Grace Thoughts

Tim Kelley: Welcome to Grace Thoughts. I am your host, Tim Kelley. Today we are beginning a new series entitled Opposing Opposition. We will be looking at the book of Nehemiah, specifically chapter four, to see how we can stand firm when the world tries to push back against the call of God on our lives.

Nehemiah was a man with a mission. He had a heart for his people and a burden for the walls of Jerusalem. But as soon as he began to build, the critics began to speak. It is a pattern we see throughout Scripture and one we certainly see in our own lives today. When you step out in faith, you should expect a level of resistance.

Opposition often starts with ridicule. Sanballat and Tobiah did not start with swords; they started with words. They mocked the effort, calling the work feeble. They tried to undermine the confidence of the builders by making the task seem impossible or insignificant. If the enemy cannot stop you physically, he will try to stop you mentally.

Guest (Male): That is so true, Tim. I think many believers give up before they even get to the heavy lifting because the chatter becomes too loud. We listen to the voices of the critics instead of the voice of the Father. We forget that the work we are doing is not for our own glory, but for His.

Tim Kelley: Exactly. That is why Nehemiah’s response is so vital for us to study. He did not get into a shouting match with his enemies. He did not try to defend his reputation or explain his credentials. Instead, he turned his face toward God in prayer. He recognized that the battle was not actually his to fight.

In this first part of our study, we want to focus on the reality that opposition is often a sign of progress. If you were not doing anything significant, the enemy would not bother you. The fact that you are meeting resistance is often a confirmation that you are moving in the right direction. We have to learn to distinguish between a closed door and a contested one.

In Nehemiah 4:6, the Bible says the people had a mind to work. Despite the mocking, despite the threats, they kept their hands on the task. They did not let the external noise dictate their internal resolve. We must develop that same spiritual grit if we are going to finish the assignments God has given us in this season.

Join us for our next episode as we continue this discussion and look at how Nehemiah moved from handling verbal attacks to preparing for physical threats. Thank you for listening to Grace Thoughts. Remember to keep your eyes on the Promise-Giver rather than the problem. We will see you next time.