When the Enemy Tries to Set You Up
Griffith Baptist Church – 10/26/08
P.M. Service
Text: Nehemiah 6:1-14
Key verse: Nehemiah 6:11 – And I said, should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
Premise: Satan will try everything at his disposal to set us up for failure and we need to know what it will take to stop him.
The Introduction
There was a guy who tried to rid his house of mice. He bought a mouse trap but had no cheese. To remedy the problem, he cut out a picture of cheese from a magazine. He loaded the trap with the artificial cheese and went to bed. When he checked the mousetrap the following morning he was surprised to find a picture of a mouse in the trap. Proclaim, Jack Gulledge
Would that we were as smart as that mouse.
Here we find the enemies of Nehemiah making one last ditch effort to stop the work
• The wall is built but not the gates.
• And the enemies of God continue to attack
• This time, they want to lure Nehemiah away and do him harm, but as we will see, God has given Nehemiah wisdom to know what is up.
The enemy will do the same thing to you; they will try to set you up to fail.
Do you know what you should do when that happens?
Nehemiah shows us the answers.
Body
1. The Enemy Will Try To Distract So Stay Focused – 6:1-3
A. A preacher tells this story about distraction - I was driving the other day with my family when a car cut me off. I pulled out to go around him. As I sped up so did he. Faster and faster we both accelerated. Finally I put on the brakes so I could let him go. AS I slowed down, so did he. Now I was furious. I looked over at the driver so I could give him a piece of my mind and when I did, I saw a good friend and church member driving the car. He was laughing hysterically.
B. The enemy’s aptitude to distract:
i. When you are succeeding, they will try and deter you (1 - heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein;)
ii. To pull you away is their greatest asset (2 - Come, let us meet together)
a. A meeting to stop the work
b. A meeting to do him harm
C. Stay focused (3):
i. God’s work is a great work
ii. God’s work requires concentrated, dedicated effort, our very best – Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might . . .
a. This should be the character of every Christian – Romans 12:11 - Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
b. Dedicated and industrious
2. The Enemy Will Try To Deceive So Stay Firm – 6:4-8
A. The enemy’s art of deception:
i. Persistence (4-5)
a. They will keep coming at you
b. They will try and wear you out way more than they are likely to wear out.
c. Hatred is a determined fuel
ii. False threats (6-7a)
iii. Feigned peacemaking (7b)
a. Making themselves to be friends when they are not
b. Pretending to like you and wanting to make amends but intend to harm
c. Proverbs 26:24-26 - 24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
d. Remember, even Judas pretended love for Jesus, and betrayed Him
B. Stay firm (8):
i. Stand on the truth - Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
ii. Expose the lie
a. It is not a Christian virtue to let a lie go
b. Ephesians 5:11-13 - 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. (we should not communicate the sordid details that might attract the wrong kind of attention) 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
3. The Enemy Will Try To Discourage So Stay Fervent – 6:9
A. The enemy’s ability to discourage:
i. Fear (9a - For they all made us afraid)
a. It is a primary tool in discouragement
b. 1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love
ii. Manipulation (9b - saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done)
a. People in fear become susceptible to believing almost anything
b. If you can work on peoples fears first, it is a breeding ground for the gullible
c. This is how cults work and how the world breaks us down.
B. Stay fervent (9c - Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands):
i. In prayer
a. Prayer will keep you going
b. The first place we should go in weakness and fear is to God
ii. In God’s strength – Isaiah 40:29-31 - 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
4. The Enemy Will Try To Destroy So Stay Faithful – 6:10-14
A. The enemy’s aim of destruction:
i. Mislead – false security
a. What we sometimes think as a safe place can be the most dangerous of all
b. We should never be tricked into the false security of the world
ii. Compromise – ecumenical involvement
a. Sometimes the enemy can be found in the religious world
b. We are called to be separated from that which is worldly
c. We don’t want to be accused of being snobbish or unloving but God tells us to take a stand
d. It was an established order for the children of Israel - Deuteronomy 7:2 – 2And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them:
e. We have the same principle for us today - 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
iii. Sin – violate God’s Word (13)
a. The phrase, “This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book” is wise counsel.
b. Nehemiah perceived the ruse quickly because it was contrary to the Word of God.
c. By God’s law, Nehemiah could not enter the holy place of God. That would be sin.
d. James 4:17 – Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
B. Stay faithful (11-14):
i. To the plan of God (11)
a. God has a plan and we are included in that plan.
b. It may be general or specific, but our God is a God with a flawless plan.
c. Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
d. That plan is simply obedience to His Word:
• Bringing glory to Him
• Growing day by day
• Sharing His love with others
• Looking forward to His coming.
ii. To the Word of God (12-13)
a. God is not in it when it contradicts His Word
b. Our thinking ought to be Romans 4:3 - For what saith the scripture? . . .
c. The more you are familiar with the Scriptures, the wiser you will be, and the less you will be deceived.
Conclusion:
Has the enemy ever been able to get you off course?
Are you where you should be in your Christian life or have you drifted?
