Surrounded But Faithful | Nehemiah 4:6-7

But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. — Nehemiah 4:7-8 SHOUT OUT: Scott Conner and his group from Alcester, SD. Thank you for using our study on The Book Of James on RightNow Media. Today's text highlights the absolute certainty of opposition in pursuing God and his goals. Just as Nehemiah and the Jews faced resistance from various groups, we, too, should expect challenges when we strive to make significant spiritual changes or advancements in our lives. This opposition can come from multiple sources and will often intensify as progress is made. But take notice of the source of the opposition in the text. Sanballat is north, Tobiah is east, Ammonites are south, and now the addition of the Ashdodites, who are Ashdod, or Philistia, which is west. Jerusalem is surrounded by a growing coalition of opposition. This happens in our lives sometimes. Opposition comes from different directions and for different reasons. A lot of Christians feel this way right now. I know believers who feel this way in the work, in their schools, in their church, and in their homes. I definitely know if you are a believer living in the State of Israel at this very moment, you feel precisely like this—surrounded by a growing coalition of enemies who oppose your efforts. They resort to complex methods using sophisticated measures and pressure. But bringing this back to a personal application, the spiritual opposition in our lives can be complex, too. It's often complicated by social pressures, media criticism, internal doubts, unforeseen circumstances, and the heckling voice of our internal criticism. Despite this, Nehemiah and the people of God persisted. They didn't just persist in the task. But they persisted in believing in God and his mission through the task. There is a big difference between the two. One is natural in effort. The other is supernatural in effort. One gives attention to oneself. The other gives attention and glory to God. As believers, every task in our life, marriage, family, church, and career should be a mission for God. And because of this, we are going to encounter opposition. Sometimes, the opposition will occur in every area all at once, and you will feel surrounded by the enemies of God. Here are two life hacks that will help: Stand firm in your faith and focus on God. Stand firm alongside other believers and find strength together. So, thanks for being here with me every day and standing firm in faith together against the opposition that lies out there everyday. I love you guys. ASK THIS: In your current life circumstances, what forms of opposition do you face that challenge your faith or your commitment to God's tasks? Reflect on how these challenges might be similar to those faced by Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem. How do these oppositions affect your spiritual growth, and in what ways can you respond to them with faith and perseverance? Nehemiah’s story highlights the importance of community in facing opposition. Share a time when the support of your faith community helped you overcome a difficult challenge. How can we, as a group and as individuals, better support each other in times of spiritual siege? Discuss practical steps we can take to strengthen our collective faith and resolve in the face of external pressures. DO THIS: Stay focused in opposition with other believers. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the strength and wisdom to face the oppositions in my life with the same faith and perseverance as Nehemiah. Help me to stand firm in Your truth, drawing courage and unity from my community, as I seek to glorify You in all that I do. Amen. PLAY THIS: Surround Me. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller