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 restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day?

3. Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble— burned as they are?’ Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, ‘What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!’” (Nehemiah 4:1-3 NIV)

4. Why is Success Opposed? Jealousy Jealousy Fear Fear Differing Values Differing Values Suspicion Suspicion Spiritual Resistance Spiritual Resistance

5. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

6. I MPORTANT T RUTH : Christians will face opposition whenever they are doing God’s work.

7. “But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

8. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” (Nehemiah 4:7-8)

9. W EAPONS OF O PPOSITION : 1.Their Anger 2.Mockery & Sarcasm ‘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?’ (4:2)

10. W EAPONS OF O PPOSITION : 1.Their Anger 2.Mockery & Sarcasm “…‘Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.’” (4:3)

11. W EAPONS OF O PPOSITION : 1.Their Anger 2.Mockery & Sarcasm 3.Threats of Violence 4.Discouragement

12. T HE A NATOMY OF D ISCOURAGEMENT 1.Loss of Initial Motivation “… 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 4:10)

13. T HE A NATOMY OF D ISCOURAGEMENT 2. Loss of Vision I MPORTANT T RUTH : When you focus on what is, instead of what could be, you will lose your vision.

14. T HE A NATOMY OF D ISCOURAGEMENT 3. Loss of Confidence

15. T HE A NATOMY OF D ISCOURAGEMENT 4. Loss of Security “…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.’ Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us.’” (Nehemiah 4:11-12)

16. T HE A NATOMY OF D ISCOURAGEMENT 5. Listening to Negativity “Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us.’” (Nehemiah 4:12)

17. 1. P RAY “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 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.” (Neh. 4:4-5)

18. 1. P RAY “To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness…” (Ecc. 2:26)

19. 1. P RAY “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)

20. 2. T AKE A CTION N EHEMIAH ’ S A CTION S TEPS : 1) He Promoted Community “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.” (Nehemiah 4:13)

21. 2. T AKE A CTION N EHEMIAH ’ S A CTION S TEPS : 2) He Prioritized Security

22. 2. T AKE A CTION “ Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!’” (Neh. 4:19-20)

23. 2. T AKE A CTION N EHEMIAH ’ S A CTION S TEPS : 3) He Lead by Example “Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. (Nehemiah 4:23)