I'm very thankful for being here today.
If you were not aware, Sam and I went on a family vacation this past week and we were not here last Sunday.
I want to say thank you to Kyle for filling in for me, preaching in Nehemiah.
I was hoping to come back to you refreshed and rested.
I'm exhausted and I brought a cold with me.
I'm actually going to have a seat today so I don't fall over.
I'm a little bit medicated.
But I really wanted to be here today and continue our work through the book of Nehemiah.
We have thus far seen, beginning in chapter 1, Nehemiah is the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.
They are wintering in Susa, quite a bit of a journey from Israel.
But he receives word from his brother that the wall is still in shambles.
This is following Babylonian exile.
If you haven't been with us, Babylon as a judgment on Israel has come,
has conquered, has torn down the wall, has made Israel itself, Jerusalem a shambles,
and has carried away the people of God.
They have now in a couple of movements, as God promised, been returning to Jerusalem.
And at this time, this is some 90 years after the first exiles return.
And here we see the hand, the power, the world power has changed.
And now it's Persia that's in control.
And that's where we find Nehemiah still exiled, serving as the cupbearer to the king.
And he hears that the wall has yet to be rebuilt.
I want to remind you that the reason this troubles him,
you'll see in chapter 1 that he weeps and he mourns for days,
is not because he has a particular care for the wall,
that it's a special wall to him by any means,
but that the nature of what's happening with Israel,
the condition of God's people,
was the display of who God was.
So the fact that Israel's in shambles
meant that the view of God was not as high as it ought to be.
And this is why it grieves him so.
So we see him pray to God for months before he approaches the king.
And the king, by God's providence, grants him the ability to go back
and to lead in the building of this wall.
The king, in fact, makes him governor of the province
and basically gives him his credit cards
so that he can get all of the needs that he has for the rebuilding of this wall.
We saw the work that has happened.
They've begun to work.
They've strengthened their hands to work.
And in chapter 3, they began to rebuild the wall.
And we saw all the effort, the group effort that went in to this great task.
And then two weeks ago in chapter 4,
we talked about the opposition to the work.
There were some that weren't too happy about the work that was being done,
namely Sambalot and Tobiah.
Last week, Kyle, and Kyle, I apologize,
I have yet to listen to your sermon, but I promise that I will.
Kyle talked about chapter 5
and some of the spiritual work that begins to happen
as Nehemiah stops some of the oppression of the poor
and he himself is incredibly generous
to the servants that are living within his house.
But we see then again in chapter 6
a further expression of the opposition to this work.
And so this morning I want to talk a bit about that.
I want to show you specifically the opposition
that came up against Nehemiah.
A man that was called to lead God's people.
A man that was given a very special task
to accomplish and offer leadership to.
Before we do that, let's pray together.
Father God, I thank you for your goodness to us.
I thank you that an aspect of your character
is that you are good.
You are loving.
And your loving kindness towards us never fails.
You have shown us that in the greatest way in Christ.
I pray, Father, that all of us this morning
can say with confidence
that we have placed our faith in Him.
That we know that our souls have been redeemed
because of the work that He has done on our behalf.
Thank you for the blessing,
the grace to us of your Word.
That it is the guide and rule of our lives.
That it ultimately speaks of Christ.
That it is the grace of God.
Drawing us to Him.
Drawing us into holiness in Him.
And I pray, Father, this day it will have its way with us.
It will work in our hearts the way you see fit.
That we might look more like your Son
as a result of our work here together today.
And I pray this in Christ's precious and holy name.
Amen.
So, as we've worked before,
typically I read the passage to you.
We're going to be looking at all of chapter 6.
Today I'm going to bring it to you in pieces.
So I just want to make you aware of that
so you're not wondering,
why has Nathan not read the text?
I'm so confused.
What's going on right now?
It's coming.
I'm going to read it to you in little pieces.
But I just first wanted to say to you
that any time that God calls us into leadership
with a holy ambition,
there will be opposition to that work.
I was surprised as I began to pastor this church
of what that opposition ended up looking like.
I came to realize that working in this setting
is not simply work, it's warfare.
It's a great task that is ahead of us
when we get called to a holy ambition for our Lord.
Now I want you to know at the outset this morning
that I am an exceedingly happy pastor.
Nothing I'm going to talk about today
has anything to do with any of you specifically.
Praise God for that,
that as I was studying through this,
I was seeing the way in which these men
were working to oppose the work,
that I couldn't think of a single example
of anybody that I knew would be sitting here this morning
having done this to me.
That's a blessing.
That's an incredible blessing,
and I thank you for that.
It has happened, though,
and I was surprised by that,
by people who have come here
and sat and said they were people of God
and opposed the very work of God.
The kind of opposition that came,
the personal criticism,
calling into question things like my age.
And if you don't know, I'm 33,
just in case you're wondering,
which is young.
Calling into question my motivations.
Calling into question my training.
Also, very surprised by the source of that opposition.
I was ready to take on the world,
not oblivious to that,
that the world hates us as it hates Christ.
Not at all.
I'm ready to contend for those types of things,
but I was so surprised that much of that opposition
came from those professing to be the people of God.
A holy ambition for the glory of God
will be met with unceasing opposition.
It's part of the game,
both from without and from within.
And the reason for this
is that God's enemy and ours,
the devil,
does not want to see the work accomplished.
He's a rather delusional character, right?
We all know the work is going to be accomplished.
We know that God is the sovereign
that reigns over all things.
And yet, the devil,
Satan, bucks against it
with all of his might.
His name, devil, means slander.
In the book of Revelation,
he's called Apollyon in Greek,
the destroyer, right?
The scriptures refer to him as a murderer,
a liar, a deceiver, the evil one,
a roaring, devouring lion,
and a great red dragon.
And he works most divisively in the church
by doing everything that he can
to impede God's ends,
knowing full well that he can't,
but he does everything that he can
to impede God's ends
by doing everything he can
to impede God's means.
And that is us, the church.
He roots his way in
to our meetings,
into our relationships,
and causes division
with this type of opposition.
We see that here with Nehemiah.
Not that Sanballat and Tobiah
and Geshem the Arab
are people of God,
but we see the way the enemy
works with them
and manipulates them
to try to stop the work
that Nehemiah is doing.
Some of you may ask the question,
wasn't Nehemiah doing the will of God?
Right?
Had God's blessing?
We saw that.
The good hand of God was upon me
is the record we see in Nehemiah.
And certainly he was.
In fact, the opposition
is the proof of this.
We're trying to help you see
that the book of Nehemiah
is not this far-removed
historical account
that we read about and say,
isn't that interesting
the way God and Nehemiah
and the people of Israel
worked then,
but it has real implications
for us now.
As God has set us to the task
of building the church.
As that is now
the visible display
of his glory.
The condition of our church
has something to say
about who our God is.
And if we want proper praise
to be ascribed to him
the way it ought to be
ascribed to him
we'll be about the work
of building the church.
And I've said to you
that all of us
are called into that.
Right?
We're all called to be holy
and to see holiness
come about in other people's lives.
To be disciples
that make disciples.
To put it as simply
as I possibly can for you.
And there will be
opposition to that work.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy
3.12
All who desire to live
a godly, holy,
be a disciple,
life in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted.
It's a promise
given to us
if we're to live
in this way.
And we ought not be
surprised by it.
Now, some of you
may be saying,
okay, this is great.
The record here,
chapter 6 of Nehemiah,
the opposition
that came to him
as a leader
with this holy ambition
for the glory of God
is great,
but it doesn't really
apply to me.
But it does.
Hear what I'm saying to you.
We've all been called
to lead
in some regard.
And,
we've all been called
to follow
in some regard.
So there's many lessons
for us to learn here.
Both about how we ought
to respond
to opposition
and also about how we ought
to not be
that opposition.
We ought not let
the enemy come in
and have us
be the very ones
that are opposing
the leadership
of God.
Some of you,
I think many of you,
desire to spend
your lives
in vocational ministry.
Really believe
that God is leading
you into
a life
spent 24-7.
My vocation
is to lead
the people
of God.
And you ought
to be aware
of the opposition
that's going to come
against you
and how to deal
with it.
We all need to know
what our leaders
deal with
so that we can
best know
how to pray for them.
I covet
your prayers.
I need
your prayers.
I try to be
up here
so openly
honest with you.
Some people even say
to a fault
that I'm too
self-abasing.
But I want you to know
that I need grace
as much
as you do.
I battle
with my flesh
as much
as you do.
And I need
your prayers.
Much,
much opposition
will come against us.
Let me give you
just a small example.
This is,
again,
no one in the room.
So don't
cut eyes
at anybody in here.
There's nobody
in this room.
But my preaching
has been criticized.
The internet
is a really,
really fantastic tool.
How amazing.
All the things
we have at our fingertips.
You can spend
your week
listening to
wonderful,
wonderful
preaching.
We record
these sermons.
That's the primary
reason I wear
this little mic.
We put them up
on our website
so if you missed
one,
you can catch up.
That's the idea
behind that.
Not so everyone
can hear
really great preaching
which I'm not
claiming to do.
So you can catch up
if you normally
meet with us
and can do that.
You can hop on
Desiring God
the app
on your phone.
Get it.
It's fantastic.
Right?
You can hear
John Piper preach
any time
you want to.
But guess what?
It's also been
really damaging
to the local church.
Because now
everyone expects
their pastor
to be John Piper
or Tim Keller
or Mark Driscoll.
Right?
I'm not ever
going to be
those men.
Right?
I really, really
labor to be
the best possible
preacher I can be.
I am not going
to be Charles Spurgeon.
Right?
Get it out of your head.
I'm not going to do it.
Right?
He was a master
with words.
I sometimes
make up words
on the spot.
Right?
So everyone
wants entertainment.
Everybody wants
celebrity.
Right?
Over content.
Right?
What did Paul say
to the Corinthians?
I came to you
speaking simply
to you.
Right?
I didn't want you
to praise me
like you did
all the Greek orators
which was what was
going on in Corinth.
These wonderful
deliverers of speech.
Paul, Taman said,
I spoke simply
to you.
I simply told you
about Christ crucified.
Right?
We need to elevate
truth over entertainment.
I hope to engage you
with the truth.
Right?
That's the good labor
is to give you the truth
and give it to you
in an engaging way
that goes through your head
and right to your heart
so that you change
the way you live.
Right?
I will not be
John Piper
or Tim Keller
or Charles Spurgeon.
Right?
So let's look
at the opposition.
Let's see who we have
coming up against him.
And it's an ever
increasing group
of people.
Right?
People who are
critics love to gather
other critics to themselves.
So we see
initially in chapter 1
right at the very end
we see Sambalat
and we see
Tobiah.
They add to their number
Geshem
and later we see
a widening group
that doesn't even get
named.
But understand
what was going on
with Sambalat and Tobiah
and why they were
so set against
what was going on.
It's not that they
praised King Artaxerxes
they wanted all glory
to King Artaxerxes
no it's that they
ultimately worshipped
themselves.
We see Sambalat
is the Horonite
right?
Which just means
he was born in Beth
Haran
and he was Samaritan
that's what that means.
Right?
And there was an intense
racial tension
between the Samaritans
and the Jews
just from the outset
they didn't like
one another.
Right?
But beyond that
he was the governor
of the Samaritan province
just north
of Judea.
Right?
And more than likely
most scholars say
that it was probably
under his control
as well.
So when King Artaxerxes
puts Nehemiah
over
Judea
the town of Judah
the province of Judah
he was cutting out
some of
Sambalat's property.
Right?
He was cutting it out
some of his control.
Right?
So Sambalat
hated him.
Right?
We see Tobiah
the governor
of Ammon.
Now recognize
if you're looking at a map
you're seeing that little strip of land
just to the east
of the Mediterranean.
Right?
Picture above
just north of that
you've got Sambalat's property
and just to the west of that
to the coast
you've got Tobiah's property.
This is where
they reign.
Now throughout history
Jerusalem was a major
major
trade route.
Right?
All the trade routes
of the region
crossed through
Jerusalem.
But when Babylon
came in and overthrew
the Israelites
that ceased to be the case.
The city was in ruins.
There was no reason
to go there and trade
so guess where the trade shifted?
Right?
To the west
and to the north.
So Sambalat and Tobiah
were profiting greatly
as the governors
of these regions.
So what would happen
if they rebuilt the wall
and restored the city?
The trade routes
would shift back
and they would lose out.
Right?
They would become
poorer regions
as a result
of that very thing.
So recognize
that the opposition here
is ultimately
because they worship
themselves
and what they could gain
by keeping the wall
from being built.
Right?
Now look
as you see
the first little example
here.
We know that
at the end of chapter 1
Sambalat and Tobiah
are not happy
with what's going on
but they approach him
for the first time
at the end of chapter 2
verse 19.
But when Sambalat the Horonite
and Tobiah the Ammonite
servant and Geshem
here comes Geshem
the Arab
heard of it
they jeered at us
and despised us
and said
what is this thing
that you are doing?
Are you rebelling
against the king?
Then I replied to them
the God of heaven
will make us prosper
and we his servants
will arise and build
but you have
no portion
or right
or claim
in Jerusalem.
I love his response here.
Okay?
So recognize
that these are not
people
who simply need
their perspective
adjusted a little bit.
It can be a very
healthy thing
to be constructively
critical of things
that are going on
in your churches.
I need feedback.
That's what I'm trying
to say to you.
Come and talk to me.
And there will be times
that I will be wrong
and I hope that I have
been given the grace
to be humble
to accept that
and to make adjustments.
There will be times
that you're wrong
and you simply need
your perspective
adjusted a little bit.
Right?
That's going to happen.
That's a good
healthy process
to take place here.
But these are not men
who just need
a little nuancing
of their perspective.
Right?
These are men
that need to be told
to be quiet.
Right?
And to get out of the way.
That's a painful thing
to do.
I've had to do that
in the life of this church
already.
Right?
With grace and love
to tell somebody
be quiet
and get out of our way.
Right?
So this is his response
to him.
The God of heaven
will make us prosper
and we as servants
will rise and build
but you have no portion
or right
or claim
in Jerusalem.
So these are the people
that we're talking about.
And what I hope
you're hearing from me
is that I don't want you
to be one of these people.
Right?
Have any character quality
of a person
that really
what I would respond
to you is
be quiet
and just get out of the way.
Right?
I want to have a bunch
of people
who need just a little
perspective adjustment
occasionally
and not ones
that need to be shown
the door.
Right?
So let's look now
at our text.
Nehemiah was tempted
in four common ways.
Right?
And I want to show you those
and I want to see
I want you to see
how he responded
appropriately
to these temptations.
Right?
Number one
the temptation
to be distracted
by the daunting nature
of the work.
Right?
And we've got to look
a little bit before
chapter 6
to see that.
Beginning of chapter 6
we see that
he has completed
the wall
the breaches
the gaps in the wall
have been filled in
except that the doors
the huge gate doors
which is a huge task
in and of itself
they have yet to be set
so it's not quite done
we're almost there.
But let's back up
just a little bit
in chapter 4
to see the temptation
verse 10.
Right?
The temptation
to be distracted
by the daunting nature
of the work.
Chapter 4 verse 10
we have record
of what was
happening in Judah
what was being said.
they've half completed
the wall at this point.
It says
in Judah it was said
the strength of those
who bear the burdens
is failing.
There is too much rubble.
By ourselves
we will not be able
to rebuild the wall.
And our English
doesn't quite capture here
what this phrase
would have looked like
to the Hebrew people.
It was actually
a Hebrew couplet.
It was a little song
a little ditty
that had been written.
It took them 52 days
to build the wall.
And at this point
it's half built
and somebody
has come up
with a song
and been passing it
around Jerusalem
about how
they're going to fail.
Right?
A little sing song thing.
The strength of those
who bear the burden
is failing.
There's too much rubble.
By ourselves
we will not be able
to rebuild
the wall.
Right?
Look carefully
at who was saying it.
Right?
So here's
we've got opposition
coming from without
Sambalat, Tobiah,
Geshem the Arab.
But from within
it was in Judah
that this was being said.
Right?
The people of Judah
had become whiners.
My father
who's sitting in the room
is really famous
at least
most of you may not
have ever heard him say this
but for me
he's really famous
for always saying
we want winners
not whiners.
Right?
I just had to interject that
at this point.
Right?
The people of Judah
were being whiners.
How is it
that in the face
of this kind of
sing song
opposition
to the work?
Right?
People are walking around
saying it's never
going to be accomplished.
Right?
We've written
a little lyrical poem
that we're singing
about that very thing
that Nehemiah
who's trying to lead
this great work
doesn't become
just absolutely
distracted
by the daunting
nature of it.
Just crushed
by how much
is ahead of him
when it seems
that the people
of Judah
are not for
the work.
He did so
by resting
in the fact
that God
will
accomplish
his purposes.
We've been talking
a lot about
the providence
of God
and what God
sets out to do
he does in fact
accomplish
and this is a very
great motivation
for us
to see the work
get done.
Verse 14
of chapter 4
He says
that I looked
and arose
and I said
to the nobles
and to the officials
and to the rest
of the people
do not be afraid
of them
in light of this
physical opposition
that could be
coming from without
do not be afraid
of them
remember the Lord
who is great
and awesome
and fight for your
brothers, your sons,
your daughters,
your wives
and your homes
and then in verse 20
he says
our God
will fight
for us.
So Nehemiah
rested in the fact
that God
was providentially
in control
he knew
that it was God's
will
that the wall
be built
and therefore
he wasn't distracted
by the daunting
nature
of the work.
Secondly
Nehemiah
was tempted
to be distracted
by prestige
or position
look now
in chapter 6
finally here we go
chapter 6
beginning in verse 2
Sanbalat and Geshem
sent to me
saying
come and let us
meet together
at Hakafurim
in the plain
of Ono
but they intended
to do me harm
and I sent
messengers to them
saying
I am doing
a great work
and I cannot
come down
why should the
work stop
while I leave it
and come down
to you
and they sent
to me four times
in this way
and I answered
them in the same
manner.
So two of these
leaders
we've already talked
about
Sambalite
and Geshem
they send to him
and they say
let's go and meet
in a place
that's only recorded
here in the scriptures
so I tried to do
some research on it
don't really know
a lot about
Hecathurim
however
it's likely
that this was a place
in the plain
of Ono
that was a
lush place
a nice
place
to meet
and these
other governors
were saying to him
hey as a governor
let's come together
and meet
let's talk about
this work
that you're setting
out to do
now he perceives
that they intended
to do him harm
but he was not
distracted
by a meeting
a day's journey
away
to go and meet
in this nice
place
with the other
governors
of the provinces
surrounding
but instead
what does he say
to them
I'm doing a great
work
and I cannot
come down
why should
the work
stop
while I
leave it
and come
down
to you
so he
battled
against
this
temptation
to be
distracted
by position
by possessing
a focused
understanding
of his
God-given
task
Nehemiah
knew exactly
what it was
he was there
to do
Nehemiah
knew that
his position
any prestige
that belonged
to him
was not
for him
it was for
the work
that was to
be done
he was made
governor of the
providence
so he could
lead the
people
in that
very
work
there is a
great difference
between being a
man or woman
of God
and a puppet
of people
God has given
us a task
he's given
you
tasks
laid them out
before you
prepared them
beforehand
that you might
walk in them
have a
single-mindedness
towards
accomplishing
those
tasks
be a
man or
woman of
God
and not
a puppet
of people
on our
vacation
Sam and I
got away
from the
beach
which was
a blessing
to me
for an
afternoon
with the
kids
and we
went to
a place
called
Brook
Green
Gardens
have you
ever been
to Brook
Green
Myrtle
Beach
nobody
okay
beautiful
place
just
south
of
Myrtle
Beach
that was
built by
in the
early
late
property
bought
in
29
built
into
the
early
30s
by
Archer
and
Anna
Huntington
and
it's
just a
beautiful
garden
to walk
around
Anna
was a
sculptor
so there's
all these
huge bronze
sculptures
all over
the gardens
and as I was
thinking about
this text
and thinking
about the
work that
was ahead
of them
in doing
this
task
of rebuilding
the wall
I saw a
comparison
here
because
Archer
and Anna
had to
have vision
for this
place
because
this
place
has
these
huge
live
oak
trees
you know
they're
kind of
split off
from the
bottom
of the
ground
and grow
up
they're
massive
oak
trees
and the
property's
been planned
around them
the pathways
these types
of things
there are hedges
everywhere
there's a hedge
maze
you don't just
go build a hedge
maze
you've got to
plant it
and plant
the hedges
and wait
for them
to grow
and trim
them back
and shape
them
and keep
doing this
type of
thing
this was
a work
that they
knew
they would
never see
the completion
of
when they
set out
to build
this
magnificent
garden
they knew
that it
wouldn't
reach
its full
glory
until
I don't
even know
is it
in its full
glory
I don't
know
it's
beautiful
right
these hedges
are you know
ten feet
tall now
blocking off
these things
with these
sculptures
and all
this stuff
and they
must have
had a
single
mindedness
to
accomplishing
this
work
draws my
mind also
to Noah
and the
work that
was set
before him
God
told Noah
to build
a boat
in the
middle
of a
desert
and his
friends
thought he
was insane
and yet
he built
it
right
and praise
God
for his
grace to
Noah
to have
such
single mindedness
that we
live today
because the
human race
was preserved
in Noah's
family
right
we should
not be
distracted
by the place
that God
has put us
I think a
lot of
Christians
are
because
we're
the children
of God
right
we want
to have
our special
meetings
we get
together
and we
feel good
about
ourselves
because God
has picked
us out of
the muck
and the mire
right
and we sit
and we revel
in that
rather than
recognizing that
he's done
so for a
very important
work
thirdly
Nehemiah
was tempted
to be
distracted
by fear
let's look
at chapter 6
verse 5
through 9
in the same
way Sambalot
for the fifth
time sent
his servant
to me
with an
open letter
in his
hand
in it
was written
it is
reported
among the
nations
and Geshem
also says
it
that you
and the
Jews
intend
to rebel
that is
why you
are building
the wall
and according
to these
reports
you wish
to become
their king
and you
have also
set up
prophets
to proclaim
concerning you
in Jerusalem
there is a
king in
Judah
and now
the king
will hear
of these
reports
so now
come and
let us
take
counsel
together
so after
four requests
have gone
the fifth
comes
Sambalot
writes
with an
open letter
and letters
in these days
were sealed
which meant
that the letter
was intended
for a particular
person
and it was only
that person
that broke
the seal
and read it
if a letter
was sent
open
without a seal
it was intended
to be read
by everybody
the messenger
would say
I've got an
open letter
and he'd open
it up
and he'd read
it
and walking
along the way
he'd share
it with others
hey the
open letter
so what
Sambalot's
doing here
is he's
spreading
the rumor
far and
wide
about what
Nehemiah
is supposedly
doing
he makes
this accusation
to him
that the reason
he's there
to build
the wall
is so that
the Israelites
will rebel
he will be
their king
they will
overthrow
the king
of Persia
listen to his
response
then I
sent to him
saying
no such
thing
as you
say
have been
done
for you
are
inventing
them
out of
your
own
mind
for they
all
wanted
to
frighten
us
thinking
their
hands
will
drop
from
the
work
and
it
will
not
be
done
but
now
oh
God
strengthen
my
hands
his
response
to him
is
liar
and
that's
it
right
he
simply
says
the
things
you're
saying
of
me
are
not
true
I
will
not
allow
your
false
accusations
to
cause
me
to
fear
I
will
continue
to
work
another
example
here
another
instance
of it
beginning
in
verse
10
now
when I
went
into
the
house
of
Shemaiah
the son
of
Deliah
son
of
Mehedabel
who
was
confined
to
his
home
he
said
let
us
meet
together
in
the
house
of
God
within
the
temple
let
us
close
the
doors
of
the
temple
for
they
are
coming
to
kill
you
they
are
coming
to
kill
you
by
night
so
notice
here
he
now
goes
to
visit
a
friend
someone
that
he
knows
he's
in
his
house
he's
confined
to
his
home
and
he
goes
to
visit
this
man
who
has
been
bought
out
by
Tobiah
and
Sambalot
his
response
is
but
I
said
should
such
a
man
as
I
run
away
and
what
man
such
as
I
could
go
into
the
so
what
Shemaiah
had
suggested
to
him
is
that
out
of
fear
he
go
into
the
holy
place
the
holy
of
holies
in
the
temple
a
place
that
the
Israelites
were
clearly
instructed
not
to
go
unless
they
were
the
high
priest
it
was
off
limits
place
to
go
and
he
would
have
either
been
killed
which
is
what
the
law
prescribed
probably
would
have
taken
place
God
would
have
struck
him
dead
his
reputation
the
Israelites
would
not
have
followed
him
any
longer
because
of
the
travesty
that
would
have
been
committed
here
so
he
said
should
such
a
man
as
I
run
away
and
what
man
such
as
I
could
go
into
the
temple
and
live
I
will
not
go
in
verse
12
and
I
understood
and saw
that
God
had
not
sent
him
but
he
had
pronounced
the
prophecy
against
me
because
Tobiah
and
Sambalot
had
hired
him
speaking
of
Shemaiah
there
for
this
purpose
he
was
hired
that
I
should
be
afraid
and
act
in
this
way
and
sin
and
so
they
could
give
me
a
bad
name
in
order
to
taunt
me
so
he
was
tempted
to be
distracted
by
fear
to
lose
the
point
of
the
work
that
he
was
to
be
doing
So
what
is
!
his
!
how
does
he
properly
deal
with
it?
He
prays
and
then
he
acts
simple
he
prays
and
then
he
acts
so
we
see
in
verse
9
so
the
wall
was
finished
nope
that's
verse
15
I'm
sorry
I
didn't
write
down
verse
9
for
myself
so
verse
9
for
they
wanted
us
frightened
thinking
and
he
prays
but
now
oh
God
strengthen
my
hands
right
so
there's
the
prayer
right
I'm
I've
been
made
to
feel
afraid
my
reputation
is
out
there
being
slandered
with
this
open
letter
I
could
stop
and
be
worried
about
that
but
he
prays
instead
but
now
oh
God
strengthen
my
hands
and
then
he
acts
and
how
do
we
know
that
he
acts
because
in
verse
15
we
see
so
the
wall
was
finished
on
the
25th
day
of the
month
Elul
in
52
days
right
the
work
continued
on
because
it
was
completed
right
in
verse
12
we
see
the
record
and
I
understood
and
saw
that
God
had
not
sent
him
now
the
Hebrew
word
here
for
understood
is
the
same
word
that
would
have
been
used
of
wisdom
right
so
you
could
read
it
and
I
was
wise
and
I
saw
that
God
had
not
sent
him
right
how
was
it
that
it
!
was
possible
for
him
to
be
wise
in
this
way
unless
he
was
tarrying
with
God
Leonard
Ravenhill
in his
book
Why
Revival
Tarries
which
Chris
McKean
gave me
here
recently
wrote
to be
much
for
God
we
must
be
much
with
God
as
a
result
of
the
way
in
which
Nehemiah
spent
time
with
God
he
was
wise
unto
these
things
heard
a
great
little
analogy
which
I've
made
some
slight
alterations
to
speaking
of
wisdom
and
here
you
go
knowledge
is
valuable
we
want
to
gain
knowledge
it's
a
good
thing
for
us
to
have
knowledge
is
knowing
that
a
tomato
is
a
fruit
that's
knowledge
it's
a
fact
right
a
tomato
is
a
fruit
if
you
didn't
know
that
a
tomato
is
a
fruit
okay
understanding
would
be
like
knowing
what
a
tomato
tastes
like
and
how
to
properly
cut
it
for
eating
right
getting
the
tomato
like
we
understand
what
the
tomato
is
right
we've
experienced
the
tomato
when you
combine
those two
things
you have
wisdom
and
wisdom
is
knowing
that
a
tomato
does
not
belong
in
a
fruit
salad
right
and
this
is
what
Nehemiah
had
right
Nehemiah
had
wisdom
right
he knew
that
God
had
given
him
a
work
he
knew
that
God
had
purposes
!
Israel
right
there
were
promises
made
in
the
scriptures
for
what
ought
to
be
done
right
he
knew
that
God
had
said
him
about
the
task
right
he
knew
that
he
ought
not
go
into
the
temple
right
he
knew
that
what
San
Blot
was
saying
was
a
lie
right
and
he
combined
this
with
his
understanding
wisdom
to
make
the
right
choices
in
this
case
so
Nehemiah
was
not
distracted
by
fear
because
he
prayed
and
he
acted
fourthly
and
finally
Nehemiah
was
tempted
to be
distracted
by
exacting
justice
so
note
these
men
are
conniving
right
obnoxious
men
San
Blot
and
Tobiah
they
show
up
beginning
in
chapter
one
we
begin
to
see
their
appearances
right
they
send
him
four
requests
right
and
he
answers
them
the
same
way
they
continue
to
send
him
these
requests
to
stop
the
word
then
they
spread
obnoxious
rumors
about
him
right
Nehemiah
had
every
reason
to
despise
them
right
Nehemiah
had
every
reason
I'm
speaking
in human
terms
to be
distracted
to be
plotting
his
vengeance
to be
figuring
out
he
could
shame
the
name
of
Sam
who's
spreading
rumors
and
lies
about
him
but
what
does
Nehemiah
do
he
turns
his
enemies
over
to
the
justice
of
the
ultimate
judge
verse
14
he
prays
to
God
remember
Tobiah
and
Sanballat
oh my
God
according
to
these
things
that
they
did
and
also
the
prophetess
Noadiah
and the
rest of
the prophets
who want
to make
me
afraid
right
Nehemiah
is so
singularly
focused on
the work
ahead of
him
that he
simply
says
God
remember
those
who are
opposing
the work
right
you deal
with them
the way
you see
fit
I got
work to
do
I'm
getting
back
to
the
work
and
I
will
not
be
distracted
by
exacting
justice
now I
hope that
you're
about
the work
of God
already
and you
can relate
to some
of these
things
that you've
experienced
some of
this
type of
opposition
to the
work
that God
laid
before
you
I
hope
you
get
it
if
you
don't
it's
coming
I
promise
it's
on
its
way
you
are
going
to
experience
opposition
and I
hope
that you
will
deal
with
it
appropriately
now we
have our
greatest
example
of this
in Christ
the perfect
model
for this
type of
thing
we are
to grow
up into
him
or to
be
like
Christ
in
dealing
with
opposition
remember
that
Nehemiah
is a
type
of Christ
Christ
is the
anti-type
the greater
Nehemiah
Jesus
was tempted
in many
of the
same
ways
and yet
he did
not
sin
recall
that the
world
will hate
us
because
it
first
hated
Jesus
Christ
is
John
15
18
turn with
me to
Hebrews
chapter
13
try to
wrap
this
all up
for us
here
beginning
in
verse
12
So Jesus also suffered
had opposition
outside the gate
in order to sanctify the people
through his own blood.
Therefore, let us go to him
outside the camp
and bear the reproach
he endured.
And that's simply what I want you to see.
Right?
Jesus bore reproach
we ought to bear reproach as well.
For here we have no lasting city,
but we seek the city
that is to come.
Through him, then,
let us continually offer up
a sacrifice of praise to God
that is the fruit of lips
that acknowledge his name.
Do not neglect to do good
and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices
are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders
and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch
over your souls
as those who will give an account.
Let them do this with joy
and not with groaning,
for that would be
of no advantage
to you.
Isn't that a beautiful
wrap-up here?
As if the author of Hebrews
knew
that someone
was going to need a way
to close
a sermon on Nehemiah
chapter 6.
Right?
What are we to do?
We're supposed to suffer
as Christ suffered.
Why?
Because here we have
no lasting city.
Right?
We're sojourners
in this place.
We're seeking
the city that is to come,
that is the kingdom of God.
We're about that work.
Building the kingdom.
Right?
That's founded on Christ.
The chief cornerstone.
We've been looking at Peter
in the last couple of weeks.
Right?
Through Him then,
let us offer up
sacrifices of praise.
The fruit of lips
that acknowledge
His name.
Right?
Being disciple-making
disciples.
That's what I've been
saying to you.
Do not neglect
to do good
and to share
what you have.
For these sacrifices
are pleasing to God.
And then 17.
Obey your leaders
and submit to them.
For they are keeping
watch over your souls
as those who will give
an account.
Right?
Do not be
the Sambalots
and the Tobias
and the Geshams
of the church.
Let them do this
with joy
and not with groaning.
For that would be
of no advantage to you.
You want your leaders
to be joyful.
And I'm thankful
as I said before
again that you do this
for me.
And I really appreciate it.
I hope that will continue
to be the case
as we consider
this.
Now as we
think about
Christ
and what He has done
the suffering
that He did
on our behalf
as we take
the Lord's Supper
together
my mind was drawn
to Hebrews 12.3
It says
consider Jesus
who endured
from sinners
such hostility
against Himself
so that you may not
grow weary
or faint hearted.
That we may not
grow weary
as we suffer
in the work
that's put
before us.
And it goes on
to say that
none of us
have suffered
none of us
have fought
against sin
to be holy
to the point
of death
the way Jesus
has.
Right?
All of us
live on.
So let's be
encouraged
by the way
that Jesus
endured
from sinners
such hostility.
We ought not
grow weary
or faint hearted.
It is because
of the personal
work of Christ
what He has done
for us
that we can have
the encouragement
the motivation
He is the channel
by which grace
comes to us
to live
in this way
and that's why
we celebrate
the Lord's Supper
together.
This is
an invitation
to you.
Recognize that
the Lord's Supper
when we give it to you
is a chance
for you to respond
to the work
that God's doing
in your life.
In fact,
we plead with you
to do that.
To not take
the Lord's Supper
with sin
in your life.
Not to
dismiss things
and go through
the motion
and sit back down.
But recognize
that these are
symbols of what
Christ has done
for you
and what He's
promised to do
for you.
That should be
working down
in you.
That should be
a truth
that's rolling
around in your
heart
and having
some effect
and some
change.
I've said
to you before
this should be
joyful and solemn.
The gospel
all at once
both gladdens
and abases.
We should be
humbled by
who we are.
How sinful
we can be.
But so joyful
for what Christ
has done for us
that simply
by believing
we have become
righteous.
And that's
what we celebrate
together
in the Lord's Supper.
I'm going to pray
for us to close
our time
and I'm going to
ask men
that I ask
to come
hold the elements.
If you'll come up
while I'm praying
that way we can
get the elements
out.
Just as you
feel prepared
feel free to go
and partake of the
elements
and then come back
to your seat.
Let's pray together.