Whatever you build without God, you must maintain without God.
Make sure you build WITH God!
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
As we read the first couple chapters in the book of Nehemiah with 'rebuilding the wall', you will notice the strategy & attacks that come his way.
When Nehemiah heard the wall of Jerusalem was broken... he prayed & fasted.
3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” (Nehemiah 6:3)
Nehemiah couldn't rebuild the wall alone.
He had help... and people were positioned!
16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. (Nehemiah 4:16-18)
Notice how they had a tool in one hand & a weapon in the other hand.
They were BUILDING & BATTLING.
This is the way to rebuild in the seasons ahead... you build but when it's time to war, you battle!
Nehemiah has a spirit of conspiracy (Sanballat & Tobiah) & a spirit of fear come against him (secret informer)... (Nehemiah 6).
While you're in your REBUILDING season, these tactics from the enemy try to COME.
While the enemy spoke "DEATH", Nehemiah spoke "LIFE" & even prayed for God to "strengthen his hands".
9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. (Nehemiah 6:9)
The enemy wants to distract you with threats and speaking words over your labor...but you MUST continue to focus on God.
While they try to
discourage you,
discredit you,
conspire against you,
lie about you,
bring fear to you,
KEEP FOCUSING ON JESUS!
Nehemiah was too busy rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. He had no time to go on a coffee date with the very people who are called to harm him. (They sent him several letters to meet him).
If the enemy can't get to you, they will hire people who can get to you.
This is why this secret informer was hired by them to come against Nehemiah.
10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “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.” 11 And I said, “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!” 12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. (Nehemiah 6:10-13)
How to discern this secret informer?
Who's payroll are they on?
If they are not SOLD OUT for Jesus they are still ON SALE for the devil.
And once Nehemiah said 'no', he got revelation that God did not send this person!
Rebuild your relationship with God.
Rebuild your business.
Rebuild your marriage.
Rebuild your mindset.
Rebuild your boundaries.
It's a REBUILDING SEASON!
May God be GLORIFIED as you finish the assignment the Lord placed in you and on you.
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16)
Here are five keys to rebuilding.
#1 Word Bank Account
#2 Atmospheres & environments
#3 Access points & boundaries
#4 Emotional hygiene
#5 God's presence
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