Take another look at our text for the day—And our enemies said, They will not know or see till we come into their midst and kill them and stop the work. And when the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, You must return [to guard our little villages]; from all places where they dwell they will be upon us. So I set [armed men] behind the wall in places where it was least protected; I even thus used the people as families with their swords, spears, and bows. I looked [them over] and rose up and said to the nobles and officials and the other people, Do not be afraid of the enemy; [earnestly] remember the Lord and imprint Him [on your minds], great and terrible, and [take from Him courage to] fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. Nehemiah 4:11-14 (AMPC)
Did you notice that the life-threatening circumstances affected nobles, civil and public servants (officials) and the other people! Don’t think you are the only one. Remember the Lord also foretold these times in Luke 21:26 even though this applies to the final events in Israel just ahead of the ark returning, the truth relayed still applies. I draw particular attention to the first two parts of that verse—men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Nehemiah’s message was to address the fear, turning their eyes upon the Lord and NOT on what their imagination of what the attack could do! DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS OR THOUGHTS DRIFT FROM THE LORD AND HIS WORD! Look around you and see the words of Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8-11 (TPT)—Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure. And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up. And he has all the power needed to do this —forever! Amen.
So, dearly beloved, take a decisive stand against Satan and his messengers of negatives, resisting his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. Shalom
Pastor Afolabi Oladele
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