Learning from Nehemiah’s Strategy to Overcome Opposition

Facing opposition should be expected in various leadership roles and responsibilities. Everyone will not agree with executive decisions, policies, and procedures. However, when Christian leaders face opposition, especially within their organizations, a moral code of conduct should matter. What happens when it doesn’t matter? How should Christian leaders respond when there is an attack against kingdom projects and programs ordained by God?

We can learn how to deal with opposition from Nehemiah. When he asked about the situation in Jerusalem, he received distressing news. The survivors of Babylonian captivity were terribly disgraced, walls and gates of Jerusalem were destroyed. This was a safety issue. The city would no longer be fortified and subject to attack.

Nehemiah’s Strategy

After hearing the disturbing news, Nehemiah mourned, wept, fasted to show his sorrow, and prayed for several days (Nehemiah 1:4).

Strategy #1: Nehemiah’s Prayer

Prayer should always be a strategic practice in the life of Christians when facing opposition. Note the elements of Nehemiah’s prayer:

• Nehemiah approached God with reverence by acknowledging His attributes.
• He entreated God as a servant. Recognizing himself as a servant emphasized his humility.
• Nehemiah’s prayer to God was consistent. He prayed day and night.
• He confessed the sins of his father’s house. This included the entire nation, himself included—we have sinned against You (Nehemiah 1:5-7).
• Nehemiah restated the commandment given by Moses (Neh. 1:8-0).
• He petitioned the Lord for success and that the king grants him mercy for his mission trip to Jerusalem.
• God answered Nehemiah’s prayer. Being the king’s cupbearer was a noble and trustworthy position. But Nehemiah’s desire to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls meant more to him than his position.

Strategy #2: Nehemiah’s Plan

When implementing plans sanctioned by God, always follow protocol. Nehemiah followed protocol by presenting the letter from King Artaxerxes to the governors of the province. Learning that help had come to the Israelites upset Sanballat and Tobiah.

• Assess the Situation. Evaluate before moving hastily and revealing the plan to others. For three days, he secretly surveyed and assessed the damage to Jerusalem’s wall and gates. After his assessment, he told his Jewish brethren—priests, leaders and other officials his plan and said, “Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be insulted.” (Nehemiah 2:17). He shared how the favor of God upon him to start the rebuilding project. The people agreed, “Let’s rebuild.” They encouraged one another to begin this God-pleasing work.

Strategy #3: Nehemiah’s Persistence  

When the opposers of the plan show up, you must stay focused and persist in prayer. Usually, opposition starts with ridicule. The tactic is intimidation. Sometimes we become fearful and discouraged because of their derision and threats. Like Nehemiah, speak boldly and declare the God of heaven is with you and this will be successful (Nehemiah 2:20).

Nehemiah’s Principles 

• Do not allow your opponents’ threats to coward you down.
• Do not be afraid of your opposers! Instead, pray and trust God  through the entire process.
• Prayer will keep you focused on your assignment and not the threats and mocking from your opponents.
• In prayer and praise, you will receive strategies to defeat the enemy.
• Pray bold prayers such as Nehemiah prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land. Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders” (Nehemiah 4:4-5 NLT).

Strategy #4: Nehemiah’s Perspective

As stated, opposition is inevitable; therefore, be prepared for a fight—a spiritual fight, not a physical one. Although the temptation to throw a few good punches will come to mind, be prayerful and remember you live by a moral code of conduct.

Like Nehemiah, look at the situation from God’s perspective. God’s purposes will come to pass. Whatever tasks He assigns; He will empower you to complete. Your success is contingent upon your obedience to Him.

Strategy #5: Nehemiah’s Team Project 

You have heard there’s no “I” in the word team. The work of ministry cannot be effective without teamwork. However, when opposition is fierce, some team workers may become weary, fearful, and weak. Some may murmur and complain because of the workload, but mainly because of the opposition (Nehemiah 4:10).

Remember, as God’s assigned leader, the team looks to you to provide godly leadership. The list below summarizes Nehemiah’s strategy when facing opposition.

• Remain in position to assess the situation.
• Stay focused on the assignment.
• Remind the workers of our all-powerful, great God of heaven.
• Strategize and organize the team to persist in process.
• Encourage and motivate the team to continue working; God is with them.

Conclusion

Have you faced opposition doing the work God assigned to you? If so, how are you handling it? Stand firm! Do not be afraid to confront your opponent, but from a spiritual perspective and righteous indignation.

Learn from Nehemiah. Verse 8, “So they all plotted together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion, BUT WE PRAYED to our God and kept men on guard against them day and night.

Notice what Nehemiah said, “Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14). Finally, your assignment is not about you. It involves the plan and purposes of God, not only for your immediate family, but for others as well as future generations.