TITLE: Pay the Price

TEXT: Nehemiah 4:1-6

PROPOSITION: All who serve God will suffer hardship.

QUESTION: How?

KEY WORD: Approaches

READING: 2 Cor. 4:8-10

INTRODUCTION:

          1. 2 Cor. 4:8-10 Knocked down, not knocked out.

          2. 2 Timothy 3:12 We will suffer persecution

          3. Nehemiah -case study of how to deal with opposition.

1. The Presence of Opposition.

          1. Opposition is always present.

          2. Sanballat - king of Samaritians

                    A. Filled with indignation (became furious)

                    B. 4:1 "mocked the Jews"

          3. Tobiah the Ammonite / with him

                    A. "Critics run with critics."

                    B. Both have roots in God's law and people.

                              Samaritians - 10 tribes - Assyrian captivity

                              Ammon - son of Lot, Abraham's nephew

          4. They ridiculed God and the task.

                    A. 4:3 If a fox jumped on it, it would fall.

                    B. MISTAKE: "their" wall - This was God's wall.

                    C. Matt. 16:18 "I will build my church"

2. How to deal with Criticism.

          1. Talk to God, FIRST.

                    A. 4:4-5        Hear, O our God, how we are despised.

          2. "Don't forgive this sin."

                    A. 1 John 5:16 sin unto death, not pray for it

                    B. Heb. 6:4-6 It is impossible to renew them

3. Needed: Common Sense.

          1. He stayed at the task. 4:6 So we built the wall

                    A. Don't get "sidetracked" with criticism.

                    B. "Hand me another brick."

          2. WARNING: Sometimes the criticism intensifies.

                    A. 4:7-8 Insults turned into war, fighting

                    B. Determined to "hinder it."

Conclusion:

          1. It is impossible to work for God without opposition.

          2. It is essential to face opposition with prayer.

          3. Prayer is not ALL that is necessary if the opposition grows and intensifies.