The Way People Talk About God's Work

THE WAY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GOD’S WORK

10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

There are three things we know about this work:

1. It was a good work.

Ne 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for [this] good [work].

2. It was a great work.

Ne 4:19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

Ne 6:3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I [am] doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

3. It was God’s work.

Ne 3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

Ne 6:16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard [thereof], and all the heathen that [were] about us saw [these things], they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

How do we talk about God’s work?

I. THE VOICE OF DOUBT: “We can’t” (4:10)

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

A. THE WORK OF BUILDING THE WALL.

1. Was hard work

2. Was heavy work

B. THE WORKERS THAT WERE BUILDING THE WALL.

1. They were exhausted.

2. They were looking for excuses.

a. To go home

b. To go hide

II. THE VOICE OF HATE: “You won’t” (4:11)

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

A. HOW CONFIDENT THEY WERE

B. HOW CUNNING THEY WERE

C. HOW CRUEL THEY WERE

III. THE VOICE OF TRUST: “God will” (4:14)

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

A. HE WAS CONFIDENT OF THE POWER OF GOD.

B. HE WAS COMMITTED TO THE PURPOSE OF GOD.

1. He prayed to God.

2. He posted a guard.