What is the most prized possession? ?

Nehemiah 6:1-9

Nehemiah 6:1-9 Salvation Time Salvation is costed everything to God. Salvation is free from God for us. Don’t ever lose the joy of Salvation

Hebrews 2:3, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Philippians 2:12, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

1 Peter 1:8-9, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy

inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Time is another great possession. God has deposited a certain amount of time in our account. Be a good steward of time. Mercies are new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23, Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Are you worthy of the gift of time God has given you?

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.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

538 B.C, Cyrus, Persian Empire took over from Babylonians. In his first year of reign, he declared an edict to the Jews whoever want to go back to their homeland may leave. Around 50,000 Jews left under the leadership of Zerubbabel after their captivity of 70 years in Babylon to Jerusalem.

When they returned, they find out that it is not the same place where they left. All the splendour and glory of the place is gone!

City of David become city of ruins.

• Temple destroyed.
• Gates burned.
• Walls broken.

Zerubbabel and the people built the temple. 20 years they built the temple. 100 years passed by! Artaxerxes I send another set of people with Ezra back to Israel to revival and worship. 14 years later word gets back to the kingdom that even though the temple has been built the walls of the city has not been built.

This word comes to the servant of Artaxerxes known as Nehemiah who was a cup bearer to the king. Not a good job anyone wants to have. Nehemiah was depressed hearing the news. Artaxerxes sent him with soldiers and materials and favour of the king.

Nehemiah gets the opposition when he comes to Jerusalem. Sanballat, Tobiah, Gorshom.

They were always working against Nehemiah building the wall.

Nehemiah 4:1-3, But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

They joined forces with Arab and Ashdodites to fight against the Jewish people building the wall.

Nehemiah 4:7-8, Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.

What did Nehemiah asked the people to do? Pray! And Perceiver!!

Nehemiah 4:16, So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the

spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armour; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.

Nehemiah 4:18, Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. In ⁵² days, they built the wall. The walls which were in ruin for years have been rebuilt.

The only thing pending is they need to fix the door on the walls. The chapter 6 begins at this point. The word gets to these three people, Sanballat, Tobiah, Gorshom. They sent messages to Nehemiah come let us talk.

How many times? Five times. They want him to come and spend some time with them. Nehemiah replies saying I do not have time for that! Nehemiah being a good steward of time he refuses to waste his time with them.

He knew he is doing the work of God that has great importance. God has given you the gift of time we should not waste it.

1. Who is making the request your time? Nehemiah knew Sanballat, Tobiah, and Gorshom are the enemies of the work of God. Sanballat always in the list and first in the list. Why to waste your time those who proven that they cannot support of the work of God in your life?

Do not waste your time on people who are not going to like anyway. You do not have waste your time on whether people like you or not. Some people never like you no matter what you do. Some people are not going to believe in the work what the Lord has called you to do.

People are not worthy of your time God has given you.

Why do they want Nehemiah to come? The letter reads as Gorshom told me!

You are trying to rebel against the king. Nehemiah left for Jerusalem with the favour of King Artaxerxes. The accusation is totally against the reality of life. V 8, Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”

Do not waste your time to reconcile the rumour in your imagination against the reality. Life is filled with people who makes the rumour into reality! There are people who speak in their homes, beauty parlour, shopping mall with their imagination and makes that rumour into reality.

You do not have to waste your God given time in addressing their wild imaginative story. When someone convinced in themselves by holding an apple in their hands but arguing that they are holding an orange! People let them think what they want, People let them convince in their head whatever they want, You please do not waste your time God has gifted you!

You will never be able to correct the rumours. When you do correct people will say that you are lying. Also, how many people you will be able to say that you are right? You do not know how many people have got the rumour!

So sometime the best thing you need to be silent. Jesus was confronted by Pilate, Jesus said whatever!

2. You will not be judged based on the opinion of

others. People’s opinion about you does not matter in the presence of God.

Luke 16:15, And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

God will not judge you based on how many people spoke ill about you.

How many rumours spread on you?

How many people came for the service?

How many good reports you got from the people?

3. How they approach you? You see they always approach through someone else not directly. They are cowards! They do not speak to you directly. Sanballat always approaches through someone else not directly. He sends out letter through someone else.

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

What was supposed to be a private matter now they made it public.

The colleague in your office copies the email to everyone in the company! Now the matter is known to all those who have no business with that. People are invited to the party they have no knowledge. This shows their immaturity.

Also, the letter gives another dimension. If you do not speak to me then I will go and tell the king. It is a threat! Do not waste your time on people who are,

• Coward,
• Immaturity, and
• Threat with fear. 4. Enemies touches your ego.

Enemy has a way of come and get you by touching your ego. Nobody is going to talk to me like that. Sanballat sends the threatening letter to Nehemiah so that it will hurt his ego.

Nehemiah has been called to do a great work for God, but the enemy is trying to bring him to the gutter level problem. So that he will lose his focus and get involved in the petty menial things.

Psalms 27:1-7, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

The Lord will fight for you!

5. What they want you do?

V 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. The meeting they wanted to have the meeting at ono, Nehemiah says oh no!

Where is ono? 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem in the plains.

Why journey? Pull Nehemiah to pull you as far as possible to the Lord’s work. So that Nehemiah will get distracted and they can disturb the work. The enemy always tries to take you away from the call!

Nehemiah had two options

• a. Stay on the wall.
• b. Go away 20 miles.

Either stay where God wants him to carry out the task Or go to a place where God has not called him to be there. Demonic distraction on your life everyday so that you will be distracted from your primary calling upon your life.

Many Christians think and convinced themselves being busy for God is the best way to serve God. If I speak to someone how busy you are? This shows that they are convinced that they are busy by doing all the things. Why did not Nehemiah asked them to come speak with them?

People are so keen on multi-tasking! Multi-tasking is fine in some jobs but not when you are doing for God. When you are worshipping God, you cannot do text! Reading bible and reading email. God must be your priority.

Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

When you die there will be still work will be left in your desk? When you die your company is going to hire someone to fill your work?

So, what is your priority?