Monday Club Sermons Nehemiah 4:7-18 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites… I. THE WORK NEHEMIAH WAS COMMISSIONED TO DO. II. HOW NEHEMIAH'S WORK WAS HINDERED. 1. By ridicule. 2. By weariness (ver. 10). 3. By fearfulness (ver. 12).Many now feel that there is danger in building the walls of Zion. (1) In social life. (2) In politics. (3) In business. 4. By bribery. No other cause so weakens the Church as defection in her own membership. III. THE MEASURES BY WHICH NEHEMIAH ACCOMPLISHED HIS WORK. 1. Prayer. 2. Sagacious efforts. 3. Single-ness of aim. Nothing could divert him. 4. Enthusiasm. Zeal in one heart sets other hearts burning. There is a suggestive legend of the venerable which tells us that when he was old, with eyesight almost gone, one of his scholars led him to a heap of stones, and told him they were people; this was enough. The aged servant was true to his commission. With fiery tongue he preached the gospel. He ended as usual with the doxology, "To whom be glory through all the ages." Then from that heap of stones a voice rose, "Amen venerabilis Bede!" True zeal springs not from impulse, but from conviction. 5. His securing the co-operation of the people. "Every one to his work." When Wesley was asked the secret of his success, he replied, "To my voice in the pulpit on the Sabbath the people add a thousand echoes during the week." (Monday Club Sermons.) Parallel Verses KJV: But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, |
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