Resolute: Pressing On When You Feel Like Giving Up Part 3 – Work the Plan!

Resolute: Pressing On When You Feel Like Giving Up

Part 3 – Work the Plan!

Nehemiah 3-4

To achieve the good work God has called you to, develop a , then !

When Working a Plan…

Step 1 – Enlist people to help!

18 …“Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. Nehemiah 2:18b

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. Nehemiah 3:1-4

• Building the church requires a team of people working together in and !

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:12;27

• Building anything of significance takes a team of people!

6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. Nehemiah 4:6

Step 2 – Put the right in the right !

Step 3 – Count on .

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 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? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”

3 Tobiah 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!” Nehemiah 4:1-3

36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. Hebrews 11:36

Step 4 – Believe that where we are weak and , God is strong and !

2 …“What are those feeble Jews doing? Nehemiah 4:2b

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

How to Respond to Opposition

• Ask God to for you!

4 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. 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. Nehemiah 4:4-5

6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. Nehemiah 4:6

7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people 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. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Nehemiah 4:7-9

• Take necessary steps to guard against !

10 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.”

11 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.”

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

13 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. 14 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, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:10-14

• Don’t let fear paralyze you and derail you!

10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, Nehemiah 4:10

• Defeat fear and discouragement by how great and awesome God is!

14 …“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, Nehemiah 4:14

• with fellow Believers for help and encouragement!

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. Nehemiah 4:15