Sunday Sermon

16th September 2007

Nehemiah 6   Opposition and Intimidation

The attack now focuses on Nehemiah, the leader. The enemy was seeking to bring the wall building to an end by knocking out the leader. Godly leaders are the particular target of the enemy. Nehemiah overcame but it could not have been easy. How do you think he felt? 
The aim of Samballat, Tobiah and Geshem was to remove Nehemiah - to do away with him.
What do the walls stand for? - Protection, defense, distinction, purity, separation.
The walls were now built but the doors were not in place. The job is nearly done but the enemy did not give up. Nehemiah's opposition can be praised for their persistence. Any work of God that we are engaged in will be persistently opposed. Any man, woman or church engaged in a God project will face intimidation. These 4 schemes are still in use today. Learn to resist.

Scheme 1. v 2 - 4  Foul play. Diversion.

Come let us meet together - They appear friendly. Ono was 45Km away. Persistance x 4.
Nehemiah's response. V3 - 4. He saw through them. "They were scheming to harm me." "I am carrying on a great project and I cannot go down." He refused to be distracted. He focused on the job God had called him to do. "Why should the work of God stop?"

There are some who just want to stop us doing God's work. Be careful who you hook up with.

2Cor. 6:14. Do not let other people divert you from God's call. "O NO. I cannot go down."

Scheme 2. v 5 - 7. False accusation. An attack on Nehemiah's reputation.

The enemies finally wrote an open letter. The contents were intended to be leaked and gossiped. Here the accusation is written down to give it added weight and made public.

"It is reported." ie Sources unknown!  A Chinese whisper.

This is very dangerous in a church - don't do it! Always beware of  "It is reported"

Charles Swindoll  "The number one enemy of Christian unity is the tongue."

The report was a lie - that Nehemiah was about  to proclaim himself as king. He was in rebellion.

(see 2:19) This is an attack on Nehemia's character to cause distrust and isolate him.

Sanballat wanted this report to reach the ears of King Artaxerxes so he would stop the project.

"Come let us confer together." Again, an invitation to leave the work which Nehemiah refused.

Nehemiah's response. v 8 is great. He denied the report in a simple statement. He didn't go in for elaborate self justification. He just stated the truth and exposed the source of the accusation -

"You, Sanballat!"   "You are just making it up out of your own head.

"Wiersbe. "If we take care of our character, we can trust God to take care of our reputation."

Scheme 3. v9  Fear.

"Fear must neve be allowed to paralyze us" John White.

Nehemiah's response.  v 9 Prayer. A cry to God for strength. "Now strengthen my hands."

Scheme 4. v 10 - 14  False Prophesy. Death threats and intimidation - flee!

An invitation to meet again - in the temple. ie to flee for sanctuary. Nehemiah could then be accused of cowardice and illegally entering the temple as he was not a priest. This was dressed up as a prophesy to give it added weight "God has told me" Nehemiah saw through it. Can we?

Nehemiah's response.  "Should a man like me run away?" He knows who he is - called, chosen by God. Called to this purpose which he will not abandon.     "I will not go in."

Sometimes we want to run - from conflict, opposition, intimidation. Should we run away?

v 14. He hands his enemies over to God. v 15 - 16. So the wall was completed. Mazultof!