1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
My Name Is Distractions
Nehemiah 6:1-2 “Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained - though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me…’”
Nehemiah 6:3 “So I replied by sending this message to them: ‘I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?’”
a. Stand Your Ground
Nehemiah 2:19-20 “When Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. ‘What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?’ they asked. replied, ‘The God of heaven will help us succeed.’”
Nehemiah 4:7-9 “When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.”
Nehemiah 4:10 “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.’”
b. Don’t Back Down
Nehemiah 4:15-17 “When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.”
Nehemiah 6:4-9 “Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: ‘There is a rumor…that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall…and, you plan to be their king. You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.’ I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.’ They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.”
Nehemiah 6:11, 13 “I replied, ‘Should someone in my position run from danger? No, I won’t do it!’ They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.”
Nehemiah 6:15-16 “So on October 2 the wall was finished - just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.”
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall
prosper…”
The big idea: You’re more than a label!