We heard during the weekend message, “Every time you start building for God, you are asking for a battle.” Why is this the case? We are asking for a battle every time we start building for God because we have a real enemy, Satan, who is seeking to do everything possible to stop God’s movement from spreading. 1st Peter 5:10 describes him as “a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Sometimes his tactics are very obvious, but other times they are much more subtle. Some of the most common forms of opposition and ridicule that we will face will come in the form of criticism from others. Nehemiah certainly experienced this when he set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, a burden God gave him.
Nehemiah 4 reveals that when the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem began, Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, “flew into a rage and mocked the Jews” (verse 1). He said, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” (verse 2). On top of that, “Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, ‘That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!’” (verse 3). Clearly, the enemies of Nehemiah and the Jewish people wanted to do everything possible to keep the walls from being rebuilt, so they mocked and taunted them mercilessly. Even amidst the mocking of their enemies, the people of Jerusalem continued working on rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. They did not let the mocking of their enemies keep them from completing their divine burden to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah and the Jewish people rebuilding Jerusalem's walls were not unique in receiving opposition and ridicule. We, too, may face opposition and ridicule as we set out to act on the divine burdens that God has given us. The question is, how do we respond to ridicule and opposition when they come? Jesus answers this question for us in Matthew 5, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you” (verse 44). We are not to respond to our enemies with more opposition and ridicule. Instead, Jesus calls us to love those who oppose us and to pray for them. This is not always easy, but it is the way of Christ.
Are you currently facing opposition as you are acting on your divine burden? Take heart! Follow the example of Nehemiah and his Jewish people in the book of Nehemiah and keep going, acting on the burden God has given you. There is too much at stake to be deterred by mockers and ridiculers.
Your call today is to pray for your enemies. Pray for those who are mocking you. Pray for those opposing you and trying to keep you from acting on your divine burden. Ask Him to change their hearts and make Himself known to them.
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.
33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. 40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
