Introduction

Welcome, beloved friends. I am grateful to God for gathering us once again in His house, to fellowship, to learn, and to grow in His grace. We are here to drink deeply from the well of God's wisdom, to bask in His love, and to find our strength in His might.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Nehemiah, specifically to chapter 6, verses 5-16. This passage provides a vivid illustration of a man who, amidst the turbulence of life, stood firm in his faith, secure in his dependence on God, and in doing so, showcased God's glory through his perseverance.

Let us read the passage together: "Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: 'It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.' But I sent him this reply: 'Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.' They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.' But I prayed, 'Now strengthen my hands.' One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, 'Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.' But I said, 'Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!' I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God."

This text brings to mind the profound words of a great servant of God, Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "By perseverance the snail reached the ark." Nehemiah, like the snail, pressed on, undeterred by the threats and schemes of his enemies, and in doing so, he completed the work God had set before him.

Let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for your love that never fails, and for your word that guides us. Open our hearts and minds today to understand your word. May we, like Nehemiah, remain steadfast in our faith, secure in our dependence on you, and always showcase your glory through our perseverance. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. May we find encouragement and strength in Nehemiah's story as we navigate the challenges of our own lives.

Staying Steadfast Amidst Fear

In the face of adversity and fear, Nehemiah stood firm. He did not waver, he did not falter. He was a man who knew his purpose and was committed to fulfilling it, regardless of the circumstances. This is a crucial lesson for us today. We live in a world that is filled with uncertainty and fear. There are many things that can cause us to feel overwhelmed and anxious. But like Nehemiah, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, to trust in God, and to continue to do the work He has called us to do.

Nehemiah's enemies tried to intimidate him, to make him afraid. They spread false rumors about him, they threatened him, they tried to trick him into sinning. But Nehemiah did not let fear control him. He did not let the threats of his enemies deter him from his mission. Instead, he turned to God for strength and guidance. He prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." This is a powerful example of how we should respond when we are faced with fear. We should not let it paralyze us or cause us to abandon our mission. Instead, we should turn to God, ask for His strength, and continue to do the work He has called us to do.

The story of Nehemiah also teaches us about the importance of discernment. Nehemiah was able to recognize that the advice he was being given by Shemaiah was not from God, but was a trap set by his enemies. This discernment saved him from falling into sin and allowed him to continue his work. This is a reminder for us to always test the advice we are given, to seek God's wisdom, and to be discerning about who we listen to.

Nehemiah's steadfastness also had a profound impact on those around him. When the wall was completed, the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their confidence. They recognized that the work had been done with the help of God. This is a powerful testimony to the impact that our steadfastness can have on others. When we remain steadfast in our faith, when we continue to do the work God has called us to do, despite the fear and adversity we face, we are a testimony to God's power and faithfulness.

Finally, Nehemiah's story is a reminder of the importance of perseverance. Despite the threats and schemes of his enemies, Nehemiah did not give up. He continued to work on the wall until it was completed. This is a powerful reminder for us to persevere in the work God has called us to do. We may face obstacles, we may face opposition, we may face fear, but we are called to persevere, to keep going, to keep working, until the task is complete.

In all of this, Nehemiah's story is a powerful example of staying steadfast amidst fear. It is a reminder for us to remain committed to our mission, to turn to God for strength, to be discerning, to impact others through our steadfastness, and to persevere until the work is complete. This is the lesson we can learn from Nehemiah, and it is a lesson that is as relevant today as it was in his time.

Transition. So, let us take up this call to action. Let us strive to remain steadfast despite our challenges, to persevere in the face of adversity. Let us showcase God's glory through our perseverance, just as Nehemiah did. And in doing so, let us become beacons of hope and inspiration for those around us, just as Nehemiah was for the people of Jerusalem.

Securing Strength Through Dependence on God

In the heart of Nehemiah's story, we find a man who, despite the swirling storm of opposition around him, did not waver in his reliance on God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO