We are already to Nehemiah chapter 6 today, but as we've been reading I see so many parallels to our lives today. And I also see the many LIES that the enemy tries to tell us to keep us from fortifying our walls, and growing and going forward in God's work.
The following is a list of Nine Lies* (from Nehemiah 2-6) that the enemy used against Nehemiah to try to stop he and his workmen from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Unfortunately he's quite successfully using these same lies against us today!
The First Lie: What in the world do you think you are doing? Are you going to rebel against the king? (Neh 2:19)
So how do we respond to these taunts of the enemy. We must remember, that the lies of enemy are half-truths. The question is a fare one... the task ahead is daunting, really it is impossible. But just because someone thinks it is impossible that doesn't mean you don't try. What is impossible with men is possible with God. And if God says, we do it! It doesn't matter if the King says stop. If God says go, we go. Truth defeats lies! And truth also defeats kings that stand in the way of God's will being accomplished.
"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37
The First Lie: What in the world do you think you are doing? Are you going to rebel against the king? (Neh 2:19)
So how do we respond to these taunts of the enemy. We must remember, that the lies of enemy are half-truths. The question is a fare one... the task ahead is daunting, really it is impossible. But just because someone thinks it is impossible that doesn't mean you don't try. What is impossible with men is possible with God. And if God says, we do it! It doesn't matter if the King says stop. If God says go, we go. Truth defeats lies! And truth also defeats kings that stand in the way of God's will being accomplished.
"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37
"We ought to obey God rather than Man." Acts 5:29
The Second Lie: You are too weak, after all, don’t you realize that you are in captivity? You are not able to undertake such a project as this – it is foolish and ridiculous. (Neh 4:2)
This usually happens after you’ve gotten into a fog bank… you failed… or something is unknown… and enemy comes whispering… “Look at how weak you are! You think you can do this, but don’t you see you are too weak and feeble for this… You think you can bring life out of what has been destroyed?”
The Second Lie: You are too weak, after all, don’t you realize that you are in captivity? You are not able to undertake such a project as this – it is foolish and ridiculous. (Neh 4:2)
This usually happens after you’ve gotten into a fog bank… you failed… or something is unknown… and enemy comes whispering… “Look at how weak you are! You think you can do this, but don’t you see you are too weak and feeble for this… You think you can bring life out of what has been destroyed?”
The truth is.....WE ARE FEEBLE! But God's word tells us, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Romans 8:26, 31, 37
The Third Lie: All this work is for nothing; the progress you have made is not real. There is no real strength in your wall; even the slightest breeze from the enemy will knock it down. You cannot take the rubbish of your inner life and expect to revive what has already been burned. (Neh 4:3)
Again the Bible tells us, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
Remember that God is growing you and the enemy is all BLUFF…but remember in our weakness, God's strength is made perfect! No greater situation, then dependence upon God… Cherish the fact that you feel weak… don’t allow the enemy to use it against you. Allow God to use it for His glory!
The Fourth Lie: You are too tired to continue; You need your sleep, God knows you need your sleep. (New 4:22, 23)
The Bible tells us, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." 2 Corinthians 4:1
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
The enemy appeals to our physical weakness…. But we cannot put the sword down in the spiritual battle! There's no time for some compromise or a few minutes of relaxation with the enemy. Once you put that sword down, you begin to give room to sluggishness, tiredness, and we are doomed. However, remember if God has commanded us to do something, He will give us everything we need to do it! That's why we must keep moving forward in His strength. We have to know Scriptures for ourselves. We can’t lean on others. We have to have it for ourselves. We respond with His SWORD…
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Romans 8:26, 31, 37
The Third Lie: All this work is for nothing; the progress you have made is not real. There is no real strength in your wall; even the slightest breeze from the enemy will knock it down. You cannot take the rubbish of your inner life and expect to revive what has already been burned. (Neh 4:3)
Again the Bible tells us, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
Remember that God is growing you and the enemy is all BLUFF…but remember in our weakness, God's strength is made perfect! No greater situation, then dependence upon God… Cherish the fact that you feel weak… don’t allow the enemy to use it against you. Allow God to use it for His glory!
The Fourth Lie: You are too tired to continue; You need your sleep, God knows you need your sleep. (New 4:22, 23)
The Bible tells us, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." 2 Corinthians 4:1
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
The enemy appeals to our physical weakness…. But we cannot put the sword down in the spiritual battle! There's no time for some compromise or a few minutes of relaxation with the enemy. Once you put that sword down, you begin to give room to sluggishness, tiredness, and we are doomed. However, remember if God has commanded us to do something, He will give us everything we need to do it! That's why we must keep moving forward in His strength. We have to know Scriptures for ourselves. We can’t lean on others. We have to have it for ourselves. We respond with His SWORD…
The Fifth Lie: I have the power to sneak up upon you when you least expect it and wipe out everything you have done; all the spiritual steps you have taken will mean nothing when I come in the night to slay you. (Neh 4:11)
The Bible tells us, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand . . . Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Eph 6:13,16
The enemy always boasts and makes himself seem bigger than he is. When you give the enemy faith, everything he does is believable. He amplifies his size to us… do we see Goliath or do we see God? The enemy was bluffing!
The Sixth Lie: You are currently under enemy siege; You’d better stop working and protect yourself. (Neh 4:8)
The Bible says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:18
It seems that the enemy keeps coming up with a new ploy! The enemy was desperate, so he whispers, "Take care of you! Take care of you so you will be strong for others." But spirit-led living is not about YOU! You should take care of yourself, but not at the expense of rebuilding the wall or obeying God…
The Seventh Lie: You are building this wall for your own blessing, to be your own king, to rule for your own glory. You should stop working on such a vain self-aggrandizing project. (Neh 6:6)
The Bible says, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matthew 6:13
Here again, the enemy reminds you, this is all about YOU! Is it about you? But the Bible says, "Search me and try me"… the enemy doesn’t do the examining… God examines, and the enemy accuses. I don’t want this to be about me… How do we get out of the way of the gospel… we must be dead to self… it’s about Jesus Christ. May God deliver us!
The enemy always boasts and makes himself seem bigger than he is. When you give the enemy faith, everything he does is believable. He amplifies his size to us… do we see Goliath or do we see God? The enemy was bluffing!
The Sixth Lie: You are currently under enemy siege; You’d better stop working and protect yourself. (Neh 4:8)
The Bible says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:18
It seems that the enemy keeps coming up with a new ploy! The enemy was desperate, so he whispers, "Take care of you! Take care of you so you will be strong for others." But spirit-led living is not about YOU! You should take care of yourself, but not at the expense of rebuilding the wall or obeying God…
The Seventh Lie: You are building this wall for your own blessing, to be your own king, to rule for your own glory. You should stop working on such a vain self-aggrandizing project. (Neh 6:6)
The Bible says, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matthew 6:13
Here again, the enemy reminds you, this is all about YOU! Is it about you? But the Bible says, "Search me and try me"… the enemy doesn’t do the examining… God examines, and the enemy accuses. I don’t want this to be about me… How do we get out of the way of the gospel… we must be dead to self… it’s about Jesus Christ. May God deliver us!
The Eighth Lie: Meet me for lunch in Ono. I’m concerned for your well-being, and I might be of some help in your current endeavors. I know of things that you aren’t privy to know. If you listen to my counsel it will make your work go a lot smoother. (Neh 6:2,7)
The Bible says, "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength." Proverbs 8:14
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
It's like the enemy is saying here, "Lets be level headed… lets be men. Let’s talk straight… meet for lunch in Ono. Let us take counsel together… If you listen to my counsel, your work will go smoother!" But we cannot leave counsel of God to protect the work or gain counsel from the world... There are so many different baits that will come! Many will say, "Christianity has a lot of good answers, but they don’t have all"… Remember, the enemy has counterfeit counsel for every problem that we have.
The Ninth Lie: You need to consider your own protection. I know of dangerous things that loom on the horizon, large enemy forces are gathering together to come against you. Go and hide. For if you don’t concern yourself with your own safety soon, it might be too late. Listen to my counsel and you just might escape this whole matter alive. (Neh 6:9)
I love verse 11, "Should such a man as I flee or hide?"
The Bible says, "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Psalm 56:4
I love verse 11, "Should such a man as I flee or hide?"
The Bible says, "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Psalm 56:4
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:6
Let us not give in to the lies of the enemy! If God be for us, who can be against us!
*I can't take credit for this list of Nine Lies. It originally came from my friend Eric Ludy. But I have edited and adapted it for my purpose here. It made today's blog a bit longer, but I think it's so powerful, I had to include it as we study Nehemiah!
Tomorrow's Reading: Neh 7-8 and Luke 8
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