"Fortified Faith"

Sermon Notes are available for you to follow along below, or for download here.

Sermon Notes
Sermon Series:  Ezra & Nehemiah
Sermon Scripture:  Nehemiah 6 & 7

Deceptive Distractions: God Gives Clarity in What Would Distract Us (6:1-4)

• The enemy is persistent.
  • Satan may come as a serpent who _________________. (2 Cor. 11:3)
  • Satan may come as a lion who _______________. (1 Peter 5:8)
  • If Satan cannot destroy you, he will do everything in his power to distract you.

Deceptive Distractions: God Gives Clarity in What Would Distract Us (6:1-4) ​continued

• Nehemiah was insistent.
  • He remained focused on a ______________ work.
  • The work was great because it was _____________ work.

Slanderous Strategies: God Gives Strength in What Would Discourage Us (6:5-9)

• Enemies often take what should remain private and make it _______________.
  • If they can’t disqualify you because of your character…
  • If they can’t divert you from your mission…
  • They will destroy you with a __________. (Joseph, Jesus)
• Do not meet with your enemies, but do meet with your God.
  • Stay _____________ on the work.
  • Stand ___________ in prayer.
  • If we take care of our character, we can trust God to take care of our reputation.

Prophetic Ploys: God Gives Discernment in What Would Deceive Us (6:10-14).

• Why did Nehemiah refuse to enter the temple for protection?
  • Reason #1- He is not a _____________. “Should such a man as I run away?”
    • He was concerned about his ________________ as a _______________.
  • Reason #2- He is not a ______________. “What man such as I could go into the temple and live?”
    • He was concerned about his ________________ for the ________________.
• How did Nehemiah know it was a trap?
  • He knew the ________________.
    • Their message revealed them to be false _______________.
    • Their motive was to receive false ______________.
  • He knew their ________________.
    • They wanted him to act in _______. “For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid…”
    • God had called him to act in _________. “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God…”

Treacherous Ties: God Gives Resolve in What Would Divide Us (6:15-19).

• The work on the wall is finished.
  • They finished because they worked ____________.
  • They finished because of God’s ____________.
• The work of the enemy never stops.
  • Satan is not a quitter. He stays on the field even after it looks like he has lost the battle.
  • Satan is always looking for an opportune time to attack victors and turn them into victims.

Meaningful Membership: God Gives Purity in Who Would Define Us (7:1-73)

• They appointed faithful, qualified ________________.
• They kept an accurate list of faithful, accountable ________________.