Sermon notes

So far on our journey through the book of Nehemiah, we have discovered the following key points.

1. A bad report—Nehemiah received a damning report from a fellow citizen of Jerusalem about the poor conditions of Jerusalem’s walls and the spiritual and economic state of the people. (See Neh 1:1-3)
2. Emotion and grief – Nehemiah was overcome with tears and even went without food for some days after receiving the bad news concerning Jerusalem. (See Neh 1:4)
3. Prayer – Nehemiah turned to God in prayer about the state of his beloved Jerusalem. He asked for mercy and forgiveness on behalf of the people. (See Neh 1:5-11)
4. A request to the King of Persia – Nehemiah served as the King’s cupbearer, a trusted and prominent position, and asked the king for leave of absence to return to Jerusalem and help his people. Nehemiah also asked the King for letters of endorsement, which were granted. (Neh 2:1- 8)

The Situation – Let’s deal with a common misinterpretation of trouble ~ Neh 2:17-20

¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? (2:19)

• So far, so good. Everything was going to plan. Nehemiah received the full support and backing from the King. He succeeded in inspecting the walls at night and inspired and rallied the people to action and start rebuilding the walls.

• As soon as progress was underway, opposition was around the corner from Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem.

• They mocked the Jews; they ridiculed their efforts, and they created a false narrative that they were rebelling against the King.

Application – It’s easy to think that trouble or difficulty is a direct sign that maybe we’re on the wrong path or doing the wrong thing. Nehemiah teaches us that facing opposition is not always a sign that we are on the wrong path, but can be a good indicator that we are on the right path and in God’s will.

The Complication – Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words CAN HURT ~ Neh 4:1-3

• The old adage that words will never hurt may sound good, but we know words can bring people down and cause immense pain.

• Nehemiah and the Jews faced an onslaught of taunts and were ridiculed for the work they were doing.

• We can learn a lot from Nehemiah’s contrast in approach from Ch2v20 & Ch4v4-6.

Application ~ Opposition, obstacles along the way and even hurtful and discouraging words can make us feel uncomfortable and frustrated, but Nehemiah teaches us to remain focused on the words God has to say about us.

The Resolution and Celebration – Resistance can cause frustration, but cannot stop what God has authorised. – Neh 4:6-9

• Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem tried their best to bring the Jews down and cause them to down tools.

• Nehemiah remained focused on the task and continued praying for wisdom and guidance.

• Nehemiah instructed the Jews to set up a watch and guard the walls.

Application ~ In conclusion, Nehemiah’s story teaches us that trouble does not always indicate that we are on the wrong path. Even when we are doing God’s will and following his vision, opposition and turbulence may be part of the journey. Like Nehemiah, remain focused on what God has called you to do despite the opposition.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Questions

1. The first point on Sunday addressed the misinterpretation that trouble/difficulty always indicates that we may be on the wrong path or outside of God’s will. Discuss examples of where you encountered trouble trying to do the right thing.
2. Think about the persecution the church faced in the book of Acts; despite being on the right path, they were subject to severe harm and threats to their lives. What does this say about the trust and faith the early Christians displayed in God?
3. Although trouble/difficulty may not always indicate that we are on the wrong path, we know through scripture that God can use trouble to get our attention and bring us back on the right path. Think about the story of Jonah. Discuss examples of where difficulty/trouble has brought you closer to God and back on the right path?
4. The point was made during the sermon about the old adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” For the sermon, we replaced the last part to “Words can hurt” Discuss moments in your life where words have impacted your life negatively and positively?
5. What does Nehemiah’s leadership and story teach us about perseverance and commitment to the task? How can we continue to pursue our projects personally and, in the church, while dealing with opposition?