The Word - January 13, 2012 - Obstacles And Opposition

But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves" (Nehemiah 4:9).

The laborers were growing weary. The enemy was planning an all-out attack. Added to that was a spirit of dissension which slowed the work to finish the walls. So he took it to the Lord in prayer. Everything we see in this description in chapter 4 of Nehemiah gives us a perfect picture of Satan's intensified opposition to us building our spiritual walls. If he can't tear down our testimony with mockery and derision, he will attack from a different direction.

It is difficult to miss the obvious spiritual lesson of the importance of our putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 commands that we put on the full armor of God and take up the sword of the Spirit to be ready to face and overcome the obstacles and opposition of the enemy.

Nehemiah was finally even attacked in the area of spiritual discernment, and this is the devil's most subtle form of opposition. It is the most difficult to detect, and only a thorough knowledge of Scripture preserves us from falling in such an attack.

In verse 10 of chapter six, we read that a prophet named "Shemaiah" suggested that Nehemiah set up his office within the Temple. Here he would be close to the wall and could direct every phase of the building operation more effectively. Not only that, he would be safe from any attack that might come his way.

Did Nehemiah thank God for sending this kind prophet with this new idea? It was so logical and seemed to make sense. NO WAY! He perceived that Shemaiah was a false prophet. How was he able to perceive this scheme of the enemy? Nehemiah knew from the Word of God that only priests were allowed into the Temple, and he was not a priest. Do we know God's Word well enough to recognize and reject subtle, new ideas that are contrary to the full counsel of God? Are we able to perceive Satan's personal attack in the area of spiritual discernment?

Because Nehemiah continually looked to the Lord and so overcame all the obstacles and opposition he faced, the wall was completed in only 52 days! What a picture of what God can do through a fully committed believer. We too need to follow the model of Nehemiah and, with God's help, overcome the enemy of our soul as we faithfully build strong walls of Christian testimony.