Steadfast Faith Amidst Opposition: Lessons from Nehemiah

Summary

In today's gathering, we delved into Nehemiah 6, exploring the theme of internal and external opposition and how it relates to our spiritual journey. We began by acknowledging the presence of God in our midst and the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth. As we transitioned into worship, we were reminded of the power of God's name and His active presence in our lives, regardless of the challenges we face, such as natural disasters or personal struggles.

The children's message brought a light-hearted yet profound lesson about the importance of nourishing our bodies and spirits with good things. Using the analogy of Halloween candy versus apples, we were reminded that while indulgence can be tempting, true nourishment comes from what is wholesome and beneficial. This ties into our spiritual lives, where we are encouraged to focus on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy, as highlighted in Philippians.

As we moved into the main message, we examined Nehemiah's resolve in the face of opposition. Despite the threats and distractions from Sanballat and Tobiah, Nehemiah remained steadfast, understanding that the work God called him to was too important to abandon. This serves as a powerful reminder that when God calls us to a task, we must not be swayed by the distractions of the world, even when they appear harmless or enticing.

We also discussed the importance of courage, not as the absence of fear, but as the determination to follow God's will despite it. Nehemiah's prayer for strength in the face of fear is a testament to the power of relying on God when our own resolve falters. Furthermore, we explored how sometimes our closest friends and family, though well-meaning, can inadvertently become obstacles to our spiritual journey. It is crucial to test their advice against God's will and scripture.

Finally, we were reminded that our obedience to God speaks louder than any lies from the enemy. Nehemiah's completion of the wall, despite opposition, demonstrated God's power and silenced his critics. As we continue our own journeys, we are encouraged to remain focused, faithful, and to trust that God will complete the work He has begun in us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stay Focused on God's Call: When God calls us to a task, we must remain focused and not be distracted by the world's enticements, even when they seem harmless. Our spiritual journey requires vigilance and dedication to the work God has set before us. [36:47]

2. Courage in the Face of Fear: True courage is not the absence of fear but the resolve to act in faith despite it. Nehemiah's prayer for strength is a reminder that we can rely on God to empower us when our own strength wanes. [45:00]

3. Discernment in Advice: While family and friends can offer valuable advice, it is essential to test their counsel against God's will and scripture. Even well-meaning loved ones can unintentionally lead us astray if their advice is not aligned with God's plan. [50:13]

4. Obedience Overcomes Opposition: Our obedience to God can silence the lies of the enemy and demonstrate His power in our lives. Nehemiah's completion of the wall is a testament to the strength and victory that come from following God's lead. [55:03]

5. Nourish Your Spirit Wisely: Just as we are mindful of what we consume physically, we must also be intentional about what we feed our spirits. Focusing on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy will strengthen our spiritual lives and keep us aligned with God's will. [17:20]

Youtube Chapters:

[0:00] - Welcome
[03:43] - Worship and Hymns
[12:34] - Children's Message
[14:13] - Halloween and Healthy Choices
[16:30] - Spiritual Nourishment
[19:19] - Announcements and Community Events
[22:25] - Prayers for the Nation and World
[25:14] - Hymn: Grace Greater Than Our Sins
[30:44] - Nehemiah 6: Facing Opposition
[32:03] - Distractions from the World
[36:47] - Staying Focused on God's Work
[39:55] - Rumble Strips and Guardrails
[45:00] - Courage in Fear
[50:13] - Discernment in Advice
[55:03] - Obedience and God's Glory
[58:23] - Closing Song: Lord, I Need You

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Nehemiah 6:1-16
- Philippians 4:8

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the tactics used by Sanballat and Tobiah to distract Nehemiah from his work? How did Nehemiah respond to these tactics? [32:03]

2. In the children's message, what analogy was used to illustrate the importance of nourishing our spirits with good things? [14:13]

3. How did Nehemiah demonstrate courage in the face of fear, according to the sermon? [45:00]

4. What role did prayer play in Nehemiah's response to opposition? [35:16]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Nehemiah's resolve in the face of opposition serve as a model for handling distractions in our spiritual journey? [36:47]

2. In what ways can well-meaning advice from friends and family become a hindrance to following God's will, as seen in Nehemiah's story? [50:13]

3. How does the completion of the wall in Nehemiah 6:15-16 demonstrate the power of obedience to God in overcoming opposition? [55:03]

4. What does Philippians 4:8 suggest about the importance of focusing on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy in our spiritual lives? [17:20]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you faced distractions from fulfilling a task you felt called to by God. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now? [36:47]

2. Identify a specific fear that has been holding you back from following God's call. What steps can you take to confront this fear with courage and faith? [45:00]

3. Think of a piece of advice you received from a loved one that conflicted with your understanding of God's will. How did you discern the right path, and what can you learn from that experience? [50:13]

4. Consider the "rumble strips" in your life that help you stay on track spiritually. Are there any areas where you need to establish new boundaries or safeguards? [39:55]

5. How can you intentionally nourish your spirit with what is true, noble, and praiseworthy this week? Identify one specific practice you can incorporate into your daily routine. [17:20]

6. Reflect on a recent challenge where you felt your strength waning. How did you rely on God for strength, and what was the outcome? [35:16]

7. In what ways can your obedience to God serve as a testimony to others, especially in the face of opposition or criticism? [55:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Focused Commitment to God's Call
In our spiritual journey, staying focused on God's call is essential. Nehemiah's story in Nehemiah 6 illustrates the importance of remaining steadfast despite external distractions and internal doubts. Nehemiah faced significant opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah, who attempted to divert him from his God-given mission. Yet, he understood that the work God called him to was too important to abandon. This teaches us that when God assigns us a task, we must not be swayed by the world's enticements, even when they seem harmless. Our spiritual journey requires vigilance and dedication to the work God has set before us. [36:47]

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions in your life are pulling you away from God's call, and how can you refocus your attention on His purpose for you today?

Day 2: Courageous Faith Amidst Fear
True courage is not the absence of fear but the resolve to act in faith despite it. Nehemiah's prayer for strength in the face of fear is a powerful reminder that we can rely on God to empower us when our own strength wanes. Nehemiah faced threats and intimidation, yet he chose to trust in God's power rather than succumb to fear. This courage allowed him to continue the work God had set before him, demonstrating that faith can overcome fear when we rely on divine strength. [45:00]

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a fear that is holding you back from fulfilling God's purpose. How can you take a step of faith today, trusting in God's strength to overcome it?

Day 3: Discernment in Receiving Advice
While family and friends can offer valuable advice, it is essential to test their counsel against God's will and scripture. Nehemiah's experience shows that even well-meaning loved ones can unintentionally lead us astray if their advice is not aligned with God's plan. It is crucial to discern and evaluate the guidance we receive, ensuring it aligns with God's word and His purpose for our lives. This discernment helps us stay true to our spiritual journey and avoid being swayed by opinions that may not reflect God's will. [50:13]

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a piece of advice you've recently received. How can you test it against God's word to ensure it aligns with His will for your life?

Day 4: Obedience as a Testimony of God's Power
Our obedience to God can silence the lies of the enemy and demonstrate His power in our lives. Nehemiah's completion of the wall, despite opposition, is a testament to the strength and victory that come from following God's lead. His unwavering commitment to God's call not only silenced his critics but also showcased God's glory. This reminds us that our obedience is a powerful testimony of God's work in us, and it can inspire others to recognize His presence and power. [55:03]

"And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." (Acts 5:32, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life is God calling you to greater obedience, and how can your obedience serve as a testimony to others?

Day 5: Nourishing the Spirit with Wholesome Truths
Just as we are mindful of what we consume physically, we must also be intentional about what we feed our spirits. The children's message in the sermon used the analogy of Halloween candy versus apples to illustrate the importance of nourishing our bodies and spirits with good things. Spiritually, we are encouraged to focus on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy, as highlighted in Philippians. This intentional focus strengthens our spiritual lives and keeps us aligned with God's will, allowing us to grow in faith and wisdom. [17:20]

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What are you currently feeding your spirit, and how can you incorporate more of what is true, noble, and praiseworthy into your daily spiritual diet?

Quotes

1) "So this last Wednesday, our children alike, which is our 4th and 5th graders, we did a study, or we kind of studied this idea of, does God care how we use our time? And we found out, yes, he does. And our key verse for the day was this. And it's in Philippians, and it says, Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever's true, whatever's noble, whatever's right, whatever's pure, whatever's lovely, whatever's admirable, if anything is excellent and praiseworthy, think about such things. So, as you guys get ready for trick-or-treating, and I think you should trick-or-treat, like, go all out, wear the costumes, get the candy, but don't just eat sugar. You should eat good things, too. But for our kind of spiritual life, we need to remember that we really need to put good things in our body and not bad things, as in kind of spending time at all time maybe watching YouTube or all these other things, right? You need to have good both and. And that's a reminder of us that we should be doing this." [17:20] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "When God calls us to the wall of faith we don't come down for the distractions of the world. Sambalat and Tobiah they they seemingly had the same idea but they said hey let's meet up you're almost done with the wall let's meet together this will be a good thing and and I believe that they were trying to trick Nehemiah to come down with flattery and kind of good things to get him off from what he was going to because he was almost finished he just had to put the gates in but if they would have got him down at that point the whole project would have been for naught so what we see in Nehemiah's life and in our lives is often we we've worked for a long time and we've worked for a long time and we've worked hard and done great and then at the back end we kind of take our foot off the gas and get kind of distracted you've seen so many pastors who started out strong and then got caught up in dual kind of sin and other sin and we think what happened to these guys how did that happen they were such strong in the faith and what happened was is they they were doing great work they were doing what God called them to but they took their foot off the gas when they were distracted or whatever they took to come down off the wall of faith and it's the same for any one of us we need to understand that once we start this work of faith we cannot take our foot off the wall do not become distracted from the world." [36:47] (92 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Courage is not the absence of fear but the resolve to do what God says in spite of it if you caught this in Nehemiah in chat or in verse nine it says they were all trying to frighten us thinking their hands will get too weak for the work and it will not be completed now Nehemiah didn't say and I wasn't frightened no he said I was afraid strengthen my hand saying that Nehemiah was scared I I have little resolve left strengthen my hands Lord fear it will come because we have it doesn't mean it's sin it's what we do with it out of that we need to realize and and that's part of this whole thing is I have fear in my life and and sometimes it stops me from doing what I'm supposed to do and I don't know I've told this story before but I was supposed to get an MRI for my shoulder and I have claustrophobia to some extent and it gets worse as I get older and they put me in this tube and they didn't tell me exactly what was going on they just said hey we're going to put these earphones on you it's going to be loud don't worry about just stay still and they had me kind of like because they were getting my shoulder and I was all kind of contorted and it was really painful and I'm sitting there and the pain is sitting there and I open my eyes it's like right here in my face and I feel like it's closing in on me and they give you a an emergency button and made it like it's supposed to be like a 15 minute thing I made it five and I'm like I'm out I'm out so they never got a clear picture of my shoulder thankfully they were able to fix it with physical therapy but the reality is fear stopped me that day from getting what I was supposed to have done and what we should be doing and I was praying like don't get me wrong I was sitting praying Lord in this moment I'm flipping out right now and I I'd start sweating and it just it was getting worse and worse and worse and I was about ready to start like punching the thing that's how bad it was and fear overtook me but Nehemiah says it's not the absence of fear that makes us obedient it is what we do in it Nehemiah cried out strengthen my hands in Joshua one night I've I've shared this verse so many times with so many different places when people are struggling he says God says to Joshua after Moses died have I not commanded you be strong and courageous do not be terrified do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go the Lord God is with you wherever you go do not be discouraged be strong and courageous and in the face of fear walk through it we don't need to deny our fear but we do need to refuse to let it stop us from moving forward and what God has called us to do." [45:00] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Our most powerful critics are often our trusted family and friends in Nehemiah 6 10 it says on one day I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delilah the son of Metal Ball who was shut in at his home and he said to me let's 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 and that may have been true but Nehemiah knew that if he hid in that moment it would be sin same gentleman that I just talked about went on this short-term mission trip he was fundraising and this was all fully fundraised he was a full missionary and he started asking family friends and others for support and many were like Luke that's amazing job way to go here's money you know we're going to support you and he had one family member literally say to him if you do this not coming to your funeral and obviously you're like whoa that's a shock and this was a family member that loved him and I'm not saying it's the same context but it reminded me that those who are often close to us kind of work out of their own fear say things out of their own fear his relative was fearful that he was going to die over there and it was a possibility but what the reality was is he was still called to go do it he felt it in his heart but if he would have listened to his relative he would have not went and not been obedient I love my grandma before I tell this story um and when I first came back and into to Freesland and I think I was actually still in in Madison at the time and um if you know my grandma Tilly she was just a great woman that she chose not to get remarried after her husband passed and she raised her kids on her own and um I you know it was an amazing thing that she did and her and I were talking one day and she she was really adamant she said Darren do not do what I did get remarried because I didn't have any prospects at the time I had been single for probably you know after the divorce for maybe four or five years and and I was following where God was leading but if I would have gotten distracted to put all my efforts into finding a wife I would have missed where God was taking me and how I got back here and how I got to Michelle I would have never planned that in my own life but being obedient to God got me to where I needed to go if I would have switched the flip and I know my grandma loves me and loved me was trying her best but she was working out of her own life and oftentimes we do that to others ones that we should be giving good advice to follow God we work out of our own fear and say things that maybe are not from God this actually happened to Jesus I don't know if you remember this so in Matthew 16 I just want to start reading in verse 21 from that time Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hand of the elders the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed on the third day and raised to life Peter if you remember Peter the rock that Jesus built his on he says to Jesus he took him aside and began to rebuke him never Lord he said this shall never happen to you Jesus turned to Peter get behind me Satan you are a stumbling block to me you do not have the mind to do that to me you do not have the mind to do that to me you do not have the concerns of God but merely human concerns so I ask you this question did Jesus love Peter did Peter love Jesus did Peter say something against God to Jesus yeah oftentimes the ones that we need or should have in our corner that are the closest ones that we would consider great sounding boards work out of their own fear Peter was working out his earthly life and he was working out his earthly life and he was working out his earthly life and not having that mind of Christ and here's the thing that we need to remind be reminded of we should go to our family and friends for good advice but always test it against God's will for our lives does it agree with scripture does it agree what God is calling me to test everything take every thought captive second Corinthians Paul says as much we demolish every arguments and every pretension that sets itself against the knowledge of God we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ just remember that the people who should be helping you might be the very ones trying to impede the progress God is calling you to Nehemiah face that someone with it within seemingly was giving him solid advice which we now know afterwards that he actually was prophesying and was paid by Sambalat and Tobiah it often happens in our lives that we don't have the ability to do that we don't have the ability to do that in our lives that ones that are not seemingly trying to do us harm do us harm if we do not follow what God calls for us." [48:12] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Our obedience to God will speak louder than any lies from the enemy so take a look in 15 and 16 it says so the wall was completed on the 25th of yule the 50 in 52 days remember all the back talk all the things that have been happening all the condemnation when all our enemies heard about this the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence because they realized that the work had been done with the help of our God when we follow God's leading in our lives our enemies which are not necessarily people but they are Satan and the forces of the the world and his kingdom they will be put to shame they will lose their self-confidence they see God in his glory through us psalm 37 5 through 6 it says commit your way to the Lord trust in him and he will do this he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn the justice of your cause like the noonday sun you and I have a realization as we follow God's lead wherever it leads and as crazy as it may look to others on the outside even our loved ones we follow that his righteousness will shine through I look at some of us in here and I've seen you do that and I've seen God work amazingly in your lives in my own life my own story I feel like it's been the same way but it was nothing about me it's what God did in and through me and I've had plenty of stumbling blocks along the way don't think I'm great at following because I've I've done these kind of oh go over here the other way around I've had plenty of stumbling blocks this seems great I'll go over here this seems great all the and then realizing well that wasn't good so we got to go back on the path but God is calling us to have strength give us the strength Holy Spirit in these moments where it feels like something isn't right and our strength is leaving us Nehemiah finished building that wall with the help of his people and we will help and finish our wall of faith with the help of those around us as well our wall of faith is too important to come down we need to stay focused stay faithful and take captive every thought that comes into our mind whether it is from the outside or even those of us that we would trust our inside and we should trust that the God will finish his work and that is what he calls us to one day when we finish this race that we are running of faith God will bring it to completion and he will be made much of because of your life and my life as we follow him." [55:03] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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