God gives Nehemiah courage

Nehemiah Chapter 6

When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of the enemies of Jerusalem found out that the wall was finished (but no gates hung yet), they sent a message to Nehemiah asking him to meet them at a village on the plain of Ono. Nehemiah knew they planned to harm him, so he told them he could not stop work to meet them. Four times they sent the same message and got the same reply. The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with a letter which said that he heard the wall was being rebuilt so that the Jews could rebel and that Nehemiah would be king in Judah.

Nehemiah replied that there was no truth to the story and he prayed for the strength to continue. Later her went to visit Shemaiah, son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel. Shemaiah suggested they meet inside the Temple and to bolt the doors because he heard the enemy was coming that night to kill Nehemiah. But Nehemiah replied that he was not afraid of danger and he realized that Shemaiah had been hired by his enemies.

When the wall was finished, the surrounding nations became frightened and humiliated. They realized the work had been done with the help of God. So many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the officials of Judah. Many officials had sworn an allegiance to Tobiah and thought he was a good man, but his letters were meant to intimidate Nehemiah.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: It was during this time that prophets such as Malachi proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. So the enemies were doubly afraid that a person such as Nehemiah could gain any control. It would have been wrong for Nehemiah to go into the Temple to hide because he wasn't a priest. And if he ran, he would have undermined the courage he was trying to instill in the people.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY ? Opposition. Opposition can come in many forms. It can be somebody starting rumors, or false reports. But this is the time for you to be strong. When you receive attacks on your character, do what Nehemiah did, and trust God to accomplish your tasks. Pray to God for strength and he will answer you. You need God-given courage to overcome fear and he will give it to you just as he did for Nehemiah.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother in law Mary just had a stroke this week. They are being tested by God and need a wealth of prayers. Pray for them now! Pray that they can find a place for Mary that won’t bankrupt the family.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
Pray for my cousin Diane who is undergoing total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who will soon undergo chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for Debbie who lost her home in a fire last week.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.