Will not be around for a couple weeks....

I wanted to let each of you know that I will not be around until after the 29th of August. This has been an extremely testing period for me. God literally knocked me to my knees and I am asking Him to show me what He wants me to learn. I love and miss you all.

Sunday, July 31st, 2011: Nehemiah 4:10-23…

 

Vv 10-14: We have seen external resistance from Sanballat & his cohorts but in these verses, we see something different…INTERNAL RESISTANCE!!!

We see Judah coming forth with 3 problems in their eyes:

1. Workers are tired

2. Too many external problems

3. Task just too big to be done

The tribe of Judah is wanting to quit. If Nehemiah doesn’t handle this internal opposition, it could spread to the other tribes. Nehemiah was a keen leader and realized this fact.

Unfortunately, this same thing of internal resistance happens today…the very people who should be encouraging us (our Barnabas’) are telling us to quit. They are saying some of the same things the tribe of Judah (tired, excessive external problems, & impossible) brought forth to Nehemiah.

*** One of the main things is people don’t want to deal with the “rubble” that needs to be removed before the productive building can begin***

Nehemiah as mentioned is a keen leader and realizes the people need to be refocused to the Lord.

Vv 15-23:

God revealed the enemies plan to Nehemiah & he took the necessary actions to continue the work. Yet, he also knew the importance of being alert of the dangers. Nehemiah prepared the tribes to resist the enemy and to be able to defend themselves upon attack.

Think about how difficult it would be to hold a spear in one hand and build with a trowel in the other.

QUESTION: are we this willing to fight & build, at the same time, for the Glory of God?

One commentator, I read this week, brought up the tribes were ready for battle but they did not go picking or provoking a battle with the enemy. Instead they stayed focused on the task at hand building the wall.

QUESTION: How does this relate to us in a spiritual realm?

ANSWER: We need to be prepared when the enemy come at us but we don’t let the enemy be our main focus. Instead let God continue His work of building the kingdom be our main focus.

I remember watching a well-known teacher’s video and it was less than two minutes before she had turned the focus onto the enemy. God is not saying ignore the enemy and his advances but they do not need to be our PRIMARY FOCUS…GOD SHOULD ALWAYS BE OUR PRIMARY FOCUS!

QUESTION: HOW DEVOTED WAS NEHEMIAH TO THIS WORK OF GOD?

ANSWER CAN BE FOUND RIGHT IN VERSE 23.

FINAL TOUGH QUESTION: HOW DEVOTED ARE EACH OF US TO GOD & HIS WORK???

Next week we tackle Chapter 5. Be blessed.

**Jesus Plus Nothing Blog was read**