In the Hebrew that is the same word in both places -- the word for afraid and the word for awesome. If you start trying to build up your own personal spiritual life, you are asking for a battle. A little fellow applied for a job as woodsman in the north woods. “God had one Son… People within the camp who say it cannot be done. “Be faithful, even to the point of death.”. However, you also need to get up and lock your door! Our job is to be certain we are doing God’s work, God’s way. Ø      They ridiculed them because they were few and small. Now in our culture, the word “follower” is often quite negative: a follower is the opposite of a leader. It was so priceless that he would not sale it. Sermon illustrations. The hardest part of the job was removing the trash. They are never the master with all the answers, but always the ones who sit at the feet of Jesus. Satan will try to discourage you (4:10-11). Satan hates us because he hates God.

Serving the Lord is hard tedious work. Frustration is usually a matter of perception. We are a feeble people in the eyes of the world. Polycarp died fearlessly and faithfully. We need to rest physically. But also respect the opposition. “Opposition is not only an evidence that God is blessing, but it is also an opportunity for us to grow” (Warren Wiersbe, Nehemiah). Oliver Cromwell said, "Trust God and keep your powder dry.".

... Those in the early church lived in a conflicted but beloved covenant community in peaceful opposition to the militaristic, materialistic, racist, and sexualized culture of the Roman Empire. We offer 30,000+ outlines and 10,000+ free sermon illustrations from top Christian pastors and communicators. (5 of 15), How to Stay Together While the World Falls Apart, CCPA - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

Introduction by Stuart Strachan, Source Material from Julian the Apostate, quoted in Michael Craven, “The Christian Conquest of Pagan Rome,” Crosswalk.com, November 8, 2010. Leadership is an entire genre for books, for conferences, etc… If you can still find a brick and mortar bookstore, you will find a leadership section.

The great evangelist, Charles Finney, realized this truth from a deep experience of his opposition. Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998), p.131. Recommit to your coworkers (4:19-20). So isn’t it interesting that the primary word for people who worship Jesus as Lord and Savior is the word “follower:? SermonSearch.com is an online resource for sermon outlines and preaching ideas. Some of you are saying we have been at this work a long time. Ø      Persistence is the ultimate test of faith. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”. Instead, you pray, and you keep on doing what you should be doing in the first place. But again, the whole point is that you need to be a leader, so that other people can follow you. Ø      Do not wait until everything is just right.

Education will not.

We even have a bucket committee, the people that whenever we get ready to do anything for God pour cold water on it. “Told us ten times,” the point is: the negative is always exaggerated. The Jews outside the city of Jerusalem, who lived near the enemy, they were the ones most negative. One to the tests of an overcomer is how we handle opposition/problems. We must remember our God! So that’s discipleship…it’s following Jesus every day, becoming more and more like Him. Organizational trash; we need to look at how we do “church.”  We must organize ourselves according to the Bible and set God’ people free to serve Him. He went chop, chop, and chop and down it went. You can measure a man by the opposition it takes to discourage him. That is one of the purposes of the church. Instead of the stench of burning flesh, the scent of frankincense wafted through the Colosseum. The enemy promised to attack at an unknown time. They were with them but not for them. Mark Batterson, Play the Man: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be, Baker Books, 2017. With this tool and can get into a heart and pry it open and destroy it. Robert Lewis Stevenson, tells a story of a group of people on a ship in the midst of great storm. Read Nehemiah 5:1-13 paying particular attention to the internal struggles Nehemiah faced. Download free sermons, preaching outlines and illustrations. Those who are closest to the enemy are most likely to become negative.

Paul expresses it best in 1 Corinthians 1. Fatigue can and will lead to discouragement. 1B. Nehemiah 4:1-23 Introduction We have learned that opportunity equals opposition. Ø      Principle:  Never fight a fight alone. Consider the compensation when we are opposed. The world laughs at us; the world says it will not last. And I think there is something to this, that even for the first disciples, they never graduated into something else. Good people can become discouraged (4:10). The world will mock our faith. John had died a half century before, but his voice still echoed in Polycarp’s ears as the Colosseum crowd chanted, “Let loose the lion!” That’s when Polycarp heard a voice from heaven that was audible above the crowd: strong, Polycarp. God does not measure His people simply by their hands, how strong they are, or by their heads, how smart they are, but by their hearts, how surrendered they are. “Opposition is not only an evidence that God is blessing, but it is also an opportunity for us to grow” (Warren Wiersbe).

Jesus is still at the helm! Fear of Satan and man will cause you to become discouraged.