Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Working in the Face of Opposition - Nehemiah 6:1-7:3

Bryan Schneider · October 19, 2019

Nehemiah 6:1

sharonrpc.org/sermons/working-in-the-face-of

Summary

Faithful work does not guarantee an easy life; Nehemiah faces repeated opposition even as Jerusalem's wall nears completion.
Sanballat and Geshem use invitations to distract and harm Nehemiah, but he refuses to leave the great work God has given him.
An open letter spreads invented accusations of rebellion in order to create fear and weaken the builders' hands.
A hired false prophet tries to lure Nehemiah into sinful self-protection, but Nehemiah tests the counsel against God's law and refuses.
God enables the wall to be completed in fifty-two days, yet opposition continues through divided loyalties and correspondence with Tobiah inside Judah.
Nehemiah appoints faithful, God-fearing leaders, while the sermon points finally to Christ, whose worth sustains believers through rejection and persecution.

What attractive invitation might actually be distracting me from work God has clearly given?
How do I respond when repeated rumors or accusations are designed to weaken my hands through fear?
Do I test spiritual-sounding counsel against Scripture before accepting it as a word from God?
Where might family, social, or financial loyalties divide my allegiance to Christ?
Do I value godliness above wealth, prestige, and influence when evaluating church leaders?
Is Christ precious enough to sustain obedience if faithfulness brings rejection, loss, or persecution?

Opposition: Resistance to faithful obedience through distraction, threats, false accusation, corrupt counsel, or divided loyalty.
Discernment: Recognizing a scheme or false message by comparing it with God's character, law, and appointed work.
Fear of God: Reverent loyalty to the Lord that outweighs fear of enemies and forms a central qualification for spiritual leadership.
Divided allegiance: Professed participation in God's work while maintaining loyalties that serve its opponents.
Persecution: Hostility or loss suffered because of allegiance to God and confession of Jesus Christ.