First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
Sunday Worship, May 17, 2026

      • Psalm 119ESV

  • The Value of Opposition

    James 1:2–4 ESV
    2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
    Today, we are going to talk about the trial of opposition. Opposition is when you are doing what you are supposed to do and something or someone steps in to mess it all up.
    As you heard Jake preach a couple of weeks ago, Nehemiah chapter three is all about the strategy to rebuild the wall. Various groups worked on the wall at different sections so that the whole wall was being repaired all at once. They were unified and the work was under way. Whenever things are going good for the people of God, the enemy is going to be right there to try to mess things up. When that happens what do we do.
    We are going to read this passage a small slice at a time so we can see the rhythm of the Opposition and the Response that is given. Let’s look at the first opposition.

    Opposition: Mocking and Scoffing

    Nehemiah 4:1–3 ESV
    1 Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”

    Response: Pray and Build

    Nehemiah 4:4–6 ESV
    4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

    Opposition: Threats and Attacks

    Nehemiah 4:7–8 (ESV) 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
    Enemies Surrounded Jerusalem

    Response: Pray and Protect

    Nehemiah 4:9 ESV
    9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

    Opposition: Fear and Discouragement

    Nehemiah 4:10–12 ESV
    10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”

    Response: Pray and Encourage

    Nehemiah 4:13–14 ESV
    13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

    Resolve: Defend and Build

    Nehemiah 4:15–23 ESV
    15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” 21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.

    What kind of opposition do we face today?

    Mocking and Scoffing
    Threats and Attacks
    Fear and Discouragement

    What must we resolve to do?

    Pray - This battle is physical and Spiritual

    Acts 4:24–31 ESV
    24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

    Build - What has God called you to build?

    1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
    58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
    Galatians 6:9 ESV
    9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

    Protect - What are you responsible for?

    1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV
    13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
    1 Timothy 5:8 ESV
    8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
    Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV
    10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

    Then we walk by faith

    This is where God’s promise to use these trials leads us to trust Him even in the face of opposition.
    James 1:2–4 ESV
    2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

    We count it all joy

    why?

    Because we Trust that God is at work

    so . . .

    We don’t stop doing His will.

      • James 1:2–4ESV

      • Nehemiah 4:1–3ESV

      • Nehemiah 4:4–6ESV

      • Nehemiah 4:9ESV

      • Nehemiah 4:10–12ESV

      • Nehemiah 4:13–14ESV

      • Nehemiah 4:15–23ESV

      • Acts 4:24–31ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 15:58ESV

      • Galatians 6:9ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 16:13ESV

      • 1 Timothy 5:8ESV

      • Ephesians 6:10–13ESV

      • James 1:2–4ESV

First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
fbchoquiam@outlook.com
3605324887
http://fbchoquiam.com
13 members • 17 followers