Nehemiah 6:9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
Nehemiah was in the middle of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, which were in ruins, and it was proving very challenging. There were powerful people who wanted the work to stop and they were finding all sorts of reasons why. They'd even threatened Nehemiah to such an extent that every workman had to hold his sword in one hand and his trowel to lay bricks in the other. Behind each workman Nehemiah had to put another person on guard.
I think we all get the picture and can identify with it. We've reached out in faith to do something for God, we've had the vision, we've started the work and then opposition from the enemy sets in. Satan will try anything and every deceit he knows to stop us from doing what God wants. It may be personal, believing for healing or finance, it may be corporately in our churches, but whichever it is we need to recognise the hand of the enemy at work and be on our guard.
It's interesting Nehemiah had guards placed behind each worker and they all carried their swords. How many of us are carrying our 'swords', the Word of God? I don't mean literally in our pocket, but in our hearts and in our minds so that we're ready to counteract the attacks of satan. And how many of us have someone behind us, praying for us, on guard on our behalf? We could all be guardsmen or women praying behind the scenes for family and friends, for each person in the church, especially those in any kind of leadership, using the Word of God against the enemy to pull down his long held strongholds and plans.
The important thing is Nehemiah who had been sent in especially to rebuild the walls never gave up, even though he must have been under huge pressure. It says 'he continued the work with even greater determination.'
Has God given you a job to do, given you something to believe for, a vision for something? Then let me encourage you to not allow the enemy to intimidate you or discourage you. Get your sword in your hand, take your place on the wall, keep believing in faith, and do the work, resist the enemy, and do all in your power to encourage the others around you who may be flagging!
Oh by the way - the end result? v.15 So on October 2 the wall was finished...v.16 When our enemies....heard about it they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.
Hallelujah!
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