Trust & Integrity | Nehemiah 6:1-16

Integrity is the wholeness that holds our lives together, especially when the pressures of life threaten to break us. In a world where families, businesses, and even nations can fall apart due to a lack of integrity, we are called to be people who remain whole and true, even when no one is watching. Integrity is not just about outward appearances or reputation; it is about what supports us at the deepest level—our trust in God. Like Nehemiah, who faced relentless opposition and pressure, we are invited to examine the foundation of our lives and ask: what are we truly trusting in?

Nehemiah’s story in chapter 6 is a master class in integrity under pressure. He faced distractions, false accusations, and temptations to hide, yet he remained steadfast in his calling. He knew his limitations and was honest about them, refusing to be pulled away from the great work God had assigned him. This teaches us that integrity requires us to say “no” to distractions, even good opportunities, so we can say “yes” to the work God has uniquely given us. Sometimes, discerning what to say yes or no to is difficult, but wisdom is found in honest community and in seeking God’s guidance.

When Nehemiah’s reputation was attacked, he did not compromise his integrity for the sake of image. He chose honesty over self-preservation, trusting God to vindicate him. This is a powerful reminder that while others can damage our reputation, only we can damage our integrity. The pressure to hide our weaknesses or mistakes is real, but true integrity means being honest about our sin and choosing repentance over concealment. Covering up our flaws may work for a time, but eventually the weight of life will expose what is hidden.

Ultimately, Nehemiah’s story points us to Jesus, who displayed perfect integrity. Jesus endured the cross, refusing to come down even when mocked and falsely accused, so that we could be made whole. He is our firm foundation, the one who covers our shame and gives us the strength to live with integrity. Wholeness is found not in our own efforts, but in trusting the grace God has shown us in Christ. Today, we are invited to be honest before God, to trust him with our burdens, and to live lives of integrity rooted in his faithfulness.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Integrity Requires Honest Self-Limitation True integrity means recognizing and accepting our limitations, rather than overextending ourselves or saying yes to every opportunity. This honesty allows us to focus on the “great work” God has assigned to us, rather than being fractured by distractions. Living within our God-given boundaries is not weakness, but wisdom, and it enables us to give our whole selves to what truly matters. [13:05]
• 2. Integrity Chooses Honesty Over Image While reputation can be damaged by others, only we can compromise our integrity. The temptation to protect our image by exaggerating strengths or hiding weaknesses is strong, but lasting influence comes from honesty and humility. When we are honest about our failures and seek forgiveness, we model Christlike character and build trust that endures. [21:43]
• 3. Integrity Means Repentance, Not Hiding The pressure to cover up our mistakes or present a flawless exterior is ever-present, but true wholeness comes from bringing our sin into the light. Repentance, not concealment, is the path to restoration and strength. When we are honest before God and others, we find the grace and support needed to endure life’s burdens without breaking. [28:45]
• 4. Integrity Is Rooted in Trusting God At the foundation of integrity is trust—trust that God is faithful, that he sees and knows us, and that he will strengthen us for the work he assigns. When we trust God rather than our own image or abilities, we can withstand pressure, endure adversity, and remain whole. This trust frees us from fear and empowers us to live with courage and conviction. [06:15]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:32] - Vision Night Invitation
• [01:46] - Why Things Fall Apart: Integrity
• [03:05] - What Is Integrity?
• [04:21] - The Collapse of the Key Bridge
• [04:58] - Nehemiah: A Model of Integrity
• [06:15] - Integrity Hinges on Trusting God
• [06:52] - Nehemiah Faces Distraction
• [10:40] - The Danger of Distraction
• [13:05] - Honest About Limitations
• [16:16] - Discovering Your Great Work
• [19:54] - The Pressure of Fear
• [21:43] - Honesty Over Image
• [24:52] - The Temptation to Hide
• [28:45] - Repentance Over Hiding
• [30:03] - God Is the Hero
• [31:15] - Jesus: The Ultimate Example
• [33:04] - Invitation to Honesty and Prayer
• [34:18] - Prayer for Strength and Integrity

Bible Reading

Nehemiah 6:1-16 (ESV) — Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid. So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Observation Questions

1. What were the different tactics Nehemiah’s enemies used to try to stop him from finishing the wall? (Nehemiah 6:1-14) [06:52]
2. How did Nehemiah respond when his reputation was attacked with false accusations? (Nehemiah 6:8-9) [20:29]
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean that “integrity requires being honest about my limitations”? [13:05]
4. What is the “great work” that Nehemiah refers to, and how does he describe his commitment to it? (Nehemiah 6:3) [13:05]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Nehemiah was able to say “no” to distractions, even when they might have seemed like good opportunities? What does this reveal about his priorities and trust in God? [13:42]
2. The sermon says, “Others can damage your reputation. Only you can damage your integrity.” What is the difference between reputation and integrity, and why does it matter? [21:07]
3. When Nehemiah was tempted to hide in the temple, why did he refuse? What does this teach about the temptation to cover up our weaknesses or mistakes? [25:32]
4. How does Nehemiah’s story point us to Jesus as the ultimate example of integrity? [31:15]

Application Questions

1. Nehemiah was honest about his limitations and said “no” to distractions so he could focus on the work God gave him. Are there any distractions or “good opportunities” in your life right now that you need to say “no” to in order to focus on what God has called you to do? What would it look like to set those boundaries? [14:19]
2. The sermon talked about the pressure to protect our image by exaggerating strengths or hiding weaknesses. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to hide a mistake or weakness? What would it look like to choose honesty over image in that situation? [21:43]
3. Nehemiah faced attacks on his reputation but chose to trust God to defend him. How do you usually respond when someone questions your motives or spreads rumors about you? What would it look like to trust God with your reputation instead of trying to control it yourself? [22:58]
4. The pressure to hide our sin or flaws is real, but the sermon says “integrity chooses repentance over hiding.” Is there something in your life right now that you are tempted to keep hidden? What step could you take this week to bring it into the light, either before God or with a trusted friend? [28:45]
5. The sermon said, “Wholeness is found not in our own efforts, but in trusting the grace God has shown us in Christ.” Are you trying to hold your life together by your own strength, or are you trusting Jesus as your foundation? What would it look like to rely on his grace in a specific area of your life this week? [32:29]
6. Ephesians 2:10 says God has prepared good works for each of us. What do you sense is your “great work” in this season of life? How can you stay focused on it, and who can help you discern what to say yes or no to? [16:16]
7. The sermon encouraged seeking wisdom in honest community. Who in your life can help you discern your limitations and hold you accountable to living with integrity? How can you invite them into that process? [19:16]