other people begin to mock us and stop us, rather than continuing in the work and giving it to God, we allow that to stop us. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:57.759 But no, Nehemiah, the first thing he does, he goes to God. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.839 And I want you to see this. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.279 Somewhere else this happens. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.559 I know I'm jumping a little ahead. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:05.039 This is a little bit of a spoilers, but I want you to see this. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:09.039 In Nehemiah chapter 6, verses 2 through 3. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:18.240 This same person, the same enemy we're gonna see in this book, Sambalot and Geshem chapter 6, verse 2 and 3. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:27.119 Sent to me, who's Nehemiah, saying, Come and let us meet together at Hekaphim and the plan of Onoh. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:29.680 But they intended to do me harm. 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:36.720 And I sent a messenger to them saying, I am doing a great work and cannot come down. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:42.480 Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you? 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:45.359 This is what Nehemiah is also doing here. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:51.680 Where he hears the mocking, he hears the jeering, and he's thinking, I'm not gonna give it a time of day. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:56.319 I'm gonna take it to God and continue the work. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:03.200 And that's what we need to do with the lies of the enemy or those who would prevent us from serving God. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:06.799 It's to continue, to not get off track. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:11.200 But that's what the enemy is trying to get us to do. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.519 You need to see this. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:21.359 Because it will help you begin to fight sin in your life more intentionally. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:34.319 To know that when the enemy wants to distract you with sin and temptation, it's not just about the sin in the moment, it's what he wants to prevent you from doing. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:43.599 Because if he can get you to fall and he can feed lies and keep you in shame and guilt, he knows that you can't be effective. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.920 But we know, no, God wants to use me. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:56.079 He has a calling in my life, it will allow us to desire heart for purity. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.359 So what happens? 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.720 Verse 6. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:05.519 After this prayer, so we built the wall. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.119 It's important. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.599 This is in response to the mocking. 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:11.599 So we built the wall. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:17.359 And all the wall was joined together for half its height. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:20.720 For the people had a mind to work. 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:24.319 So at this point, half the wall is done. 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:26.480 This is incredible. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:32.079 A hundred and forty years of no wall, half of it is done. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:34.319 This is good news. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.759 Why were they able to do this? 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:39.279 Because the people they remained united on what? 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.400 This task. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:43.359 They had a mind to work. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:48.400 Despite the opposition, they pressed on and they persevered. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:51.519 So what happens, verse 7? 00:28:52.000 --> 00:29:18.960 But when Sambalot and Tobiah, our friends again, not our friends, but our enemies, and the Arabs and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry, and they all plotted together to come fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:23.599 Notice how now it's moved from words to swords. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:41.440 It moved from a verbal response of verbal words of accusation and jeering now to a physical threat that they're gonna do something. 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:44.720 So, how do they respond to this? 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:52.000 The same way Nehemiah has been responding throughout the last four chapters. 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:54.400 And we prayed. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.680 God teach us to pray. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.559 Teach us to pray. 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:05.599 Notice, unlike verse 4, where it was just Nehemiah praying, who was praying? 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:09.759 We and we prayed. 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:13.039 This is what it means to be united. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:17.519 To be a church of God who prays together. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:23.599 And God, I just pray you would help us to do that. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.640 To pray for one another. 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:33.759 After service throughout the week, to care, to lift each other's burdens. 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:41.839 So then we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:48.480 So they prayed, but also they set a guard. 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.240 So important. 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:53.359 They didn't just pray and say, okay, God, you take care of it. 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:56.079 No, they had action behind the prayer. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.240 Verse 10. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:01.279 So where it goes downhill. 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:04.240 Doesn't it always go downhill when you're halfway there? 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.240 Because the enemy, he wants to stop it. 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.279 Verse 10. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:12.160 In Judah it was said. 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.640 So notice this. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.839 What does in Judah mean? 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.119 This is one of the tribes. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:20.559 This is a tribe that's supposed to be dedicated. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:27.920 And so now within the people, this isn't the enemy, this is within the people in Judah. 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:33.839 The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.480 People are getting tired. 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:39.599 There is too much rubble. 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:46.000 By ourselves, we will not be able to rebuild the wall. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.519 Here's just one little side point here. 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:53.440 You cannot begin to rebuild walls in your life until you get rid of the rubble. 00:31:54.319 --> 00:32:00.000 You cannot begin to see God do a new work unless you have emptied yourself. 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.720 Notice this. 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:15.680 That the words of the enemy have moved into the hearts of the people. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.599 Do you see it? 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:21.359 It sounds a lot like verse 2, doesn't it? 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:24.079 What are these feeble, weak Jews doing? 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:27.039 This was what the enemy was doing, taunting. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:29.519 Will they restore it for themselves? 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:31.440 And now they're saying the same thing. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.640 By ourselves? 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.519 Will we not be able to rebuild the wall? 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:38.000 What happened? 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:42.000 They began to internalize it. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:49.759 The words from the outside of the enemy began to go into their hearts. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:51.920 And they were discouraged. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:55.359 And they were sharing that discouragement. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:33:04.240 What lies from the enemy are dwelling in your heart? 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:07.440 And you have begun to believe. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:10.640 God can't use you. 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.720 God doesn't love you. 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.680 You have to give up. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:28.480 Maybe one of the reasons this was happening in Judah is because actually in Judah there was compromise at this point. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.680 There could have been. 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:31.279 Because we'll see this. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.200 Again, me a little bit of a spoiler. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:36.319 Chapter 6, 17 through 18. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.519 Look at this. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:41.200 It says, Moreover, in those days, the nobles of where? 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.400 Judah. 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:48.000 Nehemiah chapter 6, 17, 18. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:52.640 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to who? 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:55.680 Tobiah, we know that guy. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:58.319 And Tobiah's letters came to them. 00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.680 They're texting. 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:06.160 The people in Judah, they are texting, going back and forth with the enemy. 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:15.519 And verse 18, for many in Judah were bound by oath to him, to Tobiah. 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:29.920 Because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah, and his sons Jehoanon, the taken, the daughter of Meshalem, the son of Barekiah, as his wife. 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.920 Here's what you have to remember. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:35.679 If those of us who know the context of Ezra, what was the big issue? 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:41.519 It was the people of God marrying others outside in the world. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:45.920 And we see the consequences of that. 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.360 That they had an oath. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:51.199 This could have been a financial oath, a burden, a debt to pay. 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:54.159 But in Judah there was compromise. 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:13.280 I want you to think about that. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:15.199 I mean, they're probably exhausted. 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:20.400 These people are not builders who have been building and they're tired. 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.840 And there's a lot of work. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:25.519 But now there's a threat on their life. 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:38.639 Now they're thinking, as they are physically exhausted, the mental exhaustion of thinking, at any moment we could die here while we're trying to build this wall. 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:40.400 They're discouraged. 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.840 They're exhausted. 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:43.280 Look at verse 11. 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:50.000 And our enemy said, They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work. 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.719 Verse 12. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:55.440 So they're planning a surprise attack, verse 12. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:36:01.599 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, You must return to us. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:03.280 They're trying to warn warn them. 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.400 They're coming. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.800 They're going to kill you. 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:09.039