Criticism and Discouragement | Nehemiah
Vision: A PICTURE of what you hope the FUTURE will be like.
“The Son of Man came to SEEK and to save the LOST.” Luke 19:10
Bring Jesus into EVERY relationship
“To MAKE DISCIPLES of all people…” Matthew 28:19
Make disciples who make MORE disciples.
SIGNIFICANCE is always found on the OTHER side of “What’s in it for ME?”
Anytime you pursue a GOD-GIVEN vision, you’re going to face CRITICISM.
Nehemiah 4:1-16 pg. 754
v.2: “He ridiculed the Jews…he said, ‘What are those FEEBLE Jews doing? Can they bring the STONES back to LIFE from those heaps of rubble-burned as they are?’”
When criticism gets loud in our minds and our hearts:
- It tries to make the VISION God’s given seem FOOLISH.
- It tries to make God’s PEOPLE feel WEAK.
v.4: “Hear us O our God, for we are DESPISED.”
One of the worst things you can do with criticism is just ABSORB it silently.
v.8: “They all PLOTTED together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up TROUBLE against it.”
v.10: “Meanwhile the people in Judah said, The STRENGTH of the laborers is GIVING OUT, and there is so much RUBBLE that we cannot rebuild the wall.”
How does Nehemiah model to us how to handle criticism?
- He PRAYS
- He REMEMBERS
- He REVISES his plan
“Your LABOR in the Lord is NOT in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58