MOVING FORWARD: DEALING WITH OBSTACLES AND OPPOSITIONS
Message Prepared and Delivered by Okunadewale, Olusegun Isaac on Sunday 26th February, 2017 During Sunday Worship Service Nehemiah 4:1-23
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble — burned as they are?"
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building — if even a fox climbed
up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"
4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."
12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
22 At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day."
23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. NIV
INTRODUCTION
In the last two Sundays, we talked about ‘Moving Forward: Working with All Our Hearts.’ We were able to consider what God has called us to do – rebuild the broken wall of relationship and love, build the physical structure of the church and build the spiritual family. We also considered what it means to work with one’s whole heart and what the heart to work means to us. Today we want to consider “Moving Forward: Dealing with Obstacles and Opposition.”
In our journey of progress, so many things or forces may rise to stop us from moving forward. Some may be physical in nature while some may be spiritual or economical. When Nehemiah and his people were rebuilding the wall, they were faced with so many obstacles and challenges which were enough to stop them from moving forward. But, they were never discouraged.
As we plan to move forward, there may be obstacles, oppositions or hindrances. But, we have to deal with them now before they deal with us and stop our progress. We have to hand them over to God as Nehemiah did.
DEALING WITH ALL FORMS OF OBSTACLES OR OPPOSITION
Obstacle is a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress. It is something that blocks you so that movement, going forward or action is prevented or made more difficult. It is an object, thing, action or situation that causes an obstruction. Obstacle can be physical, economic, cultural, political, technological or military. It is stumbling block or barrier.
Opposition is a strong disagreement, resistance expressed in action or argument against a proposal or opinion. Sanballat and Tobiah tried all they could to oppose Nehemiah so that the work would not start let alone of completing. A It can be human in nature. For example Sanballat and Tobiah vs. 1
We must not be ignorant of the devices of the Devil. There will surely be obstacles or opposition. Some enemies of God’s work may do the followings:
B. Obstacles or Opposition in Form of Conspiracy vs. 7-8
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
USING THE WEAPON OF PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING (vs. 4-5, 9
One of the weapons of our spiritual warfare to advance in the course of obstacles and oppositions is prayer without ceasing. Nehemiah was a praying man or leader who never stopped praying to God to vindicate and fight for His people. So, we must also pray day and night because enemy does not wish that we move forward.
4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
POSSIBILITY TO FAINT (Isaiah 40:28-30) There is tendency for us to faint especially when it is if our prayers are not yet answered or testimonies are not yet coming forth. Our strength may go when the pressures or spiritual attacks are too much for us. However, we must not relent. Nehemiah’s people also faced similar case in vs. 10-12
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."
12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
From verse 12 I could understand there are agents of discouragement. Their assignment is to discourage one from moving forward in life. You cannot share vision with such people and move forward. Beloved when we faint in days of troubles our strength is small!
BLOCKING THE EXPOSED PLACES
We must be aware that enemy can never penetrate except through a loophole. We must therefore block every available exposed places of our lives, family and church vs. 13.
13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
WORDS FOR THE LEADERS
14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. We must not be afraid We must remember the greatness of God who is on our side We must be ready to fight some spiritual battles for our family members We must also be eager to work for God
WORDS FOR MEMBERS
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
We all must rise to work.
There should none without working
We must be spiritually equipped
We must all be on guard spiritually
We must be vigilant
WE MUST COLLABORATE OR CONNECT OR JOIN EFFORTS TOGETHER
The work is not for one person alone. Besides, one person cannot succeed. We are interdependent. We must collaborate with one another to do this work or fight the battles.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
CONCLUSION
How do we succeed by moving forward? It is by working with our whole hearts, doing it to the glory of God and to the edification of God’s people.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, NIV 1
Cor. 10:31 “For whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God”
Message Prepared and Delivered by Okunadewale, Olusegun Isaac on Sunday 26th February, 2017 During Sunday Worship Service Nehemiah 4:1-23
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble — burned as they are?"
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building — if even a fox climbed
up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"
4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."
12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
22 At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day."
23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. NIV
INTRODUCTION
In the last two Sundays, we talked about ‘Moving Forward: Working with All Our Hearts.’ We were able to consider what God has called us to do – rebuild the broken wall of relationship and love, build the physical structure of the church and build the spiritual family. We also considered what it means to work with one’s whole heart and what the heart to work means to us. Today we want to consider “Moving Forward: Dealing with Obstacles and Opposition.”
In our journey of progress, so many things or forces may rise to stop us from moving forward. Some may be physical in nature while some may be spiritual or economical. When Nehemiah and his people were rebuilding the wall, they were faced with so many obstacles and challenges which were enough to stop them from moving forward. But, they were never discouraged.
As we plan to move forward, there may be obstacles, oppositions or hindrances. But, we have to deal with them now before they deal with us and stop our progress. We have to hand them over to God as Nehemiah did.
DEALING WITH ALL FORMS OF OBSTACLES OR OPPOSITION
Obstacle is a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress. It is something that blocks you so that movement, going forward or action is prevented or made more difficult. It is an object, thing, action or situation that causes an obstruction. Obstacle can be physical, economic, cultural, political, technological or military. It is stumbling block or barrier.
Opposition is a strong disagreement, resistance expressed in action or argument against a proposal or opinion. Sanballat and Tobiah tried all they could to oppose Nehemiah so that the work would not start let alone of completing. A It can be human in nature. For example Sanballat and Tobiah vs. 1
We must not be ignorant of the devices of the Devil. There will surely be obstacles or opposition. Some enemies of God’s work may do the followings:
- They may be angry with us Neh. 4:1, 7
- They be indignant at what we are doing vs. 1
- They may not be happy with us
- They may ridicule or mock us or mock the work of God vs. 1, 3
- They may accuse us or speak ill of us vs.2
- What are those feeble Jews doing? vs. 2
- Will they restore their wall? Vs. 2
- Will they offer sacrifices? Vs. 2
- Will they finish in a day? Vs. 2
- Can they bring the stone back to life from those heaps of rubble? Vs. 2
B. Obstacles or Opposition in Form of Conspiracy vs. 7-8
7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
USING THE WEAPON OF PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING (vs. 4-5, 9
One of the weapons of our spiritual warfare to advance in the course of obstacles and oppositions is prayer without ceasing. Nehemiah was a praying man or leader who never stopped praying to God to vindicate and fight for His people. So, we must also pray day and night because enemy does not wish that we move forward.
4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
POSSIBILITY TO FAINT (Isaiah 40:28-30) There is tendency for us to faint especially when it is if our prayers are not yet answered or testimonies are not yet coming forth. Our strength may go when the pressures or spiritual attacks are too much for us. However, we must not relent. Nehemiah’s people also faced similar case in vs. 10-12
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."
12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
From verse 12 I could understand there are agents of discouragement. Their assignment is to discourage one from moving forward in life. You cannot share vision with such people and move forward. Beloved when we faint in days of troubles our strength is small!
BLOCKING THE EXPOSED PLACES
We must be aware that enemy can never penetrate except through a loophole. We must therefore block every available exposed places of our lives, family and church vs. 13.
13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
WORDS FOR THE LEADERS
14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."
15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. We must not be afraid We must remember the greatness of God who is on our side We must be ready to fight some spiritual battles for our family members We must also be eager to work for God
WORDS FOR MEMBERS
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
We all must rise to work.
There should none without working
We must be spiritually equipped
We must all be on guard spiritually
We must be vigilant
WE MUST COLLABORATE OR CONNECT OR JOIN EFFORTS TOGETHER
The work is not for one person alone. Besides, one person cannot succeed. We are interdependent. We must collaborate with one another to do this work or fight the battles.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
CONCLUSION
How do we succeed by moving forward? It is by working with our whole hearts, doing it to the glory of God and to the edification of God’s people.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, NIV 1
Cor. 10:31 “For whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God”
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