Prophetic Word: Soar Above The Distractions!
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (NIV)
Anytime a Christian starts a great mission that will radically influence the Kingdom of God, one can expect to face a series of obstacles and challenges along the way. The key is to keep your gaze locked on Jesus. He will help you persevere and push through difficult times.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe how the returning Jewish exiles faced a series of tests and challenges as they attempted to rebuild their homeland. Just when they overcame one hurdle, another strong headwind came along.
If it wasn't one thing, it was another. Time and time again, they had to push forward despite what stood in the way.
In the Kingdom of God – the opposition you face is almost always about territory. Some of you are about to break through monumentally and the enemy wants you to quit! However, God will help you finish strong! He wants us to be alert about what might be happening right now.
Nehemiah finished building the walls on Elul 25 and, this year, the date will be Sep 11, 2023.
Keep going!
The enemy does not want you to gain ground. He intends to dishearten you more than anything else. Satan wants to get you so rattled that you forget the power of Jesus Christ, who dwells from within.
The evils of darkness want you to feel overlooked by the world instead of set apart by the Lord.
Frequently, the attacks are subtle, but when someone faces repeated adversity, our faith can quickly dwindle.
Nehemiah understood this journey all too well and he faced repeated verbal backlash, including slander, ridicule and mockery.
Two adversaries named Sanballat and Tobiah made fun of the Jews and expressed sarcasm towards the rebuilding of the wall. Critics love to mock and that’s exactly what they did.
Tobiah said: "What they are building – even a fox climbing up on it would break down their walls of stones!" (Neh. 4:3).
Nehemiah, God's chosen leader, discerned the attacks and his first line of defense was PRAYER. He didn’t deal with the enemy directly, but took it to Lord and then got back to work. God answered his prayers by giving the people “a mind to work” (Neh. 4:6) and the project continued with greater and greater strength.
Next, the enemy became angry and launched fear and confusion against God’s people. Once again, the people prayed. The Lord sometimes allows attacks because it actually draws us closer to Him.
At this stage in Nehemiah 4, the work was halfway done. The people prayed and played 24-hour defense.
"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" (Neh. 4:8-9).
Nehemiah also boldly stood up for God's people and used his words to speak encouragement.
"Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes" (Neh. 4:14).
The Lord awoke me this morning at 4:14 a.m., and I knew He had a message for His people.
Here it is: KEEP FIGHTING AND BUILDING. FINISH THE WORK! DO NOT STOP NOW. GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE.
You really have been called for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
The enemy's attacks are all smokescreens and distractions to get you to stop. Often, Satan uses his agents to provoke and poke at you through slander and lies to get your faith so shattered that you lose focus.
God wants to get your spirits high again because He has chosen you as a leader in the Kingdom of God! There are lives attached to your obedience! Finish the work!
The way you are helping people is changing lives! Father God is behind this move!
The Lord is so proud of your commitment to His mission and He will help you!
We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) and represent the Kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus will wage war on your behalf!
PLAY DEFENSE!
I was at the grocery store recently, and when I looked at the receipt, the word DEFENSE was stamped across the bottom. I knew the Holy Spirit was signaling a time of spiritual opposition and the Lord repeatedly brought me back to Nehemiah.
Remember: this is a fixed fight. God will win, and He fights on your behalf!
Let me use an American football analogy….
In the Kingdom of God, you are the Lord's defensive lineman tasked with protecting the line of scrimmage. It's essential to close the gaps and stop the run. Keep all the spaces shut, and do not allow anyone or anything to slip through the cracks! Again, you will have to do your part in this fight!
Sanballat and Tobiah resorted to all sorts of trickery, but Nehemiah discerned it all. He refused to come off the wall!
We all have a holy responsibility to "remember the Lord who is great and awesome…." (Neh. 4:14), and the best way to build your faith again is to reflect on the POWER of Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we are spiritually dry, we stop praying, reading, worshiping and standing firm in our faith. God says pick up all your weapons again because He’s going to renew your strength. He’s going to help you SOAR and catch the wind!
Nehemiah bolstered his defense by praying even for his hands (Neh. 6:9). He feared God more than any person. He knew that worship was crucial and there is strength when a unified body of believers come together.
Sometimes, your only "teammate" is Jesus Christ, but rest assured that He's all you need. He has the power to even frustrate the plans of the enemy.
"When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the walls, each to their own work" (Neh. 4:15).
The Hebrew word translated to "frustrated" in the above verse is rich with depth and meaning.
parâr: defeat, to break, cause to cease, utterly make void, make ineffectual.
In other words, God caused the enemy to fail in every way possible.
The wall was built in a miraculous 52 days because the wind of the Holy Spirit was propelling Nehemiah and God's people forward!
When God is for you, who can be against you? In fact, opposition is actually a portal to God’s amazing grace!
God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
The Lord is highlighting these stories today because some of you are right in the thick of the battle, and you must not to lose heart.
All the opposition is just a distraction to get you defeated in spirit.
The central mission of the enemy right now is to get you DISCOURAGED so that you lose confidence, enthusiasm, determination, faith and HOPE.
When someone becomes discouraged, it can evolve into heartsickness and can even cause depression. The way you fight back is to stay rooted in the Word of God. He will bring clarity and Jesus will restore your hope in Him! Even if you have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, God can still move mountains! Keep trusting Him and pray with all your heart and soul. The opposition actually signals that you’re on the right path!
STAND IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS!!!
The story of Nehemiah is a blueprint for what has happened for generations when God's people set out to do something life-transforming for the Kingdom.
First, there is excitement and resolve, but the relentless attacks can make a person grow faint and weak in spirit. The Bible makes it clear that we are waging war against the evils of darkness and Satan does not want you gaining ground, especially when there are many lives attached to your work.
It's important to remember the words of the Apostle Paul: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
Repeat: you WILL reap a harvest if you do not give up!
Nehemiah didn't give up, and neither will you.
KEEP GOING! You’re so close!
STAND FIRM
Nehemiah battled the enemy's attacks with a spirit of prayer because he knew the opposition was offensive to God.
The Bible reminds us that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, "but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12).
Paul outlined steps to wage war against the evils of darkness:
Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.
Put on the whole armor of God so you can stand against the devil's schemes. (Note: schemes are large-scale systematic plans and strategies designed to make you give up and quit. God will help you. He always wins! Don't stop!)
Paul repeatedly urges us to STAND FIRM (6:14). The Greek word for "stand firm" is steko, which reflects the heart of a warrior.
Steko means to persevere, persist, and be steadfast.
True warriors can stand firm because they are prepared to fight and win the battles they face.
When you have an assignment given by Christ, you will hold your position because the Lord is with you.
You do it again, and again, and again. The attacks make your spirit stronger.
The first piece of armor God gives you is the belt of truth (Eph. 6:14), girded around your waist to hold everything together. Jesus is the truth, the way and the life.
Without Truth, we become lost to the schemes of the evil one.
Belts played a critical role for Roman soldiers because it's where they stored their weapons!
God's Word is your greatest sword. Just as a belt circles your waist, the Word of God brings everything full circle.
Nehemiah understood that in the Kingdom of God — you have to protect and build at the same time!
Nehemiah 4:15-18b
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor.
The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side.
ENCOURAGEMENT: My friend, pick up the Word of God again because it's your greatest weapon of warfare. The Lord Jesus is going to help you finish this project. Even when weak, King Jesus is still strong! He will push you through the finish line!
Dry bones are about to come back to life! I hear a RATTLE!!!
Nehemiah finished the task at hand, and so will you. After overcoming every conceivable obstacle in two months, the wall was built in an astonishing 52 days! The work was accomplished because the Lord helped the Israelites.
Moving forward….
Be strong and courageous; the Lord your God will fight for you. No weapon against you will prosper.
Fight for your families, homes and futures. Fight for the people who will benefit from what the Lord will do through you.
September will be a season to remember! Jesus will be exalted and you will bear witness to His amazing grace.
Here’s your prayer….
