Opposition to the Wall

Opposition to the Wall
June 15, 2009
Nehemiah 4:11 "Also our enemies said, "Before [the Israelites] know it or see us, we will be right there among them and kill them and put an end to their work.""

The Prophet, Nehemiah, had a great task before him. He was intent on rebuilding the fortress wall around Jerusalem. It had been burned down and destroyed years before by an invading king and the wall was in ruins. God tasked Nehemiah with leading all of God's people in an joint effort to rebuild this great wall. But there was a huge opposition to the rebuilding. Many neighboring people, inspired by Satan, did not want to see the city of Jerusalem rebuilt and greatly opposed it, both verbally and physically. Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem were harassed on all sides in an effort to stop the progress. This opposition was a direct effort on behalf of Satan to destroy the hope of the Israelites and keep them from succeeding. Satan knew the rebuilding of Jerusalem was a directive from God and Satan used all tactics to hinder it from happening.

This same attack happens to you and me whenever we are following God and God's design for our lives. Satan knows that your life, directed by God, has a purpose and Satan wants to stop it. Anytime you begin to serve the Lord or take on a task directly requested of God, you will encounter a great attack on all sides by the opposition. This opposition will be verbal, physical, financial, emotional, and psychological. Satan will use whomever and whatever he can to attack your efforts to accomplish God's will. Satan will deplete your hope for the future in an effort to get you to quit. He knows what you are doing is directly from the Lord and will stop at nothing to hinder it.

Nehemiah was attune to what Satan was doing, though. He was acutely aware of the fact that the opposition was simply an obstacle to success. Nehemiah had a great perspective on the struggles that Satan brought upon him. He saw it coming and made all sorts of efforts to work around that opposition, that barrier to success. Nehemiah was intent on succeeding and was intent on following the directives of the Lord no matter what Satan might throw at him. The words of this great prophet sum up his perspective on such a harsh opposition. Nehemiah said, "The God of Heaven will give us success." Nehemiah knew that the task set before him was from God and Nehemiah knew that nothing could withstand or come against God. He knew that what God had ordained would come to pass no matter what opposition was in force.

Christian, you serve the same God that Nehemiah served so many years ago. This same God will give you success. If God has tasked you with something, or given you a dream of what should come, then no amount of attacks or opposition will stop you from succeeding. Satan will come at you from all sides, he may hinder your process, discourage you, and slow you down, but he CANNOT stop you. If God has put it in motion, nothing can stop it. It will come to pass. Only don't give up. Don't be discouraged by the attacks of the enemy, the opposition to that task set before you by God. Recognize the efforts of Satan and overcome those obstacles. Recognize that your plans will succeed if they are from God.

1. What plans has the Lord given you?
2. How have you given in to the opposition of God's plan for you?
3. How can you overcome those obstacles to success?

Add. Scriptures for Study: 2 Chron 32:7, Psalm 135:5, Pro 16:3, Neh 2:20, Neh 1-6, 1 John 4:4

The Greatest Compassion

The Greatest Compassion
June 8, 2009
2 Corinthians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."

The mark of a great friend is not just loyalty, but the ability to truly understand you and what you may be experiencing. A good friend can see what you are going through and truly empathize with your situation. We all have a friend or two who understands how we feel. But God wants to be that friend for you, too. God understands more than you think. He knows what you are going through and He wants to be by your side while you experience the situations of life.

This may be hard to imagine; God, the Father up in Heaven, can understand and relate to what you are experiencing. But it is true. He knows the joy you feel inside when you experience something wonderful. He knows this from experience, every time a sinner repents. He knows the anger you feel inside when a loved one betrays you. He knows this from experience, every time someone turns away from serving Him. He knows the hurt inside every time you suffer a great loss. He knows this from experience, the deepest, most painful experience someone could have, as He watched His only Son die on the cross.

God's ability to understand your pain inside is very real. When God allowed Jesus to be crucified on the cross, He didn't only suffer the physical loss of His Son. Both God and Jesus knew that Jesus would be resurrected on the third day. The point was not in the death, but in laying down His life. God volunteered His own Son to be tortured and experience death in order that you and I might have eternal life.

Think about it. A father volunteering His son for torture. It would not happen. I would venture to say there probably isn't a father or mother alive who could sign his/her son up to be tortured. The pain would be too great to watch. The torment would be too much for a parent to take as a son hung there on a cross, experiencing the most excruciating pain. I would never allow that to happen to my son. The pain would be too great for me. But that is what God did. God allowed and watched his only Son go through the most horrendous physical pain; He refused to stop it.

God knows more emotional pain and has experienced more loss than you and I will ever see in a thousand lifetimes. That is why He is a God who truly can understand what you are going through right now. And from this experience, God's own understanding, He is able to empathize with your situation and truly have the most Heavenly compassion for your situation. God cares for you, and while you were still a sinner, He allowed is only son to die for your sins.

The next time you think God doesn't understand what you are going through, think again. God wants you to take your cares to Him so He might have compassion on the situation you are experiencing. Whatever you are going through, He has experienced it. He is truly the best friend and will be able to offer the greatest compassion for you.

1. What situation in your life is no one able to understand?
2. How have you allowed God to understand your situation?
3. How have you allowed God to minister His compassion for your situation?

Add. Scriptures for Study: Psalm 55:22, Psalm 103:13, John 15:13, 1 Peter 5:7

The Power of Satan

The Power of Satan
June 1, 2009
Luke 4:6 "And [Satan] said to [Jesus], "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.""

Many Christians do not recognize that Satan does have real power. Denying that Satan has real power is akin to putting your head in the sand like an ostrich. You may not recognize his power or want to think about it, but it does exist. Even if you don't believe Satan has power doesn't mean you aren't being fooled. In fact, Satan does have power, more so if you fail to recognize it.

Satan was tempting Jesus and offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would bow down and worship him. Satan's words indicated that he has power and authority in this earthly realm. Jesus did not call him a liar when Satan made the declarations, as Jesus knew his words were true. No, Jesus had to resist Satan. Satan has the power to grant fame, fortune, health, and much more. This is not an effort to give more power and authority to Satan, but an effort to make you aware of its power and existence in this life. If you don't believe me, read the tenth chapter of Daniel, where you find an arch angel delayed three weeks because he was busy battling the power of Satan.

This is not to scare you and say that the devil has absolute power over your life, but it is an effort to make you soberly aware of its presence and Satan's efforts to attack you. Satan is after one thing, to steal you away from serving God. If Satan cannot tempt you into serving him, he will tempt you into serving other idols (yourself, status, fame, money, etc). And Satan will take every opportunity he can to attack you in every vulnerable place you have (health, finances, marriage, peace, etc.). Believe me, Satan is good at his job.

There is a flip side, though, to the power of Satan. Satan is defeated. The wording in the phrase is past tense. He is already defeated. Satan knows that, in the end, he is toast. Because of this, he will do all he can to cause as much pain as possible. In the mean time, you must do what Jesus did. Resist him. Resist the devil and he must flee. In order to resist him, you must first acknowlege that his power is at work trying to destroy you.

But just a few chapters after Satan declares his power and authority to Jesus, Jesus declares the power and authority we have over Satan. Jesus said, "I have given you authority to . . . overcome all the power of the enemy." This is a powerful statement, Christian. Just as Satan has the power to attack you, you have the power to overcome him. Be aware of Satan's attack, be constantly aware. When you become aware, resist him and his attack. Invoke the power of Jesus' name and stop Satan in his tracks.

1. Are you aware, daily, of Satan working against you?
2. What steps do you take to resist him on a daily basis?
3. Are you exercising your authority over Satan?

Add. Scriptures for Study: Daniel 10, Matt 4:9, Luke 10:19, Acts 26:17-18, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8