"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
Please turn to the person sitting next to you this morning and tell them: "You are NOT the enemy!"
It is easy to see the people in our lives...even the other believers in our own church as "the enemy", but the Apostle Paul is very clear as he reminds us that our enemy is NOT "flesh and blood"...it’s not your church family and not even those who are unsaved. Our true enemy is Satan and he loves it when we think the worst of each other and ignore him.
(Illustration)
If you have e-mail, you know that you get certain “forwards” again and again. Certain things that are “brand new” information to the person passing it along, but if you’ve had e-mail for a long time, you’ve seen the same STORY, PLEA or WARNING dozens of times. Some of these make us MAD...some of them cause us to WASTE TIME by forwarding them or following their instructions. But some hoaxes come that cause us to FEAR...they give us instructions that, if followed, will actually make things WORSE.
That reminds me of the strategies and tactics of Satan...who, like the lion he’s compared to in 1 Peter 5: 8 and 9...is deceptive. Doing most of his hunting when his prey is weak, alone, unaware or confused.
“Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers
throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8 & 9
Those who study lions say one of the times you can expect a lion to roar is when they are trying to confuse or frighten their victim...trying to get them to run from what they believe is the source of “danger” into the waiting jaws of an entire pride of lions.
In Nehemiah chapter 6, Nehemiah’s enemies are back and they are determined to bring him down. Their tactics can help us understand three common ways our enemy tries to defeat and destroy us.
1.) ISOLATION: Leave your people and your work (v. 1-4)
“When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it– though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates– Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.’ But they were scheming to harm me, so I sent messengers to them with this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.” Nehemiah 6:1-4
HUGE accomplishment: The walls are rebuilt! This monumental task is almost completed! BUT...
A.) Beware of the letdown that can come when you are near the FINISH LINE.
Nehemiah has OUT PRAYED, OUT LASTED and OUT MANEUVERED his opponents and with everything done except the hanging of the city gates, it would be easy to let your guard down a little. BUT Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem realize that if there is to be any chance of them stopping this project, they are going to have to focus on either killing or AT LEAST discrediting Nehemiah NOW.
LESSON: You can NEVER let your guard down! As soon as you start to pat yourself on the back for what you “have” accomplished and cease to be vigilant and diligent...you are opening yourself up to being attacked.
B.) The enemy wants you ON YOUR OWN.
They want Nehemiah to leave the SAFETY of Jerusalem and the PROTECTION of his relationships there.
Their invitation “Let’s meet on neutral ground.”...in one of the villages on the plain of Ono. This plain, about 20 miles from Jerusalem, was considered more or less “neutral” but it was right next to the border of Samaria...Sanballat’s home. Nehemiah cannot actually PROVE that this apparent “peace conference” is a trap, but he suspects they are “scheming to harm” him, so he sends his regrets: “I’m carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
Nehemiah’s WISE answer: I have a job to do! If there is going to be PEACE it will be a result of YOU accepting MY terms...not ME accepting YOURS. Inferred is: “You can meet me here.”
LESSON: Satan wants you on your own...lonely...isolated. CLOSE relationships with other believers (not “hi...how are you?” on Sunday relationships) frustrate him. He will try to draw you OUT of fellowship...giving you options and opportunities that seem “neutral” but will put you in danger.
2.) INSINUATION: Questioning your motives and creating uncertainty (v. 5-9)
“Then the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: “It is reported among the nations– and Geshem says it is true– that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.” I sent him this reply: “nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head. They were trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, “now strengthen my hands.”
This “unsealed” letter is significant. A sealed letter would have been intended for Nehemiah only, but this was unsealed to let him know that these accusations were going PUBLIC…
A.) “Some people are SAYING…” (The destructive power of rumors.)
“It is reported among the nations…” Here is a “roaring lion” to be sure! This is intended to make Nehemiah think that everyone is beginning to believe the worst about him. When the enemy attacks you with “Lies”...you can be sure of this: Even the LIE itself will be full of LIES!!
INSIGHT: “Some people are saying.” usually means “I am saying" or "I am thinking…!”
B.) The specific rumor: “This is about YOU, not GOD!”
Nehemiah– everyone can see that this has gone to your head. Now that the walls have been rebuilt you are going to declare yourself King and rebel against Artexerxes!
LESSON: The enemy will try to get you to doubt yourself and your motives at every turn. You need to know the difference between “self examination”, which is a healthy thing, and his “accusations” which will rob you of your joy and peace. I really LOVE how Nehemiah had confidence before God that they were WRONG… “Nothing like this has happened...you’re making it up!”
C.) The goal: To WEAKEN your resolve.
Nehemiah understands that they are trying to frighten the people– do you see how? If an unsealed letter has circulated saying that Nehemiah and Jerusalem are planning to rebel, the full force of the Persian empire could be coming against them very soon. They could be DESTROYED because of a RUMOR.
Nehemiah prays for RENEWED RESOLVE: “Lord, strengthen my hands.”
LESSON: Prayer is and always will be your greatest weapon. Let every threat and accusation be a reminder to PRAY.
3.) INTIMIDATION: You are not going to make it (v. 10-14)
“One day I went to the house of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you– by night they are coming to kill you.” But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.”
You think President Bush gets a lot of advice...Nehemiah has a bunch of “prophets” advising him who are “bought off” and full of baloney!
A.) The enemy may use a trusted FRIEND
It’s likely that Nehemiah KNEW and TRUSTED Shemaiah. He didn’t just go anywhere he was invited...we know that. This friend told him that he had information...a divine insight...about a plot to kill Nehemiah and urges him to save his life by taking “refuge” in the temple.
B.) The enemy may use the language of RELIGION
“Let’s meet in the house of God.” “We must go inside the temple and shut the doors.” Shemaiah and others are claiming to be prophets...claiming that they have words from the Lord for Nehemiah. BUT...
C.) The choice will be SIN or courageous OBEDIENCE. It is Nehemiah’s understanding of God’s LAW that shows him these PROPHESIES are really the LIES of his enemies (Verses 12 & 13)
Now think about this: Who would blame Nehemiah if we went into the temple to save his own life? Understand how IMPORTANT he is. People NEED him. He has done so much GOOD that certainly God should overlook this offense.
***But LISTEN and LEARN from Nehemiah, who refuses to put himself OVER God’s law...not even for a moment...not even to save his own life: “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me run into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”
LESSON: The enemy will try to get you focused on saving your own skin. Playing it safe and taking the easy route. If he can intimidate you...he has made you ineffective.
Application:
ISOLATION: Are you in fellowship with other believers? Are you accountable to anyone for the progress in your walk with Christ? If Satan can convince you that this is “just between you and God...and it’s no one else’s business” he will have you right where he wants you. There is power in corporate worship...power in fellowship...and power in small group accountability. Get into an Adult Fellowship on Sunday morning...join a “Growth Group”...men– go to the retreat and get to know some brothers that will become a support network to you.
INSINUATION: Do you know God’s Word well enough to recognize when you’re being lied to by the enemy?
INTIMIDATION: Your enemy’s goal is to make you FEAR for your LIFE. If you run from CHALLENGE, or PAIN, or the threat of DEATH...you are much easier to defeat.
***If you do not FEAR...you become FIERCE!!
