WHENEVER THE WORK STARTS, OPPOSITION SHOWS UP.

Nehemiah 4

v. 1-2

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates, and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they rebuild and restore the wall? Will they ever offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heap of rubble, burned as they are?"

v. 3

Tobiah, the Ammonite, who was at his side, says, "What are they building? Even a fox can climb up on it, and would break down their walls of stones."

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO CRITICS? THE ANSWER IS, MOST OF THE TIME, YOU DON'T. 

MY GOAL IS NOT TO CHANGE CRITICS. MY GOAL IS TO DO THE WILL OF GOD.

v. 4

Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as a plunder in the land of captivity.

v. 5

Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

v. 6

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

WHAT DID NEHEMIAH DO IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION?

NEHEMIAH WOULD PRAY AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON GOD, AND THEN HE WOULD WORK AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON HIM.

v. 10

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out. And there's so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."

v. 11-12

Also, our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we'll be right there among them, and will kill them, and put an end to the work." Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack."

EXTERNAL OPPOSITION WILL ONLY BE AS LOUD AS MY INTERNAL INSECURITIES ALLOW THEM TO BE.

v. 14

After I looked things over again, 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. Fight for your families, fight for your sons, and fight for your daughters, fight for your wives, and fight for your husbands, and fight for your homes.”