Dealing with Discouragement
Notes
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Dealing with Discouragement
Dealing with Discouragement
Dealing with Discouragement
Main Scripture Text:
Main Scripture Text:
Date Preached: October 8, 1978
Main Scripture Text:
“And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”
“And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
I. The Curse of Discouragement
I. The Curse of Discouragement
II. The Cause of Discouragement
II. The Cause of Discouragement
A. They Were Worn Out
A. They Were Worn Out
B. They Were Weighted Down
B. They Were Weighted Down
C. They Were Wrought Up
C. They Were Wrought Up
III. The Cure for Discouragement
III. The Cure for Discouragement
A. Nehemiah Armed his People
A. Nehemiah Armed his People
B. Nehemiah Assured his People
B. Nehemiah Assured his People
C. Nehemiah Aroused his People
C. Nehemiah Aroused his People
D. Nehemiah Applied his People
D. Nehemiah Applied his People
E. Nehemiah Assembled his People
E. Nehemiah Assembled his People
F. Nehemiah Admonished his People
F. Nehemiah Admonished his People
Conclusion
Conclusion
Introduction
Introduction
Nehemiah chapter 4—we are talking today on this subject: “Dealing With Discouragement.”
Now, folks, God has given us a great job here. We’re together in a program called Together We Build, and by the grace of God we’re going to build a marvelous multi-ministry center. This center will provide space for hundreds of children—preschoolers—so Mom and Dad can come and hear the Word of God preached. Also, it will provide space for literally hundreds and thousands, we trust, of adults who will be able to hear the Word of God preached and taught in seminars. Also, there will be a media center, where books and tapes and videocassettes can be seen and viewed and checked out. And there will be a counseling center, and all kinds of things to help to get the job done. This building is not something extraneous; this building is not something frivolous; it is a tool to help us to get the job done that our Lord is calling us to do. And so we’re in a program together called Together We Build. And we’re asking all of our people to give sacrificially, to pray earnestly, and to work tirelessly to get this job done.
Today, we’re going to talk about another of the devil’s methods to stop the work of God. And the title of the message today is “Dealing With Discouragement.” Verse 7:
And so I have chosen to preach through the book of Nehemiah, because I don’t know of a better book that parallels what we’re trying to do or points out needs any greater than the book of Nehemiah. We said that any work for God is going to be met with opposition from the devil—any work for God. When God’s people say, “Let us rise up and build,” () the devil will say, “Let’s rise up and stop them.” And when God’s people have a mind to work, the devil has a mind to wreck. And so, last week we talked about one of the ways that the devil tries to stop the work of God—and that is by ridicule. And we spoke last week on this subject: “Reacting to Ridicule.”
7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious.
8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion.
9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.
10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.
Nehemiah 4:
Now, today, we’re going to talk about another of the devil’s methods to stop the work of God. And the title of the message today is “Dealing With Discouragement.” Verse 7: “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,”—now, boys and girls, that means they were really angry—“and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.” ()
Here’s the first discouraging note in the whole book. Judah says, “We can’t do it. It can’t be done. We’re not able to finish what we started. We’re not able to build the wall.”
and then verse 11
11 Our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.”
Here’s the first discouraging note in the whole book. Judah says, “We can’t do it. It can’t be done. We’re not able to finish what we started. We’re not able to build the wall.” And then, verse 11: “And our adversaries said,”—that is, “our enemies”—“They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” ()
Nehemiah
I. The Curse of Discouragement
I. The Curse of Discouragement
Now here they could not say they had never heard a discouraging word, because here was one—and it was a big one.
I want us to talk about “Dealing with Discouragement.” And, first of all, I want us to think very briefly about the curse of discouragement; a little more in length about the cause of discouragement; and then spend most of the lesson focused on the cure for discouragement.
Very briefly—the curse of discouragement. I want to tell you that, next to ridicule, I believe that discouragement is the devil’s chief tool. Some people think that it is the chief tool of the devil.
Remember the legend I shared in the e-mail:
There’s a legend that tells about the devil one day, who was auctioning off his tools—you know, the tools that he wrecks every work of God with—and he had all of his tools out there. There was pride, and the price on pride. And there was laziness, and there was arrogance, and there was hate, and there was envy, and there was jealousy, and all of these tools. And he had a high price on all of them. But there was one tool that had a sign under it: “Not for Sale”—sort of a strange looking tool. And someone said, “What is that tool, and why isn’t it for sale?” He said, “Well, I couldn’t afford to get rid of that one. That’s my chief tool. It’s discouragement.” And the friend said, “Well, why is it so important?” “Well,” he said, “with this tool I can get into a heart and pry it open. And once I get into that heart, I can do most anything I want. Discouragement is my chief tool.”
I know that more damage can be done by discouragement than almost any other thing. And, you know, good people can get discouraged. Did you know that if you’re not careful, even you could get discouraged? Did you know that?
I want us to notice who it was that got discouraged. Look in verse 10: “And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.” ()
Who said this? Judah said it. Well, who is Judah?
That was the chief tribe. These were the best of the best. Judah was the cream of the crop. Judah was the dominant tribe. They were the leaders. It was of the tribe of Judah that our Lord would come. And Judah was the one who said, “It can’t be done.” That would be like Pastor Bill saying, “It can’t be done.” That would be like our staff saying, “It can’t be done.”
I’ll tell you, the best of people can get discouraged. And, oh, when you’re discouraged, the devil is on your trail—the curse of discouragement.
II. The Cause of Discouragement
II. The Cause of Discouragement
I want to leave that and now go on and talk about the cause of discouragement in a little more length. Actually, there were three causes of discouragement that are very evident right here in this passage. Look, if you will, please, in verse 10:
10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.
11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.”
“And Judah said, The strength of the laborer fails,”—that is, they were worn out—“and there is so much rubble”—that is, they were weighted down. And verse 11: “And our enemies (or adversaries) said, They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” () They were wrought up.
A. They Were Worn Out
A. They Were Worn Out
Think of it this way, when you get worn out, weighted down, and wrought up, you’re going to get discouraged, as well.
Now that’s just a fact of the enemy.
In the first place, they were worn out. They were working, and they were working hard. And, you see, they got worn out right in the middle of the job.
Now they weren’t really all that tired; they were more psychologically tired than anything else, because we’re going to see in a moment that Nehemiah put them right back to work. They weren’t as tired as they thought they were, but they lost their zest for work. Verse 6 tells us that the wall was halfway built; it was halfway up.
And, folks, when we come close to getting it done, when we’re about ready to get all done, everybody will say, “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Isn’t this glorious?” But, you know, the most dangerous time is when it’s half-done. Right when you’re in the middle, that’s when you get so discouraged. Halfway is always the most discouraging time.
Did you every try and climb a mountain—be out with the kids and out there on vacation somewhere—and they say, “Dad, there’s a little mountain: let’s climb it”? It doesn’t look very far at the top; but you get about halfway, and you turn around and look back, and then you look up, and you say, “Kids, I think God’s calling us back.”
You know, it’s halfway that’s a very dangerous time. You just kind of get tired halfway. Did you ever buy a new car and you were so thrilled with a new car? When does the new wear off? When it’s about half paid for. And the new wears off. You get right in the middle.
In your marriage, you know, when you first married, that’s fine. And when the older folks, you know, they get old, they’ve learned to get along. But, oh, those times in middle age, you know, that time—the difference between “I do” and “you’d better”—I mean, right there in the middle, when the job is just half-done, that’s when discouragement comes.
Middle age in life is a time of discouragement. It really is. Did you know a lot of men and women get in difficulty when they’re at that strange period of time known as middle age? And I’ve always kind of laughed at that. You ask a man fifty-five years old, “How old are you?” and he’d say, “Well, I’m middle-aged.” How many 110-year-old people do you know?
But anyway, we call it middle age, you know. And that’s the time—that’s the time, folks—when we get in trouble. That’s the time when King David got in trouble: at that time called middle age—when the wall is half-built.
Listen now carefully.
Here were some people who were worn out. They were physically and emotionally debilitated. And when you get worn out, when you get physically and emotionally debilitated, then the devil is going to be on your trail. And it would behoove you to keep yourself physically strong, emotionally stout and spiritually rich.
I like what one man said. He was a French philosopher. He said, “I have so much to do today, I simply must go to bed.” Well, you take care of yourself: emotionally, physically and spiritually.
B. They Were Weighted Down
B. They Were Weighted Down
Here they were—number one: They were worn out. Number two: They were weighted down.
They had a task to do. And rather than seeing it one step at a time and doing as the Lord Jesus Christ taught us to do—to live one day at a time, and day-type compartments:
34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
—they saw all of this rubbish, they saw all of this trash, they saw all of this debris, and they said, “We’ll never get the job done. It’s just too big. It can’t be done.”
Well, if you look at the total job and think you have to do it in one day, it can’t be done.
“Life’s hard by the yard; by the inch, it’s a cinch.”
They did get it done, but they were discouraged; they were burdened down.
Question:
“Does it just seem like everything’s piling up on you?”
Now I mean, you’re never going to get it done. I’m talking about in your personal life...
You’ve got a life to build.
You’ve got a life to build.
You’ve got a character to build.
You’ve got a marriage to build.
You’ve got a business to build.
We’re all builders. And, you see, it sometimes piles up, and we think that we’ll never get it done; there’s just too much.
But it can be done; it will be done; it shall be done.
But they were weighted down.
And incidentally, it can’t be done until the rubbish is removed. Look again in verse 10.
10 In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.
Do you know, one of the hardest jobs is not laying the bricks; it’s removing the trash.
Do you know, one of the hardest jobs is not laying the bricks; it’s removing the trash. And most of us don’t want to do that. We don’t want to do the legwork—the dirty work, the hard work. Oh, a lot of us like to see the positive things. But, folks, look—the trash has to be removed.
And most of us don’t want to do that. We don’t want to do the legwork—the dirty work, the hard work. Oh, a lot of us like to see the positive things.
But, look—the trash has to be removed.
Now, what’s he talking about here? It was literal, physical debris.
But there are all kinds of trash that have to be removed then to work for God.
There’s a lot of theological trash that needs to be removed.
There’s a lot of moral trash that needs to be removed.
There’s a lot of organizational junk that needs to be removed.
There’s a lot of traditional trash that needs to be gotten out of the way so that we can get back down to the bedrock of God’s Word and do what God would tell us to do.
In an older city in America there was a land developer who bought a city dump. And for years and years and years, the city put their garbage and the trash in that city dump. But he purchased it, and he hauled in some dirt and some landfill, and spread that dirt out over that trash and just sort of loosely tamped it down. This was back before the zoning laws were real strict in that city. And then he put in streets and curves and sidewalks—subdivided it. They built beautiful homes, and people moved in, and it was as beautiful a neighborhood as you’ll ever see. But then suddenly the subsoil began to shift, the window sills began to crack, the roofs began to sag, the sidewalk started to buckle, the streets cracked, the curbs broke, and people just moved out, except for just a few people who continued to live there. The old-timers who had lived in that community just shook their heads, because they knew what had happened. Those people had built their homes on garbage.
Think on this, you can’t build your home on garbage.
You can’t build your life on trash.
And sometimes it’s hard to get right down to bedrock.
But we have to do it.
We have to do it if we’re going to build anything that will last. And sometimes it seems tedious. Sometimes we just like to go ahead and do it the cheap way, the easy way.
But there is no cheap way; there is no easy way to serve God.
C. They Were Wrought Up
C. They Were Wrought Up
Suffice it to say that they were discouraged, first of all, because they were worn out; secondly, because they were weighted down; and, thirdly, because they were wrought up.
In the midst of this, the devil came. Now there was a conspiracy against the people of God. All of these people got together, and they were energized by the devil.
And they said to the Jews who were building, “Look, you don’t know when we’re coming. It may be night; it may be day; but sometime, somewhere, when you’re least expecting it, you’re going to hear us say, ‘Surprise! The enemy has attacked.’ ” Now that’s exactly what they’re saying here in verse 11:
11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.”
“And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” ()
Now it’s bad enough that they were worn out.
It was bad enough that they were weighted down.
But now they’re wrought up.
The enemy is just keeping things in turmoil.
I want to tell you the kind of a friend you have in the devil.
If you were in quicksand, he’d be glad to pat you on the head.
He knows just when you are in difficulty.
He knows just when you’re physically and emotionally debilitated.
He knows just when you’ve got more than you can do.
He knows when things are about to cave in your work, in your home, in your family.
And it’s that time that he moves in with some threat to take away your security.
I don’t know what kind of security he’ll take away: maybe it will be your physical health; maybe it will be your job; maybe it will be finances—whatever it is; but he says, “I’m going to strike—and when I strike, I strike hard.”
And, oh, when that happens, you can get so discouraged—when your security is taken away.
These people did not feel secure at any moment.
They knew that there was danger from somewhere.
And do you know who added to it?
I hate to say this, but did you know that there were some of the people of God who helped the enemy? Look at verse 12, if you will:
12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, they attack us.”
That is, “Look out! They’re going to get you.”
“And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them”—by who? By the adversaries—“came, they said unto us ten times,”—they said it over and over and over and over again—“From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.” () That is, “Look out! They’re going to get you.”
Who said this?
Who were these bearers of bad tidings?
Some of the Jews’ own brethren said that.
Do you know the hardest thing for me to face as a pastor?
It’s not what the enemy does out there, but it is people within the camp who say, “It can’t be done.”
One pastor was talking to another pastor about committees in the church, and this pastor said, “Do you have any standing committees in your church?” “Why,” he said, “sure. I’ve got twelve standing. I’ve got six sitting. I’ve got three that are lying down. We even have a bucket committee.” He said, “Well, what’s a bucket committee?” “Oh,” he said, “that’s a committee that, whenever we get ready to do anything for God, these people come in and pour cold water on the idea. Don’t you have a bucket committee in your church?” And the other pastor said, “Well, come to think of it, I do. As a matter of fact, I could tell you who the chairman is.”
Hear me and my heart on this...
Don’t serve on the bucket committee. Don’t you do it!
Don’t be those who are coming in saying, “Well, it can’t work; it’s not going to work.”
The devil always uses someone within the crowd to discourage and say, “It cannot be done.”
You’ll either be a helper or you’ll be a hurter. You’ll be part of the problem or you’ll be part of the solution.
One man said, “How many active members do you have in your church?” He said, “They’re all active. Some are building, and some are tearing down; but they’re all active.” Don’t be like these guys in verse 12.
Again...
Here was the cause of discouragement: they were worn out; they were weighted down; and they were wrought up. And the devil had them just where he wanted them.
III. The Cure for Discouragement
III. The Cure for Discouragement
Now, the third and final thing I want you to notice is the cure for discouragement.
What a leader Nehemiah was!
Oh, what a man of God Nehemiah was!
God knew what He was doing when He called Nehemiah to lead these people to rebuild the walls. And I want us to notice six steps that Nehemiah took as he wanted to re-encourage those who had been discouraged. And he wanted to give them courage to do the task.
I want us to notice what he did.
A. Nehemiah Armed his People
A. Nehemiah Armed his People
Number one: He armed his people. Look in verse 13:
13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.
Now if there’s an enemy, we need to be armed.
“Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.” () Now if there’s an enemy, we need to be armed. And to be forewarned is to be forearmed. And so Nehemiah said, “You take your spears, and you take your swords, and you take your bows, and you arm yourself.”
And to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
And so Nehemiah said, “You take your spears, and you take your swords, and you take your bows, and you arm yourself.”
Now, it is sheer insanity to go against the enemy without your armor.
The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 6, verse 11,
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
Do you know what your armor is?
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” () “Having done all, to stand.” () Do you know what your armor is? Have you ever learned the weapons that God has given you to stand against the enemy? “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” () I’m going to be speaking tonight on the weapons of our warfare, so I’ll just skip that a little bit, because I’m going to elucidate and amplify that a little bit more tonight. But the first thing he did: He armed his people. That’s what I’m trying to do right now. I’m trying to arm you, prepare you, and get you ready for the impact of the enemy.
Have you ever learned the weapons that God has given you to stand against the enemy?
4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments
The first thing he did: He armed his people.
That’s what I’m trying to share with you all right now.
I’m trying to arm you, prepare you, and get you ready for the impact of the enemy.
B. Nehemiah Assured his People
B. Nehemiah Assured his People
Nehemiah was a good leader, and the first thing he did—verse 13: He armed his people.
The second thing he did: He assured his people. Look in verse 14:
14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”
Don’t you like that?
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Don’t be discouraged; don’t be full of fear:
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
“And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD.” () Don’t you like that? Oh, friend, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” () Don’t be aroused; don’t be dismayed; don’t be full of fear: “Be … not afraid of them: remember the LORD.” “If God be for us, who can be against us?” () For he has said, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” () “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.” ()
Don’t be dismayed; don’t be full of fear: “Be … not afraid of them: remember the LORD.” “If God be for us, who can be against us?” () For he has said, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” () “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.” ()
For he has said,
6 Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
31 but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.
For he has said, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” () “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.” ()
Let’s be honest and answer this from our heart:
Friend, are you tired? Are you afraid? Are you wrought up? Think on the Lord. “Remember the LORD.” Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I’ll give it to you in a nutshell: You’ve taken your eyes off God. That’s it. That is it. You’ve taken your eyes of God.
Are you tired?
Are you afraid?
Are you wrought up?
Think on the Lord. “Remember the LORD.”
Question:
"Why do you so easily get discouraged?”
I’ll give it to you in a nutshell: You’ve taken your eyes off God. That’s it. That is it. You’ve taken your eyes of God.
Robert Louis Stevenson told about some people who were on a ship, and the ship was tossed into turbulent sea, and the passengers were afraid that they were going down. They were all huddled together in a cabin room beneath the decks. It was so rough that no one could stay on the decks. But one passenger made up his mind he was going to really find out the state the ship. And so he made his way out, and just clinging to the railing and with his face in the teeth of the storm, he made his way up to the pilothouse. And there he saw the pilot standing at the wheel of that ship, and the pilot saw the passenger and realized how fearful his heart must be; and the pilot, without speaking a word, just turned and smiled at him. The passenger didn’t ask a question; he just went back down and told the rest of the passengers, “We’re going to be all right. I’ve seen the face of the captain, and he smiled at me.”
Let me put it this way...have you actively sought out the face of your Lord lately?
Have you?
Do you know the smile of Jesus in the midst of your storm?
Do you know what Nehemiah would tell you? “Remember the LORD.”
Look full in His face.
I want to tell you, Jesus Christ is still at the helm, and there is no panic in heaven, only plans.
C. Nehemiah Aroused his People
C. Nehemiah Aroused his People
Now, what did he do? He armed his people. He assured his people. And then he aroused his people.
I want you to look at the next part of verse 14, if you will, here.
14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”
And he said, “Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
And he said, “Fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” () What a leader he was! How he knew how to stir the hearts of men and women! And how he aroused them one more time to the task! He said, “I want you to get everything in focus. We are not just simply building walls; we’re not simply building gates; we’re fighting for everything that we hold dear. You remember your wives. You remember your children. You remember your brethren. You remember your homes.”
What a leader he was! How he knew how to stir the hearts of men and women!
And how he aroused them one more time to the task!
He said, “I want you to get everything in focus. We are not just simply building walls; we’re not simply building gates; we’re fighting for everything that we hold dear. You remember your wives. You remember your children. You remember your families. You remember your homes.”
Somebody says, “Well, I’m not excited about building a building.” Well, I’m not, either. Somebody says, “I’m not excited about raising money.” Well, I’m not, either. But I do want to remember our kids. I do want to remember our brethren, our wives, and our homes. We’re in the business of transforming lives, not building walls. That’s what Nehemiah was saying. You look beyond the walls to the purpose. We’ve got a job to do. We’re not dealing in brick and mortar; we’re dealing in flesh and blood. And Nehemiah arouses people. I pray God, “O God, give me the ability to arouse this people!” Man, what would happen—you just look around—what would happen if all of the people of Bellevue, and all of the friends of Bellevue, are really aroused, and we saw the issues as they are? He armed his people. He assured his people. He aroused his people. It costs to be aroused. A lot of people don’t want to get involved.
That’s what Nehemiah was saying.
You look beyond the walls to the purpose. We’ve got a job to do.
We’re not dealing in brick and mortar; we’re dealing in flesh and blood. And Nehemiah arouses people. I pray God, “O God, give me the ability to arouse this people!” Man, what would happen—you just look around—what would happen if all of the people of Bellevue, and all of the friends of Bellevue, are really aroused, and we saw the issues as they are? He armed his people. He assured his people. He aroused his people. It costs to be aroused. A lot of people don’t want to get involved.
C. S. Lewis said one of the most poignant things I’ve ever read—I want to read it to you.
Listen carefully: “To love at all is to be vulnerable.”
Again: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
Think on this… “The only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all of the dangers of love is hell.”
You think on that.
Nehemiah says, “You think of other people. And you run the risk of loving. And don’t you lock your heart away in some safe little casket, and live in luxuries and pleasures.”
It costs to love. But it’s worth it to love.
He aroused his people.
D. Nehemiah Applied his People
D. Nehemiah Applied his People
And the next thing he did: He applied his people. I want you to notice, beginning in verse 15:
15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall.
Aren’t you glad that we have a book that can tell us what the enemy is up to?
Aren’t you glad that we have a book that can tell us what the enemy is up to? And the enemy knows that we know. And that makes me feel good that he knows that we know. We know what he’s up to. And what did Nehemiah do? He said, “Just get back to the work.” Do you know what one of the cures for discouragement is? Work. Just plain work. Look, folks—don’t wait till you feel like it to do what you ought to do. We talked about this Wednesday night. You cannot feel your way into a work for God, but you can work your way into a feeling. Just go to work. And one of the cures for discouragement is not to look at the whole job, but just to take that place, that thing that God has assigned you, and do what God wants you to do, and do it today. And don’t think that the burden is too big for you. Your burdens are not too big for you. You may not be big enough for the burden, but God will make you big enough for the burden. Listen. God’s not going to allow you to be tempted above that you’re able. ()
And the enemy knows that we know.
And that makes me feel good that he knows that we know.
We know what he’s up to.
And what did Nehemiah do? He said, “Just get back to the work.”
Do you know what one of the cures for discouragement is?
Work. Just plain work.
Look, don’t wait till you feel like it to do what you ought to do.
Just go to work.
And one of the cures for discouragement is not to look at the whole job, but just to take that place, that thing that God has assigned you, and do what God wants you to do, and do it today.
And don’t think that the burden is too big for you. Your burdens are not too big for you.
You may not be big enough for the burden, but God will make you big enough for the burden.
Someone has well said, “He tempers the wind to the shore and land. The Lord knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. And you just go back to work wherever your place along the wall is, whatever it is that God has called you to do. I don’t want you to quit.”
Someone has well said, “He tempers the wind to the shore and land. The Lord knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. And you just go back to work wherever your place along the wall is, whatever it is that God has called you to do. I don’t want you to quit.”
He just applied his people.
There are battles to fight,
By day and by night
For God and the right
and I’ll never let go!
I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
I’m sick, ’tis true,
And worried and blue
And worn through and through
But I won’t let go.
I want to let go, but I won’t let go.
I will never yield.
He said, “Don’t let go. Don’t stop. You go right back on the wall.”
What? Lie down on the field
And surrender my shield?
No, I’ll never let go!
I want to let go; but I won’t let go.
May this be my song
’Mid legions of wrong,
And do you know what he told them to do?
O God, keep me strong
So I’ll never let go.
—AUTHOR UNKNOWN
He said, “You put a sword in one hand and you put a trowel in the other: you’re to be building and battling at the same time.”
There’s a balance in the Bible—and that is building and battling; a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other.
He just applied his people. He said, “Don’t let go. Don’t stop. You go right back on the wall.” And do you know what he told them to do? He said, “You put a sword in one hand and you put a trowel in the other: you’re to be building and battling at the same time.” Now that’s the kind of church I want. There are some churches that are afraid to speak out against evil. There are some churches that are afraid to take a stand against sin. They don’t want to hurt anybody. They try to please everybody, and they end up pleasing the devil most of all. Then there are other churches. They live to fight while they fight to live. I mean, that’s all they do. They fight, fight, fight, fight; attack, attack, attack, attack; and they’re negative, and they’re unwholesome and unholy. There’s a balance in the Bible—and that is building and battling; a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other.
E. Nehemiah Assembled his People
E. Nehemiah Assembled his People
Now, the fifth thing that he did in order to cure their discouragement is he assembled his people. Look, if you will, beginning in verse 19:
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall.
20 Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”
Nehemiah
And when did God fight for them?
When God’s people came together. There’s something mighty wonderful about unity!
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
()
There is no substitute for the public assembly.
There’s nothing like this any place else in the world, where God’s people meet together like this.
That’s the reason the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 25,
25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Jesus said in , verse 20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” ()
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is.” () And this television ministry is absolutely no substitute for church attendance. And this radio ministry is absolutely no substitute for church attendance. God bless those who cannot get to a church—that’s what the ministry is for. But it is never meant to be a substitute for being in God’s house on God’s day with God’s people. For the Bible says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.”
You say, “What’s the difference, Brother Rogers? I can hear the same message at home.” Listen. I’ll tell you the difference. Jesus said in , verse 20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” () There’s a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that He is not in any other sense. You cannot get it the same way at home. There’s something about the Spirit of God where God’s people come together. Nehemiah knew that. He said, “We’re all spread out on the walls; but when you hear the trumpet sound, you come together.” There’s a time when we need to meet together for information. There’s a time we need to meet together for inspiration. There’s a time we need to meet together for exhortation and organization. We need to get together. It’s not the same being out there somewhere.
There’s a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that He is not in any other sense.
You cannot get it the same way at home.
There’s something about the Spirit of God where God’s people come together.
Nehemiah knew that. He said, “We’re all spread out on the walls; but when you hear the trumpet sound, you come together.”
There’s a time when we need to meet together for information.
There’s a time we need to meet together for inspiration.
There’s a time we need to meet together for exhortation and organization.
We need to get together. It’s not the same being out there somewhere.
I heard about a fellow who courted a girl this way. He wrote her a letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her. So he wrote her a beautiful love note every day for two years. Do you know what happened? She married the mailman.
There’s nothing like being there, and nothing like that personal contact.
Now, look—why do we meet together? To exhort one another.
As the days get more treacherous, the Bible says we’re not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:”—that means “building up one another, encouraging one another”—“and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” ()
F. Nehemiah Admonished his People
F. Nehemiah Admonished his People
All right, the sixth and final thing that Nehemiah did: Not only did he assemble his people; he admonished his people. He gave them a warning. I want you to look again, beginning in verse 21:
20 Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”
21 So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out.
22 At that time, I also said to the people, “Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
23 And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.
Now, what does all this mean?
“So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.” ()
Now, what does all this mean? Well, among other things, it means this: that Nehemiah, after he had armed them, and after he had assured them, and after he had aroused them, and after he had applied them, and after he, dear friends, had done these other things, he admonished them. And he said, “Now, you be careful. Don’t you go out there wandering around outside the walls after night.”
Well, among other things, it means this: that Nehemiah, after he had armed them, and after he had assured them, and after he had aroused them, and after he had applied them, and after he had done these other things, he admonished them.
And he said, “Now, you be careful. Don’t you go out there wandering around outside the walls after night.”
You see, look—there’s a beautiful balance to what Nehemiah did. He did the same thing that Peter did when he said,
8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
He admonished them.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” () He admonished them. Now, look, folks—I know what the devil is up to. I know the devil would like to stop this work for God. I know that. And he’s ready for the slightest let-up at any time. I like what one man said to his friend. He said, “Don’t you let up, shut up, or back up, until your taken up.” I think that’s what Nehemiah would say to us.
Now, look, I know what the devil is up to.
I know the devil would like to stop this work for God. I know that.
And he’s ready for the slightest let-up at any time.
I like what one man said to his friend. He said, “Don’t you let up, shut up, or back up, until your taken up.” I think that’s what Nehemiah would say to us.
Look—be sober; be vigilant. Let’s stay on our knees.
Let’s keep our face in His Word.
Let’s keep loving one another.
Let’s be deathly afraid of sin.
Let’s keep on the whole armor of God.
Let’s not be careless.
Let’s stay together.
Let’s love unconditionally.
Let’s believe and trust God.
And together, God’s people will see great things done.
I tell you, the most thrilling thing on earth is to be a part of a church when the glory of God is on it, battling, with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other hand, and the glory of God over them. What a thrill it is!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Ernest Hemingway, a great prize-winning author, said this—one of the most tragic statements I’ve ever read. And incidentally, Ernest Hemingway died of suicide. Here’s what he said: “Life is just a dirty trick, a short journey from nothingness to nothingness. There is no remedy for anything in life. Man’s destiny in the universe is like a colony of ants on a burning log.”
Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” () I’m no ant on a burning log. I’m a son of God, a child of God, destined for the glories, and I’m having a wonderful time getting there.
I choose today to battle discouragement in my life. To not allow the enemy to use that “tool” on my heart. I pray that we do this by understanding the Curse, recognizing the Cause and then unleashing the power of the Holy Spirit as the Cure!
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:34 PM October 22, 2019.