MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, MFM DAILY DEVOTIONAL [VOLUME 8, JAN-DEC] WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2023:- LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF NEHEMIAH [3]

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:8-20

8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.

16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

At the time of opposition, he instructed that the men kept their swords by their sides while they worked with one hand. What an excellent strategy! Nehemiah was bold, undaunted, a man whose face was set as a flint. Nothing could deter him from finishing strong. He knew and abided with the divine instructions of watchfulness, even at the place of service (Neh.4:15- 18). This is another lesson we can learn from him.

For us today, the Word of God is our sword. We must be armed as we continue to labour for the kingdom with our shield of faith intact, believing God in all things, fully guarded with the armour of God in readiness for battle at any time as an able Christian soldier (Eph.6:11,13). Are you battle ready at all times, beloved? Jesus is our Captain.

Nehemiah didn’t take the taunting and mockery of Sanballat and Tobiah for granted. He was alert always, neither did he neglect prayer. He kept in tune with God. He had the heavenly back up and succeeded in his assignment. You can experience the same divine support it only you would put God first, and trust Him to see you through.

The Bible instructs us to look up to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Beloved, don’t look at your problems, you will be overwhelmed, neither at the threat of your enemies, it will weaken you mind and dampen your faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus always.

Learn more lessons from Nehemiah and it will be beneficial to your life and ministry. Today’s memory verse counsels us to run the race before us with patience knowing that we are surrounded by many witnesses. These witnesses consist of the good and the bad, cheer leaders and critics; the likes of Sanballat and Tobiah.

May the Lord equip us adequately to outsmart and outshine our enemies, no matter their satanic wisdom, in Jesus’ name.