Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, ''What they are building--if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones! ''
Dear servants of God, as we meditate on these Scriptures in Nehemiah, on the Jews re-building the wall of Jerusalem, amidst the threats of their enemies, this hour, as the Spirit of God helps us, let us learn the propriety in serving God.
We read in the above Scriptures that when Jews began to re-build the wall, they were utterly ridiculed by Sanballat and Tobiah.
The enemies tried to show the Jews how feeble they were, they ridiculed their capability of ever being able to finish what they started, they showed the current state of the wall which was in heaps of rubble and burnt, and mocked even to the extent that if they managed to build something, whatever they build, a fox could easily break it down !
These were the natural challenges that our Jews faced, when they began their work, under the leadership of Nehemiah.
But because of their determination to do what they were called to do, these challenges did not hinder them, but only were ''distractions'' for them.
Now, let us keep ourselves on the ground of our assignments, and analyse what are the challenges that we face regularly, while we carry out the tasks that God has entrusted to us.
For almost all of us, the regular challenge that is always around us, and which we need to deal with, is ''Distractions.''
A servant must always have a strong determination towards completing the tasks given to him.
He needs to consider every distraction on the natural only as a threat from the enemy to hinder his work.
And should not give himself to those distractions, but must be careful in guarding himself so that he can progress with the tasks God has entrusted to him.
For almost all of us, the regular challenge that is always around us, and which we need to deal with, is ''Distractions.''
A servant must always have a strong determination towards completing the tasks given to him.
He needs to consider every distraction on the natural only as a threat from the enemy to hinder his work.
And should not give himself to those distractions, but must be careful in guarding himself so that he can progress with the tasks God has entrusted to him.
'' 1 Corinthians 7: 29-33 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none ; those who mourn as if they did not; those who are happy as if they were not; those who buy something as if it was not theirs to keep ; those who use things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.For this world in this present form is passing away.I would like you to be free from concern. ''
'' 1 Corinthians 7 :35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.''
Guarding oneself carefully doesn't mean one should run away from that situation, in order to prevent the threats he is facing, and start wishing for a different working atmosphere altogether, so that it makes life easy for him in carrying out the work of God - No!
'' 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. ''
'' 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. ''
Having understood this , let us make a list of some of the distractions that secretly creep in, to steal away our time and devotion to God:
* Day to day life's household activities
* Negative attitudes of people around us
* Pleasures and comforts of the world
* Thoughts of some past bad memories
* Worries about future
* Doubts
* Over Sleep & Eating habits
The enemy will come in full vigour to attack you from every side possible, in order to pull you off the track and hinder your progress.
As we read in the above Scripture in Nehemiah, when the Jews decided to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, they were utterly despised and mocked by the enemies.
But despite that, the Jews kept moving ahead, working with all their hearts, crying out to God for help.
'' Nehemiah 4: 4-5 '' Hear us O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads.Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height , for the people worked with all their heart. '' ''
* Day to day life's household activities
* Negative attitudes of people around us
* Pleasures and comforts of the world
* Thoughts of some past bad memories
* Worries about future
* Doubts
* Over Sleep & Eating habits
The enemy will come in full vigour to attack you from every side possible, in order to pull you off the track and hinder your progress.
As we read in the above Scripture in Nehemiah, when the Jews decided to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, they were utterly despised and mocked by the enemies.
But despite that, the Jews kept moving ahead, working with all their hearts, crying out to God for help.
'' Nehemiah 4: 4-5 '' Hear us O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads.Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height , for the people worked with all their heart. '' ''
Here as we see, Jews did not give away to the threats.
Rather they cried out to God, and progressed with their work.
Dear people, do not give away to any of these distractions which might effect the tasks God has assigned to you.
Cry out God continuously in prayers, and put all your efforts to overcome the above mentioned distractions, considering them as threats from the enemy.
Its but with God's help that we can overcome.
Let us read how the Jews considered the plots of the enemy, and how they prepared themselves when they were carrying out this assignment of building the wall of Jerusalem.
'' Nehemiah 4 : 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. ''
Now, Jews here considered the enemy's plots as ''Threats.''
To handle these threats, they posted guard day and night, along with continuous prayers.
During our progress, these threats that we listed above, that the enemy throws at us are mainly to steal our garments of godliness that Jesus, our righteousness, has put on us.
When I say garments of godliness they are the characteristics evolving from the fruit of the Spirit.
'' Galatians 5:22 -23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. ''
Rather they cried out to God, and progressed with their work.
Dear people, do not give away to any of these distractions which might effect the tasks God has assigned to you.
Cry out God continuously in prayers, and put all your efforts to overcome the above mentioned distractions, considering them as threats from the enemy.
Its but with God's help that we can overcome.
Let us read how the Jews considered the plots of the enemy, and how they prepared themselves when they were carrying out this assignment of building the wall of Jerusalem.
'' Nehemiah 4 : 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. ''
Now, Jews here considered the enemy's plots as ''Threats.''
To handle these threats, they posted guard day and night, along with continuous prayers.
During our progress, these threats that we listed above, that the enemy throws at us are mainly to steal our garments of godliness that Jesus, our righteousness, has put on us.
When I say garments of godliness they are the characteristics evolving from the fruit of the Spirit.
'' Galatians 5:22 -23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. ''
Let us list down some of the garments of godliness :
* Obedience
* Humility
* Gentleness
* Holiness
* Diligence
* Heart's Devotion
* Integrity
* Purity in Speech
* Faithfulness
* Right Conscience with God
* Confidence
* Faith
* Reliance on God
* Trust and Hope
* Uprightness
* Identity in God
* Prayer and Worship
* Obedience
* Humility
* Gentleness
* Holiness
* Diligence
* Heart's Devotion
* Integrity
* Purity in Speech
* Faithfulness
* Right Conscience with God
* Confidence
* Faith
* Reliance on God
* Trust and Hope
* Uprightness
* Identity in God
* Prayer and Worship
'' 1 Corinthians 4 : 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.''
'' Ephesians 3 : 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ''
'' Ephesians 3 : 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..... ''
'' Ephesians 3 : 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ''
'' Ephesians 3 : 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..... ''
Dear people, we must be thoroughly equipped with the armour of God in order to preserve our garments of godliness and to stay powerful.
Sometimes the devil plays a very tricky role in manipulating our thoughts, feelings and emotions.This is indeed also a threat.
I myself have been through such deceptive feelings and thoughts, when God has been using me for certain tasks.
A slightest slumber from the focus on the work, the devil will twist around the feelings and thoughts and makes one feel almost lost the track.But people, beware! They are only lies.
We need to therefore, post a guard on ourselves, round the clock, to fight against every distraction, that we think will effect our work and dedication to God.
As Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7: 29-33 , though we use things of the world, we must not engross ourselves in them, though we buy things of the world, we must treat them as if they are not ours to keep.
We need to treat each distraction only as a threat from the enemy to steal away our secured position in Christ Jesus.
Time is too short and the enemy only wants to strip us off the garments of godliness that our Father has put on us through His word, so that it can make us its captive.
Let us now read what the enemies wanted to do, when the Jews began their work:
Sometimes the devil plays a very tricky role in manipulating our thoughts, feelings and emotions.This is indeed also a threat.
I myself have been through such deceptive feelings and thoughts, when God has been using me for certain tasks.
A slightest slumber from the focus on the work, the devil will twist around the feelings and thoughts and makes one feel almost lost the track.But people, beware! They are only lies.
We need to therefore, post a guard on ourselves, round the clock, to fight against every distraction, that we think will effect our work and dedication to God.
As Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7: 29-33 , though we use things of the world, we must not engross ourselves in them, though we buy things of the world, we must treat them as if they are not ours to keep.
We need to treat each distraction only as a threat from the enemy to steal away our secured position in Christ Jesus.
Time is too short and the enemy only wants to strip us off the garments of godliness that our Father has put on us through His word, so that it can make us its captive.
Let us now read what the enemies wanted to do, when the Jews began their work:
'' Nehemiah 4:11 - 12 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.''
Then the Jews, who lived near them came and told us ten times over, '' Wherever you turn , they will attack us. '' ''
Then the Jews, who lived near them came and told us ten times over, '' Wherever you turn , they will attack us. '' ''
Dear people, the enemy is always proactive, wanting to attack us wherever we turn.
Do not presume to have hindrance free road when you begin your work for God.
For regular people who do not have a calling, for them worldly needs, wants, social standards, and all life's ambitions - all these grouped together, in short , let me term them as the ''Garments of Worldliness'' - these garments that a person wants to maintain, are a part of goals of his life.
But as a servant of God, for you these must be nothing but '' Threats '' the devil throws at you to steal away your devotion to God, stripping off the garments of godliness one by one, and hinder your work and progress in accomplishing your goal that God has given you in Christ Jesus.
Do not let the attractions and the comforts of the world sooth your mind, pulling down your spirits in serving the Lord.
'' Romans 12 : 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. ''
If you fail to realize that pleasure is only a threat, then dear one, you are out of the race God has put you on.
As servants of God , we must consider pleasures of this world as only our integrity tests.
We need to uphold our integrity towards our Master even when He immerses us in neck deep pleasures and wealth.
We need to uphold our integrity towards our Master even when He immerses us in neck deep pleasures and wealth.
'' 1 Corinthians 9 : 12 On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. ''
'' Proverbs 10:9 The man of integrity walks securely. ''
'' Proverbs 10:9 The man of integrity walks securely. ''
Let us meditate further and see how the Jews progressed with their work and what kind of arrangements they made to guard themselves against their enemies:
'' Nehemiah 4 : 13 -14 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, '' Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.''
Nehemiah did not lose heart when the enemy despised and mocked the Jews saying they are feeble.
Rather he implemented every possible security measure that is needed for them to progress.
One of them is assigning different tasks to different people.
And those who were given their tasks , carried out the instructions given to them with all their hearts.
Rather he implemented every possible security measure that is needed for them to progress.
One of them is assigning different tasks to different people.
And those who were given their tasks , carried out the instructions given to them with all their hearts.
'' Romans 12 : 4 - 8 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it with proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.''
Dear servant of God, you may not be doing the same work as others are doing. But we all belong to one body of Christ. And God in his grace granted us our respective portions of work.
We need to commit ourselves to what is entrusted to us.
And being in the situations God called us to be, we need work towards producing a hundred fold crop from what is given.
Since Jews were feeble, they got equipped with all sorts of swords, spears and bows.
They prepared themselves for any attacks.
Similarly we need to be ready wearing the complete armour of God.
When we notice that the enemy is throwing a threat through certain distractions to steal away any of our garments of godliness, we immediately need to take our positions and stand against that threat.
Lets read from Ephesians and see what are the various equipment we need to be ready with, to fight against the threats:
'' Ephesians 6 : 11 -12 Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.''
'' Ephesians 6 : 14 -18 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. ''
So, our weapons are:
Truth
Righteousness
Readiness through gospel of peace
Faith
Salvation
Word
Prayer
...and Alertness!
Only when we are alert and attentive, we can thoroughly understand the word of God and His direction for the work He has for us.
'' Philemon verse 6 : I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. ''
'' John 15 : 4 - 6 Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 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. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up , thrown into the fire and burned.''
'' John 17 : 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is the truth.''
Having understood this, let us now see the time management and work-attitudes of the Jews:
'' Nehemiah 4 : 21 - 23 So we continued the work with half of the men holding spears , from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
At that time I also said to the people, '' Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night and workmen by day. '' Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.''
At that time I also said to the people, '' Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night and workmen by day. '' Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.''
As we see here, they worked from the first light of dawn till the stars came out !
They did not swerve their minds from their goal, except for getting little sleep during nights.
They gave complete attention to their work.
Dear chosen one, show diligence and devotion.
Show hunger for the work, and zeal to complete your task and reach your goal.
Put in maximum hours you can.
Incline yourself completely towards the direction God has put you on.
Give yourself to the total control of the Holy Spirit.
For the work of God cannot be done with human power.
Unless we are thoroughly planted in the word of God and take roots, we can produce no good out of our efforts.
As we read above, Nehemiah and the people working with him, even when they went for water, they were alert and thoroughly equipped, with each carrying his weapon.
They did not become leisure, thinking its break time.
Dear servant, there should not be anything called a 'break-time for the world' , when you are working in HIS vineyard.
When I say break time for the world, I mean break-times for the pleasures of this world.
These break-times will pave way for the devil, who will make his abode, given a smallest creek.
In your mind and spirit you must always be awake and be ready with every kind of equipment, to guard your garments of godliness, and fight against every threat the devil throws in the battlefield of your mind.
'' Romans 14 : 17 - 19 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.''
'' Proverbs 18 : 9 One who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys. ''
If you are negligent, that momentary breaktime will eventually break your foundations, making it difficult for you to gain back your secured level in God.
So do not become a sluggard and take a slumber in your spirit, while doing God's work, lest poverty attacks your spirit, like a bandit, stripping off of every possible rich garment of godliness that God has put on you.
'' Proverbs 24 : 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. ''
Let us now study the attitude of the enemy:
'' Nehemiah 6:2 -9 Sanballat and Gesham sent me this message :''Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.''
But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply : '' I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? ''
Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Then the fifth time, Sanballat sent his assistant to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:
'' It is reported among the nations--and Gesham says it is true -- that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ' There is a king in Judah! ' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.''
So do not become a sluggard and take a slumber in your spirit, while doing God's work, lest poverty attacks your spirit, like a bandit, stripping off of every possible rich garment of godliness that God has put on you.
'' Proverbs 24 : 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. ''
Let us now study the attitude of the enemy:
'' Nehemiah 6:2 -9 Sanballat and Gesham sent me this message :''Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.''
But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply : '' I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? ''
Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Then the fifth time, Sanballat sent his assistant to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:
'' It is reported among the nations--and Gesham says it is true -- that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ' There is a king in Judah! ' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.''
I sent him this reply : '' Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head. ''
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, '' Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.''
In this Scripture we see that the enemies made schemes to harm Nehemiah, they made up stories to scare the Jews away so that they would get weaker in their confidence levels.
Dear people, enemy persistently tries to weaken us.
It will go to any extent to zap our strength and devotion towards our work.
Devil will throw all its harder attempts on us while we are busy doing God's work.
It will create situations to scare us away, to make us weaker in our determination, and divert our attention to other things.
It will bring lies and deceit into our minds to create confusion.
Dear people be careful to discern what is happening with you, discern every event that occurs.
Anything that comes in the way of God's work is only a scheme of the enemy.
Nehemiah received a letter scaring him away by the name of the king.
But God granted him discernment to make out it's only a plot. And thereby he politely clarified him with a reply but he did not let his work get effected.
In the replies he sent to his enemies, Nehemiah expressed the priority he holds for the work of God. And that if he goes down to meet them, work of God will stop and that he doesn't like that happening.
Dear people, enemy persistently tries to weaken us.
It will go to any extent to zap our strength and devotion towards our work.
Devil will throw all its harder attempts on us while we are busy doing God's work.
It will create situations to scare us away, to make us weaker in our determination, and divert our attention to other things.
It will bring lies and deceit into our minds to create confusion.
Dear people be careful to discern what is happening with you, discern every event that occurs.
Anything that comes in the way of God's work is only a scheme of the enemy.
Nehemiah received a letter scaring him away by the name of the king.
But God granted him discernment to make out it's only a plot. And thereby he politely clarified him with a reply but he did not let his work get effected.
In the replies he sent to his enemies, Nehemiah expressed the priority he holds for the work of God. And that if he goes down to meet them, work of God will stop and that he doesn't like that happening.
Dear people, as the enemy tried to frighten Nehemiah by taking the name of king, devil will distract us with delusions on some kingsize matters. When I say kingsize matters, I mean very critical affairs.
It might create some hassles with important people or create some necessities to take away our attention, and thereby put us to confusion and fear of those important people or issues... so that we leave the work of God aside and get busy to give attention to resolve those matters.
Remember God's people, for us , no other thing under the sun must hold importance than finishing the work God entrusted to us.
For God who called us, and put us in our respective situations, is pretty well aware of what conditions we are in.
And he will not be pleased if we neglect His work and give away to the fear and confusion and start spending our time for other matters, or involving ourselves to pleasing people, however important they are.
Let us now read further and learn what the enemy actually aims at, when it attacks:
'' Nehemiah 6 :10 - 13 One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, '' Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you-by night they are coming to kill you.''
But I said, '' Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go! '' I realised that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. ''
Dear people we see here that the enemies hired people to prophesy against Nehemiah in order to intimidate him to commit a great sin so that they can give a bad name to him.
Here the enemy finally came as an angel of light.
Here the enemy finally came as an angel of light.
Shemaiah came as if he was helping Nehemiah from some people who were plotting to kill him, but was actually hired by the enemies.
When the enemy attacks us to disturb our work, its basic aim behind creating such situations around us and taking away our attention, is only to lead us into sin.
It brings in situations which appear like coming from God, and for our benefit, but people, be careful.
If ANY such thing is coming your way, and if it is interrupting with the tasks God has originally assigned you, then do not even ponder over them.
Present them before God and be at rest and allow Him to reveal His will.
But do not set yourself in that direction instantly.
You will only incur losses if you hurry in the other way, as well as you will not progress much in your attempts in that direction.
Finally you will realise you had only wasted a lot of time in the process, and caused unnecessary agony to yourself.
As we read in the above Scriptures, the enemies sent messages five times, and fifth time they scared him by taking the king's name.
And finally they hired someone to prophesy, as if he was helping him, and lead Nehemiah to sin.
People, when the enemy tries persistantly, do not be relaxed about the attacks. Be alert each time, know your assignment thoroughly, and set your focus in the right direction such that these attacks don't meddle up your work.
When the enemy attacks us to disturb our work, its basic aim behind creating such situations around us and taking away our attention, is only to lead us into sin.
It brings in situations which appear like coming from God, and for our benefit, but people, be careful.
If ANY such thing is coming your way, and if it is interrupting with the tasks God has originally assigned you, then do not even ponder over them.
Present them before God and be at rest and allow Him to reveal His will.
But do not set yourself in that direction instantly.
You will only incur losses if you hurry in the other way, as well as you will not progress much in your attempts in that direction.
Finally you will realise you had only wasted a lot of time in the process, and caused unnecessary agony to yourself.
As we read in the above Scriptures, the enemies sent messages five times, and fifth time they scared him by taking the king's name.
And finally they hired someone to prophesy, as if he was helping him, and lead Nehemiah to sin.
People, when the enemy tries persistantly, do not be relaxed about the attacks. Be alert each time, know your assignment thoroughly, and set your focus in the right direction such that these attacks don't meddle up your work.
God is not a God who gives fear, or who wants you to hide away or shy away.
If any situations or people are coming your way creating fear in you, then people, its only a scheme from the enemy to steal away your confidence in order that the work of God be stopped.
And thereby make you commit a great sin of disobedience, so that you are finally thrust out of God's presence.
If we believe the deceptive schemes of the devil, and use our own human knowledge and take action in that direction, it will not be considered an excuse since the enemy deceived you, but will be considered only a sin.
If we believe the deceptive schemes of the devil, and use our own human knowledge and take action in that direction, it will not be considered an excuse since the enemy deceived you, but will be considered only a sin.
Let us read this following Scripture in this context :
'' Isaiah 30 : 12 -18 '' Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging , that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern. ''
This is what the Soveriegn Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says : '' In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ' No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee !
You said, ' We will ride off on swift horses ' Therefore your pursuers will be swift !
A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill. ''
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him ! ''
This is what the Soveriegn Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says : '' In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ' No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee !
You said, ' We will ride off on swift horses ' Therefore your pursuers will be swift !
A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill. ''
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him ! ''
Dear people how many of our fellow servants have not fallen away from the track, and unable to be fruitful in the work of God, just because they became victims of the lies and deceit the devil showed them...?
Dear servants, the battlefield we are on, is fierce.
The enemy wants to deceive even the very elect.
As the above Scriptures quote, if we are careless and fail to discern the enemy's deceitfulness, then it is we who will suffer the consequences and we will be held accountable for the sin.
Do not blame God, or do not presume that since its the devil stealing away your devotion, God will excuse you !
God will inturn hold you accountable for He has already given you His word, how then are you neglecting His work by relying on oppression and depending on the deceit you are facing on your way ?
There are many servants of God, among us who were taken captive by the enemy who came as an angel of light and stole away their secured position in God.
And then they start facing failures in life, and there by either get into deceptive doctrines, or get dejected and develop hatred towards God, finally only bringing themselves under the wrath of God.
If you are going through such phases during your progress, remember this Scripture : '' In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength ''( Isaiah 30 : 12- 18 )
Trust God and stay quiet. Do not act on your instincts.
If you feel you took a wrong step, repent immediately and rest on his promises, and steadfastly hold on to the goal He had originally given you.
If we fail to do this, and chase after deceitfulness, or rather let me put it this way, if we fail to realise the enemy's tricks and fail to accept it is only deceit, then God will himself leave us away in that path, because of our disobedience.
Therefore, in order to make out what is from God and what is not, we need continuous prayers and his word.
Having communication with God all the time, is very vital in order to be able to discern the things happening with us.
We must allot good amount of time for praying, singing praises in worship and meditating on the word for our ownselves, apart from diligently carrying out the tasks God has assigned us.
Apostle Paul says in the following Scripture, that the hardship we face during our service, is mainly to make us rely on God:
And then they start facing failures in life, and there by either get into deceptive doctrines, or get dejected and develop hatred towards God, finally only bringing themselves under the wrath of God.
If you are going through such phases during your progress, remember this Scripture : '' In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength ''( Isaiah 30 : 12- 18 )
Trust God and stay quiet. Do not act on your instincts.
If you feel you took a wrong step, repent immediately and rest on his promises, and steadfastly hold on to the goal He had originally given you.
If we fail to do this, and chase after deceitfulness, or rather let me put it this way, if we fail to realise the enemy's tricks and fail to accept it is only deceit, then God will himself leave us away in that path, because of our disobedience.
Therefore, in order to make out what is from God and what is not, we need continuous prayers and his word.
Having communication with God all the time, is very vital in order to be able to discern the things happening with us.
We must allot good amount of time for praying, singing praises in worship and meditating on the word for our ownselves, apart from diligently carrying out the tasks God has assigned us.
Apostle Paul says in the following Scripture, that the hardship we face during our service, is mainly to make us rely on God:
'' 2 Corinthians 1 : 8 - 11 We do not want you to be uninformed , brothers , about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many. ''
For everything that happens in your way, rely on God for handling those matters. Trust alone in Him for your deliverance, so that His plans for you will not be hindered by your actions done out of deceitfulness and human wisdom.
For everything that happens in your way, rely on God for handling those matters. Trust alone in Him for your deliverance, so that His plans for you will not be hindered by your actions done out of deceitfulness and human wisdom.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
Having learnt this, let us read what was the state of the enemies when the wall was completed:
'' Nehemiah 6 : 15-16 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realised that this work had been done with the help of our God.''
Dear servant, God will pull down every strong barrier coming your way, if you decide to put your confidence in him and show complete devotion towards your assignment and march ahead in the task he has given you, standing against every threat the enemy throws at you.
And He will make everyone around you know that it is His hand which is building the work that you are doing, when you are careful and give your 100% to God.
'' 1 Corinthians 3 : 5-11 What, after all, is Apollos ? And what is Paul ? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God's fellow-workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ''
So , dear servant, neither one who plants nor who waters is anything, but it is God who makes it grow !!
Therefore we need to be very careful in how we are building the things entrusted to us.
'' 1 Corinthians 4 : 6-7 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Appollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, '' Do not go beyond what is written.'' Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else?
Therefore we need to be very careful in how we are building the things entrusted to us.
'' 1 Corinthians 4 : 6-7 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Appollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, '' Do not go beyond what is written.'' Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else?
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not ? ''
So dear servants, let us not go beyond what is written.
'' 1 Peter 4 :10-11 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. ''
So dear servants, let us not go beyond what is written.
'' 1 Peter 4 :10-11 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. ''
Let us now read from 1 Kings, and learn from Elisha, who, when received his calling, got rid of all he was doing till then, in order to devote himself to his master.
'' 1 Kings 19 : 19 - 21 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat.
He was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went upto him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.
''Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye,'' he said, '' and then I will come with you.''
''Go back, '' Elijah replied. '' What have I done to you? ''
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the ploughing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. ''
'' 1 Kings 19 : 19 - 21 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat.
He was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went upto him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.
''Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye,'' he said, '' and then I will come with you.''
''Go back, '' Elijah replied. '' What have I done to you? ''
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the ploughing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. ''
We see here, Elisha who has been ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen ,when received the calling to follow Elijah, at once got rid of all he was doing so far - he kills the oxen, destroys his ploughing equipment, with which he cooks the meat and gives it to the people to eat.
If we meditate on this, we can understand that the reason why Elisha slaughtered oxen and destroyed the ploughing equipment is to ensure he doesn't have anything to keep at the back of his mind, when he follows his master.
He wanted to get rid of everything that was occupying him until then, so that he can devote himself to his master.
He completely surrendered himself to his calling.
If Elisha had spared the oxen, they would have certainly become distractions for him in doing his work for Elijah.
They would have become threats for the time he ought to give to his master.
Isn't it ?
If we meditate on this, we can understand that the reason why Elisha slaughtered oxen and destroyed the ploughing equipment is to ensure he doesn't have anything to keep at the back of his mind, when he follows his master.
He wanted to get rid of everything that was occupying him until then, so that he can devote himself to his master.
He completely surrendered himself to his calling.
If Elisha had spared the oxen, they would have certainly become distractions for him in doing his work for Elijah.
They would have become threats for the time he ought to give to his master.
Isn't it ?
So it seemed right for him to slaughter them so that there wouldn't be anything that would steal away his time and devotion for his master.
Dear servants of God, our MASTER wants us to be like Elisha.
He wants us to keep every other worry of the world aside, and place his assignment above all.
He wants us to surrender to HIS calling completely so that He can draw us closer to Him and make us known his thoughts and plans, and accomplish all the purposes HE has for us.
Let us therefore slaughter with the sword of God, every threat of distraction that we are facing and let us carefully preserve the garments of godliness, that our King Jesus has put on us.
Let us be careful that we do not spoil our attire, by making patches of 'garments of worldliness', to our 'garments of godliness' , thinking its nice to have both!
For the word of God says:
'' Matthew 6 : 24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and Money. ''
Let us sincerely abide by the propriety God wants us to observe while serving Him.
May God grant us the heart of Elisha, who knew what is best to do in order to surrender himself totally and honor the calling he received.
May God grant us the dedication of Nehemiah, who, though feeble, ensured the work given to him was completed against all threats, relying wholly on the Lord our God.
Lets Pray...
Father,Thank You for your grace in granting us this knowledge and giving us these instructions to help us serve you in the way we should and which is pleasing to you.
For it is you who makes the work of our hands grow.
Help us to be careful in everything we do, so that when the fire comes and tests our work, let our work that we build survive and may we receive the reward instored for us.
In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
For it is you who makes the work of our hands grow.
Help us to be careful in everything we do, so that when the fire comes and tests our work, let our work that we build survive and may we receive the reward instored for us.
In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
'' 1 Corinthians 3 :13-14 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire , and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. ''
God Bless You.
