August 1 2018

Distractions

Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 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?” But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. Nehemiah 6:1-4

Nehemiah was doing a great work; a work that was not only supported by the earthly King but by the King of Heaven.
But as often happens when you are doing a great work, there are distractions. 
The enemy loves to send distractions. 
Distractions are a relatively easy way to keep us unfocused and off track.
 And we seem to be a people that are easily distracted.
But Nehemiah was not to be distracted. 
He was focused on the work at hand. 
He had the discernment to know that “they thought to do me (him) harm”. 
He had the wisdom and courage to refuse to be distracted.
“Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
And even though they persisted in their request to meet, Nehemiah was equally persistent in “answer(ing) them in the same manner.” 
We need to be more like Nehemiah.
We need to be able to discern what things are distractions; specifically those distractions meant to do us harm by keeping us unfocused and off track. 
Then we need to stand strong in our desire to complete the work the Lord has called us to. 
To stand on the wall, without wavering, not coming down for man, regardless of how many times the distraction calls out to us. 
What is distracting you today? 
Do you recognize it as a distraction; a disturbance to the focus of the call on your life? 
What will you do? 
Will you come down off the wall to attend to that distraction? 
Or will you, like Nehemiah, stand firm and respond clearly,
“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?”

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August 1 2018

Distractions

Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 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?” But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. Nehemiah 6:1-4

Nehemiah was doing a great work; a work that was not only supported by the earthly King but by the King of Heaven.
But as often happens when you are doing a great work, there are distractions. 
The enemy loves to send distractions. 
Distractions are a relatively easy way to keep us unfocused and off track.
 And we seem to be a people that are easily distracted.
But Nehemiah was not to be distracted. 
He was focused on the work at hand. 
He had the discernment to know that “they thought to do me (him) harm”. 
He had the wisdom and courage to refuse to be distracted.
“Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
And even though they persisted in their request to meet, Nehemiah was equally persistent in “answer(ing) them in the same manner.” 
We need to be more like Nehemiah.
We need to be able to discern what things are distractions; specifically those distractions meant to do us harm by keeping us unfocused and off track. 
Then we need to stand strong in our desire to complete the work the Lord has called us to. 
To stand on the wall, without wavering, not coming down for man, regardless of how many times the distraction calls out to us. 
What is distracting you today? 
Do you recognize it as a distraction; a disturbance to the focus of the call on your life? 
What will you do? 
Will you come down off the wall to attend to that distraction? 
Or will you, like Nehemiah, stand firm and respond clearly,
“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?”

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August 1 2018

Arise and Build


So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 2:20

Nehemiah had permission from the King to rebuild the city wall.
It was a great undertaking.  
And as with most great undertakings, as soon as he set his hands and heart to work, he encountered resistance.  
Sanballet, Tobiah and Geshem laughed, despised and questioned his intentions.  
But Nehemiah knew where his permissions came from, not only the earthly King but the Heavenly King. 
Nehemiah knew that the Lord Himself would cause the building of the wall to prosper and because of that he was willing to work through the ridicule and harassment and “arise and build”.  
Furthermore he declared truth when he told those that laughed that they had no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.  
Often those who scoff throughout try to get a hand in the benefits once the project is complete and successful.  
What wall has God called you to build?  
Who is on your team?  
What resistance have you met already?  
Are you clear on who has given you permission to move forward and who, ultimately, will guarantee the prospering of your wall?  
If you are clear that your direction and sustenance comes from the Heavenly King, you cannot fail.  Go forth, arise and build!

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