Building Amidst Opposition Part II
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Welcome back for part two of Building Amidst Opposition. If you haven’t read part 1, I suggest you do, but bear in mind this series doesn’t necessarily need to be read in chronological order. Either way here’s the link to part one. Enjoy!
https://iamnseandra.squarespace.com/config/website/pages/60445077c343a45fe3dbdc71
Assuming you are all caught up, let’s jump right in!
We are in a time where the Lord is calling His children to build and rebuild His Kingdom in the earth. What He is asking us to do is crucial for what is coming up ahead. If you are reading this blog post, whatever day or year it is, please know beyond a doubt GOD IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU. HE IS CALLING YOU UP HIGHER, HIGHER TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH. Amen.
In the last post we took a deep dive into the life of Nehemiah, a man who God used to build in a time of immense opposition. We dissected what he did to remain steadfast despite the obstacles he faced. Let’s continue on that journey…
Ask God FOR STRENGTH
“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands..”
- Nehemiah 6:9 NIV
One of the things that I love most about Nehemiah was how completely dependent he was on God. Nehemiah was realistic in his assessment of where he and his people were, and what they had access to. Nevertheless, he trusted in the infinite resources of God. This was evident in his simple prayer, “Lord strengthen my hands”.
Another scripture in the Bible echoes a similar message, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me”. Let this be our mantra as we move forward. It is imperative that we remember where our strength lies. It is not in having the perfect conditions, the right amount of resources, or people. Our strength is found in God alone. Remember, a mission without God is one that will fail before it begins.
DON’T LET OUTSIDE VOICES DRIVE YOU TO WEARINESS
“Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”
- Nehemiah 4:10-11 NIV
There was a pivotal moment during this story, where the Jews caught wind of what the opposition was saying. They heard the opinions and digested the threats of those who were determined to see them lose. The worse part of it all? For a moment, they believed the lies.
They allowed outside voices - voices that had no say in the original plan- to infiltrate their beliefs on what they were capable of. As a result, they began to echo the lies of their enemies and just like that, weariness was birthed. When we are building with God it is important for us to be laser focused on what God said, even if that means we have to ignore or silence every other voice. The Word of God says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). It also warns, “Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it.(Proverbs 4:23)” That means we must be extremely mindful of who and what we are listening to and receiving as we pursue God’s work.
Do Not Be Intimidated
“I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me-.”
- Nehemiah 6:12-13 NIV
Be careful not to esteem the opinions, stature, or position of those around you above the approval and voice of God.
There is an infamous story in the Bible, where a 9 foot giant talks a really big game to a regular sized teenage boy. This giant is an award winning fighter, and the boy, on the other hand, is a shepherd. You may know this story as the story of David and Goliath.
Now, let’s be honest, there are moments when our opposition looks daunting, but be encouraged because that is by design to intimidate you. It is no different in Nehemiah’s story. In chapter 6, those who were opposing the wall being built sent messengers to strategically deceive Nehemiah. The most interesting part of it all was their false reports were almost believable! For instance, they told Nehemiah that there were assassination attempts on his life, and that he should abandon the building process, and hide instead. When that didn’t work, they continued with various other methods of deceit. They were persistent! Thankfully, as a praying man, Nehemiah was not deceived. He was able to see through their farce and understood that the entire purpose of their relentless onslaught was to intimidate him.
Friend, be encouraged that no matter how big the giant of opposition before you may seem, the God of David and Nehemiah is with you. He will give you the wisdom to discern and outsmart the schemes of your enemies. Therefore, you have no reason to be afraid.
REMEMBER WHY YOU BEGAN AND WHO YOU’RE WORKING FOR
“Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.”
- Nehemiah 4:9 NIV
There are several times throughout the book of Nehemiah, where he asked the Lord to remember him. He asked God to keep a record of all of the good he had done on God’s behalf, and to reward him accordingly.
It’s important to note that the only reason Nehemiah could make this request was because he too, had remembered something. From the very inception, Nehemiah had a clear vision of why he began the work and who he was working for. He remembered that everything he was doing was an offering to God and that fact enabled him to be resilient as he built the wall.
In the same way, as we work, we must remember that, regardless of the obstacles that may arise, we work for God alone. Let this be our fuel to continue going, even when it gets hard. May it give us the courage we need to build even in the midst of opposition.
