RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES Nehemiah 4 Pastor Alan Dionson March 17, 2024
Unmasking criticism
A. ANTICIPATE CRITICISM
1. Criticism attacks vision (v 2:10)
2. Criticism attracts other criticism (v. 2:19)
3. Criticism asserts their way all the time (v. 6:1-4)
B. ANATOMY OF A CRITICISM
1. It begins with a serious concern (2:10)
2. It is followed by cynicism (v. 2:19)
3. It continuous with an attack to our character (v. 4:2-3)
4. It divides and causes conflict with one another (v. 7-8)
5. It takes away our confidence (v. 10-12,14)
C. ADDRESSING CRITICISM
1. Pray against your critiques (v. 4-5, 9)
2. Continue to work with all your heart (v. 6)
3. Build and defend each other (v. 13,15, 21-23)
4. Remember God’s faithfulness (v. 14)
5. Finish what you have started (v. 6:14-5)
Nehemiah 6:14-15 “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
