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TURNING YOUR STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES Nehemiah 4:6-9 TONY LLOYD LEWIS 6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. 7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, 8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. ? This morning I want to preach on the matter,TURNING YOUR STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES. For those of you who are taking notes, I want to hang this message on the following three points. � THE SITUATION, THE STUMBLING BLOCKS, AND THE STEPPING STONES. � The setting of this text takes place some time between the partial return of the exiles and Nehemiah's missionary journey to the home of his people, Jerusalem. He is on leave granted by Artaxerxes, king of Persia. He has been granted permission to assess and assist the remnants of Jerusalem in the rebuilding of their lives. Nehemiah who name means Jehovah Consoles stands before us as a shining example of Christian Concern, Compassion and Commitment. THE SITUATION THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND . . . conservative Christian scholarship agree that it was in 597 B.C. the raid and capture of Jerusalem the healthy, wealthy and young. � Some time after the death of Nebuchadnezzar Artaxerxes ascended to the throne. Unlike his predecessor, Artaxerxes recognized the need for the restoration of Jerusalem. In the seventh year of his reign he commissioned Ezra the scribe to return to Jerusalem. God again touched the heart of this heathen Persian king and he granted leave for Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the city of David. � We serve a God who is able to bless His people even at the hands of their enemies. We serve a God who is able to bless His people even in the midst of captivity. We serve a God who is able to take a crooked stick and hit a straight lick. � Nehemiah was in the employ of Artaxerxes as his as his cup bearer. The cupbearer of the king was a kind of food taster. Before the king at any food or drink that was prepared for him it had to first pass through the pallets and taste buds of the cup bearer. � Being in the position cupbearer also meant that you traveled wherever the king traveled. As he visited heads of state, the cupbearer was there. As he entertained guest and other royal visitors, the cupbearer was there. He dined on whatever delicacies the dined on. Nehemiah even had an apartment in the palace. He lived close enough so that he could be at the king's beckon call. � If you let me use my sanctified imagination, I can see Nehemiah being summoned by the king in the late hours of the night to pre-taste the king's midnight snack. � In a seemingly set for life position of prestige. The so-called good life. Nehemiah had it made as far as creature comforts were concerned. � BUT THEN ONE DAY . . . His brother arrives in Babylon from Judea and he makes an inquiry. What a difference a day makes. The arrival his brother changed his life forever. He walked of the pages of anonymity onto the pages of Holy Writ. � Also, note. Nehemiah's query was not just a mere cordiality. Many of times when ask how are things going, we don't really want to know. We don't want to know because it just might mean that we have to get involved. It might mean that we just might have to move from our position of noninvolvement to actually doing something to help others. � From the questioning of his brother, Nehemiah learned that the walls of the city were broken down, the gates thereof are burned with fire and the people are in disarray. When he heard that the Bible says he sat down and wept and mourned. � We need to learn how to weep and mourn over misery of mankind. We need to learn how to empathize with those who have been wounded. We need to learn how sympathize with those are under attack from the enemy of our souls. Let me put forth to members of the community of faith this morning. When was the last time your heart broke over misfortune of others. � When was the last time you heard of someone in sorrow and you shed tears for them? When was the last time you heard of someone who has experienced grief and your heart broke for them. When was the last time you wept over the brokeness of some child of God. Nehemiah, the protagonist of our text did not stop with weeping, he did not stop with the lump in his throat. He did not stop with the tear drops running down his cheeks. He did something. HE TOOK ACTION! Weeping and mourning without action is just sounding brass and tinkling symbols. THE STUMBLING BLOCKS Don't ever suppose that you are going to great work without interruption from the devil or one his imps. Don't ever suppose that you are going to great work without great stumbling blocks. The Bible gives us the names of these stumbling blocks Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem Nehemiah had other enemies but these three were the leaders of the pack, especially SANBALLAT, WHO NAME MEANS MOONGOD. TOBIAH WAS A FORMER SLAVE AND GESHEM WAS AN ARABIAN A FOREIGNER. � It was not in the best interest of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem to have the walls of the city repaired because they were profiting from the misery of the inhabitants. There is money to be made in misery. The New Testament counterpart to the Old Testament Sanballat was Demetrius the Silversmith. (Acts 19) � Don't ever suppose that you are going to do great work without the devil's interference? Don't ever suppose that you are going to great work without the devil's interference? Don't ever suppose that you are going to great work without great stumbling blocks? � IN THE NEW TESTAMENT The Apostle Paul talks about some of his stumbling blocks. I've been shipwrecked twice, Five times have I have been beaten with many stripes. I have been in all kinds of jails. I have been stoned and left for dead. I have had to confront opposition from the world And I have had to confront opposition from the folk in the church. HOW YOU HANDLE TURN STUMBLING BLOCKS INTO STEPPING STONES WILL DETERMINE HOW EFFECTIVE YOUR TESTIMONY IS . . . � When others are falling apart because of devilish interruptions, the Gospel brings calmness to your soul because you are trusting in the Lord. � When others are being devoured by the mouths of the lions you can stand there with your hand in God's hand because you know that if my Lord delivered Daniel he can deliver you. � When others are being consumed by the fiery furnace you can rejoice because you know that Lord is on your side. � And your enemies won't know what's going on. They will be standing around looking confused; and saying stuff like, 'did not, we cast three men into the fire well I see a fourth one and he looks like the son of God." Whenever you set out to do a great work for the Lord, be prepared to be confronted with devilish interruptions. � When you sit down to do some serious study of the scriptures, you can count on a devilish interruption. The devil will whisper in the ear of one his imps and tell them, "why don't you call sister so and so and invite her over for a card party." That's a devilish interruption. � When you finally decide that you are going to come to Sunday church school, "the devil whispers in your ear won't you staying bed and get your rest. You work all the week and this is the only day you can sleep late." That's a devilish interruption. � I KNOW THAT DEVIL WHISPERS TO YOU. HE WHISPERS TO ME. THERE IS A WAY TO LET THE DEVIL KNOW THAT YOU ARE BUSY. Don't take everybody into your confidence. Don't reveal your dreams too soon . . . the devil's imps can turn them into nightmares, ask Joseph. Wait until the time is right. In the fullness of time God sent forth His Son. ? THE STEPPING STONES When the time was right Nehemiah shared with the people of God, what God had put on his heart to do. And the people said let us rise up and build. � When the people of God rose up to build, the enemies of the Lord rose up to hinder and tear down. Don't ever suppose that you are going to do great work without devil's interference? Don't ever suppose that you are going to great work without devil's interference? Don't ever suppose that you are going to great work without great stumbling blocks ? The stumbling blocks tried ridicule But the stepping stones stayed on the wall The stumbling blocks tried minimize the importance of their mission. But the stepping stones stayed on the wall. The stumbling blocks tried threats. But the stepping stones stayed on the wall. The stumbling blocks made false charges against them. But the stepping stones stayed on the wall. The stumbling blocks lied on them. But the stepping stones stayed on the wall They had to work with a weapon in one hand and a tool in the other but the stepping stones stayed on the wall. � FOR IF YOU STAY ON THE WALL WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN IS THAT THE JOB WILL GET DONE. STAY ON THE WALL. Don't come down because of ridicule, threats, tricks or lies. Stay on the wall. I Know a Man who stayed on the wall. Theylaughed at Him. They ridiculed Him saying, "If Thou be the Son of God, come down, save Yourself." Now He could have come down. It is easy to come down especially when you got the power to come down. But He hung there on the cross from the 6th to the 9th hour, then He gave up the Ghost. Then They Took Him down and Buried Him in a Borrowed Tomb. And He Stayed There All Night Friday Night, All Day Saturday, All Night Saturday. But Early Sunday Morning While the Dew Was Still on the Roses, While the Dusk Was Given Way to Dawn. While it Was Yet Dark. While the night sky was yet giving way to the Day Sky. He Got up with All Power. He Got up with Justifying Power He Got up with sanctifying Power He Got up with Glorifying Power. ALL POWER!