[Leadership style of Nehemiah 7]
1 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.
BUT I REALIZED THEY WERE PLOTTING TO HARM ME."
Nehemiah 6:1,2 (NLT)
• In Jesus' earthly Ministry:
"THEN Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL" (Matthew 4:1 NKJV).
- God did allow or permit Him, Jesus, to be tempted, though the Son of God (Luke 4:1,2; Hebrews 5:8).
- You also should expect the tests, you would not be without one (Matthew 10:24,25; John 13:16).
- After the initial tests which the devil brought to Jesus, while fasting in the wilderness, he later came back when he had the opportunity:
"WHEN the devil had finished tempting Jesus, HE LEFT HIM UNTIL THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY CAME" (Luke 4:13 NLT).
• The devil would always come to test you, challenge you in your work, whenever he had the opportunity.
- Someone said, If you do not believe the devil exists, you should go ahead and start a Ministry—he will let you know that he does exist, and that he is real.
- The devil cannot but come to challenge you in the work of ministry. But he will always meet his Waterloo, a disappointment and defeat, If you knew how to handle him.
- Also, you should know, whatever the test may be, It always would lead to your promotion—If you did pass the test, and overcome the challenges.
- Nehemiah experienced continued opposition in the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. The enemies of the Jews who opposed what Nehemiah was doing, plotted to harm him, when they saw that he was undeterred in his commitment to the work (Nehemiah 6:1,2).
- The plans of those who opposed or stood against him, were foiled because:
(i) Nehemiah did carry God along in all he was doing and was wholeheartedly committed to the assignment.
(ii) He did not give them any attention and credibility.
(iii) He committed everything to God in prayer. - The enemies even planned on propaganda campaigns to malign his name before the King (Nehemiah 6:6,7). - They also hired some false prophets to give false prophecies to Nehemiah, in order to intimidate him:
10 AFTERWARDS 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 NKJV).
"REMEMBER, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember NOADIAH THE PROPHET AND ALL THE PROPHETS LIKE HER WHO HAVE TRIED TO INTIMIDATE ME."
Nehemiah 6:14 (NLT)
• Your success is a threat to the devil:
15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, THEY WERE FRIGHTENED AND HUMILIATED. THEY REALIZED THIS WORK HAD BEEN DONE WITH THE HELP OF OUR GOD" (Nehemiah 6:15,16 (NLT).
- The devil persecutes and intimidates you, because he is afraid of your success.
- The devil can read the signs, thus, he could perceive what God wanted to do through the vision given to you; therefore he does want to stop you.
- The enemies of the Jews were alarmed, frightened and humiliated, when they heard about the completion of the wall of Jerusalem.
• Note: As a leader and a minister, you must be aware of the fact that some people in your ministry are loyal to the devil—they are there as instruments of him, to short-circuit the flow or the move of God in the work.
(i) It is not everyone who comes to the church that has come to receive Blessings. Some are in the church as the devil's representatives, or instruments, to work against whatever you are instructed to do.
17 DURING those fifty-two days, MANY LETTERS WENT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN TOBIAH AND THE NOBLES OF JUDAH.
18 FOR MANY IN JUDAH HAD SWORN ALLEGIANCE TO HIM because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.
19 THEY kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, AND THEN THEY TOLD HIM EVERYTHING I SAID. And TOBIAH KEPT SENDING THREATENING LETTERS TO INTIMIDATE ME."
Nehemiah 6:17-19 (NLT)
(ii) Some may be there in your ministry to fight your vision, and such would not want the fulfilment of the work.
(iii) Some are there to cause your derailment. If Jesus Christ who is our Lord, Master, could have one who is a devil, out of his Twelve apostles; It does mean it is not unlikely that you would have a couple of such—in your Ministry (John 6:70).
(iv) Some are busybodies in your ministry, yet, they would refuse to leave; they are strategically planted by the devil to discomfort you and cause you to derail.
(v) Thus, a Minister must be strong in prayer:
a. You will not be able to do much in the work of the Kingdom without Prayer (Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
b. Things are made happen in the ministry work through Prayers (Mark 9:29).
c. When you prayed, God will reveal the hearts of those who are NOT in agreement with what you are doing, yet, they are around you and refused to leave. Apostle Paul said: "... IN PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN" (2 Corinthians 11:26).
d. Through prayer and communion with God, you will know those who are in your ministry to sabotage your efforts, and those who are there to work with you for the fulfillment of the vision (John 6:64,71; 13:11).
- It may amaze you that some of the people you trusted are betrayers, that is why you need to be discerning and sensitive.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever might be contrary to your health is cursed in Jesus' name.
- Sicknesses and Afflictions are not your lots, or portions, in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED