WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.680 Today, we're going to take a posture of peace by not falling apart when people oppose us. 2 00:00:07.680 --> 00:00:11.560 Hi, I'm Lindsay Van Zale. 3 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:16.040 Posture is a podcast that serves as a short, audible fist bump to remind you that God is 4 00:00:16.040 --> 00:00:17.040 in everything. 5 00:00:17.040 --> 00:00:22.680 Together, we're going to be emboldened to take a daily posture of perfect peace. 6 00:00:23.680 --> 00:00:28.680 In Nehemiah chapter 6, verse 9, it says, 7 00:00:28.680 --> 00:00:32.680 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking to themselves, 8 00:00:32.680 --> 00:00:36.680 Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done. 9 00:00:36.680 --> 00:00:41.680 But I prayed, O God, strengthen my hands. 10 00:00:41.680 --> 00:00:45.680 Nehemiah was a restorer, just like you. 11 00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:49.680 He had come to Jerusalem to rebuild and restore the city's walls. 12 00:00:49.680 --> 00:00:52.680 And just a quick background on his story, 13 00:00:52.680 --> 00:00:57.680 the Israelites had returned to Jerusalem after decades of exile in Babylon, 14 00:00:57.680 --> 00:01:00.680 and slowly, like, oh so slowly, 15 00:01:00.680 --> 00:01:04.680 they had begun to rebuild the rubble of the temple and the city, 16 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.680 and really, they were reconstructing their way of life, 17 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.680 what they had left behind decades before. 18 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.680 And Nehemiah, he's still in Babylon, serving under the king, 19 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:18.680 when he gets a discouraging report that the walls and the gates of Jerusalem 20 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:21.680 were rubble, they were broken down, 21 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:24.680 which essentially meant that the exiles who had returned to rebuild the city 22 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.680 were without protection and security, and really, 23 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.680 they were without the dignity of city walls. 24 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:34.680 And so in Nehemiah chapter 1, verse 4, it says, 25 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:38.680 When he heard the report, he sat down and he wept. 26 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:42.680 And then it said, For some days he mourned, fasted, 27 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:45.680 and prayed before the God of heaven. 28 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:49.680 I find this as a helpful framework for whenever I am stirred by brokenness 29 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:53.680 or injustice in this world, or when I am feeling stirred to restore something, 30 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:57.680 because the temptation is to immediately just react out of my own pain 31 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:00.680 and opinion and grief about the situation. 32 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:05.680 But we see from Nehemiah that instead he brings his opinion and his pain, 33 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:10.680 and he grieves before the Lord, he goes to the Lord to seek the Lord's favor 34 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:13.680 in moving forward with restoration. 35 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:16.680 And God blesses Nehemiah with favor from the king of Babylon 36 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.680 to go back and rebuild the walls. 37 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.680 So skipping ahead back into chapter 6, 38 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:25.680 there's been opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem the whole time, 39 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.680 and with Nehemiah it's no different. 40 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:30.680 From his very arrival he's been opposed, he's been mocked, 41 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:33.680 so that's what we see here in chapter 6. 42 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.680 Those who were opposing him asked him for a meeting, 43 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:39.680 but really it was a scheme to harm him, 44 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.680 and Nehemiah discerned that, so he responds in chapter 6, verse 3, 45 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:47.680 and he says, I'm carrying on a great project here, 46 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:49.680 and I can't go down to meet you. 47 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.680 Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? 48 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:58.680 And it says that four times the people who were opposing him sent messages 49 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.680 to come meet them, and each time he gave them the same answer. 50 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:05.680 And then the fifth message came from those that were opposing him, 51 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.680 and it was an accusation against Nehemiah. 52 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:12.680 It was basically accusing his motives, his integrity, 53 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:17.680 and Nehemiah responds and he says, you are making this up in your head. 54 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.680 And then that's in verse 9 where he says they were trying to frighten us, 55 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.680 thinking we're going to be so intimidated 56 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.680 that we're going to drop the work of our hands 57 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.680 and we're not going to get it done. 58 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:32.680 But Nehemiah prays, not rescue from the opposition, 59 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:37.680 he prays to God to strengthen his hands in the midst of opposition. 60 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.680 And when the wall was completed, it says in verse 16, 61 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.680 that when the enemies, those who were opposing them, 62 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:47.680 heard that the wall was completed, all of the surrounding nations were afraid 63 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.680 and they lost their self-confidence because they realized 64 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.680 that this work had been done with the help of God. 65 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.680 Yet, they still opposed him and they still tried to intimidate him 66 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.680 even after the restoration was completed. 67 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:04.680 What's the point of the story? 68 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:09.680 Restorers, you are going to face some opposition. 69 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.680 Nehemiah is just one story throughout the entire Bible 70 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:17.680 of many restorers who all faced opposition. 71 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:22.680 Not even Jesus received approval from everyone. 72 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.680 Opposition used to be so devastating to me 73 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.680 because I just wanted everyone to get along, 74 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:30.680 I wanted to be liked, I wanted to be approved of, 75 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:35.680 and I used to confuse people's approval and acceptance of me 76 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.680 with approval from God. 77 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:41.680 And let me just tell you, that is a horrible way to live. 78 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:44.680 You will never do anything significant 79 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.680 if your goal in life is to get unanimous approval from everyone. 80 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.680 And if you interpret people's approval as God's approval, 81 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:55.680 you're never actually going to feel approved of. 82 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.680 You'll never feel the security of his love for you 83 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:00.680 because you're not going to feel it. 84 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:03.180 you'll be too busy jumping through hoops 85 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:06.060 to keep people pleased with you. 86 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:07.620 Now, don't hear what I'm not saying. 87 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:09.980 We still seek counsel from others. 88 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:11.780 We don't go at it alone. 89 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:15.380 We seek wisdom from people who are trustworthy and wise. 90 00:05:15.380 --> 00:05:18.220 Even Jesus wasn't a one-man show. 91 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:20.580 It says in John 8, 28, Jesus said, 92 00:05:20.580 --> 00:05:22.300 I do nothing on my own, 93 00:05:22.300 --> 00:05:25.300 but I speak just what the Father has taught me. 94 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:27.420 So before we move on, 95 00:05:27.420 --> 00:05:31.120 how do we know if people are people 96 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:32.760 we should be getting advice from or counsel from? 97 00:05:32.760 --> 00:05:34.820 Here's a few questions to consider 98 00:05:34.820 --> 00:05:37.540 when you're seeking to receive counsel from people. 99 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:42.080 Ask yourself, are they always critical of you, of others? 100 00:05:42.080 --> 00:05:45.140 Does it seem that no one ever has a good idea but them? 101 00:05:45.140 --> 00:05:47.140 If so, I would be cautious 102 00:05:47.140 --> 00:05:49.660 about seeking advice from people like that. 103 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:51.440 Another question you can ask is, 104 00:05:51.440 --> 00:05:55.020 do they disciple me to Jesus or themselves? 105 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:56.900 Another way of asking this is, 106 00:05:56.900 --> 00:05:59.840 do they trust that you can hear from God for yourself 107 00:05:59.840 --> 00:06:01.300 and do they encourage you 108 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:03.220 to seek to hear his voice for yourself? 109 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:05.940 Or do they always insist or imply 110 00:06:05.940 --> 00:06:09.860 that they can hear from God for you better than you can? 111 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:11.180 I'd be a bit cautious. 112 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:13.140 And then the second one is, do they, 113 00:06:13.140 --> 00:06:16.060 I mean, the third one is, do they provide helpful feedback? 114 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:18.060 Because they should be providing feedback. 115 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:20.420 Not everything can be great and wonderful all the time. 116 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:22.300 That doesn't help you get better at all. 117 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.940 So you should expect feedback 118 00:06:23.940 --> 00:06:25.820 from people that you receive counsel from. 119 00:06:25.820 --> 00:06:29.100 So simply ask yourself, is the feedback they're giving me, 120 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:29.940 is it helpful? 121 00:06:29.940 --> 00:06:31.180 Is it moving me forward? 122 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:32.860 Is it bringing solution? 123 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:35.420 Or do I just feel like I'm constantly under critique 124 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:37.460 and I can't move forward in any way? 125 00:06:37.460 --> 00:06:38.740 Here's the thing. 126 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:41.540 It's rarely our wise, trustworthy friends and counselors 127 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:43.020 who hold us back. 128 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:45.120 They may question, they may have questions, 129 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:47.860 they may have feedback, they may have ideas and solutions 130 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:49.020 for helping you get better, 131 00:06:49.020 --> 00:06:53.280 but they're not intimidating you from moving forward. 132 00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:55.920 Instead, it's often the people in the cheap seats 133 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.600 of our lives, watching us from afar, 134 00:06:58.600 --> 00:06:59.840 the people on social media 135 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:01.540 who you haven't had a face-to-face encounter with 136 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:03.640 since high school or ever, 137 00:07:03.640 --> 00:07:05.520 or it's the comments from acquaintances, 138 00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:06.800 people you barely know. 139 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.240 Maybe it's words spoken long ago by a teacher or a relative 140 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:13.160 that you have allowed to negatively define yourself 141 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:14.280 over the years. 142 00:07:14.280 --> 00:07:16.100 Maybe it's even the people in your life 143 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:18.840 who you just wanna impress because of their position 144 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:20.600 or influence in the community or industry, 145 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.560 but there's really no real relationship between you. 146 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.720 It may even be your own critical thoughts about yourself 147 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:30.200 or the fears that you have about the hard work ahead 148 00:07:30.200 --> 00:07:35.040 that are manufacturing feelings of being opposed. 149 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:37.800 Here's what we need to settle in our hearts today. 150 00:07:38.780 --> 00:07:40.560 We are restorers. 151 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.560 You are a restorer. 152 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:45.560 And you're not going to please everyone. 153 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:48.560 You're not going to be understood by everyone. 154 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.960 Even when you pull it off, like Nehemiah did, 155 00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:53.100 even when you make an impact, make a difference, 156 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:54.460 bring positive change, 157 00:07:54.460 --> 00:07:57.560 there's still gonna be some people who oppose you. 158 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:59.640 There's still gonna be those who mock you, 159 00:07:59.640 --> 00:08:03.220 accuse you of wrong motives, question your integrity. 160 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:07.560 Our prayer in those moments, in the midst of opposition, 161 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:12.380 should not be, Lord, keep me pleasing to all the people 162 00:08:12.380 --> 00:08:14.920 so that I don't have to face this opposition. 163 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:19.560 Instead, be like Nehemiah and pray, 164 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:21.760 Lord, even in the midst of this opposition, 165 00:08:21.760 --> 00:08:26.760 strengthen my hands as I do your work so that I please you. 166 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:33.080 The promise of perfect peace is found in Isaiah 26.3. 167 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:36.559 And in Hebrew, it is shalom, shalom, 168 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.919 meaning complete wholeness, nothing missing, 169 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:42.240 nothing broken. 170 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:44.920 This is who you are in Jesus. 171 00:08:44.920 --> 00:08:46.960 Let's declare this together. 172 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:50.560 Today, I am kept in perfect peace. 173 00:08:50.560 --> 00:08:53.640 With my whole heart, I trust the Lord. 174 00:08:53.640 --> 00:08:58.160 I am strong, I am victorious, I am whole. 175 00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:00.840 Remember, friend, you are a living testimony 176 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:04.920 of Jesus's ultimate win, not because of anything you did, 177 00:09:04.920 --> 00:09:07.120 but because of what he did for you. 178 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:08.640 With every step you take today, 179 00:09:08.640 --> 00:09:11.440 you're putting Jesus's victory on display 180 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.120 and Satan's defeat on replay.