Guiding Scripture: Nehemiah 4:15 - “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.”
- We’ve already talked about the Book of Nehemiah from a broad, overarching perspective. This time, we’re looking at the role that opposition plays in the events of Nehemiah, and how we can respond when opposition happens in our own lives.
- The enemy opposes us through ridicule (Nehemiah 4:1-3).
- Nehemiah responds by:
- Praying (Nehemiah 4:4-5)
- Continuing to rebuild (Nehemiah 4:6)
- Guarding the weakest points of the wall (Nehemiah 4:22-23)
- When we face ridicule, we should respond by asking God for help, persistence, and by staying vigilant against attack.
- The enemy opposes us through distraction (Nehemiah 6:1-2).
- Nehemiah responds by:
- Standing firm and staying focused (Nehemiah 6:3-4)
- When we face distraction, we should respond by remembering our commitment to the work God has called us to do.
- The enemy opposes us through intimidation (Nehemiah 6:5-7, 6:17-19).
- Nehemiah responds by:
- Praying (Nehemiah 6:9-10, 6:14)
- Identifying the deception involved (Nehemiah 6:12-13)
- Again, continuing and completing the work (Nehemiah 6:15)
- Surrounding himself with people he can trust (Nehemiah 7:2-3)
- When we face intimidation, we should respond by taking our concerns to God, using discernment and wisdom, and leaning on trustworthy friends for support.
- Note: The enemy we see is never the actual enemy we’re fighting. Christians don’t fight against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), and although the battles we fight aren’t easy to overcome, God promises to give us the victory if we trust Him (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Action Step: Identify the areas in your life where you may be experiencing spiritual opposition right now. Which strategy is the enemy using, and how have you been responding to the attacks? Pray and ask God for the right response to use in your situation, and thank Him for giving you the victory in advance!
