Key Verse: Nehemiah 6:10-14
The enemy came with the third tactic – a false threat when they found that their previous strategies had failed. To convince Nehemiah about this, Sanballath and Tobiah hired a ‘prophet’, Shemaiah (who was not actually a prophet). To make their point clear and more believable, they added an escape route, and the time of attack as well. “Let us meet together in the house of GOD, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.”
Sometimes, we hear prophecies that sound so convincing, which make us take decisions without a second thought. But, the LORD may never want us to flee from a place or situation unless we see its completion. If we don’t discern the prophecies, we will fall into the trap of the enemy. When the enemy fails to put us down using fake friendships or through fake accusations, he will use a spiritual/religious agenda to put us down.
Nehemiah was firm in his call and he responded with courage, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” He was sure not to step back from his call from GOD, and not to break the laws of the LORD by entering the Holy Temple, as only priests could enter the inner courts of the Holy Temple. Learn to overcome the religious deceptions of the enemy with prayer. If you feel that you are failing in your ministry, get on your knees and ask GOD to fill you with the gift of discernment.
The enemy aimed three results in this tactic:
- To make Nehemiah afraid
- To make him commit sin
- To defame him with an evil report.
If we are afraid, we may retreat, and when we sin, we are creating a wall between ourselves and God, and if we fall for the above two, it’s really easy for the enemy to defame us by saying, “Look, he came to do a great task and now chose his own way and is leading a sinner’s life! He lost his vision, and is defaming GOD as well!” Nehemiah would have become a laughing stock before others and he would have caused a bad name for GOD as well. But, GOD was with him and had given him the power of discernment, to see what was coming.
Don’t retreat from your position when people come against you. Don’t lend you ears to ungodly things or to the counsel of evil men. Respond to them with GOD’s power and the Word of GOD. The ONE who has called you is faithful to lead you to the end!
Practical Living: If GOD has called you for a purpose and if you haven’t completed it, be sure, not to flee from your call when enemies arise. You may feel weak and the tactics of the enemy may seem convincing, but ask GOD to help you discern them and take wise decisions with GOD’s guidance.
