Finish well

Nehemiah 6:1-9

Session 8

Don’t waste your time- Finish well.

Nehemiah 6:1-9, Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), ² that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.”

But they thought to do me harm. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumours, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!”

Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” 9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.”

Introduction

What is the most important thing in your life? 1. Salvation 2. Time Time is a gift from God.

Lamentations 3:23, They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Stewardship of Salvation and Time are the most important. Devil isn’t worried about your dream! Devil is only worried about what you start to do! Value of time makes you not wasting your time. Everything and everybody are not worthy of spending your time God has gifted you!

1. Who? Nehemiah was nearing the completion of the wall when his enemies Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem tried to distract him by inviting him to meet in the plain of Ono. Their intention was not peace, but harm. Nehemiah discerned their scheme and refused to stop his work.

I don’t have time for that! Nehemiah is a good steward of his time! Nehemiah knows they are the enemies of God. One name always mentioned is Sanballat. They can’t support the work of God. They have proven that they are

• Enemies,
• Wasting the time,
• Threatening, and
• False accusation

Please don’t waste your time to get approval of someone.

• You can’t make someone to like you!
• You can’t make someone to think good about you.
• You can’t do anything to change their opinion about you!

You can’t amend by hanging around with them eating together and spending time to make amends. Someone will never like you because they have their own baggage at their home. They will try to show it on to you! Don’t waste your time!

When Nehemiah left Babylon with the approval from God. Also, he got favour from the king Artaxerxes. You don’t need approval of a committee, or group or someone but God. You and God are the majority.

2. Why?

Why did they wanted Nehemiah to come? The open letter which they sent says that he is making a rebellion against the king.

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem with the favour from the King Artaxerxes. King commissioned the work. Rumour does not match the reality. It is made up in your mind. I don’t have time to try reconciling with rumour with reality.

Life is filled with people who like to turn the rumour into reality. People speak some rumours in the public place, prayer meeting or home group or church gatherings which you don’t have to address. It is their imagination of their mind.

Don’t try to change their imagination. Do not try fight someone else imagination. The open letter says that Geshem says the same thing. Remember two liars’ statement does not make it true. Nehemiah says my job is not to address the rumours but I have an assignment from God to do!

Nehemiah 6:3, "So I sent messengers to them, saying, 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?'"

It is impossible to convince someone when they hold in their hands an apple and saying it is orange! It doesn’t matter what they believe in! Let them live in their rumour. But you live in your reality!

Can you stop the rumour? No way. You don’t know who started them. You don’t know how many people carried them.

How did Jesus manage the rumours?

Matthew 26:57-63, And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false

witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent.

Keep your mouth closed! But when Jesus was before Pilate, he repeatedly asked the question are you the king of Jews? Jesus simply answered whatever you say!

Think for a moment

When you stand before the Lord what does the Lord is going to ask you? Is Jesus is going to ask you what did do you with what I gave? Or Why didn’t you answer Melisa?

Why didn’t you answer billy? False accusations and misunderstandings are common in life. Whether in work, ministry, or relationships, people may spread lies or misinterpret our intentions. Like Nehemiah, we must stand firm in truth and not be swayed by false claims.

3. How?

How they approached Nehemiah?

• a) Coward.

Sanballat never went to Nehemiah directly! He always sends word through someone. If you someone has got a problem they should approach you directly. If someone has got something and they can’t come to you directly then it is nothing but cowardice.

Matthew 18:15, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Cowardly spirit makes you to say things to someone but not to the person concerned directly.

• b) Immaturity.

V 5, Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

Sanballat send an open letter instead of private letter. What should have been private matter Sanballat made it public. This was a public attempt to ruin his reputation and create fear among the people. This made people who have no concern also get to know.

• c) Threatening.

V 6-7, In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumours, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.

Sanballat threatening Nehemiah saying that he is going to inform the king about the rumour. Beloved life is too short to spend on these cowards, immature and threatening people! Pray to God that you will grow in discernment in understanding the coward, immature, and threatening spirit.

Don’t waste your time. Devil always try to engage with something which you don’t have engaged in.

Do you know the reason why? Ego! Ego says you want to right with everyone. Ego says if you want to be ugly I will also ugly. Devil will send such coward, immature and threatening people so that you will fall from the higher calling into the lower-level fighting.

Be an eagle!

4. What? They had asked Nehemiah to come to Ono, but he said Oh no! Ono is about 20 miles away from Jerusalem. Sanballat wanted Nehemiah to move far away from the place where God called him to be.

Devil will always try to trick you to take you away from the place where God has placed you. Don’t leave the place where God had assigned you to go elsewhere! Good or bad things will come to distract you from your assignment.

People have taken being busy is important. Are you busy with God or busy for God? Please note Nehemiah did not ask Sanballat to come to the wall so that I can work and still talk to you. Multitask! Multitask means that you are not giving 100% to someone.

There are certain areas multitask is fine but not all. Multitask is not right when you are doing the things of God. You can’t multitask in worship, bible reading, prayer etc., Understand the priorities of God and say NO to other things.

When you die there will be some works in your life!

When Michael Angelo died, he had left over 45 sculptures unfinished.

Practical Example

In life, distractions come in many forms—temptations, unnecessary engagements, or even people who try to pull us away from God’s calling. Like Nehemiah, we must stay focused and not allow distractions to hinder our mission.

The wall has been built only the door needs to be fixed. Whenever you are closer to the finish line the attack is severe! Whenever you are closer to God the attack will be more.

Conclusion

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, known for great ice creams. They started a subway system in 1910 by Henry Thomas Hunt for the value of 6 million Dollars. They started the work and stopped by 1927 when they ran out of funds. Then World War I happened. After that they attempted to rebuild but no change.

They built only 2 miles. No railway tracks only tunnels and stations.

2008 it was estimated that it will cost 19 million to close the tunnels with dirt but to maintain it will cost 2.6 million dollars. Once applauded as marvel today its still standing there as shame! Finish well! What you have started finish it!! Don’t get distracted.

Nehemiah’s enemies tried to instil fear in him, hoping he would abandon the work. They wanted to weaken his resolve so that the wall would remain unfinished. Instead of succumbing to fear, Nehemiah prayed for strength. V 9, "For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, 'Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.' Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands."

Fear can paralyze us from fulfilling God’s purpose. Whether facing criticism, financial struggles, or uncertainty, we must stand firm in faith and seek God’s strength through prayer.

Application

• Stay focused on God’s work. things on the earth."

Colossians 3:2, "Set your mind on things above, not on

• Reject negativity and false accusations. prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn."

Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you shall

• Overcome fear through faith. fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of

• Trust God for the outcome. and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, Nehemiah’s story reminds us that God’s work will always face opposition, but with faith, focus, and perseverance, we can overcome every challenge.