Serving God Brings Opposition

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Serving God Brings Opposition

• There will be those who will oppose us
• Will come in many forms
• Nehemiah faced opposition
• He did not challenge anyone to stop him
• He wasnt trying to undo the past
• He enlisted the help of others 217-18
• He was opposed for doing the Lords work 210

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Serving God Brings Opposition

• Opposition will come from those that stand to
  lose social status
• Cains sacrifice was rejectedGen. 46-8,
  1 John 310-12

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• Genesis 46-8
• So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And
  why has your countenance fallen?
• "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if
  you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its
  desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
• Now Cain talked with Abel his brother and it
  came to pass, when they were in the field, that
  Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed
  him.

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• 1 John 310-12
• In this the children of God and the children of
  the devil are manifest Whoever does not practice
  righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does
  not love his brother.
• For this is the message that you heard from the
  beginning, that we should love one another,
• not as Cain who was of the wicked one and
  murdered his brother. And why did he murder him?
  Because his works were evil and his brother's
  righteous.

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Serving God Brings Opposition

• Opposition will come from those that stand to
  lose social status
• Cains sacrifice was rejectedGen. 46-8,
  1 John 310-12
• Jesus said we will face opposition
  Matthew 1034-36

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• Matthew 1034-35
• Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.
  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
• For I have come to set a man against his father,
  a daughter against her mother, and a
  daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law
• and a man's enemies will be those of his own
  household.

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Serving God Brings Opposition

• Opposition will come from those that stand to
  lose social status
• Cains sacrifice was rejectedGen. 46-8,
  1 John 310-12
• Jesus said we will face opposition
  Matthew 1034-36
• Paul said we will suffer 2 Tim. 312
• all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will
  suffer persecution.

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Serving God Brings Opposition

• Opposition will come from those that stand to
  lose social status
• Cains sacrifice was rejectedGen. 46-8,
  1 John 310-12
• Jesus said we will face opposition
  Matthew 1034-36
• Paul said we will suffer 2 Tim. 312
• We shouldnt be surprised 1 John 313, John
  1518

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• 1 John 313
• Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates
  you.
• John 1518
• If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me
  before it hated you.

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Opposition May Be Psychological

• Nehemiah faced ridicule and scorn 41-3
• He was publicly ridiculed and humiliated
• Can be hard to bear 1 Peter 41-5

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• 1 Peter 41-5
• Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the
  flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind,
  for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased
  from sin
• that he no longer should live the rest of his
  time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for
  the will of God.
• For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in
  doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in
  lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking
  parties, and abominable idolatries.
• In regard to these, they think it strange that
  you do not run with them in the same flood of
  dissipation, speaking evil of you.
• They will give an account to Him who is ready to
  judge the living and the dead.

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Opposition May Be Psychological

• Nehemiah faced ridicule and scorn 41-3
• He was publicly ridiculed and humiliated
• Can be hard to bear 1 Peter 41-5
• Jesus says to rejoice Matt. 511-12
• Blessed are you when they revile and persecute
  you, and say all kinds of evil against you
  falsely for My sake.
• Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is
  your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the
  prophets who were before you.

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Opposition May Be Psychological

• Nehemiah faced ridicule and scorn 41-3
• He was publicly ridiculed and humiliated
• Can be hard to bear 1 Peter 41-5
• Jesus says to rejoice Matt. 511-12
• How did Nehemiah respond?
• He prayed 44-5
• We can overcome anything through prayer Phil.
  46-7, Luke 181

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• Philippians 46-7
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
  prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
  your requests be made known to God
• and the peace of God, which surpasses all
  understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
  through Christ Jesus.
• Luke 181
• Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always
  ought to pray and not lose heart

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Opposition May Be Psychological

• How did Nehemiah respond?
• He kept working 46
• Surrounded himself with people who shared his
  goals 1 Corinthians 110
• Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the
  same thing, and that there be no divisions among
  you, but that you be perfectly joined together in
  the same mind and in the same judgment.

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Opposition May Be Psychological

• How did Nehemiah respond?
• He kept working 46
• Surrounded himself with people who shared his
  goals 1 Corinthians 110
• He led by example
• The more he worked the more foolish his opponents
  looked

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Opposition May Be Physical

• Nehemiahs foes were formidable 47-8
• When ridicule and humiliation did not work, they
  planned to attack
• Caused them to doubt 410
• Caused them to fear for their lives 412-13
• How did Nehemiah respond?
• He prayed 49a
• He went back to work 49b, 13
• He trusted God 414-15, 20
• God will always stand with his people
  2 Tim. 417-18

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• 2 Timothy 417-18
• But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me,
  so that the message might be preached fully
  through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.
  And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
• And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work
  and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him
  be glory forever and ever. Amen!

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Opposition May Be Physical

• Gods people have always had to fight and build
  at the same time
• We have a building to finish 1 Peter 25,
  Col. 124

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• 1 Peter 25
• you also, as living stones, are being built up a
  spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up
  spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
  Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 124
• I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill
  up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions
  of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the
  church

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Opposition May Be Physical

• Gods people have always had to fight and build
  at the same time
• We have a building to finish 1 Peter 25,
  Col. 124
• We have to stand and be ready to defend our
  lifes work Jude 3, Phil. 117, 1 Peter 315

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• Jude 3
• earnestly contend for the faith which was once
  delivered unto the saints.
• Philippians 117
• I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
• 1 Peter 315
• But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
  always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
  asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
  with meekness and fear

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Opposition May Be Physical

• Gods people have always had to fight and build
  at the same time
• We have a building to finish 1 Peter 25,
  Col. 124
• We have to stand and be ready to defend our
  lifes work Jude 3, Phil. 117, 1 Peter 315
• Nehemiah teaches us how to be realistic and
  optimistic

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Serving God Brings Opposition

• Nehemiah teaches us how to remain true to our
  calling despite opposition
• Whatever God has called us to do we must be true
  to it 2 Tim. 21, 3, 7-9, 10-13 Gal. 69
• Pray about it and get back to work
  2 Cor. 1122-27, 2 Tim. 311, 46-8

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• 2 Timothy 46-8
• I am already being poured out as a drink
  offering, and the time of my departure is at
  hand.
• I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
  race, I have kept the faith.
• Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
  righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
  Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me
  only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

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• Have you answered
• the call?