Failure

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No Failure in God
Failure Is Impossible. Nehemiah 6:16
Nehemiah 6:16 NIV
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Nehemiah chapter 6, is all about threats and deception coming from the enemies of God. 42,360 Jews came back to Jerusalem to make a difference. They didn’t come back to be defeated! You see, these enemies did their best to get Nehemiah off track. If not murdered in cold blood.
One verse for this mornings text—Nehemiah 6:16
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
What did God’s enemies hear? “They heard how God gave Nehemiah discernment and wisdom, to recognize his enemies.’ ‘Also in part, because of his surety in the Lord, Nehemiah received a strong spiritual back-bone.”

Whose Work are You Engaged In?

To Nehemiah, failure wasn’t an option; Nehemiah knew that his work was his calling.
He was called by God.
Galatians 1:10 ESV
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
You’re called to be a God pleaser.
He was called to rebuild, and to restore. Nehemiah 2:17
Nehemiah 2:17 ESV
Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”
Let is rise up and build....!
Nehemiah’s work existed because of someone’s prayer—you better believe someone had been interceding for Jerusalem.

God’s Work is Greater than anything Else

Listen to Nehemiah 6:1-4NIV
Nehemiah 6:1–4 NIV
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Don’t miss this, “Four times Nehemiah said the same answer.”
Again, Nehemiah 6:2-3
Nehemiah 6:2–3 ESV
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
“I’m doing a great work; I can’t come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?”
When God gives us a word, we should refuse everything else. We need to remember, That everything is inferior to God’s word—and God’s call.
2 Corinthians 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV
lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
It’s time to tell the devil and his schemes, “I’m carrying on a great project!”
Opposition came to Nehemiah in the form of deception and threats. The devil operates in many forms, some of his schemes operate with threats and deception.
Threats, because he’s the accuser of the brethren. Saten threatens you before God.
Deception, because that’s what his name means— satan—deceiver.
The enemy doesn’t give up easily. Listen to
Nehemiah 6:5–9 NLT
The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.

God Will Strengthen You to Carry Out His Work

God gave Nehemiah the strength to persevere in the face of opposition.
Verse 9 say’s, “So I continued the work with even greater determination.”
Is there a task you’re tempted to give up? Ask God to give you patience and perseverance.
Listen to the Apostle Paul’s conclusion of what faith produces in you. Romans 5:1-5
Romans 5:1–5 NLT
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Again, Romans 5:1, Expresses we have been made right in God’s sight by faith.
Faith pleases God, faith in God is—everything.
According to Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Nehemiah 6:15–16 ESV
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Keep the Faith....Let God Keep Score

In Nehemiah 6:17-19 the end of this chapter, The threats continued, the lies, and the deception didn’t let up.
Nehemiah 6:17–19 ESV
Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.
What did Nehemiah do? He just kept his faith and his confession.
1 John 5:4 ESV
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
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