Developing the Passion to Finish: Lessons from Nehemiah

Kwami Kilpatrick, uses the biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem to illustrate how to overcome obstacles and complete God-given assignments.

Nehemiah’s Mission and Opposition

Nehemiah, a government official, was tasked with the monumental project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. He organized the people, who worked diligently while also being prepared to defend against their enemies [02:21:00].

Nehemiah faced three main plots from his adversaries, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem:

1. Hellish Subtlety (Nehemiah 6:1-4) [01:28:00]: They attempted to subtly distract Nehemiah by inviting him to a meeting in the plain of Ono [01:33:20]. Nehemiah, demonstrating “heavenly wisdom” [02:50:00], refused, stating, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” [01:34:56]. The speaker emphasized that God equips those He calls, and one must be certain of their divine mission [02:59:55].
2. Lies to Produce Fear and Public Shame (Nehemiah 6:5-9) [01:48:00]: The enemies spread false rumors through an unsealed letter, accusing Nehemiah and the Jews of plotting a revolt and claiming Nehemiah intended to become king [01:50:00]. Nehemiah’s response was to declare the truth and return to his work, praying, “Now strengthen my hands, O Lord” [01:59:00].
3. Cowardice and Intimidation (Nehemiah 6:10-14) [01:59:00]: A prophet named Shemaiah, hired by Tobiah and Sanballat, tried to intimidate Nehemiah into hiding in the temple, citing a threat to his life [01:59:00]. Nehemiah refused, asserting, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save my own life? I will not go!” [02:03:00]. He discerned that this prophet was not sent by God [02:09:00].

The Outcome and Key Lessons

Despite the relentless opposition, Nehemiah successfully completed the wall, as recorded in Nehemiah 6:15 [02:15:00].

The speaker highlighted several lessons for developing the passion to finish:

• Keep Working: Remain focused on the task God has given you [03:50:00].
• State the Truth: Do not succumb to lies or rumors [03:55:00].
• Give it to God: Pray and trust God to handle opposition [04:00:00].
• Embrace Temptation: Challenges, like Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4) [05:28:00], strengthen spiritual resolve [05:28:00].

Kilpatrick also referenced Isaiah [03:59:00] when discussing God’s foreknowledge of one’s future.