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Episode 699: In this episode, we explore Nehemiah chapter 6, where Nehemiah faces opposition from enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah as he works to complete the wall. We highlight Nehemiah's unwavering determination and wisdom in the face of intimidation and false accusations. Despite the challenges, he remains focused on his mission, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in our own lives.
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You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in practical ways. Hey, everybody, good morning. We are the Bible Guys. Good morning. Yes. And if you're wondering. Why Jeff looks different he's better looking and younger and smaller, it's. Because this is this is my friend Jeff, this is yeah, that's right, that's right. Well, you know that's the nature of mine and Jeff's relationship. I love that for you. Yeah. Yeah. So this is Kyle doab Meyer and Jeff is out of the country with his lovely life wife Bonnie, serving the TTI organization, the Timothy Initiative, which is awesome, and so Kyle's filling in. So we're just thrilled on both fronts. So, hey, we have an incredible chapter. We're in the story of Nehemiah, who is a Jewish person who is requested from King art of Xerxes, as he was a prominent cup bearer to leave his job, which was a cushy job, and to go back and to organize the rebuilding of the wall surrounding the city of Jerusalem. And so we're in the middle of that story. But Before we get to that, we're gonna do a very strange segment. To me, I've never seen this segment. Yeah, last week Wesley and Jeff apparently or last week they did do this and so okay, and then the viewers liked it a lot. So this is called guest versus AI. We played this game with Wesley, Desiree. Writes, and it was a hit. So let's see how things go with Kyle. Chris will ask Kyle the question, let Kyle answer, and then ask Chet Gpt the same question. Compare answers and vote on who wins, Kyle or Ai. Okay, dude, how the world can you ever compete with Ai? Now, I'm gonna lose, so, but you're but you're. Gonna You're gonna do well. We'll see, yeah, we'll see. So. And by the way, I've decided to, uh, you gotta climb up hill for this one, buddy. Okay, are you ready? Sure? We go? Yeah? I'm nervous about what's in your brain? Now, Kyle? What is it? Kyle? It's not a big deal. Just it is not a deal, very simple question. But it's just me versa that's the problem. Okay, Ready, what is the meaning of life? Oh my gosh, nothing yet, nothing hard at all. It's probably one of the hardest questions. What is the meaning of life? Okay? If you go biblical you can no, no, no, no no, But I'm gonna try to do it. Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna say one sentence. Okay, So we asked you have on your phone? Yes, okay, you got to ask for one sentence. Okay, that way I asked it, what is the meaning of life? Shoot? How long is this? Is it like a paragraph? Though? It gave me four points? Okay? Points? All right? I would say the meaning of life is to live for a purpose that is greater than yourself period. Okay, So no four points? What God, I'm not yea. If I get one of the four, I'll be happy. Okay. Well, hey, listen. It could be that these four answers are sort of summarized by your one statement. So here's what it says from a Christian Biblical perspective. The meaning of life is to know, love, and glorify God and enjoy a relationship. With Him forever. Okay. Number which, by the way, what's purpose greater than yourself? Number one? We were created for God's glory and then it gives me Isaiah forty three. Our existence is not random. We were made to reflect God's glory and character. Number two, Life's purpose is found there's purpose. Life's purpose is found in knowing God. John seventeen three. Now this is eternal life. That they know you and the only true God, Jesus Christ, from you've sent true life. Eternal life is not just about existence, but about a relationship with God. Point number three. We are called to love God and others Matthew twenty two thirty seven. The greatest commandment love God and others. Jesus something of the purpose of life in terms of love, love for God, love for people. And then finally, the fourth one is our lives are meant to bear fruit that lasts. God desires that our lives have eternal impact through love, service, and obedience. Okay, let me defend myself against AI for a moment. He no, no, no, no, no no no. I listen. When I was seeking, When I was seeking this question, I was thinking like if if anybody in the world Christian non Christian, would ask, what is the meaning of life? I thought to myself to live for a purpose that he was greater than myself as a Christian? What is that purpose, right Jesus Christ right here? That that purpose right there is to do everything you can to glorify God and live for Jesus. But that was like that obviously is such a better that what they just. Described, way better, dude. I am completely with you. I have the same mindset as you almost always in terms of like like like. For instance, my mind always goes for the person who doesn't know God. Right. Your statement is a statement that would bring somebody who is clueless about the meaning of life, yes, and you'd say no, No, it's to live something greater than yourself. That is a transition statement that brings that person into a Biblical perspective. And then for the Christian who already has the Biblical perspective, your statement then completely points that Christian to God. Yes, because he has a Biblical perspective exactly. So basically what I just heard is the Bible guy said that I beat Ai. I like your answers better because it includes all of humanity. Whereas whereas AI immediately went for the Biblical perspective. And by the way, yeah, I do think it's a purpose of a Christian don't you think digging deeper? The purpose of a Christian is to glorify God, yes, and to lead others to christ serve Him. Right, there's all those things. Those are the purpose of a Christian. But just the meaning of life's that's what I. Was going for. Yeah, well here, let me just be clear. Let me be clear. AI got it right? A, I got it right? Okay? His or her answer there? Their answer they them just kidding? That was terrible their answer. Yes, their answer is definitely the right answer. Right. But what I'm saying is I personally vote for your answer because your answer meets people right where they're at. Whereas the person who's let's just say, like an atheist who's sitting, you know, in disbelief and angry at God. This answer is so on point speaking Christianese, that person is going to shut this answer out. Your answer will intrigue people enough to consider. What's next or what's next? And what do you what do you mean bigger than myself? Right? Which, again I think your answer summarizes all. Well, especially because the meaning of life oftentimes aren't most people searching for the meaning of life within themselves. Most people are thinking, if only I was happier. If that's this is the meaning of life? Is a family? Those are all great components of life, but they aren't the meaning of life. So and by the way, just like Ai, you know, chet GPT is a good friend of mine. Yeah, and this is what they say. It says the meaning of life. I'm sorry. In summary, it says, in short, at the end, the meaning of life, according to the Bible is to be in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, to live for his glory, and to love others as a reflection of His love for us. And doing so we find not only purpose, but deep joy and fulfillment. And then it says, if you're asking this for a sermon or for a teaching, I can help you build it out with points, stories and scriptures. Are you kidding me? Yes? Please do that? Send message notes to Kdobbenmeier at Heritage Church dot com. Yeah, no, kidding. What is the meaning of life from a Christian? Oh? My goodness, are you kidding me? Right now? Look what it says. I didn't even ask you to do this. Look at look what it says't I won't read you the sermon, but look at it says here's a sermon outline on the topic, what is the meaning of life from a Christian perspective? Styled similarly to Chris Zarba relatable and engaging scriptures, centered and practical. Does it tell a story about your brother? Says? Look, it says introduction hook start with humor. There are two great questions, people asking life. What's for dinner? And why am I here? Oh? My, oh my, it does know me. Illustration a smartphone doesn't find asad This is hilarious, given. Dude, it really does know me. It knows me. It's funny. It's goodness, gracious, I'm going to become obsolete. What are we doing? I write sermons? What are we doing here? I write sermons and I'm becoming obsolete? Oh my gosh, it's our time. That's our time. No, it's our time for saying hey. By the way, I've realized that I the first three podcasts of this week I forgot to do a horrible transition. So so I'm gonna I'm just gonna say, uh, speaking of sermons, Uh, Nehemiah is living. He's a living sermon, Kyle. Isn't that a terrible transition? That's all right? I like it this sermon he's living. We're going to talk about Neamiah chapter six. We've got some verses to get through here today, so I'll get right into it. Chapter six. Sambalot, Tobaya, Gesham, the Arab and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained, so we had not yet set up the doors and the gates. So sam Blot and Gasham sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plan and the plane of O No. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message of them, I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you? Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. The fifth time, Sambalot's servant came with an open letter, a letter in his hand, and this is what it said. There's a rumor among the surrounding nations. And Gashem tells me it's true that you and the Jews are planning to rebel, and that is and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports you planned to be their. He also reports that you have a point of prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you. Look, there's a king in Judah. You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king. So I suggest that you come and talk it over with me. Neemia says I replied, there is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing. They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. Later I went to visit Shemaiah, son of the Leah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the door shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight. But I replied, should someone in my position run from danger, should someone in my position enter the temple to save his life? No, I won't do it. I realized that God has not spoken to him, but that he had uttered hit this prophecy against me because Tobiah and san Balot had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. Remember, oh, my God, all the evil things that Tobia and Sambalott have done. And remember Noah Daiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. Going into the next section is called the builders complete the Wall. So in October second the wall was finished, just fifty two days after we'd begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. During those fifty two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobia and the nobles of Judah for many and Judah had sworn allegiance to him because of his father in law with Sheknaiah, son of Era, and his son Jehannin was married to the daughter of Meshalem, son of Brekia. They kept telling me about Tobia's good deeds, and then they told him everything I said, and Tobia kept sending threading. Letters to intimidate me. That's funny. After the wall was finished and I had set up the doors and the gates, the gay cap keeper, singers and Levites were appointed. I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hen and I along with Hen and Ayah the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God. The most last verse here. Says I said to them, do not leave the gates open during the hottest part of the day, and even while the gatekeepers are on duty, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards. Everyone is on a regular watch. Some will serve at sentry posts and some in front of their own homes. Wow. Yeah, So first of all, fifty two days. Can we just revel in the fact that, you know, they said that the reason why their enemies and the surrounding areas knew that this was a work of God is because it is incredible that such a feat should be accomplished in less than two months. Less than two months, right, that is incredible. And so obviously if it ended on October second, right, that would have been what August, September October, right, so it had been August tenth ish something like that, you know, first week of August. So think about it. They're they're starting in the heat of the day, I don't know about you, but I went to Israel, and I went in the summer of nine and we actually were in there doing a great work with well a lot of things. Actually we were meeting with Bethley and Baba College. We were trying to understand the whole reconciliation ministry between Palestinians and Israelites. There was a there was a there was a ministry that we were part of that tried to bridge the gap. And then also we were actually going to do a vacation Bittle School with Bethley and Baba College in the center of Palestine. Now, for those of you who. Don't know, Palestine is recognized as their own region in the middle of Israel. So Israel is both called a state. And a and so Israel is obviously filled with Jewish people and Palestines Palestinians. Are in the middle. And there is this great. Wall and I'm talking like the wall is so high that it blocks out the sun. It has to be I don't even know, but I want to say at least twenty to thirty feet. High, and it is thick, and it is huge. And this wall goes all around almost the center a region of Palestine, and there's a lot of talk about it, but anyway, it's an occupied territory. Palestinians live in occupied territory. So you know, the Jewish War in the forties, the Israelites were able to take. Control back over. So consequently there's actually Israelite guards at every city gate. So whenever you enter in through the Palestinian borders, you have to go through the gates with these people who are literally boarding your bus. So we had like this bus of seventeen people and this girl walks on and she's a the Israelite army and she's got this you know, AK forty seven rifle and she's walking. Up and down. I mean, it's just it's incredibly intimidating, right, And most people when they enter in through this, they only do so for one reason, and that is they go in to see Bethlehem. Okay, So if you think about it, the way that the Palestinian walls are the only tourist site for Christians is Bethlehem, and it's literally right inside the city wall. I'm talking like, you go. Through the gate and it's right there because it's so close to Jerusalem, and so that's what people do they go to Jerusalem, then they enter in through this gate, they go to Bethlehem and they come back out, and that's it. People do not go up and travel into, for the most part, the city of Palestine. So we decided to go to the very center of Palestine. Hours of driving right and we went up into right near the big city of Jeanine, and we went to zabab De. And zabab De had the most Christians of any city in Palestine. And guess what, the percentage of Christians was one percent and that was the most. So we held a vacation. Yeah that's right, yeah, Muslim. And so we held a vacation Bible school and we had one hundred and twenty kids and they were most. Of them, almost all of them were Muslim. And we told them we were preaching about Jesus and they said okay, and they left their kids. Well, they put me in charge of outdoor games. And so I'm outside in the summer. I was like July and it was one hundred and twenty degrees one and twenty degrees. I couldn't breathe. I could not breathe. It was unbelievable. The difference between shade and sun was life and death. And I originally I had planned like soccer and things with kids, and I realized I'm just to get water and just squirt everybody because that's all they wanted. Yeah, water games, water games. It was all water games, right, all that to say this, that was a long way to say that it was grueling. Though. They built the wall in the summer, right, we're talking over a hundred degrees heat, and he mobilized all. The city villagers. So imagine this. Imagine he's saying, hey, don't let don't let your guard down, even on the hottest days, right, and he's telling them to basically work through exhausting conditions. Right, Sometimes that's what God calls us to do. I know, it is pretty wild because you think about this, like, you know, it's easy for us to read this twenty five hundred years later and completely almost because here we are an air conditioned you know, a place where we're reading this from and. Actually forgetting you you you brought. Me to one hundred and twenty degrees for that moment there, but we're not working, you know, to work sun up to sundown and to do that for fifty. Fifty well a minute ago you said the studio was hot. It's hot, yeah, probably what is it like cool? Seventy degrees and a year the lights? Yeah, I was complaining about the heat in this room. And it's crazy because they work from some up to sundown fifty two days straight and then they're on guard the entire time. And then not to mention that, then Neamiah's got to deal with all this opposition along the way. And then and then you know these rumors. The sam Blott servant comes with an open letder, creating a rumor essentially, you know, even that is pretty crazy that he essentially starting this rumor that hey, supposedly you want to become king. And I'm gonna let the king know. And now all of a sudden, you got to imagine Neamayah is probably got all kinds of challenges internally mentally that he's battling now thinking, oh, man, like, is this going to get to the king? Am I gonna let is it gonna he's Is he gonna think I'm letting him down? Is he gonna think? Like? You just imagine that that guy not only you know, had a rough go as far as physically the obstacles he had to go through. But imagine he didn't sleep very well, Like could you just imagine trying to sleep? I mean, he's probably exhausted. But other than that, well, I mean knowing that your enemies are constantly trying to get you. You know, Neiamiah was so wise as a leader. He was so far above and beyond what you would ever expect from a cup bearer. Right. Uh So, so think about it. They're trying to They're trying to defeat Nehemiah and his group of people at every turn. So what do they do. They try to mock them, They try to deflate their spirits. At the beginning, they try to tell them it's an impossible task with discouragement, and then what do they do as they recognize that everything is up. It says that they had plans to attack them. Ne andm Iah found out and posted guards at the lowest parts of the wall. And once they. Had learned that ne Andmiah knew of their plans, they got discouraged, and God discouraged them, and so all along the way. And then what happens once the walls are built. Now they're going, okay, how do we still get to them. Let's try to destroy his reputation. Let's try to spread a rumor that he's building the wall to be king, so that, you know, so that somebody else could come in and take care of it. And then then then all of a sudden, Nemiah gets advice from somebody that says, hey, let's retreat inside the temple because there's there's a hitman squad coming for you. And Nemiah says, no, you're going to use that to use that as a bad reputation to accuse me and discredit me. So I'm not doing it. So Neamia shows courage then, right, so you know, because it could have been true, there could have been an assassination squad coming after him. But what does he do? He says, no, I'm not going to do such a thing. Why should I do that? So every step of the way me and Iah is understanding. There's two sermons that I'm talking about in my mind. Here's the one I'm talking about currently, and that is there's some wisdom in being aware that some people are just going to be out to get you the whole time. It's sort of a pessimistic, depressing kind of reality, but the Bible does say that we do have enemies. Right, the Bible says that there're gonna be people that oppose to us because of our faith. There's gonna be people opposed to us and reject us and mock us and want us to fall. And you know what there is obviously we are to act as Christians with compassion and love. But there's some wisdom here in being prudent and wise and cunning enough to know that there are just some people in this world who, like you, want to believe the best of who they are and their value of what their soul is worth. But at the same time, don't ever underestimate that God says there will be people who will oppose you. And this is, by the way, this was a and still is a very very very hard lesson for me to learn, because my counselor after years, tells me that one of my downfalls is believing the best in people. And I'm like, how could that be a downfall? How could loving people and believing the best of them? How could it be? And he says, well, you're confusing it for compassion, this is my counsel. You're confusing it for compassion. You're looking on the Christian side, the compassion the love side of it, saying how's it downfall? But what you're neglecting is the wisdom side. Right, Listen, there are clues. There are clues that Chris, you should have caught on to that should have dictated you walking in wisdom. But instead here you say, oh, I believe the best in this person, and you walk right into you know, treachery, enemy, enemy territory, not even realizing that God says that there's going to be enemies of your soul or enemies of your of your person. So so it's a very very hard lesson for me to learn. The other lesson, The other sermon that I was alluding to before is, you know, one hundred and twenty degree heat. Thing is that sometimes God calls you to work that is tumultuous, sometimes it's excruciating. Sometimes God asks us to be faithful in things that are just not fun at all. But think about it, Think about everything that was at stake for me, Am I to be faithful? Right, So he's asking his people, hey, you know, stand by the wall on the hottest days when it's one hundred and twenty degrees in the sun, and don't let your guard down and stand by your homes. And you know, think about the individual person who's tasked at the dung gate for instance, Right, and he's just sitting. There going what am I doing? Not realizing that his faithfulness is connected to future generations of God rebuilding that area, restoring his people, building his nation once again, ultimately leading Jesus to Jerusalem, right. Where salvation is going to happen for the world. Right. I mean this guy at the gate, you know, his name's Bob. Okay, Bob's a part of that, right, and he doesn't even know it. It's what you said last podcast. You know, you talked about your friend who's said they want to go back to work for the bigger picture of God. Well, sometimes we have to realize God asks us to do the faithful things because he has a bigger picture in mind and there's more at stake than we'll ever know. Yeah, and so and so be faithful even when God asks you to do something that's discouraging. Yeah, and would also say, when you are stepping into God's plan for your life, and hey, it goes back to the meaning of life, which is to glorify Him. Look at that circle and leading people to Jesus. You are going to be met with opposition. There are going to be challenges, They're going to be enemies, they are going to be internal opposition. Be prep for it, and so beyond guard, be praying, be watchful, and then also pray for others in leadership. Whenever somebody will tell them, like I have people tell me like, hey, just you know, ky, I pray for you every day. I'm like, wow, like it's legitimately, Like like it doesn't that I don't know. I'm sure you get that to some like that is such a good thing to be prayed for it and we should continue to pray over others in authority as well, knowing that they're under attack all the time as well. Hey, I want to give a shout out to some who I know probably is not listening, But there was a girl on my previous two churches ago. I've only worked at four churches for any length of time, but two churches ago, when I lived in Georgia, I was doing college ministry and there was a girl named Kelly. And Kelly met her husband there at my college group and married James. And they went into full time ministry. But Kelly, before she was even married, she came to me one day and she said, God asked me. And by the way, she's so. Eccentric and quirky and wonderful, and she's one of these kinds of people where if she says something, everybody believes it, like she's going to do it no matter what. And she came to me and said, God asked me to pray for you every day for the rest of my life. And I said, what did you just say. She's like twenty one. I said, what did you just say? She said, and she looked at me with confidence and said, I commit to you and promise you that I will pray for you every single day for the rest of my life and you will always be in my prayers. And she said, I feel like this is what God wants me to do for you. And so anyway, she bought me a ball but for my Christmas tree. One year long story, but I remember every once in a while, every couple of Christmases, I'll text her and I'll send her a picture of a ball and I'll say, hey, we still got your ball. That's so beautiful this Christmas ball. And she says, I pray for you every single day still, and it's been twenty years since I've left that church, and so for twenty years she's told me she prays for me every day. Dude, Kelly legend right there, Legend, legendary moment, legend. So that's awesome. Well, hey, that is our time for sure, and so hopefully we will see you next time on the Bible guys. F