FEAR FACTOR
Nehemiah 4:1-23
S: Courage
Th: Brave Hearts
Pr: WE MUST HAVE COURAGE TO CONFRONT FEAR.
?: How do we confront fear?
KW: Principles
TS: We will find in our study of Nehemiah 4:1-23, five principles to live by that will help us successfully confront fear.
The _____ principle we live by to confront fear is…
I. CONFLICT IS INEVITABLE (1-3)
II. PRAYER IS CRUCIAL (4-9)
III. DISCOURAGEMENT IS UNDERSTANDABLE (10-12)
IV. UNITY IS ESSENTIAL (13-20)
V. SACRIFICE IS INESCAPABLE (21-23)
Version: ESV
Note: The outline’s origin comes from The Bible Speaks Today commentary on Nehemiah by Raymond Brown.
RMBC 09 Feb 03 AM
INTRODUCTION:
ILL Notebook: Fear (types)
If you have claustrophobia, you have the fear of closed places.
If you have acrophobia, you possess the fear of high places.
If you have astraphobia, it is thunderstorms that really get to you.
If you fear dirt, you have mysophobia.
If it is blushing you are afraid of, it is erythrophobia you are experiencing.
But the most dangerous of all is homilophobia; it is the fear of sermons!
ILL Notebook: Fear (carpool tunnel)
Jake had developed such terrible panic attacks commuting to work every day that he decided to talk with a psychiatrist.
"Doc, it’s terrible," Jake said. "I’ve developed a horrible fear and have anxiety attacks every time I get in the car with these other four guys and commute to work. It’s turned into a special fear of tunnels. Every day we go through the same long tunnel, and with the guys crowded in with me, it doesn’t matter whether I’m driving or we’re going in one of their cars. I panic. I begin to sweat. I even get dizzy. Am I going crazy, Doc?"
Immediately, the doctor smiled and announced that he knew what Jake’s problem was.
"What is it, Doc?" he asked. "Am I losing my mind?"
"No, no, no, my boy," the doctor said. "You have something very common in these parts. You have what is known as carpool tunnel syndrome."
Okay, that was sad; but…
What are you afraid of?
ILL Notebook: Fear (Fear Factor)
One of the those reality TV shows that has come out recently is “Fear Factor.” The idea is to get people to do things that they are afraid of, like let their faces be covered with bugs that bite, swim in ice cold water, or eat things that are really disgusting.
TRANSITION:
Today, I want us to see once again that…
1. Nehemiah is a man of courage.
Nehemiah has left the capital city of Persia, and his job as the king’s cupbearer and right hand man, and is in Jerusalem to reconstruct its walls.
Last week, we studied the team that finished the job.
As we come to chapter 4, we are backing up and seeing the events that took place before the walls were completed.
As we look at the task of rebuilding, we are going to discover that this was not an easy task.
In fact, in so many ways it was a scary one.
But what we also discover is that Nehemiah is not one to play it safe.
So, he teaches us that…
2. WE MUST HAVE COURAGE TO CONFRONT FEAR.
But the question we ask today is how do we confront fear?
As believers in the Lord Jesus, how do we get past the fear.
The example in Nehemiah will help us, for…
3. We will find in our study of Nehemiah 4:1-23, five principles to live by that will help us successfully confront fear.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first principle we live by to confront fear is CONFLICT IS INEVITABLE (1-3).
Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building – if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
What we learn right away is that Sanaballat and his cronies are really ticked off.
Nehemiah’s plans are going to upset their profitability and wreck their economic supremacy.
So, their reaction teaches us that…
1. The believer must be willing to hear the personal insult.
You see, we need to get some thick skin.
And so did these workers, for the accusations were coming.
Their character was questioned as it was said that they doing all of this just for themselves.
They were told that they were weak to be faithful and religious.
Their efforts were belittled as they were told the problem was too big, not feasible and a waste of their time.
In fact, It was said that they were so competent, a fox would jump on the wall and it would fall down.
ILL Notebook: Opposition (Alan Redpath)
Conflict is inevitable as Alan Redpath makes clear as he writes:
There is no winning without warfare; there is no opportunity without opposition; there is no victory without vigilance. For whenever the people of God say, “Let us arise and build,” Satan says, “Let me arise and oppose.”
Martin Luther also warned us about this in the hymn we just sang:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
Again…
2. The believer knows that his belief in God will be ridiculed.
This is what the believers in Jerusalem experienced.
They were mocked, made fun of, and put down.
They were told that their efforts were absurd and preposterous.
When these types of things happen, it is easy to internalize these words, and begin to believe them.
But in his own frustration, Nehemiah knew what to do!
II. The second principle we live by to confront fear is PRAYER IS CRUCIAL (4-9).
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
1. The believer fights the battle with knee mail.
If I had been Nehemiah, I would have been ready to argue and strike back.
But not him.
He follows the advice of Proverbs 26:4…
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
Instead, Nehemiah demonstrates that when conflict comes and fear strikes, it is time to pray.
It is time to pray because it is, in reality, an attack against God.
So, let Him handle it.
You have to appreciate that Nehemiah doesn’t hold back in how he feels.
He is honest in how he feels.
“Let them have it!”
He doesn’t sugarcoat it.
He doesn’t dress it up in spiritual language.
He just takes the problem to the place where it can be taken care of.
In case you think otherwise, the anger is not wrong.
As many of the psalms show, there is a time and place for anger.
ILL Notebook: Anger (C. S. Lewis - Reflections on the Psalms)
Along these lines, C. S. Lewis states:
“The absence of anger is a most alarming symptom and the presence of indignation may be a good one. For if we look at their railings we find they are usually angry not simply because these things have been done to them, but because these things are manifestly wrong, are hateful to God as well as to the victim.”
Lewis makes the point well.
When God is mocked, it ought to make us angry.
There should be things that make us hot and bothered!
Along with this, we need to recognize that…
2. The believer knows that the enemies’ attacks will be timed in such a way that we will give up.
The timing of the attack is brilliant.
It is a crucial time.
The wall is only half built.
But the secret to the success is noted here…
“We built the wall.”
“The people had a mind to work.”
ILL Notebook: Persistence (Panama Canal)
The builders of the Panama Canal faced enormous obstacles of geography, climate and disease. Most of the constructions was supervised by Colonel George Washington Goethals. He had to endure severe criticisms from many back home who predicted that he would never complete the “impossible task.” But the great engineer was resolute and pressed steadily forward in his work without responding to those who opposed him. “Aren’t you going to answer your critics?” a subordinate inquired. “In time,” Goethals replied. “How?” the man asked. The colonel smiled and said, “With the canal!” And his answer did come August 15, 1914, when the canal opened for traffic.
You don’t spend time with the critics.
When you know what God has called you to do, you keep to the task.
And so we are taught that…
3. The believer must prepare for building and battle.
As Sanballat and his cronies discover that their initial insults did not hold the builders in Jerusalem at bay, they step up the threat.
They prepare for battle.
And the description is very clear for us.
They have Jerusalem surrounded.
But notice the two-pronged solution.
Notice the prayer, and notice the perspiration.
They prayed and they set guard.
They lived James 4:7…
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit and resist.
They are all in this together.
They all pray.
And they all do what they can.
III. The third principle we live by to confront fear is DISCOURAGEMENT IS UNDERSTANDABLE (10-12).
In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”
1. The believer can be burned out by the immensity of the task.
You see, the previous solution was not the end of Nehemiah’s troubles.
The thrill of the new project has worn off and they are tired.
Fatigue has set in, and they are feeling frustrated.
What has really seemed to get to them is the rubble.
Everywhere they go are broken rocks, dried out mortar, dirt and debris.
Junk was everywhere.
It was causing them to lose perspective.
To continue the complications, Sanballat and his friends are making sure that the word gets out.
They intend to kill to stop the work.
2. The believer can be distracted and paralyzed by the threat of attack.
The enemies wanted them to think there was no way of escape.
As a result, the vision is blurred and hope dwindles.
These people are scared.
So, though discouragement is understandable, it can’t be ignored.
It’s like a flat tire; it has to be fixed.
This brings us to…
IV. The fourth principle we live by to confront fear is UNITY IS ESSENTIAL (13-20).
So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
1. The believer closes the gaps.
We don’t know if the people grumbled about Nehemiah; it is not recorded.
But I think it is fair to say that it probably happened.
To be killed was not what they signed up for.
It does show us something inherent about visions.
There are always details in a vision that are missing because we don’t know all that is going to happen.
There will always be holes because of the unexpected.
I do appreciate how Nehemiah handles it.
He takes the concerns and fears of the builders into account.
He doesn’t bash them or call them “wimps.”
He revises the plan and does the practical thing.
He reinforces the weak spots where the enemy is most likely to invade.
Along with this, then…
2. The believer is to be encouraged by the truth about God.
Nehemiah recognizes that the vision for a rebuilt Jerusalem is essentially a spiritual matter.
It is nothing less.
He would have appreciated the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:31 (ESV):
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
They do not have to be afraid.
Why?
All they have to do is remember the Lord.
I like this because Nehemiah does not speak to the impossibility of the task.
He does not give credit to the power of their foes.
Instead, he calls for a refocus.
They are to remember God’s love.
They are to remember God’s power.
He is an awesome God, who is completely good, reliable and faithful.
When we have the right perspective, it is then…
3. The believer is willing to become part of the solution.
Nehemiah designs a plan of unity, knowing that it would frustrate and discourage the opposition.
And just as it discouraged the enemy, it encouraged the people.
Nehemiah made plans to make sure an attack would not go undetected.
When the trumpet blared, the “calvary” would come.
And in the process, they would discover once again, that this was not just a physical matter.
It was a spiritual one.
They would know that God was fighting for them!
Now we come to…
V. The fifth principle we live by to confront fear is SACRIFICE IS INESCAPABLE (21-23).
So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.
1. The believer must be stubborn about the work.
You know why?
Because it is Satan’s goal to scare you and make you quit!
So, when we are tired and frustrated, it is time to get our focus back, so we can continue the work.
It is not the time to play it safe.
ILL Notebook: Act (Seuss – Zode)
Dr. Seuss can help us here, he writes…
Did I ever tell you about the young Zode
Who came to two signs at a fork in the road?
One said “To place One,” and the other “Place Two”
So the Zode had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zode scratched his head and his chin and his pants
And he said to himself, “Now I’ll be taking a chance…
To go to Place One. That place may be hot.
How do I know if I’ll like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I’ll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it’s cool.
“Play safe,” cried the Zode. “I’ll play safe, I’m no dunce
I’ll simply start off to both places at once.”
And that’s how the Zode who would not take a chance
Got to no place at all with a split in his pants.
For the rebuilders of Jerusalem, there was no backing off.
They were dependent on God, and they were doing all they could, even double duty.
With their focus back, playing it safe would not do.
They were on a mission from God.
And they show us, by example, that…
2. The believer is stay alert.
We are to be vigilant.
We are not playing a game here.
We are called on to achieve spiritual, and thus, eternal business.
This is not for the half-hearted!
We endure hardship for the sake of the Lord.
It is so we can say what the apostle Paul said (II Timothy 4:7):
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
APPLICATION:
There was one very specific reason why the rebuilders were able to confront their fear.
It is simply this…
1. God is invincible.
This is the reality.
When God is in it, there is no reason to fear.
Did you note what happened in the events here?
The enemies never do attack.
Their weakness becomes apparent in front of God’s plan.
There weren’t really up for battling the Lord.
The building continued.
And their enemies’ weakness would give the rebuilders even more boldness in the future as they remembered that God has worked in their now.
Nehemiah discovered that vision is easy to criticize.
In fact, vision attracts criticism, because we don’t like change or the status quo challenged.
Vision is also difficult to defend, because the person sees the goal, but how it is all exactly going to happen (all those details) is not worked out.
As we see with Nehemiah, a plan is made, but also revised as it is lived out.
But the saddest reality is that vision often dies at the hands of critics, whether the critics are mean-spirited or well-meaning.
Fear sets in, and so does paralysis.
For Nehemiah, he refused to give in to the criticism or the fear.
Has God given you a vision?
Has God burdened you?
It would not surprise me, because God has something for everyone.
2. God has called on you to make a difference, so do not give up on your holy ambition.
And in the process, remember the purpose of the enemy.
He is not working for you, but against you.
If you do not love God, he wants to keep you from having a relationship with Him.
And if you do love Him, know that the enemy wants keep you from sharing it with others.
You see, whenever we choose God’s agenda, we are invading enemy territory.
It is not going to be easy.
Nevertheless, we must have the courage to confront fear.
ILL Notebook: Courage (T. Roosevelt)
You remember Todd Beamer, who died on 9/11…one of his favorite quotes came from Teddy Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena... who strives valiantly... who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.
We will never make a difference for God by doing nothing or by playing it safe.
Those that will confront the fear, and move forward regardless of the consequence will make the difference.
Are you going to build the wall that God has given you a passion for and designed you for?
You can do it, because you serve an awesome God!
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Confront the fear, and build the wall anyway…for conflict is inevitable; and since we are doing God’s work, we can endure the insult and the ridicule.
Confront the fear, and build the wall anyway…because we know where our strength is; it is not in who we are and what we do, but in who God is; and if God is for us, who can be against us.
Confront the fear, and build the wall anyway…because we do not do this alone; God has given us a team to work with; so be encouraged, not discouraged; be alert, not distracted; be a difference maker, with a holy ambition to fulfill God’s agenda.
Now may the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
