Nehemiah
– Becoming A Disciplined Leader
Lesson 5: "Overcoming Discouragement" Nehemiah 4:1-6
"So we rebuilt the wall…" Neh. 4:6
Satan is alive and well
- God’s work never goes forward without opposition
- Satan will try to tear us down, just like the walls
Sanballat – a good example of someone who doesn’t know God
- He didn’t understand God’s personal interest in Israel
- He failed to realize the restoration was due to Israel’s repentance
- His strong reactions reflect his insecurities
- Note his skeptical, belittling remarks
- Strong anger can be intensified by fear
- He doth protest too much – if he was honest with himself, he’d say…
- Tobiah was merely a yes man – if he was honest with himself, he’d say…
How to handle spiritual warfare
- Go immediately to prayer (I Thess. 5:17)
- Aren’t we to pray for our enemies?
- God had already pronounced judgement on the enemies of Israel
- But, the Gospel is for all – the Samaritan woman in John 4
- Have a mind and heart to work – Just hand me another brick!
- Nothing succeeds like success – look for it, be around it
3 Principles
#1) Pray about situations that cause fear and anxiety (Phil 4:6)
- Remember, pray specifically, honor an awesome God, ask forgiveness
- The peace of God (Phil. 4:7, 2:15)
#2)
Pray in the will of God
- Why is one prayer of Nehemiah a model and the other not?
- Praying for our enemies (Matt. 5:43-44)
- Father forgive them (Luke 23:34)
- Never take your own revenge (Rom. 12:18-21)
#3)
Combine diligent prayer with diligent work
- The more we study Scripture, the more we see that prayer alone is seldom God’s plan for us when we face difficulties
For next week, read Nehemiah Ch. 4:7-15
