Central Assembly
Pastor Steve Pulis | March 8, 2020
Opposition brings discouragement - Sanballat insults
Nehemiah 4:1 NIV
Lies of Discouragement:
* You are inadequate
- "What are those feeble Jews doing?" (Nehemiah 4:2a)
- "What they are building - even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!" (Nehemiah 4:3)
Discouragement focuses on our insecurity instead of on God's ability.
Remember what God can do.
Lies of Discouragement:
* You are inadequate
* You are on your own
- "Will they restore the wall?"
- "Will they offer sacrifices?" (Nehemiah 4:2b)
Discouragement distracts us from what God is doing.
Recognize that God is active.
Lies of Discouragement:
* You are inadequate
* You are on your own
* You are beyond repair
- "Will they finish in a day?"
- "Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble - burned as they are?" (Nehemiah 4:2c)
Discouragement steals God's hope from our lives.
Rely on God.
1 Peter 2:4-6 NIV
Build on the foundation of Jesus.
How do we overcome discouragement?
Trust in God - Nehemiah prays
Nehemiah 4:4-5 NIV
Be honest about discouragement. Nehemiah 4:4a
* If the offense is against me personally = forgive
Matthew 6:12 NIV
Be honest about discouragement. Nehemiah 4:4a
* If the offense is against me personally = forgive
* If the offense is against God = God will take care of himself.
Romans 12:18-20 NIV
Be honest about discouragement. Nehemiah 4:4a
Bring your discouragement to God. Nehemiah 4:4b-5
Don't stop. Keep building. Keep going.
Nehemiah 4:6 NIV