"Distracting Enemies"

"That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:2,3

We have all heard numerous sermons on how Sanballat had tried to distract Nehemiah from his task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. His attempt was to get him to stop altogether and leave the work undone. This morning I believe the story needs repeating again. We can never be reminded enough that our adversary is always at work trying to get us to stop doing what the Lord has called us to do.

He will try to get you to stop by any means that he thinks he can achieve his goal. He will use temptations-- lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes and the pride of life. He will use distractions. He will use discouragement. He will use accusations. He will use other people- godly and ungodly alike. He will use those closest to you and those that are total strangers. He will even use "good" things-- things that appear to be harmless. He will use anything from giants to little foxes.

When do we need to be on guard concerning his attempts? Everyday. He will come in the most obvious ways, but he will also come when you least expect it. Nehemiah expected the enemy to try to fight against the rebuilding of the walls because of the protection they would have from them. King David did not expect the enemy to attack him by just walking out on his balcony that fateful evening when he saw Bathsheba on the roof top. That is why we must be on guard at all times.

Just remember this morning that your enemy does not want you to succeed in the task that the Lord has called you to do. He doesn't want you to finish it. He wants it left undone. He wants to keep his "easy access". He wants to stop you. Nehemiah did not give in to the enemy. He did not listen to his threats. He did not fall into his trap. He kept focused on the task he was given to do and his God who called him to do it. You don't have to give in and stop what the Lord has called you to do either. Just do the same thing Nehemiah did-- stay focused on God and the task.

Have a great day. The enemy is always trying to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. But we will avoid his trap if we stay focused on God and the task.

For further reading:
Isaiah 50:7
Psalm 121:1,2
Philippians 3:14
Song of Solomon 2:15

"The Enemy Of Inconvenience"

"And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Acts 24:25

Several years ago I stopped purchasing a particular product because I discovered the manufacturer was supporting something that was totally against my Christian beliefs and values. I had used this product for years so by making this decision it meant that I would have to find another product to replace it. This has not always been an easy task. There are times when I am "tempted" to go back and use it again. But I am determined not to support their "anti-Christian agenda" even though replacing it has become an inconvenience on several occasions.

I want to address the subject of inconvenience. Having to continually search for a replacement is an inconvenience. But I have to decide if I would rather live in convenience or do the right thing. So many times we will give in to the things that we know are wrong and against the principles of the Bible because it is not convenient for us to do otherwise. For example, we will allow our children to watch shows on television and play video games that are clearly demonic in nature because we don't want the inconvenience of having to deal with their whining, rebellious attitude or take the time needed to train them in this area.

Many don't go to God's house because it is an inconvenience for them to do so. We don't reach out with a helping hand to those in need because it is not convenient. We don't spend time reading God's word because it is inconvenient. There seems to never be a convenient time to stand up for what is right. We won't get involved in the work of the Lord because it may cost us some convenience. We don't speak up when we should because it is just more convenient not to do so.

We have this mindset that causes us to only do what we want to do, when we want to do it, and how we want to do it. If it doesn't fit into our agenda we won't do it, we won't support it, we won't stand up for it. We let our convictions and principles go by the wayside for convenience sake. Is this you? Is this how you live your life? Do you give more, do more, stand up for the right thing, go forward in God's plan for your life only when it is convenient? Think about it- how many missed opportunities there have been, how many lost souls have been unreached, how much joy has been forfeited, how much peace we could have had, how much could have been accomplished had we not given into the enemy of inconvenience.

Have a great day. How many times have you let inconvenience stop you from doing what you knew you should do?

For further reading:
Ecclesiastes 11:4
Proverbs 6:6-10
1 Corinthians 15:58
2 Timothy 4:7
Matthew 5:16

"Crying About or Crying To?"

"I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word." Psalm 119:145,147

When we think of "crying", we think of weeping because of some grief, or pain, or mishap. In the verses above the Psalmist is going through a devastating time-- he is being pursued by his enemies and in need of help. But he is not just lamenting his situation, his cry here is one of faith and hope. He is crying out to the Lord because he knows that he will find the help that he needs to make it through this trial.

When we face life's trials, we can either "cry about" or "cry to". The Israelites were always crying "about" their situation in the wilderness. They were crying/complaining about having nothing but manna. They were always crying/grumbling about being in the middle of nowhere. They were always crying/murmuring about God not doing what they wanted. They were always crying out of hopelessness- this is all there is, it will never be better, God has abandoned us, He doesn't care about us, etc.

On the other hand, when the Psalmist was facing life's trials, he did not spend his time crying "about"- whining/complaining/murmuring/bemoaning/lamenting- what he was going through, he spent it crying out "to" the Lord to save him through His word/promises. He knew that if he "cried to" the Lord for help the Lord would hear him. He knew that if he cried out to the Lord for strength, grace and help to make it through he would find it. His cry was a cry of hope in the faithfulness of the One who was able to save him, who could do exceedingly abundantly above all that he could ask, who would make a way where there seemed to be none and who was able to make all things work together for his ultimate good. It was not a cry of despair but a cry of hope.

We all go through difficult times- times that make us "cry out". The question is, "What kind of cry are you crying?" Are you crying about the situation with murmuring and complaining and hopelessness? Or are you crying out to God in faith and confidence that He is your hope, help and refuge in the situation?

Have a great day. When we are facing a situation, we can either just cry about it, or we can cry out to God about it.

For further reading:
Psalm 30:2,8; 77:1; 88:13; 120:1; 142:5

"Jesus Cares About Each Individual"

"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" Matthew 18:12

While the Lord God is concerned about the masses of people- He loves the whole world so much that He gave His only begotten Son for our sins- He is also a very personal and individual God. He cares about each one of us individually.

When Jesus was on earth, He showed us what the Heavenly Father was like. And one of the things He showed us was His love for "each" and "every" person. He showed His love for the masses when He fed the thousands with the bread and fish. He showed His love for the masses when He died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. But He also showed His love for us individually during the personal encounters that we read about in the Bible.

The masses are made up of individuals. Individuals like Nicodemus who talked to Jesus at night. Jesus did not turn him away and tell him to come back in the morning. It is made up of individuals like the widow who gave all that she had- while everyone else was noticing just how much the Pharisees were giving; He was noticing her. Then there were the personal encounters with people like the woman at the well, Jarius, the rich young ruler, the woman caught in the act of adultery, the woman with the issue of blood, the man at the pool of Bethesda, blind Bartimaeus, and the list goes on.

One last encounter I want to talk about was the maniac of Gadara. This is my favorite story of Jesus' encounter with individuals. You know the story. Jesus gets in the boat with His disciples, a terrible storm arises, the disciples wake Him up out of fear of drowning, He calms the storm, arrives at Gadara, delivers this one man, the people want Him to leave, He gets back in the boat and turns around and leaves. It is my favorite because it shows what great lengths Jesus would go to to reach just one man. This is a picture of salvation. That is exactly what Jesus did for mankind-- He went to such great lengths (the cross) to reach all of humanity, which is made up of single individuals. This morning I want to remind you that He loves and cares for you individually and personally. To Him you are not just another face in a crowd or another name of a roll. He knows you by name. He knows how many hairs are on your head. He knows what you are going to say before you even think it, nothing about you is hid from Him. He knows where you are and what you are going through, and He cares about you.

Have a great day. Jesus cares about and loves each of us individually.

For further reading:
Mark 5:1-18
John 3:16
Luke 12:6,7
1 Peter 5:7

"The First Work"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

What are you seeking-- the work of the Lord, or the Lord of the work? Are you focused on His plan or Him? Are you concerned more about what "ministry" you have been called to, or the One who called you?

God created you with a plan and purpose in mind. If He didn't have a purpose for you, He would not have created you (it is He who has made us and not we ourselves). After all, God never does anything just for the sake of doing it. He never says anything just to hear Himself say it. So you should seek Him to discover what it is He has for you to do and you should not be negligent in doing it. When He reveals a specific plan or assignment that He has for you, you should do it with all your might and with excellence for His glory. So don't misunderstand what I am saying.

But our first and highest call is to "know Him". The whole reason Jesus came to earth and gave His life on the cross was to reconcile us back to the Father so that we could have a relationship with Him-- not so that we could do some great work for Him. Jesus taught us that on the day when we stand before Him, some would make declarations of all the great things they had done for Him but His reply to them will be, "I never knew you". He didn't accuse them of lying about the fact that they had done these great works. But that was not what He was concerned about. His point of interest was not their works for Him but whether they knew Him- or still yet, did He know them.

Don't confuse the work that you are doing for Him with knowing Him. They are not the same thing. You can work for an employer and not know him. You can be in a marriage and do all the "marriage works" and still not know your spouse. You can work to provide for your children, and not know them. We can get so busy working for the Lord that we think we know the One we are working for, but really don't. Is that you? If so, don't neglect the work that He has called you to do, but make your "first work" and priority that of knowing Him.

Have a great day. Doing the work of the Lord and knowing the Lord of the work are not the same thing-- the latter has to be the first priority.

For further reading:
Matthew 7:22,23
Revelation 2:4,5
Psalm 100:3
Colossians 1:19-22
1 John 3:1