Remember Nehemiah is god’s man. He is going back to his home land Israel. Back to Jerusalem. To help the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. We read here in 4:1-6 Nehemiah 4:1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was worth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, what do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
6 So built us the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work .I have titled this message reacting to ridicule. The devil wants to hinder gods work. At any times gods people say let us arise and build the host of hell says let us arise and stop them/ destroy. You would be amazed to here that the one of the main tools of the devil is ridicule. You may think ridicule is something that we can just toss off/ignore. Let me tell you beloved ridicule is one of the hardest things that you ever face as Christian. Did you know that A Christian may face the lion but same Christian when he faces ridicule he may fold and fall? When I was young believer…one friend of mine had written me how some relative and friends ridiculed my faith, when I came back from Germany four years I did not visit my father and mother because I knew when I go home those people will be there. Some people leave one church and go other church to avoid ridicule and shame, new fellowship no one knows then so body questions. Some you of you have unsaved spouse and he or she ridicules your faith and that hardest persecution that you face. Any true Christian is going to face some ridicule if you are not facing ridicule then you need to question about your stand in the world. Some of you if you have not face any ridicule do not get proud. Becose bible says: No servant is greater than his master if they have ridiculed the lord Jesus Christ they will ridicule you. Why did the ridicule in those day, look in Nehemiah 4. I want you to notice fist of all The nature of the ridicule:
1.The feebleness of god’s people: the first thing they ridicule is the feebleness of the god’s people. Nehemiah 4:2 and he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, what do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Beloved we are the feeble people. By worlds slandered when the world measures us by size, by numbers by finances there is always going to sandblast and laugh at us ha-ha look at them these feeble people… but make no mistake my beloved never compare Christianity by size or number bible says god has chosen week things of the world to confound the wise and mighty…not many mighty and not many nobles are called. And people laugh at us because of our feebleness. Secondly often people laugh at us not
because of the our feebleness but also because of the futility of task
2. Futility of the task: look at verse 2 Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?….that means they will never do what they are saying they will do. It cannot be done. I have a secret beloved, it may look like as if we have a frail task, but we are going to win. President Woodrow Wilson, "I would rather temporarily fail with a cause that will ultimately win than to temporarily win with a cause that must ultimately fail."
They mocked at our feebleness/futility here is the third thing they mocked at us not only….but also
3. Foolishness of their faith: look in Nehemiah 4:2 and he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, what do these feeble Jews? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Will they sacrifice? Now they are mocking at their religion/v at their faith.1 Corinthians 1:18 for the preaching of the cross are to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. Henry ironsides the great preacher once was crossing river from Oakland to San Francisco with a group of believers on the way they were singing Christian songs like we do when we get together. And there was another group on that boat and they were just watching. Among them there was a man and he said to ironsides who are you he said we are Christian. He said what are doing? He said we just singing and praising the lord. He said I think you are a bunch of fool. He said you are quite right we are fool. We are fooling for Christ sake, whose fool are you?
4.Frailty of their work: look at Nehemiah 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.… that means it is not going to last. They mocked at….they mocked at…you see the devil has changed his tactic, he is still mocking/toughing, if you work for God let me tell you are going to face some ridicules.
Now there are three things Nehemiah did which you need to do.
A practical consideration: notice Nehemiah 4:4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. now we Christians are beloved despised. But when you are despised /when you are mocked. Just consider several things. 1. Consider the cause of the ridicule: do you know why the world laughs at Christian. I tell you why? Ridicule is substitute for reason. Laughing is substitute for logic. Now if they cannot reason us out of the work of god. They would try to ridicule us out of the work for god. If they cannot logic us out of the work for god then try to laugh us out for the work of god. Not only consider the cause of the ridicule but also 2.consider the character of those who ridicule: beloved we are known not only the by the friend we make but we are also known by the enemy we make. There will be something wrong with me if some are not laughing at me. There is something wrong with you if you do not face any ridicule in this world. Remember in Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.… you may say pastor ohm but nobody laugh at me then keep it a secret will you. There are many of you working in the corporate world. I can imagine some of you are doctor or lawyer or business executive. There is no way that you can live a Christian life without facing any ridicule. Some of you are student here…. If no one laughs at you that is because you are not counted worthy. John w. r. Stott one said. Christ culture is a counter culture.
I want you to consider the company that you are in. you see our lord was also scorn. And he said servant is no meant better that the master. Let me give you same verses that will break your heart as well as encourage you at the same time. Mark 5:40 and they laughed him to scorn. Our lord is getting ready to perform one of the most notable miracle...they laughed at the face of vary son of God. Look in Luke 22:63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. I want you see Luke 23:35 and the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.…here is our lord hanging on the cross in agony Luke 23:36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,… if Jesus Christ was laughed at the cross then surely you will laughed at when you live righteously. how do you react to ridicule? Listen! you consider the cause of it, you consider company you are in when you are laugh at, you are in the company of Jesus Christ. I want you consider the compensation of it.
3. Consider the compensation when you are laughed at: Matthew 5:11 blessed is ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you...people laughed at you whole day go back home and laugh whole night. You rejoice and be exceedingly glad….great is your reward in heaven. One more thing I want you consider Notice the conclusion of the whole matter he who laughs last has the best laugh. Bible says it is God who is going to have the last laugh look in Proverbs 1:24 this is God speaking: because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; God said now it is my turn to laugh. This not some laugh to get even. No beloved when god laughs that means the wrath of god.
Thomas Penn the skeptic wrote a book entitled the age of reason. He asked Benjamin franklins what you think of my book. It was book that ridicules the Christian faith. Benjamin said: tom when man spits on the wild he spits on his own face. Agathon was young roman he had friend named Julian. They both grew together and play together. But Julian grew up and one day he became the emperor of Rome. He was known as the apostate emperor. He hated Christ and he heated Christians. One day he made his childhood friend Agathon. How is the carpenter of Nazareth doing these days? Is he getting plenty f of works? He is getting plenty of works these days he is nailing to put together a coffin to put your empire in. Julian was slain by the Persian to month later his empire came combling down. It was god who had the last laugh.
Not only there is some practical consideration but some prayerful supplication: look in Nehemiah 4:4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. This is a prayer asking god to intervene. Now notice Nehemiah did not get into some name calling contest with them. He did not retaliate tit for tat. Remember when you are ridiculed do not try get even with them. If you do that then do not a. Proverbs 3:34 surely he scorned the scorners: but he gives grace unto the lowly.
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:…is not that great? Story: lord and the angle. Looked very upset all of sudden he stood up from his thrown and rushed towards the gate…
3. Some Physical perspiration: look in verse 6 so built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work …in spite of all the ridicule they continue the work for witch god has called them to do. You see we are not saved by works we are saved by the grace of god. Bible says Ephesians 2:8-9 for by grace is ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast... we are not saved by works. Good works cannot save us. Salvation is in the mercy of god and in merit of man. Grace of god not goodness of man. Salvation is not a prize that you receive at the end of the race but it is gift of god given to run the race. The minute you trust the lord Jesus Christ he saves you the vary moment. I cannot work for my soul to save, that work my lord has done, and I will work like any slave for the love of god’s dear son. There is no easy way/lazy way/cheap way to do the works of god. If everyone had one mind to work and one heart to pray like Ne
