SERMON NOTES (Sept 11, 2016): A Godly Man's Look at Facing Bullies - Neh 4:1-23

A Godly Man’s Look at Facing Bullies

Neh 4:1-23

Intro: Moment of Silence – 9/11

Problem of Bullying in America: School, Politics, Work, Church (Society vs. Christian) – Excess: Eating a poptart gun; Trump2016 in chalk @Emory makes students hide in dorm & seek counseling bc their safe space was violated.

***Other Problem of Misidentification of Bullying: Bully vs. Masculinity (ie. Brute vs intelligent)

EX. Captain America – getting beat up “I can do this all day”

I.          A Godly Man Recognizes the Action of Bullying (4:1-5)

ILL. First Bully – Satan- adversary/tempter (Ps 49:10 The stupid and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Prov 12:1 But he who hates reproof is stupid. Is 19:11 The advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisers has become stupid. Idea is “I can’t reason through this, so I will force something to happen”

•          Exhibitions of Anger – furious, very angry  (1a) Childish- didn’t go my way

•          Exclamations of Mockery (vv. 1b-3) VERBAL

Feeble – mocked strength

In a day – mocked timeline

Dusty, burned – mocked resources

Fox jump – mocked integrity

•          Execution of Prayer: Imprecatory (vv. 4-5)

On their heads

Give them up

Do not forgive

ILL. Speeder = “hope he gets arrested”

     APP. A Godly man should train himself to recognize the first signs of bullying. DEPENDABILITY

II.        A Godly Man Hears the Adages of Bullying (4:6-14)

•          Demoralizing Seditions- Conspiracies

Internal sayings (vs. 10)- Not enough strength! how do you lift up the demoralized within the body of Christ? Hope: Ps 42:11 – why are you downcast o my soul? Put your hope in God!

Enemies’ sayings (vs. 11) threatened murder!

Jewish neighbors sayings (vs. 12) too many to fight!

ILL. Vance Havner: You can be so wary of getting out on a limb that we never go up the tree.

•          Determined Stations (vs. 13)

Prayer – men in the exposed lowest parts (What is exposed & vulnerable in this congregation?)

Guard – families armed (How well armed are our families? Need weeklong discipleship)

•          Defending Savior (vs. 14)

APP. A Godly man should help others recognize that regardless of the hall-talk and table-talk there is a Jesus walk that weighs much more in spiritual warfare. DEFENDABILITY

III.       A Godly Man Makes Assignments against Bullying (4:15-23)

·        Division of People according to Task (16) ½ with shovels; ½ with spears

·        Completely Arm regardless of Task (17-18a) Builders with a open-carry-permit

·        Trumpet-heralded Rallies between Tasks (18b-20) Know preplanned places

·        Tasks in Shifts (day/night -21-22) labor vs guard

ILL. Church should have regular prayer ministry for warfare. Names named. 24 prayer ministry. 7:14. Prayer chains; prayer meetings. Don’t worry about style or mood; just pray & be ready to get up & fight. Prayer that doesn’t lead you to work or fight was just a one-sided conversation. Never was an encounter with God where something wasn’t immediately asked to do afterward. Rise & walk; go & sin no more; launch into deep…

APP. A Godly Man does something about the threat of bullying. DURABILITY – I can do this all day. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13.

Conc: Be a Godly man