nehemiah ch.6

Nehemiah Ch.6Staying Centered in Christ

Nehemiah 6

•Introduction

Nehemiah 6

•Introduction•The work continues

Nehemiah 6

•Introduction•The work continues•Nehemiah has faced opposition from outside forces and interior corruption

Nehemiah 6

•Introduction•The work continues•Nehemiah has faced opposition from outside forces and interior corruption•But the wall is almost complete!

Nehemiah 6:1–19 (NASB95)

1 Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,

Nehemiah 6:1–19 (NASB95)

2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.

Nehemiah 6:1–19 (NASB95)

Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4 They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand.

Nehemiah 6:1–19 (NASB95)

6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.

Nehemiah 6:1–19 (NASB95)

7 “You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘A king is in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together.”

The Enemies New Tactic

The Enemies New Tactic

•Most of the attack to this point has been against the work and the mission

The Enemies New Tactic

•Most of the attack to this point has been against the work and the mission•This is a personal attack against Nehemiah

The Enemies New Tactic

•An attempt to draw him out into the open

The Enemies New Tactic

•An attempt to draw him out into the open•Get him away from the work

The Enemies New Tactic

•An attempt to draw him out into the open•Get him away from the work•Get him away from the people

The Enemies New Tactic

•An attempt to draw him out into the open•Get him away from the work•Get him away from the people•Falsely accuse him of self-aggrandizement

The Enemies New Tactic

•An attempt to draw him out into the open•Get him away from the work•Get him away from the people•Falsely accuse him of self-aggrandizement •Make him angry so he will come out and fight

The Enemies New Tactic

•An attempt to draw him out into the open•Get him away from the work•Get him away from the people•Falsely accuse him of self-aggrandizement •Make him angry so he will come out and fight

What is Nehemiah to do?What is Nehemiah to do?

Nehemiah 6

8 Then I sent a message to him saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind.” 9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking,

Nehemiah 6

“They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah’s Response

Nehemiah’s Response

•Nehemiah decides to stay at the work, because he has done nothing wrong.

Nehemiah’s Response

•Nehemiah decides to stay at the work, because he has done nothing wrong. •He and his people have the truth on their side

Nehemiah 6

10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple,

Nehemiah 6

for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” 12 Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him,

Nehemiah 6

but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.

Nehemiah 6

14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.

The Opposite Extreme

•To flee would be to stop the work, and not trust in God

The Opposite Extreme

•To flee would be to stop the work, and not trust in God •To shut himself up in the temple would be a violation of God’s word

The Opposite Extreme

•To flee would be to stop the work, and not trust in God •To shut himself up in the temple would be a violation of God’s word

2 Chronicles 23:6 (NASB95) — 6 “But let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 23:6 (NASB95) — 6 “But let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the LORD.

The Opposite Extreme

•To flee would be to stop the work, and not trust in God •To shut himself up in the temple would be a violation of God’s word•He sees through the deception by using the scriptures

The Opposite Extreme

•To flee would be to stop the work, and not trust in God •To shut himself up in the temple would be a violation of God’s word•He sees through the deception by using the scriptures

1 John 4:1 (NLT) — 1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

1 John 4:1 (NLT) — 1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

A Common Tactic

•God’s enemies are often content to push people into one of two extremes

A Common Tactic

Fearful Hiding

A Common Tactic

Fearful Hiding

A Common Tactic

Fearful Hiding

Over Aggression

A Common Tactic

Fearful Hiding

Over Aggression

Centered in the

truth

Sanballat’s Objective

•To hinder the progress of the work

Sanballat’s Objective

•To hinder the progress of the work•Coming out to fight?•Hiding in the temple?

Sanballat’s Objective

•To hinder the progress of the work•Coming out to fight?•Hiding in the temple?

• In both cases the work stops

Sanballat’s Objective

•To hinder the progress of the work•Coming out to fight?•Hiding in the temple?

• In both cases the work stops•Nehemiah is killed, or discredited

Nehemiah avoids the trap

Nehemiah avoids the trap

•1) Stays to what He know God wants Him to do

Nehemiah avoids the trap

•1) Stays to what He know God wants Him to do•2) Doesn’t feel the need to attack his enemies

Nehemiah avoids the trap

•1) Stays to what He know God wants Him to do•2) Doesn’t feel the need to attack his enemies•3) Is guided by the truth of God’s word

This Tactic is Super Common

This Tactic is Super Common

•Let’s look at two examples of how this works in our culture

1) God’s Character/Nature

1) God’s Character/Nature

God is thedomineering destroyer of

fun

1) God’s Character/Nature

God is thedomineering destroyer of

fun

God is a wispy, flimsy, spineless,

deity, with nothing of substance to say

God the destroyer

• Not someone you want to get close to

God the destroyer

• Not someone you want to get close to• Who needs more guilt,

shame, uptightness?

God the destroyer

• Not someone you want to get close to• Who needs more guilt,

shame, uptightness?• If God is so harsh He

must be evil because He allows so much evil in the world

God the destroyer

• Not someone you want to get close to• Who needs more guilt,

shame, uptightness?• If God is so harsh He

must be evil because He allows so much evil in the world• If He hates us so much,

then what is Jesus all about?

God the wimp

• Why should we respect Him and how can we follow Him if He has nothing to say?

God the wimp

• Why should we respect Him and how can we follow Him if He has nothing to say?• He must be weak

because He allows so much evil in the world

God the wimp

• Why should we respect Him and how can we follow Him if He has nothing to say?• He must be weak

because He allows so much evil in the world• If all paths lead to God

why did Jesus have to die?

God’s Enemies

•Paint God in the extremes so that we will fail to see His glory!

The Truth is Radically Different

• Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb

The Truth is Radically Different

• Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb

John 1:29–30 (NASB95) — 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29–30 (NASB95) — 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The Truth is Radically Different

• Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb

Hebrews 10:30–31 (NASB95) — 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:30–31 (NASB95) — 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The Truth is Radically Different

• It is the cross that unifies this picture of God and reveals His just nature and infinite mercy

The Truth is Radically Different

• It is the cross that unifies this picture of God and reveals His just nature and infinite mercy

Romans 3:25–26 (NLT) — 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Romans 3:25–26 (NLT) — 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

The Tactic

•The enemies of God are satisfied with anything that obscures the truth

The Tactic

•The enemies of God are satisfied with anything that obscures the truth

You earn your way to God

The Tactic

•The enemies of God are satisfied with anything that obscures the truth

You earn your way to God

God doesn’t judge evil

The Tactic

•The enemies of God are satisfied with anything that obscures the truth

You earn your way to God

God doesn’t judge evil

2) The same goes for God’s people

2) The same goes for God’s people

2) The same goes for God’s people

What to do?

What to do?

1)Don’t buy the lie!

What to do?

1)Don’t buy the lie!2)Seek out the truth of God’s

word

What to do?

1)Don’t buy the lie!2)Seek out the truth of God’s

word3)Seek good council to avoid

over-reactions

What to do?

1)Don’t buy the lie!2)Seek out the truth of God’s

word3)Seek good council to avoid

over-reactions4)Beware of fear that takes you

away from the work

Nehemiah 6:15–16 (NASB95) —

15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.