Nehemiah

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Nehemiah

• Opposition and Response
• Chapter 4

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Introduction

• Working Together
• Do we have the brakes on with God?
• There are many reasons we might give for not
  working together
• But God calls us to work, not to excuse our lack
  of work

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Opposition to the work

• Mockery
• Neh 41-3
• What are these feeble Jews doing?
• Personal attacks
• Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble?
• Attack the work and the desire to work
• If a fox should jump on it,
• Attack the results
• Today will be no different

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Opposition to the work

• Conspiracy
• Neh 47-8
• Despite differences, the enemies pulled together
  out of envy and malice
• They would do anything to stop Gods work
• But they wanted to do it secretly (Neh 411)
• Today, those who seek to stop Gods work will lay
  aside differences and act in secret
• 2 Pet 21-3

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Response to opposition

• Watch and pray
• Neh 44-5, 9
• Prayer is essential in overcoming opposition
• 1 Sam 1223 To cease praying is sin
• Lk 181 Pray at all times

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Response to opposition

• A mind to work
• Neh 46
• They had their heart in the work
• Today we must be motivated
• 1 Pet 113
• Eccl 910

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Discouragement and Encouragement

• Neh 410-14
• Discouragement is natural when opposed
• We need to be like Nehemiah
• Job 164-5 encourage rather than criticize
• 1 Cor 1617-18 even Paul needed refreshing

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Armed and Ready Workers

• Neh 415-23
• They worked with one hand and ready to fight with
  the other
• If all worked, then would be vulnerable
• If all fought, no work would happen
• Today
• We must work Eph 411-16
• We must be prepared to fight 1 Tim 612

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Conclusion

• If we want to be successful in Gods work, we
  must remember
• The importance of working despite opposition
• To work with prayer and watchfulness
• To have a mind to work
• To be ready to encourage others
• To be armed and ready for work and battle

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