STANDING FIRM

Day: Day 5
Date: January 12, 2023

Though this may seem like a sobering time, it is also an awesome time. The Church hasn’t been as close to God’s heart as we need to be, but we are now rising with a new compassion and determination to bring the change that will impact others.

If we stay focused on God’s heart, we will see past the current situation.

We are in a time where God is purposely revealing what is broken, not to condemn us, but to call us to His side.

Nehemiah saw walls that were broken, but:

• He also saw the wall being rebuilt.
• He saw what the enemy had done, and he rose with faith for the restoration.
• He saw people rising and joining as one to fulfill the desires of God’s heart.
• He saw the dwelling place that God desired where His people would have access to His presence once again.

I know that is what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to me regarding the importance of our commitment to what He has positioned us for and called us to.

Though it may be individual portions, we all have one assignment for sure—to win SOULS, because each life is significant.

God loves every person, and He has called His Church to carry His love to others.

We have an earthly assignment that will come as we partner with the Holy Spirit. How do I know? Jesus said so.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

We have the advantage of the Third Person of the Trinity—the Holy Spirit. We can walk in faith for victory.

When we are on a mission, a commission from God, we will face opposition.

As we covered yesterday, the hand of the Lord was upon Nehemiah to help him discover what his real purpose was—to RE-ESTABLISH that which was broken.

But today, we will see that God was actively guiding Nehemiah with specific instructions.

We will also see that opposition from the enemy will come when you move into what God wants you to accomplish.

Nehemiah 2:9-10 NKJV

9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

Satan will always use people whom he controls to try to stop the REBUILDING.

Sanballat and Tobiah were deeply disturbed that anyone would care about the well-being of the children of Israel.

Sanballat was Nehemiah’s prime enemy; his name means “sin means life.”

Doesn’t that alert us to the opposition happens every time we decide to partner with God to bring forth His purposes?

In fact, this could easily be today’s news flash.

But I have a news flash for the enemy who is trying to pervert God’s goodness and sell people a lie: You have already been de-throned!

God is a covenant God, and He is dedicated to keeping His covenant AND showing mercy.

When we are carrying God’s love inside of our hearts for others, He will be our re-enforcement.

And no one can stand against our God! He went before Nehemiah to make a way and He is doing the same thing for those who will follow His leading.

Nehemiah went forward

Nehemiah 2:11-12 NKJV

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

To go forward, you need to know who to ride with. Nehemiah took only a few men with him because God gave him wisdom.

Don’t just take anyone on the ride that God intends for you. Some people will join later, but the ones that are with you from the beginning must be chosen carefully.

They will be people who can come alongside you to observe how you take in what is needed. They can be the very ones who will stay by your side to the very end.

There was another very important element of wisdom that God gave Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 2:13-16 NKJV

13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire.
14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass.
15 So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.
16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

While he gathered information about the real task before him, Nehemiah remained silent.

I believe that as God RE-ESTABLISHES His Church, there needs to be reverence before Him to take in all that He sees as the need.

We need to have private conversations with God and not try to capture other people’s plans in order to copy what they are doing.

The Body of Christ is so well known for hearing from God, but instead of getting their direction directly from Him, many go fishing for what others are doing.

While I am 100 percent in agreement with working with others (which we will also see), I believe we must first get from God what our portion is and how we are to manage what He is revealing specifically to us, spirit to spirit.

When God has allowed you to see what He wants you to see in the night—in His presence, then He will release you to the next steps.

God is calling to His people. To all those who are inquiring of Him, He is answering back.

He is releasing purpose.

He is giving insights, strategies, and stratagems.

Strategy: A careful plan or method to reach a goal.

Stratagem: A skill in a war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy.

Nehemiah wasn’t just taking a ride. He was observing and taking in information from God.

He needed to accurately assess the matter, and prayerfully consider the cost.

He also needed God’s wisdom—which only comes from spending time with Him—to be able to accomplish His will.

God told me when starting Liberty Life Center that nothing happens without prayer.

That is a foundational truth that will always hold.

It is a way to establish the new because you are including God in the production of what He wants to accomplish by including Him in every stage of planning.

He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

For Nehemiah to accomplish what God had called him to, he had to hear from Heaven.

We must also consult our God and follow His instructions.

Let’s face it; He is wise. He is also God and we are not. He knows the end from the beginning. But we also know that He is amazing and that He will direct our paths. He will guide us to victory.

He is a God of promises to all His people. This includes us because when we accept Jesus, He accepts us as sons and daughters.

John 1:12 NKJV

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

We must stand firm on WHO we are.

As sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, we know all the promises in the Bible are also ours.

We must stand firm that our Lord is going with us.

Deuteronomy 20:3-4 NKJV

3 And he shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them;
4 For the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”

Nehemiah had faith that because he was called by God, God would provide everything he needed to accomplish what he was called to do.
We must have faith in God and stand firm that He is no respecter of persons. Therefore, what He did for Nehemiah He will do for us.

Romans 8:31 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

We must stand firm in knowing that our God is in the ESTABLISHING
and RE-ESTABLISHING business.

And this is our time.

PRAYER

Thank You, Father.

You have a plan and a purpose for us to be alive right now. You are committed to us. You said You have established a covenant for us even now.

We agree right now to Your promise in Genesis 17:7-8 (NIV) that says:

7 “I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

We agree that we just need to take a ride with You.

Please release all that we need to accomplish all that You have in Your heart for us to do.

Thank You for partnering with us and for defeating the enemy.

We declare victory over every assault, every lie, every attack of the enemy, and we are determined to provide You with a dwelling place!

We fight for every person, in every nation, in every circumstance, and we stand firm to see the fulfillment of Your dreams!

Amen.

WORSHIP/VIDEOS

No one can stop You – Phil Wickham

Every Battle – Rita Springer

Victory is Yours – Bethel Music