Building A Wall Of Protection Around Your Life! Nehemiah 4:1-23

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1 Building A Wall Of Protection Around Your Life! Nehemiah 4:1-23 Message by Michael J. Barnard October 9, 2016 Teaching Aim: To observe Nehemiah s faithfulness in fulfilling God s call on his life, even when attack from the enemy appeared imminent and overwhelming. To realize Nehemiah was not only faithful in prayer, he was also faithful in completing the work God had called him to do, the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem. To understand Satan is a roaring lion ready to devour anyone he can. Like Nehemiah, we need to pray and take the steps necessary to protect ourselves and our families spiritually! Part I: An angry response to the Jews rebuilding the walls (Neh. 4:1-5) 1. Which individual became furious when he learned that the Jews were rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem (vs. 1)? Why do you think he became so angry? Do people still get upset today when their pocketbook is negatively affected? Where was this individual from and why was he a threat to the Jews (vs. 2)? Why do you think the enemy attacks so hard today when we follow God and begin to grow spiritually? 2. What group of people were referred to as brethren in verse 2? What did Sanballat bring with him to intimidate the Jewish labor force? What 5 questions did Sanballat ask the Jews? What was his purpose in asking these questions? Has anyone ever mocked you for going to church or for obeying God? How did you respond to the attack? (See John 17:14-18) 3. Sanballat was from Samaria, just north of Judah. Where was Tobiah from (vs. 3)? How did Tobiah try to discourage the Jews from rebuilding the walls? Has anyone ever tried to discourage you from serving God? How did it affect you? Did you continue in ministry or step away from it? Why? 4. According to verses 4 & 5, how did Nehemiah respond to these mouth pieces of Satan? Nehemiah was a man of prayer and when in trouble went to God first. Why is it important for us to go to God in prayer first and not last? What is your practice when in crisis? 1

2 5. What is an imprecatory prayer? (Hint: Google it!) Do verses 4 & 5 fall into this category? If so, why? Why do you think Nehemiah went to directly to God in prayer instead of mouthing off at his enemies? (See Rom. 12:17-21) Part II: Work on the walls of Jerusalem proceeds under the able leadership of Nehemiah (Neh. 4:6-12) 1. Nehemiah prayed to God, but what else did he and his fellow Jews do (vs. 6)? Why is it important for us to pray, but to continue serving at the same time? How did the enemies of the Jews respond when they heard the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to close? What can we learn about the peril the Jews were in from the leaders mentioned in verse 7? 2. What was the enemy s goal according to verse 8? Why do you think the enemies of God are able to come together in godless coalitions (homosexual and abortion coalitions), but we have such a hard time bringing churches together to unite on issues in society? What kind of an impact would a united church make on society today? 3. What two things can we learn about the Jews in verse 9? In what areas of life are you weak spiritually? What are you doing to shore up those weak areas? 4. How do you respond to times of discouragement and fatigue (vs. 10)? How can the two negatively affect your attitude, your health, and even your ministry? Why is it important to keep your eyes on the Lord during times of discouragement? (See Heb. 12:1-2) Who is our ultimate source of strength and encouragement as Christians? 5. How serious were the threats being made to the Jews (vs. 11)? How was this news getting through to the Jews in Jerusalem (vs. 12)? Is psychological warfare something new, or has it been around since the beginning of time? (See Gen. 3:1) 2

3 Part III: Nehemiah s brilliant strategy strengthens the people (Neh. 4:13-23) 1. Nehemiah realized that a military attack appeared to be imminent, how did he respond to this crisis (vs. 13)? Would you fight harder if the lives of your loved ones were at stake? Why was it a brilliant move when Nehemiah assigned family members to protect their own families? 2. What important truth did Nehemiah remind the Jews of in verse 14? Why is it important for us to remember this truth today when we are facing spiritual warfare? 3. What did the enemies of the Jews do once they realized the Jewish people would not back down (vs. 15)? How is this true in our own spiritual lives today? 4. The threat was serious enough that Nehemiah cut his work force in half (vs. 16). Why? How did the Jewish leaders respond to the possibility of imminent attack? According to verse 17, how prepared was the Jewish workforce to meet this challenge? What steps are you taking to prepare spiritually for the attacks Satan and his minions will bring into your life? What kind of walls are you building? Are they halfway up and filled with weak areas, or have you built a solid defense ready for attack? 5. Why did Nehemiah order the trumpeter to stay with him (vs. 18)? Have you ever been so busy in life that you found yourself spread too thin (vv. 19 & 20)? How did it affect you both physically and emotionally? Did spreading yourself to thin make you stronger or weaker at that time? 6. Why is it important for believers to come together in corporate worship, especially when they are weak? (See Heb. 10:24 & 25) According to Nehemiah, who is the ultimate protector of God s people (vs. 20b)? Are you trusting God today? 3

4 7. According to verse 21, how imminent was this threat to the Jewish people? Why is it important for Christians to put on the full armor of God every day? (See 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:10-18) Do you recognize spiritual warfare when it comes your way? How do you respond to it? 8. Why did Governor Nehemiah make the Jewish people stay in Jerusalem at night (vs. 22)? (See vv ) What would likely have happened if those living in the country returned to their homes? What happens to people when they wander away from God and His people today? Do they get stronger or weaker? 9. According to verse 23, how prepared were Nehemiah and the Jewish people for physical attack? How prepared are you today to face spiritual attack? 10. What can we learn from Nehemiah 4 about the importance of building a wall of protection around Jerusalem? Why should each of us build a wall of protection around our own lives spiritually? Name five steps to help you grow spiritually? MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! Whenever you step forward to do God s work, expect to be attacked by the enemy! Psychological warfare is nothing new; the enemies of God have been using it since the beginning of time! (Gen. 3:1) When the attacks of the enemy come, we should go to God in prayer.irst, then deal with the issue! Nehemiah stopped and prayed at the moment of crisis, but then faithfully continued to do the work God had called him to do unto completion! As we go through the battles of life, it s important to remember we are not wrestling against!lesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places! Each of us should build protective walls around us spiritually to protect our families and ourselves from the attacks of the enemy! When we become discouraged and fatigued, we need to remember the greatness of God and complete the mission he has given us! (Matt. 28:18-20) 4

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