The 
Phases of Faith
Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Dear Jesus, I thank you for being my Savior and Friend. You are my strength and my hope. I thank you for the promises and the dreams that you have given me. I ask that you would help me to avoid the distractions in my life and maintain focus on what you have called me to do and be. I ask that you would silence my critics, but if they do speak, help me to love them as you would have me to. I need your grace today. Help me to be faithful to all that you have called me. I ask this in Your name. . . Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Nehemiah 4:1-3
Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch or poor, feeble, Jews think they are doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a day if they offer enough sacrifices? Look at those charred stones they are pulling out of the rubbish and using again!” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!"
Reflecting on God's Word
What were Sanballat and Tobiah doing in order to make Nehemiah's situation more difficult?
What attitudes motivated Sanballat's criticism?
What and who did they mock?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
Read Nehemiah chapters 1-3 and look at the context of the story.
What was Nehemiah's God-given dream?
Understanding God's Purpose
Does every God-given "dream" or promise come with difficulties?
Why does God allow us to be tested often with difficulties in the pursuit of what he has promised?
Does God use the criticism of others to help "define" and "refine" our faith? How so?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
Is it easier to give or receive criticism? Why?
Do you find yourself criticizing others frequently?
Is someone criticizing you for following God? How can you maintain your faith and focus on what God has called you to do?
Thoughts...
There will always be difficulties in the pursuit of a dream or a promise that is given us by the Lord. Difficulties are part of the process by which God is instilling faith within us. One of the common problems we often face in difficulty is criticism. It was once said that "criticism is one of the hardest things to receive, but one of the easiest things to give." It is hard to focus on what God wants us to do when we are being mocked, criticized, and ridiculed. The story of Nehemiah is an example of someone enduring the criticism of others. In Nehemiah 4:1-3, it says that Sanballat and Tobiah (political and military leaders in the region) began to mock the Nehemiah and the Jews. The Lord gave Nehemiah a dream to re-build the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed by the Babylonians. After the nation of Israel had decided to begin rebuilding, Sanballat and Tobiah started ridiculing.
Just as Nehemiah and the Israelites experienced difficulty when they were criticized, so we will often receive the same as well. Other people do not like people who are "out of the mold" and willing to exhibit a radical faith in Jesus Christ. Anything out of the ordinary and people are ready to criticize. In fact, the only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. The fact that others are criticizing means that we are doing something that isn't within the ordinary. When God gives us a dream for something to come about, faith will always take us beyond the ordinary. God will ask us to do something that doesn't fit the mold. However, if we are ever to be greatly used of God we must be willing to endure criticism and maintain faith and focus towards what God has called us to do and to be. Without faith we cannot please God. Criticism will happen. It happened with Nehemiah, and it will happened with us too.