Building Involves Battling

Part 3

Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

In setting our faces toward giving out of need, we ought not to think that we will avoid encounters with discouragement, fear, and ridicule. If we desire the admiration of the world we might as well just go ahead and serve the world with all we have. There is no in between. There is no both. Jesus already told us that to follow him means to put our hand to the plow and not look back.

The focus of ALABASTER FLASK is the blessing of sacrificial service. We are continuing to follow Nehemiah and his encounters with his vicious enemy Sanballat. What does this story have to do with us, with giving unreservedly?

•  Following Jesus demands being sold out, setting our face like a flint, shunning the world system and its enticements

•  Following Jesus is first about him, second about others, and lastly about our selves. 

•  The more we give, the more persistently and intensly Satan attacks

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” 1 Peter 4:1

Arm Yourselves 

Today we look at how Nehemiah and the people of God fought against the attacks of Sanballat (which we looked at yesterday).

Satan’s Anger

Over and over Sanballat and his cohorts were angered.

· Neh. 2:10 is the first account that Sanballat was greatly angered. The word angered (grieved KJV) is translated from the Hebrew yara, “to tremble”. It is the same word used to describe Abraham’s reaction to Sarah’s plea to cast out his son Ishmael. It is used to describe Hannah grieving for the want of a son.

· Neh. 2:19 says that Sanballat despised Israel. This word in Hebrew is basah “to hold in contempt” or “to trample with the feet”. It is the feeling that Goliath had for David; Esau despised his birthright.

· Nehemiah 4:1, 4:7 Sanballat was wroth. Heb: charah, “ to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael” 2 Kings 13:3

The anger of Sanballat against any attempt to help God’s people was a

Trembling, Foot-Trampling, Blazing Hot Anger.

As a type of Satan, he reveals to us what we are up against. Last time we summarized the expressions of his anger, the tactics he uses to defeat, as

Accusation, Mockery, Demoralization, Assault, Threats, Harm, Discouragement, Entrapment, and Discrediting

Pretty intense enemy isn’t he? How do we deal with him?

Nehemiah’s Response

I. NEVER LET DOWN YOUR GUARD

Here’s how Nehemiah did it. The enemy never let up, but Nehemiah and the people did not let down their guard, even during the times that it appeared the enemy had backed off. They didn’t even take time to change clothes or lay down their weapons

Neh. 4:23 “So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.” ESV

II. PRAY ALL THE TIME

After every threat Nehemiah prayed intensely.

Neh. 4:4 "Hear, O our God, how we are despised!  Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.  Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.” NASB

Neh. 4:9 “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” ESV

Neh. 6:9 “For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.’ But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” ESV

Neh. 6:14 “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.” ESV



III. STRENGTHEN FAMILIES

Neh. 4:13 “So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.” ESV


IV. STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP

Neh. 4:14 “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to 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 homes.’ " ESV

All of chapter 5 recounts the anger of Nehemiah against the leaders of the people of God, and his demands that they stop their unfair practices against them.

Neh. 5:7 “I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, ‘You are exacting interest, each from his brother.’ And I held a great assembly against them.”

Neh. 5:12b, 13 “And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said ‘Amen’ and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”

V. STAY UNITED

Neh. 4:19-20 “And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.’" ESV

Next time we will look at the role of a leader and the responsibility of the people.