REDISCOVERING

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REDISCOVERING GOD
NEHEMIAH
NEHEMIAH
NEHEMIAH
in the RUINS of Life
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Dealing with Discouragement
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the
wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed.
He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his
associates and the army of Samaria, he said,
What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they
restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices?
Will they finish in a day?
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Dealing with Discouragement
Can they bring the stones back to life from those
heaps of rubbleburned as they are? Tobiah the
Ammonite, who was at his side, said, What they
are buildingif even a fox climbed up on it, he
would break down their wall of stones!
(Nehemiah 41-3 NIV)
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Dealing with Discouragement

•  
• Why is Success Opposed?
• Jealousy
• Fear
• Differing Values
• Suspicion
• Spiritual Resistance

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Dealing with Discouragement
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms. (Ephesians 612)
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Dealing with Discouragement
Important Truth Christians will face opposition
whenever they are doing Gods work.
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Dealing with Discouragement
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the
Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the
repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and
that the gaps were being closed, they were very
angry.
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Dealing with Discouragement
They all plotted together to come and fight
against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against
it. (Nehemiah 47-8)
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Dealing with Discouragement

• Weapons of Opposition
• Their Anger
• Mockery Sarcasm

What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they
restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices?
Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the
stones back to life from those heaps of
rubbleburned as they are? (42)
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Dealing with Discouragement

• Weapons of Opposition
• Their Anger
• Mockery Sarcasm

Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on
it, he will break down their stone wall. (43)
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Dealing with Discouragement

• Weapons of Opposition
• Their Anger
• Mockery Sarcasm
• Threats of Violence
• Discouragement

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Dealing with Discouragement

• The Anatomy of Discouragement
• Loss of Initial Motivation

the people in Judah said, The strength of the
laborers is giving out, and there is so much
rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.
(Nehemiah 410)
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Dealing with Discouragement
The Anatomy of Discouragement 2. Loss of Vision
Important Truth When you focus on what is,
instead of what could be, you will lose your
vision.
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Dealing with Discouragement
The Anatomy of Discouragement 3. Loss of
Confidence
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Dealing with Discouragement
The Anatomy of Discouragement 4. Loss of Security
our enemies said, Before they know it or see
us, we will be right there among them and will
kill them and put an end to the work. Then the
Jews who lived near them came and told us ten
times over, Wherever you turn, they will attack
us. (Nehemiah 411-12)
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Dealing with Discouragement
The Anatomy of Discouragement 5. Listening to
Negativity
Then the Jews who lived near them came and told
us ten times over, Wherever you turn, they will
attack us. (Nehemiah 412)
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Dealing with Discouragement
1. Pray
Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn
their insults back on their own heads. Give them
over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not
cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from
your sight, for they have thrown insults in the
face of the builders. (Neh. 44-5)
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Dealing with Discouragement
1. Pray
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom,
knowledge and happiness (Ecc. 226)
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Dealing with Discouragement
1. Pray
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth
come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs
26)
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Dealing with Discouragement
2. Take Action
Nehemiahs Action Steps 1) He Promoted Community
Therefore I stationed some of the people behind
the lowest points of the wall at the exposed
places, posting them by families, with their
swords, spears and bows. (Nehemiah 413)
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Dealing with Discouragement
2. Take Action
Nehemiahs Action Steps 2) He Prioritized
Security
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Dealing with Discouragement
2. Take Action
Then I said to the nobles, the officials and
the rest of the people, The work is extensive
and spread out, and we are widely separated from
each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the
sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will
fight for us! (Neh. 419-20)
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Dealing with Discouragement
2. Take Action
Nehemiahs Action Steps 3) He Lead by Example
Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the
guards with me took off our clothes each had his
weapon, even when he went for water. (Nehemiah
423)
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REDISCOVERING GOD
NEHEMIAH
NEHEMIAH
NEHEMIAH
in the RUINS of Life