October 26 - Opposition.

Nehemiah 2:19
“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
 
The Plea
Nehemiah 2:17
“Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.”
 
As Nehemiah shared his burden with the people, he pleaded with them to help rebuild the wall. When we share our God given vision, He will send people to help us accomplish it.
 
The Preparation
Nehemiah 2:18
“Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
 
There were people who wanted to help with the purpose of the task. They did not go into it unprepared; they strengthened their hands for the work ahead. We must strengthen our hands and our hearts for the work God has given us to do.
 
The Pessimists
Nehemiah 2:19
“But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?”
 
Nehemiah ran into opposition as word began to spread about their God given task. Sanballat and his friends laughed at and despised the workers. They even asked this sarcastic question that was filled with scorn and disdain.
 
When we set out to do something for the Lord, there will be opposition. Nehemiah and his crew did not let it stop them, and neither should we. Oftentimes, the opposition comes from those we least expect. The devil knows that the people we are closest to have the most influence over us, and if he can get them to question our God given task he most certainly will.
 
The Response
Nehemiah 2:20
“Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”
 
The first four words of Nehemiah’s answer are exactly how we should respond to our opposition…”The God of heaven”. He did not respond with I or we because he knew that the task was not about them…it was all about Him. If God gives us a task to complete for Him, nothing can stop us.
 
Acts 5:39
“But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to
fight against God.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 25-26  |  Philippians 2 |  Psalm 88