Sermon June 28
Nehemiah 4:1-23
Negative words can cut deep. A comment that was meant in jest can burrow deep into your heart and shape who you are. If it’s not uprooted it can destroy your opportunity to align with God. This is especially true with criticism. Words have power. Nehemiah says in verse one, “Sanballat ridiculed the Jews.” RIDICULE. Words meant to harm. Weapons of mass destruction. How do you use your mouth? Are you one who “ridicules?” This is a way to tear others down. So what do you do when your are ridiculed? Speak TRUTH to the LIE and STAND your GROUND. Stand on the Promise God gave you when He called you. Don’t give up. How do you stand on a promise? How do you defeat ridicule? WORDS have the POWER to TEAR DOWN and to BUILD UP. Speak truth. Words have power. Declare who God is and what He has called you to do out loud. It’s easy to get caught up in the NEGATIVITY TRAP. NOISE. If you listen to people complain at Work or on TV or on Social Media… these negative words can hold your heart and mind captive. This is THE ECHO CHAMBER EFFECT. Be careful what you allow to have a voice. LEADERS LEAD. FAITHFUL MEN AND WOMEN STAY THE COURSE. Every person who heard the words of Nehemiah had to decide: “Do I let the ridicule take root or do I stand on the truth?” This is not easy to do but every person who chooses well brings another along with them. Momentum Matters.
Discussion Questions
- Have you experienced “ridicule” that then took root in your heart? How have these words effected your decision making, your own self-perception and your confidence?
- What are some of the biblical promises that you can speak into the lie that will allow you to uproot it from your heart and keep you aligned with who God called you to be?
- How does your environment effect your view of yourself and your world? What impact do the people who you spend the most time with have on this view
