Day: Day 14
Date: January 21, 2024
When you move forward, it alerts the enemy to the progress being made in rekindling the hearts of God’s people. So, he will come up with another plan.
Nehemiah 6:1 KJV
Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates).
There was progress that the enemy didn’t expect.
Let’s understand that the Body of Christ is making progress that the enemy doesn’t expect.
So, the enemy sent an invitation:
Nehemiah 6:2 KJV
That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
This is when they needed to operate in discernment. The people of God often want to think the best about everything and everyone. However, God always knows the truth. God will always let us know what is going on if we ask Him for His insight, which Nehemiah must have done.
Nehemiah kept his relationship close with God so that he operated from a different understanding. He didn’t go by the obvious. He was listening to his Father’s voice to reveal what was true and what wasn’t.
We see that he responded properly:
Nehemiah 6:3 NKJV
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?”
Nehemiah didn’t budge off the building. He had God’s Kingdom work to do.
He said, “I am doing a great work so that I CANNOT come down.”
He was fixed. He was steadfast. He was secure in his assigned task, and he was not interested in anything they might have to say.
The work of God was the first priority. He gave no attention to the distractions.
Nehemiah 6:4 NKJV
But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.
The enemy will keep coming after you and it may seem like he has something to offer you.
He tried to deceive Nehemiah but couldn’t because Nehemiah knew his tactics in advance.
Do we know the enemy’s tactics?
When you receive an invitation, make sure you are responding to the right voice.
If it is an interruption to what God’s attention is on, NO is an anointed word.
We must recognize we are building the Kingdom of God by living our lives for the KING.
He has called us to be His Church and to restore that which has been broken down. We can name many things that the enemy has tried to break down in our own lives. As we step up to REBUILD those who are hurting and broken and in lack, our God will elevate us as we inquire of Him. We must inquire of God before we get engaged with things that are not our assignment.
OUR assignment is OUR assignment!
Liberty is OUR assignment (or if you are from another Church, building their walls where they are broken is your assignment).
The surrounding areas are OUR assignment—Davie, and the people in this town and those surrounding it.
We must have the mindset that we are not moving off of what God has called us to do.
We are called to partner with JESUS to continue His mission to disciple, empower, and transform individuals, cities, and nations.
No matter what Church you currently attend, if you are reading this, this is a powerful thing to be determined to do. Find out what your assignment
is and REBUILD your section of the wall!
We will walk this out with determination and activation!
The enemy came again, and this time the evilness of his heart was exposed.
Nehemiah 6:5-7 NKJV
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.
6 In it was written:
It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king.
7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.
The accusations are clear:
- Nehemiah was building his own agenda so he could be king.
- He had false prophets in place to prophesy that he was the king of Judah.
After the lies and intimidation, Sanballat was trying to force Nehemiah into meeting with him.
Church, you need to answer to God for your time and what you put your hand to do!
Nehemiah exposed the lies:
Nehemiah 6:8 NKJV
Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.”
Now his attention, once again turned to God for help; he was speaking his heart out loud.
Nehemiah 6:9 NKJV
For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now, therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
Now word came from a man supposedly trying to protect Nehemiah, (but he was a hireling from the enemy) inviting him to go within the Temple, because the word was out that the enemy would kill him.
BUT GOD had strengthened Nehemiah and this is how he answered:
Nehemiah 6:11-12 NKJV
11 And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the Temple to save his life? I will not go in!”
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.
Again, Nehemiah did not give the enemy his attention.
He teaches us once again how we should react:
Nehemiah 6:14 NKJV
My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.
We must give those who would deceive us and take us off of course into the hands of our God.
God will take care of our enemies as we move forward with His plans.
And Nehemiah and those who were with him did move forward. The very next verse says this:
Nehemiah 6:15 NKJV
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
SO THE WALL WAS FINISHED. THE IMPOSSIBLE BECAME AN EVIDENT DISPLAY OF HOW INVOLVED GOD WAS.
Nehemiah 6:16 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.
THIS WORK WAS DONE BY OUR GOD!
This year is a year to RE-ESTABLISH the things that God is laying on our hearts that will prove who He is on this earth.
We are to be a billboard of His love and grace.
We are fasting and praying to GIVE HIM OUR ATTENTION.
The enemy can’t win if he can’t take our attention off of how BIG our God is!
We are winning!
We are going to be determined to build the house of the Lord INSIDE THE WALLS and OUTSIDE THE WALLS!
Once we make up our hearts and minds to accomplish what God wants, we will find Him helping us to win the victory on every side!
Let us expect the impossible together!
PRAYER
Lord,
We come before You, willing for everyone to do our part.
We are going to stay on the wall You want us to build and keep our eyes on You.
Thank You for the vision.
Thank You for the provision.
Thank You for the strength.
Thank You for the focus.
Thank You for the divine connections.
Thank You for who You are.
Thank You for who You have made us to be.
Thank You for calling us to Your side forever.
AMEN.
WORSHIP/VIDEOS
Fear of God – Brooke Ligertwood
Found Faithful – Justin Rizzo
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