patience

This is a call to the remnant who have been willing to stand in the gap. Who have made up the breach in the wall and who continue to stand to make up the hedge.

“You are weary. You are tired. And when you look, it may appear as if the battle is lost. My children, be strong and courageous. Do not let your eyes be distracted by the waves of the storm, for you are well able to walk on top of the waves as you keep your eyes on Me.”

“The battle has intensified. It is waging against my remnant who have taken a stand against the forces of darkness. They attacks have become personal to weary you and distract you because you are being effective. The purpose is to pull you off the wall to attend to the personal matters (health, finances, employment, relationships) so that you are unable to maintain your vigilance in rebuilding together.”

It is important that we recognize what is at work and we say in our heart, “I will not be moved. I cannot come off the wall for I am doing a great work.”

This is an old strategy from satan. We see it when Nehemiah rallied the Israelites to rebuild their wall of protection around their land.

“When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no more breaks in it—even though I hadn’t yet installed the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent this message: “Come and meet with us at Kephirim in the valley of Ono.”

 I knew they were scheming to hurt me so I sent messengers back with this: “I’m doing a great work; I can’t come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?”

Four times they sent this message and four times I gave them my answer.

The fifth time—same messenger, same message—Sanballat sent an unsealed letter with this message:

“The word is out among the nations—and Geshem says it’s true—that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That’s why you are rebuilding the wall. The word is that you want to be king and that you have appointed prophets to announce in Jerusalem, ‘There’s a king in Judah!’ The king is going to be told all this—don’t you think we should sit down and have a talk?”

I sent him back this: “There’s nothing to what you’re saying. You’ve made it all up.”

They were trying to intimidate us into quitting. They thought, “They’ll give up; they’ll never finish it.”

I prayed, “Give me strength.”  (Nehemiah 6)

People and “prophets” continually came to Nehemiah with words to get him to stop. They encouraged him to run to the temple. It even sounded like good, logical advice. And yet, Nehemiah would not be moved. He recognized the deception that they simply wanted to get them to stop. To come down.

He recognized his call to rebuild and refused to come down to even talk with them. Instead he encouraged the Israelites to continue. To strengthen their arms. To work side by side.

Do not allow yourself to be intimidated or made to fear by their words and by these attacks. Receognize them for what they are—a distraction to pull you off the wall for the work you are doing is a great work. Stand fast in prayer. Do not grow weary.

When the Israelites refused to come off the divine call to rebuild the wall, and remained united in their task, what had been in ruins for seventy years was rebuilt in fifty-two days.

It was unbelievable. It was God.

If this word has encouraged you, please leave a comment below. Your comment may encourage someone else to continue to stand.