Now, when Sanbel had heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, what are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish and burn ones at that? Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him and he said, yes, what are they building? If a fox goes up on it, he will break down the stone wall. Amen. Dear saints, you may be seated. We enter a brand new chapter in Nehemiah. Now, if you've been with us over the last few weeks, you know that we only had two sermons in chapter three, but we're making up for it because in only the 23 verses that make up chapter four, The intention is to preach seven sermons from this chapter. And the reason for that is this chapter is just rich with application for gospel and for us as we go into the life of Christ together. So as we do that now, let's pray as always, shall we? Father, we do thank you that you have always provided us everything we need in Christ Jesus and the fullness of your Holy Spirit. Grant to us now, Father, a new and glorious feast of Jesus in the Word and in the Sacrament. This we pray in Christ's name. Amen. It's always to our advantage, dear saints, to know our adversaries' traits and strategies, habits and proclivities, or what they're inclined to do. The great military men of history were very adept at this. The best generals and officers in any army were able to study their opponent's moves, tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses, and based on that, they could predict probably what would be before them and what they would have to face. When it comes to the devil and his horde, the Bible is quite clear about it, and God has not left us in the dark. The written word of God has actually presented before us a manual that we can read that details Satan's battle plans, playbook, and manual of operations. And the Old Testament book of Nehemiah is particularly helpful in this regard. as it over and over details the church's foes' devices, and then gives us excellent examples of how to deal with that, using particularly the man Nehemiah himself. So we are still those who are engaged in spiritual battle, even though Satan's head has been crushed. God has allowed us to have to engage spiritual enemies, you know, that we're told to wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places in the book of Ephesians. And we do that for our own good. God leaves those people here and those forces here that we would wrestle and grow in grace and knowledge and strength, always with an eye toward glorifying God in this world. And therefore, let's make it our goal this evening to be undeterred, or unmoved, shaken by God's and the church's enemies." With this in mind, we're looking at Nehemiah 4, 1-3. The devil's ways. Well, what's the doctrine? Satan and his minions, minions is a word for his cooperating people or forces with him, attempt derisive intimidation of Christ's church. I-N-T-I-M-I-D-A-T-I-O-N. And derisive has to do with mocking. And intimidation has to do with bullying or attempted force on another person through manipulation. And we all despise bullies, rightly so. You know, Satan is the ultimate bully. And even this morning we saw how we are under none of the judgment of Satan, or bullies, or evil people, or anyone else, or our own flesh. And it's very important that we understand that. But dear saints, The MO, or the modus operandi, or the way Satan typically works, is always intimidation. Elder Wayne read from 1 Peter 5 tonight, I think verse 8, that He prowls around like a roaring lion. If you were to hear a roaring lion in your face, it would be quite shaking, if you will. It would be quite startling. And yet, he's more of a toothless roaring lion, and it's all about intimidation. And so, this is something, as we grow in Christ, that we learn not to be moved by intimidation. not only by Satan himself and spiritual forces, but human beings that would do this too, this sort of bullying, this sort of effort to move us to their way through an ungodly manipulation, which is completely condemned by the Word of God. So, let's look at this, Satan and his minions attempt derisive, and again the word derisive means mocking or scorning, intimidation of Christ's Church, which is designed to discourage us. Now, keep this in mind, we're unlocking, we're unfolding Satan's playbook. Lucifer really has very little concern about most people in the world. Why is this the case? Because they're dead in trespasses and sins. Why should he niggle them? Why should he bother them? Why should he do anything with them? They're already right where he wants them to be. He pretty much leaves most people, even most religious people, alone. Because they are no threat to his illegitimate domain which has been shattered by the risen Christ. He doesn't have a domain here. He has no kingdom here. He has no right here. He has no place here. Jesus has totally defeated him. But there's serious Christian churchmen who actually believe the gospel of grace and take the things of God seriously, the Son of God, the church of God, the worship of God, the gospel of God, the day of God, the fellowship of the saints, the evangelism of the world, the stewardship we have over the earth. That is a monumental problem for the devil, and it poses a serious threat, which he already has been defeated. Albeit in vain, he seeks to disable us, an effective church, from doing those important deeds and works and ministrations. That's what we're doing right here, right now, in this evening worship service on the Sabbath day. There isn't really anything more important than we could do. For one, I will say I'd rather be here in this building tonight than in Miami, Florida tonight at the Super Bowl. And I mean that with all my heart. I would rather be among you than anyone else. This is where the real action is. So, this is the way we should look at life. Now consider, from the book of Nehemiah, before this man Nehemiah showed up in Jerusalem, not much was heard from those foes, Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem there. Pretty quiet, didn't have much to say, but after the church there of the Old Covenant gets into gear, gets organized, gets ordered, remember we've talked about how important order is in the church, organization, doing things decently in an order. And starting that from the temple area, moving from the north counterclockwise around the city, building the wall. Once this starts happening, now we hear a lot from these people that were the opponents of the Old Covenant Church. Where God is not worshipped according to his Bible, where Christ is not proclaimed according to his gospel, where the church and the Sabbath day are of no account, people may rest easy, unperturbed by Satan. But where these blessings are being practiced and valued and performed for the glory of God, we may and should anticipate the devil's meddling into our lives. So we aren't surprised when it happens. So, dear saints, Satan and his minions attempt derisive intimidation of Christ's church, which is designed to discourage us and derail our service for Christ. D-E-R-A-I-L, which is like a train coming off the tracks. Now, what I'm going to share with you now is rather interesting because there is, if you will, one workable goal or end that Satan may still have in the New Covenant Church Age. Remember, his head has been crushed by the resurrected King Jesus. He's in his death throes, thrashing about violently with rage and fury, knowing that he's been defeated. And he's in these death throes, and God uses him as a special minister of the church that we would wrestle against and defeat, even in Jesus Christ. And this one goal that he still has is to seek to stop up, deter, hinder, or slow the work of a faithful church in the world, which is first manifested in Sabbath worship, like we're doing now, and is also shown in the spreading of the gospel through our ministries as we go into the world of the weeks before us. After all, dear saints, I've told you many times that Satan is a very adept theologian. He knows his Bible and he knows theology, and there's no sense even in his devious mind to not believe it, although it does him no good. He understands that not one elect soul can be kept from salvation. He gets that. He doesn't even try. There's nothing he could do to prevent an elect human being from being redeemed in time and space in God's perfect way according to his sovereignty. He gets that. He can't do anything about that, but he will do anything he can to rob God's children of their rightful due in Christ Jesus and their inheritance. And this is the thing that, as a pastor, grieves me so much about fellow Christians that we all care for. We all know. We work with them. We know them. We're in the community with them. Some of them might be in our families. And they really do know and love Jesus, but they're just, they're starving practically to death. And this is the goal that Satan has, is to prevent God's people from achieving their full growth and their full glories in who Jesus is. Like we talked about this morning, no judgment, no condemnation. Living in a freedom that is so special, so spectacular, that if it isn't preached faithfully and people don't understand it, they will not enjoy it, even though they are in Christ Jesus. So we need to keep this in mind, that as we move ahead with our own gospel ministrations in this new decade, in this new year, as we seek to see people come, as we invite them, as we reach out to them, We need to understand that this is the dynamic we're facing. And I think verses 1 to 3 of chapter 4 of Nehemiah is a really good template for us to look at this very issue of the devil's ways. So let's make it now, our goal as we look at the text, to be about uncovering several traits, T-R-A-I-T-S, which are ways or characteristics of the devil and his followers, verses 1 to 3, Nehemiah 4. I think these three verses are an excellent peek into our enemy's plans of attack and his ways in general. So again, like I told you earlier, God has given us the whole manual. We know what our enemy's ways are. Look at verse 1. In their frustration, frustration, they lash out at us. Now, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. Now, the first thing I think we should notice from verse 1 is just how angry this is. And again, when nothing was happening in Jerusalem, the wall's broken down, there's a bunch of burned stones all over the place, the people aren't being very well led, everything's sort of a mess, there's chaos. You don't hear anything from Sanballat. But here, with the progress of the wall being built around the city, all of a sudden, he's filled with fury and indignation. And actually, if you were to peek down at verse 7, the text says that he became very angry. Now, there is a godly anger, and there's also an ungodly anger, but this is definitely an ungodly anger. I mean, why should he be angry? Well, he was angry because he was an opponent of Yahweh and his church of the Old Covenant. He didn't want God to be glorified there. He wanted his own ways. And here's something that's really helpful. Instead of being reasonable, thoughtful, open-minded, and objective, the very things the world always tells us they are, right? They constantly tell us how open-minded, how non-judgmental, how completely rational they are, which is, of course, never really the case. These people in verse one, rather than that, jeer the Jews of the Old Covenant people of God, which is a way of mocking them, but they weren't moved by it. Now, this shouldn't surprise us either when the same thing happens to us in our church. I mentioned this morning, I'm sure there's plenty of people in the world that don't really like what's happening here. And that's because they have the sand ballot spirit. And it isn't something that we should be surprised about. Most unbelievers, even of a religious sort, are very fine with innocuous, ineffective, effeminate religion that makes no gospel demands on anyone and doesn't tell anyone the truth about the world and doesn't threaten anyone's idolatries. By innocuous, I just mean weak and ineffective. But once that isn't the case and God establishes a serious church life, a colony of heaven on earth, all hell breaks loose and we are wise to expect it. And it really is troubling. And we're going to see that in chapter four and beyond in the book of Nehemiah. So uncovering several traits of the devil and his followers, in their frustration they lash out. Verse 2, in forming alliances they ridicule us. Alliances, A-L-L-I-A-N-C-E-S. That is groups, if you will, or a party of agreeing people. Verse 2, And he, that's Sanballat, said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, what are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish and burned ones at that? Now, there's... Sanbellet does something here that any experienced gospel minister has seen over the years, and every disaffected sinner practices, especially when they have either been convicted by the administration of a church, a gospel ministry, or disciplined by the same. And that is to seek to cobble together a group of like-minded souls who will then try to stand in the way of Jesus and his gospel ministry and his faithful church. Of course, this is a futile endeavor, but that's beside the point. They feel they must attempt it anyway. In this verse 2, Sanballat asks five questions, and they're all related. These rhetorical queries are all designed to spark concern and worry in his hearers, his, quote, brothers in the army of Samaria. So he's trying to get potentially other disaffected sinners who may be somewhat in a neutral zone, maybe they have respect for these Jews who are doing this work, maybe not, but he's trying to bring them into his realm. And Sanballat would hope that they too would get all pumped up about the wall being built in opposition to it. And he uses mocking ridicule in these words as Sanballat views the Jews as, quote, feeble, which was hardly true, not true at all, and as he implies that the task had been taken on as an impossible one when he asks the question, will they revive the stones as if you know, they had to bring those stones to life. And so for us, both as the Church collectively and as Christians individually, as we go into this week before us, let us not at all be dissuaded or discouraged or deterred or put off or stopped or slowed by the faithless mutterings of those who do not love our Lord Jesus Christ and who don't love us either. Instead, let us have the spirit of Nehemiah, and especially King David, who wrote these precious words in my favorite psalm, Psalm 27, at verse 3. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even in this I will be confident. And of course, our confidence is in Jesus. So one more aspect or trait of Satan's battle strategy comes from verse 3. Not only in their frustration and forming alliances, but in their insecurity. Insecurity, they would belittle us. where we read, Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him and he said, yes, what they are building, if a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall. So here, Sanballat is the proverbial toady. Now, what a toady is, is the sidekick of the bully. Bullies are cowards, right? And they always want a sidekick, sort of a younger one that can come and help them and encourage them and build them up in their insecurities. And that's what Tobiah is. He's the toady. We just had the Christmas season. I didn't have this in my notes, but some of us watch Christmas movies. You saw this coming. Yes, indeed, they saw it coming. Christmas Story. Now, I know it's got some details that aren't very savory, and the family might need to be a little careful in the use of it. But what's really interesting about the bully and the toady, remember the toady? I can't remember his name. But that's usually how it works. And here, Tobiah is the toady, and he makes this inane, stupid comment. Now, it's really interesting, though, that the Bible, the Holy Spirit, would include it. We might be tempted to just laugh it off as something so ridiculous that why should we even pay any attention to it? But the Holy Spirit did include it here. And one thing I think we should notice right away is that all of this is the fruit of sin, first and foremost. And I want to be clear about that. But there is also, dears, and I'm giving you a peek into the week before you and the people you'll deal with. People are insecure. They really are. And part of this is that judgment. When people are insecure, they lash out at other people and want to control them. and manipulate them. And that's basically what we're seeing. Sin and insecurity working together. You're the ones, frankly, the only ones, the true saints, not just our church, I'm not saying that, but I'm just saying, the true saints, the only people in the world that don't need to be insecure. Really, all those who are outside of Jesus should be insecure. And in fact, they actually are. And again, we might be tempted to laugh this off, but there are two important points I think we should note before we do that. First, As mentioned, the Holy Spirit did include these words, and secondly, we'll find out if you're here next Sunday night, that Nehemiah did not take these words lightly at all. In fact, in verse 4, he begins an imprecatory prayer, and an imprecatory prayer is a highly politically incorrect prayer, but we find it in the book of Psalms and elsewhere, and the book of Nehemiah. And an imprecatory prayer is one that is very severe on those who are taking up arms against Jesus and his church. And you can read about it, we'll get to it, Lord willing, next week. So the reason I mention that is, even though Tobiah's words seem so stupid and ridiculous, nonetheless, this man, Nehemiah, took them seriously, and I would argue that we should too. So, dears, here's the thing before we leave these verses. Don't be intimidated by any of your foes, whether it's the spiritual forces of evil, the spiritual minions of Satan, whether it's your own flesh that wishes to remind you of all your weaknesses, whether it's the world which wants to condemn you at every turn, condemn you Oh, you don't believe like we do. Oh, you don't think that lifestyle is acceptable. You're condemned. You're evil. You're horrible. You're a horrible person because you don't accept the new societal idol. This is the pressure that our young people and our old people are facing every day. Oh, you're a terrible, awful person because you agree with God about lifestyle and morals and behavior. It's serious business. It really is. And there's a lot at stake. Eternal souls. So, don't be dissuaded. Don't be intimidated. stand in Jesus the truth and know that you're not alone. Okay? You're not alone. You've got your church here and there are God's people in the world. Now, Let's do a little more application and learn how the church stands firm against the devil's ways. As I've taught you numerous times, our victory is really won before any words are ever spoken, right? So it starts here in church, Lord's Day worship, and then it goes into the other mean of grace, prayer, throughout the week. So as we prepare ourselves day by day, wake up, have our time with God, We are already achieving the victory there. The victory is won before we engage the enemy. Our faith, we put on the full armor of God, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, sword of the spirit, shield of faith. So we go into the week, the day, already prepared. So when we engage that battle, we are standing firm against these forces. Well, let's consider how we do that. And again, it starts here. I want to be clear about that. I reject any notion that a person can be a faithful Christian by neglecting the very ordinance of God, and the commandment of God, and the gospel ways of God, and then pretending they can handle the devil on their own throughout the week. It starts right here, but it doesn't stop here. It continues throughout the week. Well, first, how the church stands firm against the devil's ways? By determining not to budge an inch. D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-I-N-G. But I don't mean by that willpower. I don't mean by that some kind of human effort. I don't mean that. But what I do mean is it's a determined faith. It's a faith that just isn't willing to give in. It's not willing to budge. even against all those forces pushing so hard against us, condemning us and seeking to mold us into their very form and image of the world. And it is a tremendous force sometimes. And you know, when we know what's coming at us, we're able to anticipate it and fend it off. The attempted intimidation done by Sanballat and his buddies, ironically, and this is very interesting, and I think this had to do with the good leadership of Nehemiah and others in the church there, all that intimidation had the effect of only solidifying the resolve of the people of God in Jerusalem. We see in verse six these words, so we built the wall. And the entire wall is joined together up to half its height for the people out of mind to work. That's two verses after verse four. And it's interluded with that imprecatory prayer as well. And so basically what I'm saying here, or three verses after verse three I guess from our text tonight, but basically he did not allow, and the people didn't allow themselves to be moved by this intimidation. So there's the next time you and I sense an assault upon us as Christians or the church that we love and serve. Let us tap into the reserve of determination and fortitude in the Lord Jesus Christ, which has been built up, think about this, built up over many Lord's Days, many worship services, one on top of the other. A little more growth every Sunday, a little more Christ-likeness, a little more growth in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. A little more every Sunday. Let's tap into that reserve that God has established and not be dissuaded or discouraged from our mission and vision one way. So, how the church stands firm. By determining not to budge an inch, but instead to reinforce our hearts and our work. Again, Sanballat's words actually have the exact opposite effect that he'd hoped for. Instead of hindering the work on the wall, his threats only made it go on with more vigor and with more diligent use of the means of grace. And what I'm going to share with you here, stay with me because we're almost done, but these are really neat. So, what we see here is that God's provisions, in other words, what he gives us saints to use throughout the week, are put to use here. Some of these were prayer, verses 4 and 5, which Lord willing we'll see next week, and remember that's a primary means of grace. Preaching, sacrament, prayer. Secondly, weaponry, verses 13 and 17. Now, of course, we would understand that in the New Covenant a little bit differently, but in their situation, in a theocracy, they took up a sword. They were very realistic. They trusted God, but they also were responsible. and then increased vigilance versus 9 and 16. In other words, when the alarm would sound and the threat was imminent, they were ready for it. But is this not the very thing and things that we were taught to do by the Apostle Paul back when we were studying the book of Ephesians? Verse 13 of Ephesians chapter 6 says, therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand an evil day and having done all to stand. Therefore, let us stand this week, having been fed Jesus Christ and all this glory of this day, and having the resources we need to stand for Jesus, his gospel, his church, his worship, his day, and his word. The devil's ways are all contrary to God in every way he can be, in Christ and the gospel and his church. And that gospel teaches us that sinners are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. So there's hope for them too. And we are the agents of grace to them. So let's be mindful of the devil's ways, but thankful for God's ways. Let's pray together. Father, thank you for showing us the battle plans of our spiritual enemy. And we pray for those that are under his sway and bondage. that you would use us to free them and that you would bring them, too, into the glories of the free community, the one free society, the faithful Church of God and Jesus Christ. May we not be intimidated by our foes, by bullies, by threats, by efforts to discourage us, by means of trying to form us into the world's ways, but continue to take our stand for Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.