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The Ministry of Opposition

The Ministry of Opposition. Nehemiah 2:11-20.  I. The Certainty of Opposition in the Work of God. A. As soon as Nehemiah began to move, trouble began. ( v.10 ) - Upon his arrival, there have trouble - When the task was announced, there was more trouble ( v.19 )

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The Ministry of Opposition

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  1. The Ministry of Opposition Nehemiah 2:11-20

  2.  I. The Certainty of Opposition in the Work of God. A. As soon as Nehemiah began to move, trouble began. (v.10) -Upon his arrival, there have trouble -When the task was announced, there was more trouble (v.19) -Trouble continued to dog him until the task was completed. B.Any and every step for God will result in opposition. - We should not be started by it. - Opposition is no sign of being out of God's will.

  3. John 15:17-19 These things I command you, that you love one another. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

  4. II. The Characteristics of Opposition. A. Its source (vv.10-19): The political or power people. - Sanballat – the Gentile governor (head man) of Samaria; - Tobiah the Amorite official – Sanballat's hired hand; - Geshem the Arab – Sanballet's hired gun, hated the Jews. B. The form of opposition: - Mockery – they laughed at us and despised us (v.1 - Hatred – "despised us" - False accusations – "Will you rebel against the king?"

  5. C. Their motives: - Selfishness - Jealousy - Simmering bitterness. Ezra 4: 3, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”  D. Some things never change.

  6. III. The Ministry of Opposition. A. It caused Nehemiah to reevaluate. - His action was born in prayer (1:5-10; 2:4) - His action was confirmed by the willingness of the people. - His action had clearly been the will of God. - v.8 B. It caused Nehemiah to reaffirm. - He had called for dramatic action (v. 18a) - He had committed to that action ("us"; v. 18b) - He reaffirmed his intention to see that action through.

  7. C. It caused Nehemiah to recommit. (v.20 – "We His servants will arise and build…") - It made him have more confident than ever. - It made him be more determined than ever. - It made him to be more resolute. - It encouraged him to complete the task. D. The ministry of opposition should make us: - Reevaluate. - Reaffirm. - Recommit.

  8. IV. The Meeting of Opposition. A. Nehemiah was very firm! He stood his ground: - Invoked God's role in the affair – he prayed continually. - Publicly restarted his determination to see it through. - Refused to yield a bit of ground. - Wouldn't honor his opponents. B. Nehemiah thus provides us a pattern of what to do when opposition arises. -Reevaluate. -Reaffirm. -Recommit.

  9. Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

  10. Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

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