Expect Opposition

Originally published on October 13, 2014

"I also told them about the gracious hand of my
God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.'

So they began this good work.

But when Sanballat the Horonite,

Tobiah the Ammonite official

and Geshem the Arab heard about it,

they mocked and ridiculed us.

'What is this your are doing?' they asked.

'Are you rebelling against the king?'"

Nehemiah 2:18-19

The hand of God was upon Nehemiah.  The God of the universe went before him, paving the way for his mission.  His favor was upon Nehemiah.  Still, there was opposition.  There was difficulty.  There were bumps in the road.

Even though I'm following God and am under His favor through faith in Jesus Christ, I can't expect clear sailing.  In fact, I had better realize I will experience trouble of some kind.  Thankfully, though, resistance to or defiance against God's plan for my life does not mean I have to give up.  No!  I am on the side of the Overcomer (John 16:33)!  The opposition that rises up against me only means I must adjust.  What must I do?

Carry On.  Before any work could be done, the wall around Jerusalem had to be inspected.  How bad was the damage?  What kind of materials would they need?  How would they go about repairing the walls and gates?  A plan was made and work had begun.  Then came the enemy to mock and make fun of them.  They could have given up, doubting their mission or fearing for their welfare.  Instead, they carried on with the proclamation that, "The God of heaven will give us success (Nehemiah 2:20)." (Nehemiah 2:11-3:32)

It is the same with me.  Who is discouraging me in the race God has marked out for me to run (Hebrews 12:1-2)?  In what ways am I being ridiculed for the peculiar life I'm living (Matthew 7:14)?  If I'm being teased or criticized for what He has called me to do, I have a choice to make.  Either I doubt whether I'm on the right path, or I speak words of faith about the God who empowers me and then carry on.

When opposition rises up against me, I can carry on with the mission at hand.

Be Wise.  As a follower of Christ placed in the middle of a cold, harsh world, I am vulnerable.  Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." (Matthew 10:16)  Sheep are defenseless against predators.  They don't have a way to fight back.  In fact, their only protection against danger is their shepherd and to huddle together in a group:  They must rely on their guardian and each other.

Likewise, I must realize my Shepherd's rod and staff will protect and comfort me in times of trouble.  I also have been placed in a family of believers who can stand with me when trials come my way.  There are some things, however, Jesus warned me to keep in mind as I live in such a helpless state.  He wants me to be on guard, not ignorant of the dangers at hand but savvy of their presence.  Still, I am not to enter the battle as everyone else does.  Instead, I am to keep my hands clean as I let my Warrior God fight on my behalf (Matthew 10:16-20).

This means when the powerful seek to bring me down, I can place my defense in God's hands and watch as He lifts me up (James 4:10,Psalm 27:5).  Furthermore, I can't expect everyone to agree with me.  As a result, I can take precautions to protect the mission and leave the rest up to God.  It also means when people make fun of me I must preach the truth to myself, replacing their ridicule with pure, just, lovely, gracious, excellent thoughts that bring honor and glory to God (Philippians 4:8). 

When opposition rises up against me, I must be wise in the way I respond.

Trust God.  I naturally want everyone to like me.  At my core, I am a people-pleaser who feels better when I receive lots of affirmation from those around me.  I'd rather do something that is widely accepted than do what sets me apart from the crowd.

Unfortunately for my sin nature, I am following One who is highly controversial and is not well-liked by all.  Therefore, I must expect to face some kind of harassment or maltreatment as I walk with Jesus (John 15:20).  The suffering I endure, however, is not in vain.  Instead, it is used by God to conform me into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).  Everything, whether it was meant to harm me or just irritate me, is woven by the Master Weaver into the beautiful tapestry of my life.

When opposition rises up against me, I can trust God to use it for my good and His glory.

I often mistakenly believe God will protect me from all hindrances when I am careful to obey Him.  As an alien in a foreign land, however, I must expect opposition of some kind.  When I do experience some form of harassment, I can carry on, be wise, and trust God.  In so doing, I will experience peace in the midst of turmoil as I watch God's plan prevail.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God even though my outlook is dismal.

When do I assume everyone will agree with the trajectory of my path?

How am I offended when opposed instead of realizing it's to be expected as a follower of Christ?

Hostile Environment

"When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them,

we all returned to our work on the wall.

But from then on,

only half my men worked while 

the other half stood guard with 

spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail.

The leaders stationed themselves behind 

the people of Judah who were building the wall.  

The laborers carried on their work 

with one hand supporting their load 

and one hand holding a weapon.  

All the builders had sword belted to their side.  

The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm."

Nehemiah 4:15-18 NLT

Nehemiah and the people of Judah had a job to do.  Even though God had sent Nehemiah to start work on rebuilding the wall, providing the necessary supplies and paving the way, his job was not without trouble.  There were those who opposed his work, fighting him every step of the way.

Don't I live in a similar environment?  While I may not be physically threatened, today's culture does threaten my faith.  How then does the church survive?

Delegation.  Abortion.  Euthanasia.  Gay marriage.  Restriction of religious freedom.  Banishment of God from public domain.  There are many ways our culture is defying God and His intended purpose for His image bearers.  As we stray further and further away, those who follow Jesus become increasingly alarmed.  But we can't all spend our days fighting such moral battles.

When my husband served in the Army, I learned that not every soldier serves on the front lines.  Instead, each is trained in specific areas and a large majority are used behind the scenes, supporting those who are engaging in combat.  Similarly, while we are all in the battle taking place in this fallen world, only some are called to the front lines.  My job, then, is to focus on my mission and to support those who are covering me against the enemy's attacks.

God has placed each of us exactly where He wants us, has called each to a specific mission and has equipped every one with talents and gifts to be used in that charge.  In short, God delegates duties.  He calls some to fight the battles, preserving religious freedoms, protecting the innocent from dangerous legislation or even standing in the gap as prayer warriors.  

The people of God can stay on task when each diligently works where God has placed them while supporting those who are on the front lines.

Leadership.  A leader is not always out in front.  Many times, it is the purpose of a leader to stand behind those he leads.  Such was the case in Nehemiah's time when the leaders positioned themselves behind their people to encourage, protect and assist.  

Therefore, I would be wise to learn from this model of leadership, realizing that there are some who are watching me, learning from me, and following behind me.  Since I have such influence, I must make every effort to lend them a hand when possible, smooth the way for them to grow in their faith, and encourage them in their walk.  Who am I leading and how can I provide this kind of leadership?

A leader in God's kingdom is a servant who helps to equip the people to succeed in their God-given calling.

Equipped.  It's important to know that God goes before me always, fighting my battles for me.  With such knowledge, I can boldly step forward into the fray, keeping my weapons at the ready, being alert to the battle at hand and never letting my guard down.

While my battle is not physical, I am in a war as a follower of Christ living in a world ruled by my enemy.  Therefore, I must keep God's Word, my sword, set to use at all times (Ephesians 6:17).  Then I can wield my weapon against the enemy any time he attacks, reminding him of the truth, shedding light in the darkness, and giving all who hear a dose of hope.

It is also important that I not let my guard down while I am here in enemy territory.  Even though I am secure in Christ, I make myself vulnerable to attack when I deny the existence of an enemy, or pretend he is not a threat, or forget he is always looking for chinks in my armor (1 Peter 5:8).  Therefore I must stay alert, watching for ways he is attempting to isolate me from the Body of Christ, or tempt me to doubt in God's ability to use me, or steal the peace that comes from trusting God.  I am uniquely equipped to fight while I serve in my area of calling.

Knowing that God fights for me empowers me to stand strong against my enemies, staying alert to the battle at hand, even while I answer His calling.

As a follower of Christ, I have a job to do, similar to the task facing Nehemiah and the people of Judah in building the wall.  Even in the midst of such a calling, I am not without opposition.  Therefore, God delegates some to fight on the front lines while I support their efforts and benefit from their diligence. It is also important for leaders to stand behind their sheep, providing an atmosphere conducive to work.  Finally, I must realize I'm equipped to be ready to fight when necessary, always aware that God is my ultimate Warrior.  Even though I serve God in a hostile environment, I can still complete the mission given to me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember that God has my back.

How am I afraid to step out in faith, fearing the backlash that may come from my stance?

When do I avoid my mission because I'm unwilling to work in a hostile environment, afraid it may cost me my security or comfort?