WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.960 time. My name is James. It's good to see you this morning. We were on holidays recently, 00:00:05.700 --> 00:00:09.900 and one of the few days where it wasn't raining, we went to the beach, 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:15.500 and one of my favorite things to do with the kids at the beach is to build sandcastles. Now, 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:20.280 this is not a photo I took. It is far too pretty, but it's just helpful for us. Now, 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:24.859 when it comes to techniques and strategies for building sandcastles, we can have a good argument 00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:33.799 later, but I think the most important thing to do is to build the wall first. I need a strong 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:39.679 defensive wall because I want to build close to the water, but I don't want the waves to destroy 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:45.920 my creation. So I build the walls up. I've even started taking a half-sized shovel with a full 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:50.700 shovel head, like a proper metal one, not one of these kids' shovels, a proper shovel down to the 00:00:50.700 --> 00:00:56.540 beach. It just makes life so much easier to build sandcastles. But what always happens when you 00:00:56.540 --> 00:01:04.780 build a sandcastle? There is always opposition. The waves just do not stop. Just because I've 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:13.060 built the walls up doesn't mean the waves don't stop coming. And the walls might stand against the 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:18.719 waves for a couple of small waves, but what always happens? There's just this big wave that comes, 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:24.060 and it doesn't just go over the walls. It goes around them, and it just swamps everything. And 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:27.640 there's squealing and yelling, and there's running, and my kids are upset too. 00:01:31.060 --> 00:01:39.200 But everything has become a destroyed, sloppy mess. And so you start again, and then it happens again, 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:43.439 and you build again, and it's destroyed. And you just get to this point thinking, 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:49.719 should I just give up? Is there ever a chance I'm going to beat this opposition? 00:01:51.399 --> 00:01:56.159 Have you ever felt this in life? Trying to make something, trying to build something, 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:03.079 trying hard to grow as a disciple following Jesus, trying to make a difference in the world for God, 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:09.259 trying to have a family going in the same direction following God, or to make an impact. And there's just 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:17.340 wave after wave of opposition that comes, and it does not stop. There is opposition that wants to 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:22.579 knock us over, opposition from outside, from work, from family, from culture. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:33.919 How do we respond to this opposition? Do we respond out of our own strength, or God's strength? 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:39.479 Or are we tempted to think that these waves of opposition, well, they're never going to stop, 00:02:39.839 --> 00:02:42.399 and so we may as well just give up and give in? 00:02:44.179 --> 00:02:51.959 We are in the book of Nehemiah, seeing that we have been built to build. God's people had been 00:02:51.959 --> 00:02:59.859 exiled to Babylon, and they've returned. And they are seeking to rebuild Israel and the temple, 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:06.620 and they are rebuilding the walls, and they want to offer sacrifices to God. They want everyone to know 00:03:06.620 --> 00:03:14.520 how great God is, but there is opposition. And so today, we're going to see how Nehemiah and the 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:21.080 Israelites respond to this opposition. And we're going to be challenged and prepared for opposition in our 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:28.260 own faith, to be prepared for that day. So to help us, let me pray as we have a look at God's Word. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:34.539 Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for your Word. We thank you that we get to sit under your Word today. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:44.759 Help us be people who are ready and equipped to face opposition, to be trusting in you more each day. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:53.939 Amen. There are three points for us this morning. The opposition, the response, and lastly, reality. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:04:03.620 So, opposition. Please have your Bibles open, as Rad's mentioned. You can find the points in the app. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:08.099 Wendy, was that you or me that time? Was that you clicking that? We'll see. We'll see if the clicker 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:14.240 likes to work for me today. We're going to have a look at chapter 4, verse 1. Have a look with me. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:21.480 When Sanballat heard that they were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:27.879 He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:33.759 what are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:39.860 finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble burned as they are? 00:04:39.860 --> 00:04:47.360 Now, Sanballat, he was the governor of Samaria, which was formerly part of Israel. And Sanballat is not 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:57.600 just annoyed, he is greatly incensed. Often we can think that people are angry with us in particular, 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:05.420 but his anger is not just directed at God's people. It is far deeper. Have a look at these accusations. 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:11.780 Will they restore the walls? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Are they going to be finished in a day? 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:19.560 Are they going to bring stones back to life? The purpose of the building work was that so Israel 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:29.580 could once again praise God, worship God, see that God is known to the nations. And so Sanballat is aware 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:37.279 of this. Are you going to build so that you can offer sacrifices? Sacrifices so you can praise God, 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:44.019 so you can deal with your sins, so you can be right with God. And so while it seems that Sanballat is 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:52.740 against the people of God, he is also against God himself. He questions whether they can actually 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:57.919 build it. You've got the wrong plan. You've got the wrong materials. You're not even going to finish 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:05.199 what you started. And Tobiah the Ammonite, who comes across to me as, you know, in every good 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.400 movie there's a main villain and then there's also a secondary villain, the little villain. 00:06:10.960 --> 00:06:15.720 Tobiah the Ammonite seems like the secondary villain. Wendy, if you can go to the next slide for me. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:21.900 Tobiah the Ammonite chips in. What they are building, even a fox climbing up on it would break 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:30.139 down their wall of stones. And let's all stand around and mock how stupid Israel is for even 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:40.359 trying to do this. It's hard when opposition grows. Opposition is not always a bad thing. 00:06:41.099 --> 00:06:47.179 It actually points out where something is going well. Opposition actually reveals a strength. 00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:54.540 I've been watching a couple of different sports documentaries recently. One about soccer or 00:06:54.540 --> 00:07:00.100 football as most of the world knows it. And one of the things that happens is that if there is one 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:06.740 particularly good player, the opposition targets that player. They're going to put two defenders on 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:16.360 that player. And so the opposition comes because of a strength. Imagine if no one was opposing the 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:20.960 rebuilding of the walls. Oh, you're rebuilding those walls. Oh, we do not even care. 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:26.340 You want to praise your God? We do not even care about you and against your God. 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:33.759 Instead, Sanballat is angry. It's as if he knows how powerful the God of Israel is. 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:37.300 What opposition are we facing? 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:43.500 Daniel, in the Old Testament, he prayed and he got the lion's den. 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:48.439 Jesus faced opposition from his friends and his enemies. He went to the cross. 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:52.920 Paul had opposition from those who were like him and unlike him. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.819 Merely owning a Bible in some countries is opposed. 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:04.100 Christians and the church have always faced opposition. 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:08.800 It used to be strange in Australia to have opposition. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:13.860 Many years ago, the vast majority of Australians were Christian. 00:08:14.960 --> 00:08:18.639 But these days, we should be expecting opposition. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:25.080 Just like for Nehemiah, people will oppose the Christian faith. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:32.340 And so the question for us today is, are we seeking to grow following God? 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:36.919 Are we seeking to build something like Nehemiah was building something? 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:39.419 Because if we are, there will be opposition. 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:47.439 I heard a story of a teenager many years ago who became a Christian through a school ministry. 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:50.039 And it was exciting and wonderful. 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:53.779 But her parents opposed her going to church. 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:57.319 She faced opposition in her own family. 00:08:58.059 --> 00:08:59.319 And so she honored them. 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:03.400 And she started going to church when she became an adult. 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:08.680 There will be opposition for us to not follow Jesus at all. 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:13.840 And there will be opposition just to have a softer form of Christianity. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:17.340 A form of Christianity that just doesn't look like Jesus. 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:20.320 Just change your life a little bit. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:22.879 Stop trying to follow Jesus so much. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:27.399 Just have a bit of peer pressure and look like us. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:33.059 We see cancel culture opposition from outside. 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:36.759 People saying, you know, that Christian God, that God is dead. 00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:39.259 Going to church is a complete waste of time. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:40.799 Stop doing what you're doing. 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:44.939 Don't try to grow following Jesus. 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:47.500 Don't try and read your Bible and know Him. 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:49.320 And grow intimately following Him. 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:53.799 Change your behavior to be more like us. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:56.740 Don't honor and please Him. 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:58.179 Don't serve Him in the church. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.039 Don't sacrificially give to the church. 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:01.240 Don't tell others about Him. 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:08.039 What would the Sanballats and Tobias of the current world say today? 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:11.600 You can't grow to be like Jesus. 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:13.700 Why are you even trying to read your Bible? 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:15.000 That's a complete waste of time. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.779 You want to be pure following Him? 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.200 Well, I know what you are like. 00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:21.799 I know you're a terrible person. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:24.139 You can't be forgiven by God. 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:26.779 You want other people to know about Jesus? 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:29.500 Well, we all know that science has defeated God. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.539 Yeah, Tobias shouts. 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:34.299 And you're the very weakest Christian I've ever seen. 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:37.500 You don't even look like you're Jesus at all. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:43.059 I wonder if you've faced opposition like this in the past. 00:10:43.059 --> 00:10:45.759 I know I have. 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:53.019 And this opposition often hurts because I feel the weight of my own sin and that I don't look like Jesus. 00:10:54.659 --> 00:11:01.119 And so for the church, for us today, the question is not, will there be opposition? 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.919 It is promised for us. 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:08.620 But the question is, how are we going to respond when there is? 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:19.039 Nehemiah has been seeking to rebuild the walls, to rebuild the temple, to bring glory to God, to restore the people to their country. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.980 And he's been slammed on his plans. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:26.120 He's been slammed on his God and their ability to actually finish it. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.599 But it's wonderful how he responds. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.519 Wendy, if you can go to verse 4. 00:11:30.819 --> 00:11:31.740 The next one, thank you. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:34.179 This is our second point today, the response. 00:11:34.319 --> 00:11:34.799 Verse 4. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.259 He starts in prayer. 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:41.419 Hear us, O God, for we are despised. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.759 Nehemiah, interestingly, doesn't get defensive. 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:46.840 We'll be fine. 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:47.559 We can do it. 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:49.000 Actually, we're great. 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:50.299 He doesn't get that aggressive. 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.460 We are going to build the very best wall. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:54.240 It's going to be the biggest wall you've ever seen. 00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:56.539 Actually, Stan Ballett, you're going to pay for this wall. 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.019 He doesn't say that. 00:11:59.059 --> 00:11:59.860 He prays. 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:03.659 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:06.039 Turn their insults back on them. 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:09.200 Give them as plunder to a land of captivity. 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:12.379 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:15.620 for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:19.100 God, hear us, Nehemiah says. 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.419 Hear our pleas. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.320 Turn their insults back on them. 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:27.580 And in modern terms, he says, God, send them to hell. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.960 Don't blot out their sins. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:31.240 Don't forgive them. 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.899 Pour out your full wrath on them. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:40.000 And there's two wonderful things about this attitude that we can see. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.259 First of all, he prays. 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:50.799 When we are angry and upset by opposition, turn to God in prayer. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:54.200 He knows the opposition. 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:56.879 He is the one who has power to save. 00:12:57.299 --> 00:13:00.460 And secondly, focus on obedience. 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.519 God is the one who acts. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:06.460 Turn to him to see him work. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.899 Wait for him for justice. 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:15.419 See, Nehemiah's first response is, God, you are the one who is powerful. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:18.559 But then they focus on him in obedience. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.319 Verse 6. 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:24.379 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:26.620 for the people worked with all their heart. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.879 This is really important. 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:31.179 Nehemiah doesn't just go off half cocked. 00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:32.779 We're going to build the greatest wall ever. 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:35.139 But the first step is prayer. 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:37.039 God, hear our prayer. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.139 We are despised. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.439 But they also don't just pray and sit passively. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.519 God, we hope you build the wall. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.299 And then expect it to be done. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.340 They expect God to act. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:52.120 But they also act out of obedience. 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:55.179 And they do this with all of their heart. 00:13:56.100 --> 00:14:03.079 Jesus is a wonderful example here of prayer and focusing on God in obedience. 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:04.900 In 1 Peter, it says, 00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:06.700 He committed no sin. 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:09.759 No deceit was found in his mouth. 00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:13.840 When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate. 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:16.120 When he suffered, he made no threats. 00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:21.300 Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:25.879 The one who could rightly and justly defend himself, 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:29.580 the one who could call down angels on his opposition, 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:33.520 knew he would be vindicated by God in the end. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:38.700 He depends on God and stays focused on obeying God, 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:40.720 knowing that God would justify him. 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:45.580 More opposition ends up coming for Nehemiah and for Israel, 00:14:45.920 --> 00:14:48.560 which sends them back to prayer and obedience. 00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:54.040 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, 00:14:54.140 --> 00:14:57.759 and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:01.019 had go ahead and that the gaps were being closed, 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.720 they were very angry. 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:06.779 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem 00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:09.019 and stir up trouble against it. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:14.159 Again, Israel has not stopped because of other people's evil plans. 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:18.759 They've continued to obey God despite jeers, despite opposition. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.580 And there's an interesting detail here. 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:37.240 Jerusalem is surrounded in its opposition. 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:44.639 God sometimes allows us to be surrounded by opposition. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.519 Paul says in 2 Corinthians, 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.039 we are afflicted in every way but not crushed. 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:54.659 That word afflicted can mean squeezed in. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.159 We are pressed in. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.580 We are squeezed in on every side, 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:00.340 but we are not crushed. 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:07.019 God allows the furnace and suffering to be turned up, 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:10.000 to be really hot and painful and difficult. 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:13.539 That's what's happening to Nehemiah and to Israel. 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:16.480 The enemies have gone from just jeering at them 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:19.379 to now plotting their downfall. 00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:22.179 The heat is being turned up. 00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:24.319 How will they respond? 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:27.819 We prayed to our God 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:32.199 and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.360 They prayed trusting in God 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:37.159 and they obeyed staying focused. 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:40.620 They take sensible precautions to make sure that they are ready, 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:43.860 but they focus on the God who is their strength. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:49.159 Circumstances in our lives can be a mess. 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:52.899 Our lives can be heated like a furnace. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:56.399 We can feel as if there is opposition on every single side. 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:59.659 But God is bigger than our opposition. 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.740 He's bigger than our struggles. 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.500 He is bigger than our past. 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:05.799 He is bigger than our pain and our hurt. 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:10.579 He's bigger than those who mock and jeer and plot to hurt us. 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:13.960 He is bigger than our loss and our sickness. 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:17.200 And so we stay focused on him. 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:22.240 There is opposition to going to church. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:28.019 There is the soft opposition of just things like Sunday sport. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:30.879 Having other oppositions. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.259 There is soft opposition. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.220 And then there is direct opposition. 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:35.859 Don't go to church. 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.299 Don't waste your time. 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.900 There is opposition to reading the Bible. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.539 It is easy to compromise our faith 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:49.480 or hide away faith. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.379 To soften our beliefs 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:54.099 so that we look more like those around us. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:57.359 So that we don't feel pressured on every side. 00:17:58.339 --> 00:18:00.940 But that is staying focused on the enemy 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:03.460 instead of the one who defeats the enemy. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:07.920 God's plan for Israel through Nehemiah 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.279 was to build these walls. 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:12.359 They didn't stay focused on their... 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:16.700 They didn't change their plans based on criticism 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.460 because of negativity, 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:21.779 because of the plots to attack them. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:25.759 They stayed focused on the job God had given them. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.019 As Taylor Swift sang, 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.900 haters are going to hate, 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:33.359 but I'm going to shake it off and obey God. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.440 At least I'm pretty sure that's how the song went. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:40.000 Now this all seems really straightforward. 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.580 There is opposition. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:45.980 God's people respond in prayer and action. 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.120 No problems. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.220 But reality hits in. 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.559 Our third point today, the reality. 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:56.440 Life can often feel like two steps forward 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.440 and one step back. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.660 Or maybe even one step forward 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.880 and three steps back. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.260 Because not everything is smooth sailing for Israel. 00:19:04.560 --> 00:19:06.060 Wendy, if you can go to the next slide for me, please. 00:19:07.760 --> 00:19:09.840 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, 00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.560 strength is giving out. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.380 We are weak. 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.000 We can't do this. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:18.120 Our enemies are saying that they're going to come and kill us. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.200 They're going to harm us. 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:23.000 The Jews living nearby come and tell them 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.000 they are coming to attack and kill you. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:29.700 Reality sets in. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.859 The opposition doesn't end. 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.079 They don't roll over. 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:35.839 The reality of life is that it is hard. 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.720 So Nehemiah gets everyone together. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.579 Verse 14. 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:42.400 Don't be afraid of them. 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:45.460 Remember the Lord who is great and awesome. 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.359 Stand and fight. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.400 The Lord is awesome. 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.440 He fights for us. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:52.279 And the enemy backs off. 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.039 Verse 15. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:56.159 The enemies are frustrated because Israel doesn't just roll over. 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:59.019 Frustrated because they're not afraid of them 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.359 because they're trusting in God. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:05.960 Verse 16 tells us that the work to rebuild the walls slows down. 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.460 But it continues. 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:13.319 It slows down because half of them are ready to defend the walls with weapons. 00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:15.259 And half of them are actually doing the work. 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:19.000 But Nehemiah encourages them to keep working 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.460 and to be ready to fight. 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:20.859 Why? 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.539 Verse 20. 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:24.479 Our God will fight for us. 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.679 Obey God. 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:27.479 Follow him. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.500 Follow him even when there is opposition. 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:32.519 Because God is on our side. 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:35.000 He will fight for us. 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.319 Brothers and sisters. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:40.299 God has fought for us in Jesus. 00:20:41.479 --> 00:20:42.619 Not with spears. 00:20:42.719 --> 00:20:44.019 Not with weapons of war. 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:46.619 But Jesus was armed with the cross. 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:49.000 He didn't fight. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.399 He didn't fight earthly battles. 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:52.559 But he fought death itself. 00:20:53.199 --> 00:20:55.039 So that we can follow him. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:58.659 So that we might be built not into a wall or a city. 00:20:58.939 --> 00:21:00.339 But into the family of God. 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.519 Life. 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:05.740 Anywhere in the world right now. 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:08.740 But for Christians is not easy. 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:11.299 There will be a promise of opposition. 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:14.779 But God has fought for us in Jesus. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:17.359 So that we can follow him. 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:20.399 So when there is opposition. 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:23.759 Know that opposition is good. 00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:25.920 It points out something good. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.480 A little while ago. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:32.500 I was helping Steve move the cubby house. 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:35.220 In his backyard down to my house. 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:37.259 And one of the things we had to do. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:39.759 Was we had to dig holes. 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:42.360 With a fence post digger. 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.860 And I'd never used one of these before. 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.059 They're an awful thing. 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:48.200 And it's this repeated movement. 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.539 Doing this. 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:52.559 And the next morning I woke up. 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:56.559 And my back was diabolically sore. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.919 All across the middle of my back. 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:00.679 Because it's the repeated movement. 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.419 Of the middle back muscles. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:04.659 And it turns out I hadn't used those ever. 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:07.200 And what did it point out? 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.859 It's this thing called DOMS. 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:11.539 Delayed onset muscle soreness. 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:13.179 It says. 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:14.639 Hey. 00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:17.779 This muscle you've been trying to use. 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.679 Well what we're going to do. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.899 Is we're going to tear. 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:22.200 And get bigger. 00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:25.019 So that the next time you move a cubby house. 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:26.460 And need to dig fence poles. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.759 We're going to be ready for it. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.519 And that's painful. 00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:33.940 Pain and opposition is not always a bad thing. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.480 It points out what is good. 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:40.299 Biblical scholar William Tyndale. 00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:43.220 He's the one on the left with the beard. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.940 He faced massive opposition. 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:48.319 And he was eventually executed. 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:50.899 Because he translated the Bible into English. 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:52.100 The man on the right. 00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.100 William Wilberforce. 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:56.259 He was born into a wealthy family. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:59.420 Where he could have had a comfortable Christian life. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:05.380 Instead he used his influence to fight against the slave trade. 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.380 Massive opposition. 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:12.980 If we are seeking to focus on following God. 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.580 Growing like him. 00:23:16.580 --> 00:23:17.420 Following him. 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.480 There will be opposition. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:19.539 Opposition. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:22.579 But my concern for us. 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:25.000 Is that there is little opposition in our lives. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:28.019 Because we are not seeking to grow. 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:31.680 The late evangelist B.R. Larkin. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:32.880 Said. 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:35.539 There are three ways to prevent opposition. 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.599 Know nothing. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.819 Have nothing. 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.480 And do nothing. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:45.220 How easy would it have been for Nehemiah. 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.059 And the Israelites. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.339 To have no opposition. 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.759 You don't want us to build the wall. 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.299 No problem. 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.059 We won't build the wall. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.980 No opposition. 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.099 We'll just stay here. 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.420 We'll be God's people in the land. 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.660 Everything's totally fine. 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:59.019 But they sought. 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.339 To follow God. 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.339 To obey him. 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.759 To build something. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.059 If we are seeking. 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:07.160 To be built up following God. 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.980 To grow like him. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.460 There will be opposition. 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:13.380 If we are seeking to see. 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:15.420 Other people come to know and love him. 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.900 Sharing our faith. 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.319 There will be opposition. 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.900 Don't have a small view of Christianity. 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.440 That has no problems. 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.279 And no opposition. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.759 This is not a real faith. 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:32.259 Jesus wants you to follow him. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.120 Radically. 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:35.640 Even if that means. 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:37.480 That there is pressure around you. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.839 That the world. 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:40.919 Feels like it is against you. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:44.199 Because our God has fought for us. 00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:44.919 In Jesus. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.399 Let me pray. 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.779 Heavenly Father. 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.559 Remind us today. 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:54.000 That you are great. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:56.159 That you are awesome. 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:58.599 And that you have fought for us. 00:24:58.599 --> 00:24:59.099 In Jesus. 00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.099 Heavenly Father. 00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:02.139 Heavenly Father. 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:02.740 We thank you. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.319 That Jesus. 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:03.339 That Jesus. 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:05.219 Faced down opposition. 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.899 From his friends. 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.980 From family. 00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:12.079 From his enemies. 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:15.959 From spiritual opposition. 00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:18.519 And that he obeyed you. 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:20.079 To the cross for us. 00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.699 Heavenly Father. 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:22.779 Father. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.279 As we have. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.980 Soft opposition. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.039 And hard opposition. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.360 To follow you today. 00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:33.059 Help us to remember. 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.140 How big you are. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.140 That you have won this battle. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.620 Give us courage. 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:43.100 To continue to grow like you. 00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:45.799 And to be built up. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.180 To be like Jesus. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:49.840 We pray all this in his name. 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:50.820 Amen.