Nehemiah
Chapter Two – The Attack on Our Character
August 21, 2022
Nehemiah 2:17-19 NIV
“Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"
God gives us our identity and the enemy immediately tries to distort it.
Genesis 3:1 NIV
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say …”
Matthew 3:17 NIV
… and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus was 30 years old when this happened.
The Father told him he was pleased before he had done anything.
Jesus didn’t have to prove himself to his Father.
Matthew 4 – Satan tries three times to distort the identity and mission of Jesus.
Satan – “Command these stones to be turned to bread”
Jesus – “Man shall not by bread alone …”
Satan – “Throw yourself from the temple.”
Jesus – “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Satan – “I will give you all these kingdoms if you worship me.”
Jesus – “I will only worship the Lord my God.”
There are two types of criticism.
Fair Criticism and Unfair Criticism
There’s an ounce of truth in every pound of criticism.
Psalm 1:1 NIV
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers …”
Walking, Standing, Sitting
Mocking – making fun of someone in a cruel and demeaning way.
Criticism is meant to challenge someone’s beliefs or behavior.
Mocking is meant to dehumanize and shame someone.
Criticism is looking for the truth.
Mocking is looking for a fight.
Criticism is correction.
Mocking is punishment.
Sons and daughters want to be producers not performers.
Luke 22:11 NIV
Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.
