Dreaming God’s dream and starting small to accomplish our God-given visions will not be realized apart from a continuing development of a biblical worldview and depth of character in our lives.

The Wisdom To Build Deep

There will be challenges. There will be oppositions. There will be threats. There will be struggles. And we will crumble in the face of these tests if we have not built the foundations deep enough to withstand the storms of life.

The Wisdom To Build Deep

Any attempt to fulfill God's desires will almost certainly

draw opposition from God's enemies.

(Thomas Constable)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

Learning from Nehemiah, he was able to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem in 52 days because he had the depth of character and the right mindset to support and carry out his God-given vision.

The Wisdom To Build Deep

External Threats from Israel’s

NEIGHBORS. (4:1-23)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

• Sanballat and Tobiah ridiculed the Jews in the presence of the army of Samaria (vv. 1-3).

The Wisdom To Build Deep

1. External Threats from Israel’s Neighbors. (4:1-23)

People are known not by how they act when they’re in control, but by how they

react when things are beyond their control.

(John C. Maxwell)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

• Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod plotted together to fight and to stir up trouble in Jerusalem (vv. 7-8).

The Wisdom To Build Deep

1. External Threats from Israel’s Neighbors. (4:1-23)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

The real test of a leader is how he or she faces crises

and reacts to opposition.

(Mervin Breneman)

• Fatigue has set in and the task was still overwhelming. Israel’s enemies have been intimidating the Jews and brought fear to the love ones of those who were helping rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (vv. 10-12).The Wisdom To Build Deep

1. External Threats from Israel’s Neighbors. (4:1-23)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

The true measure of success is not what position you’ve

reached in life, but what obstacles you have overcome

to reach the desired goal.

(John C. Maxwell)

• How did Nehemiah respond to all these (vv. 4-

5, 9, 13-23)?

He prayed.

He prepared.

He planned.

He persisted.The Wisdom To Build Deep

1. External Threats from Israel’s Neighbors. (4:1-23)

Internal Strife from Israel’s

NOBLES. (5:1-19)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

2. Internal Strife from Israel’s Nobles. (5:1-19)

• Many, if not all, of Israel’s nobles and officials were exacting usury from their own countrymen (v. 7). They were charging exorbitant interest from their fellow Jews who borrowed money from them (vv. 2-4).The Wisdom To Build Deep

2. Internal Strife from Israel’s Nobles. (5:1-19)

• Some of the borrowers were reaching the point of selling themselves or their children into debt-slavery (v. 5).

The Wisdom To Build Deep

2. Internal Strife from Israel’s Nobles. (5:1-19)

• How did Nehemiah respond to all these?

He rebuked the nobles (vv.6-11).

He recompensed the poor (vv.12-13).

And he represented generosity (vv. 14-19).

The Wisdom To Build Deep

Personal Attacks from Nehemiah’s

NEMESES. (6:1-14)

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3. Personal Attacks from Nehemiah’s Nemeses. (6:1-14)

• Nehemiah’s nemeses tried to distract him (vv. 1-4).

The Wisdom To Build Deep

• Nehemiah’s nemeses tried to discredit him (vv. 5-9).

• Nehemiah’s nemeses tried to deceive him (vv. 10-14).

3. Personal Attacks from Nehemiah’s Nemeses. (6:1-14)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

• How did Nehemiah respond to all these?

He remained resolute (v. 3).

He remained resilient (vv.8-9).

And he remained reflective (vv. 11-13).

Life is built on character, but character is built on

decisions. The decisions you make, small or great, do to

your life what the sculptor’s chisel does to a block of

marble. You are shaping your life by your thoughts,

attitudes and actions, and becoming either more or less

like Jesus Christ.(Warren Wiersbe)

The Wisdom To Build Deep

A life of worship, lived before God in the fear of Him and held together by humility, wisdom

and perseverance, constitutes a foundation that will withstand immense stress and strain. The

continued maintenance and growth of this “foundation”,

firmly anchored in God through the practice of the spiritual disciplines, is the work of a

lifetime.(Edmund Chan)

The Wisdom To Build Deep