Leading Through Opposition
Nehemiah 2:17-18 - Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.
3 kinds of opposition that must be overcome by the courage of a faithful leader
I. Overcoming Ridicule – Nehemiah 4:1-8
Nehemiah 2:10 - When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah 2:19 - But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”
Warren Wiersbe – When things are going well, get ready for trouble.
A. Don’t automatically assume that all opposition is “Nehemiah 4 kind of opposition”
1. Fools will not heed counsel
Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.
2. Wise persons learn to differentiate between “friendly fire” and “enemy fire”
a. Have you evaluated your plan in light of Scripture?
b. Have you received counsel from Godly people?
c. Does the “opposer” have a ministry?
B. Some opposition does take the form of ridicule – vv. 2-3
1. examples from this text
a. What are these feeble Jews doing?
b. Will they restore their walls?
c. Will they offer sacrifices?
d. Will they finish in a day?
e. Can they revive stones from rubble?
f. If a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down.
2. other biblical examples
a. David and Goliath - 1 Samuel 17:43 - So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
b. Jesus and the soldiers - Luke 22:63-65 - Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
C. Sometimes ridicule that hurts the most is the kind that has a possible nugget of truth
a. What are these feeble Jews doing?
b. Will they restore their walls?
c. Will they offer sacrifices?
d. Will they finish in a day?
e. Can they revive stones from rubble?
f. If a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down.
D. Godly people know how to handle ridicule
1. what he didn’t do
2. what he did
2 Peter 3:18 - …but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Nehemiah 4:6 - So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah 4:7-8 - Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.
II. Overcoming Discouragement – Nehemiah 4:9-10
A. Understand its causes
1. Loss of strength
v. 10b - the strength of the burden bearers is failing
2. Loss of vision
v. 10c - Yet there is so much rubbish
3. Loss of confidence
v. 10d - We ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.
B. Accurately diagnose the problem
v. 14a – When I saw their fear.
C. Turn everybody’s focus to the Lord
v. 14b - When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “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 houses.”
Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 - …looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
III. Overcome Problems – Nehemiah 4:15-23
Nehemiah 4:15 - When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
A. Deal with the real problems not imagined ones
Mark Twain – “I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”
B. Do not be afraid to battle, but do not battle exclusively
Nehemiah 4:16-18 - From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.
- when is the last time you faced criticism?...or ridicule…or opposition to what you believed the Lord wanted you to be doing?...
- I imagine for many of us…you could think of an example within the last 7 days…or the last 24 hours…or the last 10 minutes when the person sitting next to you in worship, whom you’ve never met before, leaned over and said – your singing is really off key…
- the bottom line is – opposition is a part of life…especially if you are trying to lead in some way in your home, or your neighborhood, or at work, or even at church…
- that’s one of the reasons that we have been studying the OT book of Nehemiah focused on Becoming a Godly Leader…
- it’s been a fascinating story so far…
- a group of Jewish men come and report to Nehemiah that the walls and the city of Jerusalem are broken down and the people of God are a reproach…
- Scripture tells us that Nehemiah wept at this news and then he offered a prayer of confession and repentance on behalf of God’s people…
- and then we’re stunned to learn that Nehemiah was the cupbearer (a very trusted and influential position) for the King Artaxerxes of Persia…the dominant international power at the time 1000 miles from Jerusalem…
- and then in the very next chapter the king notices Nehemiah’s sadness and asks what he can do…and Nehemiah is ready…
- he asks the king to reverse his previous policy – because the book of Ezra explains that a former group had tried to rebuild the wall but then a group of opponents complained to Artaxerxes and this same man actually is the one who shut the project down 10 years before…
- so Nehemiah has the audacity to ask the king to reverse his position…and to grant him an extended leave of absence so he can lead the rebuilding project..
- and supply letters to all the governors for safe passage…
- and a purchase order for all the needed timber from the king’s forests…
- and before chapter 2 is over, he ends up riding out with all the kings horses and all the kings men…[that might be a bit of an exaggeration…]
- then Nehemiah arrives and he goes out to inspect the walls at night with just a small group of people so he can understand the nature of the problem and formulate a final plan of attack…then we have these great verses is…Nehemiah 2:17–18 - Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.
- then you have chapter 3…which is a marvelous chapter in the Word of God…because it is filled with some of the longest names in Scripture of people and families and the portion of the wall they were assigned to rebuild…[isn’t it amazing how in the sovereignty of God two of our other staff members were assigned to speak on that chapter?...]
- but that is a pivotal series of verses – because God uses people in the establishment of His plan and the accomplishment of His purposes…both for His glory and the spiritual development of the people doing the work…
- remember, the Lord is not just building a wall here – He’s building a leader, and he’s building people…and He’s building a nation…
- now you might say, by the end of chapter 3…you know, this building stuff is pretty easy – look how well it’s going…I’m not sure why our pastors have been harping all year on this issue of Being Careful How We Build…
- do you know what follows Nehemiah chapter 3?...Nehemiah chapter 4...
- and do you know what Nehemiah chapter 4 is all about?...opposition and problems and difficulties and struggles...
- if you haven’t already, please open your Bible to Nehemiah chapter 4…page 354 of the front section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…
- I am glad that the Lord is very honest with us...aren’t you?...
- I am glad that He doesn’t airbrush the problems out of His Word...
- the question isn’t, will faithful leadership be problem free---the question is, will you allow God to develop the courage in your heart necessary to lead when times are good, and when they’re not.
- read Nehemiah chapter 4:1-23
- let’s think about Three kinds of opposition that must be overcome by the courage of a faithful leader.
I. Overcoming Ridicule – Nehemiah 4:1-8
- Throughout this study, there have been hints of opposition brewing, and it is interesting that they occurred right after something good happened.
- Nehemiah 2:10 - When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.
- [after he had a favorable conversation with the king]
- Nehemiah 2:19 - But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”
- [after he had a favorable conversation with the people]
- Warren Wiersbe – When things are going well, get ready for trouble.
- the clear point that emerges here is that it is terribly wrong (and terribly unbiblical) to think that the degree to which you are doing what God wants you to do is directly proportional to how smoothly things are going...i.e. “I have no opposition...therefore I must be doing the will of God...
- or, “I am facing stiff opposition, therefore I should quit because what I’m doing must not be God’s will.”
- a second point that emerges from this chapter is – Don’t plan on accomplishing anything for God unless you are ready to face opposition.
- now I think most of us would say...I need help in knowing how to handle opposition effectively.
- this chapter can really help us...
- we probably need to start here...
A. Don’t automatically assume that all opposition is “Nehemiah 4 kind of opposition.”
- It would be wrong for us to automatically conclude that every time a person differs with us or opposes us that they are like Sanballat, or Tobiah, or their associates...
- that would be a rather self-righteous way to view this subject....
- please remember this...
1. Fools will not heed counsel.
- Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
- the Lord might be using that person who is differing with you to help you [perhaps even to protect you from yourself...]...so let’s be careful here...
- some Christians take the position that every person who differs with me is my enemy and I am justified in cutting them off...
2. Wise persons learn to differentiate between “friendly fire” and “enemy fire”.
- some questions that might help you make this distinction:
a. Have you evaluated your plan in light of Scripture?
b. Have you received counsel from Godly people?
c. Does the “opposer” have a ministry?
- some people are professional critics…and that doesn’t mean what they’re saying can be entirely discounted…but there’s a real question of credibility…
- the best and most balanced constructive criticism comes from people whose hands are on the plow…
B. Some opposition does take the form of ridicule – vv. 2-3.
1. examples from this text.
a. What are these feeble Jews doing?
b. Will they restore their walls?
c. Will they offer sacrifices?
d. Will they finish in a day?
e. Can they revive stones from rubble?
f. If a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down.
2. other biblical examples
a. David and Goliath - 1 Samuel 17:43 - So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
b. Jesus and the soldiers. - Luke 22:63-65 - Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
- so, often opposition does come simply in the form of mockery or ridicule...and it can hurt...the old adage “sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me” simply isn’t true...
- now, we could also add this...
C. Sometimes ridicule that hurts the most is the kind that has a possible nugget of truth.
a. What are these feeble Jews doing?
- they were kind of feeble
b. Will they restore their walls?
- this was a huge undertaking – 2 ½ miles
- however, the critics make a significant mistake when they referred to the project as “their walls”...
c. Will they offer sacrifices?
- we’re not exactly sure what this comment made, but some translators suggest that the point was, are they going to pray the wall up?
d. Will they finish in a day?
- they never said they would – but it puts that doubt in your head...how long is this going to take?
e. Can they revive stones from rubble?
- that wasn’t true either, but the opposition always wants to overestimate the size of the job...
f. If a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down.
- remember, many of these people were not masons by trade...whenever you’re doing something for the first time...there’s that nagging doubt---is this thing going to stay up when I’m done?”
- these statements give a great example of critics at work...they love to take a nugget that could possibly be true, and then twist the facts and exaggerate the facts and often sprinkle in a fair amount of sarcasm...
D. Godly people know how to handle ridicule.
1. what he didn’t do.
- Nehemiah didn’t get down on their level...though he certainly could have...
- what did he do in verse 4?...
2. what he did.
- he prayed, and he got back to work.
- it is amazing how much a little bit of progress can have on a person in the context of unjust criticism...
- now, let’s just draw a line there for a minute and think about some of the building projects you’re currently involved in, and that we’re currently involved in…
- how can we use what we’re reading here, along with the other passages we’ve brought to the table, to be more careful how we build?...
- well, what about in your own personal growth?...the apostle Peter said…2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- one of our church’s primary core values is to have resources and relationships in place to help person in our church family grow at the rate that God desires…
- and He can even use the unjust or unbalanced criticism of someone else to help you identify areas that need work…
- it may be an area in your personal life, or in your family, or in your work ethic, or your ministry development…
- but here’s what we’ve trying to create – a personal growth smorgasbord – where you pick up your progressive sanctification tray – and you walk down the line and customize a plan that best fits where you’re at in your relationship with the Lord and others right now…
- so we have our worship services, and our ABF’s or small groups and children’s ministries, Faith Community Institute Classes and Wednesday Night Kids of Faith,
- we have point man groups, ladies Bible studies, we have family and individual biblical counseling…
- and your service pastor, or your deacon, or others around here would be happy to sit down and help you customize a plan…so perhaps even hurtful criticism could be used for your spiritual good…
- now, once you’ve done that – you’re sure that you haven’t squandered any growth opportunities that even unjust criticism might provide…
- but on the other hand – you don’t let it distract you or stop you if you’re convinced the path you’re on is pleasing to the Lord…
- what can you expect to happen?...
- Nehemiah 4:6 - So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
- don’t you love that verse?...
- the job is already half-way done…and you can see these men, women, families – who have a mind to work…
- I can’t tell you how many times that verse has come to my mind as I’ve sat back and watched our church family in action…[could give examples, starting with the sound guys in the am, the maintenance team the days before, the children’s ministry folks, the worship teams…]
- so what happened?...more opposition…Nehemiah 4:7–8 - Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.
- which amazingly…and instructively, led to the second issue that had to be overcome in this chapter…
II. Overcoming Discouragement – Nehemiah 4:9-10
- it’s hard to believe what verse 10 tells us---that the men of Judah become discouraged.
- that’s amazing because if you compare that with Genesis 49:8-10, the men of Judah had been the ones who were known for their courage and bravery and leadership...
- but now Nehemiah has a new challenge on his hands...have you ever faced this one?...
- discouragement in your own heart or the hearts of those you’re trying to lead?...
- I realize you might say – that’s exactly where I am right now…regardless, these next verses can really help us…
A. Understand its causes.
- did you follow the progression in verse 10?...
1. Loss of strength.
- v. 10b - the strength of the burden bearers is failing
- the word translated “failing” literally means “stumbling, tottering, staggering...”
- maybe they had been pushing themselves too hard...
- maybe they had been good stewards of their physical health and their bodies...
- it is amazing how a good night’s sleep or a few days away from a project can restore your perspective...
2. Loss of vision.
- v. 10c - Yet there is so much rubbish
- what was wrong with that?...there was a lot of rubbish, but there was also a lot of completed wall...
- it depends on what you choose to focus on...
3. Loss of confidence.
- v. 10d - We ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall.
- once they started talking like that, they were in trouble.
- and the next verses explain – the enemies were ready to pounce at that point…they’re smelling blood in that discouragement…
- so what does Nehemiah do in verse 14?...
B. Accurately diagnose the problem.
- v 14a – When I saw their fear.
- the problem was not the size of the job...it wasn’t the size of the enemy; it was the size of their faith...
- and he did what any godly leader would do at that moment…
C. Turn everybody’s focus to the Lord.
- v. 14b - When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “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 houses.”
- what a fascinating balance of God doing His part, and His people doing ours…but it starts by focusing on His resources, not our own…
- Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
- Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 12:2 - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- so, what does that look like for people like you and me?...
- on the platform of a changed and changing life (the progressive sanctification/spiritual growth we discussed a moment ago)…
- we have the privilege / responsibility / calling to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ…
- to live and proclaim the gospel…so that others are introduced to, and drawn to new life in Christ…to experience His redemptive / transformational power…
- well, you or I might look at the challenges that go with that responsibility and start to become discouraged…
- we’re not strong enough…there’s still a lot of rubbish in our hearts and lives to be cleared away…”we ourselves” are unable to accomplish this task…
- along with all the pushback that comes from living in a sin-cursed world and a sin-cursed culture…
- what would Nehemiah-like leadership look like as we shepherd our own hearts, along with people in our families, church, and community?...
- to rise up and say – remember the Lord who is great and awesome…and consider carefully what He wishes to accomplish around us in the coming days…
1. So that might mean being in a discussion at work – and everybody else is sharing their opinions of what is right and what is wrong and what the solutions are to the challenges we face…
- and then you overcome your fear and you find your voice and speak for the change that comes through knowing and loving Christ…
- here’s an example – one of laypersons who serves in our counseling ministry and has been going through the certification process with an outside group we work with also works at a local hospital…
- so that hospital was assembling a list of all the various counseling resources available to people in our town who are struggling with drug and alcohol addictions…
- and the hospital official reached out and asked for the contact info for our counseling center and Vision of Hope and Restoration Men’s ministries to include in what they offer their patients…
- how did that happen?...Nehemiah type living – that isn’t intimidated or discouraged because the focus is on the transformative power of Jesus Christ…
2. Many of our Purdue students have finished finals and are heading home for the summer…
- we prayed for, and wept over, a ministry like Faith West which the Lord graciously gave us…
- now we can faithfully pray for our college students…that they will seize opportunities to live and proclaim the gospel at home this summer because their eyes are focused on the Lord who is great and awesome and wishes to use them in ministry this summer…
3. Why not look at the weather this time of year and invite a neighbor for a cook-out or someone whose new to church over to your home…to be part of what our awesome God is seeking to do in the lives of others?...
4. We have an entire series of Vacation Bible schools planned all over our community…and we can either be intimidated by the world or discouraged by the size of the challenge and our own meager resources…or we can be like Nehemiah…remember the Lord who is great and awesome and who is in the process of drawing men and women, boys and girls, to Himself in the coming weeks…
- we don’t have any time to be afraid of the opposition or mired down in discouragement…I’m too busy watching God at work…drawing people and building people and that’s the train I want to be on…
- so overcoming opposition, and overcoming discouragement, and…
III. Overcome Problems – Nehemiah 4:15-23
- the chapter ends with a marvelous example of what leadership looks like when people are upset because your efforts are resulting in the God of heaven being glorified…
- and that was the issue…Nehemiah 4:15 - When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
So what does Nehemiah do next?...
A. Deal with the real problems not imagined ones.
- it’s like Mark Twain is reported to have said – “I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”
- Nehemiah could have started imagining all sorts of calamities---and had his attention taken from both the Lord and the work…
- on the other hand – he could have ignored what were genuine threats and just kept stacking bricks…
- but it was a beautiful balance…
B. Do not be afraid to battle, but do not battle exclusively.
- Nehemiah 4:16–18 - From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.
- so we’ve talked about some of the personal/individual applications of all of this…and some of the bread and butter outreach opportunities in the next few weeks and months both formally and informally…
- what about being careful how we build with some of our larger projects based on what we’re studying?...
- overcoming opposition, overcoming discouragement, overcoming problems…by focusing on what our “great and awesome God” is seeking to accomplish in and through us…
- well, what’s our strategy?...we could summarize it with the words…
- loving our community…
- community based outreach ministry…
- trying to create platforms on which the glory of God may be displayed…
- the new life available in Jesus Christ…
- His transformational power..
- so we want every person in our town to have had a meaningful interaction with a genuine follower of Jesus…
- followed by a clear presentation of the gospel…
- what they do with that is between them and the Lord…
- whether we are shining that light as brightly as possible is between us and the Lord…
- and we’re glad for these five platforms…
- FE and all its associated ministries…
- FW and everything happening there
- the Hartford Hub
- Bethany Farms including our Men’s Restoration Ministry
- and the Northend Community Center, our CDC and our new Faith Church North plant…
- praise the Lord for ministry platforms…[and I won’t take time to enumerate all the ministries housed at those locations but it’s a fabulous array for sure]…
- and if we wanted to – we could look backwards at the opposition that came to much of that…but instead let’s look forward…
1. Men’s Restoration Ministry
- we’re in the process of constructing a second duplex which will allow us to double the size of our program…because of the generous giving of people inside and outside our church family…
- we also have a portable sawmill, we’re installing a kiln to dry wood for our reclaimed wood business, and the Hurja family have just arrived and are starting us launch a new commercial nursery…
- we’re planning to build the duplex with a couple of huge work days…
- if you’d like to learn more about that – there will be an informational meeting in the CC after CFN tonight…
- are there challenges and opposition with regards to that kind of ministry…sure…but where are our eyes going to be focused this summer?...
2. FE Education Addition
- this is also possible because of the generous giving of people…
- we’ve had an interesting development there…
- we planned to renovate our existing offices because we thought that would be cheaper…
- it looks like it might be cheaper to build new space on the west side of the building and keep our existing offices for all sorts of possible uses…
- I don’t know that we would call that opposition…but it’s an interesting adjustment in course…
- and sure there is ongoing rumbling about private Christian schools…
- so if you’d like to receive an update, there will also be an informational meeting about that tonight…
3. The Northend Community Center…
- we’re now 3 months away from starting to move in…
- it’s been a cold winter, but I don’t know how that project could have gone any better…
- but let me just put out this word of warning…I’m sure our adversary is not happy about what’s happening there…
- and while there is tons of goodwill on the art of so many people for what’s occurring…let me just throw out a possible warning…
- it would not be a complete surprise if we didn’t take a bit of flack at some point in the next few months…
- because some people really like to complain (often the people who contribute the least complain the most)
- some people in local media love to keep things stirred up…
- if that happens…please don’t take it personally…[cf. the way people give so sacrificially around here and then turn around and be insulted…]
- let’s not take our eye off the ball…
- or in this case, off the Lord…who is great and awesome…and will most assuredly draw many men and women to Himself through these efforts..