Persistence

"But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”  

300 years before Nehemiah's time, the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and the people carried away as captives. The land was re-populated by other captives from the Assyrian

population some of these intermarried with the few Israelites who remained. These were called Samaritans. When the Jewish people eventually returned home, they refused to have anything to do with these unclean people. They were a hated breed.

Now Sanballat, was governor of Samaria and he expected to be governor of the land which contained Jerusalem. But Nehemiah's arrival put paid to that. Nehemiah became governor of Jerusalem and positioned himself to re-build the city wall that the Babylonians had smashed down years ago.

Sanballat brought discouragement and intimidation to Nehemiah's work and taunted him with questions such as recorded above. Check these questions out and match them against what Satan may say to any of us who are doing a work for God. (Possible answers below) They were arrows designed to maim and cause them to stop the work as the wall would only fall down again. However, Nehemiah was having none of it and committed the work to God. Nehemiah and his men 'had a mind to work.' v6. Nothing was going to make them quit.

You may be trying to achieve something for God but are coming against obstacles, therefore. Don't Give up, success begins at the beginning and continues with consistent action. (1) Refuse to accept the devil's lies. You are not feeble, you are able (Phil 4:13). (2) God is the restorer. He has given you the task and He will ensure you are equipped. (3) The devil will try to mock your acts of service. Don't listen to him. (4) You will finish what God has set before you. You will see it happen - just believe. (5) God can turn the rubble of a building site into building blocks for a palace. Again, just believe.

Listen, the devil's plan is to make you feel so useless that you will lose interest and go else where. Stay where you are and get the job done. Speak importunity to yourself; speak faith to yourself, speak persistence to yourself and speak the words, 'I can do this!' Because you can.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

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