Nehemiah 1-4

Introduction: Are you in a battle right now? What kind of war is it? Are you winning or losing? Our nation is in a demonically driven cultural war. Our families are in a spiritual war, which undermines our biblical foundation. Our Churches are facing the fiery darts from evil spirits attacking from “outside” the Church as well as “inside” the Church. So, in order to fight and win the battle over the enemy, the book of Nehemiah equips us with (2) important strategies:

Remember, Nehemiah the Jew, was the cup-bearer to the king (he drank everything before the king did to protect the king); yet he was far away from his homeland (he was in Persia – modern day Iran). His home was in Israel, more specifically Jerusalem. He received a God-given VISION, which resulted in a God-given PROVISION, but he faced a devil-given OPPOSITION.

1. Notice (3) STRATEGIC steps that a work of God includes in order to WIN the WAR over the enemy! (Neh 1:2-12, 4:20)

“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, and said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

…..2Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. 6And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me;”

• God-given INITIATIVE
{God birthed it in Nehemiah’s heart – Neh 1:4}

• God-given CONFIRMATION
{God put it on the King’s heart – pagan king}

• God-given victory over the OPPOSITION
{God led the people to work and defeated the enemies attacks, both “external” – Sanballat, Gesham (Neh 2), and “internal” – complaints from within – Nehemiah’s own people were whining about how things were being run….. sound familiar??? – Neh 5}

2. Check out (3) STRATEGIES that the enemy has in order to HINDER the work of God, but our Lord overcomes the enemy! (Neh 2-4)

“17Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18Then 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. 19But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem”

• CHRISTian Freedom! (Neh 2:17-20)

“10And 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. 11And 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. 12And 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. 13Therefore 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. 14And 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.”

• CHRISTian Faith! (Neh 4:10-14)

• CHRISTian Families! (Neh 4:14)

Conclusion: Praise the Lord Jesus for forewarning us of the battles we will face. Yet, just as important, Bless His name because in Him we can win the Victory! **But remember, it’s His VISION, with His PROVISION, regardless of the OPPOSITION!**