Don’t Let Satan Stop the Work!

I was feeling discouraged, tired, and weak. But my daily Bible reading fell in the book of Nehemiah. It was just what I needed! Nehemiah is packed with encouragement and reveals the sneaky tactics of the enemy. Once I realized that my negative feelings were really an attack of Satan, they lost their power over me!

If this is happening to you, congratulations! The devil is afraid of you, and he wants to stop your work for the Lord.

Satanic attacks are often disguised as your own feelings and thoughts. The enemy loves to attack our mind (our thinking). Those doubts, fears, frustrations, distractions, and even fatigue are an attack of the enemy.

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray … ” 2 Corinthians 11:3

“…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers,” 2 Corinthians 4:4

My Bible reading today was Nehemiah, chapters 4 through 6. Nehemiah had led the exiles back to Jerusalem, where they were obeying God and rebuilding the demolished walls of the city. You can read it here. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah+4-6&version=NIV

These chapters are an example for us of how the enemy tries to stop the work God has given us to do. Whether it is writing a blog, teaching a Bible Study, going to the mission field, pastoring a church, or building a wall, the enemy’s plan is first and foremost to STOP THE WORK.

How does he do this?

(Parenthesis and underlining mine.)

1. Intimidation

“When Sanballat (the enemy) heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Nehemiah 6:19

“Tobiah the Ammonite (also an enemy), who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” Nehemiah 4:1-3

When you are feeling intimidated (which includes feelings of failure or lack of expertise, and you start second-guessing your calling), know this: Satan is attacking your mind because he’s angry! He wants to stop the work!

2. Stirring Up Trouble

“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” Nehemiah 4:8

Has trouble come against your ministry in any way? Have problems cropped up that you didn’t expect? It could come in many forms: extra bills, lack of resources, lack of workers, etc. Satan wants to stop the work!

3. Trouble From Within

“Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.  Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain. Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” Nehemiah 5:1-3

Jews who were more prosperous were taking advantage of their fellow Jews by charging them interest on loans, taking their children as slaves, and taking their property. Is there trouble within? Satan wants to stop the work!

4. Lies

Sanballat sent a message to Nehemiah:

“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king  and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”

 I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” Nehemiah 6:5-8

Sometimes lies may be circulated about you. Satan wants to stop the work!

5. Fear

“They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

Fear brings on fatigue. Enthusiasm brings on high energy. Satan wants to stop the work!

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Even though the enemy strategized many different ways to stop the work, he failed. Why? Nehemiah says,

“But we prayed to our God.” Nehemiah 4:9

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” Nehemiah 6:15

Remember this:

“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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