Exile and Return: "Building and Battling"

Exile and Return: Building and Battling

Nehemiah 4:1-23

 I. The Effects of Opposition 4:1-10

1. Fatigue

2. Frustration     

3. Failure

4. Fear

5. Faithlessness

II. Persevering through Opposition. (Nehemiah 4:9,13-21)

1. Rely on the Lord.    

Philippians 4:6 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

2. Respect the Lord more than people.

Luke 12:4-5 - “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.  But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”

3. Refuse to fight the enemy alone.  

4. Refuse to quit.      

Billy Graham - “Discouragement is the opposite of faith. It is Satan’s device to thwart the work of God in your life.” 

Luke 18:1 - “Jesus told his disciples that they should always pray and not give up." 

 Nehemiah 6:15-16

Reviewing this Past Sunday with Family and Friends

1. How do you determine what course of action is wisest when you are faced with a difficult choice?

2. Ungodly fear is a strong force that often keeps us from fulfilling God’s will for our lives. How do you fight fear? Read and discuss - Deuteronomy 5:5, Psalm 118:6, Matthew 10:29-31, John 14:27, Romans 8:15, Hebrews 13:6, and 1 John 4:18.

3. When have you recently been in a rebuilding mode? What has it been like? What obstacles did you face? What has been good about it? What happens when we forget that life is about building and battling?

4. Why does God put such an emphasis on walking together in life and also in facing temptations? Read the following and see what comes from walking together in Christ. (Psalm 133:1-2, John 15:7-8, 17:23, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Eph. 4:11-13, Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25, and James 5:16-17).