Nehemiah Chapter 6. It's Long but Worth It.
Once again it's amazing what someone or someones will do if they are afraid of somebody or hate someone. The lies and deception that occurs in our world today and the great lengths people will go to justify their deception as a “moral” option to overcome someone.
The enemies of Ezra and Judah continued to plot against Ezra the leader of the Jews. They continued to try and intimidate him. They made up lies about Ezra. They hired prophets to prophesy against Ezra. They continued to send intimidating letters.
But Ezra responded with prayer to God and God strengthened Ezra and gave him wisdom and insight to know lies from truth and how to lead the people.
When the wall was completed it was a testimony of God's greatness even to the enemies because it says the enemies were afraid and lost their self confidence because they knew that God helped them complete the wall.
Some thoughts:
1. No matter what circumstances you're going through or what lies are being spread or what difficulties you face, PRAY TO GOD!! As God was with Ezra through all the crap he had to put up with him for as long as he had to put up with it, so will God be with us. The Scriptures say more than once that God will be with us and he will never leave us nor forsake us.
Isaiah 41:10-13 is a great applicable passage.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Ezra did not let circumstances take his focus off of God who gave the necessary strength, wisdom, insight and leadership abilities needed. So let us not get so focused on our circumstances that we try and take over and push God out of the picture. We can't quit praying and we can't quit seeking God and we can't quit being in the Word. God is our strength! God is our all in all! Stay connected!
2. Colossians 3:17 says, “and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
The difference between doing a task for God and doing a task for self is who ends up getting the glory before, during and after the task. People will know by your actions and comments who is getting the glory. If we make it about self it comes out in our actions and comments. If it's about God, then people will see it in our life and our words.
– Think about the last accomplishment you did. Who got the glory? Self? Or God?
– When you prepared to take on the task, did you pray for help? Did you pray for God's strength or guidance or wisdom? Or did you feel confident in yourself alone?
– During the task, when great ideas came to your mind that helped in doing the task, did you Thank God for the idea or were you proud that YOU thought of it yourself?
– When the work was done, did you feel proud of yourself for what YOU did? When you shared with others about your accomplishment, was God in the conversation? Don't get me wrong, we should take pride in the work we do. But just don't forget where our strength and wisdom and insight comes from and be sure you give God the glory!
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I was reminded today of what we read in chapter 121 of Psalms. I’m sharing all 8 verses. May God be glorified!
Psalm 121:1-8
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
The enemy will always seek to stop what God is doing. Let’s follow the example of Nehemiah and just keep going!
Nehemiah 6:16 stood out to me.
“When all our enemies had heard of this, and all neighboring Gentiles round about had taken note of it, they were very discouraged, for they knew that it was with our God’s help that this work had been completed.
Do those who hate and intimate us feel discouraged because they know we have God on our side? Do we make it so evident that our success and our dreams are for the Lord, that those who are against us can see that it is the Lord working in our lives? This chapter is a great reminder that ALL GLORY belongs to the Lord, not to us.
Romans 8:31 If God is for us, then who can be against us?