Defeating Enemy Strategy

Background:As the rebuilding of the Jerusalem walls began, there was opposition. It wasn't any physical attack or anything, it was through, ridicule. Sanballat and other accomplices said discouraging words to these Israelites building the wall calling them "feeble Jews", and reiterating their situation to them, as to how terrible the walls were, how messed up everything looked, could they do it, as if to form doubts in the Israelites minds. But Nehemiah took it to the Lord, and continued building the walls. The Israelites faced trouble, but they worked harder, double duty, during the day as workers/builders and during the nights as watchmen with weapons. They continued building the walls and we'll see in later chapters they did complete it.

Lessons from Nehemiah 4

1. Enemy's Strategy I (Opposition with ridicule or words of defeat)-I've experienced in my life, every time I faced a challenge at school, at college, at my workplace, it all had to start with a thought that undermined my efforts, thoughts that ridiculed me. Most of the time our enemy, since he cannot touch us as we abide in our Lord, he tries to dampen our efforts for God's kingdom by putting ridiculing thoughts in our minds, makes us feel we're inadequate. Don't give up just because you feel low for what the enemy has been telling about you as a feeble Christian, remember we are more than conquerors in our Lord Jesus.Our response-Know who we are in Jesus Christ, not without Him.


2. Enemy's Strategy II (Physical harm/attack)-"8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. ". It is more than likely, if you're not afraid of the enemy's threats or words, he'll move on to step on you, either by sickness(though not all sickness caused by our enemy), or by tragedy/accident and such, so the Word of our Lord says we've got to be ready with our armor and stand, like the Israelites with Nehemiah, posted guard, we guard through our prayers of protection over our loved ones. Prayer is a very powerful fence. There are many real life stories I've read and heard of missionaries being protected from harm, because someone at the other end of the world was guarding them with prayer. Our response-Pray without ceasing.


3. Enemy's Strategy III (Weaken the minds of those who are with you)-"10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." The laborers who had fallen to what Sanballat and party had said earlier were now weary, because they started believing they couldn't complete the wall, and the task was overwhelming. The task that our God calls us to will never be too simple so you can do it on your own. It will most definitely be daunting, insurmountable, overwhelming and thats why our Lord Jesus reminded us in John 15:5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." He never expected you to go alone, on the work assigned to you.Our response- Remember, we can do all things through our Lord Jesus Christ who strengthens us.


4. Enemy Strategy IV (Disguise as one your helpers and try to work within the group)-"11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." 12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us." Whether the Jews knew it or not, but the words of the enemy was affecting those who were weak. Notice one thing, the verse12 says "Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us" The Jews who lived closer to the enemy spoke just like the enemy, the same things. They were Jews, they were there to help and support the rebuilding the walls, but they were talking what the enemy wanted them to. Our enemy the devil will not leave any stone unturned to try to snatch God's plan for our lives. Remember when Jesus talks about His crucifixion,in Matthew 16:21-24" 22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.". Jesus knew he was talking to Peter, but he recognised the real person behind it and rebuked his attempt right there because He knew for sure, what God would have Him do with His life. Our response-Like Jesus, have our mind in the things of God and we will never fail to do what God has called us to do.(Romans 12:2)

Conclusion:No matter what God has called us to build or rebuild, a God fearing family in Jesus, a good workplace, a good worker, a good teacher at school. Lets always keep in mind, if there is a problem we're facing, that which hinders the work of God in our lives and in the lives of the people in our lives, we always have a solution. We are never left alone in any desperate situation. This episode from Nehemiah's life, has shown me, when you've seriously undertaken God's work, which God has given you, there will be opposition, but remember always, He who is in you is mightier than he that is in the world. So lets set our minds on things of our Lord, even though they may seem daunting and big, God always gives us the grace to do it, even before He calls us to perform it. Jesus is our vine, lets take our strength in Him.

He knows all His workman's names

Background: The Jerusalem walls are being built, by various groups of people under the leadership of Nehemiah. Each people group with their family has a certain gate and a certain wall to finish and Nehemiah 3 lists all the people groups that worked at the wall. We may never hear of them again in the Bible or anywhere else.

This goes out to the many ministers of our Living God, who's names we may never hear among the famous. Those prayer warriors who soaked their Bible with tears for people whom they knew and whom they didn't. Those people who make sure the sound check, the microphones, the closed circuits televisions are set up before a service. Those who clean up the church so that no one in inconvenienced. Those who manage a ministry in the background, silently serving the Living God, behind a man who will talk about our Living God and who's name will show up on the TVs. Those group of people, whom God has given the skill to design beautiful websites for people around the world to navigate through them and be blessed.

Lesson: Whether other people ever hear about you or not, whether they ever see your work for the Lord or not, God sees, He knows who has paid what price to follow Him. God knows, who soak their pillows at night, praying for their family to be saved. God knows their heart, though on the outside they might look unreligious, no robes, no pulpits and stuff. God knows His own. Those who call on His name and serve Him whether they're known by their next door neighbour or not.

Conclusion: Dear readers, you who write blogs about how God has worked in your life, you may never hit the topmost websites of the world. Nobody may ever know what or who you are, but there are people getting blessed by the small little ministry you do on the web as God leads you. Or working as a staff at church, or working at your vocation and still serving the Lord in whatever way the Lord led you, maybe through your weblogs, through personal evangelism, through being a silent prayer warrior-in any case, people are being blessed, people will be blessed. Whether someone else knows or not, God knows and has a record of the names of the not so famous labourers at His field. He knows all His employees, no matter what teeny bit of work they're doing in obedience to God's calling on their lives. I am talking about those who are in sync with God our Heavenly Father obeying Him and working for Him, without any fame and not the ones who do the work of the Lord for the sake of name, fame or money.
So continue doing the good job God has given in your hands, if to be a wife, be the best in the Lord. If a husband, the best in the Lord, if a servant the best in the Lord. Whatever else, a teacher, a lawyer, a businessman, a bus driver, whatever big or small, be the best in the Lord, for He knows every workman's names, like he did during the rebuilding of the walls.

Discipleship

  Background: Now with his plan laid out before the king, Nehemiah moves forth with his agenda and the hand of God is with him. Firstly the king didn't take any action on Nehemiah for bringing his sorry countenance to work, but more than that the king gave Nehemiah the letters of permission he would need and sent him off to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem as Nehemiah had requested. A cavalry of the king's army also accompanied him. With the way Nehemiah's expedition goes, Nehemiah 2:7-20 gave me a lesson on, the life a believer experiences as he/she, seeks to walk with His God daily and obey His voice no matter what. It is not easy, but these verses give me hope that the Christian walk, though difficult, is not impossible. There are many more examples of such lives in the Bible too.

Here is what I learnt

1. Someone's never happy about our welfare-"v10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites." In the way Nehemiah had these guys fretting over the idea that he was going to bring welfare to the Israelites(children of God) we too have an enemy who's constantly thinking of our downfall. His ways may be either of deception, confusion, lies to dishearten us from the truth in our heart, bringing doubt, sometimes even physical harm to stop us.


2. There is a time(or people) to keep God's plan quiet from, there is a time(or people) to tell-"v11... I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem... ". Nehemiah had received a plan from God, he shared it only with the king so far. He could have called a big meeting with the Israelites and I think people would have even come out to help, it was for a good cause after all, but he did not. He was under the authority of the king and had to take permission to be relieved from his work as a cup bearer for some days until he could finish the work God had given him and he approached the right way of going about it, asking his boss first, and surely if God has given you the desire He will open the doors too(even as God gave Nehemiah favour before the king as Nehemiah had prayed before he approached his boss). Jesus gave the details of His purpose or God's plan for His life only before the real time had arrived. He did speak in parables about it, but no one could have understood then, now we do, because we have the whole picture in our hands. When God gives us a dream/plan/task it must be taken to the Lord first in prayer, then whoever is in authority over us, to be relieved from work if the case may be. Sometimes it may not require anyone else to know of it, but maybe a ministry of being a silent prayer warrior, and not an outstanding preacher, A quiet passionate writer and not a famous actor. Whatever be our call, the best guide for it would be our Lord who has given us that call.


3. Consider the cost of the task-Before the rebuilding began or the plan was shared with anyone who would be working at it, Nehemiah went up ahead and scanned the task before him. He checked every bit of the wall left to be built. He went up and examined the wall in the night and he was alone then and nobody knew where he had gone Nehemiah 2:16 says " The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. " This reminds me of what Jesus said about being His disciple(under His discipline) it requires thorough evaluation of the cost as Jesus says in Luke 14:28-29 " 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' "


4. As we begin correctly, the work God has given us, He will grant success-"19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?" 20 I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." When the enemies came to mock and slander Nehemiah and his team of Israelites working to rebuild the wall, Nehemiah replied with firm knowledge Who he was working for and Who was his employer.

Conclusion:This experience from Nehemiah's life has taught me many things, but above all to depend on our God solely. Begin with prayer, establish the cost of discipleship, so that we may not return failures, but victorious in our calling.

Luke 14:25-33

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

What's your burden?

   Background:Nehemiah now ready with prayer, is off to face the king. His face is sad, though he must not appear sad before the king. He could get killed for that. Yet in Nehemiah 2 we read an account of how Nehemiah spoke with the king regarding what was troubling his heart. It presents a dialogue between the king and Nehemiah, along with Nehemiah's thoughts as he spoke to the king. During this dialogue, it is amazing to see Nehemiah's readiness for the situation. He knew how much time it would take and the legal documents he would need for the plan to which God had called him.

Lessons

1. Ready to take risk for God's work-v1-3Nehemiah could have lost his job for carrying his sorry countenance before the king of Persia, yet he did. When God calls us for His work, there will always be a challenge a risk involved, probably the risk of losing your reputation as a sane man or woman, probably the risk of losing your job because you decided not to cheat another company and make profit for your company, probably being thrown out of home, probably being killed for going to a hardened mission ground. We might look like a failure before the world, but before God we would have done rightly.
2. Prayer with hope of answer- v6 Nehemiah didn't doubt the request he had made to God. Remember in Neh 1:10-11 Nehemiah prayed for favour before the king and in Neh 2:6 he knew it had pleased the king to send Nehemiah to rebuild the wall. Nehemiah, though afraid to speak with the king, yet took courage in this that God had heard his prayer and it would be answered. I think prayer is a voice of faith, it speaks for its faith in God to be manifest in the situation.
3. Prayer with preparation:v6-7 I love these verses, it talks about a man who had not only prayed but was also ready with his plan, as if his request to the king had been granted. He was ready with the set time, had speculated what he might face when the request had been granted. Nehemiah was fearful of his request to the king, yet he backed up his prayer with preparation, preparation for the positive answer of his request.
4. God always backs up His plan for our lives-v7 says "And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. " Nehemiah knew, God was in the plan, and so his requests had been granted. Nehemiah had understood the calling for him to rebuild the temple, it was in his heart to do so. He took it seriously and with much planning and the gracious hand of the Lord worked on his behalf. Whether we've paid attention to it or not, there will be something that moves us mightily for God, we could either ignore that and continue with our work, or pay attention to it and fulfil our calling. Even though it may seem reckless, as in Nehemiah's case he could lose his job, yet he went with God's plan and God backed it up, later Nehemiah goes on to become a governor in God's Jerusalem even under the rule of a foreign king.

Conclusion: What is it that burdens our heart? God's calling of burden will never be something to do with us. It wasn't Nehemiah's life that was a burden , he was in a good position as a cupbearer to the king-he was moved to brokenness to see God's house destroyed and the disgrace of his people. Would it matter to him if he had just let go of that burden for someone else? I don't think so, he would have probably continued being a cupbearer and earning his income. When was the last time we had a burden for someone else's betterment? Know this through the example of Nehemiah's life. When Nehemiah took up the burden for the disgrace of the remnant Israelites- God took up Nehemiah's burden of his livelihood, even when it was at stake before the king and gave him favour before his boss, the king of Persia.


Let us not be afraid to take the cross which God has given us because our God has given us a command and His promise.
Command:Luke 9:23 "Then to everyone he said, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him say `No' to himself, take up his execution-stake daily and keep following me. "(Complete Jewish Bible)
Promise:Matthew 11:28-30 "28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Take Position

Background:The book of Nehemiah was probably written by Nehemiah, however some claim it was written by Ezra. The book is regarding the return of the captive Israelites, to their own land, Jerusalem. It records the rebuilding of the broken wall of Jerusalem in chapters 1-7 and then the rebuilding of the spiritual life of the Israelites from chapters 8-13.

For me the book of Nehemiah, brings encouragement and hope as I read God's ways of bringing back His people to His dwelling place on earth. Many a times we move away from God due to various lusts, wants, sins and disobediences,like the Israelites did, yet this book brings hope to me that there is way even for the lost to return, when they sincerely want a change from their past.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king Artaxerxes. From Ezra 6:14 we know Artaxerxes was one of the kings under whom the rebuilding of the temple was done. The name Nehemiah means "comforted by YHWH". Isn't that a beautiful meaning. I love meaningful names. My name means "Mercy".

Lessons from Nehemiah 1

• Intercession: "I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ". Nehemiah's heart was moved for the people of Israel, the remnant. He himself was working at a very high position, the king's cupbearer, most trusted of the king. He not only presented food to the king, he was responsible for the safety of the king, so he would have to taste the food before it was given to the king. The king would trust a cupbearer's advice on what was safe for him to eat. Why did such a highly positioned man, worry about someone else? Yet he did, his heart was moved by the disgrace and suffering of the remnant Israelites and he firstly, interceded for them.
• Action:"v11...Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king. " Nehemiah not only interceded for the remnant Israelites, but also had a plan for them and for this he asked God's favour as he approached the king with the plan.
• God guides Nehemiah, as we will see in Nehemiah 2 onwards.

Conclusion:Without passion to change someone's situation we cannot make a difference in anyone's life. If we truly want a change, God shows us in this book, that a sensitive heart, to the needs of others is an important ingredient for an intercessor. Above all, Nehemiah went beyond that, he knew he was in a position to help and he prayed that God would give him favour as he would place his plan before the king of Persia.

God has positioned us in strategic manners, like he did Nehemiah & Esther to change the lives of the remnant Israelites under other rulers, Jesus our Lord to change the lives of people through critical preaching and breaking the strongholds of religious mentality, and Paul as the topmost Jewish figure to turn his world upside down with his preaching through conviction. In the same manner, I learnt that each one of us has a task we must fulfil, its our calling. What moves our heart is what we need to intercede and work and pray for, that God would direct our steps as He shows us His plan for what we need to do from our position.

Not Slaves but Heirs

Background: Ezra 9-10 When Ezra heard of the disobedience of the Israelites, he was greatly disturbed, tore his clothes and cried bitterly before God. He repented for the whole nation. More than that, he took action so that, the Israelites would not continue in their disobedience anymore. Here are some lessons I learnt as I read through the last 2 chapters in Ezra.

Lessons I learnt

1. Complacent hearts cannot make magnificent changes-The greatest human achievements are applauded, when there has been a dramatic change in the life or lives of people, by the decision of one man. We've heard many rags to riches story, where the person was not content with their present condition knowing fully, they could become what they wanted. Ezra knew the Israelites could do better than that, and disobedience to the Living God was invitation to the enemy and he made the change.If our hearts are complacent that our neighbours or children, or family members do not know the Living God, we will never strive to make a change in their lives and vice versa.
2. Times of change are painful-It must not have been an easy decision for the Israelites to give up their families with the foreign people(Ezra 10:3). They could have possibly been in love with them, even though the foreigners were taking them away from their God. However, if the sin has been great, the correction also is great. I think, whatever distance we've moved away from God is the same needed to walk back to God. When we are willing to make a change in our lives or someone else's life or the society, its not going to be easy. It will bear a cost.
3. Slavery-Though the Israelites were enjoying free time, because of the generosity of the pagan kings whose hearts God had moved(Ezra 1:1,Ezra 6:14), they were still a slave. That land where they stood, in Jerusalem was theirs, but they were slaves under the Assyrians(Iranians). They were working the land to store up for the Assyrian king. In their disobedience the Israelites had lost their land to someone else, the land flowing with milk and honey which their Lord God had given them. Just because our slave masters haven't dealt with us severely it doesn't mean we are free from bondage, no matter how pleasant it may seem, we are still slaves to whatever controls us and uses our best efforts for their pleasure and not for our benefit. Only complete obedience to God can free us from our slavery to whatever it may be. God knows, even if we think we're not slaves to any. If anything other than our Living God is directing our lives then we are slaves. The Israelites realised it later and it is mentioned in Nehemiah 9:36-37

Conclusion:It is hard to notice when you're free and when you're not. I am amazed at this beautiful lesson I learnt regarding slavery. Anything other than the Living Lord , if it directs our lives then we are slaves, no matter how kindly, it may seem, they might be leading us. Jesus Christ our Lord, set us free from the power of sin and death, so that we are no longer to slaves of any other power. The Bible says in Galatians 4:7 "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Isn't this what God was trying to bring out before the Israelites. That Jerusalem was their gift from God and even though they were in Jerusalem, they were slaves under an Assyrian king, not realising they were heirs to the throne of Jerusalem. What has enslaved us and we know not about? What is it that is taking away our authority as heirs to the Kingdom of our Living Father in heaven, lets make our lives right, that we may be slave to no one, except to our Father in Heaven, Who doesn't call us slaves, but joint-heirs.

Getting rid of what drags you down

Background:The Israelites, under the leadership of Ezra all ready to worship the Lord at their newly rebuilt temple, gather together in Jerusalem. "35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 They also delivered the king's orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God." They had now taken their first step to return to their God.

"1 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. 2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness."

Lessons

1. Urged to be separate-When the Israelites turned to God after many years of disobedience, God dealt with their past. They had mingled with the 'other' people. I have stood with the general crowd, not wanting to be the odd one out, even if it was wrong to join the crowd. I am guilty.


2. What drags you away from God, must be put away-The Israelites mingling with the neighbouring people wasn't helping them in their faith, in fact they were learning their customs and traditions rather than following what their Living God had taught them. . Isn't that the work of the father of lies. Any time something is dragging us away from God, must be dealt with and put away.


3. God searches our past to deal with any blockages to victory-The Israelites had been in bondage since the time they began disobeying God. From marrying foreign women, to following foreign gods. In order for them to move forward in obedience, their serious mistake in the past(which was constantly dragging with them) had to be removed

Conclusion:For the Israelites the separation was a physical separation from the foreign people whom they had married. For us it could be more than that. For the Israelites, just by leaving their foreign wives and children would be enough, but for us how will be able to separate the evil thoughts that have crept into our lives, from media, through television, radio and evil song lyrics and such. How and when will we discern and get rid of those voices which want to get married(meaning:-to unite ) to us? People are selling lies about our Lord Jesus and we stand and watch!!! How can this be? I cannot sit and watch when a man had taken a cleverly spun lie and multiplied it into a spectacle of lies, performed as if true!!! Its wrong. Let us not compromise with lies, that are trying to persuade our families, who are not yet in Christ, into the wrong direction.

Romans 12:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Dear Loving Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Your Son Jesus, my Saviour and I ask for your pardon for the times of sin when I have joined with the foreign. The times when I have disobeyed you and believed in the lies and traditions of the foreign(not from you). I pray O Lord that You would grant me the courage to stand for what is right, no matter how painful it may be to bear it. Help me stand up for You and for Truth.

Amen.