BOOK OF NEHEMIAH - CHAPTER 6
TRIALS & OPPOSITIONS INITIALLY; TRIUMPH EVENTUALLY!
1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of One." But they thought to do me harm. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?" 4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. (Nehemiah 6:1-4 New King James Version - NKJV)
As children of God, we also are servants in His vineyard. We are called into the work of the ministry to do exploits that will enable the fulfillment of His purpose. You may be chosen by God in an area of ministry that will bring glory to Him and that will advance His kingdom. As you take your assigned tasks / calling seriously, and as God gives / enables you progress, don't let it surprise you if your name winds up in some people's bad book. As you do the work of God diligently, do not least expect the activities of the enemies of the cross. Your exploits for God may cause them to be jealous, envious, malicious, sour, and vindictive. You may become a target of hate and accusations - all in attempt to undermine you and diminish your progress. This is due to the magnitude of your exploits as an anointed servant of the Most High God. Your exploits must be sending shock waves across the realm of the spirit; shock waves that are causing damages and chaos to the kingdom of darkness where Satan and his cohorts operate. Considering the high level of efficiency and success God may bless you with, all possible channels may be exploited by the enemy to frustrate you, quench the Spirit, and stunt your growth. All sorts of ploys will be employed by the devil to serve as stumbling block. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
28 For which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:28-30 NKJV)
That's exactly what the enemies want to accomplish.
No matter what the devil and his cohort may be up to, do not hesitate to put up a strong resistance.
"Submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 Revised Standard Version – RSV).
Like Nehemiah, let the devil realize that "I am doing a great work (assigned to me by the Lord), so that I cannot come down (to your standard or any other standard that negates the one already set for me by the Lord): why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3 NKJV) Satan is a cunning individual capable of influencing the behaviour of those you come in contact with. Having observed how spiritual Nehemiah is, the devil and his cohort felt they could explore what could turn out to be a weak point. The evil one decided to work through fake brethren and false prophets and prophetess who make phony prophetic utterances. Pharisees and Sadducees who teach the tradition of men while making it sound as though it's the word of God. So-called messengers of God who disguise ulterior motives behind seemingly religious statements and actions. They prey easily on the weak in faith, and those who are not strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Not even the mention of the "house of God" and "the temple" (Nehemiah 6:10) could throw Nehemiah off the track. When revelation knowledge of the word of God becomes an integral part of your spiritual life, pulling a wool over your eyes is not as easy as it may seem, isn't it? Thank God for His mercies towards Nehemiah whose deeds and services for God is "according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Nehemiah 1:11. 2:8,18). Thank God for the Spirit of discernment (I Corinthians 12:10).
12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 14 ......... and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid ............ 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me (Nehemiah 6:12,14, 13 NKJV)
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 RSV)
As mentioned earlier, Satan is a cunning individual who is capable of influencing the behaviour of people you come in contact with. You see how Sanballat and Tobiahs and company posed a threat to the fulfilment of God's plan through Nehemiah. This is not a situation that is peculiar to Nehemiah. Joseph the dreamer went through the same in the hands of his ten brothers and the wife of Portiphar (Genesis 37 & 39). Satan was at work again shortly after the birth of Jesus Christ. He worked through Herod in what turned out to be a futile attempt to eliminate the newborn king (Matthew 2:1-20). He inspired the activities of the Pharisees, Sadducees and High Priests through their constant attempt to humiliate, demean, harass, and apprehend the Lord Jesus (Matthew 21:45-46; 22:15-22; 26:3-5; Luke 22:1-6). Saul, inspired by the devil, brought about lots of anguish and problem to David, the anointed one of God, who also is the king-elect (I Samuel 18,19). Lucifer struck again when he stirred the authorities against the apostles who were going about doing what God expect of them (Acts 4:1-31; 5:17-42; 6:8-15; 7:54-60; 8:1-4; 9:23-30). One thing worthy of note is that in all cases, God eventually gained the upper hand and His will was done at long last.
What then have we to fear? Hear ye the word of God: 8 If the Lord delight in us (of course, He delights in you), then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey. (Did He not make it clear in His word that that which He delight in He will do. Has He said it? Will He not do it?) 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them (Numbers 14:8-9 NKJV).
“I will never leave you nor forsake. So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV)
Take note of Numbers 14:9:
Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.
Can the Lord live up to expectation and confirm His word when it matters most? Sure. Why not?
“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalm 89:34 NKJV)
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19 NKJV)
Of course, God is more than up to the task.
In the case of Nehemiah - the chosen one of God -, "the wall was finished ......... in fifty-two days" (Nehemiah 6:15 NKJV). Incredible! Unbelievable! Amazing! Quite astounding! The wall was what? Finished? Completed after how many days? Just fifty-two days? Less than two months? Ah! Oh my! Are you serious? Considering the circumstances that surrounded Nehemiah while building the wall, he successfully completed the task? Lord, You are GREAT! Not only was the wall of Jerusalem complete, it was done within a short period of time - despite all odds! This is really a great miracle of and from God. Only God can make such a feat come to pass despite so much oppositions and trials. Those oppositions and trials could have served as stumbling blocks or clogs in the wheel of progress. Human beings may act human by being unpredictable and uncooperative. God likewise will continually prove to be God by proving faithful and merciful.
“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." (Isaiah 60:22 NKJV)
“And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God” (Nehemiah 6:16 NKJV).
When the Lord God says, "Yes", anybody's "no" will amount to nothing. When the Lord God says, "No", anybody's "yes" will result in zero. When the Lord God closes, any attempt open will prove futile. When the Lord God opens, any attempt to close will result in hopelessness and defeat. His word / decision / will is irrevocable and rigid. You can stand / rely on Him and His word of promises anywhere, anytime, any day, and come what may. Of course, the Lord knows the oppositions ahead. He knows when they will rear their heads, where they will stand in the way, and how they will constitute opposition. Surely, the Lord knows all these. And He also has made arrangements to spring counter-attack on your behalf. He's got a winning strategy that just cannot be successfully countered. His moves on your behalf cannot fail. Indubitably, victory is certain.
Even after the wall of Jerusalem has been successfully completed, "Tobiah sent letters to frighten me" (Nehemiah 6:19 NKJV). Crafty old devil. He doesn't give up easily, does he? Yet, Nehemiah had the upper hand, "according to the good hand of my God upon me." (Nehemiah 2:8,18 NKJV).
God bless.
Yours
Adekunle Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
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