Nehemiah 2: and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of

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2 Nehemiah 2:8-19 (ESV) 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy. And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

3 Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls 9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

4 11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

5 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

6 17 Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision. 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

7 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?

8 Why does opposition come? (1) You are doing something RIGHT and Satan is not pleased with it. (2) You are doing something WRONG and God is not pleased with it.

9 When we do what is pleasing to God oppositions will multiply. There are at least FOUR REASONS why: (1) Jealousy (2) Controlling spirits (3) Change phobia (4) Satan, which means adversary or opponent. Devil, diabolos, the slanderer or accuser.

10 Opposition follows opportunity as surely as night comes after day. (Glenn Johnson)

11 Opposition is a certainty and comes with territory when you try to make the most of every best opportunity. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ASV) for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

12 1 Corinthians 16:9 (TLB) 9 for there is a wide open door for me to preach and teach here. So much is happening, but there are many enemies.

13 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT) 9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.

14 God s wall, built by God s man, following God s plan, in God s place is certain to draw the wrath of God s enemy. (Glenn Johnson)

15 HOW DOES THE ENEMY OPPOSE US?

16 1. He will use WORDS to attack us. (Nehemiah 4:1-3) 1.1. Discouraging words - Feeble Jews. (Self-esteem or Self-worth) 1.2. Sneering words Will they restore for themselves the walls? (Motivation) 1.3. Faithless words Can they offer sacrifices? (Faith in God) 1.4. Doubting words Will they finish in a day? (Consistency and Resolve) 1.5. Critical words Will they revive the stones? (Competence) 1.6. Lying words Even a fox could knock their wall down. (Character and Integrity)

17 Words are powerful! Satan will start the war of words to engage in Psychological Warfare to manipulate us not by force of guns, grenades and physical weapons but through words and ideas! His propaganda is subtle if you do not know the truth!

18 Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

19 Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

20 Matthew 12:36 (ESV) 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

21 With that kissed I became a painter.

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25 2. He will use PEOPLE to attack us. (Nehemiah 4:7-12) 2.1. The OUTSIDERS Sanballat, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites The INSIDERS Tobiah and the Jews.

26 2. HOW ARE GOING TO COUNTER THE OPPOSITIONS?

27 Prayer Nehemiah 4:4-5 (NLT) 4 Then I prayed, Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[a] the builders.

28 Keep building Nehemiah 4:6-8 (NIV) 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.

29 The goal of the enemy, Satan is STOP EVERY WORK OF GOD

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32 Romans 8: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

33 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

34 Isaiah 54:17 (NASB) 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me, declares the Lord.

35 Proverbs 21:31 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.

36 Psalm 20:7 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

37 Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.