Originally posted: 7/07/2020
For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands, (6:9).
When progress happens, especially as a result of our obedience, the enemy will use any and every tactic available to thwart God’s will and work in our lives. And when we find ourselves facing off against a most unyielding and obstinate adversary, we must immediately turn to Him for His Strength.
The day of ultimate Success is coming, when He will vanquish every foe, but until then, we will be confronted with messages of discouragement. But God is faithful; and we have only to ask, and He has promised to Supply.
Consider Him Who Supplies His Strength for Our Success
- When the enemy’s plan is for harm, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me, (6:2).
- When the enemy seeks to stop His work, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (6:3).
- When the enemy is relentlessly persistent, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- They sent messages to me four times in this manner, and I answered them in the same way, (6:4).
- When the enemy falsely accuses, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same manner a fifth time with an open letter in his hand… 8 Then I sent a message to him saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind,” (6:5, 8).
- When the enemy intends to bring fear, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- For all of them were trying to frighten us… (6:9).
- When the enemy is determined to discourage, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- …thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done,” (6:9).
- When the enemy entices with a way of escape that is against God’s precepts, He Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
- When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, 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, and they are coming to kill you at night.” 11 But I said, “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in,” (6:10-11).
How do we respond to Him Who Supplies His Strength for Our Success?
We have much to learn from Nehemiah. He was a man who continually, moment by moment, sought the mind of his God.
We too must seek His mind revealed in His Word, in dependence on His Holy Spirit, that we would perceive and live the truth of Him Who Supplies His Strength for Our Success.
Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me, (6:12-13).
- When the enemy’s plan is for harm, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we rely on His plans for our future.
- For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope, (Jeremiah 29:11).
- When the enemy seeks to stop His work, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we trust there is nothing that can overthrow our God.
- “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God,” (Acts 5:38-39).
- When the enemy is relentlessly persistent, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we take up our shield of faith.
- in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, (Ephesians 6:16).
- When the enemy falsely accuses, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we continue in His Word and are set free by His truth.
- So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” (John 8:31-32).
- When the enemy intends to bring fear, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we are convinced of what He has provided.
- For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline, (2 Timothy 1:7).
- When the enemy is determined to discourage, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we take courage in His promises.
- “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
- When the enemy entices with a way of escape that is against God’s precepts, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success as we rely on His faithful way.
- No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it, (1 Corinthians 10:13).
And finally, as we leave justice, judgment and vengeance in His hands, He will Supply His Strength for Our Success, that we may live in His peace to overcome evil with good.
Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me, (6:14).
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, (Romans 12:18-21).