Nehemiah 4:1-3 NIV When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, ²and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” ³Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”

• Don’t be surprised when you face opposition.
• Advancement invites opposition.
• The devil doesn’t bother those who are not a threat.
• I’m not going to be moved by praise or criticism!
• I’m not going to let praise get into my head or criticism get into my heart!

Nehemiah 4:4-6 NIV Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. ⁵Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. ⁶So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

Nehemiah 4:10 NIV 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.”

Nehemiah 4:11-12 NIV 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.” ¹²Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

• The external opposition will only be as loud as
• my internal insecurities allow them to be.

Nehemiah 4:14 NIV After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome …”

• The greater the opposition,
• the greater the opportunity for our God to fight for you.

Nehemiah 4:14 NIV … “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

• If I’m not ready to face opposition for my obedience to God,
• I’m not ready to be used by God!